James Rollins

As the story opens we are in Louisana in the wake of a hurricane. Research veterinarian, Dr. Lorna Polk, is collected from her workplace by a Border Patrol helicopter and ferried out into the Louisiana swamplands. She can't fathom who has requested her or why she is being brought here. The "who" turns out to be Field Operations Supervisor, Jack Menard, a painful ghost from her past. The "why" is a shipwreck. A shipwreck that looks like a nightmarish crime scene, and which holds a most show more extraordinary living cargo. Her first guess is that they've stumbled upon an exotic animal smuggling ring, but as Rollins writes: "Jack turned and shone his flashlight into the nearest cage. She stared inside--and knew she was wrong about everything."

I've heard former-vet, James Rollins discuss why he's never written about a veterinarian before. "Not enough people die," he always says. Well, he finally found a way to make it work. I'm looking forward to more adventures like this one!! show less

Kingdom of Bones by James Rollins is an action-packed, heart-stopping, un-put-downable thriller and the sixteenth addition to the Sigma Force Series. This one's a winner!

A UN relief team in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been overrun by nature running amok when floods send refugees to the camp who swiftly reach a catatonic state. Quickly following this, the camp is then overrun by violent attacking ants. After being bitten people can rapidly notice the effects. Because something is show more changing in the evolution of insects and animals the fear is that it could be the start of a pandemic so members of the Sigma Force team (Gray, Monk, Kowalski) are sent in along with former Army Ranger Tucker Wayne and Kane, his dog. Before they even reach the camp to rescue them from the ant armies, it is attacked on several different fronts, human and animal, and doctors are taken as prisoners. Quickly a mission for information and support becomes a rescue mission fraught with danger. It is discovered that part of the answer may lie in the legendary Kingdom of Bones.

Kingdom of Bones starts at a gallop and this fast pace is nonstop until the end. Once you start reading it is impossible to put down. The new characters introduced for this adventure are all wonderfully interesting and capable or decidedly evil. The writing, as expected, is extraordinary, both in structure and execution. The plot is entertaining and frightening while the threats against the team are non-stop. This is one of my new favorite Sigma Force novels. I've read almost everything Rollins has written, however this is the first time he had me sobbing so hard I couldn't see and had to concentrate to pull myself together because I could not stop reading. When you read Kingdom of Bones you'll know when this scene happens. (I silently cursed him for this part.)

Rollins has had viruses and threatened pandemics in his plots before so this should be nothing new for long time readers, although it is understandable why he had second thoughts about it this time. I am thrilled that he continued to write the novel because it is incredible and everything anyone could want in a Sigma Force novel. As expected he has an informative Author's Note to Readers: Truth or Fiction section at the end of the novel, which I always appreciate and find informative.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of HarperCollins via Edelweiss.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/04/kingdom-of-bones.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4660097708 show less

A fast-paced and intriguing drama that combined archeology, research into the possible reality of the Biblical plagues, and of course lots of action from the Sigma Force group.

This book starts in a long ago time, when a priestess is preparing for her mummification inside of a giant, human-made tomb. Only this tomb is not like one would expect: it is a sandstone replica of a human body, complete with organs and ribs buried under the sands in the Egyptian Sahara.

Meanwhile, Dr. Harold McCabe show more comes stumbling out of the desert near the confluence of the White and Blue Niles in a partially mummified state himself. When he is autopsied, his body releases a plague that infects the scientists performing his autopsy. And the doctor leading the medical team is known to Painter Crowe of Sigma Force and needs his help.

Part of the plot involves the journeys of Livingstone and Stanley, the friendship between Stanley and Mark Twain, and the friendship between Twain and Nikolai Tesla. To bring matters to the modern era, Tesla's exploration into engineering and self-generating power are given new life above the Arctic Circle.

What thrilled me beyond measure was Rollins' mention of one of my favorite books, "The Terror" by Dan Simmons in his Epilogue. Because yes, part of the action takes place near the famed Northwest Passage, as well as in a seldom-explored National Park on the border between Rwanda and Tanzania.

The madness of the evil scientist seems quite timely, and the desire of former child soldiers to forget their past is also a part of this story. I was glad that Gray and the members of Six Sigma, as well as the son and daughter of Dr. McCabe, acted in quite human ways and the action was more believable. show less

Hands down the best book in the Sigma Force series that I have read so far (I am reading them in order, so this is the fourth that I have read). All of my favorite characters were back for an action packed mystery of a historical plague resurfacing.

Rollins takes us all over the globe, connecting both a science arm and a historical arm. Gray is reunited with our favorite Guild member once again, this time with the added tension of keeping his family safe.

On the other side, Monk and Lisa are show more living aboard a cruise ship trying to figure out what is causing a strange illness at Christmas Island. The twists and turns that happened aboard this ship were thrilling! How Rollins was able to keep both prongs of the story entertaining while eventually bringing them together was masterful.

I will say, Rollins pulled at my heartstrings in this one. It appears that he killed off one of my favorite characters! I spent much of the remainder of the book waiting for him to reveal that the character made it through, but time after time Rollins presented us with the opposite information. That is until the last few pages, once I had admitted defeat and was angry, did he give me a possible sliver of hope. I am sure this will quickly be dashed in the next book haha.

My only critique of this book would be the last few pages. I followed along with this storyline pretty easily compared to some of his others, but the last handful of pages really confused me. Like did any of this happen???? Who are these people and why is she in the past?? I need answers! I am hoping the next book will give me these. Overall, I enjoyed this book and it had all of the best qualities of the first three. It gives me hope that he may continue to grow as a storyteller as I read further into the series. show less