Sigma Force: Book 16
Publication Date: April 19, 2022
From #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins, the latest riveting, deeply imaginative thriller in the Sigma Force series, told with his trademark blend of cutting-edge science, historical mystery, and pulse-pounding action.
It begins in Africa . . .
A United Nations relief team in a small village in the Congo makes an alarming discovery. An unknown force is leveling the evolutionary playing field. Men, women, and children have been reduced to a dull, cattle-like state. The natural world surrounding them—plants and animals—have grown more cunning and predatory, evolving at an exponential pace. The insidious phenomenon is spreading across the African continent, threatening the rest of the world. But is it a natural event? Or more terrifyingly, did someone engineer it?
What has made the biosphere run amok? Commander Gray Pierce and Sigma Force are prepared for the extraordinary and have kept the world safe—vigilance for which they have paid a tragic personal price. Yet even these brilliant and seasoned scientific warriors do not understand what is behind this frightening development—or know how to stop it. As they race across the nation and around the globe—from Washington D.C. to the densest jungles of Africa—to find answers, the members of Sigma realize they have become prey.
To head off global catastrophe, Sigma Force risks their lives to uncover the shattering secret at the heart of a biosphere run amok—a truth that will illuminate who we are as a species and where we may be headed . . . sooner than we know.
Mother Nature—red in tooth and claw—is turning against humankind, plummeting the entire world into The Savage Zone.
If I had to pick my favorite line from Kingdom of Bones, the new thriller by James Rollins, it would be this one: “Something is definitely playing a game of mix and match along evolution’s pathway.”
That line is found on Page 347 of this 425 book, which means there’s been a lot happening up to that point. If you have never felt the chills when reading a book, then buckle up. You are in for a bumpy ride.
The story focuses on the Congo, where flooding has caused villagers to flee for safety. A United Nations relief team discovers a strange illness among the villagers that causes a person to fall into a catatonic state. Fearing it might be viral, the team sounds the alarm. Sigma Force, a team of former Special Forces soldiers trained in various scientific disciplines to act as field agents, has been deployed to investigate. What unfolds is a race against an unknown entity that threatens humanity.
I’m still trying to determine how I managed to miss reading this author before. He has a solid backlist, with 15 other books featuring Sigma Force. Note to self: Add immediately to my TBR pile. The brief introduction that takes place more than 100 years in the past piqued my curiosity and drew me into the story. From there, I had a front-row seat in the Congo, where all is not as it seems.
The storyline alternates between various groups of characters. Right when something big is about to happen, the storyline shifts, adding to the razor-edge excitement. Although I admit I had to pause after the snake scene, I quickly jumped back in for more.
Rollins is meticulous in his approach. Not only are there maps and illustrations embedded within the story, but he also uses an author’s note at the end to elaborate on truth and fiction.
Kingdom of Bones receives all the stars I can possibly award because it provides an all-encompassing reading experience. It’s got plenty of shock and awe and even a dose of humor.
James Rollins is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers. His writing has been translated into more than forty languages and has sold more than 20 million books. The New York Times says, “Rollins is what you might wind up with if you tossed Michael Crichton and Dan Brown into a particle accelerator together.” NPR calls his work, “Adventurous and enormously engrossing.” Rollins unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets matched with stunning suspense. As a veterinarian, he had a practice in Sacramento for over a decade and still volunteers at local shelters. Nowadays, Rollins shares his home up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with his two golden retrievers, Echo and Duncan. He also enjoys scuba diving, spelunking, kayaking, and hiking. Of course, he loves to travel and experience new places around the world, which often inspire his next globe-trotting adventure.
As a boy immersed in the scientific adventures of Doc Savage, the wonders of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, and pulps such as The Shadow, The Spider, and The Avenger, James Rollins decided he wanted to be a writer. He honed his storytelling skills early, spinning elaborate tales that were often at the heart of pranks played on his brothers and sisters.
Before he would set heroes and villains on harrowing adventures, Rollins embarked on a career in veterinary medicine, graduating from the University of Missouri and establishing a successful veterinary practice. He continues to volunteer his time and veterinary skills in support of the local SPCA. His hands-on knowledge of medicine and science helps shape the research and scientific speculation that set James Rollins’ books apart.
Thanks, Amy, for this very generous review of my book. I’m glad you enjoyed the mayhem!
Mr. Rollins: My wife and I both enjoyed your book, many interesting facts about viruses!!! Of course we have passed the book on!! I wanted to check your notes at the back, in particular about the Russian ATV. Would you consider sending me the Authors note on the ATV that you included in the back of the book?? Was it called a Sherp???