Review: Map of Bones by James Rollins

Title: Map of Bones
Author: James Rollins
Publisher/Publication Date: Avon; January 1, 2005
Genre: Mystery; Thriller
Source/Format: Purchased; ebook

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

"During a crowded service at a cathedral in Germany, armed intruders in monks' robes unleash a nightmare of blood and destruction. But the killers have not come for gold; they seek a more valuable prize: the bones of the Magi who once paid homage to a newborn savior . . . a treasure that could reshape the world."

With the Vatican in turmoil, SIGMA Force leaps into action. An elite team of scientific and Special Forces operatives under the command of Grayson Pierce and accompanied by Lieutenant Rachel Verona of Rome's "carabinieri," they are pursuing a deadly mystery that weaves through sites of the Seven Wonders of the World and ends at the doorstep of an ancient, mystical, and terrifying secret order. For there are those with dark plans for the stolen sacred remains that will alter the future of humankind . . . when science and religion unite to unleash a horror not seen since the beginning of time...

My Thoughts:

Well, that was interesting…

I was ready to give thriller/mysteries another try since I needed something different to read—my last endeavor was a little lacking; I didn’t end up enjoying the book. My mom is the one who mentioned James Rollins novels to me, and under her recommendation I gave Map of Bones a try. And well, it was entertaining.

Map of Bones was probably one of the most thrilling books I’ve read this year. It started out at a break-neck pace, and kept up the momentum as the characters were sent across the world, hot on the heels of a mystery that’s steeped in history and religion. Rollins managed to blend science and religion in a way that really worked. There were a lot of religious aspects—beliefs, practices, history, and traditions that were discussed at length—but it was balanced out by the scientific elements that stood as an equally important part of the plot. 

I liked the idea of Sigma—an organization that consisted of special force operatives who doubled as scientist. It was a cool setup, and the themes were spread consistently throughout the book, but there were also limitations. The limitations are what made the characters seem more real—it proved that they weren’t totally perfect, and even as smart as they were the knowledge they knew still had its limitations. They had to actually seek out the answers to their questions, discuss the issues at hand before coming to a conclusion. That was half the fun of Map of Bones: getting to read about the characters' experiences.

There was lots of action, but there were slower moments too. Everything really worked to further the plot. I felt that with each scene something new was added, or another piece became clearer. Amongst the action, the mystery aspect was pretty awesome too. Plus, Rollins did an excellent job with crafting his villains. There was no need to be told that they were evil, it was shown.

Now, the operatives from Sigma were among some of my favorite parts of the story. I liked seeing how Grayson Pierce—a usual loner—got along with his team. There was also Rachel Verona, who was fantastic. She was on par with the rest of the team, smart, and also brought her own methods of handling investigations to the table as well.

Map of Bones tangled the past with the present, and the end effect was cool. I’m definitely going to check out some of the other books in this series.

Rating 4/5

(Thanks mom, you were right about this one! :-D)

Review: The Kill Switch by James Rollins & Grant Blackwood

Title:  The Kill Switch Authors:  James Rollins & Grant Blackwood Publisher/Publication Date: William Morrow, May 13, 2014 Format/Source:  Hardcover, Purchased Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Book Summary from Goodreads Who does the U.S. government call upon when a mission requires perfect stealth, execution, and discretion? From the two bestselling masters of action and political intrigue, James Rollins and Grant Blackwood, comes the first in a groundbreaking new series, featuring Captain Tucker Wayne and his stalwart military dog, Kane, both ripped from the pages of Sigma Force for their first solo adventure. It will take this uniquely talented pairing of man and beast to discover the earth-shattering truth behind . . . The Kill Switch The mission seems simple enough: extract a pharmaceutical magnate from Russian soil, a volatile man who holds the secret to a deadly bioweapon. But nothing is as it appears to be. A desperate call from Painter Crowe, director of Sigma Force, thrusts Tucker and Kane into a frantic race to rescue the brilliant-but-deluded Abram Bukolov from a cadre of skilled assassins, a deadly team backed by a shadowy Russian general, a figure bent on revenge and power. Hunted and betrayed at every turn, Tucker and Kane must discover the truth behind a biological threat, a horror out of the ancient past that can be weaponized to terrorize the modern world. The journey of discovery will take the pair across the frozen steppes of Russia to the sun-blasted savannahs of South Africa, from the war-torn mountains of Namibia to the snowy Great Lakes of the United States. Read More My Thoughts The Kill Switch by James Rollins & Grant Blackwood will keep you on the edge of your seat with the minute by minute and hour by hour action…..Tucker is tasked with getting a pharmaceutical magnate, Bukolov out of the Russia. The mission evolved into Tucker & Kane’s race against time to protect the secrets surrounding a deadly bioweapon from Kharzin, a Russian General. There were just enough details so the reader could grasp an understanding of the biological threat and what needed to be done to stop it. Tucker's dedication to the mission at hand was clearly depicted. And I was intrigued by how he selflessly put himself in harm’s way to protect those in immediate danger. The surprises and action never ceased. At every turn there was DANGER. It was evident that when the going got tough Kane & Tucker relied on each other. In the author’s notes to readers, Rollins explains that he was trying to capture the characteristics of military working dogs. At one point Kane has to ward off a pack of African Wild dogs. And at the end of the fight between Kane and the pack leader, Tucker simply commands, “Come. Follow.” and Kane “…obeys, retreating but never backing down…” (p. 266). Although I don’t have firsthand knowledge of what they do, the descriptive text pertaining to Kane’s behavior seemed to be realistic and it captured the undying bond that couldn’t be broken between Kane and Tucker. One aspect of The Kill Switch that I especially liked was that it wasn’t riddled with romance. No there was no time for that. “…this was the wrong place and time to think about any of it” (p. 257). Sometimes romantic elements seem out of place, and The Kill Switch is the perfect example of a well-written thriller without it. Yes, the bar has been set high for finding that next book to read this summer! The Kill Switch is a phenomenal thriller jam-packed with high-speed, high intensity action—a must read. Rating 5/5