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heatherg213's review against another edition
3.0
So you may have heard of this author, Dan Brown? He wrote this relatively successful novel called The Da Vinci Code, all about this professor who chases down ancient conspiracies about Jesus and Mary Magdalene to solve a modern day mystery. I guess they made a movie about it or something...
Obviously Dan Brown's best-selling novel was more than relatively successful. Say what you will about Brown's writing, he seemed to have tapped into a part of our cultural consciousness that believes in conspiracies and secret societies and vaguely impossible sounding alchemical magic. And it's didn't start with Dan Brown, of course. Indiana Jones was searching for lost artifacts in the jungles of the world at least 20 years before Dan Brown published The Da Vinci Code. I'm not sure why we as a society are so intrigued by the shadowy figures that we somehow fear are secretly running the world...perhaps it helps us make sense of the senseless, you know, like debt ceiling agreements or Donald Trump's hair.
Since every single literary phenomenon apparently needs its clones, there have been plenty of Da Vinci Code copycats. I've read a few, and liked a few of those, but I had always avoided the novels of one of the more successful ancient mystery/secret society authors to compete with Dan Brown, James Rollins. Something about his Sigma Force felt too militaristic and male to be of much interest to me. After all, I prefer even my mystery/thrillers to have female detectives. Sexist of me, probably, but that's a topic for another post.
Well, wouldn't you know, Audible.com had a James Rollins book, Map of Bones, available FREE the last time I was looking for something to listen to on a roadtrip. And who doesn't love free?!? So, over 13 hours later, I can tell you that my concerns about Sigma Force were unfounded. I was completely drawn into the world of Gray Pierce, Rachel Verona, and the mystery of the ancient mages they were trying to keep from the Imperial Dragon Court.
Map of Bones begins with a massacre in a church in Cologne, Germany. Armed men dressed as monks unleash some sort of device that cause people to be electrocuted in their seats. They also steal the scared relic of the cathedral-the supposed bones of the biblical Magi. Sigma Force is called upon by the Vatican to help them determine exactly who stole the bones and what their plans for them are. Gray Pierce and his team are sent to the Vatican, and much mayhem ensues.
The upside to this kind of book is that the action is pretty non-stop, and there are lots of twists and turns to keep you engaged along the way. And actually, there is some character development here, which you don't always find in this kind of action/adventure story. The downside of this type of story is the enormous amount of historical exposition the author must try to work in around the gun fights, bombs, and car/boat chases. Like most books of this types I've read, occasionally it felt slightly more like a history text than a novel, but Rollins actually does a decent job of having these little lesson occur in contexts that make sense-not, for instance, while standing over a dead body like one scene in Da Vinci Code. All in all this was a fun, satisfying use of 13 hours in the car!
Obviously Dan Brown's best-selling novel was more than relatively successful. Say what you will about Brown's writing, he seemed to have tapped into a part of our cultural consciousness that believes in conspiracies and secret societies and vaguely impossible sounding alchemical magic. And it's didn't start with Dan Brown, of course. Indiana Jones was searching for lost artifacts in the jungles of the world at least 20 years before Dan Brown published The Da Vinci Code. I'm not sure why we as a society are so intrigued by the shadowy figures that we somehow fear are secretly running the world...perhaps it helps us make sense of the senseless, you know, like debt ceiling agreements or Donald Trump's hair.
Since every single literary phenomenon apparently needs its clones, there have been plenty of Da Vinci Code copycats. I've read a few, and liked a few of those, but I had always avoided the novels of one of the more successful ancient mystery/secret society authors to compete with Dan Brown, James Rollins. Something about his Sigma Force felt too militaristic and male to be of much interest to me. After all, I prefer even my mystery/thrillers to have female detectives. Sexist of me, probably, but that's a topic for another post.
Well, wouldn't you know, Audible.com had a James Rollins book, Map of Bones, available FREE the last time I was looking for something to listen to on a roadtrip. And who doesn't love free?!? So, over 13 hours later, I can tell you that my concerns about Sigma Force were unfounded. I was completely drawn into the world of Gray Pierce, Rachel Verona, and the mystery of the ancient mages they were trying to keep from the Imperial Dragon Court.
Map of Bones begins with a massacre in a church in Cologne, Germany. Armed men dressed as monks unleash some sort of device that cause people to be electrocuted in their seats. They also steal the scared relic of the cathedral-the supposed bones of the biblical Magi. Sigma Force is called upon by the Vatican to help them determine exactly who stole the bones and what their plans for them are. Gray Pierce and his team are sent to the Vatican, and much mayhem ensues.
The upside to this kind of book is that the action is pretty non-stop, and there are lots of twists and turns to keep you engaged along the way. And actually, there is some character development here, which you don't always find in this kind of action/adventure story. The downside of this type of story is the enormous amount of historical exposition the author must try to work in around the gun fights, bombs, and car/boat chases. Like most books of this types I've read, occasionally it felt slightly more like a history text than a novel, but Rollins actually does a decent job of having these little lesson occur in contexts that make sense-not, for instance, while standing over a dead body like one scene in Da Vinci Code. All in all this was a fun, satisfying use of 13 hours in the car!
nickbaldassare's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
januaryf's review against another edition
4.0
A great read. This novel had a pretty steady, quick pace, that kept you interested in what was going to happen next. The historical and scientific info the reader needed was delivered in an easy(ish) to understand way that didn't feel like a lecture, and had enough information to grasp the concepts, but not overwhelm you with minutia.
The characters were well developed, and knowing they continue through other books keeps you interested in them.
Can't wait to read the next book in the series!
The characters were well developed, and knowing they continue through other books keeps you interested in them.
Can't wait to read the next book in the series!
tamfilley's review against another edition
3.0
What an exciting read. Lots of twists and turns and tons of action. Reminds me of Dan Browns books Angels and Demons/The Da Vinci Code. 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
melindavan's review against another edition
4.0
This is one rollercoaster of a ride! Just when I thought all was lost, it got worse, and worse. This reads a lot like Dan Brown's Da Vinci code. Riddles upon riddles to solve, a bit of mystical energy, and a whole lot of anxious moments along the way. Pretty cool stuff.
scottwcoleman's review against another edition
4.0
While I had a little difficulty getting through the first book of the Sigma Force series, [b:Sandstorm|13618816|Sandstorm|James Rollins|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1337961320s/13618816.jpg|868206], I had no such trouble with Map of Bones. Engrossing, it was tightly written, well researched and very enjoyable.
Several years ago, I had picked up a Sigma Force book at random and read it on a plane. I followed it up by reading two more in the series, and am just now going back to read the entire series in order - including the books I haven't yet read.
To me, it's Map of Bones where the series' characters really begin to come to life. Here are the Gray, Monk, Kat and Seichan that I remember reading in those first few books from later in the series.
Several years ago, I had picked up a Sigma Force book at random and read it on a plane. I followed it up by reading two more in the series, and am just now going back to read the entire series in order - including the books I haven't yet read.
To me, it's Map of Bones where the series' characters really begin to come to life. Here are the Gray, Monk, Kat and Seichan that I remember reading in those first few books from later in the series.
vinitneo's review against another edition
4.0
I found this book to be much better than the first one, Sandstorm.
I was expecting the same set of characters in this one too and was pleasantly surprised to see a different sets of characters in this one. There is, of course, Painter Crowe who is now heading Sigma Force and he isn't in the story much.
Instead, we are introduced to commander Grayson Pierce, Monk, and Kat, who were interesting with there own set of skills and unique personalities. The villains, the anti-hero, the secret organization, the history, and the science are all top-notch this time around.
Map of Bones is a fun adventure ride.
I was expecting the same set of characters in this one too and was pleasantly surprised to see a different sets of characters in this one. There is, of course, Painter Crowe who is now heading Sigma Force and he isn't in the story much.
Instead, we are introduced to commander Grayson Pierce, Monk, and Kat, who were interesting with there own set of skills and unique personalities. The villains, the anti-hero, the secret organization, the history, and the science are all top-notch this time around.
Map of Bones is a fun adventure ride.
ryanneliza's review against another edition
2.0
I have a few books on my shelf like this one I’m trying to get through, and I could not bring myself to finish this all the way. This was the most uninteresting adventure book ever. I didn’t care about any of the character relationships and the whole premise seemed ridiculous the whole way through.
painterbek's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book, excited to read the rest of the series. Check it out if you haven't already!