The Judas Strain (Sigma Force Series)

Dang! I Read it Out of Order

How is it this is the only title by author James Rollins I've read? And why did I read the one right in the middle of the series? Luckily, it was so good, I can enjoy reading this one again as I go through the entire series.

The Judas Strain is as an odd book. The plot is simple, but complex. The characters are over-the-top, but believable. The text is intelligent, but easy-reading. Full on entertainment in its most pleasant form. I can't wait to read it again. But to you, I recommend reading them in order. That's always best.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Good

I've been reading James Rollins since Excavation came out and he is one of my favorite authors. But ever since The DaVinci code came out he has tried to write to that style of popularity. I would love for him to go back to writing original stories with new characters and leave Sigma behind. They are enjoyable reads but I can only read about church conspiracies and such for so long. I never really got into a groove with this book and it took me a while to read. With that said I gave the book 4 stars partially because of the content and also because I love the author and have been with him since the beginning.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

WOW!!!

I have read all of the Sigma Force series and they are all fast paced and can't put down books. Once you start to read you just can't put it down.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Fantastic

No text was provided for this review.

Well researched, but modeled just as all of Rollin's other books.

The author has done an excellent job researching and weaving together science and history, as he repeatedly does in his thrillers. It got me to get online and do some of my own research. I love how Rollins can intrigue the reader in this way.

However, the over-arching plot of each of his novels is the same, this book not excluded. Even worse, in a series like this, no matter if every chapter ends with a main character's life threatened, you know they really aren't going to die. That wasn't such a problem with his individual tales.

And how many times can one man use the word, "scintillating"?

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Page turner

You will not be able to put this book down

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

great story

thoroughly enjoyed this page turner. I was sad to get to the end and am ready to read more by this author

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Sigma team is at it again...

Rollins characters are bigger than life - both bad and good ones. This story about a worldwide threat of mutant, nearly inextinguishable germs puts life on earth in a new perspective. I can't wait to read the sequel...but I won't spoil it by revealing why.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Action packed

I love pretty much all of the Sigma series books and this one is no exception. I enjoy how the author puts it all together and how the details unfold.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Grabs the reader but lets you down

The plot idea is dramatic and interesting but to the reader the story line becomes lost until the very end. Without engaging you with the characters and their subplots it becomes all about the plot. By the end of the book you really don't care either way about any of the characters because you know very little about them. It was an interesting premise in which to base a story on but the fantasy element lost me in the end.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

WOW

This was my first James Rollins read and it was just fantastic!! I did not want to put it down and that is a great thing. I'm definately going to read his other books now.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great Read

Rollins' mix of science and fiction make the page turning plot and dynamic characters even more fun to follow. Once you start reading, you'll be on he edge of your seat and hard pressed to set this book down.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

James Rollins makes the cut with The Judas Strain

The experiences one can have with a James Rollins novel seems to fluctuate between every novel that he writes. While Rollins stroke gold with his thriller Map of Bones, he blemished any solid reputation he earned from that title with the underwhelming Black Order. So, it would be a given then that one should be skeptical about his latest project. However, it is quite a relief to inform you that James Rollins has indeed crafted a thrilling little piece of escapist fiction in the form of the Judas Strain.

The Judas Strain starts off with a series of seemingly random events throughout the world; a vacationing couple become infected by a nasty little disease, a museum curator gets killed, and a motorcyclist crashes into lead character Commander Gray Pierce's garage (Pierce being, for newcomers to Rollin's stories, a covert operative for SIGMA, a secret branch of the United State's DARPA program).

But surprise, because all of these events are all connected, as each event was a result of the appearance of an incredibly lethal bacteria in the oceans that drive people insane and makes them glow in the dark. Um... right, maybe Mr. Rollins had a bit too much to drink when he came up with this one.

However, the action soon picks up as Commander Pierce and a handful of other characters,including femme fatale and Map of Bones star Seichan, start up on a journey to discover the location of Marco Polo's lost fleet of ships, as they conveniently contain the means to acquire the vaccine for this global threat.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the plot to this novel is a bit far fetched. Not as far fetched to the level of Map of Bone's supersonic gold radiation mass murder, but it's still up there with the odd bunch.

Nevertheless, Rollins does an amazing job of drawing the reader in with his expert storytelling ability. He knows how to keep the reader engaged without resorting to the Dan Brown cliche of a cliffhanger every other chapter. The suspense that is built up throughout the novel will keep you up reading well into the night. The way in which Rollins conveys his story is masterful; even the "boring" bits of the book have this almost uncanny level of tension about them.

However, The Judas Strain doesn't delve much deeper than delivering a piece of escapist fiction. The standard Rollins theme of "modern technology comes from understanding the past" comes out in full force here, and the novel doesn't really bring anything fundamentally new to the literary table.

Also, James Rollins needs to work on developing his characters to match the well done characters of Commander Gray Pierce and his enemy/comrade in arms/love interest Seichan. Rollins portrays Pierce as a man torn between duty and emotions constantly throughout the book, and constantly places Pierce in situations that mess with the readers emotions. Rollins goal was to have Commander Pierce be a memorable, likable character, and he succeeded in spades. By the end of the novel, he is a much deeper, sentimental character than he was at the beginning.

So while The Judas Strain may not reinvent the escapist fiction wheel and may absolutely confuse some with it's over the top plot, Rollin's excellent writing style conveys a sense of tension not often seen in literature and that alone is worth reading the book for. It's not the best book out there, and Map of Bones still trumps it, but the Judas Strain is a solid read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Another Solid Effort

Rollins just continues to role them out. Another delightful read blending "it could happen" with life's realities.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very intriguing, but confused by the ending....

I listened to the audio book twice and would love to know what others think happened to Susan at the end. Obviously she was transformed but I didnt really get what was actually happening to her or the others around her. I'd love to hear anyone's theories. Feel free to email me.

Otherwise I loved the idea that Monk may have survived. A great read!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book

Love the puzzle and bits of history behind the entire book amd series. Definitely reccomend this book and series.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Could not put it down!!!

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Highly Recommended - you must check it out!!

Highly Recommended - you must check it out!!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Sigma is at it again!

Enjoyed this book...Always look forward to the Sigma series. I have become a Huge fan of these books!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

my Dad

My dad bought this book so I am not sure how it is sorry

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.