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Sigma Force #6.5
The Skeleton Key
From New York Times bestselling author James Rollins comes a thrilling short story that delves deep beneath the city of Paris to a dark necropolis, where the only means for escape is…The Skeleton Key.
Seichan is ripped out of the Sigma series for an adventure all her own—but can she survive? The beautiful and elusive assassin wakes in a hotel in Paris with a deadly electronic collar fastened to her throat. Joined by a boy who is similarly threatened, she must rescue the son of a hated enemy, who has fallen under the sway of the nefarious leader of an apocalyptic cult. To survive, she must venture into the dark world beneath the City of Lights, into the infamous catacombs of Paris. Caught between two enemies, she must fight for her life…while time ticks down toward a fiery apocalypse. But in the dark, surrounded by the moldering bones of the dead, even success does not equal survival. In the end, the only true hope for the world lies in a stunning act of betrayal.
Included with this short story is a sneak peek at the first 70 pages of The Devil Colony, where a clue unlocked by The Skeleton Key will play a key role.
Seichan is ripped out of the Sigma series for an adventure all her own—but can she survive? The beautiful and elusive assassin wakes in a hotel in Paris with a deadly electronic collar fastened to her throat. Joined by a boy who is similarly threatened, she must rescue the son of a hated enemy, who has fallen under the sway of the nefarious leader of an apocalyptic cult. To survive, she must venture into the dark world beneath the City of Lights, into the infamous catacombs of Paris. Caught between two enemies, she must fight for her life…while time ticks down toward a fiery apocalypse. But in the dark, surrounded by the moldering bones of the dead, even success does not equal survival. In the end, the only true hope for the world lies in a stunning act of betrayal.
Included with this short story is a sneak peek at the first 70 pages of The Devil Colony, where a clue unlocked by The Skeleton Key will play a key role.
48 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2011
About the author
James Rollins
90 books13.6k followersJames 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 two furry companions, Echo and Charlie. 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
April 18, 2022
I listened to The Skeleton Key, a short story written by James Rollins as part of his Sigma Force series. I rarely listen to audiobooks but wanted to try one again, and I figured an action adventure would be perfect. This story focused on Seichan, an assassin who's both helped and hurt then Sigma Force team in the past. I happen to think she's pretty cool, even though she's done some bad things. Overall, she has a heart, and she's suffered a lot. In this installment, the scary assassin wakes up with a metal collar around her neck that's set to kill her in a few hours unless she does something. But who did it to her? Her quest takes us to the Catacombs below Paris, and I loved every minute of it. The narrator was fantastic. I sped it up to 1.25 to encourage even more drama and action-oriented scenes. It took about 40 minutes to listen to and kept my attention, which is a rare thing on audiobooks. I prefer to make up my own voices and tones. All that said, a great in-between short story when you're missing the characters because it takes at least a year for each new book to come out.
October 26, 2023
Not a bad in-between Sigma story added later I think by the author.
December 18, 2020
Seichan wakes up with a shock collar around her neck and two hours to stop a doomsday cult from blowing up Paris. Thus begins an underground adventure among the catacombs. Even though Seichan has left the Guild at this point, she's very much the cut throat Seichan I love. Leads into The Devil Colony
June 29, 2022
Seichan's story. Read in Unrestricted Access: New and Classic Short Fiction
July 2, 2011
A nice diversion and warmup for the new Sigma Force novel. Here Siechan tries to find out more about the ever elusive Guild she used to work for, (who now wants her dead.) For this information she must rescue a professors son from an occult group plotting to blow up Paris. We get to see more of Seichan's skills as she scours the tombs underneath Paris in order to stop the cult of the sun.
November 21, 2018
Seichan has a great adventure in the catacombs of Paris.
June 1, 2011
I can't believe it has been so long since the last Sigma Force book. But as Writers and Publishers all know the reasons series books are so popular is that it is refreshing to start a new book with characters from past stories and it is almost like catching up with long lost friends.
James Rollins is a terrific writer! If I ever get half as successful as he is through my writing I will have been blessed beyond my belief.
This was an E-book teaser to lead up to the beginning of his newest novel which is to be released this month. If you haven't read any of his Sigma Force Novels I would highly suggest any and ALL of them!!!
I didn't rate it 5 stars because I have read every thing I know of the Mr. Rollins has written and his work gets better and better. One of the primary reasons I idolize his work. As a prolific reader before I became a writer myself I have seen too many writers create new stories with the same format as their previous works. Many more who just rise to a successful level and remain there. Mr. Rollins through his research, descriptions, building of suspense, and imagination continually pushes his own high standards higher with each successive work. I imagine it will get harder and harder to top his previous works, but if anybody can, He will!! That's why the fifth star is not marked because I know he will hit that level. As I have graded books rather harshly it is because of the fine literature and works I had the pleasure of reading over the years, that I know good writing when I read it.
James Rollins is a terrific writer! If I ever get half as successful as he is through my writing I will have been blessed beyond my belief.
This was an E-book teaser to lead up to the beginning of his newest novel which is to be released this month. If you haven't read any of his Sigma Force Novels I would highly suggest any and ALL of them!!!
I didn't rate it 5 stars because I have read every thing I know of the Mr. Rollins has written and his work gets better and better. One of the primary reasons I idolize his work. As a prolific reader before I became a writer myself I have seen too many writers create new stories with the same format as their previous works. Many more who just rise to a successful level and remain there. Mr. Rollins through his research, descriptions, building of suspense, and imagination continually pushes his own high standards higher with each successive work. I imagine it will get harder and harder to top his previous works, but if anybody can, He will!! That's why the fifth star is not marked because I know he will hit that level. As I have graded books rather harshly it is because of the fine literature and works I had the pleasure of reading over the years, that I know good writing when I read it.
February 12, 2017
It really is a short story, took about 20 minutes to read it. I'm just craving James Rollins now!
June 29, 2011
Bestselling author James Rollins’ SIGMA series features a number of popular and powerful characters that readers have become quite attached to, and none is more interesting than the beautiful and mysterious Seichan. In this short story exclusive, “The Skeleton Key,” readers get to see Seichan working on a solo mission that she never intended to get involved in.
Seichan wakes up to find herself in hotel room in Paris; she’s been knocked out with something unknown and has no memory of how she got here. Then there’s the strange electronic collar around her neck that can’t been detached and seems like it may contain an explosive device. In the room is also a stranger, a Scottish boy also wearing a collar who doesn’t know how he got there either. Then she gets the call from an old enemy, one who is involved with the clandestine Guild which Seichan used to work for and is now trying hard to bring down and stop. In return for her freedom and an important document, she must find this man’s son, alive.
Her journey will take her deep into the catacombs of Paris, filled with history and stories of death, secrecy, and in this case an apocalyptic cult. Using her new friend’s knowledge of this cult which his girlfriend is involved with, and the map tattooed on his back, she hopes to find this cult and put a stop to whatever they’re doing, before someone decides to trigger the bomb attached to her throat.
Rollins delivers classic action, thrill and intrigue, along with a fascinating history lesson into the dark necropolis beneath beautiful Paris, which will keep readers hooked to the very end. Plus there’s some important story hear, as Seichan is provided with an important clue, leading up to Rollins’ next SIGMA book, Devil Colony, due out June 21st.
Originally written on May 30, 2011 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, and exclusive interviews, go to BookBanter
Seichan wakes up to find herself in hotel room in Paris; she’s been knocked out with something unknown and has no memory of how she got here. Then there’s the strange electronic collar around her neck that can’t been detached and seems like it may contain an explosive device. In the room is also a stranger, a Scottish boy also wearing a collar who doesn’t know how he got there either. Then she gets the call from an old enemy, one who is involved with the clandestine Guild which Seichan used to work for and is now trying hard to bring down and stop. In return for her freedom and an important document, she must find this man’s son, alive.
Her journey will take her deep into the catacombs of Paris, filled with history and stories of death, secrecy, and in this case an apocalyptic cult. Using her new friend’s knowledge of this cult which his girlfriend is involved with, and the map tattooed on his back, she hopes to find this cult and put a stop to whatever they’re doing, before someone decides to trigger the bomb attached to her throat.
Rollins delivers classic action, thrill and intrigue, along with a fascinating history lesson into the dark necropolis beneath beautiful Paris, which will keep readers hooked to the very end. Plus there’s some important story hear, as Seichan is provided with an important clue, leading up to Rollins’ next SIGMA book, Devil Colony, due out June 21st.
Originally written on May 30, 2011 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, and exclusive interviews, go to BookBanter
July 2, 2011
I enjoyed this a lot. It was nice to see Seichan on her own and even the teen she had to take along with her wasn't irritation or panicky. He turned out to be a good ally for her in this side adventure. I liked how she had her regret over the car. Very in character and a nice nod by Rollins, showing he hasn't forgotten anything about this complicated character who usually is anything but predictable - and proved again just how unpredictable and ruthless she can be.
June 10, 2011
Seichan stars in her own adventure. Marvelous.
Alas, it left me hanging. Most appetizers do. They're good, they whet your appetite; prepare you for the main course. In this case, that's the Devil Colony out on June 21st.
Yes, I've already pre-ordered it.
And no, there's no clue there whatsoever about who Commander Pierce was with the last night we saw him.
Alas, it left me hanging. Most appetizers do. They're good, they whet your appetite; prepare you for the main course. In this case, that's the Devil Colony out on June 21st.
Yes, I've already pre-ordered it.
And no, there's no clue there whatsoever about who Commander Pierce was with the last night we saw him.
May 12, 2022
Credente, artista o serial killer? Forse tutte e tre le cose...
Caccia al leader di una setta che ha rapito il figlio di un pezzo grosso, il componente di una organizzazione terroristica da cui la protagonista sta scappando.
Baratto di informazioni e di vite.
Buona l’ambientazione nel sottosuolo (tra cui le catacombe) di Parigi e i personaggi che lo popolano, argomento che meriterebbe un approfondimento.
L’idea non è male, ma... è veramente troppo breve per poterlo valutare meglio.
Nota: Il racconto occupa solo il 46% della pubblicazione, il restante 54% non è altro che l’anteprima di un romanzo in uscita (era il 2017!); nel mio caso si tratta de “La settima piaga” di cui ho letto qualche brano, tra l’altro molto intrigante.
💬 Parola del mese (mag/22): sole
🌎 LdM - Sfida 2022: Avventura
✍️ JR
Caccia al leader di una setta che ha rapito il figlio di un pezzo grosso, il componente di una organizzazione terroristica da cui la protagonista sta scappando.
Baratto di informazioni e di vite.
Buona l’ambientazione nel sottosuolo (tra cui le catacombe) di Parigi e i personaggi che lo popolano, argomento che meriterebbe un approfondimento.
L’idea non è male, ma... è veramente troppo breve per poterlo valutare meglio.
Nota: Il racconto occupa solo il 46% della pubblicazione, il restante 54% non è altro che l’anteprima di un romanzo in uscita (era il 2017!); nel mio caso si tratta de “La settima piaga” di cui ho letto qualche brano, tra l’altro molto intrigante.
💬 Parola del mese (mag/22): sole
🌎 LdM - Sfida 2022: Avventura
✍️ JR
January 8, 2020
3.5 Stars
The Skeleton Key was an enjoyable, fast-paced read that follows one of my favorite characters in the SIGMA Force series.
Seichan, a ruthless assassin, heads to Paris to uncover information about her elusive former employer only to end up in a hotel with a deadly electronic collar around her throat. Forced to save the son of her enemy, Seichan is in a race against the clock before her time runs out. Accompanied by a young man forced into the same situation, Seichan heads for the catacombs under the city to rescue the man whose fate is tied to her own.
The plot in this book moves along at a quick pace with a good mix of action and suspense. The story begins with Seichan waking up and discovering her predicament and from there things escalate quickly. I enjoyed watching Seichan being forced to work with someone so far removed from her normal life and having to rely on someone when that simply isn’t Seichan’s style. My one complaint about the story was that I felt it should have been longer in order to flesh out the plot a bit more as some things happen off page that I would have liked to see. The ending of the book though is perfectly done and fits with the way we know Seichan would handle a situation.
Overall while I had wished the story was longer, I enjoyed The Skeleton Key and would recommend it to fans of the series.
The Skeleton Key was an enjoyable, fast-paced read that follows one of my favorite characters in the SIGMA Force series.
Seichan, a ruthless assassin, heads to Paris to uncover information about her elusive former employer only to end up in a hotel with a deadly electronic collar around her throat. Forced to save the son of her enemy, Seichan is in a race against the clock before her time runs out. Accompanied by a young man forced into the same situation, Seichan heads for the catacombs under the city to rescue the man whose fate is tied to her own.
The plot in this book moves along at a quick pace with a good mix of action and suspense. The story begins with Seichan waking up and discovering her predicament and from there things escalate quickly. I enjoyed watching Seichan being forced to work with someone so far removed from her normal life and having to rely on someone when that simply isn’t Seichan’s style. My one complaint about the story was that I felt it should have been longer in order to flesh out the plot a bit more as some things happen off page that I would have liked to see. The ending of the book though is perfectly done and fits with the way we know Seichan would handle a situation.
Overall while I had wished the story was longer, I enjoyed The Skeleton Key and would recommend it to fans of the series.
February 17, 2014
Seichan wakes up in a hotel with a neck bomb fastened to her, with another teenager similarly enslaved. A man threatens to kill them unless they rescue his son from a cult operating in the catacombs of Paris. Too short to give readers a chance to understand Seichan's character, the Guild, or the plot.
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September 9, 2017Entertaining since it is a Sigma Series...
May 19, 2019
Pokušavam čitati Lolitu kao zadatak za Book Club, al mi ne ide. U zadnje vrijeme ne mogu čitati teške i komplicirane knjige jer me deprimiraju. Zato sam uzela ovo, a Lolita nek čeka bolje dane.
Ispostavilo se da je ovo samo jedna sasvim kratka priča, ništa posebno, ali je važna za daljnju radnju. Tako da odmah prelazim na idući nastavak serijala Sigma Force - The Devil Colony.
Ispostavilo se da je ovo samo jedna sasvim kratka priča, ništa posebno, ali je važna za daljnju radnju. Tako da odmah prelazim na idući nastavak serijala Sigma Force - The Devil Colony.
August 26, 2022
I don't care for spy novels, cults, and heavy lawyer/court books. This had cults. I gave it a 3, but probably should have been a 2. (A 2 for it was ok, just not for me) It was short and semi interesting, so I gave it a 3.
August 10, 2020
A bit hard to place in the larger storyline, but entertaining all in all.
July 16, 2024
I'd give it 3&1/2 stars.
September 18, 2022
2.5 stars.
August 16, 2014
From New York Times bestselling author James Rollins comes a thrilling short story that delves deep beneath the city of Paris to a dark necropolis, where the only means for escape is…The Skeleton Key.
Seichan is ripped out of the Sigma series for an adventure all her own—but can she survive? The beautiful and elusive assassin wakes in a hotel in Paris with a deadly electronic collar fastened to her throat. Joined by a boy who is similarly threatened, she must rescue the son of a hated enemy, who has fallen under the sway of the nefarious leader of an apocalyptic cult. To survive, she must venture into the dark world beneath the City of Lights, into the infamous catacombs of Paris. Caught between two enemies, she must fight for her life…while time ticks down toward a fiery apocalypse. But in the dark, surrounded by the moldering bones of the dead, even success does not equal survival. In the end, the only true hope for the world lies in a stunning act of betrayal.
Included with this short story is a sneak peek at the first 70 pages of The Devil Colony, where a clue unlocked by The Skeleton Key will play a key role.
Review"Terrible secrets, the sweep of history, an epic canvas, breathless action...nobody--and I mean nobody--does this stuff better than Rollins." (Lee Child on The Devil Colony)
From the AuthorAbout James Rollins
JAMES ROLLINS is the New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers that have been translated into more than forty languages. Known for unveiling unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets, Rollins' knack for breakneck pacing and stunning originality has been hailed by critics and embraced by scores of millions of readers around the world.
The Critics Rave
The New York Times says that his "roguish charm comes from his efforts to persuade readers the story is credible [through] real-life sources for his novel's science, history and geography." Rollins' rare blend of action, suspense, and knowledge was also mentioned by the Huffington Post, which stated that "After Crichton passed away in 2008 he clearly passed the baton to James Rollins, who like Crichton, is a renaissance man."
NPR calls his work "adventurous and enormously engrossing..." and the New York Journal of Books had this to say: "If you're a fan of smart, entertaining adventure fiction, this is your summer beach read writ large....All the science, all the history, and all the locations are masterfully intertwined. The characters are multi-dimensional. And the story is, well, a corker."
The Story Teller's Story
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. This hands-on knowledge of medicine and science helps shape the research and scientific speculation that set James Rollins books apart.
Explosive Page-Turning Adventures
The exotic locales of James Rollins novels have emerged as a hybrid between imagination, research, and his extensive travels throughout the United States and Europe, as well as New Zealand, the South Pacific, China, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America. Recent jaunts include book tours and stops across the country and several European nations to give talks, seminars, and media interviews. In recent years, much of James' travel has involved meeting readers in small and large groups, at writing and fan conferences, and even aboard seagoing "seminars." James' mentoring and coaching skills have made him a sought after writing instructor and guest speaker for workshops, symposia, conventions, and other forums throughout the country.
James Rollins is the author of nine thrillers in the bestselling Sigma Force series (Sandstorm, Map of Bones, Black Order, The Judas Strain, The Last Oracle, The Doomsday Key, The Devil Colony, Bloodline, and The Eye of God); six individual adventure thrillers; and the Jake Ransom middle grade series (Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow, Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx.)
July 8, 2017
If you’re looking for a quick read to kill a 40 minute commute, look no further. Skeleton Key is James Rollins’ equivalent of a “monster of the week” story, where Seichan tries to escape a trap laid by people by her past.
The TL;DR version is that Seichan is ambushed in Paris and winds up in a mix of the films Saw and Taken. Seichan wakes up in a hotel room with an electrocution collar around her neck, and her only clue to get out of there is a 20-something named Remy with a ridiculous map of the Catacombs tattooed on his body. They have to foil a cult and stop a bombing of the city, or their heads go kaboom! Naturally, Seichan foils the plot and lives to troll the Guild another day.
If I had to describe this short story in two words they would be “rushed” and “easy”. Everything came too easy to Seichan, and it all felt like it was over in the blink of an eye. Seichan wakes up with a bomb wired to her, and two seconds later she’s deep in the Catacombs and has managed to stop a cult leader from blowing up half of Paris. We don’t even get to hear how the bomb was deactivated, it’s just a case of Seichan finding it and all the grunt work occurring off screen.
What came after that was interesting, though. In spite of saving the day, Seichan’s kidnapper attempts to reneg on his word and blow her up - only to find that she’s switched the collars and he unintentionally just blew up his own son! I would have killed (no pun intended) to get a glimpse into his psyche at that point in time, to witness the grief and despair flitting through his mind!
Overall: It’s a fun, quick read, but don’t expect it to add too much to the Sigma universe. It’s a “monster of the week” type story with a mysterious briefcase that may come into play later, but you can certainly get by without reading this.
The TL;DR version is that Seichan is ambushed in Paris and winds up in a mix of the films Saw and Taken. Seichan wakes up in a hotel room with an electrocution collar around her neck, and her only clue to get out of there is a 20-something named Remy with a ridiculous map of the Catacombs tattooed on his body. They have to foil a cult and stop a bombing of the city, or their heads go kaboom! Naturally, Seichan foils the plot and lives to troll the Guild another day.
If I had to describe this short story in two words they would be “rushed” and “easy”. Everything came too easy to Seichan, and it all felt like it was over in the blink of an eye. Seichan wakes up with a bomb wired to her, and two seconds later she’s deep in the Catacombs and has managed to stop a cult leader from blowing up half of Paris. We don’t even get to hear how the bomb was deactivated, it’s just a case of Seichan finding it and all the grunt work occurring off screen.
What came after that was interesting, though. In spite of saving the day, Seichan’s kidnapper attempts to reneg on his word and blow her up - only to find that she’s switched the collars and he unintentionally just blew up his own son! I would have killed (no pun intended) to get a glimpse into his psyche at that point in time, to witness the grief and despair flitting through his mind!
Overall: It’s a fun, quick read, but don’t expect it to add too much to the Sigma universe. It’s a “monster of the week” type story with a mysterious briefcase that may come into play later, but you can certainly get by without reading this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2016
When I was in high school the teacher stated that short stories are harder to write. You may ask why? Well for one the plot usually centers around one theme and subplots are kept to a minimum. This story is quite interesting but for me it was not great. It is worth the read because it can be read in one sitting and the author at the end of the story shares some of his secrets or reasons why he included what and why he did not include something else. The Skeleton Key for me was like a warm up to a bigger and greater story and this author has really written some real thrillers! If you are a fan than I suggest it is worth a read. SO enjoy! I sure did and will read another of his stories quite soon.
March 3, 2016
I am not a big fan of short stories that lead to larger novels. I feel that you should put both stories in the novel to make it complete. That being said, this starts what I think is going to be a good book. The next book in the series looks like a very good book that will pick up on this story. In The Skeleton Key, James Rollins sets up Sechen in a hotel where she has been tranquilized and an electric shock collar had been put around her neck. She receives a call telling her what she needs to do to get the collar off and the reward that she will get if she succeeds.
May 5, 2020
More!
Love to read more about the Paris Catacombs. Perfect setting for a thriller to take place. On to The Devil's Colony
Love to read more about the Paris Catacombs. Perfect setting for a thriller to take place. On to The Devil's Colony
October 18, 2018
well hello, seichan
nice car
nice car
February 1, 2023
The Skeleton Key is a thrilling short story featuring characters from the Sigma Series that delves deep beneath the city of Paris to a dark necropolis, where the only means for escape is…The Skeleton Key. Seichan is ripped out of the Sigma series for an adventure all her own—but can she survive? The beautiful and elusive assassin wakes in a hotel in Paris with a deadly electronic collar fastened to her throat. Joined by a boy who is similarly threatened, she must rescue the son of a hated enemy, who has fallen under the sway of the nefarious leader of an apocalyptic cult. To survive, she must venture into the dark world beneath the City of Lights, into the infamous catacombs of Paris. Caught between two enemies, she must fight for her life…while time ticks down toward a fiery apocalypse. But in the dark, surrounded by the moldering bones of the dead, even success does not equal survival. In the end, the only true hope for the world lies in a stunning act of betrayal.
The Skeleton Key takes the readers on a journey filled with twists and turns. Mr. Rollins masterfully blends history, science, and action to create a fast-paced and exciting story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The characters are well-developed and the plot is expertly crafted, with unexpected surprises and heart-pumping action.
Overall, The Skeleton Key is a must-read for fans of Sigma Series. With its captivating storytelling and page-turning pace, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers.
The Skeleton Key takes the readers on a journey filled with twists and turns. Mr. Rollins masterfully blends history, science, and action to create a fast-paced and exciting story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The characters are well-developed and the plot is expertly crafted, with unexpected surprises and heart-pumping action.
Overall, The Skeleton Key is a must-read for fans of Sigma Series. With its captivating storytelling and page-turning pace, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers.
August 13, 2021
I don’t usually go in for short stories and novellas but this is a good sampling of James Rollins for new readers. A while back I read a ‘Sigma Force’ novel (Black Order) and wasn’t impressed. There was far too much cliché ‘Black Ops’, ‘Navy Seal’, ‘Special Forces’ jargon -- typical American military hoo-haa.
However, this collection of twelve stories is varied and interesting. The principal story (Skeleton Key) takes the reader into the catacombs under Paris. The other stories are set all over the place, which makes the collection worth a look. The stories are not great but they give insight into creative forces behind Rollins’ writing. I was intending to sideline Rollins after 'Black Order' but now I’m intrigued enough to look into a few more of his books.
James Rollins introduces each story and the introductions are fascinating in themselves because they let the reader know many of the other things he spends his time thinking about. They give insight into the things that lie behind his other novels, which will help me decide the books I might consider and which I’m probably going to avoid.
However, this collection of twelve stories is varied and interesting. The principal story (Skeleton Key) takes the reader into the catacombs under Paris. The other stories are set all over the place, which makes the collection worth a look. The stories are not great but they give insight into creative forces behind Rollins’ writing. I was intending to sideline Rollins after 'Black Order' but now I’m intrigued enough to look into a few more of his books.
James Rollins introduces each story and the introductions are fascinating in themselves because they let the reader know many of the other things he spends his time thinking about. They give insight into the things that lie behind his other novels, which will help me decide the books I might consider and which I’m probably going to avoid.
June 22, 2018
Seichan is ripped out of the Sigma series for an adventure all her own—but can she survive? The beautiful and elusive assassin wakes in a hotel in Paris with a deadly electronic collar fastened to her throat. Joined by a boy who is similarly threatened, she must rescue the son of a hated enemy, who has fallen under the sway of the nefarious leader of an apocalyptic cult. To survive, she must venture into the dark world beneath the City of Lights, into the infamous catacombs of Paris. Caught between two enemies, she must fight for her life…while time ticks down toward a fiery apocalypse. But in the dark, surrounded by the moldering bones of the dead, even success does not equal survival. In the end, the only true hope for the world lies in a stunning act of betraya
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