Book Reviews of Map of Bones

Wow! This novel grabbed me the scruff of the neck from the first paragraph and never let go! James Rollins is at his best right here. The non-stop action and the tension build and build until the very end. Rollins has a talent for making even the most obscure scientific information easy to understand. You don't feel like you are being lectured or talked down to. The research involved is immense, and the rich descriptions of chapels, churches and temples is wonderful.
It's a true treasure hunt, with riddles wrapped in clues. This is a wonderful ride, fast and furious, and Rollins takes you right along for the ride!

What a wonderful book. The only thing that kept me from giving it a total five stars was I'm not familiar with the Catholic church and some of the places were a little hard for me to follow. But it's well-written, I was able to visualize the action scenes easily and the concept is just absolutely fascinating.

Action never stops...great story...good character exploration...story line is fabulous.......what a ride...you will like this book if you are a fan of rollicking high adventure!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a book that I could not put down. It started a little slow, maybe for about 40 pages, but then the other 400 had you in it's grip. Very plausible story line, with enough twist and turns to make even the most adept mystery sleuth shaking his/her head. I read this book in two days, and wished for more. Presently reading another work by this author and definitely going to look for more.

This was a fast reading, action packed adventure along the lines of the DaVinci Code or National Treasure. Believable characters, a plausible storyline that was interesting and only kind of 'out there'. You could really lose yourself in this book, I loved how it switched in and out on characters quickly, it really built up the suspense. Fun read!

I was forewarned that this book was written along the same lines of The DaVinci Code and should have avoided it. As a Christian, I was severely disappointed with the author's 2-page comparison of the similarities between Christianity and Mithra. This resulted in me tossing the book aside with no intention of continuing to read a book written by an author who believes Christianity is merely a duplication of some Roman myth.

action-packed. It's like The Da Vinci Code, but better.

All the puzzles and mystery of Dan Brown, but with some action. If you like religion-themed puzzle/treasure map stories, you'll probably like this book.

Personally, I much preferred this book over "The DaVinci Code" -- more and better action sequences. A lot less believable as anything that could *actually* happen, but a very interesting, fast-paced, and fun read.

Excellent face paced read. The first of the Sigma Force Series left me hanging in the end for the next book. The team is sent chasing after a treasure hidden from Alexander the Great, and the Magi from Christ's birth...much like Tomb Raider.

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.

Not a bad action ride a'tall a'tall.

Great Book! Look forward to more Of James Rollins' books. Even better than The Di Vinci Code!!!!

Interesting book. However, too much action; comando squads. Same ones doing the same
things over and over. Very interesting plot.

Adventure-packed story much like Angels & Demons. Part of a series.

Quite an exciting thriller! Will keep your attention of you like fast-paced action. For a good entertaining read and pretty good research of the times, facts, you will find it lots of fun and worth the time.
/j/

Another fine Rollins adventure! This one introduces the SIGMA Force, a highly secret U.S. special service who act when deniability is a MUST.

From back cover:
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 turmois, 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.

This is a great book. It keeps you intrigued.

Ancient mysteries revealed in this non stop quest from Rome to Egypt to France and the forces of good don't manage to stay one step ahead of the cruel villains set on finding corrupting and manipulating ancient powers for evil purposes. How can the special ops hero and the gorgeous Italian lieutenant escape capture and torture (repeatedly) to save the world? Robert Ludlum meets Dan Brown only better!!! Hey, I couldn't put it down till the last page turned!

This was a great read.

James Rollins is an EXCELLENT writer. All of the books I've read so far are brilliant in their plotting, action and characters. This is true of this book. A lot of scientific information that at times can be hard to follow but this book is well worth the time. Don't miss it.

A good thriller/mystery

like one of the reviews says "it's better than Davinci Code"
much better written and faster paced

A pretty good story, not the best that I have read but not bad.... worth the time and...

Great read!

A toned down version of the Davinci Code.

In the mold of "The DaVinci Code" this is a thriller about special forces operatives dealing with a terrifying secret order. A good read.

Plenty of action, kept me hooked right 'til the end.

Combines scientific & special forces for mystery

Excellent thriller. Keeps you reading.

I enjoyed this book. James Rollins is an author I have just recently discovered and all of his stories have a quality that I find hard to resist, page after page.

Decent...interesting but too far-fetched.

Very thrilling read - right up there with DaVinci Code!

I love James Rollins, but this was more of a spy-action book than a scientific thriller. Still good, just different from his others.

***** He write like Dan Brown - If you like "Angels and Demons" and "The DaVinci Code" you should enjoy Rollins "Map of Bones."

With the Vatican in turmoil, SIGMA Force leasps into action. An elite team of scientific and Special Forces operatives under the command ofGrayson Pierce and Lieutenant Rachel Verona, 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. Science and religion unite to unleash a horror not seen since the beginning of time.

This was a good book.

Similar to the Da Vinci Code, a religious based thriller by a very readable author.

Intriguing read. Obviously taking advantage of the Da Vinci code phenomena but good none the less. Lots of twists and turns.

Awesome Read!

amazing. i can't believe i'm going to part with it.

I love when history is woven into fiction...and this has a lot of that.Takes one back to the Vatican while SIGMA Forces w/Rachel Verona of Rome's carabinieri and her priest uncle, a Vatican "secret agent"...are trying to find solve the mystery of a secret order and several murders. Very entertaining...well written.

During a crowded service at a cathedral in Germany armed intruders in monk's robes unleash a nightmare of blood and destruction.

It was alright but I found the storyline to be a cheap knockoff of the Dan Brown phenomena of Religious intrique and secret societies.The characters needed more depth. Formulaic.

great mystery/thriller

A great thriller and peaks interest in the early history of cathology, religious myths and legends.

James Rollins is an excellent writer. His stories are interesting and complex.

This book is of the type Indiana Jones with all the turns and twists
Adding a little Mission Impossible overtures makes for one tasty read

If you like Dan Brown, you'll probably like Rollins. Unlike Brown, his books are lighter and more fantastical. Definitely a fun read.

A real page turner. Follow the action in a race to decipher clues left by an ancient society of magi.

Very exciting and a great mystrey.

Adventure with more twist and turns than a mountain highway.

A good book about the mythical properties of the bones of the three wisemen

If you enjoyed reading Timeline, the DaVinci Code, or Angels and Demons, you won't be able to put this one down until you've read through to the last page. The action is non-stop, and the topics of science and religion are a bit complicated, but the story is worth delving into. So well written you will feel right in the middle of all the action.

Great adventure book!

Face paced! Rollins is a more fun storyteller than DaVinci Codes Dan Brown. Face paced. Great balance of future science, religious history, and action.

Great read. None stop action.

Excellent book!

A mysterious biblical object, nefarious Vatican spies and a deadly centuries-old religious cabal—sound familiar? Sacramento veterinarian Rollins offers more Da Vinci Code–style thrills for the seriously addicted. In this seventh outing, hooded men invade midnight mass at the Cologne Cathedral and slaughter almost everyone present, then break open a gold sarcophagus and steal... the bones of the Three Wise Men. Grayson Pierce, top agent in the Department of Defense's covert Sigma Force, takes a team to Rome, joins up with love-interest Rachel Verona, a carabinieri corps lieutenant, and her Vatican official uncle, Vigot. It seems that the Dragon Court, a medieval alchemical cult-cell that still operates within the Catholic Church, is to blame, and it also seems that the bones of the Magi aren't really bones, but the highly reactive Monatomic gold that the group plans to use to accomplish its ultimate goal—Armegeddon.

Better than "The DaVinci Code".

A kind of hard read but very interesting...a thriller

During a crowded service at a cathedral in Germany, armed intruders in monks robes unleash a nightmare. But the killers have not come for the gold; they seek a more valuaable prize; the bones of the Magi who once paid tribute to the saviour....a treasure that could reshape the world.

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.

A lot of action in this book. If you like James Rollins, you'll love it.

James Rollins continues with the action!!!!!!!!!

A great thriller. The plot was a little Dan Brown-esque, centering around the bones of the Magi. I thought the plot was really creative and the action was fun to read. It reminded me of Clive Cussler a little, or maybe Clancy without being so technical. A fun, fast paced read.

Gets better as it goes along.

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 saviour...a treasure that could reshape the world.

Great, fast-paced read. Better than Dan Brown's books.

Not the cover I have!

Excellent Summer read!!Reminded me of the movie "National Treasure" with Nicholas Cage. Good plot line, fast pace. Another Rollins you MUST read!!

Very entertaining.

This was a really good book. A cross between Mission Impossible and The DaVinci Code

i really wanted to like this book. in fact, i went over my 100 page rule.
it is politiacal/religion thriller post DaVinci Code.
it is on the best seller list but not my cup of tea!

Fast-moving, reads like a cross between DaVinci Code and a Tom Clancy novel.

A great international archeological thriller in the style of the Da Vinci Code albeit without the controversy.

DaVinci Code type book. Very good.

wih the vatican in turmoil, SIGMA force leaps into action. an elite team of scientici and special forces operative under the command of Grayson Pierce and accompanied by Lieutenant Rachel Verona of Rmos 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.

James Rollins just keeps getting better - this was pretty good. It's a thriller, a la The Da Vinci Code, involving US Special Forces, the Vatican, the Magi, and some really nasty villains. Lots of fun science and Biblical mythology made me feel like I might actually have learned something, too. Having plowed through everthing written by favorites Preston and Child, Rollins has kept me entertained for many nights. This book does have faults -- why does he need a ridiculous romance? - but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

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