Map of Bones (Giveaway Points Post)

Map of Bones
by James Rollins
pub: April 2006
560 pages

Giveaway ALERT! If you've already entered the contest, a comment on this post (within 5 days of post date) gets you 2 extra entries in our MegaBook Giveaway. If you haven't entered yet, go to the contest post (or click on the contest link on the upper right sidebar) to learn about the giveaway and enter! Good luck!

During a crowded service at a cathedral in Germany, armed intruder in monks' 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 Lt. 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 a secret order. For there are those with dark plans for the stolen sacred remains what will alter the future of humankind...when science and religion unite to unleash a horror not seen since the beginning of time.

Great fun around the world on a fabulous adventure with some super spies and lots of action is what you'll get with Map of Bones. Rollins has a lot of fun weaving in biblical lore, ancient myth, and actual events into an engaging story full of history, mystery, reality and fantasy.

The characters are interesting, smart and very kick-butt. The tale keeps racing along you tour around the world and follow the clues to unveil the complicated plot that includes a nefarious ancient secret society. I loved reading about the different famous places around the world and enjoyed the description of the beautiful cities and landscapes.

But it's not a travelogue. It's fast=paced adventure pure and simple. An adult book with a complicated plot and a multitude of twists, I think older young adults will enjoy it too. It's kind of like the Da Vinci Code but with a trained team of specialists who are tough action types, extremely intelligent and ready to fight their way out of the next crisis.

The Cover: His name takes up a bunch of space, but the guy is popular and his name sells the book faster than the cover or title, so it makes sense. You get that ancient biblical mystery around-the-world thing right away and I like the rich colors. I think it works.

We have a copy of Map of Bones available to choose from in our MegaBook Giveaway so be sure to enter at the giveaway post! GOOD LUCK!