Rollins's latest SIGMA Force spectacle (after Bloodline) opens with a race to save the planet as an ominous comet approaches. A fantastical plot involving crashed American satellites, ancient religious relics, and the Chinese mafia is grounded with a unique cast of heroes including scientists, priests, and indestructible soldiers. In Rollins's world, no international setting is complete without a fight to the death battle, and though the good guys are expected to win, there is always a heavy cost. The histories of Genghis Kahn and Attila the Hun lead the heroes on a chase to alter the trajectory of the deadly comet as Rollins delves into the physics of dark energy and quantum entanglement. Like most action-adventure blockbusters, the dialogue verges on unbearable, but Rollins surprises with some tender touches like when a Vietnamese mother is reunited with her long lost daughter, two elderly priests share a final moment together, and a loyal falcon is released in order to save it. He also grants his female characters strength and agency, so they're not simply love interests for male hero figures. Rollins delivers his suspenseful brand of entertainment with ease. Agent Russ Galen, Scovil Galen Ghost Literary Agency Inc. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Rollins' latest Sigma Force thriller verges on science fiction. A satellite crashes in Mongolia, but before it does, it transmits what appears to be an image of Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C., in ruins. The image, it turns out, is time-shifted from the very near future by about 90 hours (there's a rather laborious scientific explanation for how this could happen). As Painter Crowe, head of Sigma, tries to understand the situation, operative Gray Pierce learns of an ancient relic that seems to predict imminent disaster. In four days, the end of the world begins, and can even the highly skilled Sigma team stop something as big as that? As usual, there's a historical element to the story this time involving Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, and Genghis' legendary hidden treasure but it's the fast-paced action that carries us through to the end. Sure, the Sigma Force novels are formulaic (modern-day threat, ancient mystery, a team of experts who risk their lives to avert disaster at the last minute), but when the formula generates this much excitement, should we really mind?--Pitt, David Copyright 2010 Booklist