For readers not familiar with James Rollins previous books he writes escapist fiction that mixes high adventure, usually in exotic locales, with just about believable science, global conspiracies, evil boo hiss bad guys and sometimes, but not always, monsters. In his two most recent novels, Sandstorm and Map of Bones he's also added in a group of heroes belonging to Sigma Force; an elite unit operated by the US weapons research department DARPA.
With Black Order, his latest novel, recently published in hardback in the US, Rollins sticks to the formula that has brought him success. Sigma is back, and so is the global conspiracy, evil meglomaniacal bad guys, psuedo-science, action, adventure and monsters. Featuring hidden bands of German Nazis and former Nazis, advanced sources of quantum energy and genetically altered humans and animals, and with action that jumps from Denmark to Nepal to South Africa, its what could fairly be described as a 'roller coaster ride'.
Okay, so its not going to win any prizes for realism or scientific accuracy (despite Rollins throwing in a bunch of scientific theories) but that's not really the point with Rollins' books. Like its predecessors what it is great fun, fast paced and exciting. Characters are developed well enough to be more than cyphers or plot devices, the conspiracies aren't too far fetched to be utterly implausible (with the possible exception of a Bavarian castle carved into a Nepalese mountain) and events unfold with a real sense of pace.
So if what you're looking for is fun escapism James Rollins is your man. Its worth picking up Sandstorm and Map of Bones first to experience Sigma's earlier adventures, but even without them Black Order is still one hell of a good read.