After a less than stellar effort with his previous novel 'The Judas Strain', this is a definite return to form for James Rollins. It doesn't diverge greatly from his tried and tested formula. Sigma are back, along with the mix of science, pseudo-science and contemporary science fiction that usually forms the backbone of a typical Rollins novel. There is also a selection of boo-hiss bad guys, some dangerous animals, several parallel, interconnected plot-lines, and a hint of spiritualism thrown in there for good measure.
In contrast to The Judas Strain however, this latest book remains comparatively streamlined. Rollins doesn't pile too many sub-plots on top of one another and avoids extraneous events or blind alleys. There are no killer-squid equivalents in here, for example. That's not to say that the book doesn't jump around the globe. It manages to take in the US, India, the Ukraine and Russia within its pages, but none of it feels tacked on. This gives it a feeling of far greater cohesion and focus, keeps it moving at Rollin's usual lightning pace and means that excitement levels are maintained.
There are criticisms to be levelled of course. Monk's miraculous return from apparent death is rather weak; and his inclusion at the heart of the plot of The Last Oracle is tenuous. The book would not have been weaker without him, and his inclusion comes across primarily as Rollin's being unwilling to actually kill off any of his main characters. The bad guys are also a pretty weak bunch and none of them stick strongly in the memory. Equally their plot for world domination is overly complex and doesn't really work as a palpable threat.
Despite these flaws however, The Last Oracle is an enjoyable slice of OTT action adventure. It doesn't rewrite any rules in terms of what to expect from a James Rollin's novel, but its a definite return to form that will please existing fans and should attract new ones.