The Doomsday Key

A Sigma Force Novel, Book 6

By: James Rollins

Narrated by: Peter Jay Fernandez

Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

At Princeton University, a famed geneticist dies inside a biohazard lab. In Rome, a Vatican archaeologist is found dead in St. Peter's Basilica. In Africa, a U.S. senator's son is slain outside a Red Cross camp. The three murders on three continents bear a horrifying connection: all the victims are marked by a Druidic pagan cross burned into their flesh.

The bizarre murders thrust Commander Gray Pierce and Sigma Force into a race against time to solve a riddle going back centuries and to a ghastly crime against humanity hidden within a cryptic medieval codex.

Aided by two women from his past, one his ex-lover, the other his new partner, Gray must piece together the horrifying truth. But the revelations come at a high cost, and to save the future, Gray will have to sacrifice one of the women at his side.

That alone might not be enough, as the true path to salvation is revealed in a dark prophecy of doom. The ultimate nightmare is locked within a talisman buried by a dead saint, an ancient artifact known as the Doomsday Key.

©2009 Jim Czajkowski (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

Research Inspiring

I enjoyed this book for it's interesting mysteries that inspires further research--no spoilers here, but the Celtic history and genetically modified food had me finding some addition reading.

Kowalski?

Not sure why the author needed to add a very large stereotype in Kowalski. Why is the Polish guy a big, slow-witted agent who is only used as muscle. That role should have been thought out better.

A patriarchal rip off of Dan Brown

This is no Dan Brown...that's for sure! Although the author has clearly done his research, he's still stuck in the James Bond golry days of simpering women who go weak in the knees while the hero remains strong. I'm clearly not the target audience for this genre. I prefer fully fleshed out characters and less sexist description. But the story revolves around an imminent global crisis, so I gutted it out to the end. But I can't even count how often I rolled my eyes!

Patchy, Rushed, You Can Tell It Was Written Quickly. SUPER Glottal Narration

I’ve listened to books from this series and by this narrator before, but this one for some reason really bothered me.

The story was laughably absurd. The hero makes multiple stunning/stupid intellectual leaps and by the end of the book I was scoffing at his continued near-death experiences. The sheer number of disasters he personally averted were ludicrous. I’d literally rather go watch a Fast & Furious movie, which should tell you a lot.

The tone between the first half and the second half were dissimilar. The first half was laid out carefully and had a pretty measured pace. The second half was very rushed and seemed like the author was just trying to get it over with.

I would have liked to know a lot more about the specifics of the archaeology. At one point (SPOILER, you’ve been warned) one of the characters was like “This stained glass window has… Egyptian hieroglyphics!” and I burst out laughing. It was like someone pulled it out of their butt. No mention of Egypt at all before that, not one time in the entire book, and now 7/8ths of the way through, SUDDENLY, EGYPT.

The narrator was SO GLOTTAL. It bothered me a lot and distracted me from the actual content of the book. His pronunciations of hard C and G sounds were literally like listening to someone choke during a sleep apnea episode.

And!! When he spoke a different language at the end of the book he didn’t put nearly that kind of emphasis on the hard C and G sounds, so why did he do it when he read this book in English??!!!

It was extremely irritating. “Celtic cross” became “CeltiC CRoss”, “Christian” became “CHRistian”, “scrambled across” became “SCRAmbled aCRoss”, and so on. The harshness of his pronunciation on just those sounds was absurd to the point of making me angry. The narration greatly reduced my enjoyment of this book, to the point that I will not buy another he narrates.

Another awesome/informative book

I knew something about the seed banks and GMO, but as usual Rollins gives you a lot more. Always love his characters and especially Kowalski, he puts a smile on the story.

Rollins does it again!

As a huge fan of James Rollins, I knew this would be a great book. I was wrong, it was FANTASTIC!! I never get bored with the action, locations and history in each book. A MUST read!!

my favorite

this is probably my favorite James Rollins book. It is very well-read. you won't be disappointed.

Another good story.

I really enjoyed this book, I love the historical mystery involved!
One thing I don’t like is the music at the ends of certain chapters, it feels kind of manipulative. Other than that small critic, I did enjoy the listen

Rollins is a Great Story Teller

I am hooked on James Rollins and am working through the Sigma Force novels. This one as with each other I have listened to kept my interest. I have become attached to the characters and have started the next book today!

AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

enjoyable read, love the interwoven fiction

for a short drive commuter, this series has been a welcome breath of fresh air. while definitely not a King or Clancy, which it doesn't seem to aspire to anyway, it's more in the realm of Dan Brown and Lee Child. and since I tend to get caught up in the details, the reduced distraction is welcome. easy to follow, likeable characters, even the foes (looking at you Seichan!). if you like Reacher, Alex Cross, or the Private book series, then you should check out this series in order.