The Judas Strain

A Sigma Force Novel, Book 4

By: James Rollins

Narrated by: Peter J. Fernandez

Length: 18 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

ju-das strain, n. A scientific term for an organism that drives an entire species to extinction

New York Times best-selling author James Rollins returns with a terrifying story of an ancient menace reborn to plague the modern world...and of an impossible hope that lies hidden in the most shocking place imaginable: within the language of angels.

From the depths of the Indian Ocean, a horrific plague has arisen to devastate humankind - a disease that's unknown, unstoppable, and deadly. But it is merely a harbinger of the doom that is to follow. Aboard a cruise liner transformed into a makeshift hospital, Dr. Lisa Cummings and Monk Kokkalis, operatives of SIGMA Force, search for answers to the bizarre affliction. But there are others with far less altruistic intentions. In a savage and sudden coup, terrorists hijack the vessel, turning a mercy ship into a floating bio-weapons lab.

A world away, SIGMA's commander, Gray Pierce, thwarts the murderous schemes of a beautiful would-be killer who holds the first clue to the discovery of a possible cure. Pierce joins forces with the woman who wanted him dead, and together they embark upon an astonishing quest following the trail of the most fabled explorer in history: Marco Polo. But time is an enemy as a worldwide pandemic grows rapidly out of control. As a relentless madman dogs their every step, Gray and his unlikely ally are being pulled into an astonishing mystery buried deep in antiquity and in humanity's genetic code. And as the seconds tick closer to doomsday, Gray Pierce will realize he can truly trust no one, for any one of them could be...a Judas.

©2007 Jim Czajkowski (P)2006 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Action abounds...as the characters from the previous novel range over the globe. There are murders, disfiguring diseases, pirates, cannibals, and, oh yes, people who glow in the dark....this book is great good fun, if readers suspend their disbelief." ( Library Journal)

Great Escape

This is one of those books that is hard to turn off. Sure the story was a bit of fantasy, but not unbelievably so, and what book of fiction isn't? Sort of Indiana Jones, Andromeda Strain and Dawn of the Dead all rolled into one. Even the ending leaves you in suspense. If you liked Black Order, I think you'll like this one even more. Narration was top notch.

Another great read from James Rollins!

Story telling at its finest! Fernandez is a great narrator. Very gripping storyline; easy to listen to.

Great book!

I've just now discovered this Sigma Series, it is full of excitement and the unexpected turns. Can't wait to listen to the next in the series. One comment, I did not enjoy the narrator, waaaaaay too slow, I had to speed up the reading speed to tolerate it. Looks like he has a few more in the series but hope they'll find a "signature" narrator like Scott Brick is for the Numa files.

awesome!!

awesome story with an awesome storyline. the storyline e is aweso.e and the storytelling g is awesome too. so awesome!

Incredible

This is one of the best, if not the best mysteries I have ever read. Every time I think I know what is going to happen, I am wrong. A absolute must read. You will not be disappointed.

Great book

Great book! Ending was a little different but ready to listen to the next book in this series

Great story with some frustrating mispronunciations.

Setting aside the fact that this is the THIRD narrator in the first three books the story itself is a good one.
However, I have two buts that I want to get off my chest.

1st, why the hell does JR hate Monk so much that he is the one that keeps losing out on things. Having already read the next book in the series (when my eyes were better than now) I know what’s coming and it irritates me. Monk is probably the best person among the Sigma team. So why is it that the author keeps picking on him? I know it’s for dramatic and emotional affect but it still rankles.

2nd, the narrator mispronounces more words than should be acceptable in a book otherwise very good. One quick example.

The word “bas” in the term “bas relief” is, as we all know, pronounced ‘bah’. The narrator kept going back and forth sometimes pronouncing it correctly and then immediately after pronouncing it ‘base’. At least once he did this within 3 or 4 seconds. And that’s just one example. It’s not enough to make me trash him but really, where’s the editor or producer?

I know that the 2nd complaint sounds a bit nit-picky and it may be. It’s just that I enjoy the Sigma series and am in awe of the author’s talent and his incredibly detailed research. I believe it should be narrated with the same attention to detail.

Hope this is helpful to y’all and enjoy your day.

best book this year

This is the first book this year good enough to feel like I need to tell others how good it is.
5 stars aren't enough. Most long listening unabridged books do too much repeating. This book moves forward at a good clip and no repeating that I can remember. I am still engrossed in it and don't want to turn it off to work, sleep or anything else that would get in the way of my listening. All of Rollins books are good but this is his best yet

My favorite James Rollins novel.

I'm not a fan of the more recent Sigma Force novels, but The Judas Strain likely has as much intense suspense as any book I have read or listened to. Highly recommended!

fun yet somewhat predictible

The Judas Strain is very similar to the author's other books. If you enjoy his work, you will enjoy this book. The trick is to never think too much about the action or plot line, but just enjoy drama and clues. I enjoyed listening to this book and how the plot was moved forward. The author has three different plot lines going on at once so you are always moving from story to story. In the end, the story is fun and entertaining, even if the plot line is somewhat far fetched...but that is the whole point to all the "save the world" books! Just enjoy it.