Crucible: A Thriller

Crucible had me on the edge of my seat from the first page to the last. James Rollins’s ability to weave fact and fiction takes the reader on a terrifying thrill ride through what-if. What makes Crucible so frightening is how much of the storyline is based on true history and fact. Although the Sigma Force characters and events of the story are the product of the author’s imagination, the science and technology used as the basis of the plot is factual.

The action is almost non-stop from the get-go, and the author peppers the story with clues as to what’s to come. Unfortunately, the pacing gets a little bogged down when the POV shifts from Sigma Force/good guy characters to the bad guy characters. As a reader, I tend to be pulled out of the story when the POV shifts to the antagonist. It’s not always necessary to understand why the antagonist is doing what they’re doing – only that they’re doing it. Personally, I prefer to be left in the dark as to the antagonist’s motives until it’s revealed to the protagonist(s) but, again, that’s my personal preference.

Overall, this is one of my favorite Sigma Force novels. I’m always excited for the latest installment, and Crucible is no exception.