Customer Reviews

The Judas Strain CD

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James Rollins had me hanging on every word with the Judas Strain. There were three very different, very exciting stories that tied into one by the end of the book. All the characters were likable and smart. It's filled with movie blockbuster action and pacing but none of it distracts you from the story. I highly recommend you give The Judas Strain a try.

Friday House
Lost Hours
Lost Hours

I love the Sigma Force novels. I enjoyed Black Order CD: A Sigma Novel narrated by Grover Gardner who did a great job and Map of Bones, A Sigma Force Novel [UNABRIDGED] (Audiobook) narrated by L. J. Ganser who did an outstanding job.

L. J. Ganser brought the characters to live and I was thrilled listening to him. This book, The Judas Strain, narrated by Peter Jay Fernandez is a BIG letdown. Peter Jay Fernandez spoils listening to this new Sigma Force novel.

Better get the book.

The Judas Strain seems to be trying too hard to be the Davinici Code. Yet this novel lacks the suspense, or accurate historical researcher, to justify a lackluster plot that takes place on several continents at once. I found myself unable to stay entertained by the meandering plot, whose characters failed to grip me. The religious overtones, and Vatican involvement, are forced and unnecessary. Peter Jay Fernandez does an acceptable but over the top job narrating the audiobook. I kept expecting him to say, "come to appliance world, where low prices are our priority!" His tone and over-enthusiasm seem better suited to cheesy radio or TV ads, and his voice really got on my nerves as the book progressed. I'm not sure how such a dull "thriller" ever made it onto the best seller list.

"The Judas Strain" was my first James Rollins novel. I had a hard time getting into the novel at first because it starts out with a historical account of Marco Polo then goes from there to the Vatican. It seemed like the story was going to be more of a historical/religious novel, which is subject matter I don't find interesting. I agree that there is some merit to one reviewer's comment about the book "trying too hard to be the Davinici Code."

However, I don't agree that the narration by Peter Jay Fernandez was awful. It thought it was fine. I liked the voice Fernandez used for Kowalski especially. Perhaps if a reader already listened to a Sigma Force novel narrated by someone else, it may be difficult for the reader to get used to new voices for the characters. I can only assume that is what happened for another reviewer who said Peter Jay Fernandez ruined the book for him.

And I also don't agree that the novel was boring. There was plenty of action (almost non-stop action really).

As to the complaint that the characters are not engaging, I say the characters "kind of grow on you". As you read more of the Sigma Force novels, you get to know the Sigma Force team better and better. There are simply too many Sigma Force characters to fully explore in just one novel. The focus is on action, and that means there just isn't as much time devoted to character exploration as a necessity.

The main thing I really enjoy about James Rollins' books is how he integrates science seamlessly with action. The reader is given plenty of scientific explanation without feeling like he/she just attended a college lecture. In "The Judas Strain", Sigma Force has to figure out how benign bacteria turns into a deadly strain capable of wiping out humanity. What follows is a race against time to solve the origins of the strain and the cure. Does that sound boring to you? Believe me, it's not.

"The Judas Strain" is not the best novel I've ever read. But it did make me want to read more of James Rollins' Sigma Force novels.