The Kill Switch by James Rollins & Grant Blackwood
I’ve been a James Rollins fan ever since I picked up Map of Bones (Sigma #2) back in 2005. Since then, I’ve read every Sigma Force novel (except the very first) along with three of his early stand-alones — and every one of them has been a winner.
What keeps me hooked? The science… no, the action… no, the political twists… honestly, it’s the whole package!
As the Associated Press once put it:
“The science reads like the best of Michael Crichton.
The machinations of government read like the best of David Baldacci.
And the action and thrills read like the best of Clive Cussler. Rollins takes the best of all of these and creates an amazing thriller unlike any other.”
A New Series Begins
Rollins’ novel The Kill Switch — co-written with Grant Blackwood — has all those familiar ingredients, plus something fresh: two new heroes, one man and one canine.
Meet Tucker Wayne, a former U.S. Army Ranger, and Kane, his loyal Belgian shepherd. When Sigma Force director Painter Crowe calls on them for what seems like a simple mission — extracting a defector out of Russia — things quickly spiral out of control.
The defector is Abram Bukolov, often called the “Steve Jobs of Russia’s pharmaceutical industry.” And the Russians don’t intend to let him go without a fight. Soon Tucker and Kane are hunted by Russia’s military, its intelligence services, and a deadly sniper named Felice Nilsson.
The Plot Thickens
So why is Bukolov really on the run? His research centers on LUCA — the Last Universal Common Ancestor of all life on Earth. In the right hands, LUCA could transform medicine and agriculture. In the wrong hands, it could unravel the planet’s ecosystem.
The trail leads to the mountains of Namibia, where botanist Paulos de Klerck may have discovered evidence of this elusive ancestor. Tucker’s mission quickly expands: find LUCA before Russian General Kharzin does.
But there’s another danger — a traitor inside Tucker’s team, feeding intel back to the Russians. With Felice Nilsson close on their heels, Tucker and Kane must fight, track, and survive to protect Bukolov and keep LUCA from falling into the wrong hands.
Final Thoughts
With The Kill Switch, Rollins has given us two new characters you can really root for. Tucker Wayne and Kane are a dynamic duo who bring grit, loyalty, and heart to the chaos. Their journey takes you from a simple rendezvous in Vladivostok, through the rugged landscapes of South Africa and Namibia, and finally to a pulse-pounding showdown on the shores of Lake Michigan.
It’s a great ride — action, science, politics, betrayal — all in true Rollins style.
I, for one, can’t wait for their next adventure. Until then, I’ll be diving into Rollins’ latest Sigma Force novel, The 6th Extinction.
