The Seventh Plague by James Rollins (Sigma Force Series #12)

The Seventh Plague is the latest book in the Sigma Force series by one of my favorite authors, James Rollins.

Professor Harold McCabe and his archaeological team vanished some two years ago in the Sudan deserts. His family just about gave up on him when lo and behold, he was seen coming out wobbling on his feet, hallucinating about something, apparently quite ill.

Before he could get home, meet his family and tell his story, however, he dies of a mysterious disease. His body is shipped to Egypt where doctors are trying to find out what he died of. His daughter, Jane, is asked to confirm that he is, indeed, the famous professor, so she flies down to see his body. Sadly it’s him.

From Cairo, his remains are sent to London, but soon after doctors in Cairo who handled the body are found dead, following which people inside and outside of the hospital fall prey to the same unknown illness. It looks like Egypt faces the beginning of a strange epidemic outbreak, which seems to decimate people very fast.

As doctors and scientists work on the professor’s oddly mummified body, they not only learn about the Cairo epidemic but also realize that England might be next.

Could there be a connection to the professor’s untimely demise and the shocking deaths occurring simultaneously across two continents?

Not knowing how to proceed further, a friend of the professor asks Painter Crowe, the head of Sigma Force, for help. Sigma Force is known for the weird and sometimes downright unbelievable cases the team has encountered so far, so maybe, just maybe, they could solve this case as well before the unknown virus turns into the Seventh Plague, killing the entire human race.

Because let’s face it, globalization and the ease of transport from one end of the world to the other in just a few short hours means the disease can spread worldwide just as fast.

So Painter Crowe sends his team to various parts of the world to investigate. And here we meet again some of our favorite characters, Kowalski, Gray Pierce and Seichan.

I can’t read enough about them. Gray and Seichan are in love, but they’re constantly facing inner and outer demons that want to keep them apart. And Kowalski is a character of his own – gruff, rough and slightly crude, he is a very charming and often quite the funny guy.

But we also meet again Safia al-Maaz, a friend we haven’t read about since Sandstorm, the first book in the series. It was a pleasant surprise, to say the least.

In The Seventh Plague James Rollins successfully mixes once again history with mythology, science and conspiracy theories to create an action-packed and suspenseful book that reads fast.The end of the world is always at stake here, so our superheroes know the weight that lies on their shoulders and they have to act fast, even if it means their own demise.

Some might argue that the plots are a bit repetitive from book to book, and yes, they are indeed. However, that doesn’t stop me from grabbing every new book the author writes as soon as I can get hold of it.

The Seventh Plague by James Rollins
Series: Sigma Force Series #12
Published by William Morrow
Published 2016
Genres: Adventure, Sci-Fi Thriller
Source: Purchased
Also by this author: The Eye of God, Tracker, The 6th Extinction, Innocent Blood, The Bone Labyrinth, Ghost Ship, The Demon Crown