A Short Story Exclusive (Sigma Force Series) - The Skeleton Key

Short but really involving. Like the typical Rollins novel it has you hooked from start to end. My favourite thing about his novels is the interesting scientific and historical facts that I pick up. This was no different. Ddnt know about the catacombs before this. Again you have five stars from me Rollins!

Usually, when we see Seichan, Gray is around. In this short, really short, story, nice to see her without him....a total operation on her own decision - with the same Rollins' neck-breaking style.

But.....

1) if one can disarms the necklace so easily and quickly, when run for your live underground?

2) the preview of Devil Colony is much longer than this "short story".

Seichan is a great character and you never really know what she will do next. The Skeleton Key was a great short story and as always with James Rollins you can count on a lot of action and history built into the story. I really enjoy the Sigma Series and can't wait for the new book.

I thought the story was a classic Rollins thriller. It began with the sense of a knife to the throat and kept the tension up right to the final scene. It's everything you want in a short story. I felt he could take the protaganist and run with her wherever he wanted to go for whatever length he wanted to take it.

Readers of James Rollins' Sigma novels should be familiar with his most enigmatic character, Seichan. (Though it should be said that you need no familiarity with the character or the series to enjoy this entertaining interlude.) Seichan is the only series character that appears in The Skeleton Key, and I have to say that it was all kinds of fun to see her take a central, rather than secondary, role this time around.

Seichan has long been the servant to two masters. It's a dangerous position, but then again, she's a dangerous lady. While chasing needed intel on behalf of Sigma, she returns to her Guild sources. But perhaps she hasn't been as careful as she thinks she has. After what should have been a straightforward meeting with an academic source to secure a document, she wakes up nearly nude in a strange hotel room. She's been drugged, booby-trapped, and worst of all--saddled with a partner in the same predicament. She had been trying to ascertain the source's asking price for the info, and discovered that it was a lot higher than she realized. And his agenda went way beyond money.

The Skeleton Key calls on Seichan to use all of her considerable skills on an adventure through--and below--Paris. Mr. Rollins is also called on to use all of his considerable skills in service of this lengthy short story, and he comes through with a fast-paced, amusing precursor to his novel The Devil Colony: A Sigma Force Novel. Ultimately, you don't need to read this story before reading the novel, but if you're waiting on pins and needles for the novel's release, do treat yourself to this amuse-bouche, a bite-sized taste of what is to come. The story dovetails nicely into the novel, and here's a heads-up: The Devil Colony is the best thing Rollins has ever written.

Bestselling author James Rollins' SIGMA series features a number of popular and powerful characters that readers have become quite attached to, and none is more interesting than the beautiful and mysterious Seichan. In this short story exclusive, "The Skeleton Key," readers get to see Seichan working on a solo mission that she never intended to get involved in.

Seichan wakes up to find herself in hotel room in Paris; she's been knocked out with something unknown and has no memory of how she got here. Then there's the strange electronic collar around her neck that can't been detached and seems like it may contain an explosive device. In the room is also a stranger, a Scottish boy also wearing a collar who doesn't know how he got there either. Then she gets the call from an old enemy, one who is involved with the clandestine Guild which Seichan used to work for and is now trying hard to bring down and stop. In return for her freedom and an important document, she must find this man's son, alive.

Her journey will take her deep into the catacombs of Paris, filled with history and stories of death, secrecy, and in this case an apocalyptic cult. Using her new friend's knowledge of this cult which his girlfriend is involved with, and the map tattooed on his back, she hopes to find this cult and put a stop to whatever they're doing, before someone decides to trigger the bomb attached to her throat.

Rollins delivers classic action, thrill and intrigue, along with a fascinating history lesson into the dark necropolis beneath beautiful Paris, which will keep readers hooked to the very end. Plus there's some important story hear, as Seichan is provided with an important clue, leading up to Rollins' next SIGMA book, Devil Colony, due out June 21st.

Originally written on May 30, 2011 ©Alex C. Telander.

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Sigma Force 6.5

Seichen is drugged and fitted with a collar that will compel her cooperation in a mission to rescue Guild member Dr. Claude Beaupre's son in exchange for the key and documents that she is looking to obtain for Sigma. Renny MacLeod, a cataphile who is searching for his missing lover, Jolienne, is also collared to guide Seichen through the catacombs.

Any story focusing on Seichen is always welcome, even one this short. She is a truly fascinating character, reminding me somewhat of a tougher Modesty Blaise. Renny, although young, is tough in his own way, dealing with the violence necessary to rescue his Jolie and get out alive. 4 out of 5.

This fast paced short story was a quick, entertaining read. I love that it takes place in the catacombs of Paris with associated intriguing description and historical background. The plot was well done and kept my interest from start to finish. The ending has a tie to James Rollin's next book, The Devil Colony but the link is very weak so there is no need to read one before the other. I liked this short story better than City Of Screams which is another of his short stories (co authored with Rebecca Cantrell) although that one was good too.

I checked the book out from the library.

The scene for this story is Paris France. Seichan a former member of the Guild and now a member of Sigma has been taken hostage. She has a necklace on that she cannot remove. It helps to keep her from escaping. She also has a fellow prisoner who also has a necklace on that will not allow him to escape. They have been kidnapped by Dr. Claude Beaupre to rescue his son Gabriel Beaupre from a cult named
Order of the Solar Temple. This cult is led by Luc Vennard. It is located in the Paris Catacombs in an area called the City of the Dead.Seichan and her fellow prisoner locate the group and discover that the area is wired with C-4 explosive.
Seichan and her pardner have a battle with the members of the Order of the Solar Temple. They also discover that they have been betrayed by Dr. Claude Beaupre. A
very good short story.

If, you've already read The Devil Colony please note that this book is mostly a prologue of The Devil Colony. The story, The Skeleton Key that starts the book is VERY, VERY short.

The Skeleton Key is basically a preamble to 'The Devil Colony'.

This book features Seichan and activities she participated in during a visit to Paris to meet with a sort of informer. It's a VERY quick read, though entertaining.