The Judas Strain    by James Rollins Order:  USA  Can Harper, 2008 (2008) Hardcover, Paperback, Audio, e-Book Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Theresa Ichino Sigma Force is a secret organization that battles threats to the United States. In The Judas Strain, its operatives must try to stop a terrifying plague that could mean planetary extinction. Dr. Lisa Cummings and her colleague Monk Kokkalis are dispatched to a remote island where the unknown disease is wreaking havoc with ocean species as well as the islanders. If that were not dire enough, terrorists attack their ship; and it is disturbingly evident that their goal is control of the virus as a bio-weapon. On a different front, Commander Gray Pierce finds himself allied with enigmatic assassin Seichan, an old enemy who has come seeking his help. She swears she wants to stop a terrible plague weapon. Understandably skeptical, Gray is nonetheless pitch-forked into the search for answers when Seichan's hunters attack Gray and his parents. Seichan herself has already been wounded. What follows is a chase across the world, as they seek a solution to the Judas Strain (defined as an organism that drives an entire species to extinction), their enemies hot on their heels. The heroes do prevail, of course; but the ending leaves us with more than one question mark. Rollins blends intriguing historical fact with breakneck action. The author apparently enjoys research, and his Truth or Fiction notes at the end are almost more interesting than the story itself. Questions from Marco Polo's life, the language of angels, plagues, cannibals, bacteria, predatory squids – these are but some of the real-life mysteries that stirred his imagination and resulted in this exciting roller-coaster adventure. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews