Skeleton Key: A Short Story Exclusive audiobook

I listened to The Skeleton Key, a short story written by James Rollins as part of his Sigma Force series. I rarely listen to audiobooks but wanted to try one again, and I figured an action adventure would be perfect. This story focused on Seichan, an assassin who's both helped and hurt then Sigma Force team in the past. I happen to think she's pretty cool, even though she's done some bad things. Overall, she has a heart, and she's suffered a lot. In this installment, the scary assassin wakes up with a metal collar around her neck that's set to kill her in a few hours unless she does something. But who did it to her? Her quest takes us to the Catacombs below Paris, and I loved every minute of it. The narrator was fantastic. I sped it up to 1.25 to encourage even more drama and action-oriented scenes. It took about 40 minutes to listen to and kept my attention, which is a rare thing on audiobooks. I prefer to make up my own voices and tones. All that said, a great in-between short story when you're missing the characters because it takes at least a year for each new book to come out.

I can't believe it has been so long since the last Sigma Force book. But as Writers and Publishers all know the reasons series books are so popular is that it is refreshing to start a new book with characters from past stories and it is almost like catching up with long lost friends.James Rollins is a terrific writer! If I ever get half as successful as he is through my writing I will have been blessed beyond my belief.This was an E-book teaser to lead up to the beginning of his newest novel which is to be released this month. If you haven't read any of his Sigma Force Novels I would highly suggest any and ALL of them!!!I didn't rate it 5 stars because I have read every thing I know of the Mr. Rollins has written and his work gets better and better. One of the primary reasons I idolize his work. As a prolific reader before I became a writer myself I have seen too many writers create new stories with the same format as their previous works. Many more who just rise to a successful level and remain there. Mr. Rollins through his research, descriptions, building of suspense, and imagination continually pushes his own high standards higher with each successive work. I imagine it will get harder and harder to top his previous works, but if anybody can, He will!! That's why the fifth star is not marked because I know he will hit that level. As I have graded books rather harshly it is because of the fine literature and works I had the pleasure of reading over the years, that I know good writing when I read it.

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.For more reviews, and exclusive interviews, go to BookBanter

I enjoyed this a lot. It was nice to see Seichan on her own and even the teen she had to take along with her wasn't irritation or panicky. He turned out to be a good ally for her in this side adventure. I liked how she had her regret over the car. Very in character and a nice nod by Rollins, showing he hasn't forgotten anything about this complicated character who usually is anything but predictable - and proved again just how unpredictable and ruthless she can be.

A bit hard to place in the larger storyline, but entertaining all in all.

From New York Times bestselling author James Rollins comes a thrilling short story that delves deep beneath the city of Paris to a dark necropolis, where the only means for escape is…The Skeleton Key.Seichan is ripped out of the Sigma series for an adventure all her own—but can she survive? The beautiful and elusive assassin wakes in a hotel in Paris with a deadly electronic collar fastened to her throat. Joined by a boy who is similarly threatened, she must rescue the son of a hated enemy, who has fallen under the sway of the nefarious leader of an apocalyptic cult. To survive, she must venture into the dark world beneath the City of Lights, into the infamous catacombs of Paris. Caught between two enemies, she must fight for her life…while time ticks down toward a fiery apocalypse. But in the dark, surrounded by the moldering bones of the dead, even success does not equal survival. In the end, the only true hope for the world lies in a stunning act of betrayal.Included with this short story is a sneak peek at the first 70 pages of The Devil Colony, where a clue unlocked by The Skeleton Key will play a key role. Review "Terrible secrets, the sweep of history, an epic canvas, breathless action...nobody--and I mean nobody--does this stuff better than Rollins." (Lee Child on The Devil Colony) From the Author About James Rollins JAMES ROLLINS is the New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers that have been translated into more than forty languages. Known for unveiling unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets, Rollins' knack for breakneck pacing and stunning originality has been hailed by critics and embraced by scores of millions of readers around the world. The Critics Rave The New York Times says that his "roguish charm comes from his efforts to persuade readers the story is credible [through] real-life sources for his novel's science, history and geography." Rollins' rare blend of action, suspense, and knowledge was also mentioned by the Huffington Post, which stated that "After Crichton passed away in 2008 he clearly passed the baton to James Rollins, who like Crichton, is a renaissance man." NPR calls his work "adventurous and enormously engrossing..." and the New York Journal of Books had this to say: "If you're a fan of smart, entertaining adventure fiction, this is your summer beach read writ large....All the science, all the history, and all the locations are masterfully intertwined. The characters are multi-dimensional. And the story is, well, a corker." The Story Teller's Story As a boy immersed in the scientific adventures of Doc Savage, the wonders of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, and pulps such as The Shadow, The Spider, and The Avenger, James Rollins decided he wanted to be a writer. He honed his storytelling skills early, spinning elaborate tales that were often at the heart of pranks played on his brothers and sisters. Before he would set heroes and villains on harrowing adventures, Rollins embarked on a career in veterinary medicine, graduating from the University of Missouri and establishing a successful veterinary practice. This hands-on knowledge of medicine and science helps shape the research and scientific speculation that set James Rollins books apart. Explosive Page-Turning Adventures The exotic locales of James Rollins novels have emerged as a hybrid between imagination, research, and his extensive travels throughout the United States and Europe, as well as New Zealand, the South Pacific, China, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America. Recent jaunts include book tours and stops across the country and several European nations to give talks, seminars, and media interviews. In recent years, much of James' travel has involved meeting readers in small and large groups, at writing and fan conferences, and even aboard seagoing "seminars." James' mentoring and coaching skills have made him a sought after writing instructor and guest speaker for workshops, symposia, conventions, and other forums throughout the country. James Rollins is the author of nine thrillers in the bestselling Sigma Force series (Sandstorm, Map of Bones, Black Order, The Judas Strain, The Last Oracle, The Doomsday Key, The Devil Colony, Bloodline, and The Eye of God); six individual adventure thrillers; and the Jake Ransom middle grade series (Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow, Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx.)

** spoiler alert ** If you’re looking for a quick read to kill a 40 minute commute, look no further. Skeleton Key is James Rollins’ equivalent of a “monster of the week” story, where Seichan tries to escape a trap laid by people by her past. The TL;DR version is that Seichan is ambushed in Paris and winds up in a mix of the films Saw and Taken. Seichan wakes up in a hotel room with an electrocution collar around her neck, and her only clue to get out of there is a 20-something named Remy with a ridiculous map of the Catacombs tattooed on his body. They have to foil a cult and stop a bombing of the city, or their heads go kaboom! Naturally, Seichan foils the plot and lives to troll the Guild another day. If I had to describe this short story in two words they would be “rushed” and “easy”. Everything came too easy to Seichan, and it all felt like it was over in the blink of an eye. Seichan wakes up with a bomb wired to her, and two seconds later she’s deep in the Catacombs and has managed to stop a cult leader from blowing up half of Paris. We don’t even get to hear how the bomb was deactivated, it’s just a case of Seichan finding it and all the grunt work occurring off screen. What came after that was interesting, though. In spite of saving the day, Seichan’s kidnapper attempts to reneg on his word and blow her up - only to find that she’s switched the collars and he unintentionally just blew up his own son! I would have killed (no pun intended) to get a glimpse into his psyche at that point in time, to witness the grief and despair flitting through his mind! Overall: It’s a fun, quick read, but don’t expect it to add too much to the Sigma universe. It’s a “monster of the week” type story with a mysterious briefcase that may come into play later, but you can certainly get by without reading this.

When I was in high school the teacher stated that short stories are harder to write. You may ask why? Well for one the plot usually centers around one theme and subplots are kept to a minimum. This story is quite interesting but for me it was not great. It is worth the read because it can be read in one sitting and the author at the end of the story shares some of his secrets or reasons why he included what and why he did not include something else. The Skeleton Key for me was like a warm up to a bigger and greater story and this author has really written some real thrillers! If you are a fan than I suggest it is worth a read. SO enjoy! I sure did and will read another of his stories quite soon.

Seichan is ripped out of the Sigma series for an adventure all her own—but can she survive? The beautiful and elusive assassin wakes in a hotel in Paris with a deadly electronic collar fastened to her throat. Joined by a boy who is similarly threatened, she must rescue the son of a hated enemy, who has fallen under the sway of the nefarious leader of an apocalyptic cult. To survive, she must venture into the dark world beneath the City of Lights, into the infamous catacombs of Paris. Caught between two enemies, she must fight for her life…while time ticks down toward a fiery apocalypse. But in the dark, surrounded by the moldering bones of the dead, even success does not equal survival. In the end, the only true hope for the world lies in a stunning act of betraya

I did not know going into this that it was a short story. When you are reading ebooks from the library website you can never tell. This book focuses on the unofficial member of Sigma, Seichan, and her adventures in information gathering. This time it leads her on a quick chase through the catacombs of Paris after a cult. A very quick read. I wish it was a bit longer so I could get to know her a bit more than the small glimpses I get through other books. I would say borrow this from the library. Not something that you NEED to own.

A fast paced short story starring Rollins' master assassin, Seichan. She finds herself a captive of a powerful man who wants nothing more than the return of his son from the hands of an even more fanatical madman. In return, Seichan will receive the documents she has long hunted for in Rollins' continuing series, The Sigma Force. Needless to say, she accepts the deal and quickly finds herself ensconced in the twisting labyrinth of catacombs below the streets of Paris. There are a couple good action scenes and the inevitable, if not enjoyable, twist at the end. Very quick read.

Rollins: brilliant as always. The Sigma Force's nemesis, Seichan, is on the hunt in the catacombs of Paris as she continues her search to find clues to The Guild, the shadowy organisation who had employed her, and who now wants her dead. Whets the appetite for the next full-length Sigma Force novel to come.

A really short novella - almost a bookshot, except not by James Patterson. Seichan has left the Guild and is freelancing when she is kidnapped while brokering a deal. Catacombs of Paris are the backdrop while she figures out how to play both sides at once while not getting blown up by the explosive device around her neck.