James Rollins was born in Chicago, Illinois, is 1961. With his three brothers and three sisters, he was raised in the Midwest and rural Canada. He graduated with a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Missouri and went on to establish his own veterinary practice in Sacramento, California. An amateur spelunker and a PADI-certified scuba enthusiast, he'll often be found either underground or underwater.
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult Fiction
Series
Sigma Force
1. Sandstorm (2004)
2. Map of Bones (2005)
2.5. Kowalski's in Love (2006)
3. Black Order (2006)
4. The Judas Strain (2007)
5. The Last Oracle (2008)
6. The Doomsday Key (2009)
6.5. The Skeleton Key (2011)
7. The Devil Colony (2011)
7.5. Tracker (2012)
8. Bloodline (2012)
9. The Eye of God (2013)
10. The Sixth Extinction (2014)
10.5. The Midnight Watch (2015)
11. The Bone Labyrinth (2015)
11.5. Crash and Burn (2016)
12. The Seventh Plague (2016)
12.5. Ghost Ship (2017)
13. The Demon Crown (2017)
14. Crucible (2018)
15. The Last Odyssey (2020)
16. Kingdom of Bones (2021)
1. Sandstorm (2004)
2. Map of Bones (2005)
2.5. Kowalski's in Love (2006)
3. Black Order (2006)
4. The Judas Strain (2007)
5. The Last Oracle (2008)
6. The Doomsday Key (2009)
6.5. The Skeleton Key (2011)
7. The Devil Colony (2011)
7.5. Tracker (2012)
8. Bloodline (2012)
9. The Eye of God (2013)
10. The Sixth Extinction (2014)
10.5. The Midnight Watch (2015)
11. The Bone Labyrinth (2015)
11.5. Crash and Burn (2016)
12. The Seventh Plague (2016)
12.5. Ghost Ship (2017)
13. The Demon Crown (2017)
14. Crucible (2018)
15. The Last Odyssey (2020)
16. Kingdom of Bones (2021)
Jake Ransom
1. Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow (2009)
2. Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx (2010)
1. Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow (2009)
2. Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx (2010)
Order of the Sanguines (with Rebecca Cantrell)
0.5. City of Screams (2012)
1. The Blood Gospel (2013)
1.5. Blood Brothers (2013)
2. Innocent Blood (2013)
3. Blood Infernal (2014)
0.5. City of Screams (2012)
1. The Blood Gospel (2013)
1.5. Blood Brothers (2013)
2. Innocent Blood (2013)
3. Blood Infernal (2014)
Novels
Subterranean (1999)
Excavation (1999)
Deep Fathom (2001)
Amazonia (2002)
Ice Hunt (2003)
Altar of Eden (2009)
Excavation (1999)
Deep Fathom (2001)
Amazonia (2002)
Ice Hunt (2003)
Altar of Eden (2009)
Collections
Novellas
Series contributed to
James Rollins recommends

The Didymus Contingency (2005)
(Origins, book 1)
Jeremy Robinson
"A fast-paced page-turner like no other."

The Cleaner (2005)
(Jonathan Quinn Thriller, book 1)
Brett Battles
"It's always great to discover a new writer who can turn a genre on its ear. Brett Battles's THE CLEANER proves the case. Part Raymond Chandler, part Clive Cussler, part Robert Ludlum, here is an international thriller chocked full of action, taut with suspense, and laced with a fair amount of humor and romance. An exciting debut by a major new talent...I look forward to seeing what comes next!"

Dark Gold (2006)
(Night-Sea Trilogy, book 1)
David Angsten
"Like Benchley's Jaws, David Angsten's debut will once again chase swimmers out of the water. Fraught with shivering suspense and a hauntingly eerie atmosphere, Dark Gold grips with feverish intensity. As literate as it is frightening. Read it with both a silver cross and a spear gun at your side."

Public Enemy (2006)
(W. Cooper, book 2)
Will Staeger
"Cross Hiaasen with Clancy and you'll get Will Staeger."

Sign of the Cross (2006)
(Payne and Jones, book 2)
Chris Kuzneski
"Chris Kuzneski writes with an energy that is contagious! Action, suspense, mystery, and a biting thread of humor...what more can you ask from a novel?"

Plague Year (2007)
(Plague , book 1)
Jeff Carlson
"Harrowing, heartfelt, and rock-hard realistic. Not to be missed."

Empyre (2007)
Josh Conviser
"Raw kinetic energy and blistering pace . . . a thriller for the new millennium."

Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse (2008)
Victor Gischler
"Part Christopher Moore, part Quentin Tarantino, Victor Gischler is a raving, badass genius."

The Archangel Project (2008)
(October Guinness and Jax Alexander, book 1)
C S Graham
"A razor-taut story... Riveting, provocative, and enthralling."

Library of the Dead (2009)
(Will Piper, book 1)
Glenn Cooper
"The debut of a startling new talent. Here is a story both incandescent and explosive. A seamless blend of modern-day thriller and historical mystery with an ending that left me breathless."

Fragment (2009)
(Nell Duckworth & Geoffrey Binswanger, book 1)
Warren Fahy
"Think Jurassic park on steroids. This is one helluva ride."

Vampire for Hire (2009)
(Vampire for Hire)
J R Rain
"Gripping, adventurous, and romantic - J.R. Rain's The Lost Ark is a breakneck thriller that traces the thread of history from Biblical stories to current-day headlines. Be prepared to lose sleep!"

The Fall (2010)
(Strain Trilogy, book 2)
Chuck Hogan and Guillermo del Toro
"A terrifying story that feels like it was ripped from today's headlines."

The Noah's Ark Quest (2010)
(Tyler Locke, book 1)
Boyd Morrison
"A stunning thriller with a premise as ingenious as it is flawlessly executed."

Damaged (2010)
(Kate Lange, book 1)
Pamela Callow
"Part medical mystery, part bloody thriller... a debut that had me flipping pages into the wee hours of the morning."

The Promised War (2010)
(Sam Deker, book 1)
Thomas Greanias
"Lightning-paced, dagger sharp and brilliantly executed."

Ghost Country (2010)
(Travis Chase, book 2)
Patrick Lee
"In a word; Brilliant... left me breathless and awed."

House Divided (2011)
(Class H Trilogy, book 2)
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
"Thrilling and vibrant... a must-read for all."

Devil's Plaything (2011)
(Nathaniel Idle, book 2)
Matt Richtel
"A brilliant thriller, a blend of Michael Crichton and Alfred Hitchcock. From page one, you'll not be able to put this book down."

The Phoenix Apostles (2011)
(Seneca Hunt, book 1)
Joe Moore and Lynn Sholes
"Bold, taut, and masterfully told."

L.A. Mental (2011)
Neil McMahon
"As much a mind game as it is thriller, a scientific puzzle buried in a murder mystery, all set against the surreal world of Hollywood filmmaking. . . . I can't wait for the next book!"

Rogue (2011)
(Robin Monarch, book 1)
Mark Sullivan
"A true juggernaut of a thriller, pure adrenaline in print. With the creation of Robin Monarch, Sullivan has crafted a Jason Bourne for the new millennium."

Cave Dweller (2012)
(Jack Ferrell, book 3)
William Nikkel
"...has everything I love:ripping adventure, buried mysteries, and intrigue that spans centuries."

Lost and Found (2012)
(September Day, book 1)
Amy Shojai
"Riveting, Heart-wrenching and brilliant, here is the debut of stunning talent."

The World Beneath (2013)
(Joe Tesla, book 1)
Rebecca Cantrell
"Cantrell's THE WORLD BENEATH simply blew me away: exciting, visceral, inventive, illuminating...shines a light on the beauty and horror hidden just out of sight beneath the world's greatest city...get ready an adventure like no other."

Retribution (2014)
(Will Parker Thriller, book 2)
Anderson Harp
"Retribution is a stunner: a blow to the gut and shot of adrenaline. Here is a novel written with authentic authority and bears shocking relevance to the dangers of today. It reminds me of Tom Clancy at his finest."

Breaking Creed (2015)
(Ryder Creed K9 Mystery, book 1)
Alex Kava
"I'm always first in line for the next Maggie O'Dell novel, but Alex Kava's latest, BREAKING CREED, simply blew me away, mostly with the introduction of a character who can finally and truly stand toe-to-toe with O'Dell. Ryder Creed--along with his dogs!-- is a true inspiration: tough, smart, dynamic. The pairing of Creed and O'Dell elevates this thriller to the next level. It left me both breathless and awed. For any dog lover, it's a must-read. For any lover of nail-biting suspense, it's a book you'll not be able to put down. Get it now!"

Black Scorpion (2015)
(Michael Tiranno The Tyrant, book 2)
Jon Land
"Sheer bravado storytelling that turns ink and paper into pure adrenaline."

Nightstalkers (2016)
(Meg, book 5)
Steve Alten
"Blisteringly paced with tension that grabs you by the throat..."

Free Fall (2016)
(Kate Page, book 4)
Rick Mofina
"A blisteringly paced story that cuts to the bone. It left me ripping through pages deep into the night."

Fatal Odds (2016)
(Knight and Devlin, book 5)
John F Dobbyn
"Ripped-from-the-heart authenticity that will leave you shocked."

The Seventh Sun (2017)
(Dan Clifford, book 1)
Kent Lester
"Told with tipped-from-the-headlines authenticity and immediacy that left me breathless."

And Into the Fire (2017)
Robert Gleason
"Essential reading, Apocalyptic, topical..and frighteningly authentic. Here is a book that kept me turning pages deep into the night."

The God Peak (2017)
(God Wave Trilogy, book 2)
Patrick Hemstreet
"I can’t wait to read what happens next."

Into a Dark Frontier (2017)
John Mangan
"John Mangan's Into a Dark Frontier is cut from same cloth as the best of Vince Flynn and Brad Thor, a story written with authority and military authenticity. It's a harsh look at a continent-wide battlefield, waged not only for land but also for the heart of freedom. Timely and exciting."

Glimpse (2018)
Jonathan Maberry
"Award-winning author Jonathan Maberry hits it out of the park with his latest chilling tour de force, GLIMPSE. He channels the best of Stephen King and Peter Straub to create a harrowing story of a mother and a lost child who are besieged by dark forces shadowing their pasts and futures. Raw and beautiful, detailed and explosive, here is a story that will haunt you long after you close the book."

The First Family (2018)
Daniel Palmer and Michael Palmer
"Daniel Palmer's latest thriller The First Family seamlessly blends genomics, politics, and life in the White House into a riveting potboiler of a story. If you crossed the best of Robin Cook's medical mysteries with the insider authenticity of David Baldacci's political thriller, you'd end up with a book like this, a story that grabs you by the throat and won't let go until the last page is turned."

Street Freaks (2018)
Terry Brooks
"In his latest incarnation, Street Freaks, Terry Brooks spins yet another tale of heroism, treachery, and intrigue. This coming-of-age story set in a landscape like no other reminded me of the best of Cory Doctorow and Neil Gaiman, yet still imbued with Terry Brooks’s unique and cinematic style. I’m not sure what I’m looking forward to more: the sequel or seeing this book explode onto the big screen."

Breach (2018)
(Cold War Magic, book 1)
W L Goodwater
"Magic has never felt so real. W.L. Goodwater's debut Breach presents an alternate world that feels as authentic as true history, even when steeped in spellcraft and magic. It reminded me of the best of Jim Butcher, but charts a path all its own."

The Coming Storm (2019)
Mark Alpert
"This novel isn't just ripped from the headlines, it's an alarm bell ringing from the near-future, a prescient warning of where we're headed next. Read this now--before it's literally too late."

A Room Full of Night (2019)
TR Kenneth
"TR Kenneth's debut thriller, A Room Full of Night, reminded me of the best of Daniel Silva, even dare I say, John le Carré. Here is a novel riveting in its telling and shocking in its revelations. It is a story rife with decades-old secrets, treachery, and intriguing spycraft. But best of all, it's a thriller that I simply could not put down until the last page was turned. Don't miss this debut!"

The Pandora Room (2019)
(Ben Walker, book 2)
Christopher Golden
"Award-winner Christopher Golden’s latest razor-edged thriller The Pandora Room is sure to garner a slew of new trophies. The opening grabbed me by the throat and continued to strangle ever tighter as tensions climbed page by page to the explosive conclusion. Here is a master storyteller at his finest. Brilliantly told, arcanely crafted, with an ending that chills the marrow of your bones."

The Ottoman Secret (2019)
Raymond Khoury
"A tour de force of storytelling and concept. Thrilling, disturbing, inspiring, it left me all too often in awe."

Salvation Day (2019)
Kali Wallace
"Kali Wallace, the world needs you--and this book. Salvation Day is a taut thriller, a near-future look at where we're headed next, a mirror reflecting the best and worst of humanity. It is all that, and so much more. I'd follow the rebellious heroine Zahra anywhere--especially into another nail-biter of a story like this."

The Extinction Agenda (2019)
(Extinction Agenda, book 1)
Michael Laurence
"Michael Laurence's The Extinction Agenda blew me away. Not only is the story riveting and engrossing, but imagine Jack Reacher falling into a plot written by Dan Brown, and you might get some hint at the rollercoaster of a ride found in this book. Don't miss the start of what I hope will be a long series featuring Special Agent James Mason."

The Lost Power (2019)
(VanOps, book 1)
Avanti Centrae
"Avanti Centrae’s VanOps: The Lost Power opens a tantalizing new series that combines historical mystery and cutting-edge science into a masterwork of international intrigue--with the promise of more to follow. Written with a dynamic, cinematic style and full of action and suspense, here’s a book that defines page-turner. Don’t miss this riveting debut!"

The Mother Code (2020)
Carole Stivers
"Some stories are so unique, yet so universal, that it is wonder they aren’t a part of the human fable already. Carole Stivers’s The Mother Code, is such a novel. Simply written but powerful, chock full of ideas and extrapolations about what it means to be a mother and all that such a word implies. Both apocalyptic, yet hopeful, treat yourself to this story. You’ll be well rewarded."

High Treason (2020)
(Tom Locke, book 3)
Sean McFate
"High Treason has brutal assassinations, shocking betrayals, even heated gun battles in the shadow of the White House. It had me breathless--from the sheer audacity of its storytelling to its breakneck pacing. It's not to be missed!"

Obliteration (2020)
(Awakened , book 3)
James S Murray and Darren Wearmouth
"OBLITERATION is a bloody war zone of throat-clutching suspense and horror, showcasing humanity at its best and worst. The action is unrelenting, a true rollercoaster of savage twists, turns, and rolls. So strap in and get ready for the ride of your life!"

A Solitude of Wolverines (2020)
(Alex Carter , book 1)
Alice Henderson
"A true stunner of a thriller debut. Both a mystery and a survival story, here is a novel written with a naturalist's eye for detail and an unrelenting pace. It reminded me of the best of Nevada Barr, where the wilderness itself is as much a character as the feisty wildlife biologist who must solve a crime in a remote town where no one is talking, and everyone is a suspect. It's so fraught with excitement and wondrous details that it demands to be read in one sitting and savored afterward. Don't miss it."

Bone Chase (2020)
Weston Ochse
"Weston Ochse's latest thriller, BONE CHASE, is one gigantic thrill ride--from its intriguing mystery at the start to its monstrous finish. Unpredictable, shocking, and as fast as runaway train on greased rails, here is a novel not to be missed."
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