ARKANGEL opens with “Notes from the Scientific Record,” a feature that we have come to expect from James Rollins. Knowing that we are about to be barraged with numerous historical and scientific plot elements over the span of nearly 500 pages, this section comes in quite handy.

We learn that a new Cold War is brewing, and at the center of this battle is the Arctic Circle. As that part of the globe continues to thaw out, land that had been buried under ice for centuries is being revealed to us, and now there is a race to claim it. Previously it had been considered neutral ground for all countries on the planet, with Russia, China and the US leading the fight. Russia desperately wants this territory, which includes the area known in English as Arkangel, because of its ideal location for military occupation.

"It is no secret that James Rollins’ novels are impeccably researched. The combination of history, science and fictional thrills puts him in a select group of writers that includes Steve Berry, Preston & Child and Brad Thor."

Another secret is revealed, and it relates to Hyperborea, an ancient utopian land of which most Russian citizens consider themselves descendants. How great it would be to find this “Shangri-la” that purportedly was home to super-sized humans, as well as animal and plant species unknown to modern history texts. It's discovery could mark the end of the world, and that is the book’s central focus.

The map that may contain the location of Hyperborea is alleged to exist in the long-buried Golden Library of Ivan the Great. Both Russian scientists and the members of Sigma Force are fast at work to find it. Of course, the fact that this is a James Rollins book hints that we may be treated to the discovery of all these so-called mythical places --- and what a wonder it would be.

Grayson Pierce is the head of Sigma Force and takes his cues from Director Painter Crowe. The team has been pretty consistent through this adventurous series, and it is always a pleasure to spend time with them. Among the villains working against them is Valya Mikhailov, an evil woman and a deadly assassin who has a dark history with Sigma Force.

There also is a heavy religious element to the novel, which involves both Russian clergy and ambassadors from the Vatican. The ancient texts that may exist in the Golden Library are of great interest to these long-standing sects. The big question for all the participants is whether or not the alleged piece of rock they are searching for in the Arctic is worth dying over.

It is no secret that James Rollins’ novels are impeccably researched. The combination of history, science and fictional thrills puts him in a select group of writers that includes Steve Berry, Preston & Child and Brad Thor. ARKANGEL contains many photos and diagrams that amplify the storytelling and make it practically leap off the page at you. Beyond that, the Author’s Note runs through the Truth or Fiction of each story. This is worth the price of admission all by itself, and the parts that you believed had to be made up are often based on historical or scientific fact, which is mind-blowing.

The Sigma Force books remain a force in the thriller/adventure genre and are simply not to be missed.