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The Demon Crown: A Sigma Force Novel Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

James Rollins (Author), Christian Baskous (Narrator), HarperAudio (Publisher)
4.6 out of 5 stars 7,529 ratings

A construction project beneath the National Mall reveals a dark secret dating back to the Civil War, something buried by a cabal of scientists, led by Alexander Graham Bell, who helped found the Smithsonian Institution. It is a cache of bones, preserved in amber, protecting a wonder like no other, the very secret of life after death. But such a prize is guarded by a horror out of the ancient past, a horror that still lives in the marrow of those bones - and is now free again.

From a crystalline lab atop Mount Fuji to an island off of Hawaii teeming with what's been called the "dark matter of life", Sigma Force must solve a mystery going back eons, to when life first took root on this planet. But the menace is spreading, changing, growing, adapting, outwitting every attempt to stop it. It means to retake a world it once ruled.

For Sigma Force to stop it, Commander Grayson Pierce will have to do the unthinkable: team up with Sigma's greatest enemy - the newly resurrected Guild - even it if means sacrificing one of their own.

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  1. Book 13 of 18
    Sigma Force
  2. Listening Length
    13 hours and 56 minutes
  3. Author
    James Rollins
  4. Narrator
    Christian Baskous
  5. Audible release date
    December 5, 2017
  6. Language
    English
  7. Publisher
    HarperAudio
  8. ASIN
    B075KNYZ6X
  9. Version
    Unabridged
  10. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Book 13 of 18 Sigma Force
Listening Length 13 hours and 56 minutes
Author James Rollins
Narrator Christian Baskous
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date December 05, 2017
Publisher HarperAudio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B075KNYZ6X
Best Sellers Rank #36,537 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#113 in Historical Thrillers (Audible Books & Originals)
#400 in Action Thriller & Suspense Fiction
#2,229 in Mystery Action & Adventure

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
7,529 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be an exciting adventure with a magical blend of scientific facts and fiction, making it a perfect vacation read. The Sigma Force series receives positive feedback, with one customer noting how the author weaves science into the narrative. Customers praise the writing quality, with one describing it as a rollercoaster ride of genius, while others appreciate the engrossing characters and fast-paced narrative.

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321 customers mention "Adventure"293 positive28 negative

Customers enjoy the adventure in the book, describing it as an exciting and suspenseful read with a real-world feel that makes the story incredibly interesting.

"The Demon Crown by James Rollins is a very highly recommended terrifying, horrifying thrill ride of action and adventure!..." Read more

"...writes a gripping story with characters you bond with easily and deeply. The nice thing is, this books can be read as a stand alone novel...." Read more

"...Rollins uses a combination of historical fact, a strong dosage of science, a lively sense of imagination and some just too crazy situations to be..." Read more

"...THE DEMON CROWN is an intense, action packed thriller where the Sigma Force raises against ticking time clock to stop an ancient species from..." Read more

259 customers mention "Readability"249 positive10 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as an awesome and fun read that keeps them engaged, with one customer noting it's perfect for vacation reading.

"...This would be the perfect selection for reading during a vacation when staying up late reading "just-one-more-chapter" might not matter as..." Read more

"...Still it was a lot of fun reading and perhaps learned more about wasps than I cared to know...." Read more

"...Rollins always makes a teaching subject fun to read—and creepy...." Read more

"...Beats me. James Rollins writes very good books with a wonderful blend of Sci Fi, real science and just good, reasonable fiction...." Read more

105 customers mention "Scientific accuracy"105 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the scientific accuracy of the book, noting its magical blend of facts and fiction, with captivating details and well-researched content.

"...of Rollins expect, at the end of the novel there is a whole section on Truth or Fiction...." Read more

"...Rollins uses a combination of historical fact, a strong dosage of science, a lively sense of imagination and some just too crazy situations to be..." Read more

"...menace that is an efficient hunter, adaptable, spreads easily, strong, smart, and once it has its prey there is no chance of survival...." Read more

"...Rollins writes very good books with a wonderful blend of Sci Fi, real science and just good, reasonable fiction...." Read more

62 customers mention "Character development"57 positive5 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting the engrossing and colorful cast of heroes, with one customer highlighting how the author provides insight into every place his characters travel.

"...my fav Steve Berry, Rollins writes a gripping story with characters you bond with easily and deeply...." Read more

"...His plots always have unexpected twists and his character development is as good as Baldacci's, Cussler's, Coonts' or Hunter's...." Read more

"...I like that he's continuing with the characters that we've grown to care for. I like that he's explored the history of amber...." Read more

"...There are a few new characters, like Ken who adds a great POV to the story and others who did not...." Read more

56 customers mention "Writing quality"44 positive12 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it easy to read and better than other authors' works, with one customer describing it as a rollercoaster ride of genius.

"...As expected, the writing is excellent, the plot intelligent, and the action is non-stop and fast-paced...." Read more

"...The nice thing is, this books can be read as a stand alone novel...." Read more

"...His latest effort, Demon Crown, is no exception. A tightly written novel with historical facts thrown in to give the story some background and..." Read more

"...The writing is similar to that of Steve Berry only with a stronger focus on science...." Read more

50 customers mention "Sigma force series"47 positive3 negative

Customers love the Sigma Force series and consider this book an excellent addition to the collection.

"...This is a smart, excellent new addition to the Sigma Force series...." Read more

"...it’s a menace that is an efficient hunter, adaptable, spreads easily, strong, smart, and once it has its prey there is no chance of survival...." Read more

"The Demon Crown is a pretty solid entry, though how I desperately wish Rollins would start something new...." Read more

"...It started out strong and engaging, and finished the same way. This was by far the best sigma story to date...." Read more

49 customers mention "Pacing"40 positive9 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing, describing it as a fast read that progresses quickly, with one customer noting it starts at a break-neck pace.

"...is excellent, the plot intelligent, and the action is non-stop and fast-paced...." Read more

"...His books are fast reads and flow very well...." Read more

"...This book moved quickly but it lacked any emotional pull for me...." Read more

"As always, a fast paced novel, with not just an exciting story that keeps you hooked but also one that introduces new ideas and exotic places, that..." Read more

34 customers mention "Creativity"31 positive3 negative

Customers praise the book's creativity, describing it as a stunning masterpiece with incredible detail and beautiful tapestries of action.

"...And it was refreshing yet stunning to see just a bit of vulnerability from Seichan and Grey. Can't wait for the next Sigma adventure!" Read more

"Sigma force novels are always well written and so intricate! This one appealed even more as the science and history were fascinating!" Read more

"...Such imagination and creativity. One of those books that made me experience a sense of loss when I finished it." Read more

"James Rollins is my favorite author. I love his way of weaving science, religion, ancient artifacts, intrique, relationships, military hunks and..." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Joseph Harris
    5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the Sigma series !!!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    The Demon Crown by James Rollins is a very highly recommended terrifying, horrifying thrill ride of action and adventure! This is a smart, excellent new addition to the Sigma Force series.

    Professor Ken Matsui, an entomologist who specializes in venomous creatures, is the lone survivor of an attack on an island off the coast of Brazil. What he discovers there is a frightening foe that hasn't been seen alive for millions of years.

    Surprisingly, the threat was first known by James Smithson, the man who founded the Smithsonian Institution. A secret vault under the National Mall holds the artifact first collected by Smithson and buried with him. Alexander Graham Bell led a team to recover the artifact and hide it to protect humankind. The artifact is the bones of a small dinosaur preserved in amber - Smithson called it the Demon Crown. They cannot destroy it as it is said to hold the very secret of life after death. Additionally, Smithson’s diary contains the warning that "what the Demon Crown holds is very much alive... and ready to unleash the very hordes of Hell upon this world."

    When the large chunk of amber is stolen, the secret it contains is unleashed as a dreadful, horrifying weapon with an unimaginable strength to wipe out life as we know it. When the menace is unleashed on the islands of Hawaii, the Sigma Force must survive it and try to stop the maniac behind the abominable attack before the threat expands to cover the Earth.

    The Demon Crown is one of the stronger additions to the Sigma Force novels and it will hold your attention in a vise-like grip for the whole novel.

    The novel presents us with a terrifying, repellent, menacing horde. Rollin's cautions in the opening Notes From the Scientific Record that we are living in the Age of Insects and "some insect will kill one person out of sixty every year." It could be possible that insects contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Unless you want to be scared half to death, those with spheksophobia, apiphobia, or melissophobia need to be warned to avoid this book.

    As expected, the writing is excellent, the plot intelligent, and the action is non-stop and fast-paced. This would be the perfect selection for reading during a vacation when staying up late reading "just-one-more-chapter" might not matter as much - because you will lose sleep when reading The Demon Crown. All the team members are back for long time fans of the series. There is also an unexpected alliance that must form to save the world. There are chapters written from the view of the menacing foe that are truly frightening.

    As many of us who are fans of Rollins expect, at the end of the novel there is a whole section on Truth or Fiction. I love that Rollins includes these notes and I appreciate the work and research he does when writing his novels. I know many of us like the fact that Rollins treats his readers with respect and a nod to their intelligence and ability to comprehend a complex plot based on facts and science. I`m looking forward to the next book.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Joy Goodwin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Though I am already a fan of Jamea Rollins' stand alone novels, this is my first full Sigma Force novel and I am deeply in love. Much like my fav Steve Berry, Rollins writes a gripping story with characters you bond with easily and deeply.

    The nice thing is, this books can be read as a stand alone novel. Rollins sprinkles bits of background on his characters throughout the book so well that you don't feel like you have missed anything by starting in the middle of the series.

    I love forward to delving deeper into the Sigma Force world.
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  • Robert James Vandevoort (Show Low, Arizona)
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fasten Your Seatbelts
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Recently a friend asked whether I have read any of the 19 Sigma Force novels by James Rollins and the answer was no. Not sure why not considering author Rollins is a #1 New York Times Best Selling Author. Perhaps because this reader is busy enough with his extended group of favored authors, that there was no interest is starting with someone new. Still, there was that curiosity of discovery, so author Rollins latest “The Demon Crown” was obtained.

    The Sigma Force is an elite unit of the US Defense Department whose body consists of former Special Forces officers trained in multiple scientific fields and are used in national and international emergencies. When Hawaii is attacked by swarms of wasps, the Sigma Force responds. These are not normal wasps, but ancient wasps who have been dormant, but now brought back to life. When they attack humans and animals the sting will inject their larva, which will eventually move into the bone marrow and thus eating the person or animal from the inside. Ugh.

    A sinister Japanese corporate executive, who was involved with the covert biological and chemical warfare on Chinese during WWII, wants to regain the Imperial Japan of the past and has the means to do so, unless he can be stopped. The Sigma Force only has three days to solve this problem, and thus the rollercoaster ride of a story takes off.

    Rollins uses a combination of historical fact, a strong dosage of science, a lively sense of imagination and some just too crazy situations to be believed. Still it was a lot of fun reading and perhaps learned more about wasps than I cared to know. The writing is similar to that of Steve Berry only with a stronger focus on science.

    Typically, when this reads a novel for the first time, and really enjoys it, he makes purchase of the all the authors earlier novels. Perhaps that will eventually happen with the Rollins novels, although for now it will be one book at a time.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Iwona
    5.0 out of 5 stars Here comes another great thriller by James Rollins!
    Reviewed in Canada on May 12, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    And here comes another great thriller by James Rollins!
    To read this book is a real treat and adventure.
    You must respect the authors care in plotting a great intrigue with catastrophic consequences if successful, creating multifaceted characters and putting us on a roller coaster of emotions.
    The main premise of the story is that nature always finds a way to preserve life, even if the surviving form of life is abominable from our point of view.
    The idea of life being so resilient would be very encouraging if it weren't for the particular "survivor" presented in the book.
    The level of danger to the very life on Earth presented by the organism makes the present dangers of our reality look much less threatening by comparison.
    I admire the extensive research the author must have done. It makes the book so much richer and better than just a thriller.
    I felt respected as a reader to be treated seriously.
    James Rollins never disappoints his readers.
    Thank you
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  • Arno Gündisch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bernstein und Apokalypse
    Reviewed in Germany on December 12, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Was hinterließ der berühmte britische Geologe James Smithson (Namensgeber des berühmten Smithsonian Instituts in Washington) der Nachwelt? Und warum war der amerikanische Erfinder und Gelehrte Alexander Graham Bell 1903 so begierig, Smithsons Grab in Italien zu finden und seine Gebeine in die USA zu bringen? War es nur eine Geste der Dankbarkeit gegenüber dem großen Wissenschaftler-oder steckte mehr dahinter?
    Was wurde 1944 aus dem Smithsonian Institut gestohlen? Und warum wurde Smithsons Hinterlassenschaft zu einem Großteil bereits durch eine Brandstiftung anno 1865 vernichtet?
    Die Antworten auf diese Fragen weisen tief in die Vergangenheit der Erde und könnten z.B. den wahren Grund für das Aussterben der Dinosaurier angeben. Andererseits schlägt sich Sigma in der Gegenwart mit einer Bedrohung herum, wie es sie noch nie gegeben hat-ausgelöst durch einen alten Feind, der für eine Weile ein Schattendasein führte, jetzt aber wieder zurück ist. Des Rätsels Lösung, um den drohenden Untergang der Menschheit aufzuhalten (weniger geht bei Rollins nicht) liegt ausgerechnet im Bernstein begraben...
    Somit ist der Bernstein und sein Geheimnis einer der Hauptcharaktere des Thrillers, neben der smarten Killerin Seichan, die dieses Mal bis an das Äußerste ihrer Kräfte gehen muss, um neben der Welt auch ihre Liebsten zu retten. Auch der scheinbar unzerstörbare Hüne Kowalski kriegt es mit einem Feind zu tun, den er sich so nie vorgestellt hätte.
    "The Demon Crown" ist der bis dato düsterste Roman von James Rollins , den ich allen Freunden des anspruchsvollen Thrillers uneingeschränkt empfehlen kann. Nachher sieht man manches mit anderen Augen...
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  • Kindleのお客様
    3.0 out of 5 stars ストーリーは面白い
    Reviewed in Japan on January 13, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    大好きなシグマフォースの最新刊ということで、即購入。年末年始のおやすみ中楽しめました。

    今回の敵はハチで、なかなかその生態もふくめてリアルに描写されていて勉強になります。

    残念なのは、日本が舞台になっており、日本人が敵対勢力になるのですが、、、言語と文化の描写があまりにもひどく。。。だれか日本人のアドバイザーの人がいた方が良かったですね。。。
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  • Salvador Bermudez
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muy buen libro
    Reviewed in Mexico on March 21, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Muy buen libro
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  • Perceptive Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Catches you in its mandibles, and then...!
    Reviewed in India on April 20, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Absolutely loved this one!
    Yes, this book also follows the formula seemingly perfected by Rollins, which involves the following steps:
    1. Events in distant past get buried metaphorically as well as physically.
    2. Events in near past threaten to unearth them, but ends with tantalizing possibilities.
    3. In the present, some nefarious entity (earlier the Guild, then some loose canons, now again Guild) seeks to exploit those possibilities into earth-shattering stuff.
    4. Sigma to the rescue, with death of some valued personnel, betrayal by someone— who would invariably perish later, and some open threads.
    5. Temporary closure.
    But in this book we finally encounter one of the deadliest and most remorseless enemies that Sigma, mankind, or any other terrestrial entity have ever faced.
    Want to know about them? Read the book.
    It's what a techno-thriller should be.
    Highly recommended.
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