TRACKER by James Rollins

“Tracker” is a Sigma Force novella by James Rollins and introduces two new characters to his thriller world. Tucker Wayne is a decorated ex-Army Ranger and his partner is a war dog named Kane who is smarter than Lassie ever thought about being. Timmy’s stuck in the well? Kane weaves a rope out of vines, anchors it, then climbs down the well and retrieves Timmy. Mission accomplished.

Well, not quite, but I was massively impressed by what these dogs are capable of, and with all the hardware that they can be equipped with. I’ve got dogs now and all they seem capable of is lying around, mooching meals, and ticking off the postman.

The novella is a nifty little read, beginning at once with action and picking up the pace from there. As expected from Rollins, the story combines cutting-edge tech, history, and people in jeopardy. The author provides a different narrative storytelling style when in Kane’s point of view that sets it apart from the rest of the tale. I appreciated that, and the present tense of those passages gave those sections a sense of immediacy.

Although the story is simplistic – though with some eye-opening moments regarding Nazi treasure hoarding and Jewish cemeteries – the narrative is gripping from the first page to the last, and I’m really looking forward to seeing more of Tucker and Kane in action. Thankfully, I’ve already got Bloodlines, the newest Sigma Force novel, on my ereader.