"The Kill Switch" (William Morrow), by James Rollins and Grant Blackwood

Former Army Ranger Tucker Wayne and his military working dog Kane were introduced in James Rollins' Sigma Force novel "Bloodline" and now star in their own series.

Rollins' best novels involve history and science with elements of adventure and thrills, and "The Kill Switch," with co-author Grant Blackwood, is no exception. The opening reads like a Clive Cussler novel on steroids, starting in 1900 South Africa with the Boers battling British troops, forcing the Boers to hide in caves. A discovery in those dark caverns will affect the present when a Russian scientist uncovers the truth.

The Sigma Force asks Tucker to get this scientist out of Russia. He is assured it will be a simple extraction, but there are ruthless individuals who want the scientist's discovery for themselves.

Rollins knows how to deliver a terrific page turner, and teaming up with Blackwood, co-author of novels with Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy, proves to be a success. The mix of Blackwood's military knowledge and Rollins' background as a veterinarian makes the narrative seem authentic.

While Tucker Wayne is a terrific character, the star of the novel is Kane, a Belgian Malinois and one of the best dogs in thriller literature.

"The Kill Switch" is the start of a new series, and the next book cannot come soon enough.