Another disappointing novel in the Covert One series.
No dramatic tension, as readers already know that no one we like will die ( )

A decent story, but could have been better.
And by 'better', I'm thinking better told. According to the cover, it's a collaboration, and I think it shows. It's a fair bit longer than it really should be (it follows the premise of the last 'Bourne' I read, by having the whole thing build to a climax in the middle, then go on again. You know you're only half way through, as you can see there's still a couple of inches of book to go, it can't possibly have the impact it really should), and a bit flabby. Robert Ludlum's originals are usually a lot more tightly-written and suspense-filled than this. It could be trimmed and streamlined and not lose anything.
Plus, the main concept of 'the problem' (without giving anything away) wasn't developed as deeply as it could have been. The results of its 'deployment' were just shown as tests, not full-blown attacks, and weren't described in deep enough detail, so didn't really carry the level of dread they really should have. That of course, affects the levels of suspense generated when they're trying to stop the bad guys. You really have to believe they're fighting to save civilisation from this 'problem', and here it's a little 'meh'. That's as good as I can put it.
A second 'plus...', the English secret agent - you can tell he's English (if you should forget his introductory section), because he calls people 'lad', says 'frightfully', and generally runs around in the background like James Bond. He doesn't actually say 'I say!', but only because it probably got edited out.
Still, a right rattlin' read - Harlev bibliotek scores again! ( )

SUMMARY:
A fiery explosion shatters a laboratory building in Paris. Among the dead is Emile Chambord, one of the leaders in the global race to create a molecular - or DNA - computer. Unfortunately, Professor Chambord kept the details of his work secret, and his notes were apparently destroyed in the fire. Then suddenly US fighter jets disappear from radar screens for a full five minutes and there's no explanation; utilities cease to function; and all telecommunications abruptly stop, with devastating consequences. This is not the work of a clever hacker - only the enormous power and speed of a DNA computer could have caused such havoc.Covert-One agent Jon Smith flies to Paris to investigate. Following a trail that leads him across two continents, he uncovers a web of deception that threatens to re-shape the world for ever... ( )

I thought I was getting to like the Covert-One series but this one is certainly a turkey. The plot is totally unbelievable...not the idea of development of an organic computer...that is fine but the red herrings and useless twists to the plot. I won't mention them in case you read this but there are HUGE holes in the logic of this story which amounts to little more than having Jon, Randi and Peter go from one location to another and getting involved in a firefight. I was so frustrated I was screaming into the book for the bad guys to not take Jon prisoner as all it did was give further clues to the enemy's plans and you had to know that they would leave him unguarded.

You can surely tell the difference between a collaboration between Ludlum and Lynds and Ludlem and the story is much worse in the former pairing ( )

Akwardly written - it just doesn't flow well. I finished the book out of curiosity, but easily could have put it down half-way through and been fine. I love Ludlum, and perhaps this is an earlier version of Lynds' writings. Several occurrences of events in the book are so contrary to normal activity that they become conjured for the sake of the storyline, and as a result the book loses reality. ( )