Robert Ludlum (1927–2001)

I am a stubborn, anal-retentive completionist when it comes to books. If I start it, I finish it. That being said - this is the first novel I have ever started & then given-up on. It really is that bad. I read [b:The Bourne Identity|7812194|The Bourne Identity (Jason Bourne, #1)|Robert Ludlum|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1267668677s/7812194.jpg|859111] & its sequel, [b:The Bourne Supremacy|763597|The Bourne Supremacy (Jason Bourne, #2)|Robert show more Ludlum|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1281832085s/763597.jpg|2508588] & while neither was spectacular, I still enjoyed them. I figured I'd finish the trilogy with Ultimatum. I had noticed the abysmal reviews on Amazon.com, but decided I had to see for myself. I just couldn't bring myself to not read the final volume of [a:Robert Ludlum|5293|Robert Ludlum|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1208465267p2/5293.jpg]'s Bourne trilogy.

Stubbornly, I slogged my way through one-third of the paperback, while also reading [a:Vince Flynn|14989|Vince Flynn|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1237150817p2/14989.jpg]'s [b:Extreme Measures|3313418|Extreme Measures (Mitch Rapp, #9)|Vince Flynn|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1299166292s/3313418.jpg|3351033] on my Nook. That's what finally did it for me. I absolutely love reading anything Flynn writes. The man really knows how to write a page-turner of a thriller. While being so absorbed in one of his novels, I couldn't bear the thought of picking up where I left off in The Bourne Ultimatum. I became painfully aware of the lack of fun in reading it.

Many of the common criticisms of this novel I found to be true. I'm normally not one to be critical, but the dialogue is at times atrocious. I understand that when reading a work of fiction it is sometimes necessary to employ a suspension of disbelief, but considering how Ludlum seeks to write fairly realistic fiction, he failed miserably with Ultimatum. Carlos seemed a fairly believable opponent in Identity, however, I felt that in Ultimatum he was a caricature. Ludlum seems to be incapable of referring to Carlos without the word "Jackal" being in the same paragraph. Funny, I hardly recall the moniker of "The Jackal" being used in Identity. Also, how many times must the reader be reminded that David Webb, aka Jason Bourne, aka "Delta" is over-the-hill in this book. Only 5 years have passed since the events of Supremacy, yet the reader is led to believe that the protagonist who was on top of his game as a 45 year old in Hong Kong & China during the events of the preceding novel is now almost lacking in competence at 50. Identity introduced the concept of Carlos utilizing old men on the streets of Paris as his eyes and ears (in a very believable fashion), yet now 13 years later he seemingly has an endless supply of old men who have nothing better to do with their miserable lives than to throw them away by pursuing Bourne around the world (beyond ridiculous). If Bourne is so inept & Carlos is still "the man" then why does Carlos need so many helpers in his quest to assassinate Bourne? I could go on with a laundry list of complaints, but I really don't feel like spending any more of my time even thinking about this rag.

Bottom line - this book should never have been written. Just read The Bourne Identity, and then The Bourne Supremacy, and assume that David & Marie lived happily ever after following the events of Supremacy. show less

This is what I call forensic-type thriller. Majority of the story is after the fact detective report - target of the investigation is known and reader slowly learns about the events and people surrounding him. Because of this approach Ludlum's style (in this novel) reminds me very much of Forsyth.

Main antagonist (de facto main character of the book) is introduced at the very start. What is revealed as the story progresses is how wealthy Scarlatti family found itself on the brink of show more bankruptcy at the dawn of the WW2. To explain that author takes us to the very beginning - early 1900's.

So first we are introduced to the Scarlatti family and the way it became the most powerful family in the world, eclipsing all other multi-millionaires through shrewd investments and take-no-prisoner attitude. To expect that such approach to work and life wont bring the worst to the surface is a folly so all the worst in the Scarlatti family came to be embodied in form of the youngest son. His sadistic character surfaced during WW1 and prohibition era - being a member of the elite has its perks so he managed to get out of the way of problems with little effort, just by distancing from troublesome elements. And as soon everyone thought they know him he decides to change his life-style, gets married and decides to learn family business. All was well until he suddenly disappeared same day his wife gave birth to their son.

What happened to him is something nobody cannot figure out but considering his temperament they all think he is just venting out abroad. In the meantime US government gets more and more interested because of suspicious money transfers that are all linked to Scarlatti Industries. So when thread starts to unravel it becomes clear that something huge is in making - mighty financiers are on the move and concentrating their wealth in Europe for unknown reason. At the same time very dark political power starts to rise in Germany groaning under the Versailles Treaty conditions ready to accept anyone who will turn the wheel of fortune for its benefit. This will bring wayward son into conflict with his family and might even seal the fate of the most powerful financial empire of the first half of 20th century.

Author gives rather troubling picture of true people of power who are ready to do whatever is required in order to gain more power and profit. As they say power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Excellent novel, I truly liked the intricacies of the plot and I find final resolution to be very elegant. These are not the people one can shoot or who dirty their hands. Only thing they react to is direct threat to their financial interests.

Highly recommended to all thriller and conspiracy theory fans. show less

Some spy novels get better and more relevant with age, and Robert Ludlum's fabulous The Matarese Circle falls into that category. What it lacks in literary aspirations it more than makes up for in sheer excitement and fun.

Written decades ago, the story-line of Matarese Circle seems almost prophetic despite it being dated, the world finally catching up to the plot. A spy thriller this wildly entertaining isn't supposed to give you such pause afterward, as you look around the globe, yet it show more does. Riveting is a word too often used by publishers attempting to hype their book and generate sales. It is the perfect word to describe the narrative between the covers of this terrific thriller.

Two high level executions are mere tests of controlled reactions by a group whose name is not even whispered within the hallowed corridors of power in Washington or Russia. It began in the hills of Corsica decades before, and now moves covertly in the shadows. Two men on opposite sides, both the best in their field, are on the receiving end of one order: unsalvageable. Brandon Scofield and Vasili Taleniekov have been on a collision course for decades, but now the Russian will secretly reach out to his deadliest enemy in order to prevent the Matarese from controlling the world.

This is a lightning-paced spy thriller with more globe-trotting action than any ten others in the genre combined, yet on some level, it comes off as eerily plausible. The Matarese foster chaos in governments through financial control and political upheaval, like a puppeteer. Violent groups remain unaware, however, that they are mere pawns of the Matarese. Unless Scofield and Taleniekov can stop them, the Matarese will soon, through assassination and through democratic election, control the superpowers completely. What began in those Corsican hills, will finally span the globe.

A young woman from Corsica will give Brandon Scofield new life, but perhaps too late, as he may have to sacrifice it to save his country. And Taleniekov will discover just how far the fever has spread when he contacts old friends. Only Beowolf and the Serpent can track down the heirs and heiresses to a group so deadly and insidious a simple whisper means death. For the reader, it is a spellbinding ride that keeps pages turning late into morning. A book so exciting, written over thirty years ago, in the midst of a cold war which supposedly no longer exists, isn't suppose to be this much fun. Nor should it be so eerily disturbing.

Ludlum later revealed to readers he patterned the Shepherd Boy after Spanish financier Juan March Ordinas, and the Matarese idea sprung from rumors that the Trilateral Commission was attempting to create one world government. He embellished on this premise and created one of the most action-filled spy novels ever written. A wild ride that is both gripping and tremendously enjoyable. If you read for entertainment purposes, you can't go wrong with this one! show less

Not at all my usual thing, but this was quite good. I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't something this inventive and with good pace and drive to the narrative. not always 100% believable, but that's the point of adventure, sometimes it is a bit out of the ordinary.
Starts in 1939, with a Greek monastic sect (who are very slightly round the bend) smuggling a big crate of something that would have repercussions on the fate of the whole world, it would divide the allies and change show more the entire course of history should it fall into the wrong hands. They trust an Italian aristocrat with the secret and he hides this away in a secret location. Due to an nasty incident, the family's reduced to just the eldest son, who hasn't been taken into his father's confidence, but has an uphill struggle trying to get anyone to believe that. The contents of the crate diminish in importance under some classic WW2 derring-do, but surface intermittently, when it becomes clear that someone's not been telling the whole truth here. There's an attempt to resolve the situation at the end of WW2, but that has some unpleasant consequences, and the son puts it behind him.
But that's not the end of it. Some 30 or so years later, a few strange coincidences start to crop up, leaving the son with one last attempt to try and solve the riddle. This proves his undoing and the baton is passed to his twin sons, (the Gemini of the title). They're about as different as chalk & cheese, one being a lawyer, the other a soldier. They are brought together and their father plainly hopes they will work together to solve the problem, bringing their different skills to bear. Need I say it doesn't work out that way?
This has overtones of [b:The Da Vinci Code|968|The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2)|Dan Brown|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1303252999s/968.jpg|2982101], with a powerful secret that could blow apart the modern church which is being sought by conflicting parties, some nicer than others. However, it's some significant portion better than that tommy rot. This has pace, engaging characters and I found myself being sucked along with the rollercoaster ride. This is shelved on my husband's bookcases, along with a fair few other examples. I might not devour them in one go, but I might well take another visit to that corner of the bookcase. show less