The Osterman Weekend

I have to say movie always made me feel dizzy because I was never able to figure out what is up and what is down. And this kept me away from this gem of a thriller.

So I picked it up recently and I have to say movie does not make it justice at all.

In a center of the story are 4 married couples - Ostermans, Tanners, Cardones and Tremaynes. All good friends and all joining on almost regular basis during their regular gathering, weekend called Osterman weekend.

All couples are pretty successful in their fields - economics, news, movies - and have good career and personal lives (some even living in same area).

In a rather elaborate plan to capture elusive KGB sleeper cell in USA, CIA contacts Tanners and explains that their regular hangout show more weekend with other couples will turn into a surveillance mission and KGB sleeper cell hunt. Apparently one (or all) of the couples is working for the Russians and there is no other way to flush them out. Tanner of course cannot believe it but very soon he will start wandering if CIA is on target.

And here story kicks in. What I liked the most is the way couples are portrayed - these are people that love each other, actually behave like they are in marriage and are ready to do whatever is required to help their spouse. There is no usual modern marriage issues and I liked this a lot. Do they quarrel, sure do but they always try to solve the problems which was quite refreshing when compared with modern view of "that other annoying one" which I find silly.

In any case it is clear form the start that couples have secrets they keep from their friends (who does not lets be honest) but this only helps fomenting the suspicion and constant thinking what was meant by this or that expression or word. Everyone is a suspect.

Level of paranoia, constant second guessing [by Tanner] who of his friends is a bad guy, coupled with some serious mind messing stuff makes this story quite a thriller that does not stop until the very end. This one had me glued from the start.

Highly recommended to all fans of good thriller story. show less

I hadn't read any Ludlum in years and years and years. I don't know if my tastes have changed or if this one just wasn't one of his best, but I found the plot to be a bit ludicrous and the suspense extremely underwhelming. I don't recall that it was ever characterizations that were Ludlum's forte, but I do recall some really exciting plots. I'm going to keep re-reading these, though, since I recall really enjoying the heck out of him back in the day. Stay tuned!

For a Ludlum, this is a thin one :-) But the content is completely fine.
Spying, manipulation, friendship, suspicion, fear, betrayal, murder, all parts of this story that I unfortunately finished in nearly one sitting, just because it was so good.

I really liked the movie back in the 80s. Hard to say why. Great cast and a kid with a crossbow. The book is more detailed and complex. Great story of a Soviet plot to break business and professional leaders through blackmail. The idea was to release damaging data or turn people in attempt to destroy the American economy. Misdirection and suspicion drives four couples to the edge. Friends mistrusted friends all caught up in finding out who among them worked for the Soviet Project called Omega.

(Written on my iPhone)

In 1972, when this was first published, Ludlum had yet to establish himself as the writer of long thrillers. This is a much tighter work than his later novels but it contains little that is original: a member of the public is enrolled by the CIA to crack a Soviet cell. The characters are varied and convincing, the writing is interesting, and the plot twists are rewarding within this essentially corny device.

Reasonably good yarn that went very quickly......suspenseful enough that i wanted to continue.......but I never quite got the urgency of carrying out 'the weekend' plan as laid out in the book...... i could not understand why they just did not walk away.......thus the 3 stars......i know Ludlum has done much better than this.

An early 1970s cold war spy thriller. One of Ludlum's earliest books and if you're used to his other books such as the Parsifal Mosaic and the Bourne trilogy you'll be disappointed as it's more of a mystery novel than an action come spy thriller.

Most of the novel is taken setting up the weekend for a 24 hour clash where the plot is resolved - CIA vs KGB allies. Whilst no doubt an excellent book in its time, it has aged poorly.

If you're wanting to read all of Ludlum's works, sure give it a look but if you're after entertainment you'd be better off with one of his other titles.