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22nd out of 29 books
—
3 voters
The Cassandra Compact (Covert-One #2)
For over thirty years, Robert Ludlum has been acknowledged as the master of international suspense and intrigue. In 2000, Ludlum managed to raise the bar yet again with his widely acclaimed bestsellers The Prometheus Deception and The Hades Factor, the first novel in his exciting Covert-One series. Now Covert-One is back, in a novel that could only have come from the imagi
...more
Mass Market Paperback, 448 pages
Published
March 15th 2002
by St. Martin's Paperbacks
(first published January 1st 2001)
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In the second in the “Covert-One” series (after The Hades Factor), renowned author Robert Ludlum (The Prometheus Deception and The Icarus Agenda) teams up with author/screenwriter Philip Shelby (Days of Drums and The Gatekeeper). Once again the world is in imminent danger.
The last case of smallpox was cured in the ‘70s; only two samples remain: one in Atlanta at the CDC and one in Russia. A group of unknown terrorists have a plan to capture one of these samples, transform it into a much more veh...more
The last case of smallpox was cured in the ‘70s; only two samples remain: one in Atlanta at the CDC and one in Russia. A group of unknown terrorists have a plan to capture one of these samples, transform it into a much more veh...more
Kolonel Jon Smith kembali ditugaskan oleh atasannya di Covert-One dalam sebuah misi. Misi tersebut adalah menjemput seorang agen sekaligus informan—yang juga koleganya—di Venice, Italia. Bersama rekannya Jon Smith berangkat melaksanakan misi tersebut. Namun, tanpa diduga-duga sang agen dibunuh secara brutal tepat di depan matanya. Usaha mengejar para pembunuhnya pun sia-sia karena sang pembunuh tewas akibat ledakan C-12 ketika melarikan diri....more
Jon Smith lalu mencoba mengurai benang merah dari peri
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Feb 11, 2012
BoekenTrol
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
all crime / thriller lovers
I find books by Ludlum mostly good and this one is not an exception. From the very first page it took me on the journey and I could not get off on the way.
It is quite realistic: there are viruses, bacteria that are kept in laboratories. When they do fall into the wrong hands, the world faces a catastrophy.
The fact that there are several threads makes the book nice to read for me, it keeps me busy while at the same time I can relax.
It is quite realistic: there are viruses, bacteria that are kept in laboratories. When they do fall into the wrong hands, the world faces a catastrophy.
The fact that there are several threads makes the book nice to read for me, it keeps me busy while at the same time I can relax.
I have in a previous review attributed my return to the love of reading to the author John Grisham as recommended by my brother, however, it may have been Robert Ludlum that he recommended, and I will attribute the same to him. Ludlum is well known for the (now on the big screen) 'Jason Bourne' series, and he writes a terrific political/espionage thriller. I am writing this review some ten years after having read the book and don't remember any specifics to this volume. That must indicate that...more
Feb 24, 2010
Jeff Yoak
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audio-collection,
read-in-2010
I'm really enjoying this series. It's very compelling with larger-than-life action and drama. I've read #3, The Paris Option, before, but I think I'll re-read it to keep the feeling from beginning to end of the series.
Feb 07, 2013
Al
added it
"What they're going to do, I would never have believed it. It's insanity!" They were the last words spoken by Yuri Danko, an officer in the medical division of Russia's security service, before his body was ripped apart by a spray of assassin's bullets. Now Covert-One's Jon Smith has Danko's classified papers, and he's unearthed a terrifying global conspiracy. A Serb terrorist has been despatched from Russia to smuggle hazardous vials of a deadly bacteria into the United States. His mission: to...more
Jul 06, 2010
Don Bradshaw
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
political-fiction
A decent book but not up to Ludlum's usual par. Smallpox has been virtually wiped out except for a small amount in Russia and the CDC in Atlanta. A small amount is stolen from Russia and by very confusing means is smuggled into the secret lab of a pharaceutical conglomeratein Hawaii. It is chemically altered to make the smallpox more virulent but the biggest mutation can only be made in micro-gravity. This is where Ludlum brought in too many characters as the bad guys get the sample aboard the...more
Book #4 of 2009
There were a bit of innacuracies at the beginning of the book, stating that Sophia went to school at UCLA while in "The Hades Factor" she went to school at Syracuse. Also Smith visited Sophia 1 year after her burial, but "The Cassandra Compact" lists that being in April while the events of "The Hades Factor" occured in October. Overall, this book proceeded much like the last, constant threats on Smith's life, vilians in government agencies, bioweapons, etc, except this book is the...more
There were a bit of innacuracies at the beginning of the book, stating that Sophia went to school at UCLA while in "The Hades Factor" she went to school at Syracuse. Also Smith visited Sophia 1 year after her burial, but "The Cassandra Compact" lists that being in April while the events of "The Hades Factor" occured in October. Overall, this book proceeded much like the last, constant threats on Smith's life, vilians in government agencies, bioweapons, etc, except this book is the...more
The Cassandra Compact, by Robert Ludlum and Philip Shelby
Jon Smith is sent to rescue Yuri Danko, who has called the secure line and asked to be extracted. Danko has a piece of terrifying news, but before he can tell Jon, he is cut down in a spray of gunfire by assassins. Smith deduces that someone is out to steal a sample of smallpox from the Russian cache of bioweapons and perhaps manipulate it to make it more virulent. This is a face-paced, exciting and scary book. Lots of action and shoot-em-...more
Jon Smith is sent to rescue Yuri Danko, who has called the secure line and asked to be extracted. Danko has a piece of terrifying news, but before he can tell Jon, he is cut down in a spray of gunfire by assassins. Smith deduces that someone is out to steal a sample of smallpox from the Russian cache of bioweapons and perhaps manipulate it to make it more virulent. This is a face-paced, exciting and scary book. Lots of action and shoot-em-...more
"What they're going to do, I never would have believed it. It's insanity!" They were the final words spoken by Yuri Danko, an officer in the medical division of Russia's security service, before his body was ripped apart by a spray of assassins' bullets. In possession of Danko's classified papers, Covert-One operative Jon Smith and CIA undercover agent Randi Russell have unearthed a terrifying global conspiracy that threatens to unleash a plague of immeasurable proportions. A Serb terrorist has...more
Dec 09, 2010
Kelanth, numquam risit ubi dracones vivunt
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
spionaggio
E' certo, ne sono sicurissimo, si sta rivoltando e girando all'infinito nella sua tomba. Povero Ludlum, poveri quegli scrittori che vengono riportati in vita sulle copertine dei libri per far vendere di più, per riportare sulla carta filoni narrativi
Se ha potuto leggere il suo nome sulla copertina di questo insulso libro non ne può fare a meno. Uno che ha scritto la "trilogia di Bourne" o "Aquitania", solo per citarne due a caso della sua sterminata e vasta vita da scrittore non può avere scritt...more
Se ha potuto leggere il suo nome sulla copertina di questo insulso libro non ne può fare a meno. Uno che ha scritto la "trilogia di Bourne" o "Aquitania", solo per citarne due a caso della sua sterminata e vasta vita da scrittore non può avere scritt...more
Di tangan Robert Ludlum dan Phillip Shelby, sebuah varian virus cacar air biasa ternyata bisa berubah menjadi senjata biologis berbahaya yang menjadi incaran paa teroris dunia. Kembali, Jon Smith agen rahasia dari Covert One, sebuah biro rahasia pemerintah Amerika Serikat yang tugasnya khusus menangani kasus-kasus yang berkaitan dengan senjata biologi pemusnah masal, mendapat tugas untuk menghentikan pembuatan varian virus mematikan ini atau menghentikan penggunaannya oleh siapapun yang mencoba...more
Downloaded from Audible.com
Narrator: Paul Michael
Publisher: Audio Renaissance, 2001
Length: 10 hours, 42 min.
Publisher's Summary
Yuri Danko, a deep-cover Russian asset for Covert-One, is on the run. His last communication was a cryptic and urgent plea for extraction. With no hint of what could have driven Danko to such extreme action, operative Jon Smith is sent to the pre-arranged meeting place in Venice to bring Danko out. Days later, Danko arrives at the rendezvous - but before he can reveal wh...more
Narrator: Paul Michael
Publisher: Audio Renaissance, 2001
Length: 10 hours, 42 min.
Publisher's Summary
Yuri Danko, a deep-cover Russian asset for Covert-One, is on the run. His last communication was a cryptic and urgent plea for extraction. With no hint of what could have driven Danko to such extreme action, operative Jon Smith is sent to the pre-arranged meeting place in Venice to bring Danko out. Days later, Danko arrives at the rendezvous - but before he can reveal wh...more
I happened upon another book in the Covert-One series and thought I would give it a try.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Smith once again saves the day, but this one involves a fast paced start, a very good plot, and involved NASA - which is always good.
This is the third in the series and unlike the first one was much better in character development, unpredictability, and of course action. It seems as if Ludlum has gotten comfortable with the series - who knows I may just give another one a try
Lt. Col. Jonathan Smith once again saves the day, but this one involves a fast paced start, a very good plot, and involved NASA - which is always good.
This is the third in the series and unlike the first one was much better in character development, unpredictability, and of course action. It seems as if Ludlum has gotten comfortable with the series - who knows I may just give another one a try
Plausible plot that there are limited secret stashes of certain germs, bacteria, and viruses vulnerable to theft, recombination, and new threat. I especially enjoyed the juxtaposition of this biothreat with the space shuttle missions. Not sure how plausible that combination is in terms of NASA security, but still it was an interesting imaginative combo.
Lacking the smashing detail and intricate plot of an original Robert Ludlum novel, but still a fun read.
Lacking the smashing detail and intricate plot of an original Robert Ludlum novel, but still a fun read.
As book #2 in the covert-one series it lacked the so called character development seen in the first book so if you were a new coming and had not read the Hades Factor you may feel the characters were a little hollow.
However, as someone who has read the Hades Factor prior to this, I can definitely say the assumption of knowing the characters definitely aided this story - whilst the first book was ok, this one was firmly in 'good' territory.
A nice paced read.
However, as someone who has read the Hades Factor prior to this, I can definitely say the assumption of knowing the characters definitely aided this story - whilst the first book was ok, this one was firmly in 'good' territory.
A nice paced read.
Very enjoyable espionage thriller. Ludlum's writing style is clear and just suspenseful enough to give the reader a good ride but without too many out of this world twists and complications that make it impossible to follow (or even half way believable). Even though it's an older book, it maintains relevance since it is about the theft of a collection of small pox virus from a Russian lab for not very altruistic purposes :-) I think what really appeals to me about Ludlum's stories is that I feel...more
I rate a 5 of 5 stars for the audio book The Cassandra Compact by Robert Ludlum. The master spy story teller Ludlum gives us a story that includes a hero, science labs, the Space Shuttle, SmallPox and of course a spy or two. This book is a thriller that involves saving the world yet while keeping all the events secret. Our hero is John Smith who is part of a presidential task force called Covert One. I highly recommend this book!
This is a good well-crafted book. However, the book has the misfortune of following the "Hunger Games" series. Collins ability to keep me engaged and to surprise me lessened the possible impact of this book on me. This book is formulaic and a great example of good formulaic writing. But I enjoyed it but it didn't surprise or thrill me.
A conspiracy to steal and alter a smallpox virus to create the ultimate
bio-weapon. This is a follow up to The Hades Factor and another in the
Covert One series. An OK story but the writing is obviously Shelby and not Robert Ludlum.
bio-weapon. This is a follow up to The Hades Factor and another in the
Covert One series. An OK story but the writing is obviously Shelby and not Robert Ludlum.
The Covert One novels are frightening. Bioweapons, good guys who are bad guys and vice versa. Full of action and each one has taken a little over a day for me to read. I get started and can't put them down.
There story wasn't easily predictable, and it was fast paced enough to be interesting - but overall not an excellent read.
It wasn't horrible, but it doesn't seem worth recommending to anyone else.
It wasn't horrible, but it doesn't seem worth recommending to anyone else.
As are all of Robert Ludlum's books, it is a very intriguing, exciting, entertaining book. The plot was very good and easy to follow. All in all a very good book for a warm summer's day.
I listened to an abridged audio version. Good story, the the abridgement made the timeline seem unrealistic. Maybe the unabridged version has the same problem
This was the third book in Ludlum's Covert–One series that I've read. It's my favorite so far, much better than the Hades Factor. I RECOMMEND this one.
As a fan of the Covert One series I loved this adventure - not great literature but an enjoyable quick read - if this is all you want then this series is for you.
May 29, 2009
Shawn
added it
Fairly by the numbers thriller. Worth the seven hours I spent listening to it. Don't think I missed anything by going with the abridged version.
Starts slow there is a drop me zone around chapter 6-9. If you survived this zone then you can't keep it down unless you finish it.
This was a fantastic cat-and-mouse thriller. Typically surface-only characters, convenient coincidences, etc., but really entertaining.
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Robert Ludlum was an American author of 25 thriller novels. There are more than 290 million copies of his books in print, and they have been translated into 32 languages. Ludlum also published books under the pseudonyms Jonathan Ryder and Michael Shepherd.
Some of Ludlum's novels have been made into films and mini-series, including The Osterman Weekend, The Holcroft Covenant, The Apocalypse Watch,...more
More about Robert Ludlum...
Some of Ludlum's novels have been made into films and mini-series, including The Osterman Weekend, The Holcroft Covenant, The Apocalypse Watch,...more
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Mar 03, 2013 03:39pm