John Barron was once a top detective in the Los Angeles Police Department’s elite 5-2 Squad. A deadly shootout with fellow officers ch... read full description
reviews
Apr 15, 2011
Tony
rated it: 
Allan Folsom- The Hadrian Memorandum (Tor Books 2010) 4.5 Stars
Sent to a small African country in the midst of rebellion and massacres, Nicholas Marten must meet with a priest who has photos that could anger some very rich and prominent people. He has been sent in secretly by the President of the United States, John Henry Harris. The president wants to know what is going on there, and wants the killing stopped, but the people behind it don’t want the photos found and will stop at not More...
Sent to a small African country in the midst of rebellion and massacres, Nicholas Marten must meet with a priest who has photos that could anger some very rich and prominent people. He has been sent in secretly by the President of the United States, John Henry Harris. The president wants to know what is going on there, and wants the killing stopped, but the people behind it don’t want the photos found and will stop at not More...
Dec 21, 2009
Tommy
rated it: 
This book starts off rather slowly, with an uprising in Equatorial Guinea (I know, uprisings aren't supposed to be slow, but...). Then Nicholas Marten, a former L.A. cop turned landscape architect (!), gets inadvertently involved, and things take off. Basically, an oil company discovers a massive reserve under the African nation and will do anything--even provoke a civil war--in order to claim it. Add to that a ruthless security contractor out to impress his father, and you've got a chase tha
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Jan 13, 2011
Peter
rated it: 
What an intriguing, and not always in a good way, thriller. A vast dark conspiracy between the CIA, a huge oil company and an infoamous private security company try and 'steal' a huge oil patch from an unknowing African Country. Discovered by a landscape gardener/secret agent, the good guys (hard to tell without a program) and the bad guys (easier to spot if only because of their tells) chase each other all over Europe..with out giving too much away, the use of weird slices of Freudian psycholog
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Nov 20, 2011
Mattias
rated it:
Without a doubt my least favourite Folsom novel this far. Folsoms books have always been very fast paced, action packed and with an intriguing story which usually contains some historical clandestine groups who are trying to obtain even more power. There have been plotholes some times(especially in the Machivielli covenant) the size of an oilplatform but the books have always been very entertaining. And Folsom usually have a great plot twist to stir things up a bit(see the day after tomorrow. Bu
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Dec 08, 2009
Natalia
rated it:
I stayed up way too late to finish it, which is definitely a good sign!
It's a good thriller, with a great slow build up to an exciting chase, the usual fun. Unfortunately, like most thrillers, I was disapointed with the ending, though that's not the author's fault - when a whole book is suspenseful and tense, the resolution is always a bit of a let down, since it's never as exciting as the build-up.
The only other thing that really stuck out is that it felt a little anachr More...
It's a good thriller, with a great slow build up to an exciting chase, the usual fun. Unfortunately, like most thrillers, I was disapointed with the ending, though that's not the author's fault - when a whole book is suspenseful and tense, the resolution is always a bit of a let down, since it's never as exciting as the build-up.
The only other thing that really stuck out is that it felt a little anachr More...
Feb 24, 2010
Kim
rated it:
This book is a sequel to The Machiavelli Covenant. It was good and fast paced, but a lot more violent. In some parts it was like watching a Van Damme movie just one person after another getting killed. I was disappointed that the author didn't pick up where the cliff hanger of The Machiavelli Covenant left off. This story was completely different and didn't really fit with the previous story. This book was okay, but I probably wouldn't recommend it.
Jan 06, 2010
Liz
rated it:
The complicated plot may turn some off, but give the book a chance. When ex-LAPD detective Nicholas Marten finds out about a huge conspiracy by a U.S. oil company and security firm, it sets off a chain of events that will lead readers throughout Africa and Europe. Marten hopes to get the truth out, even though his life is threatened. While the plot drags at times, the pursuit of Marten hooked me. Entertaining read.
Apr 09, 2010
Tulara
rated it:
I like the way this book began - intrigue, far-away places - people who are not what they seem. Then - it's heart-stopping chases, who do you trust, money, greed, private agendas. I enjoyed it, but I found it a little too long - I kept thinking I could go to the end and know the ending.
I thought maybe if there were two or three "revealing events" they could do without, it would make it an enjoyable read.
I thought maybe if there were two or three "revealing events" they could do without, it would make it an enjoyable read.
Jun 14, 2010
Frank
rated it:
A great followup to The Machiavelli Covenant and The Exile. An enjoyable trilogy with lots of action without the feeling of trying to fit too much in. Folsom's novels flow easily and the characters are well defined. This was a complicated read, but the author very smartly refreshed vital points along the way to keep the reader from losing his way. Be sure to read The Exile first.
Dec 17, 2009
Victoria
rated it:
Another thriller in the "let's throw in everything but the kitchen sink" mold. Clunky, overly complex with superficial characters who get it on for no apparent reason. I liked it for a while, then kept thinking "if I skip a few pages I won't miss much and I'll finally finish it." I didn't skip any pages, but I probably wouldn't have missed much. The last line took me from "liked it" to "just ok"... Allan Folsom should be ashamed of himself for such tr
Feb 14, 2010
Jennifer
rated it: 
Another excellent, entertaining thriller from Folsom. Greatly enjoyed the action, the running from different parties and the conspiracy happening around Marten. After a while, Marten's close escapes every time are sort of like watching a James Bond movie - entertaining, but highly improbable. Then again, it's easy to be super when your "brother" is the president of the US.
Feb 08, 2011
Peter
rated it:
this book is a good chase!!!characters are not to bad and area where story takes place, africa france germany spain and potugal is interesting...but i found it was just a story nothing special better than some and not as good as others.....could have been better premice was a good one or story idea was quite good but part of it got lost somewhere
Jan 30, 2010
Larry
rated it:
This is my first reading of one of Allan Folsom's books. It happens to be the third in the series. I will now read the first two. A very good read. The books moves along at a pretty fast pace. Didn't like some of the language and the one sex scene, but the story was excellent. Warning: lots of bodies along the way.
Nov 25, 2009
Lori Tatar
rated it:
The Hadrian Memorandum is a fast-paced thriller loaded with action and characters the reader isn't sure whether to like or hate. Who is on whose side? You don't find out until the end, while the plot twists and turns with every chapter. You'll be guessing right along with the protagonist, Marten, and he knows any mistake can be deadly. The book also offers some political insight into how wars are fueled and insurgencies fought. Everybody has a motive, whether in dollars, pounds, euros....
Aug 13, 2011
Sara
rated it:
This one will definitely need a second read; it was intricate, complex and almost too fast moving for me to keep up! Still the second read required isn't just to pick up all the other details but because it was thoroughly enjoyable as well. Like an action movie in book form!
Feb 07, 2010
Corny
rated it:
This overwritten, overlong thriller is nothing else if not cleverly plotted. The problem comes when the author keeps invading the mind of his characters with meaningless soliloquizing. "If I do that, he will do that etc.." This becomes tedious and breaks the rhythm of the story which is a good one.I found myself skimming pages to get to the next event in the story. Although the characters are not believable, especially Conor White, the story is carried by the twists and turns of an int
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May 18, 2010
Deanna
rated it:
I won another one... This one is a fiction book. I hope that it isn't too racy or I'll be skipping a lot.... (update: yes, skipping was necessary, and LOTS of four letter words. Why do people speak like that?)
I had a hard time getting into this and wondered if I was going to make it. After about 40 pages it started to pick up. This book is full of lots of action, chase scenes around the world, violent murders, bad guys, blah, blah, blah. My problem is that I'm not a big pop fict More...
I had a hard time getting into this and wondered if I was going to make it. After about 40 pages it started to pick up. This book is full of lots of action, chase scenes around the world, violent murders, bad guys, blah, blah, blah. My problem is that I'm not a big pop fict More...
Nov 24, 2009
Burt
rated it:
You wait quite awhile for Folsom to finish his books but this one was worth the wait. Nicholas Marten wins again but exposes himself to detection. He saves an African nation from a vicious dictator and an American Oil Company
Aug 04, 2011
Rick
rated it:
Not the best Folsam novel, but okay...the first two in this series were better...this one was a little drawn out and monotonous at times...sure did have a good ending though
Jun 07, 2011
Paul
rated it:
Somewhat far-fetched story of a landscape architect/former LAPD homicide detective up against experienced military and big oil corporations orchestrating a war in a third world country. The architect's main allies are a Russian spy and the president of the United States. It held my interest and was okay.
Nov 24, 2009
Jo
rated it:
Actually it's probably more like a two and a half. Even though or perhaps because it's scripted down the the minute the book seems to drag. The relationships between characters are generally superficial.
Mar 21, 2011
Jill
rated it:
Another great thriller by Folsom. I just love this guy's books. Nothing will ever top The Day After Tomorrow, but this was also very good.
Dec 27, 2009
Theresa
rated it:
Ag Striker has discovered a large oil field beneath Equatorial Guinea. Their lease controls the field and the small african Nation. This is a story of man's harsh and heavy greed and coruption. War, murder and mayham. Secrecy, spies, and chases. It's espionage at it's finest.
Mar 19, 2010
Bean
rated it:
One spot where it slowed down a bit. But I want to get the first two in the series and read them now that I'm done with this one.
Jan 14, 2010
Bill
rated it:
I like the characters and the story. It ran a little too long but with judicious skimming was quite enjoyable.
Jan 11, 2010
Irene
rated it:
the 3rd leg for Marten and his influencial cousin
good fast read
looking forward to another book by this author
good fast read
looking forward to another book by this author
Dec 12, 2009
Evelyn
rated it:
Former police detective Nicholas Marten is asked to travel to Africa by the president where he learns about abuses by mercenaries hired to protect oil workers. When rebels attack and murder a German priest, Marten must find out who he can trust before an all-out war begins.
Sequel to The Machiavelli Covenant by can stand alone. Fast-paced and entertaining, but some long narrative passages can be hard to digest. Recommended.
Sequel to The Machiavelli Covenant by can stand alone. Fast-paced and entertaining, but some long narrative passages can be hard to digest. Recommended.
Feb 02, 2012
Jim
rated it:
A little too long and not enough action. I was hoping for a Mitch Rapp type story.
Jan 04, 2011
Wendy
rated it:
Reading as a book on tape and so far the story is captivating like a Ken Follett or Daniel Silva story.
Jan 17, 2010
Tristen
rated it:
Wow. I have never read a book with a format like this (the story being told hour by hour, sometimes minute by minute) and if I can find more that are anything like the Hadrian Memorandum it will not be my last. This really was a book that I had a hard time putting down. At one point I just wanted it to end so that I could know the conclusion, but then I realized that was just my own impatience. The characters were likeable, and the action was suspenseful. I thought that this book was great and I
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