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Jason Bourne #5
The Bourne Betrayal
Two months after Jason Bourne's second wife has died, he learns that Martin Lindros, his only friend in the CIA, went missing in Africa. where he was tracking shipments of yellowcake uranium. After Bourne finds him, Martin returns to the U.S., but only after he persuades Bourne to go to Odessa to penetrate the clandestine world of terrorist money men there.
In Odessa, Bourne is hampered by confusing flashes of memories. He becomes convinced that they're false, but who planted them and why? And how can he function if he can't rely on his own memories? Eventually, Bourne figures out that the man he saved in Africa isn't his friend but a double, a terrorist intent on sending Bourne off on a wild goose chase while he himself steals intelligence and uses the information to coordinate an attack against a major city using nuclear devices.
The double, continuing to pose as Martin Lindros, orders a world-wide sanction against Bourne. Now, Bourne must fight off attempts on his life, track down uranium, and stop terrorists from launching an even more devastating attack against the United States of America.
486 pages, Hardcover
First published June 5, 2007
831 people are currently reading
8407 people want to read
About the author
Eric Van Lustbader
166 books1,223 followersEric Van Lustbader was born and raised in Greenwich Village. He is the author of more than twenty-five best-selling novels, including The Ninja, in which he introduced Nicholas Linnear, one of modern fiction's most beloved and enduring heroes. The Ninja was sold to 20th CenturyFox, to be made into a major motion picture. His novels have been translated into over twenty languages.
Mr. Lustbader is a graduate of Columbia College, with a degree in Sociology. Before turning to writing full time, he enjoyed highly successful careers in the New York City public school system, where he holds licenses in both elementary and early childhood education, and in the music business, where he worked for Elektra Records and CBS Records, among other companies.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/ericva...
Mr. Lustbader is a graduate of Columbia College, with a degree in Sociology. Before turning to writing full time, he enjoyed highly successful careers in the New York City public school system, where he holds licenses in both elementary and early childhood education, and in the music business, where he worked for Elektra Records and CBS Records, among other companies.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/ericva...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 404 reviews
July 28, 2017
Bourne it's NOT! disappointed,filled with lots of errors ..not like the movie if that's what readers are expecting...story does not even connects or grabs you,it's like you're reading all day long and cannot get into the plotline..very boring (paperback!)
November 23, 2008
This book sucked harder than a Hoover.
I love the Bourne Identity movies, and I figured Robert Ludlum is a famous author, so I figured this would be a fun read. Unfortunately, I didn't notice that Ludlum's name is just put on top in big letters because he or his estate own the copyright to the Bourne series, and this book was written by (in small print) Eric Van Lustbader. So I still don't know how good a writer Ludlum is.
What I do know is that Lustbader doesn't know squat about character development, believable dialog or the fundamentals of decent storytelling. His is the most egregious use I have ever encountered of "As you know, Bob" storytelling: i.e., the unnatural use of characters to describe story background even though there's absolutely no need for people to relate stuff that characters in a novel should already know.
Here's how that goes: "As you know, Bob, these terrorists have stolen a cargo of high-energy triggers typically used in manufacturing but also in the detonation of nuclear devices."
Bad.
Bad.
BAAAAAAAAAAD.
I love the Bourne Identity movies, and I figured Robert Ludlum is a famous author, so I figured this would be a fun read. Unfortunately, I didn't notice that Ludlum's name is just put on top in big letters because he or his estate own the copyright to the Bourne series, and this book was written by (in small print) Eric Van Lustbader. So I still don't know how good a writer Ludlum is.
What I do know is that Lustbader doesn't know squat about character development, believable dialog or the fundamentals of decent storytelling. His is the most egregious use I have ever encountered of "As you know, Bob" storytelling: i.e., the unnatural use of characters to describe story background even though there's absolutely no need for people to relate stuff that characters in a novel should already know.
Here's how that goes: "As you know, Bob, these terrorists have stolen a cargo of high-energy triggers typically used in manufacturing but also in the detonation of nuclear devices."
Bad.
Bad.
BAAAAAAAAAAD.
August 4, 2024
This is the fifth Jason Bourne novel and the second in Lustbader his series about the worlds most illustrious assassin. While this novel is quite the actioner it has a glaring flaw that asks for some serious acceptance of the skills of cosmetic surgeons.
Bourne's best friend and important intelligence officer has been replaced by a double, one who Bourne could not even recognize.
If you can accept that then this book is a perfect thriller engaging Jason Bourne as an Angel of death if you are a terrorist wanting to strike at the US of A with a nucluar device and destroying the intelligence agency tasked with hunting terrorists as well.
However there is a Jason Bourne out there for whom David Webb is a non-entity.
It seems that Lustbader is rebooting the Bourne series not unlike the movie series has. I enjoyed the movies and enjoyed the books, even if the share just the titles and part of Ludlums concept.
Enjoyable vacation literature which was what pand the bills for Ludlum. So I cannot complain but for an little thing. Looking forward to Lustbaders next Bourne novel as hé writes decent entertainment without any real political motive, just writing a decent continuation of a good brand.
Bourne's best friend and important intelligence officer has been replaced by a double, one who Bourne could not even recognize.
If you can accept that then this book is a perfect thriller engaging Jason Bourne as an Angel of death if you are a terrorist wanting to strike at the US of A with a nucluar device and destroying the intelligence agency tasked with hunting terrorists as well.
However there is a Jason Bourne out there for whom David Webb is a non-entity.
It seems that Lustbader is rebooting the Bourne series not unlike the movie series has. I enjoyed the movies and enjoyed the books, even if the share just the titles and part of Ludlums concept.
Enjoyable vacation literature which was what pand the bills for Ludlum. So I cannot complain but for an little thing. Looking forward to Lustbaders next Bourne novel as hé writes decent entertainment without any real political motive, just writing a decent continuation of a good brand.
June 29, 2013
Lustbader manages to write both compelling prose and utter shite at the same time. You could call him the Dan Brown of the thriller world; if Brown hadn't already got that title sewn up himself. Since Robert Ludlum's death, Lustbader has been at the helm of the Bourne series of novels. Taking the original trilogy and, some might say, milking it for whatever he and the Ludlum estate can get. This book continues in that vein and feels a lot like Lustbader had the beginnings of a great idea for a stand-alone novel but was already committed to that pesky Bourne cash-cow, without any ideas for that. So, he decided, why not just crow-bar the burgeoning plot ideas into the novel you've already got the advance for? Perfect.
The Bourne Legacy should have alerted us to Lustbader's penchant for the ridiculous – – and in this sequel, The Bourne Betrayal , we're asked to believe that Bourne (a man with a history of memory loss and documented paranoia/trust issues) lets a doctor he's only just met inject his brain with 'memory healing nanites' and that an Islamic terrorist would be able to convincingly replace the head of a secret US anti-terrorism task-force – without anybody noticing; not even Bourne, his best friend. Truly incredible.
In fact, this magical ability to appear to be somebody else is the central point of the story. Both Karim al-Jamil and Bourne are described as chameleons: one able to fool an entire government department of professional spooks; the other able to fool a tight-knit terrorist cell. This is counter-balanced by Bourne's ability to, once he's realised he's been fooled by the fake Lindros, suddenly work out every tiny detail of the terrorist plot, immediately and, with no real evidence at all. He is the perfect spy I guess after all.
As I already own the next three Lustbader novels in the series, I'm almost certainly going to keep going. But these books are increasingly looking like they should be for Bourne completists only.
The Bourne Legacy should have alerted us to Lustbader's penchant for the ridiculous – – and in this sequel, The Bourne Betrayal , we're asked to believe that Bourne (a man with a history of memory loss and documented paranoia/trust issues) lets a doctor he's only just met inject his brain with 'memory healing nanites' and that an Islamic terrorist would be able to convincingly replace the head of a secret US anti-terrorism task-force – without anybody noticing; not even Bourne, his best friend. Truly incredible.
In fact, this magical ability to appear to be somebody else is the central point of the story. Both Karim al-Jamil and Bourne are described as chameleons: one able to fool an entire government department of professional spooks; the other able to fool a tight-knit terrorist cell. This is counter-balanced by Bourne's ability to, once he's realised he's been fooled by the fake Lindros, suddenly work out every tiny detail of the terrorist plot, immediately and, with no real evidence at all. He is the perfect spy I guess after all.
As I already own the next three Lustbader novels in the series, I'm almost certainly going to keep going. But these books are increasingly looking like they should be for Bourne completists only.
January 30, 2022
Bourne has reason to be paranoid in this one because EVERYONE is after him! If not the bad guys, his own coworkers want to kill him so they can advance up the corporate ranks. Still Bourne manages to save the world from a nuclear bomb attack and all's well that ends well. While not pure Robert Ludlum, the author of the original Bourne novels, this fast-paced action is enough for a 4-star rating.
June 19, 2012
Characters are bland and undeveloped, if at all. Action sequences don't make sense. Overuse of gee-wiz technology that doesn't exist. Events happen (a good guy gets tied up and beaten) which weren't covered in the prior paragraphs.
If you can get past the helicopters shooting down MiG-29s and Bourne in a commercial jet dogfighting with Iranian fighters (I'm not making this stuff up), you still have to deal with the incredible metamorphosis that has happened to Bourne himself between the Bourne Legacy (which I absolutely loved) and this latest offering. The loving husband and father, part-time professor David Webb, has now been totally consumed by the Bourne identity.
Lindros asks before he dies that his ashes be buried at the Cloisters in New York City. The Cloisters is the name of a museum built by the Metropolitan Museum and has never had a cemetery. He repeatedly talks about the "Washington National Airport" when that airport was renamed in 1999 to the Ronald Reagan Washington Nation Airport (usually just called the Reagan National Airport now.
Omar, the humble and innocent Pakistani waiter is sitting bound to a chair in a bathroom of the Washington hotel where he works, knowing he's about to be executed by terrorists. Does this terrified man beg for mercy? Does he hurl abuse at his captors? Not a bit of it. He lectures them calmly and collectedly on the merits of the Israeli nation: "Israelis themselves are Nobel laureates in physics, economics, chemistry, literature; prize-winners in quantum computing, black-hole thermodynamics, string theory. Israelis were founders of Packard Bell, Oracle SanDisk, Akami, Mercury Interactive, Check Point, Amdocs, ICQ." Clearly satisfied on all these counts and that this would be the normal reaction of anyone about to die gruesomely at the hands of Islamic fanatics, Mr Van Lustbader then lets Omar get into his stride, expounding his beliefs on how Israel should be the model for them to follow. Perhaps understandably, the terrorist leader slices Omar's throat, telling him: "This is gibberish." Mr Van Lustbader go that bit right. What a perfect epitaph, not only to this ludicrous scenario, but to the whole book.
I almost stopped reading when the main terrorist character "became" Bourne's good friend Martin Lindross, fooling Bourne and everyone else whi knows Lindross into believing it was really him. Please.
Several components are just simply poorly reasearched. I.e. Marine Rangers in East Africa. Rangers are from the Army.
The dialogue sounds like actual people and the plot while ludicruous is mostly resolved logically ... but at no point do you actually believe any of it - from the second sentence, you realize you are reading a book and if you have a 4-hour flight delay - this will kill it without you becoming too annoyed since it's so professionally done but like airliner food serves to put food in your stomach and not much more - this book serves to fill up hundreds of pages but as soon as you put it down, I defy you to remember anyone beyond the Bourne character's name.
The cliches continue to abound in this new addition to the Bourne series, with the pick of the crop the "turning" of the CI head's assistant by one of the key terrorists who want revenge for an earlier attack by Bourne on their father. Add to this the ease at which CI is infiltrated by nearly every bad guy on the planet, including moles from the Pentagon and another mole who owes his allegiance to the evil Secretary of Defense.
Lustbader is absolutely terrible at setting scenes - his descriptions of just where things are in relation to other things, is incomprehensible. It's impossible to get a visual of almost any three dimensional place the author describes, most often because he forgets his left from his right.
If you can get past the helicopters shooting down MiG-29s and Bourne in a commercial jet dogfighting with Iranian fighters (I'm not making this stuff up), you still have to deal with the incredible metamorphosis that has happened to Bourne himself between the Bourne Legacy (which I absolutely loved) and this latest offering. The loving husband and father, part-time professor David Webb, has now been totally consumed by the Bourne identity.
Lindros asks before he dies that his ashes be buried at the Cloisters in New York City. The Cloisters is the name of a museum built by the Metropolitan Museum and has never had a cemetery. He repeatedly talks about the "Washington National Airport" when that airport was renamed in 1999 to the Ronald Reagan Washington Nation Airport (usually just called the Reagan National Airport now.
Omar, the humble and innocent Pakistani waiter is sitting bound to a chair in a bathroom of the Washington hotel where he works, knowing he's about to be executed by terrorists. Does this terrified man beg for mercy? Does he hurl abuse at his captors? Not a bit of it. He lectures them calmly and collectedly on the merits of the Israeli nation: "Israelis themselves are Nobel laureates in physics, economics, chemistry, literature; prize-winners in quantum computing, black-hole thermodynamics, string theory. Israelis were founders of Packard Bell, Oracle SanDisk, Akami, Mercury Interactive, Check Point, Amdocs, ICQ." Clearly satisfied on all these counts and that this would be the normal reaction of anyone about to die gruesomely at the hands of Islamic fanatics, Mr Van Lustbader then lets Omar get into his stride, expounding his beliefs on how Israel should be the model for them to follow. Perhaps understandably, the terrorist leader slices Omar's throat, telling him: "This is gibberish." Mr Van Lustbader go that bit right. What a perfect epitaph, not only to this ludicrous scenario, but to the whole book.
I almost stopped reading when the main terrorist character "became" Bourne's good friend Martin Lindross, fooling Bourne and everyone else whi knows Lindross into believing it was really him. Please.
Several components are just simply poorly reasearched. I.e. Marine Rangers in East Africa. Rangers are from the Army.
The dialogue sounds like actual people and the plot while ludicruous is mostly resolved logically ... but at no point do you actually believe any of it - from the second sentence, you realize you are reading a book and if you have a 4-hour flight delay - this will kill it without you becoming too annoyed since it's so professionally done but like airliner food serves to put food in your stomach and not much more - this book serves to fill up hundreds of pages but as soon as you put it down, I defy you to remember anyone beyond the Bourne character's name.
The cliches continue to abound in this new addition to the Bourne series, with the pick of the crop the "turning" of the CI head's assistant by one of the key terrorists who want revenge for an earlier attack by Bourne on their father. Add to this the ease at which CI is infiltrated by nearly every bad guy on the planet, including moles from the Pentagon and another mole who owes his allegiance to the evil Secretary of Defense.
Lustbader is absolutely terrible at setting scenes - his descriptions of just where things are in relation to other things, is incomprehensible. It's impossible to get a visual of almost any three dimensional place the author describes, most often because he forgets his left from his right.
September 24, 2008
This is in my bottom 10 books of all time. Poorly conceived, written, edited, and packaged. The plot makes about as much sense as a colonoscopy to diagnose strep throat. It's full of continuity, spelling, and grammatical errors and about as exciting as golf.
June 9, 2021
I was expecting a bit more to the plot. A little disappointed..
March 3, 2020
Jason Bourne. Brilliant thrillers by Robert Ludlum and some pretty entertaining films too. Oh and a dreadful new TV series called Treadstone.
The theme of most of Ludlum’s books were action but also big organisation paranoia, who can you trust and what are the secret agendas type of thing. You would hope that this would bleed into the Bourne novels now written by Eric Van Lustbader. This one has been sitting on my shelf for well over ten years and I wish I had left it there.
There will be spoilers ahead..
Bourne’s friend Martin Lindros works for the CIA but has gone missing. Bourne, despite the CIA being suspicious of him, bring him in to track him down. Bourne recovers Lindros but, guess what, the bad guys have replaced him with one of their own! Brilliant make up and an eye stolen from Lindros (“ahem”) means that nobody, even Bourne notice it is someone different. Yes, I thought that too.
But anyway False Lindros is now near the top of Counter Intelligence and with the aid of a highly placed agent (yes, I thought that too) could bring destruction to the CIA and also a US city. Oh, there’s a nuke involved too, obviously.
Anyway, a Bourne who is dull and devoid of personality (oh I forgot, the bad guys have also been messing with his mind) does lots of instantly forgettable things. Oh, and downs two fully armed MIGs while flying an unarmed transport plane – I remembered that bit as one of the many things this book wants you to take seriously as part of a thriller.
So, badly written, badly plotted and a total waste of your time.
The theme of most of Ludlum’s books were action but also big organisation paranoia, who can you trust and what are the secret agendas type of thing. You would hope that this would bleed into the Bourne novels now written by Eric Van Lustbader. This one has been sitting on my shelf for well over ten years and I wish I had left it there.
There will be spoilers ahead..
Bourne’s friend Martin Lindros works for the CIA but has gone missing. Bourne, despite the CIA being suspicious of him, bring him in to track him down. Bourne recovers Lindros but, guess what, the bad guys have replaced him with one of their own! Brilliant make up and an eye stolen from Lindros (“ahem”) means that nobody, even Bourne notice it is someone different. Yes, I thought that too.
But anyway False Lindros is now near the top of Counter Intelligence and with the aid of a highly placed agent (yes, I thought that too) could bring destruction to the CIA and also a US city. Oh, there’s a nuke involved too, obviously.
Anyway, a Bourne who is dull and devoid of personality (oh I forgot, the bad guys have also been messing with his mind) does lots of instantly forgettable things. Oh, and downs two fully armed MIGs while flying an unarmed transport plane – I remembered that bit as one of the many things this book wants you to take seriously as part of a thriller.
So, badly written, badly plotted and a total waste of your time.
October 4, 2012
Below is a review I wrote and posted on Barnes & Noble where I purchased this book for my Nook. It still stands as my review.
Despite misgivings and numerous attempts at reading Lustbader in the past, I decided to read his Bourne books solely because of the subject - Jason Bourne. I hoped Lustbader had improved his craft in the last few years and that this series would be good. I was greatly dismayed from the start when I realized he had completely set aside the original and true character of David Webb/Jason Bourne, and his family as they were created by Ludlum. For anyone who has read and loved the original Bourne books by Robert Ludlum, you realize the movies had very little in common with the books. And I loved the movies - Matt Damon was a terrific Jason Bourne. However, the movies and books had bare bones only in common. Lustbader’s Bourne character comes across as if he was a 30something covert ops hero and crashes forward through something like 10 or maybe 11 books/adventures to date. I really wanted to read the 'new' Jason Bourne adventures, although knowing that it would be as if reading about a new character rather than a continuation of a much loved and well-known character. That would have been fine - if Lustbader could really write. He does fine up to a point, but some of his plotting action is so incredibly stupid you wonder if a 10-year-old could have done better. One review I read mentioned Bourne heard his phone while revving a motorcycle with a helicopter flying immediately overhead – and I have to agree that is so far-fetched, I would say impossible. I nearly stopped reading at a point just moments before the ring of his cell phone when he jumped a Harley off the back of a moving rig and pulled a sharp U-turn in front of oncoming cars, ratcheting up through the gears in a chase scene. This whole scenario, from how they got on the street in a chase scene to begin with to the way it ended, is so badly contrived I could barely make it through. Not wanting to spoil anything further for those who might actually want to read this stuff, let me just say that the prelude to the chase scene was a real stumble-bumble scenario - nothing that David Webb/Jason Bourne of the first three books or the Jason Bourne of the movies would have done. Stupid is as stupid does for Lustbader. I waded through more pages until yet another incredibly stupid scenario and I quit. I can only stand to read poorly written, contrived plots for so long and then I just throw the book away or put it in a recycle bag. Unfortunately, this one is on my Nook. Oh yeah. Delete! Delete! Delete! For those who might actually enjoy somewhat poorly constructed action stuff and can ignore the tripe of Lustbader's writing, enjoy. But, please, be aware that all you are reading is Lustbader's bid for his own James Bond type series and it would have been far better if he had simply created his own character and not usurped the wonderful character that Robert Ludlum created. I had to give it a star rating to post the review and couldn't do just a tiny point of a star so let it be known that the star I had to give for this book was for the name - Jason Bourne - and nothing else.
July 7, 2014
The Bourne Trilogy ( Robert Ludlum's greatest work) was one of the best clandestine-thriller series I've ever had the privilege of reading. Normally the idea of a book series chronicling the adventures of a schizophrenic/amnesiac assassin would be absurd, but Ludlum made it work. He made readers connect, not only with Jason Bourne and his alter-ego, but every other character that was a part of Bourne's Life. He made you want to follow Bourne on his journey through confusion, paranoia, frustration & the accompanying violence. That was the whole essence of "The Bourne Identity"- you, the reader, were not only able to buy into his idea of a schizophrenic amnesiac assassin, but you also were part of the journey of remembering. You wanted to find out about Bourne's past life just as much the character himself did, and that's why you kept reading. Jason Bourne was just a damm compelling character- "The Bourne Identity", not the book itself but the essence of the protagonist Jason Bourne & other key characters in his life, was simply addictive to the reader.
Ludlum's ability to weave this crucial aspect seamlessly into every wild thrill-ride of a mystery/action-adventure Jason Bourne is forced into is what MADE the Bourne Trilogy so great. Eric Van Lustbader's inability to do this is what makes the rest of the Bourne Series (Bourne Betrayal & Onwards) so terribly and painfully Awful.
I had put off reading the rest of the Bourne Series (post-Ludlum's trilogy) due to the belief that the new Author in the series (Lustbader) couldn't live up to the standard Ludlum had set for the original trilogy. I should have just followed my gut.
The most annoying thing is that when I did eventually decide to read the rest of the series, Lustbader completely Blew me away with his first installment in the continuation "The Bourne Legacy" , which was absolutely brilliant and actually surpassed "The Bourne Supremacy" as my favorite Bourne book overall. He HAD the essence of the Original Bourne Trilogy in "The Bourne Legacy", but he decided to completely forgo ALL OF IT in his later books. The plots are all weak and confusing; the supporting characters are always changing and remain underdeveloped before they are "killed off" from book to book. Even the main character is devoid of depth- it's like there's a new Jason Bourne in each succession that's completely different & sometimes contradictory to the Jason Bourne in the previous novel. The author completely abandoned the schizophrenic aspect of the protagonist and stripped Jason Bourne to just another caricatured "Secret Agent Man" in the mold of James Bond. The sheer lack of any semblance of continuity is absolutely gut-wrenching to a fan of the original Trilogy- without it every book is just another typical mass-produced Action Thriller novel with an over the top badass main character and a shoddily put-together plot. And WHY THE HECK would anyone in their right mind devote their precious time to reading a crappy 10+ hr Action-Thriller Novel when Hollywood can give you an Action-Thriller Screenplay with 10x the plot, 10x the character depth, 10x the plausibility, and easily 10x the entertainment in just 1/4 the time!!!.....It's just a damm shame such a well developed & compelling character & series had to go to waste- my faith in fiction novels is shot.
Ludlum's ability to weave this crucial aspect seamlessly into every wild thrill-ride of a mystery/action-adventure Jason Bourne is forced into is what MADE the Bourne Trilogy so great. Eric Van Lustbader's inability to do this is what makes the rest of the Bourne Series (Bourne Betrayal & Onwards) so terribly and painfully Awful.
I had put off reading the rest of the Bourne Series (post-Ludlum's trilogy) due to the belief that the new Author in the series (Lustbader) couldn't live up to the standard Ludlum had set for the original trilogy. I should have just followed my gut.
The most annoying thing is that when I did eventually decide to read the rest of the series, Lustbader completely Blew me away with his first installment in the continuation "The Bourne Legacy" , which was absolutely brilliant and actually surpassed "The Bourne Supremacy" as my favorite Bourne book overall. He HAD the essence of the Original Bourne Trilogy in "The Bourne Legacy", but he decided to completely forgo ALL OF IT in his later books. The plots are all weak and confusing; the supporting characters are always changing and remain underdeveloped before they are "killed off" from book to book. Even the main character is devoid of depth- it's like there's a new Jason Bourne in each succession that's completely different & sometimes contradictory to the Jason Bourne in the previous novel. The author completely abandoned the schizophrenic aspect of the protagonist and stripped Jason Bourne to just another caricatured "Secret Agent Man" in the mold of James Bond. The sheer lack of any semblance of continuity is absolutely gut-wrenching to a fan of the original Trilogy- without it every book is just another typical mass-produced Action Thriller novel with an over the top badass main character and a shoddily put-together plot. And WHY THE HECK would anyone in their right mind devote their precious time to reading a crappy 10+ hr Action-Thriller Novel when Hollywood can give you an Action-Thriller Screenplay with 10x the plot, 10x the character depth, 10x the plausibility, and easily 10x the entertainment in just 1/4 the time!!!.....It's just a damm shame such a well developed & compelling character & series had to go to waste- my faith in fiction novels is shot.
June 16, 2024
While Eric Van Lustbader stayed very close to Robert Ludlum's original view of the Bourne-verse in the last book, this one, he hits the ground running with his own interpretation of the character and stretches his legs on how far he can take him and the storyline. It's not unlike the comic world that featured many different writers who had their own ideas, and I can respect him wanting to take on the reins of Bourne as his now.
It was a bit jarring initially because there were characters that I LOVED from Ludlum's version, especially Marie. Ludlum's Bourne had more humanity and less machine, whereas Van Lustbader's Bourne had more machine. But if you understand the story, you can see that it was necessary. Sometimes, in order to understand insanity and evil, you must become a version of that yourself. This was perfectly personified.
The craziness was really something has run rampant in any Bourne verse, this slightly sci-fi acceptance of sleeper cells on steroids, for lack of a better description.
In this one, there is some mind manipulation and many body parts WERE harmed in the process. Bourne is still fighting to regain memories, while having also to fight everyone on all sides.
There are some amazing, thrilling action scenes, and I liked that many characters playing both sides of the issues were exposed.
This was crazy, but what Bourne book hasn't been? You didn't come here for reality. This is fiction.
4 Stars
It was a bit jarring initially because there were characters that I LOVED from Ludlum's version, especially Marie. Ludlum's Bourne had more humanity and less machine, whereas Van Lustbader's Bourne had more machine. But if you understand the story, you can see that it was necessary. Sometimes, in order to understand insanity and evil, you must become a version of that yourself. This was perfectly personified.
The craziness was really something has run rampant in any Bourne verse, this slightly sci-fi acceptance of sleeper cells on steroids, for lack of a better description.
In this one, there is some mind manipulation and many body parts WERE harmed in the process. Bourne is still fighting to regain memories, while having also to fight everyone on all sides.
There are some amazing, thrilling action scenes, and I liked that many characters playing both sides of the issues were exposed.
This was crazy, but what Bourne book hasn't been? You didn't come here for reality. This is fiction.
4 Stars
October 10, 2012
I thought no one could Kill Jason Bourne, so well done Eric Van Lustbader. Jason Bourne is now dead to me. The villain is boring. and somehow has built a bond style evil base in the Afghanistan mountains. for those of you who don't know the geography of the area it cant be traversed by a motorised transport. Yet somehow our villain managed not only to build a secret base but also managed to get an elevator and a tarmac runway. This is just one of numerous ludicrous scenarios Van Lustbader serves up.
Eric Van Lustbader is milking the name of Jason Bourne for every cent he can get. Robert Lidlum must be spinning in his grave
Eric Van Lustbader is milking the name of Jason Bourne for every cent he can get. Robert Lidlum must be spinning in his grave
August 23, 2010
Dear Eric Van Lustbader:
Please leave the Bourne series alone.
Respectfully,
T.
Please leave the Bourne series alone.
Respectfully,
T.
August 6, 2022
Kind of stupid, technology things, Bourne doing things that make no sense. If you can get through the first bit it gets better but, still thoroughly unimpressed like I was when Matt Damon played the part...sure it's not as bad as 60 inches of scientology playing Reacher. Book has descent characters, bit jumpy, no one likes flashbacks...though it is a Bourne thing. It's a 2.5 book at best when compared to originals.
June 15, 2012
If you love non-stop action thrillers, you'll enjoy this action-adventure thriller. With non-stop action, this novel takes you all over the world from Washington D.C. to Africa to Eastern Asia. I remember seeing the first Bourne movies years ago and on TV--now this propels us to post-9/11 world with terrorists and intricate plotlines. I've been wrapped up into a fast paced world. We can see Bourne struggle with his memory and how he copes with his loss. My heart sank with him. But we see him never give up and team up to fight the bad guys in various ways. Even injured, he's relentless. With the fourth Bourne thriller hitting the movies this summer, this one takes off where that left over. Breathless, heart racing a storm, this sent chills down the spine. I kept rooting for Bourne all the way to the end.
July 6, 2021
I enjoyed reading the suspense and thriller book, The Bourne Betrayal by Eric Van Lustbader. It was a fast action, clever, spooky and dark book. It’s like the Mission Impossible shows and movies, impersonating other people so convincingly.
This is my first time reading a Bourne book. I believe I’ve watched most if not all the Bourne movies and like them. The book, like the movies are very intricate. I need to see the movies more often to see the details. However, I can read the book at my own pace to understand what’s happening. The author is very detailed in describing weaponry and surroundings as if he personally knows the weapons and had been to all the places Jason Bourne takes the reader to. It’s not an easy read for me, but I enjoyed it. It’s an action packed thriller that doesn’t hold back to what happens to many of the characters.
I found this paperback book at an exchange book where we are/were RVing. Maybe I’ll exchange this one for another Bourne book.
This is my first time reading a Bourne book. I believe I’ve watched most if not all the Bourne movies and like them. The book, like the movies are very intricate. I need to see the movies more often to see the details. However, I can read the book at my own pace to understand what’s happening. The author is very detailed in describing weaponry and surroundings as if he personally knows the weapons and had been to all the places Jason Bourne takes the reader to. It’s not an easy read for me, but I enjoyed it. It’s an action packed thriller that doesn’t hold back to what happens to many of the characters.
I found this paperback book at an exchange book where we are/were RVing. Maybe I’ll exchange this one for another Bourne book.
August 2, 2017
Eh. It was okay. Somewhat engaging with a few twists, but every book further from the original Bourne Trilogy seems to lose something from that fantastic trio of books.
Maybe this is a minor point, but I keep thinking back to the time frame of the original series versus these. It doesn't seem that any effort has been made to account for the changes in culture (i.e. cell phones/internet). I'd have to go back and figure it out, but I think this book is a few decades ahead technologically from where it should be. I try to force myself to forget it, but it is distracting.
I'm thinking I will go back and read some of the real Ludlum books that I missed before reading more of the Bourne books.
Maybe this is a minor point, but I keep thinking back to the time frame of the original series versus these. It doesn't seem that any effort has been made to account for the changes in culture (i.e. cell phones/internet). I'd have to go back and figure it out, but I think this book is a few decades ahead technologically from where it should be. I try to force myself to forget it, but it is distracting.
I'm thinking I will go back and read some of the real Ludlum books that I missed before reading more of the Bourne books.
October 29, 2020
Het vijfde deel van de Bourne reeks. Met Jason Bourne als spin in het web in de strijd tegen terrorisme. Het geheugenverlies en oude missies blijven ook hier in dit verhaal terugkomen en in een complexe setting met (te) veel vermomming wordt weer een stukje van zijn verleden ontrafelt.
Voor mij niet vernieuwend en teveel van het goede en de vermomming van bepaalde personages te onrealistisch.
Voor mij niet vernieuwend en teveel van het goede en de vermomming van bepaalde personages te onrealistisch.
March 29, 2023
This was an OK book. It had trouble maintaining my interest.
May 23, 2025
Unrealistic with the switching of faces etc. otherwise ok read.
February 26, 2020
This was a decent enough book I guess. The last few chapters were great. Kinda hard to follow all the characters and then again Bourne is supposed to be hard to follow.
April 28, 2020
Stars: 5 / 5
Recommendation: A fantastical spy tale taking the readers into the world of terrorists whose fanatic minds are no match for our cursed spy, Jason Bourne, while keeping the readers on the very edge.
The Bourne Betrayal is the fifth book in the spy action thriller series Jason Bourne, written by Eric Van Lustbader, published in June of 2007. The character was originally created by Robert Ludlum, however after his death, Lustbader picked up the character and continued the series. This book picks up three years after The Bourne Legacy (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...) plot.
Deputy Director of Central Intelligence Agency (DDCI), Martin Lindros, is kidnapped by the terrorist leader, Fadi, from the Semien mountain range. Despite the animosity, the Director of Central Intelligence Agency (DCI) Kurt "Old Man" asks David Webb to bring forth his alter ego, Jason Bourne, once again to bring back Lindros.
However, Bourne is suffering further loss of memories and flashes of memories that leave him confused. Was Bourne the right choice by DCI? Or is Bourne being played again by unknown and known powers to drag him through perils upon perils? And the biggest of the biggest betrayals to Bourne is yet to come.
Lustbader creates a chameleon as best as Bourne who lures Bourne everywhere, causing tangent threads that confuse him. A perfect chameleon to fight a chameleon. Despite knowing that he was chasing a chameleon and given his paranoia, it surprised me that Jason Bourne takes believes things at face without question most times; puts himself under a needle and electronic leads; and doesn’t fight off some perils. I would have expected him to be more cunning rather than trusting.
One of the plan that the primary antagonists device reminded me of the antagonist's plot in the 2008 American political action thriller film Vantage Point. Incidentally this movie was released a year after the book was published. Had the director of the film been inspired by the book for that one small part of the plot in the film? Could be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDp-0...
In the first three books of the series, Ludlum took us to China, sharing its plans to conquer the world with arms and ammunitions. In the previous book, The Bourne Legacy, Lustbader showed us how Chechen terrorists work with a Hungarian mad man to annihilate the Russians. And in this plot, he takes us to the rising Muslim and Western Arab insurgence in the regions of Africa.
Lustbader brings forth the alpha and gamma radiation exploitation by the antagonists who are trying to use it to mass murder. Reminds me of something Mr. President said recently without thought and care. Sadly back then the antagonist was unknown to us, but now we know them and yet cant do anything about it.
Lustbader again doesn’t mince words and is not shy at showing the positives and negatives of all the characters involved in the plot. He doesn’t hold back while throwing twists and turns at these characters keeping the readers on the edge.
Some of the cutting edge methods that the antagonists use in the plot like consolidation & miniaturization using nanotechnology to suppress memories or create false memories; prosthetics that look like real; makes me wonder how is the evil always well empowered before good can even prepare to fight back. Again we see deep explanations of things such as nanotechnology; burner phones; etc, that are a commonality in this year but were cutting edge in 2007 when this book was written.
Contrary to how Ludlum had written the first three books, Lustbader changed the format for his books. He made the entire book into sub-books - Book One gives us the chase that Bourne does after the kidnappers; Book Two brings the betrayals to light; Book Three shows the cunningness of Bourne; Book Four gives us the climax.
After reading the book, it made more sense as to why Lustbader split into "Books" rather than "Parts" as the tales in each of them could have been printed as individual books if needed. However, I did feel like I am in a George R.R. Martin novel, especially the way various characters were dying, just like in his books.
I don’t normally read the ending or at least some of the last chapters of any book. Yet, this time around I was compelled to flip through the final pages. Knowing that Bourne would come out alive and successful, knowing that the antagonists will be defeated, and knowing that the mission will be accomplished; I still couldn’t resist myself. There were too many twists and too much of betrayal piling up on Bourne that I worries the author might kill this Jason Bourne.
Although once I had finished reading it I felt the ending was a bit rushed in and Lustbader left a lot of pieces open-ended, presuming he will solve them in the coming books. Another fantastic spy tale taking us into the world of terrorists planning for annihilating a nation while the cursed spy is pushed to thwart the plans, all the while saving himself from being killed in the process.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Plot Reveals:
a. Lustbader kills Marie St. Jacques Webb's character in the beginning of the book. She is shown as died from a viral pneumonia. I wonder why Lustbader made Bourne's character so alone, especially since his kids - Jamie and Alison - also stay with his wife's sister and father in Canada.
b. Martin Lindros has a girlfriend, Moira.
c. Agent Moore had worked with Bourne in Odessa, when they were on a CI case to eliminate Abu Sarif Hamid ibn Ashef al-Wahhib, Faid and Karim's father.
d. Anne Held, DCI's assistant, is in relationship with Karim al-Jamil.
e. Tyrone saves Soroya from the antagonists and she owes him one. Perhaps we will see more of them in the next book?
f. At the end of the book, DCI Kurt and DDCI Lindros both are killed along with DCI's assistant Anne. Lindros's girlfriend, Moira is introduced at the end of the plot. Something makes me think that she might become more in the coming books in the series.
g. With DCI and DDCI murdered, Lustbader doesn’t show the fate of CIA, who would head it and what this all means to Jason Bourne in the book.
2. Sub-Plots:
a. Conspirators behind the chaos: Members of Dujja (Abu Ghazi Nadir al-Jamuh ibn Hamid ibn Ashef al-Wahhib "Fadi"; Karim al-Jamil ibn Hamid ibn Ashef al-Wahhib, Fadi's brother; Abbud ibn Aziz, Fadi's right-hand man; Muta jbn Aziz, Abbud's brother; Abd al-Malik); Costin Veintrop (disguised as Dr. Sunderland); Dr. Senarz.
b. Various Agency people some pro and some against Bourne: DCI Kurt; Matthew Lerner, acting DDCI; Special Agent Soraya Moore; Davis, from the Skorpion Unit; Agent Peter Marks; Secretary of Defense Ervin Reynolds Bud Halliday; Luther LaValle, Pentagon's Intelligence Czar; Jon Mueller from Department of Homeland Security; Gundarsson from International Atomic Energy Agency; Dr. Pavlyna, CI doctor; Rob Batt, Director of Operations; Feyd al-Saoud, chief of Saudi secret police.
c. Local Law Enforcement and other support people: Anne Held, DCI's assistant; Kim Lovett & Chief O'Grady from the Fire Investigation Unit; Detective William Overton and Joe Mueller from Metro Police.
d. People on Bourne's side: Dr. Allen Sunderland (his new psychiatrist since Dr. Morris "Mo" Panov is killed in the previous book); Deron, a master forger; Tyrone; the Amharas (Alem, his father Zaim; Kabur;); Katya Stepanova Vdova, Veintrop's wife.
e. In the very first book The Bourne Identity, we see that Carlos escapes in the end from Bourne, and that he is only one who knows how Carlos looks like. This character hadnt been expanded since. Lustbader references to Carlos again in The Bourne Legacy as well. So will Carlos be part of one of the books that Lustbader has written in this series since this book? One only can tell after reading those books I suppose.
f. In The Bourne Legacy, Jason's son Joshua "Khan" Webb doesn’t join his current family yet. So am guessing Lustbader's future books will focus on Joshua, or perhaps both Jason and Joshua.
g. In the end of The Bourne Legacy plot, Spalko is shot and is thrown into the icy ocean in Iceland. However, it is not revealed that his body has been found. So will he resurface again?
h. Some of the books and media Ludlum mentions along the plot:
i. Fadi and Muta watch the hit TV drama Sopranos frequently.
3. Grammatical / Character / Location / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:
a. On Pg. 361, Line 3, "Ashef" is mis-spelled as "Ashraf
Recommendation: A fantastical spy tale taking the readers into the world of terrorists whose fanatic minds are no match for our cursed spy, Jason Bourne, while keeping the readers on the very edge.
The Bourne Betrayal is the fifth book in the spy action thriller series Jason Bourne, written by Eric Van Lustbader, published in June of 2007. The character was originally created by Robert Ludlum, however after his death, Lustbader picked up the character and continued the series. This book picks up three years after The Bourne Legacy (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...) plot.
Deputy Director of Central Intelligence Agency (DDCI), Martin Lindros, is kidnapped by the terrorist leader, Fadi, from the Semien mountain range. Despite the animosity, the Director of Central Intelligence Agency (DCI) Kurt "Old Man" asks David Webb to bring forth his alter ego, Jason Bourne, once again to bring back Lindros.
However, Bourne is suffering further loss of memories and flashes of memories that leave him confused. Was Bourne the right choice by DCI? Or is Bourne being played again by unknown and known powers to drag him through perils upon perils? And the biggest of the biggest betrayals to Bourne is yet to come.
Lustbader creates a chameleon as best as Bourne who lures Bourne everywhere, causing tangent threads that confuse him. A perfect chameleon to fight a chameleon. Despite knowing that he was chasing a chameleon and given his paranoia, it surprised me that Jason Bourne takes believes things at face without question most times; puts himself under a needle and electronic leads; and doesn’t fight off some perils. I would have expected him to be more cunning rather than trusting.
One of the plan that the primary antagonists device reminded me of the antagonist's plot in the 2008 American political action thriller film Vantage Point. Incidentally this movie was released a year after the book was published. Had the director of the film been inspired by the book for that one small part of the plot in the film? Could be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDp-0...
In the first three books of the series, Ludlum took us to China, sharing its plans to conquer the world with arms and ammunitions. In the previous book, The Bourne Legacy, Lustbader showed us how Chechen terrorists work with a Hungarian mad man to annihilate the Russians. And in this plot, he takes us to the rising Muslim and Western Arab insurgence in the regions of Africa.
Lustbader brings forth the alpha and gamma radiation exploitation by the antagonists who are trying to use it to mass murder. Reminds me of something Mr. President said recently without thought and care. Sadly back then the antagonist was unknown to us, but now we know them and yet cant do anything about it.
Lustbader again doesn’t mince words and is not shy at showing the positives and negatives of all the characters involved in the plot. He doesn’t hold back while throwing twists and turns at these characters keeping the readers on the edge.
Some of the cutting edge methods that the antagonists use in the plot like consolidation & miniaturization using nanotechnology to suppress memories or create false memories; prosthetics that look like real; makes me wonder how is the evil always well empowered before good can even prepare to fight back. Again we see deep explanations of things such as nanotechnology; burner phones; etc, that are a commonality in this year but were cutting edge in 2007 when this book was written.
Contrary to how Ludlum had written the first three books, Lustbader changed the format for his books. He made the entire book into sub-books - Book One gives us the chase that Bourne does after the kidnappers; Book Two brings the betrayals to light; Book Three shows the cunningness of Bourne; Book Four gives us the climax.
After reading the book, it made more sense as to why Lustbader split into "Books" rather than "Parts" as the tales in each of them could have been printed as individual books if needed. However, I did feel like I am in a George R.R. Martin novel, especially the way various characters were dying, just like in his books.
I don’t normally read the ending or at least some of the last chapters of any book. Yet, this time around I was compelled to flip through the final pages. Knowing that Bourne would come out alive and successful, knowing that the antagonists will be defeated, and knowing that the mission will be accomplished; I still couldn’t resist myself. There were too many twists and too much of betrayal piling up on Bourne that I worries the author might kill this Jason Bourne.
Although once I had finished reading it I felt the ending was a bit rushed in and Lustbader left a lot of pieces open-ended, presuming he will solve them in the coming books. Another fantastic spy tale taking us into the world of terrorists planning for annihilating a nation while the cursed spy is pushed to thwart the plans, all the while saving himself from being killed in the process.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Plot Reveals:
a. Lustbader kills Marie St. Jacques Webb's character in the beginning of the book. She is shown as died from a viral pneumonia. I wonder why Lustbader made Bourne's character so alone, especially since his kids - Jamie and Alison - also stay with his wife's sister and father in Canada.
b. Martin Lindros has a girlfriend, Moira.
c. Agent Moore had worked with Bourne in Odessa, when they were on a CI case to eliminate Abu Sarif Hamid ibn Ashef al-Wahhib, Faid and Karim's father.
d. Anne Held, DCI's assistant, is in relationship with Karim al-Jamil.
e. Tyrone saves Soroya from the antagonists and she owes him one. Perhaps we will see more of them in the next book?
f. At the end of the book, DCI Kurt and DDCI Lindros both are killed along with DCI's assistant Anne. Lindros's girlfriend, Moira is introduced at the end of the plot. Something makes me think that she might become more in the coming books in the series.
g. With DCI and DDCI murdered, Lustbader doesn’t show the fate of CIA, who would head it and what this all means to Jason Bourne in the book.
2. Sub-Plots:
a. Conspirators behind the chaos: Members of Dujja (Abu Ghazi Nadir al-Jamuh ibn Hamid ibn Ashef al-Wahhib "Fadi"; Karim al-Jamil ibn Hamid ibn Ashef al-Wahhib, Fadi's brother; Abbud ibn Aziz, Fadi's right-hand man; Muta jbn Aziz, Abbud's brother; Abd al-Malik); Costin Veintrop (disguised as Dr. Sunderland); Dr. Senarz.
b. Various Agency people some pro and some against Bourne: DCI Kurt; Matthew Lerner, acting DDCI; Special Agent Soraya Moore; Davis, from the Skorpion Unit; Agent Peter Marks; Secretary of Defense Ervin Reynolds Bud Halliday; Luther LaValle, Pentagon's Intelligence Czar; Jon Mueller from Department of Homeland Security; Gundarsson from International Atomic Energy Agency; Dr. Pavlyna, CI doctor; Rob Batt, Director of Operations; Feyd al-Saoud, chief of Saudi secret police.
c. Local Law Enforcement and other support people: Anne Held, DCI's assistant; Kim Lovett & Chief O'Grady from the Fire Investigation Unit; Detective William Overton and Joe Mueller from Metro Police.
d. People on Bourne's side: Dr. Allen Sunderland (his new psychiatrist since Dr. Morris "Mo" Panov is killed in the previous book); Deron, a master forger; Tyrone; the Amharas (Alem, his father Zaim; Kabur;); Katya Stepanova Vdova, Veintrop's wife.
e. In the very first book The Bourne Identity, we see that Carlos escapes in the end from Bourne, and that he is only one who knows how Carlos looks like. This character hadnt been expanded since. Lustbader references to Carlos again in The Bourne Legacy as well. So will Carlos be part of one of the books that Lustbader has written in this series since this book? One only can tell after reading those books I suppose.
f. In The Bourne Legacy, Jason's son Joshua "Khan" Webb doesn’t join his current family yet. So am guessing Lustbader's future books will focus on Joshua, or perhaps both Jason and Joshua.
g. In the end of The Bourne Legacy plot, Spalko is shot and is thrown into the icy ocean in Iceland. However, it is not revealed that his body has been found. So will he resurface again?
h. Some of the books and media Ludlum mentions along the plot:
i. Fadi and Muta watch the hit TV drama Sopranos frequently.
3. Grammatical / Character / Location / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:
a. On Pg. 361, Line 3, "Ashef" is mis-spelled as "Ashraf
January 23, 2013
Eric van Lustbader puts out a decent book, filled with suspense and intrigue and uses that 21st century buzz plot, the fight against terrorists seeking to take over parts of the US. It has all the thrills you could want, some very descriptive fight scenes and even some graphic attacks that leave you wincing and wishing you had a doctor on hand. Fairly decent dialogue and the book flows fairly well. It is.... WAIT A MINUTE!! This is one of the Bourne series. Scratch the above and keep reading!
MISSING IN ACTION!!! Jason Bourne/David Webb, that Jekyll/Hyde character created by Robert Ludlum is missing and presumed erased by someone who took Ludlum’s reins and continued the series. Lustbader insults true Bourne fans by Hollywood-ising the story and completely ruins the foundation that was set out by the famed espionage author. We have gaping holes that are not addressed:
1) If Arab and Islamic terrorists are the front and centre, we must assume that it is post-September 11, 2001. This makes Bourne at LEAST 61 years old (if we hold true to Ludlum’s foundation of the character)
2) Mrs. Bourne is dead (this is not a spoiler, as it is announced in the preface), and he is off with NO mention of the children. Eldest is, at most 13 years old and no nanny is mentioned or calls home to ensure food is being consumed.
3) The Jason Bourne we know has no moment of switchover from his Webb identity, so we are to assume that he lives like this all the time.
4) The character, besides being close to a senior, fights as though he is a young, Damonian version of himself that one might see on the silver screen. Has Lustbader tried to cater the character to meet the Matt Damon litmus test? Get people interested in reading the series from this point on?
I should have known that when Scott Brick stopped narrating, the greatness of the series would leave too. I have no issues with suspending reality, but not in mid-series. Either begin with dragons and unexpected happenings or do not do it at all. Put the series to rest and out of its misery, and let poor Robert Ludlum keep from turning over in his grave.
SHAME Mr. Lustbader. Alas, having promised myself to read the entire series, I will continue. That said, I will be sure to keep reviewing honestly and not pussyfoot around.
MISSING IN ACTION!!! Jason Bourne/David Webb, that Jekyll/Hyde character created by Robert Ludlum is missing and presumed erased by someone who took Ludlum’s reins and continued the series. Lustbader insults true Bourne fans by Hollywood-ising the story and completely ruins the foundation that was set out by the famed espionage author. We have gaping holes that are not addressed:
1) If Arab and Islamic terrorists are the front and centre, we must assume that it is post-September 11, 2001. This makes Bourne at LEAST 61 years old (if we hold true to Ludlum’s foundation of the character)
2) Mrs. Bourne is dead (this is not a spoiler, as it is announced in the preface), and he is off with NO mention of the children. Eldest is, at most 13 years old and no nanny is mentioned or calls home to ensure food is being consumed.
3) The Jason Bourne we know has no moment of switchover from his Webb identity, so we are to assume that he lives like this all the time.
4) The character, besides being close to a senior, fights as though he is a young, Damonian version of himself that one might see on the silver screen. Has Lustbader tried to cater the character to meet the Matt Damon litmus test? Get people interested in reading the series from this point on?
I should have known that when Scott Brick stopped narrating, the greatness of the series would leave too. I have no issues with suspending reality, but not in mid-series. Either begin with dragons and unexpected happenings or do not do it at all. Put the series to rest and out of its misery, and let poor Robert Ludlum keep from turning over in his grave.
SHAME Mr. Lustbader. Alas, having promised myself to read the entire series, I will continue. That said, I will be sure to keep reviewing honestly and not pussyfoot around.
January 26, 2020
I often will not even bother putting a three star book up on goodreads. I don't particularly like to give bad reviews, and a three star rating to me means that there are some pretty significant weaknesses.
However, Lustbader's early stuff is some of my favorite fiction, and I will probably keep giving him a chance unless he goes the full Tom Clancy. I did think his recent First Daughter was better.
So, what was good about the book. The plot was interesting and wellpaced, especially the second half of the book. And he did a good job recreating the depths of the torment of Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne.
However, the writing was not very good. I do not need literary prose to enjoy a book by any stretch. I like Lee Child and I like Clive Cussler's first ten or so books. But this writing was just weak. Way, way too much use of the verb to be and the passive tense. Even beyond that, the writing just seemed lazy.
As I said, I don't like leaving bad reviews. But at his best, Lustbader's previous writing would reach out and grab you by the heart and gut and not let go. I hope he's got it in him to get that back in the future.
However, Lustbader's early stuff is some of my favorite fiction, and I will probably keep giving him a chance unless he goes the full Tom Clancy. I did think his recent First Daughter was better.
So, what was good about the book. The plot was interesting and wellpaced, especially the second half of the book. And he did a good job recreating the depths of the torment of Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne.
However, the writing was not very good. I do not need literary prose to enjoy a book by any stretch. I like Lee Child and I like Clive Cussler's first ten or so books. But this writing was just weak. Way, way too much use of the verb to be and the passive tense. Even beyond that, the writing just seemed lazy.
As I said, I don't like leaving bad reviews. But at his best, Lustbader's previous writing would reach out and grab you by the heart and gut and not let go. I hope he's got it in him to get that back in the future.
February 17, 2012
A truly laughable plot line. Although, I'm sure those that love a good spy novel and/or the Bourne series will disagree with me. It really should be kept in the "Fantasy" genre. The characters are able to assume each other's identities with the greatest of ease right down to the last detail. The good guys are able to become the bad guys and vice versa. Not only are enemies able to walk the walk of one another but even their voices are amazingly counterfeited.
Sorry, but I don't buy it. The technology just doesn't exist. Unfortunately, because this is such a huge portion of the plot line, the entire book suffered. Perhaps if the book was supposed to take place a couple of hundred years from now it might not have been so bad but it's modern day setting doomed it to failure.
Sorry, but I don't buy it. The technology just doesn't exist. Unfortunately, because this is such a huge portion of the plot line, the entire book suffered. Perhaps if the book was supposed to take place a couple of hundred years from now it might not have been so bad but it's modern day setting doomed it to failure.
November 17, 2008
If this were a video game it would be rated M [Strong language, Extreme Violence, some sex, drugs]
The body count was high and it seems that every character is either an assassin, murderer, or both, so I had a hard time deciding whether or not a particular character was a "good guy".
Getting past all that, this was an exciting read. Each time the author jumped between characters I wanted to stay with the one he was talking about because I was so engaged.
The body count was high and it seems that every character is either an assassin, murderer, or both, so I had a hard time deciding whether or not a particular character was a "good guy".
Getting past all that, this was an exciting read. Each time the author jumped between characters I wanted to stay with the one he was talking about because I was so engaged.
July 9, 2008
The fact that they are using Robert Ludlum's name and the character from his previous books, does not make this a thriller. I'm falling asleep reading this book and trying to figure out when the character is going to act like Jason Bourne. Or even David Webb.
I'm afraid I cannot recommend this book to anyone.
I'm afraid I cannot recommend this book to anyone.
April 22, 2009
Do not read this book!!
I can't believe the publisher allowed Robert Ludlum's name to be associated with it. Following on from the excellent Bourne series, a cheap ploy to capitalise on a sound reputation, by a sub-standard writer.
I can't believe the publisher allowed Robert Ludlum's name to be associated with it. Following on from the excellent Bourne series, a cheap ploy to capitalise on a sound reputation, by a sub-standard writer.
December 9, 2016
This was a fast paced and well done adventure novel that is full of suspense and thrills. There are a couple things that aren't great and a couple of things that border on the incredulous, but on the whole, it's a fun novel to read.
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