The Apocalypse Watch

by Robert Ludlum

Deep in the Hausruck Mountains of Austria, there is a remote hideaway - the fortresslike nerve center of an ominous movement, the Brotherhood of the Watch. American agent Harry Latham has penetrated the movement, a neo-Nazi organization that was born in the days after the Third Reich's defeat and whose deadly tentacles have spread to the United States and beyond. Now, after three years in deep cover, and on the eve of his most spectacular success, Harry Latham has disappeared.

Drew Latham, Special Officer for Consular Operations in Paris, is frantic to discover his older brother's fate. But when he receives the sudden good news that Harry has surfaced, gut-twisting doubts arise. Has Harry's cover been blown? And if so, why has the Brotherhood of the Watch let him live?

For Harry Latham has emerged with an explosive list: the secret supporters of the movement, among them some of the highest-ranking officials in the United States and its allies, names synonymous with honorable service to their nations. It is a document that could topple governments - but is the list legitimate? Can Drew Latham trust his own brother?

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Espionage, Suspense, Adventure, Action

645 pages, Hardcover

First published April 10, 1995

About the author

Robert Ludlum was the author of twenty-seven novels, each one a New York Times bestseller. There are more than 210 million of his books in print, and they have been translated into thirty-two languages. He is the author of The Scarlatti Inheritance, The Chancellor Manuscript, and the Jason Bourne series--The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum--among others. Mr. Ludlum passed away in March, 2001. 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, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. A non-Ludlum book supposedly inspired by his unused notes, Covert One: The Hades Factor, has also been made into a mini-series. The Bourne movies, starring Matt Damon in the title role, have been commercially and critically successful (The Bourne Ultimatum won three Academy Awards in 2008), although the story lines depart significantly from the source material.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's hard to imagine that the same person who wrote the Bourne triology wrote this book. The story itself is not bad. Neo-Nazis are preparing to start the 4th Reich which in itself is interesting and the protaganist has to stop them. What ruins this book is the dreadful dialogue. It seems as if all the dialogue is a cliche for pulp novels that were written in the 40s and 50s. The conversations simply defy realism. People just do not speak to each other this way. It's a shame that the editor didn't get involved and have the dialogue rewritten in a way that was believable.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of Ludlum's last novel prior to his passing. The descendants of Germany's Third Reich are now attempting to rise from the ashes seventy years after the fall of Hitler. Harry Latham goes undercover to investigate but is captured and given false information following brain surgery. Attempts are made on the lives of him and his brother Drew as they seek the truth. A good thriller with a touch of romance.

[Miloš · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, what is there to say about this book?
First, the number of stars. I gave it four even the book was between three and four from my side.
Why between? Well, because at the moments I was like hypnotized, couldn't let it out of my hands and on the other side it was to childish, some of the thing really unreal and even funny.

But, beside everything I really enjoyed the book and I will gladly recommend it to anyone who like the pretty much good thriller.

[Erth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bravo! A good fast read! now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.

i would highly recommend this author and this book.

[Rohit Enghakat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mind-blowing plot...that's the reason why Ludlum is one of my favourite. Although, it would seem out of place in this age and time, still you are hooked.

[Mike Kazmierczak · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sort of mixed on this novel. I enjoyed the story very much and thought that Ludlum did a fantastic job of weaving a spell of intrigue and mystery while simultaneously keeping a quick pace going and propelling the story forward. The plot contains his usual twists and turns and unexpected events leading to a spectacular conclusion. However (you knew that was coming, didn't you?) I couldn't really build up any emotions for the characters. They were all very flat and boring. They explained themselves too much. They all side-tracked the conversations so that they could reiterate the same point for the 100th time before some other character would basically say "Stop that and let's talk about this neo-Nazi who just tried to kill me but first let me tell you how angry I am and that I am motivated by my brother's death to stop this evil plot." As opposed to usually enjoying dialog scenes, I almost always dreaded them. I could literally feel the pace and rhythm screech to a stop at the excess alliteration. Originally I also thought that it was just me, but an airline stewardess told me almost the exact same thing when she saw what I was reading. Although her phrasing was along the lines of "enough with the stupid word descriptions, give me some pictures and action." It makes me yearn for THE CHANCELLOR MANUSCRIPT (my first Ludlum) or THE BOURNE IDENTITY.

[Alexander Theofanidis · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Deep in the Hausruck Mountains of Austria there is a remote hideaway - the fortress-like nerve centre of an ominous movement, the Brotherhood of the Watch. American agent Harry Latham has penetrated the movement, but now, after three years in deep cover, he has disappeared."

HAHA.

This books has it all. Mystery, nazis, spies, twin brothers. Put them in the blender, let Ludlum digest the pulp and fart out a novel and there you have it: The apocalypse watch. OK, naive as hell, but enjoyable.

[Mikhael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was quite a long read 790 pages following spy Harry Latham infiltrating hidden Nazi base long after WW2 discovering plot to restart the reich and getting captured and attempted brainwashing.
Talks about this new group of hidden Nazis purchasing rockets from Saddam Husain repurposed to carry chemical weapons and crazy guy trying to take out a supposedly traitorous French general in a theater due to alleged Nazi ties.
Harry disappears so his brother Drew also working for intelligence starts looking for him monitoring the money trail within Europe trying to identify hidden Neo Nazi links.
When Drew gets close to the truth the Neo group’s attempt taking him out even replacing his official driver with an assassin.
Fight ensues Drew gets the better of him but before he can interrogate more Nazis turn up and plug driver in firefight before help from embassy arrives.
Neo Nazi doctor has been doing brain surgery on followers to make them compliant even installing chips and possibly infiltrating many people in high positions throughout the world.
Also mentions former Stasi agents crossing over joining the Neo group and Nazi breeding programs of past with possible people placed in high positions.
Drew tries to discover some of these people trying to keep it quiet but it quickly descends into a McCarthy witch-hunt.
Eventually the main leaders start to become exposed once some Nazis are captured but even the safe house is compromised and the captives taken out by other Nazis a reoccurring event.
A very good read but long one about some very evil people in history.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Ludlum, you know you aren't exactly getting a realistic view of the mostly mundane world of spycraft but instead a sped-up, many many crimes committed sort of James Bondish world of violence to go with the normal drop-deads and international political impacts, and this one doesn't disappoint. We start with Harry Latham (who I swore was in another book but I can't find any evidence of that) infiltrating a neo-nazi hideout castler in the snowy alps (realize this is set in the '90's so it's a fourth reich rise sort of thing) and that's probably the most realistic part of the story. Brothers, love triangles, medical experiments, demagoguery and red-scares, and more bullets, knives and poisons then you see in most movies fill the 750 pages that never lets up on the tension. It at times was a little too ridiculous to be taken at all seriously, but sometimes that's the point.

Enjoyable read for any fan of Ludlum's or this action based spy world.

[Aidan George · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a great premise, however after 200 pages of reading I was hoping for it to “start”, 200 pages later and it’s just the same things happening over and over, without ever really getting to the point. Also I personally find the love story aspect of this somehow way too time consuming, yet 1 dimensional and unnecessary.

If this book was 300 pages shorter, I’m sure it would be worthy of 4/5 stars, but the length of this book, compared to what happens is obscene.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1995. Ludlum's second novel to focus on a neo Nazi conspiracy to take over the world. This was my last novel of 1995. I read 60 books that year. So concludes my first folder for years 1971 to 1995.

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Üllatavalt haarav põnevik.

[Julio · Rating 2 out of 5]

He leído varios libros de Ludlum (mucho antes de existir GoodReads!) y mis recuerdos, ya no tan recientes, son positivos. La serie de Bourne, por ejemplo, tiene un espacio de placer guardado en alguna neurona. Fue, sin embargo, costoso para mi acabar este largo libro -- largo, como todos los de Ludlum. No es, definitivamente, ninguna obra inicial del autor. Pero es sorprendente lo poco creíbles que son los personajes de cartón y lo falsos y huecos que suenan los diálogos. Nunca leí una historia de espías con espías tan parlanchines! Maestros espías que le cuentan al primer venido (y por teléfono!) el complot más grande del universo, como le contarían los momentos picantes del último episodio de su novela favorita! Y unos personajes de caricatura que, por supuesto, no impresionan nada y jamás aterrizan en la realidad de la novela. Si no le puse una estrella es por que el argumento está relativamente bien armado, sin mayores sorpresas pero sin grandes gaffes tampoco. Lástima que lo pueblen personajes labrados en papel de seda transparente.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Robert Ludlum's books when I was a kid, including the Osterman Weekend and The Bourne Idenity, so I decided to read The Apocalypse Watch.

To be truthful, I was a bit disappointed. I expected the book to be a bit more sophisticated. The romance between Drew and Karin was distracting, childish, immature and cliche. It was a big monkey-wrench thrown into an otherwise decent plot of the neo-nazis rising from the ashes.

The main story was full of subplots, with Drew, Karin and others trying to get ahead of neo-nazis evil plot. It was okay reading and the storyline did keep me from putting it aside. A little out of place today, but in the 70's Ludlum was not the only one writing about the threats of neo-nazis in the world.

I did enjoy the book none the less, and Robert Ludlum is still one of my favorite writers.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to understand that the author wrote so many other better books. It is about Neo-Nazis followers who are preparing to start the 4th Reich and the protagonist have to stop them. The book was ruined by the dreadful dialogue. The plot is very nice but so much of unnecessary dialogue creating 751 pages made it boring at times. The conversations simply defy realism as people just do not speak to each other such manner. It's a shame that the editor didn't re-write dialogue in a way that story is more believable. Several times I almost abandoned this book, but I don’t like giving up on good writers so I finished it at last.

[John Murungi]

Such a thriller. Ludlum piles plot after plot. Just as the inheritors of the Third Reich (The sonnerkind) are being placed everywhere to take over the world in a new world order, the Leaders of the Free World must move in swiftly lest the looming apocalypse becomes real. Drew Latham has an enormous task-and with it comes many that he must overcome to deliver ... That his brother Latham loses his life after penetrating the inner circle of the new brotherhood gives him the right cause and drive to fight the new monstrous enigma that seeks to ground the world to a halt! Another great Master-piece from Robert Ludlum

[Alena Gotz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unreadable, the dialogues are 99% wise cracks and silly, too. The generalizations are too much even for me, not exactly a raving liberal. The story idea or a Neo-Nazi conspiracy was attractive to me and plausible, but so much does not add up. I got it for 25c at a church sale because I liked the Bourne movies. They are great entertainment, so well acted, but Ludlum's writing was torture for me, more of a movie script actually. BTW on Rotten Tomatoes someone wrote that the TV movie was a stinker as well.

[dennis barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Apocalypse Watch. Robert Ludlum

This is a genuine classic spy thriller written by one of the masters. The Fourth Reich is rising, everything is in place. They are standing in the doorway, waiting for there vision to unfold. Everything is in place. A covert group Consular operations stands in there way. This is a truly mesmerizing novel. Deceit, betrayal, no one can be trusted. A truly magnificent read! Classic Ludlum.

[Corey Woodcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Ludlum, I’ve already picked up a few more of his books. And I hear this isn’t even one of his best! Loved it in just about every way. Big fan of his writing style, plus I’m always a sucker for books on this subject. Big twists at the end of this one, highly recommended if you are into thrillers of this style!

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beware of the 4th Reich. Ludlum can make any scenario real and the most outlandish conspiracy come to life in vivid detail.

[L. Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was kind of a captive audience when I red this one. ::laughter::

[Paul Lyons · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's just too long, taking up an endless amount of time on a story whose quality of writing is simply subpar, especially for the otherwise skillful author Robert Ludlum. "The Apocalypse Watch" is one of the writer's later works, which might be one of the main reasons why the intelligence and creative craft of the book is nowhere near the excellent of Ludlum's earlier works, such as "The Osterman Weekend," "The Bourne Identity," and "The Bourne Supremacy."

...on top of all that, I loathed the lead character: U.S. consular operative Drew Latham. Latham was a consistently obnoxious brute, too impulsive and predictable, too prone to calling Karin De Vries (his smarter and more capable Belgian lover) "Lady." Yeech. I despised every second of his romance with Karin De Vries, mainly because it was hard to believe that wise, educated and cultured De Vries would ever fall for such a thug. Also not believable: Frederik, Karin De Vries radical Nazi-hating husband, who worked for U.S. intelligence, somehow went insanely evil enough to be turned into a Aryan Nazi supreme leader, a new Führer for the revived Nazi party...and that Adolph Hitler was still alive, and living in luxury at 106 years-old!

Unpacking this, it appears clear that "The Apocalypse Watch" is not just overstuffed and poorly edited, filled with way too much filler. I mean, seriously, the book runs about 150-200 pages too long. But the other issue is that Ludlum offered up a lot of interesting plot possibilities, and blew every single one of them. For example, in the novel. Drew's brother, veteran intelligence agent Harry Latham, is caught undercover, operated on, and sent out into the world with mostly false information about who is part of the new Nazi party AND...with a seemingly untraceable computer chip in his brain, placing Harry in the power of Nazi scientist Dr. Gerhardt Kroeger for a three to five-day period. This was, in turn, just enough time for the Kroeger-controlled Harry to spread enough disinformation to drive the world into chaos. Fine.

With that in mind, I thought this set-up at book's start would pay off when it's revealed that Frederik is not only alive and well, but living under the name Günter Jäger. How better to explain how the radical Frederik turned in the opposite direction than that he has a microchip in his brain, and is controlled by his mentor: Kroeger's boss: Dr. Hans Traupman. Now THAT would be an excellent payoff from the whole start of the book, with Harry under microchip control! Well, it did not happen. Instead, the author just has Frederik...change his mind! Yuck.

The other wasted opportunity is the whole Hitler is alive thing. Normally, that horrible, fantastical idea could be interesting explore in a work of fiction. Robert Ludlum sets it up fairly well, what with stolen intelligence files, a well-guarded French compound, and an unattainable yet filthy rich old German Nazi general in hiding, whom the tortured Jodelle tried so desperately to kill. All good stuff, especially since these details arrive near book's start, and do no return again until the book's final chapters. Yet instead of taking advantage of this (excuse the expression) novel idea, Ludlum just has old-Hitler speak an old speech he made back when, verbatim, then later die off-page without explanation, aside from two scientist-doctors choosing to let history die where it had originally lain. Lame!

Also lame...the conveniently inept French secret service Deuxième Bureau (under Director Claude Moreau) whose status as "professional" is constantly undermined throughout the book. And the reader is also supposed to buy that the legendary Claude Moreau could be fooled for years by his closest aide, Jacques Bergeron, a Sonnenkind Nazi from birth?? For that to work, the new Nazis would have to be conveniently brilliant, and Claude Moreau conveniently clueless. Further on in the book, all questions about who did what and when to whom are answered with he or she was a Sonnenkind, so that explains it. Terrible. It's too easy an out for Ludlum's contrived conflicts.

It's almost a joke how at book's happy end, Drew and Karin De Vries have a conversation that also blatantly serves as an explanation for any and all loose ends in the story, i.e. what Harry's autopsy revealed about his brain, why this or that person did some action, how Drew broke the news about Harry to his parents, etc...Ludlum chose to end the overlong, filler-filled "The Apocalypse Watch" as squeaky clean as possible, tying up everything in a nice pretty, Colorado bow...albeit with a message that anti-semitism, racism and hatred (in general) is still out there. True as that may be, "The Apocalypse Watch" rang false and ponderous to its very end.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can anybody write a spy thriller better than Robert Ludlum or John LeCarre? The plot on this one has the reemergence of Naziism with the Sonnenkind in positions to take over the governments of Britain, France, and the US. Written in 1995 and set in about that timeframe, the story might have been better if it had been set 20 years earlier or modern day. I say modern day because we're seeing a resurgence of white supremacy attitudes, at least in the US.
The dialogue is not great; it seems to be stuck in the Ludlum younger years. Except for one plot datum, the plot is rendered convincingly with players from the clandestine agencies of France and the US. Drew Latham is the brother of Harry Latham who has gone undercover and infiltrated the Brotherhood of the Watch. Harry has brought out a list of prominent people in Britain, France, and the US who are supposedly part of the Brotherhood, but he cautions his debriefers to evaluate them for validity. It's not long before Harry's killed and Drew sets out for revenge. He has Karin de Vries, of the US Embassy's Documents and Records section, and with whom he develops a romantic attachment, of course, to help him.
All in all, it's a pretty good read. Reasonably fast past, sufficiently violent, with a variety of characters to cheer and boo.

[Frederick Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather long book to read this one. I feel Ludlum takes a little bit liberty with his typewriter. A lot of the subplot is a little tiresome especially the neo killers going after Drew and Karin without stop. Too many killing and too many bodies just add up the needless pages. However, this is a Ludlum book and his classical cold war narratives are a joy to read. Throwing in the love interest between the hero and the heroine you cannot fail to get the readers onside.
This book is about the rise of the Fourth Reich by a group of fanatic followers somewhere in the Fatherland. Harry Latham a CIA operative manage to break into Die Bruderschaft and escape alive with the names of Nazi sympathizer but unknown to him the list he gotten out is actually a misinformation designed to wreck panic in France, Germany, UK and USA. As Harry went to Paris to meet his brother Drew, he was gunned down by fanatical killers from the Brotherhood of the watch. Drew with the help of the enigmatic but yet alluring Karin De Vrie must race against time to unravelle the deadly nazi agenda to cause worldwide genocide. With the help of an old G2 officer Colonel Stanley Witkowski they finally overcome the Fourth Reich at the climax at the Loire Valley.

[Rupesh Goenka · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Apocalypse Watch plot is about the rise of the Fourth Reich, a Neo-Nazi group known as The Brotherhood of Watch based in Hausruck Mountains of Austria, 50 years after the fall of Hitler. Harry Latham, an American agent after three years undercover, infiltrates the organisation. He manages to bring out a list of Neo-Nazis who are placed at the highest levels of government & the names of some the leading prominent citizens of America, Britain & France. He warns his interrogators to first check the authenticity of the documents before taking any action. Harry is killed by this fanatical Nazi group. Drew Latham, his brother embarks on a mission to reveal the well guarded secret Nazi organisation. There are too many sub-plots and tormenting details in the story with some needless and awful dialogue which makes it uninteresting at times and makes the otherwise good plot less efficient. DILIGENT READ.

[Josh Bublitz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was definitely my least favorite ludlum book I've read so far. When this story is at its best, it's main characters are deep into a tactical assault on some place, sneaking about and silently working their way through. However for the size of the book those moments did not come near enough.


SERIOUS SPOILERS: DO NOT CONTINUE IF YOU DO WANT TO RUIN THINGS.

Alright and then that twist at the end. Talk about the most over done thing. I mean come on revealing that Hilter was still alive and behind it all. That was just port writing that I would expect for an amateur. Not to mention that he revealed it with sixteen pages left and no real weight and consequences in the story. The story was basically done. At least if you are going to try that basic of a twist try it with a little more runway left on the story so you can build tension and have some real punch to it. Not a fan of that part of the book.

[Sridhar Babu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Author..
Robert Ludlum..
Characters..
Harry Latham, Drew Latham, Karin De vries,Fredrick De Vries, Gerhardt Kroeger, Stanly Witkowski, Claude Moreau, Wesley Sorenson and others..
Location..
Paris (France) and Washington (USA..)
Genre..
thriller...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------






PLOT..

Germany 1995....!!! 50 years after the fall of Nazi-Germany to allied forces, a new group called "Neo -Nazis" are raising all over Germany and France. These fanatics wants to complete the Hitlor's unfulfilled dream of Third Reich. Deep in Hausruck Mountains of Austria, in a remote hideaway, there lies the nerve center of ominous movement, the "Brotherhood of watch"the progenitors of Germany's Fourth Reich.

American undercover agent Harry Lathem, after three years of deep cover at the valley, penetrates deep into the movement, to bring and expose the list of Neo-Nazi sympathizers all over France, U.K, and USA who are brokering millions from all over the world into the neos in Germany. On the eve of his most spectacular success, Harry Lathem disappears all of a sudden. His place taken by his brother Drew Lathem, special officer of Intelligence Consular Operations, who is desperate to find out the whereabouts of his brother Harry Latham.

Harry Lathem surfaces after few days, with a fake list of neo Nazi sympathizers in a confused state of mind, his brain tampered with a computer chip inserted by Nazi doctor Gerhardt Kroeger. Intelligent Officer Drew's meeting with his brother , at an isolated part of Paris, leads to brutal murder of Harry by unknown assassins. Harry's " Nazi-sympathizers list" creates confusion and havoc all over the world, because the names in the list consists of men and women of high profiles with fine reputations.

Suddenly Drew's life is in danger. Attacked twice by unknown assassins at his hotel room, Drew becomes the prime target for the Brotherhood of watch. The American Embassy at Paris, CIA, and French Intelligent Bureau (Deuxieme) all tampered and compromised by Nazi supports, even American ambassador's wife spying for Germans,Drew vanishes with a fake identity for safety purposes.

Helped by the Chief of French Intelligence Claude Moreau, Director of Consular Operations Wesley Sorenson ., Colonel Stanly Witkowski, and Karin de vries a researcher from the American embassy, Drew Latham after adventurous plots, counter-plots, and double dealings, discovers the new leader of the fourth reich is Fredrick de Vries, the ex husband of Karin De Vries who was declared dead long ago, but living, leading the neo Nazis, as blond priest Gunter Jager, helped by some of the wealthiest men in Europe.

Drew Latham's adventures trip to an isolated mansion on the Rhine river in Bonn, not only reveals the identity of the new neo Nazi leader and his team of 36 all male members, but also their treacherous scheme code named "white lightning". According to it the water reserves of London, Paris and Washington will be polluted by poisonous intoxicant killing thousands instantly.

Assisted by Captain Christian Diaz and Gerald Anthony, successful commandos of Iraqi war "Desert Storm", Drew Latham and his crew penetrates in to the neo Nazi camp, stops "white lightning " by his intelligent master plan and puts an end to the deadly neo Nazi tentacles, spreading throughout Europe and United States.


Drew Latham also exposes the wealthy European and American bureaucrats, who were helping the Neo Nazis secretly by brokering millions for their operation. The real list Drew Latham exposed, helps the three nations France, England and USA to arrest the traitors andthereby braking the backbone of Neo Nazi movement.








My comment...

The biggest drawback of this novel, is the author's failure in assembling the jigsaw puzzle with proper pieces. Author's "intelligent-interesting-imaginative knots" abruptly ends in many parts without proper solution, thereby leaving the reader in an utter confusion and frustration.

For instance, Special Agent Harry Latham after being captured by Neo Nazis, his brain tampered with a computer chip inserted by the Nazi doctor, Gerhardt Kroeger at the headquarters. But afterward this has not given proper significance in the novel.

In the beginning , a character named Jean-Pierre Villier introduced as a popular French drama artist, very much willing to help the French intelligence officials in solving his father's suicide, unfortunately afterward nowhere to be found in the Novel.


Throughout the novel, many characters vanishes without a trace (such as Nazi doctor, Gerhardt Kroeger, American Ambassador Courtland, his wife , and the black CIA Director in America) .. and many appear all of a sudden from no where . This confusing characterization leaves the readers in frustration with difficulty in following the story line. The story happens in three different Nations,namely Paris (France), London (UK) and Washington (USA) but the author is not specific with the locations of the events.


Witnessing Harry's cold blooded murder, his brother Drew Latham vows to take revenge on the assassins, by taking his place and name. After this Drew just stands as a silent spectator in Paris, doing nothing except romancing and day dreaming. I can't imagine how the author forgot this interesting knot, if he had continued with this, the novel would have become an interesting, gripping page turner.


The Apocalypse watch.....Aspirin with black tea!!!

[Yashaswini Premjit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite liked this book, but just not enough to recommend it.
Intricate plot, fabulous storyline. Proper Ludlum stuff. But the stilted dialogues in this book were terribly annoying. Also, the romance that blossoms between De Vries and Latham was unnecessary and seemed very obvious from the start. It's almost like he wanted desperately to add a romantic angle for the heck of it. Added to this was the repetitive nature of arguments between Sorenson and Latham, Latham and De Vries, and Latham and the French authorities. It just got terribly boring after a while.
Since I've read The Sigma Protocol, I could predict Harry Latham's death the minute I read about Drew. It couldn't have been more obvious.
There were too many characters and backstories to keep track of. But the ending was spectacular, typical Ludlum.

[Lee Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great tale Robert Ludlum spins and this is no exception!! From the very beginning on the alpine pass in Germany through the Loire valley in France the scene is set and the characters formed.
The wheels within wheels of the Fourth Reich penetrate every corner of the Western world as these great characters of true undercover agents race to discover the truth and of course save the world.
Being in my sick bed for 12 hours gave me the excuse I needed to dive in and read half the book today - no mean feat I can assure you. If you love twists and turns, complications amany and a quiet love story it’s all here. Enjoy!

[A.K. McCarthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the structure of the book and the twists at the end were great. As others have noted, the dialogue is tough to get through and slows down the reading (the opposite of what dialogue usually does). It's classic Ludlum, where it's action-packed the whole time and you don't know who to trust, so it moves pretty quickly. It's a little repetitive in parts and likely could have been a couple hundred pages shorter, but it's clear Ludlum had a good time creating this world and thinking about the characters in it.