hana83's review against another edition
4.0
Quite an action-packed suspense thriller--a little over the top; however, still a great read! Jason Bourne is back, trying to save his friend Martin Lindros who has been kidnapped by a terrorist.
amyjopereira's review against another edition
5.0
I never read the Jason Bourne books by Robert Ludlum, but have to admit did see the movies. I really enjoyed this book and couldn't help picture Matt Damon as the lead role. It was a nice change of pace from some of the other books I have been reading lately and will have to pick up The Bourne Sanction when it comes out.
rao_onceuponaread's review against another edition
4.0
This is the fifth Jason Bourne novel and is a damn interesting one.
The Bourne trilogy had a good ending to the whole story but a fourth book was introduced and it also seemed like a good end to the series with the introduction of his un-dead son.
This book is a whole new take on the series with a new set of characters and of course killing off a few of the old characters. It is interesting from the point of a fake doctor messing with Bourne's memory to the point where he tries to take down the terrorists. The ending is interesting when Bourne realizes that there is a second timer to the bomb that needs to be diffused to prevent it from exploding.
Overall, it’s an interesting plot with fascinating characters and is worth reading.
The Bourne trilogy had a good ending to the whole story but a fourth book was introduced and it also seemed like a good end to the series with the introduction of his un-dead son.
This book is a whole new take on the series with a new set of characters and of course killing off a few of the old characters. It is interesting from the point of a fake doctor messing with Bourne's memory to the point where he tries to take down the terrorists. The ending is interesting when Bourne realizes that there is a second timer to the bomb that needs to be diffused to prevent it from exploding.
Overall, it’s an interesting plot with fascinating characters and is worth reading.
speesh's review against another edition
4.0
Am I ok in saying this is an excellent read? A thoroughly tip-top thriller? One of the very best?
Credibility...Meet window?
I hope not. I don't think so. In fact, I'm sure not. Because this one did exactly what it says on the tin and thrilled the whatsits off me. Why on earth do we read books, if not for pleasure? And reading this one is as pleasurable an experience as they come.
But first, a word of warning: Don't read the summary on the back. In my view, it gives away way too much of much too many important plot turns for my liking. I didn't read it myself, until I was coincidentally 3/4 of the way in and all the points mentioned had passed. I didn't read it myself as I bought this book, knowing full well what I was getting into (as surely do most people with anything Bourne-related?). So I was able to enjoy the swallowing of red herrings and denouements, hook, line and sinker (yeah, that works).
Really, this is as close to a 5 Star review as one of these things is ever going to get. I'm not going to try and tie myself up win knots trying to convey the plot. And you know what you're getting, writing-style-wise. There were only a couple of places where I had to partially suspend belief, with a whispered, as the Welsh say; 'there's lucky', under my breath.
Eric Van Lustbader is not Robert Ludlum (but then, who is?). He's certainly in the style of, and doing an admirable job in picking the baton up, keeping the flame alight, etc etc. No one can match Ludlum for economy and clout, but Eric comes very close. That's high praise, in my book. Though in trying to analyse the differences between the two, I became more convinced that the further the series has gone on, the more Eric's own style has come through. Almost to the point where I think they should drop the 'Robert Ludlum's...' on the cover. Obviously, the marketing department aren't going to do that, but there is no doubt here, that this is Eric Van Lustbader's Jason Bourne now. Bourne, born again.
Earlier in the series - and the films, which are more or less the first three books - the questions Jason Bourne was asking could pretty much be boiled down to "who am I?" I think he was really asking, or at least the questions should really be interpreted as "what is my name?" Nowadays, in these later books he's more struggling to find his personality. His question is now "what kind of person am I?" Or, "what kind of person was I?", as he's now Jason Bourne. Not who he was originally. Before he was Bourne. If you can say that.
And with all this 'Prism' and listening to phone calls, reading of emails and generally keeping an eye on all of us; the Bourne books and films are beginning to look like more like documentaries!
Credibility...Meet window?
I hope not. I don't think so. In fact, I'm sure not. Because this one did exactly what it says on the tin and thrilled the whatsits off me. Why on earth do we read books, if not for pleasure? And reading this one is as pleasurable an experience as they come.
But first, a word of warning: Don't read the summary on the back. In my view, it gives away way too much of much too many important plot turns for my liking. I didn't read it myself, until I was coincidentally 3/4 of the way in and all the points mentioned had passed. I didn't read it myself as I bought this book, knowing full well what I was getting into (as surely do most people with anything Bourne-related?). So I was able to enjoy the swallowing of red herrings and denouements, hook, line and sinker (yeah, that works).
Really, this is as close to a 5 Star review as one of these things is ever going to get. I'm not going to try and tie myself up win knots trying to convey the plot. And you know what you're getting, writing-style-wise. There were only a couple of places where I had to partially suspend belief, with a whispered, as the Welsh say; 'there's lucky', under my breath.
Eric Van Lustbader is not Robert Ludlum (but then, who is?). He's certainly in the style of, and doing an admirable job in picking the baton up, keeping the flame alight, etc etc. No one can match Ludlum for economy and clout, but Eric comes very close. That's high praise, in my book. Though in trying to analyse the differences between the two, I became more convinced that the further the series has gone on, the more Eric's own style has come through. Almost to the point where I think they should drop the 'Robert Ludlum's...' on the cover. Obviously, the marketing department aren't going to do that, but there is no doubt here, that this is Eric Van Lustbader's Jason Bourne now. Bourne, born again.
Earlier in the series - and the films, which are more or less the first three books - the questions Jason Bourne was asking could pretty much be boiled down to "who am I?" I think he was really asking, or at least the questions should really be interpreted as "what is my name?" Nowadays, in these later books he's more struggling to find his personality. His question is now "what kind of person am I?" Or, "what kind of person was I?", as he's now Jason Bourne. Not who he was originally. Before he was Bourne. If you can say that.
And with all this 'Prism' and listening to phone calls, reading of emails and generally keeping an eye on all of us; the Bourne books and films are beginning to look like more like documentaries!
justinmlow's review
3.0
A convoluted web of multi-layered political & personal motives, connections & agendas colliding to produce intrigue, violence, globe trotting mayhem, carnage, double-guessing & double crossing.
Fast-paced, it drew me in & had me guessing but also confused in places. I struggled to keep track of characters and some dialogue.
Fast-paced, it drew me in & had me guessing but also confused in places. I struggled to keep track of characters and some dialogue.
stevenk's review against another edition
3.0
Not really a Bourne book, his history from the first three books and the first Van Lustbader book are ignored. More like the movies without the fast paced action and less character development.
amritesh's review against another edition
5.0
Then the bullet entered his brain and then there was nothing but a terrible, all-encompassing silence.
'My name is Bond. James Bond'
While everyone I knew (who watched Hollywood movies) obsessed over the very famous James Bond, I was never really attracted towards those stories.
Instead, I got attracted towards the mysterious, brooding Jason Bourne, played brilliantly by Matt Damon. And as soon I heard that they were loosely based on books, I HAD to read them.
And Robert Ludlum! What. A. Writer. He just blew me away, with the tense writing, his complex plots, and his unique protagonists.
After Ludlum's death, Eric Van Lustbader continued the Bourne series (which were already complete by the way) and made Bourne from an ageing person, who had everything to lose at all points, into a more Bond-esque character, with no age, and not many emotional ties. Basically a different character with the same name.
It was with the certain knowledge that this was a war, and it had just begun.
This book is the second one in the Lustbader's Bourne series, and while I think I liked his first one more, this was pretty thrilling to read.
Lustbader's writing is descriptively tense, and while the villain and his goal is pretty clichéd (Islamic Fundamentalist Leader, Destroy Americaaaaa!), the plot and the characters keep you invested throughout.
'They don't make men like him anymore. He's a born killer.'
So is Bourne, Karim al-Jamil thought with a bitterness that burned like acid.
So enjoy the thrilling ride through Washington, Ras Dejen, Odessa, Ilyichevsk, Istanbul, Miran Shah, as Bourne struggles with his past and the numerous betrayals, and as the story switches between different characters, each having their own stories.
Definitely recommended.
'My name is Bond. James Bond'
While everyone I knew (who watched Hollywood movies) obsessed over the very famous James Bond, I was never really attracted towards those stories.
Instead, I got attracted towards the mysterious, brooding Jason Bourne, played brilliantly by Matt Damon. And as soon I heard that they were loosely based on books, I HAD to read them.
And Robert Ludlum! What. A. Writer. He just blew me away, with the tense writing, his complex plots, and his unique protagonists.
After Ludlum's death, Eric Van Lustbader continued the Bourne series (which were already complete by the way) and made Bourne from an ageing person, who had everything to lose at all points, into a more Bond-esque character, with no age, and not many emotional ties. Basically a different character with the same name.
It was with the certain knowledge that this was a war, and it had just begun.
This book is the second one in the Lustbader's Bourne series, and while I think I liked his first one more, this was pretty thrilling to read.
Lustbader's writing is descriptively tense, and while the villain and his goal is pretty clichéd (Islamic Fundamentalist Leader, Destroy Americaaaaa!), the plot and the characters keep you invested throughout.
'They don't make men like him anymore. He's a born killer.'
So is Bourne, Karim al-Jamil thought with a bitterness that burned like acid.
So enjoy the thrilling ride through Washington, Ras Dejen, Odessa, Ilyichevsk, Istanbul, Miran Shah, as Bourne struggles with his past and the numerous betrayals, and as the story switches between different characters, each having their own stories.
Definitely recommended.
canada_matt's review against another edition
2.0
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.
hlandes1's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun read, but I have to say that the writers who are "finishing" Ludlum's work are definitely not Ludlum.
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