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jimbowen0306's review against another edition
1.0
Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid. No strike that, this book is beyond stupid. This is beyond a shadow of a doubt the stupidest book I have ever read.
In this book, set in the 1970s, Noel Holcroft is the son of one of the 3 Nazi officer who syphoned of $780 million dollars from the German Government in World War II. He and the children of the 2 other officers are instructed to "do good works" with the money 30 years after the end of the war.
The problem with the book is what do you do when that occurs? You go to the Government right? You go and say "My batsh*t crazy racist Nazi father set up this account, and something needs to be done about it." and "Okay he might have been more more normal near the end, but something needs to be done with this money." don't you? And if the 2 people instructed to help you refuse to help, you put the emphasis on them don't you?
Well not if you're the star of a Ludlum Thriller. In Ludlum Thrillers you try and take the efforts to do good works onto yourself, no matter how well prepared you are for the resulting steps you'll have to take. And that's why the book is stupid. The starting premise is dumb, and as a result the book careens from one degree of stupidity to another as the book progresses.
In this book, set in the 1970s, Noel Holcroft is the son of one of the 3 Nazi officer who syphoned of $780 million dollars from the German Government in World War II. He and the children of the 2 other officers are instructed to "do good works" with the money 30 years after the end of the war.
The problem with the book is what do you do when that occurs? You go to the Government right? You go and say "My batsh*t crazy racist Nazi father set up this account, and something needs to be done about it." and "Okay he might have been more more normal near the end, but something needs to be done with this money." don't you? And if the 2 people instructed to help you refuse to help, you put the emphasis on them don't you?
Well not if you're the star of a Ludlum Thriller. In Ludlum Thrillers you try and take the efforts to do good works onto yourself, no matter how well prepared you are for the resulting steps you'll have to take. And that's why the book is stupid. The starting premise is dumb, and as a result the book careens from one degree of stupidity to another as the book progresses.
vlietskies's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
So glad to be going back to the world of Robert Ludlum.
Even at over 500 pages, it reads fast. Lots of action. Lots of intrigue. Lots of betrayal.
Imagine being an architect and having so many people gunning to take you down because of something your dad did. That's so scary stuff. And it comes off as something that was probably on the mind of plenty in the 70s.
As always, he's detailed. He's all around the globe, and he's written another book you just can't put down!
Even at over 500 pages, it reads fast. Lots of action. Lots of intrigue. Lots of betrayal.
Imagine being an architect and having so many people gunning to take you down because of something your dad did. That's so scary stuff. And it comes off as something that was probably on the mind of plenty in the 70s.
As always, he's detailed. He's all around the globe, and he's written another book you just can't put down!
greaydean's review against another edition
4.0
This was the first Ludlum I read over 25 years ago. I thought I would re-read it just to see how it held up. Well, I will say it held up quite well. If you go in for this sort spy -v- spy and thick plots with double twists and blood aplenty, this is the ticket. The plot is complex and Ludlum does not keep going back and re-telling. Rather at each twist he thickens and builds the plot. The pace is quick and is a definite page turner. I find him to be far superior to Clancy and Folsom.
If you know of an author in this genre that can hold up to Ludlum, let me know, because I would be happy to try something else.
If you know of an author in this genre that can hold up to Ludlum, let me know, because I would be happy to try something else.
drako1357's review against another edition
4.0
El Pacto de Holcroft es una novela de suspense de 1978 del escritor estadounidense Robert Ludlum. El libro sigue la historia de Noel Holcroft, un arquitecto estadounidense que descubre que es el heredero de una gran fortuna. Sin embargo, la fortuna está vinculada a un secreto oscuro: es parte de un pacto hecho por tres hombres nazis durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial para robar 756 millones de dólares y usarlos para financiar el Cuarto Reich.
Holcroft se ve obligado a viajar por Europa para encontrar a los otros dos herederos y firmar el pacto. En el camino, se enfrenta a una serie de peligros, incluyendo asesinos, espías y agentes de la CIA. Al final, Holcroft descubre la verdad sobre el pacto y se enfrenta a los hombres que lo crearon.
El Pacto de Holcroft es una novela de suspenso de ritmo rápido y emocionante. Ludlum es un maestro de la construcción de tensión y suspense, y el libro está lleno de giros y vueltas inesperados. Los personajes son complejos y bien desarrollados, y la historia es convincente y estimulante.
La novela fue adaptada a una película en 1985, protagonizada por Michael Caine como Noel Holcroft. La película fue un éxito comercial, pero recibió críticas mixtas de los críticos.
Holcroft se ve obligado a viajar por Europa para encontrar a los otros dos herederos y firmar el pacto. En el camino, se enfrenta a una serie de peligros, incluyendo asesinos, espías y agentes de la CIA. Al final, Holcroft descubre la verdad sobre el pacto y se enfrenta a los hombres que lo crearon.
El Pacto de Holcroft es una novela de suspenso de ritmo rápido y emocionante. Ludlum es un maestro de la construcción de tensión y suspense, y el libro está lleno de giros y vueltas inesperados. Los personajes son complejos y bien desarrollados, y la historia es convincente y estimulante.
La novela fue adaptada a una película en 1985, protagonizada por Michael Caine como Noel Holcroft. La película fue un éxito comercial, pero recibió críticas mixtas de los críticos.
stricker's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
eswee's review against another edition
Despite the good ratings, I decided to quit this one. It's sort of up to my alley, but I simply couldn't get into it. Wrong timing maybe? Or possibly a cluttered translation? I only know I wasn't enjoying myself as I should, so I DNF-ed.
epictetsocrate's review against another edition
3.0
Carena submarinului era legată de pilonii uriaşi, semănând cu un monstru al apelor luat prizonier, iar linia maiestuoasă a prorei sale se vedea ca un arc în lumina zorilor care se iveau deasupra
Mării Nordului. Baza se afla pe insula Scharhorn. În apropierea golfului Helgoland, la câteva mile de țărmul german şi de estuarul fluviului Elba. Era o stație de realimentare pe care serviciile de spionaj ale aliaților n-o detectaseră până acum şi care, din motive de securitate, era puțin cunoscut chiar şi în rândul strategilor din statul major al armatei germane. Pirații adâncurilor veneau şi plecau pe întuneric, ieşind din apă şi scufundându-se la loc, pe o suprafață cam de o sută de metri pătrați în interiorul danelor de acostare. Erau asasinii lui Neptun, veniți acasă ca s se odihnească sau plecând ca să -şi întețească atacurile.
Mării Nordului. Baza se afla pe insula Scharhorn. În apropierea golfului Helgoland, la câteva mile de țărmul german şi de estuarul fluviului Elba. Era o stație de realimentare pe care serviciile de spionaj ale aliaților n-o detectaseră până acum şi care, din motive de securitate, era puțin cunoscut chiar şi în rândul strategilor din statul major al armatei germane. Pirații adâncurilor veneau şi plecau pe întuneric, ieşind din apă şi scufundându-se la loc, pe o suprafață cam de o sută de metri pătrați în interiorul danelor de acostare. Erau asasinii lui Neptun, veniți acasă ca s se odihnească sau plecând ca să -şi întețească atacurile.