Rating: 
Summary: Still A Mess
Review: When you read this book you will be confronted by tortured language, "...have what I have to have. When will I have it?" inept plot pieces that include, "invisible filaments and invisible plastic sheets", and a work so devoid of proofreading that it lists India as an adversary in a single sentence, twice, as far as I know there is one India. A weapon changes from an AK-47 to an AK- 74 and back repeatedly, and finally, the author Gayle Lynds is very poorly informed on the United States military. Take all these annoying factors that make reading this book a chore and place them in a story that is hopelessly outdated, and you have the 3rd, "Covert One" book that Gayle Lynds has contributed to.The people that are responsible for publishing this book cannot even decide who wrote it. On the cover it states the book is written by Gail Lynds, but on the back inside cover it states that she is the previous co-author of this series and she and her picture are placed below that of Robert Ludlum. As Mr. Ludlum has been dead for 3 years it seems reasonable to expect the publishers to acknowledge his passing. Mr. Ludlum may have countenanced the use of his name as in, "Robert Ludlum's", but as a reader of his work for many years, I would wager this mess never would have appeared if he were still alive. There are still books that are appearing with Robert Ludlum as the author. Is has been reported that he left behind up to 11 outlines for novels, and the person who is ghosting the books that still bear his name is very good, as witnessed by the last book offered to readers, "The Janson Directive". The, "Covert One", series has been consistently terrible, and with this book, "The Altman Code", I have reached the end of my time and financial investment.
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite the real Ludlum
Review: While this book was entertaining, using Ludlum's name to sell it does not do Ludlum justice. The storyline and political backpedaling are well developed. However, the author does not do a very good job of keeping the reader in suspense. I believe an eight grader could correctly guess what is going to happen next. I believe Jon Smith's character is a real stretch. The combination of being a top level biological scientist and a James Bond type agent doesn't make sense. The first story he was introduced in was believable. This one is not. The author spends way to much time trying to weave suspense into catching a slow moving ship. I cannot believe any government would allow that ship to get very far without being blown out of the water. The sub story regarding Castilla's father really didn't work in this book. Since the ending of this book was telegraphed so early in the novel, there was very little suspense left for the conclusion.
Rating:
Summary: Not quite the real Ludlum
Review: While this book was entertaining, using Ludlum's name to sell it does not do Ludlum justice. The storyline and political backpedaling are well developed. However, the author does not do a very good job of keeping the reader in suspense. I believe an eight grader could correctly guess what is going to happen next. I believe Jon Smith's character is a real stretch. The combination of being a top level biological scientist and a James Bond type agent doesn't make sense. The first story he was introduced in was believable. This one is not. The author spends way to much time trying to weave suspense into catching a slow moving ship. I cannot believe any government would allow that ship to get very far without being blown out of the water. The sub story regarding Castilla's father really didn't work in this book. Since the ending of this book was telegraphed so early in the novel, there was very little suspense left for the conclusion.
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