Rating: 
Summary: The Paris Option
Review: I rented the book on CD and listened to over 3 weeks on the way to and from work. I found my thoughts wandering on several occasions and knew that if I had been reading the book instead of listening to it, it would now be in my unfinished book pile. I found the characters very interesting, but the plot dragged on and on in several places and a lot of the story could have been left out without affecting the meaning at all. Granted, there were several places that got my attention and I waited an extra 5 minutes in the car to see what would happen, but those situations were few and far between. The one other annoying thing is that the protagonists always seem to win out in the plethora of tight situations they got themselves in to, so by the 4th disc you never had that "edge-of-the-seat" feeling because you knew they'd come out all right. The ending too was very predictable and left me with the feeling that the evil plot should have gone off without a hitch...I know it would have made the book a lot more interesting...though I'd probably have to sit through 12 more discs while they worked that out.
Rating: 
Summary: An E-Ticket Ride!
Review: I'm beginning to think that this book has gotten so many negative reviews because the reviewers have decided in advance to resent anything Ludlum coauthored with anyone. If you respect the man's other work, then let's respect his decision to collaborate on whatever level it worked out to be with Lynds, and give the Paris Option and the series a chance. The Paris Option was, in my mind, even better than the two earlier ones and a heck of a lot better than a lot of Ludlum's standalones, particularly from 1992 to 2000. Many of them were tedious, painfully overwritten, almost unreadable. This book reads fast, is highly suspenseful, and I learned a lot along the way. Obviously a lot of research went into the authors' creation of the molecular (or DNA) computer. We're going to see one in maybe twenty years, but in this novel we get quantum physics on an understandable and exciting level. I don't know anyone who's written so convincingly about a DNA computer. Plus, there's the growing political and economic conflicts between the United States and the European Union. Again, Paris Option delivers. Political suspense at its best. Yes, of course, the world is in serious danger in this book. This is not just a spy thriller, it's a political thriller ... a THRILLER. If you want something small and intimate to be the source of conflict, go read one of the wonderful so-called literary books that are out there. One of my favorite aspects of a Ludlum novel is the intricate intrigue he creates. I don't know how much of this is Ludlum, and how much is Lynds, but it's one heck of a terrific entwining of villains and maybe-villains. One group of terrorists seems to be behind everything, then . . . no! It's another group. Finally, the heroes figure out it's another party. And mind you, the clues are there all along. The authors play fair. When each twist happens, you feel as if you should've spotted it. For someone who usually does, I was really happy. It's no fun if you figure out everything in advance. And finally, I found the supporting cast ... Peter, Marty, and Randi to be fresh and unusual. Interesting. They're tough, and fun, and they talk like real people. They have moments of black humor. There are times when they're on top of everything, and other times when they fail --- both individually and as a group. You stick with them because you know they're in there pitching, and you hope and hope that they'll triumph in the end. They make a great counterpoint to the seriousness of the hero. And one final thought about who actually wrote and who actually outlined and who actually edited ... or whatever else one wants to complain about. If Lynds did it all, more power to her. If it was a collaboration based on outline and notes left behind after Ludlum's death, more power to both of them. I've heard that the way the two men who created Ellery Queen collaborated was that one wrote the outline and the other one wrote the book. They grew to detest one another and never met unless they had to. Nevertheless, that's a respected "collaboration." Let's get off our thrones and quit judging. Personally, I'm going to give Lynds's books a try.
Rating: 
Summary: Ludlum-like but not Ludlum
Review: If one is fond of this genre, one will find an interesting trend beginning to develop. Several well-known authors are taking on co-authors (apprentices actually) in their latest offerings. Patterson with his latest, Cussler with his latest, Clancy for some time and now, Ludlum with his previous two and this one, THE PARIS OPTION. Of course, Mr. Ludlum passed away over a year ago (an incredible loss to the literary world) and anything with his name will be co-authored or a reissue. For those of us who are die-hard Ludlumites, any taste from the Master is welcome. However, these co-authored books are less than authentic and THE PARIS OPTION is no exception. Robert Ludlum was the absolute ruler of intrigue. If you are reading this review and haven't read a "real" Ludlum, pick up The Parsifal Mosaic or The Matarese Circle or the Bourne series (unlike a previous reviewer, I felt the Bourne movie didn't do the book justice). These books will absolutely put you on your heels. Ludlum had a way of telekenetically transporting the reader into the story. You are there...with the characters....truly spellbinding! In the co-authored books, apparently Mr. Ludlum's only contributions are the short outlines and a mentoring review (this, per an interview with Gayle Lynds). In the combined efforts, Ms. Lynds (and Philip Shelby in THE CASSANDRA COMPACT) develops the storyline and characters, which is what most hard-line Ludlum fans miss the most from Mr. Ludlum himself. While Ms. Lynds does a reasonable job of creating a suspenseful plot, it falls short of Ludlumite expectations. I would even go as far to say that if this was a standalone offering from Ms. Lynds, it might receive a more favorable critical review if for no other reason than not having to live up to the Ludlum standard. To the story.......Jon Smith, our resident M.D. and superspy of Covert-One, returns from THE HADES FACTOR to unravel the mystery of the missing DNA computer. The brilliant French scientist, Emile' Chambord, is clandestinely putting the finishing touches on the world's first DNA computer (a computer combining life and computational sciences thereby creating a "living" machine) in Paris' own Pasteur Institute when an incredible explosion shatters the Institute and ostensibly Dr. Chambord and his invention. When Smith discovers that his friend, Marty Zellerbach, was in the Institute working with Chambord and was seriously injured in the blast, he drops his current research and heads for Paris. Once there, the mysterious explosion, the frightening potential of the DNA computer and the uncertainty of Chambord's death throw Smith into the middle of an international crisis. An unknown cabal calling itself the Scarlet Shield, a pan-Islamic organization, is apparently behind the terror. Ultimately, Smith is joined by his spook cohorts from HADES, Randi Russell of the CIA and Peter Howell, retired (sort of) with MI6. The plot is timely and has the requisite sharp edges. The character definition is moderate (better if one has previously read HADES) and the climax is probably the best part of the book. All-in-all, a decent read but if you're looking for this book to have the delictable flavor of a Ludlum thriller, you're likely to be sorely disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Failure Not Optional
Review: In Paris, a bomb destroys the laboratory of a world-renowned scientist leading the pack in development of a DNA computer. He, too, is feared killed in the blast. This "molecular" computer--if it existed--would essentially use DNA material to replace silicon chips. Like life forms, it would not only perform calculations, but would also "learn" from them--and quickly. Such a device could be used to hack into any computer system, satellite, weapons system, or other electronic gadget on earth. All communications and power systems could be shut down. Nukes could be directed to and from anywhere at will. In the wrong hands this would not be good. But there's no reason to believe that the computer even existed ... until the lights and phones start going out in the U.S. Enter John Smith, who belongs to a top-secret U.S. Government agency known as Covert One. It's so secret that not even the CIA, FBI, British Intelligence, or our enemies know of its existence. John Smith--a fictional character somewhere between Fleming's invincible James Bond and Clancy's vulnerable Jack Ryan--gets embroiled in a complex globe-hopping cat and mouse game in which Covert One variously competes and cooperates with the CIA and MI6 to crack gangs of resurgent Basques, militant Muslims, and Bonaparte-wannabe Frenchmen as time ticks down to nuclear catastrophe. Ludlum is a worldly, professional writer. The prose is flawless. The plot is thick and rich and twisty. His research and knowledge of cultural and international affairs is impressive. Yet none of that prevents this book from being too formulaic and chock full of stereotypes and cardboard characters. For readers who never tire of suspenseful spy thrillers, this is the mother lode. For those who find 400 pages of sneaking around and narrow escapes tedious, you might want to avoid The Paris Option. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.
Rating:
Summary: An Amateur's Attempt
Review: In spite of Robert Ludlum's name taking up half the front cover of this book, this is skeletonized Ludlum, with the flesh filled in by a writer that lacks his talents.
The plot is Ludlumesque: the explosion of the Pasteur Institute in Paris leaves a brilliant scientist, Emile Chambord, missing and another, Martin Zellerbach, in a coma. Zellerbach happens to be a close friend of Lt. Col. Jon Smith, our hero from the other 2 Covert-One novels. Conveniently, Smith is working on a DNA computer, doing researach similar to what his friend Marty and Chambord were working on. But there appears to be sinister elements at work here by groups unknown. The future of the world is at risk, and Smith and his cohorts must find the missing Chambord and thwart the evil forces' plot to destroy the US and alter the future of the world. The plot, in and of itself, is no worse than most other Ludlum thrillers. Unfortunately, the plot alone isn't enough to make me enjoy a novel. The writing has to hold the plot together. In reverse, good writing can overcome a mediocre plot and hold my interest until the end.
The writing in this book is very distracting by its overdescription of everything. It would be OK to tell us once that Jon is carrying his favorite gun--a Sig Sauer. But to keep referring to it that way is annoying. Much of the dialogue appears to be added superfluously to ensure the reader is not left confused. In addition, I am not all that interested in the minute detail of what each character is wearing. Laughably, it reminded me of old Nancy Drew Mysteries ("Nancy rushed upstairs to change into a light shift and matching pumps"). I would rather imagine to myself that Jon is a tall, good looking guy who is pretty physically fit. But the constant descriptions of his "muscular body" or "his strong arms slicing through the water" made me want to gag.
Our heroes were a fairly likeable bunch, and familiar from the last 2 Covert-One novels. Randi's relationship with Jon seems like it might go somewhere by the 5th book in this series. Peter is quite 007-ish, a'la Roger Moore when he started getting older, and Marty is funny in his constant seriousness. The baddies are left fairly undefined, including the surprise head baddy, whose motivation once explained, remains murky.
This novel could not hold my interest, and I was ready to toss it into the "already read" pile. But I perservered, and things did pick up in the 3rd section. By this time, everything had been well explained so the monotonous overdescription of everything seemed to improve. The pace of the book quickened, and perhaps knowing resolution was near kept me involved.
I have nothing against Gayle Lynds, and to be honest, know absolutely nothing about her or her work. I do know plenty about Ludlum, however, and this book does not read like the novels he wrote alone. Since people buy books based on the name plastered across the front, it is fair for us to expect what we've enjoyed in the past. When it falls short, it's only natural to blame the co-author. In giving life to Ludlum's idea, she took it too far over the top, resulting in a parody of a "real" Ludlum.
Rating: 
Summary: Travesty
Review: It is unfortunate that Mr. Ludlum's name graces this novel. Rarely do I fail to complete a book; several failed attempts later it would appear that this one has beaten me. The dialog is contrived, characters are undeveloped, and the storyline tired. As others have indicated; stick to the vintage Ludlum.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Waste Your Time
Review: Like other reviewers, I will read a book to the end no matter how bad. Characters were too predictable as was the outcome. Too much meaningless detail e.g. "and Randi's blond hair was barely visible from underneath her watch cap." Who cares! A number of parts were simply ridiculous and never connected. Another example: Marty gets the bright idea of posting a message on the internet in an attempt to find out how to rescue Jon Smith who is bound and gagged by the bad-guys ... Peter (MI6) and Randi (CIA) agree that this is a great idea. How stupid is this??? The man is captured and they are going to give him a laptop with keyboard and internet access??? I suppose the bad-guys were going to give him a StarBucks card and wireless connection. My wife and I read this pig out loud and just howled at the poor writing -- towards the end we just invented our own senarios to get through this disaster. My advice: Avoid Gayle Linds.
Rating:
Summary: Yawner.
Review: Maybe OK for beach reading, but barely. If you should happen to forget where you stopped reading, no matter if you skipped a few pages -- maybe that's even better! Not like Robert Ludlums earlier works. Has internal inconsistencies, like the hero picking a door lock when a blast of gunfire from an AK47 inside shreds the door, but just "nicks" our hero. After he goes inside to dispatch the baddie (a woman), he leaves the apartment carefully shutting the door behind him. Huh? The plot of this book is one escape from baddies after another. Ultimately the United States is going to be destoyed by a launched Russian nuclear missile until an autistic computer expert saves the day. Yawn. Try reading Alan Furst's spy novels instead. They are really good!
Rating:
Summary: im wondering...
Review: Of the people who dont like this book, how many of them have read the first two in the series?
Rating:
Summary: Ludlum Lite
Review: Paris Option is the third installment of the Covert One series that I have read. As a long-time Ludlum fan, I am still trying to get used to the series. Up to this point, the tales have been lighter and clearly not as complex as the typical Ludlum fare. This is not all bad, however, as the concept of "Ludlum Lite" has a certain appeal in its own right - although true Ludlum aficionados may be disappointed. If you are considering picking up the Covert One books, I would recommend starting with The Hades Factor to provide a nice foundation in terms of character building for future works in the series. With Paris Option, character development continues from the earlier work, leading to a quick read. All-in-all, not great but not bad.
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