Rating: 
Summary: Make a compact to read this exciting book!
Review: "The Cassandra Compact" is a very exciting and entertaining read. The plot sometimes stretches the bounds of credibility a bit much, but that is to be expected in an action-thriller like this. There are also times when Dr. Jon Smith (the protagonist) borders on becoming a superhero rather than a true character, but he is generally very likeable, if never quite realistic.In the past I have read some of Philip Shelby's work and thought that he showed promise. I have been impressed by his skills as a wordsmith, but found his story ideas to be somewhat lacking. Combining his writing talents here with the imagination of Robert Ludlum, however, has produced a blockbuster of a novel. This is not great literature by any means, but it is an engrossing story that will definitely keep you turning the pages. With his death earlier this year, Robert Ludlum left a huge void in the international suspense/thriller genre. Thankfully, we do have writers like Philip Shelby and Gayle Lynds who are eager to take up his mantle. If "The Cassandra Compact" never rises to the level of the best of Ludlum's work -- and it doesn't -- reading it is still a very pleasing way to pass some time. --David Montgomery, Mystery Ink
Rating:
Summary: Make a compact to read this exciting book!
Review: "The Cassandra Compact" is a very exciting and entertaining read. The plot sometimes stretches the bounds of credibility a bit much, but that is to be expected in an action-thriller like this. There are also times when Dr. Jon Smith (the protagonist) borders on becoming a superhero rather than a true character, but he is generally very likeable, if never quite realistic. In the past I have read some of Philip Shelby's work and thought that he showed promise. I have been impressed by his skills as a wordsmith, but found his story ideas to be somewhat lacking. Combining his writing talents here with the imagination of Robert Ludlum, however, has produced a blockbuster of a novel. This is not great literature by any means, but it is an engrossing story that will definitely keep you turning the pages. With his death earlier this year, Robert Ludlum left a huge void in the international suspense/thriller genre. Thankfully, we do have writers like Philip Shelby and Gayle Lynds who are eager to take up his mantle. If "The Cassandra Compact" never rises to the level of the best of Ludlum's work -- and it doesn't -- reading it is still a very pleasing way to pass some time. --David Montgomery, Mystery Ink
Rating:
Summary: Good book but a little drawn out
Review: *Spoilers below*
I listened to the Abridged 7-hour CD version of the book. I've enjoyed movies based on Robert Ludlum's books, namely the Bourne series, and thought this might be a good read. I was not disappointed.
The book's plot was interesting. Captivating storyline. It is fairly standard international spy-thriller material, but well done. I found myself engrossed in the book and was very interested to watch the story unfold, and find out what was happening to the story's main characters.
There are a few problems with this book:
1. Simply too long. Although the first 75% of the book flew by, the last 25% dragged. The entire "space" section didn't add much to the quality of the book. I understand the need for the smallpox to be used, the nasty effects illustrated, etc -- but the entire section was just too drawn out.
2. Although this is expected and common in a lot of books, movies, in the media, etc the authors were sloppy in describing technical things. Example: Jon talking about the "firewall" on the computer. Get your terms straight and do research before using them. You can't try to be "high-tech" AND confuse basic terms -- sticks out like a sore thumb. The fact that this was written early, was it 2001?, is no excuse.
3. Even though Jon Smith and others poured over the passenger manifests for the three flights from Russia, Jon never noticed Adam Tralore's name on the list? He had already met Adam Tralore earlier, and certainly someone involved in Megan/Dillan/Jon's line of work should stick out. Why were they not looking for a bald guy on the flights after they arrived? (yes, I know JS was on the same flight, but that doesn't mean Heathrow would stop/should stop looking) Even if the bald guy had nothing to do with it, it can't hurt to question all the bald guys on all the flights, especially given the magnitude of the situation.
These problems didn't detract from the overall quality of the book, and I would suggest it to a friend.
Rating: 
Summary: I agree....
Review: with Francis McInerney....this book is not vintage Ludlum, but there hasn't been anything of quality come from his desk in quite some time. Ludlum was the best. I cannot understand why he wouldn't quit at the top of his game. Surely all the bestsellers he had afforded him a comfortable life. I would have much rather wished for more than to have read the drivel that came in the later years. If you're looking for good espionage and cracker jack writing, read any of the BOURNE series. For a bit of fun, read THE ROAD TO GONDOLFO. Don't read anything in the last 10 years. And, don't read this new one.
Rating: 
Summary: Ludlum at his Best
Review: A great book. Something that could happen. Good reasons why the US should not only preserve it's vaccine kept in Atlanta but should enlarge it's stock. Characters are believable. It is hard to believe that American citizens would betray their country, as some do in this book, but we have seen this happen repeatedly lately. READ THIS BOOK. You won't be able to put it down!
Rating:
Summary: wow
Review: a great ludlum book. i like most, but this new "covert one" novel is one of his best - right up there with the bourne series. anxiously awaiting a new "covert one" series book.
Rating:
Summary: Robert Ludlum's "The Cassandra Compact"
Review: A sorry science fiction book (not a mystery novel in my judgement) not written by Ludlum but his name is on the cover to sell books (my viewpoint). The book takes advantage of todays terrorist threats and smallpox concerns to stir the readers interests but nothing in the book reflected the writings of Ludlum. I strongly suspect that Ludlum did not even write the outline for this book and the sorriest one, "The Paris Option".
Rating:
Summary: 3 1/2 stars Cassandra Compact worth a look
Review: As a long-term fan of Robert Ludlum and not knowing how involved Ludlum really was in the actual composition of the Covert One series, I had been hesitant up to this point to give the books a try. Not knowing exactly what to expect, but having read an enjoyed the previous solo works from Philip Shelby, I decided to give the Cassandra Compact a try when faced with a need to pick up a book at an airport bookstore. In short, I was pleasantly surprised. The tale, although lighter and clearly not nearly as complex as the typical Ludlum, kept me turning the pages. This book, which grabs the reader early and does not let go, contains much of the suspense and plot twists that Ludlum aficionados have come to love in the conspiracy-thriller genre. Upon final evaluation, the Cassandra Compact made my four-hour plane ride easy duty. My first experience with the series will make me go back to the beginning to try some of the others.
Rating:
Summary: 3 1/2 stars Cassandra Compact worth a look
Review: As a long-term fan of Robert Ludlum and not knowing how involved Ludlum really was in the actual composition of the Covert One series, I had been hesitant up to this point to give the books a try. Not knowing exactly what to expect, but having read an enjoyed the previous solo works from Philip Shelby, I decided to give the Cassandra Compact a try when faced with a need to pick up a book at an airport bookstore. In short, I was pleasantly surprised. The tale, although lighter and clearly not nearly as complex as the typical Ludlum, kept me turning the pages. This book, which grabs the reader early and does not let go, contains much of the suspense and plot twists that Ludlum aficionados have come to love in the conspiracy-thriller genre. Upon final evaluation, the Cassandra Compact made my four-hour plane ride easy duty. My first experience with the series will make me go back to the beginning to try some of the others.
Rating:
Summary: A Timely Thriller About The Horror of Smallpox
Review: As a scientist, I view smallpox as I would a rattlesnake. For centuries, smallpox was the world's leading cause of death, and even survivors were left horribly disfigured. We got rid of it by vaccination, but kept two stocks, one in Russia and one in the United States. Now, most of the world's population is no longer immune to smallpox, and news media are full of worries of some group stealing smallpox and unleashing it upon us. Ludlum and Shelby constructed a scenario in which a combine of high-ranking American and European military, industrial, and government zealots steal smallpox from Russia and develop it into a terible weapon, able to kill in minutes. Russian and American operatives work together to try to track down the culprits and destroy the smallpox before it is too late. You know the identity of the bad guys early on, but that doesn't stop the story from building tension right up to the end.
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