The Cry of the Halidon

Rating:
Summary: Desparately needs a competent editor.
Review: I have read most of Ludlum's novels, and I usually can't put them down. I found that I was so distracted by the need to correct his grammar, usage, and spelling that I almost didn't finish the book. The story was not bad, but too contrived even for Ludlum, and not nearly as polished or compelling as his later novels. Also, of his dialogue was downright embarrassing in its naive lack of credible inter-sex conversation. Very disappointing for Ludlum.

Rating:
Summary: Confusing???
Review: I have read numerous Ludlum books and I have never had trouble following story line, characters and their importance. However I was quickly proved wrong with The Cry of the Halidon. The abudance of meaningless characters makes the reader annoyed and at sometimes confused. If you are looking for a good book by Ludlum may I suggest The Matarese Countdown.

Rating:
Summary: Tightly paced, action-packed thriller
Review: I picked up this book in desperation in an airport several years ago. I couldn't put it down! My mother was travelling with me, and had the same response that I did. The most telling thing was that we bought two "throw away" paperbacks (or leave in hotel rooms) to take to Portugal, and brought this one home with us! Excellent Ludlum.

Rating:
Summary: Didn't finish it
Review: I read about 150 pages or so into this book and about all that happened so far is that the main character has a lot of shady people following him around, he's involved with a female companion, and he STILL hasn't actually done what he came to Jamaica for! This is boring, which is something I never thought I would say about a Ludlum book (or Jonathan Ryder book, his pseudonym back when he wrote this tripe). I have no desire to finish the book to see what, if anything, happens to the unmemorable characters.

Rating:
Summary: Thank God he learned to write after this one!
Review: I was relieved to find out that this was Ludlum's first book and not a recent one. He has certainly come a long way since The Cry of the Halidon. If I had read this book first, I would probably never pick up another Ludlum book, and what a shame. He is one of the best suspense writers out there. There's no definition to any of the characters and no point to the story - whatever the story was. By the time you get to the end (at least it read fast), you could care less about any of them. I also found it amazing that if I put the book down for a few hours, I would have to go back and recap in order to remember what it was I was reading about. Thank God Ludlum learned to write after this one!

Rating:
Summary: If It Went Any Slower, I'd Fall Asleep At The Wheel
Review: I've enjoyed several Ludlum novels, but this one is very slow and it seems to be going almost no where. I'm half way through and don't see much point in going on except to make the most of money I spent for the CD version. It certainly isn't an action-packed thriller I was hoping for. I'd give it 5 stars for non-action and lots of meaningless "yadda, yadda, yadda" if such a category existed.

Rating:
Summary: With some exeptions, solid and interesting book
Review: It is not the best Ludlum, but it keeps you going. I find some of the plot bit naive, but then again most of Ludlum plots are rather fiction. If you like Ludlum, go for it, if you do not like him much stay away from this book.

Rating:
Summary: With some exeptions, solid and interesting book
Review: It is not the best Ludlum, but it keeps you going. I find some of the plot bit naive, but then again most of Ludlum plots are rather fiction. If you like Ludlum, go for it, if you do not like him much stay away from this book.

Rating:
Summary: Captivating, Engrossing - just like a good Ludlum book
Review: Like most of his other books, Ludlum does a good job of capturing the reader's undivided attention. And like most of his other books, this book has just a touch of romance so that it doesn't feel boring and monotonous. It is certainly not his best work, but still it is far better than most other thrillers out there

Rating:
Summary: What a cockamamie story!
Review: This is one of the most ludicrous books I've ever read. Robert Ludlum must need the money badly to trot out this old nag again.