Rating: 
Summary: What a disappointment over the other 2
Review: Identity and Supremacy were excellent novels, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on the final of the Bourne trilogy. BUT...I didn't even finish the book. Worse, I did something I think I have never done: I skipped to the end to see what happens.
I read at least half of it, and tried to get 'into it', but couldn't get excited for the characters and the plot. For starters, the plot is all too predictable, based on what happened in 'Identity'. Of course Bourne and the Jackal have to get it on, because they didn't finish business in the first novel!
(Incidentally, I really didn't care for how in Supremacy and Ultimatum, how Ludlum added the moniker 'Jackal' to Carlos' name. As if Carlos wasn't enough, he had to add some goofy name to him that doesn't add anything to the character, and the Jackal was never mentioned in Identity; only Carlos. Kinda annoying).
The character development was poor in this novel, esp. compared to the other two books. I just didn't feel any compassion for any of the characters. And Bourne's age and lack of "supremacy" was really lackluster. Let's face it, we all have come to believe Bourne to be invicible, and we like it that way. Ludlum drew it out too much how Bourne had aged and changed from the killing machine he was. It was taken too far, and Bourne became a pansy whom I didn't really care what happened to him.
And Marie was given a back seat character in this book. None of the brilliant woman we saw in the first two. The children were thrown in as a plot device only, and didn't have any life to them. My kids have life, and it's exciting. I hate it when authors throw in kids but don't give them characteristics.
Like I said, I was disappointed, and felt let down after the first two excellent reads.
Rating: 
Summary: Best Ludlum series
Review: If you have read any of the other Bourne books (Identity, Supremacy) you have to read this. Not saying it's the best out of the series, but it's neccessary for closure. It's vintage Ludlum with all of the plot twists and global conspiracies, but as someone said before, the Bourne books introduce a new view on things. You can relate to David Webb and Ludlum does an excellent job building layer upon layer of psych complexity that makes this character seem so real.One tip: DO NOT READ THE BOURNE SERIES STRAIGHT THROUGH Take a break between books. I went straight from one to the other in a matter of days. I truly feel I would've enjoyed them (especially this one) 10x better if I would have taken a break. So do yourself a favor. They are good books.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT FINISH TO THE BOURNE SAGA
Review: IF YOU LIKED THE BOURNE IDENTITY, CONTINUE AND READ BOTH THE BOURNE SUPREMACY AND ULTIMATIUM. THERE IS EXCITEMENT, INTRIGUE, AND IT IS FAST PACED. MY ONLY CRITICISM IS AND THE ONLY REASON THE BOOK GETS A 7, IS THAT AT TIMES LUDLUM BECOMES A LITTLE TOO DETAILED AND A FEW CHAPTERS CAN DRAG. THIS IS NOW JASON BOURNE 13 YEARS AFTER PARIS AND 5 YEARS AFTER HONG KONG. I BELIEVE THAT THIS TRILOGY WOULD BE A GREAT MINI-SERIES.
Rating: 
Summary: Confused!
Review: In the opening of the first book of the series, a man was shot and fell into sea. I've never seen in any of the 3 books why or who shot him. Anyone have the answer to this? Also, the book gets pretty wordy.
Still liked all 3 though.
Rating:
Summary: The beginning of the end for Ludlum
Review: It was after this book that I gave up on Robert Ludlum. His formulaic work ran together - I had stopped trying to keep the different "desperate, betrayed agent and beautiful woman running from corrupt government agency" books straight. The names and locations changed, but the plot really didn't. The Bourne books were different though. "The Bourne Identity" was unique, and well done. "The Bourne Supremacy" is in my Top 5 of All Time - BY FAR the best of Ludlum's work. "The Bourne Ultimatum" is different from the usual Ludlum formula as well. However, that is not a good thing. This is one seriously dumb book. The climax in some sort of Russian spy DisneyWorld (I'm sorry, but that's exactly what I kept picturing - "The KGB welcomes you to AmericaLand. Please watch your step.") is the silliest thing I've read since, well, geez, it's pretty much the silliest thing I've EVER read! Save your money. Just pretend that David and Marie Webb returned home from "The Bourne Supremacy" and lived happliy ever after.
Rating:
Summary: The beginning of the end for Ludlum
Review: It was after this book that I gave up on Robert Ludlum. His formulaic work ran together - I had stopped trying to keep the different "desperate, betrayed agent and beautiful woman running from corrupt government agency" books straight. The names and locations changed, but the plot really didn't. The Bourne books were different though. "The Bourne Identity" was unique, and well done. "The Bourne Supremacy" is in my Top 5 of All Time - BY FAR the best of Ludlum's work. "The Bourne Ultimatum" is different from the usual Ludlum formula as well. However, that is not a good thing. This is one seriously dumb book. The climax in some sort of Russian spy DisneyWorld (I'm sorry, but that's exactly what I kept picturing - "The KGB welcomes you to AmericaLand. Please watch your step.") is the silliest thing I've read since, well, geez, it's pretty much the silliest thing I've EVER read! Save your money. Just pretend that David and Marie Webb returned home from "The Bourne Supremacy" and lived happliy ever after.
Rating: 
Summary: Grade inflation?
Review: Ludlum has a similar problem with Michener, Koontz, Auel and many other writers. As their imitators become more numerous, their output has increased in length until now they approach the density and complexity of encyclopedias. Line up the Ludlum works in chronological order and the growth in girth is evident. All that aside, this is a stupendous work and a wonderful conclusion of the trilogy. Jason Bourne, after many trials and tribulations, finally engages his arch-rival, Carlos the Jackal. Yet his actions have become so typical of characters of this genre...despite their strength, terrifying resolution and mental prowess, our hero makes some pretty dumb moves. And the only reason for these moves is to advance the plot - they were that transparent. Still, Ludlum brought it off, finished the series and can now move on to something else. I give him a "*****" for effort if not for perfect execution.
Rating:
Summary: The Bourne Idiocy
Review: Ludlum is better than this. Filled to the brim with expositional dialogue and ridiculous plot twists, "The Bourne Ultimatum" is half a good novel. The good part is pure Ludlum; the abliity to weave a good yarn of intrigue and suspense. But the bad is a Jason Bourne who makes one elementary mistake after another; mistakes of judgement that your auntie wouldn't make if she had even the smallest iota of common sense. Bourne does not. Neither does his wife. Nor does his secret agent friends. Heck, you or I could have killed Carlos the Jackel five times in the course of this book, but Jason Bourne can't get it done. I finally assumed that Bourne's primary objective was to inflate Ludlum's page count, and the FUNDAMENTAL mistakes he made regarding his family had me rooting for the bad guy to off them just to make Bourne pay for his bone-headedness. With an entire world in which to hide, Bourne sends his kids to an island that even the worst private detective could find in a day, and you know what, that's exactly what happens. In addition to the "trail of crumbs" method of concealment he employs, just about everyone Bourne knows jumps on a jet and follows him to Paris so even blind people can follow them to the gifted Jason. His own dimwit wife follows him there, and darn it, it just made me want her dead. Sorry. I love the Bourne character, but this foolish person makes you cringe every time he says, "It's him. The Jackel," and believe you me, he says it about fifty thousand times. Bottom line, a cat has nine lives, but if this version of Jason Bourne were hunting him, he'd have a hundred and nine.
Rating:
Summary: The Bourne Idiocy
Review: Ludlum is better than this. Filled to the brim with expositional dialogue and ridiculous plot twists, "The Bourne Ultimatum" is half a good novel. The good part is pure Ludlum; the abliity to weave a good yarn of intrigue and suspense. But the bad is a Jason Bourne who makes one elementary mistake after another; mistakes of judgement that your auntie wouldn't make if she had even the smallest iota of common sense. Bourne does not. Neither does his wife. Nor does his secret agent friends. Heck, you or I could have killed Carlos the Jackel five times in the course of this book, but Jason Bourne can't get it done. I finally assumed that Bourne's primary objective was to inflate Ludlum's page count, and the FUNDAMENTAL mistakes he made regarding his family had me rooting for the bad guy to off them just to make Bourne pay for his bone-headedness. With an entire world in which to hide, Bourne sends his kids to an island that even the worst private detective could find in a day, and you know what, that's exactly what happens. In addition to the "trail of crumbs" method of concealment he employs, just about everyone Bourne knows jumps on a jet and follows him to Paris so even blind people can follow them to the gifted Jason. His own dimwit wife follows him there, and darn it, it just made me want her dead. Sorry. I love the Bourne character, but this foolish person makes you cringe every time he says, "It's him. The Jackel," and believe you me, he says it about fifty thousand times. Bottom line, a cat has nine lives, but if this version of Jason Bourne were hunting him, he'd have a hundred and nine.
Rating:
Summary: thumbs up
Review: Not bad. I like slimmer Ira Levin, Craig Furnas type thrillers, but this was good for a bulky read.
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