Rating: 
Summary: Spectacular, Enthralling, Engrossing--You Name It.
Review: The "Spider Writer" At His Best---I have had the pleasure of reading every one of Mr.Ludlum's books, and regardless of who actually wrote this book under his name, this piece of literature is simply top shelf. Fast paced, great character building, complex story telling...it has it all. If not for the sheer complexity, this book would make for a great motion picture, (but I am sure Hollywood would goof it up). I simply can't say enough positives about this fantastic read.
Rating:
Summary: Another classic from Ludlum!
Review: The Jansen Directive is the second novel published since Ludlum's death. (With each passing book, one is left to wonder if there are any more finished or nearly finished transcripts in the pipeline or even to what degree the last two works were ghost written, at least in part.) Having read almost all of Ludlum's work, the Jansen Directive certainly felt like "a Ludlum." This was a great book....very hard to put down.
This book grabs the reader early and does not let go, leading on more than one occasion to fits of yawning in the morning because I had stayed up too late reading the night before. All in all, the Jansen Directive provides all of the action, suspense, frequent plot twists, and unexpected events that Ludlum aficionados have come to love in the conspiracy-thriller genre. This is clearly among Ludlum's best.
Rating:
Summary: full of suspense, well read, would make a pretty good movie
Review: The late Robert Ludlum has put out a pretty good book, with strong characters and a story full of suspense. I would not give the plot away, though there is plenty of twist and turns, as the main character finds as he seeks the truth. A philanthropist who isn't everything he's made out to be, deception, a nefarious character called the Caliph, and more. Would make a nifty movie.
Rating: 
Summary: The Janson Directive
Review: The suspense of this novel is overpowered by the minutia. Escrutiatingly detailed descriptions of every gadget our hero uses makes one forget Janson has a directive and I, quite truthfully, found myself not cheering for him to win, but simply to get to the end of a painful book. We know Robert Ludlum knows his stuff, but in this instance, he sounds more like an encyclopedia than a novelist.
Rating:
Summary: This Wraith Can Write
Review: There continue to be two types of books offered that carry the name Robert Ludlum. There is the, "Covert One", series that has been abysmal since its first appearance and has shown no signs of improvement. And there are the 11 books that it has been said he left outlines for at the time of his death. The latter series that are the traditional Ludlum fare have remained far above the previously mentioned series, and they have been surprisingly good. "The Janson Directive", is by far the best book since the death of this author that helped define this genre. It has been clear that a new pen was introduced when the first unfinished book was completed after Ludlum's death, and with this book it is clear that from beginning to end, while possibly based on a Ludlum outline, this is another author's work. Happily whoever he/she is can really write, maintaining the storyline style that Ludlum continues to be famous for, while bringing a more contemporary flair to the work.When I use the word contemporary it is often the dialogue that has changed. It is not only much crisper, edgier, and wittier than Ludlum, it also uses dialogue from movies like, "Pulp Fiction", that would never have been found in the late author's work. What puzzles me is where the publishers find a writer this good who is willing to remain anonymous. Perhaps these contributions will launch a new career eventually, but in the meantime I hope that whoever is writing these books is being very well paid. One only has to look to the last, "Ludlum", book and its time spent on the bestseller lists to hope this is true. The author has created one of the most entertaining players in the form of Grigori Berman. This Russian now considers himself absolutely the English gentleman, and to prove it one need only visit his home which was decorated with a single purchase. For on the day Merchant and Ivory Films completed one of their period pieces, our Russian simply bought the sets in their entirety and furnished his home in fashionable London. The paintings are not quite finished, and the furniture looks a bit strange without studio lighting, but for Grigori they are perfection. Grigori's butler is also a riot as he trains his "English" boss, and the nurses that attend to Grigori's needs have to be read about to be believed. Whoever did write this tale they are very well schooled in the art of the extraordinary marksmen known as snipers. There are several very well written sequences that are very tense and also very informative as the three dimensional world of a sniper and teams of snipers is explained as the action takes place. The writing does not glorify what they do; these characters are not mindless killers or assassins for hire. They are people with amazing discipline and talent, and also people you want to stay a good mile or more away from. I do think it matters who wrote this book, and I wish they were given the appropriate credit. The talent that is writing these books is extending the literary life and legacy of Mr. Ludlum, and he or she deserves to be recognized.
Rating:
Summary: Same old, same old... You wish!
Review: There is nothing to say against Ludlum's storylines. The same pattern, however he always manages to turn it into something exciting and unpredictable. Not so this time. Taking off to a great start, he is painting the picture of a great Hungarian philantropist, who resembles the real life, well known financial tycoon G. S.
From there on however, any seasoned thriller reader can easily predict the turn of events. Even more, the writing is sloppy, commercial, and unmotivated. Where Ludlum used to paint a picture for all of his characters, making them unpredictable, he does only the minimum necessary to fulfil his page quota. His hero's picture is more ellaborate, but one would imagine, that R.L. can come up with some new character profiles.
Why do I give two stars? Well, I have seen worse than this: The Covert-One series.
Rating: 
Summary: Janson's not a hero
Review: This book could have really been great!
Great storyline.
For the most part, well-developed characters.
But, the writing is NOT vintage Ludlum.
I do not have any insight into the history of this particular writing. However, I do know that the author of this story (or at least the final chapters) must have written steamy romance novels in a past life. The protagonist, Paul Janson, is all man for 2/3's of this story. Then, without warning, he becomes a melodramatic sap. For instance, in a closing chapter, he rants and shouts at the remaining members of a secret US power-sect [a group that includes the President of the US] like a forsaken lover in a sappy love-novel. There are hints of a slowly-weakening character change throughout the story. As I venture further into the plot I hope I'm proven wrong in my assessments .
Instead, I end up disappointed. What of our Protagonist? Not only is Paul Janson weak; he's a raving, feminized fool. He stares down the bad guy in what should be a mind-shattering climactic explosion of student vs. mentor. Instead, Janson blanks out and goes shopping for yesterday's memories. It sunk to the point where I started to reach for a tissue to hand to the dear boy.
Sorry, but I don't like my spy-heroes sounding like refugees from a pulp love novel. As stated earlier, Great story with nice plotting. Lukewarm character development of Paul Janson. This guy goes from ruthless protector of the USA to a whiny fool towards the latter stage of the story.
I couldn't wait to finish it. **Want vintage Ludlum (with help from Gayle Linds)? Read 'The Paris Option'. Now, that's great writing in the Ludlum style!
Rating:
Summary: one of his best
Review: this book is legend Ludlum.
Rating:
Summary: The best Ludlum since 1982
Review: This is the best thriller written by Ludlum since 1982's "The Parsifal Mossaic". He manages to grip the reader's interest from the start and, at last after so many years,manages to keep it up the rest of the way. The plot seems fresher and the twists make sense.
To me, he reached his peak with "The Bourne Identity", kept it with Parsifal, but began losing his magic since. Of all the books in the interim, "The Icarus Agenda" was first class Ludlum for the first third of the book, then went steadily downhill: the rest were all major dissapointments. Here he (or whomever!) went back to his former glory.
This is high praise from me, as I consider "The Bourne Identity" to be the greatest "thriller" I ever read.
Rating:
Summary: An average thriller....nothing more, nothing less.....
Review: Typical Ludlum....steroetype characters, expected unexpectedness, predictable unpredictability. Still a good fun read if you don't feel the need to think too hard.
There is a directly plagiarized line from the movie Pulp Fiction which just sounds incredibly out of place. It involves a pair of pliers and a blowtorch!
There are fewer "Dan Brown" type narrative errors than in most thrillers of this size, although a Corvette's bodywork is described as being made of steel at one point. Really?
It would make a good movie. I think that was the idea when it was written.
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