Rating: 
Summary: Deus ex machina
Review: Nick Bryson, the "hero," gets himself into more tight spots than
you can count. But at the last moment an enemy becomes a friend
and saves him, or he pops out of a closet to save the girl, or
some other miracle happens. Ludlum does a good job of getting
Bryson in trouble, but he, Ludlum, can't figure out how to get
Bryson out, so he creates an unbelieveable solution. But it's
still interesting, even if only to find out how Bryson will get
out of his next fix. Reads like an old movie serial where the
hero falls over a cliff and you wonder how he'll survive.
Rating: 
Summary: Who was really deceived?
Review: Absolutely the worst book I've read this year. Tedious, rife with cliches (like that!), stilted characters about whom you care little and a break-neck pace in so many locations around the whole frigging world without, might I mention, any solid clue as to the time-line (until of course, we enter the final "deception," and the fuse is burning while Dudley Doright is still thinking it through and Nell will be singed at the very least). Even, dare I say, Tom Clancy can be THIS appealing. Well, not quite. Very disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Easy reading fantasy
Review: I haven't read Ludlum in several years, but I don't recall him as being this unbelievable. His protagonist gets into more impossible fixes and escapes through more coincidental miraculous rescues than Superman. One of my stars was awarded for predicting a year in advance the anthrax attack and plane downing. Another star was awarded for his insightful look at the future of privacy invasion emblematically depicted by his portrayal of Bill Gates and his smart house on Lake Washington. That leaves one star for the story without a trace of verisimilitude. Ludlum has done much better.
Rating: 
Summary: goodbye to the master
Review: Actually, my rating for this book is 4 and 1/2 stars ... . First off, this book is like a flashback to Ludlum's earlier novels, and is a classic example of why he is considered the godfather of the fast-paced, action-packed, modern espionage thriller. The plot moves quickly, the characters globetrot like frequent flier miles are going out of style and there are plenty of twists and turn so that you are never quite sure who is a good or bad guy (or gal). As with any good Ludlum book, there are plenty of flashbacks to the past life of the main character so you get a picture of what shaped the character and why he feels and acts the way he does. A nice addition to the story is the author's obvious research into new areas like non-weapons technology, banking, etc. that separate this book from weaker recent efforts where the story was rehash of older books and tired storylines. There are very few down points to the book, but be warned that the love scenes are pretty lame (I'll never understand why Ludlum incudes them at all in his books ... I would think his readers are more interested in action, suspense and political intrigue than a couple of paragraphs of bad whoopie thrown into the story here and there). There are also points in the story where you have to take things as a given because background is not provided, wondering "how did they know that?" or "how did they get there?". All in all, Ludlum's finale is worth the time and is a very entertaining novel. It is a shame that he has passed and there will be no more new novels to look forward to.
Rating:
Summary: The Prometheus Deception's Deceptions
Review: Robert Ludlum's Prometheus Deception is vintage Robert Ludlum. Which is not necessary a good thing. The conspiracies are getting a little too obvious and the one glaring plot hole is too large to completely ignore. The central message of the book remains popular in the last few years: where is the balance between personnel privacy and society's right for security. The events of 11 Sept and the recent anthrax attacks have forced many people to reexamine those questions and for some in a unexpected manner. Aside from that little comment, the novel moves along at a brisk pace that only a master artist can sustain. It doesn't suffer from the traces of awkwardness that less prolific authors usually fall prey to. The story itself shows Ludlum's in-depth knowledge of the world. His locations are top-notch. His characters aren't. Most of them are two-dimensional and the three that are well developed are introduced and used more as plot gimmicks then fully realized characters. If the Prometheus Deception were a movie, it would be a little too intellectual for the summer crowd. As a book, it is both a little too predictable and unbelievable to be anything more then an escapist fair. The questions it brings up are drowned in a sea of plot holes and unrealized characters.
Rating: 
Summary: The most suspense I've ever had in a book...
Review: This is the first book of Ludlum's that I have read, and I must say I'm a fan. I've been reading international mystery/suspense books for years, and this is by far the most exciting one I've come across. Throughout the entire book, you follow the main character, one Nick Bryson, around the world on a quest for truth - one that starts out as a job the CIA "hired" him to do, but matures into something more personal. The plot twists and turns so many times that you are never sure who is on what side, which side Bryson is on, or even what the sides are. As the story progresses, the enemy becomes more and more powerful, and Bryson becomes less and less confident. There's more than enough action to keep the most impatient reader gripped; there's enough absolutely thick plot and story to keep the most thoughtful reader coming back.
I lost sleep over this book, I couldn't take my mind off it long enough to do much of anything. I wouldn't recommend it to anybody who isn't on vacation. A bit of praise that seems a little cliché, but very fitting.
The book, however, is not perfect. Toward the last few chapters, certain events become predictable, and the reader can see a few blows coming, if you will. But this minor imperfection passes quickly with a few more twists and turns at the end, and it won't disappoint you. I hope there's a sequel.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Book!
Review: This book typifies the style of writing that made Robert Ludlum a sucessful author.Action packed,hard to put down and full of very interesting characters. The central character in this book Nicholas Bryson,was forced into retirement from the
Directorate(a CIA type organization). At this same time his wife also leaves him. Five years later the CIA brings him back into the fold to destroy the Directorate. In the process he discovers the existance od a group called the Prometheuns.This group is made up of many powerful people who have evil intentions for the
world.Bryson,who has found his former wife is forced into a battle at every corner. In the end you are left wondering if this excellent story is really over. A must read book. You will
not be dissapointed.
Rating:
Summary: Classic old-style Ludlum
Review: Since I was a kid, I've swallowed up the latest Ludlum novel
in a day or two. I remember being excited whenever I heard that
a new Ludlum was coming out. It's been a while since I've had the
pleasure of kicking back with a new Ludlum book. The Prometheus
Deception is very cleverly written, and shows off that captivating style that Ludlum is famous for. The first 60 pages contain an amazing twist that is more interesting and captivating the many entire novels. It really had me jumping out of my seat and exclaiming "Wow". If you have a long train trip or flight, or if you just want to sit outside or on your couch and really enjoy yourself for a long stretch, read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Must read for those who like Ludlum's work
Review: It is not path breaking in content or approach but a good read.
Those who do not like Ludlum can perhaps avoid it.
And those who have not read Ludlum please start with "The Bourne Identity"...
Rating:
Summary: Action Packed, full of mind boggling twists
Review: I luved it, this was the first of Ludlums books I've read and I just finished the Matarse Circle, also a great book, and Ludlum has done it again. I thought it was perfect just all the changing in loyality the constant twists, the remarkable, but obvious not real cases, the heroic efforts of one man.
Once employed by a super secret intelligency agency which turns out to be esponage and not what it seems or does it? Through all the twists its hard to tell where their alliances really lay. It was a page turning thriller. Must have taken some serious researching for background information. I repeat: I luved it! Don't take my opinion, read it and you decide for yourself. I am no expert, but I have read many books, like Tom Clancy, and I must say this is top rate in my opinion.
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