Rating: 
Summary: A poor effort
Review: I have read every book by Ludlum, and therefore, am a fan. This book was so amaturish, so juvenile, to the extent, that I question that he even wrote it, or maybe just put his name on it. The plot is superficial, and poorly researched. The characters week. In all, a very poor effort.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun, but nothing special
Review: I used to relish the publishing of a new Ludlum novel. From the Scarletti Inheritance onward, I would put aside at least a day and read the book cover to cover. Unfortunately, the allure of Ludlum's novels wore off as they became more predicable. If I have on major criticism of The Prometheus Deception it is that it is predicable.From the opening scene to the end I was able to predict the next twist and turn. Moreover, the main character, the master international retired spy who is forced to come out of retirement, is one that Ludlum has used time and time again. The big problem is that Ludlum has been unable to recreate Jason Bourne, and for that he probably cannot be faulted. If one gets past the predictability. The Prometheus Deception is a fun read. It has a fast pace and the writing as always is wonderful. The main character is well defined and is more than the cardboard spy in most novels of this genre. I enjoyed the book although I wish that I could forget, as I read, the dozen or so other Ludlum novels that I had previously read.
Rating: 
Summary: Ludlum's best in a looooong time!
Review: After making it through 'The Scorpio Illusion', The Apocalypse Watch' and 'The Materese Countdown' I was afraid that the illustrious Captain of the Action/Adventure/Spy/Thriller was losing his edge. Sure he knows how to move a novel in directions that most authors NEVER seem to master, but compared to his earlier works of literary imagination, his more recent books have suffered...but with 'The Prometheus Deception' Ludlum is back in the drivers seat with possibly one of his most entertaining books to date. Unlike most of his earlier books, 'The Prometheus Deception' is quite a bit shorter, and therefore it moves...it REALLY MOVES. Ludlum gets right to the point within the first few paragraphs and wastes no time introducing major characters and placing them in mortal danger almost immediately. Based upon the reviews of this book that I have seen, it seems that you either like it or you don't with a few folks in-between...many are upset at Ludlum using a tried-and-true formula with this story, but I don't have a problem with it because its a formula that WORKS. Nick Bryson is a member of a shadow group known as The Directorate...a CIA-type group that is unknown to virtually everyone in America, including the highest members of the US Government. But that isn't all, even the MEMBERS of The Directorate have little knowledge of all that goes on within the agency, or who even funds their covert operations. Nick makes a pretty big mistake on one of his op's in Africa and is pulled out and forced into retirement by his mentor and Directorate operations leader. As much as he hates it, he realizes that it HAD to be done, and accepts his appointment as Professor at a college thinking his days of placing his life in danger are over. He couldn't be more mistaken. Before he knows it, he is forced to hear the most traumatic news of his entire life: Not only is The Directorate NOT a true government agency, but EVERYTHING he EVER accomplished IN the guise of his agency was hindering the REAL success of the CIA, NSA and just about every American agency working abroad...some with chilling results. Nick also finds out that his entire life has been a well-placed lie. His parents killed so events could place him in a position to become an agent for The Directorate. But the big question is this: WHO exactly IS The Directorate working FOR, and WHY? What are their goals? They seem to have the ability to anything to reach their agenda, whatever that may be, and now that Nick has been deemed 'Beyond Salvage' his old boss has put out a contract on his life and action, on top of intrigue mixed with adventure on top of more action ensues. In short, 'The Prometheus Deception' is worthy of almost anything in Ludlum's vast list of impressive novels. Decide for yourself, but if you are a true fan of Ludlum, at the very least, you will probably enjoy this more than his last 5-6 books--combined. Personally I found this to be one of MY personal favorites.
Rating:
Summary: good but not great?
Review: I enjoyed this book--mainly because I haven't read much of his writings, and I needed a break from the other stuff I was reading. It was a great breath of fresh air. However, I do think, along with some of the other reviewers, that after a 5 year hiatus, Nick would not be nearly as "up" on his game as he is portrayed...and the convenient "I lost my wife, but oh, wait--I found her" is a little too predictable. You should definitely read this book, but wait till it comes out on paperback--or borrow it from someone.
Rating:
Summary: The International Global Conspiracy Strikes Again!
Review: Okay, what Ludlum book did I choose to review? Oh, heck, plot summary anyway... after many twists and turns that feature lying and deception, an insidious conspiracy out to take over the world and form one government must be rooted out by an aging and somewhat disillusioned secret agent who was once la creme de la creme in his possession. I'll grant you the details change, but you'll always find at least either the secret agent or the conspiracy in every book. In the case of the Prometheus Deception, Nick Bryson is the "I thought I was retired" agent and "Prometheus" is the conspiracy. Oh, and Elena is Nick's love, whom he must win back after losing her for work-related reasons. It's not as good as some of the others, as Nick is a little bit too skilled for being out of the game and 1324 K St. in D.C. is near the intersection with 21st Street, but hey. I can't actually recommend you buy this book, but if you like generic Ludlum, it's probably worth your time to get it from the library. If nothing else, it beats watching insipid television sit-coms.
Rating:
Summary: Maybe his best
Review: I've read possibly all of Ludlum's books and I think I liked this the best. The story is implausible, of course, but there are so many twists with so many high-tech and corporate connections that are relevant today. The writing is tighter and less rambling than his books have been in a long time.
Rating:
Summary: To Mr. Ludlum's family
Review: I have been a big fan of Mr. Ludlum's for many years now and it saddens me to know he is no longer among us. This message is not a review, but my personal acknowledgement of his genius and gift of entertainment. My prayers and deepest sorry goes out to Mr. Ludlum's family. I feel deeply for your loss. I wish you well, one and all. I never met Mr. Ludlum, but I knew he was a kind, thoughtful and gentle man. I hope time heals your pain and loss. Go in peace. David Schneider
Rating: 
Summary: Good, "old-style" Ludlum
Review: You've got to give an author credit for being able to craft an action/adventure novel that has as complex a plot as this one has, that keeps you flipping the pages to see what's going to happen next, and that makes sense in the end. Although I can't profess to having read all of Ludlum's works, I can say this book reminded me of some of his earlier works -- such as the Bourne novels. You'll be breathless as you follow Nick Bryson from one tight spot to the next -- and there are plenty of those. Luckily, the tight spots are interesting and the scrapes and bruises he picks up and leaves behind are well worth the read. The characters are interesting, and are believable as formiddable opponents. I couldn't figure out who the good guys/girls were and who Nick should trust. Luckily for us, he couldn't either, so the story stayed interesting and kept me guessing. There's a drop of romance involved, but romance is definitely not the focus of the book. What little there is, though, fits nicely within the plot. If you like books with a lot of action (as in bang, bang, shoot-em up and run like hell), then this is the book for you. If you enjoy Ludlum's older novels -- the spy-conspiracy thing with the intricate plot, you'll likely love this one. I'm also happy to report that if you decide to listen to the book, the reader does a pretty good job so you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: A great last effort.............
Review: Robert Ludlum is back!!! The Prometheus Deception is an extremely good book - among Ludlum's very best - and one that was difficult to put down. The true test of a novel is whether or not the reader, when faced with the choice between time spent sleeping versus reading, chooses to plow forward with the book late at night. The latest from Ludlum will likely cause yawns in the morning due to late-night reading. This book grabs the reader early and does not let go. It features Nicholas Bryson as an ex-intelligence field operative who is brought out of retirement to infiltrate his former organization. In the process, he is forced to face up to demons from his past, both professional and personal. Bryson, while outwardly cool and confident, displays a full spectrum of personal emotions that simultaneously drive him forward and fill him with doubt. All in all, the Prometheus Deception provides all of the action, suspense, frequent plot twists, and unexpected events that Ludlum aficionados have come to love in the spy-thriller genre. This is Ludlum's best effort in years. Unfortunately, his recent death will deprive fans of future work. I recommend that you read this book -- the only down side will be missed sleep!!
Rating:
Summary: Engaging techno-thriller from spy master
Review: A few books ago I'd given up on Ludlum. He seemed to be going through the motions - he used terms sloppily, let too many plot points sit unresolved, and his story lines started blurring from one book to the next. I'm glad I took some time off, because The Prometheus Deception was a very welcome surprise. Based on earlier Ludlum works (the Bourne trilogy, Holcroft Covenant, etc.), I knew to expect a first-rate espionage yarn. What worried me going in was his ability to handle such a complex technological plot line. Fortunately for us, he gets it right. From the crypto details to the massive amounts of data collected about individuals, Ludlum manages to weave together threads of various current topics and turn them into a thoroughly enjoyable story. For someone who's been writing these novels for more than 30 years, Ludlum manages to make it sound contemporary - an impressive feat. Other reviewers have correctly noted that Nick Bryson is a bit too good to be true. Between his incredible physical prowess (after a five year hiatus no less!) coupled with his skill at eluding impossibly difficult situations, he's presented as the uber-spy. The twists do pile up - making it difficult at times to remember who's working for whom. Overall, however, I found the story to move along well once we got through the preliminaries. By the way, I listened to this on my Rio (downloaded from audible.com) and thought that the narration was exceptionally well-done. Every character's accent & inflection was used to great effect, making the story even more engaging to listen to. Considering its length (nearly 15 hours), that was indispensable. If you enjoy complex spy thrillers and are interested in seeing where today's technology fits in, then the Prometheus Deception should satisfy. The ending also invites at least a slim possibility that this could turn into another "franchise" for Ludlum... I wouldn't be surprised to see Nick et al. show up in a future novel.
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