The Rhinemann Exchange

Rating:
Summary: well conceived, yet wanting in thrill.
Review: Ihe plot is quite outstanding --- two countries exchanging critical resources when they are at war! Intrigue, action, deception, and at the center of all this is our man from Lisbon, David Spaulding --- sauve, cool , and professional. The book is a classic, old-fashioned, fast paced thriller-driller. Yet, somehow it lacks the punch, maybe partly because we know right from the beginning that Spaulding survives the Exchange.

Rating:
Summary: Another Exciting Ludlum Book!
Review: Ludlum has used a unique plot and a very original approach to writing this book. Both of the powers in World War II are in need of a product to have a sucessful war effort. The Nazis are in need of industrial diamond to finish Peenemunde and the Allies need a gyro guidance system in order to effectively bomb the Germans. The two sides are finally brought together and a deal is made. The two parties will meet in Argentina. David Spaulding an excellent agent in Spain is sent to Argentina by his government. He doesn't know the real purpose of the illegal transaction. The Nazis are going to trade the gyro system foe the industrial diamonds. In the meantime the Haganah(an underground Jewish group) brings Spaulding the real nature of the transaction. Spaulding is finally able to crash the deal. The Nazis lose thanks to Spaulding, with the help of the Haganah. This is a very good book that is definitely a page turner.Buy it,you will not be dissapointed.

Rating:
Summary: Another Exciting Ludlum Book!
Review: Ludlum has used a unique plot and a very original approach to writing this book. Both of the powers in World War II are in need of a product to have a sucessful war effort. The Nazis are in need of industrial diamond to finish Peenemunde and the Allies need a gyro guidance system in order to effectively bomb the Germans. The two sides are finally brought together and a deal is made. The two parties will meet in Argentina. David Spaulding an excellent agent in Spain is sent to Argentina by his government. He doesn't know the real purpose of the illegal transaction. The Nazis are going to trade the gyro system foe the industrial diamonds. In the meantime the Haganah(an underground Jewish group) brings Spaulding the real nature of the transaction. Spaulding is finally able to crash the deal. The Nazis lose thanks to Spaulding, with the help of the Haganah. This is a very good book that is definitely a page turner.Buy it,you will not be dissapointed.

Rating:
Summary: What it lacked is a good motive for the "disruptors"
Review: Okay, stranger things probably did happen in real-life besides enemies exchanging vital resources while continuing their fight. However, the motive supplied for the Hagannah's violent intervention was unjustified, potential of failure high with great risks of exposure. Secrecy was the key to the success of the Tortugas players (ie, to get what they wanted and avoid being exposed for dealing with the enemy). All the Haganah needed to have done was make some public exposure, or even give just a hint to make things hot for the players and all Tortugas players would be stopped cold. The rest of the book was okay, fast moving and the action sequences rather lame. That David Spaulding led such a charmed life that his life was continually spared while Ed Pace was snuffed out was rather hard to swallow. Furthermore, no explanation was given about Leslie's mention of Bonner.

Rating:
Summary: What it lacked is a good motive for the "disruptors"
Review: Okay, stranger things probably did happen in real-life besides enemies exchanging vital resources while continuing their fight. However, the motive supplied for the Hagannah's violent intervention was unjustified, potential of failure high with great risks of exposure. Secrecy was the key to the success of the Tortugas players (ie, to get what they wanted and avoid being exposed for dealing with the enemy). All the Haganah needed to have done was make some public exposure, or even give just a hint to make things hot for the players and all Tortugas players would be stopped cold. The rest of the book was okay, fast moving and the action sequences rather lame. That David Spaulding led such a charmed life that his life was continually spared while Ed Pace was snuffed out was rather hard to swallow. Furthermore, no explanation was given about Leslie's mention of Bonner.

Rating:
Summary: another Ludlum victory
Review: Robert Ludlum has spun yet another fine and scary tale. Ludlum weaves truth into his fiction with such art that his plots are entirely believable. Of course his characters are often super intelligent, to the point of disbelief almost, but that is part of Ludlum's well honed art. this book too will have you thinking "What if?" Read it.

Rating:
Summary: another Ludlum victory
Review: Robert Ludlum has spun yet another fine and scary tale. Ludlum weaves truth into his fiction with such art that his plots are entirely believable. Of course his characters are often super intelligent, to the point of disbelief almost, but that is part of Ludlum's well honed art. this book too will have you thinking "What if?" Read it.

Rating:
Summary: All of his earlier books are the best and no exception.
Review: Sex, Intrigue, Adventure . A thriller that has everything! Great reading by him.

Rating:
Summary: Didn?t quite live up to potential.
Review: The Rhinemann Exchange features a fascinating fictional premise that Ludlum has dreamed up within the setting of the closing stages of the Second World War. Germany desperately needs shipments of industrial diamonds to perfect its rockets. The USA desperately needs functional high-altitude gyroscopes to perfect aircraft guidance systems. Both sides have what the other needs. And so unfolds "an exchange between enemies at the height of the bitterest war in the history of mankind" (p97), with Erich Rhinemann functioning as the liaison in the neutral territory of Buenos Aires to oversee the exchange. David Spaulding, the man from Lisbon, is the American agent released from his service in Portugal and commissioned on a secret mission to bring the gyroscope blueprints back to the USA. But he doesn't know the terrible secret of the diamond transfer which his country is giving up in exchange. And who is trying desperately to stop the exchange? And what role in the action does the fanatical Jewish group Haganah play? What unfolds is combination of action and suspense, in typical Ludlum style. But in the end the novel didn't quite live up to the potential that the premise offered, and the story lacked the heart-stopping action and suspense of Ludlum's better page-turners, and was burdened with too much confusing political dialogue, and unexplained loose ends. An interesting read, but newcomers to Ludlum would be advised to begin instead with some of his better books, such as (in my preferred order) The Bourne Identity, The Materese Circle, The Holcroft Covenant, and The Aquitaine Progression. -GODLY GADFLY

Rating:
Summary: Didn¿t quite live up to potential.
Review: The Rhinemann Exchange features a fascinating fictional premise that Ludlum has dreamed up within the setting of the closing stages of the Second World War. Germany desperately needs shipments of industrial diamonds to perfect its rockets. The USA desperately needs functional high-altitude gyroscopes to perfect aircraft guidance systems. Both sides have what the other needs. And so unfolds "an exchange between enemies at the height of the bitterest war in the history of mankind" (p97), with Erich Rhinemann functioning as the liaison in the neutral territory of Buenos Aires to oversee the exchange. David Spaulding, the man from Lisbon, is the American agent released from his service in Portugal and commissioned on a secret mission to bring the gyroscope blueprints back to the USA. But he doesn't know the terrible secret of the diamond transfer which his country is giving up in exchange. And who is trying desperately to stop the exchange? And what role in the action does the fanatical Jewish group Haganah play? What unfolds is combination of action and suspense, in typical Ludlum style. But in the end the novel didn't quite live up to the potential that the premise offered, and the story lacked the heart-stopping action and suspense of Ludlum's better page-turners, and was burdened with too much confusing political dialogue, and unexplained loose ends. An interesting read, but newcomers to Ludlum would be advised to begin instead with some of his better books, such as (in my preferred order) The Bourne Identity, The Materese Circle, The Holcroft Covenant, and The Aquitaine Progression. -GODLY GADFLY