The Matarese Circle

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Summary: Does Ludlum have any NEW ideas?
Review: All of Robert Ludlum's books are exactly the same. There's a good guy, and a good woman (in this case two of each) who fall in love while trying to stop a worldwide conspiracy of nazis. I wonder if he'll ever write a second book.....

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Summary: wonderfully executed story line
Review: Ludlum once again captures his audience by throwing several twists and turns in the story line. It is a fast paced story that will keep you in suspense for the entire book.

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Summary: Edge of your seat
Review: I have always been a fan of Ludlum, this book is a reason why. Ludlum, is the master of International intrigue, and this is no different. At one moment we are in London, Paris, Washington D.C. and places all over the world. Scofield along with a Russian agent Talienkov, must stop a plot to control the world, through finacial avenues. These sworn enemies have to work together, to destroy this Circle. Many twists and turns and not every one is who they seem. Highly recommend this. This is a keeper.

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Summary: Ludlum does it again
Review: What a way to spend a sunny summer afternoon. He grabs you on the first page and won't let go till the last. The only problem is that you have to read his work so quickly. You can't put it down. Staying up till 3 or 4 to finish is standard operating procedure.He is the master at mystery and suspense!

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Summary: The research should be better
Review: I wish the great writer like R. Ludlum would do a better research. This book was a disappointment, although I generally LOVE his books. And the reason for the disappointment were scenes and people from Russia. They made me laugh. The words he uses usually either don't exist or mean something completely different. The names!!! He gave a male character a woman's name! Believe me I know, I was born there. Makes you think: is everything he writes about other countries as believable as this? Too bad.

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Summary: Why can't the ratings go higher than 10?!
Review: Sweet God, what a book! This book was absolutley wonderful. For anyone who has interests in espionage, corruption, and general grand-scale conspiracy, buy this book NOW. Talaniekov, Scofield, and Antonia are all very believeable characters, all with sad pasts. My personal thoughts are that this is one of the best books I have ever read. I'd rate it a 19. And this wonderful book all started with a madman in the hills of Corsica, a final prophecy, a shepard boy with 'a voice crueler than the wind', and the words, "PER NOSTRO CIRCOLO".

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Summary: THE perfect example of what the genre should be.
Review: I recently decided to expand my reading horizons from Sci-Fi/Fantasy. I thought about some techno-military, i.e., Clancy and the like, when a friend suggested I try Ludlum. At the friend's suggestion I bought "The Materese Circle". Let me admit that I could be the world's slowest reader. Let me also say that this book was so incredible I went without sleep, not to mention called in sick to work, for two days until I finished this book. Even if you aren't a fan of this genre this book will entertain you to the max, not to mention force you to make pots and pots of coffee.

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Summary: Good Ludlum-esque spy thriller
Review: I was immediately drawn into the story -- two rival spies going up against a conspiracy that reverberates throughout the entire world. The characters, however, seemed interchangeable and poorly developed. Neither the American or Russian spy developed into a person that I had any interest in. The ending, while lacking in surprise and excitement, is intriguing on a deeper level that Ludlum almost wholly ignores throughout the novel. Overall, not one of Ludlum's best, but worth reading nonetheless

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Summary: The best work of a great author...
Review: This was the first book of Ludlum's that i had read, and i was mesmerized...i could not put it down! The delicate weaving of characters, action past and present, and ever-present danger makes this book a winner. I know that Robert Ludlum wrote many books before the "The Bourne Identity", but in my mind, this was the best of them all. If you liked "The Bourne Identity", then you have to read this book...i believe you will like it better!

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Summary: WOW...Ten Times Better Than Bourne...Ludlum's Best
Review: This book is a masterpiece of suspense, intrigue, excitement, intricate detail, spectacular action, and explosive scenes that make Jason Bourne look like a feeble character in comparison. By far the most spectacular Ludlum book in my opinion, the Matarese Circle starts with the two most incredible and delightfully violent scenes that I have ever read and, from that point on it simply does not stop. You will be pounded with intense scenes from the beginning to the end. WARNING: It is not for the faint of heart or the politically correct. This book has so many shocks and twists that by the end I felt like I had gone twenty rounds with Tyson in his prime.

It starts with two events that shock the American and Russian governments so deeply they are thrown into an uneasy balance with each other. Not to mention the book takes place at the height of the Cold War making their relationship even more delicate. Enter Scofield a.k.a Beowulf Agate and Talenikov a.k.a. The Serpent, the two best and most highly respected deep cover spies for their respective governments. After Talenikov is warned by an old spycraft teacher about a mysterious organization called the Matarese that threatens the stability of governments the world over, he must seek out Beowulf Agate. Only he and Beowulf can stop this overwhelmingly powerful organization that has infiltrated the highest levels of government. Only one problem: the two renowned spies are bitter enemies that bear a hatred towards each other deeper than the ocean.

Wonderfully written and artfully detailed, I only wish that Mr. Ludlum was alive to continue writing such awesome books. If you're a Ludlum fan or just looking for a book that gives delight throughout, read The Matarese Circle. It will not disappoint.