"Welcome to Robert Ludlum's world...fast pacing, tight plotting, international intrigue." — Cleveland Plain Dealer In Robert Ludlum's The Ambler Warning, an agent breaks out of a top-security institution where the government has kept him drugged for years only to discover that he's not the person he thinks he is. On Parrish Island, a restricted island off the coast of Virginia, there is a little known and never visited psychiatric facility. There, far from prying eyes, the government stores former intelligence employees whose psychiatric state make them a danger to their own government, people whose ramblings might endanger ongoing operations or prove dangerously inconvenient. One of these employees, former Consular Operations agent Hal Ambler, is kept heavily medicated and closely watched. But there's one difference between Hal and the other patients—Hal isn't crazy. With the help of a sympathetic nurse, Hal manages to first clear his mind of the drug-induced haze and then pulls off a daring escape. Free, he's out to discover who stashed him there and why—but the world he returns to isn't the one he remembers. Friends and longtime associates don't remember him, there are no official records of Hal Ambler, and when he first sees himself in the mirror, the face that looks back at him is not the one he knows as his own.
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"Long book and relatively predictable (guessed it about 1/3 of the way through). However, it was still a very good, exciting book. If you are a fan of the Jason Bourne series, this has a lot of the same elements. If you tired of the Jason Bourne series, then you'll most likely get about 2/3 of the way through this book and struggle to stay focused on completing it. This has a lot of the same elements of the Jason Bourne idea... man without a clear memory of the past, trying to find himself and who's trying to kill him, and turning to a beautiful woman for support. The end is very different, and is worth sticking around for (even though it is pretty predictable, I thought). Also, the introduction of a CIA auditor with a dry, humorless, "logical" personality provides for great comic relief at points through out the book."
— Darren (5 out of 5 stars)
The pace is fast, the dialogue true to character. This one will rivet your attention from beginning to end.
— AudioFile on The Altman Code" i have nice time reading this book......well i'm wrong when i say that its the same with Bourne....it's not.Bourne did not actually lost his identity, while Hal Ambler lost everthing, including his fast and when he looks at the mirror he saw a face totally unknown to him. And the twist in the story....his most love person was his enemy "
— Mariacarolyn, 1/26/2014" A fun read. A mystery with psychological overtones. Escapee of a high-security prison realizes (after finding the first mirror he's encountered since being incarcerated) that he doesn't bear any resemblance to whom he thinks he is, and when he starts researching, can't find any traces of himself. It appears his memories are all in error, or he's somehow been erased from the world as he knew it. A good page-turner. "
— Linda, 1/24/2014" Lots of action in this one so be prepared to shift your diary. The story line is about an ex special agents officer who finds himself on a remote island, in a psychaitric facility where people are sent to 'disappear'. Hal manages to escape, only to discover that he 'Hal Ambler' doesn't exist. Like his been deleted from society, even his reflection is different! Journey with Hal as he goes about filling in the missing gaps to discover who he is and why someone would want to do this to him. "
— Karen, 1/11/2014" Libro entretenido. "
— Juanki, 1/7/2014" A typical political espionage book written under Ludlum's name. This one had many similarities to the Bourne series. It was fun to listen to this, and it certainly had a lot of action and twists and turns. "
— Kelly, 12/14/2013" I can't finish it, way too boring for me. "
— Lindsey, 12/13/2013" Better than 2012 Olympic Sabotage. "
— Colin, 12/12/2013" My first book about spies, secret intelligence groups etc. Weird to say the least, not at all like James Bond but it could be the author's way of writing, flitting from one scenario to another confusing the heck out of any reader regardless how avid....not a bad read but I'll not be moved to buy anymore books by this author. "
— Rhonda, 12/5/2013" This is the same author who wrote the Bourne series (think popular trilogy movie series with Matt Damon). I tend to like the science fiction/adventure better than artsy books and would recommend just about anything by this author. "
— Natalie, 11/27/2013" Not the best Ludlum book I've read, but it was entertaining enough. "
— Gregory, 10/17/2013" One of those postmortem publishing efforts where they try to make cash off unfinished manuscripts. This one was mostly done and classic Ludlum, if not top notch Ludlum. Get it at the library. "
— Ryan, 10/8/2013" definitly a page turner - enjoyed reading it! "
— Anna, 8/28/2013" This was an interesting suspense book that was hard to put down. There was a twist at the end that threw me off, and I thought it was fun. A little too much swearing for me, though. "
— Julia, 8/26/2013" Overall an enjoyable book. Got a bit verbose at times as if the author was trying to impress. Truly stunned with the ending. "
— Thomas, 8/21/2013" Obviously I love this author. "
— Conni, 8/8/2013" well, when you are alone in a train and you dont have a thing to do, when the tt checked you for smoking and you feel lousy.... and suddenly if you find the book on your seat, do read it then... o/w its best if you left it unread. nothing special or new :( "
— kranti, 5/1/2013" A main point of the story was either predictable or I just figured it out/suspected it so early that it made the book less enjoyable than it should've been. "
— Ed, 2/26/2013" Enjoyed this book kind drug out a little but I still enjoyed it "
— Dave, 2/21/2013" Just started..but I think the basic theme of Ludlum is same..identity crisis.. as in Bourn series "
— Venu, 8/2/2012" A great book in the tradition of the Bourne Identity. Keeps you in suspense right up to the ending. "
— Lee, 5/21/2012" Fun. Of no value to my progression as a soul, but fun. "
— Joe, 5/8/2012" I thougth I would try Ludlum again, given the popularity of the Bourne Ultimatum. This one was boring and predictable pablum. "
— Marina, 3/18/2012" I had to shelf this one halfway through (although I plan on finishing it) because I lost the book. Already got my new copy and can't wait to start again. The character is not overdone and it's a page-turner. Can't wait to finish it. "
— Saulo, 1/12/2012" One of the best after Bourne Series "
— Praveen, 12/19/2011" Not really by Robert Ludlum. He died. Very '24' like "
— Mainrun, 12/18/2011" if to forget is a boon, realization of such a delicacy is insane "
— ravi, 11/17/2011" Entertaining, Fun, unexpected ending!!!!!!!!!!!! "
— Narine, 9/24/2011" Too much like Bourne. A bit to predictable. It didn't seem like a Ludlum book. "
— Trudy, 8/26/2011" First book I've read from Robert Ludlum. The ending had a nice twist. "
— Kathy, 5/19/2011" Very much like the Bourne series. But I enjoyed this one, just couldn't put it down. Very engaging thriller. "
— Christina, 5/12/2011" This Ludlum book is similar to the Bourne Identity series. Fun to read. "
— Nick, 4/18/2011" I guess I'm a picky reader. This one started out with a fast pace and sucked you right in --- but just didn't keep up with that pace. "
— Tina, 4/1/2011" Not my favorite book. It took me a LONG time to get into this book. I found myself thinking of other things while I was reading it. Honestly - If I was not such a fan of Ludlum's other books I may not have finished it. "
— Ashley, 3/13/2011" ***+ Excellent plot and story. As usual, the pace ebbs and flows sometimes becoming very slow. I figured out the twist about a hundred pages before the end but it was still very good in coming. "
— lunaticprophet, 1/11/2011" Spy thriller, very reminiscent of the Bourne books and movies. Entertaining, wrapped up a bit too quickly with a very pat solution. One must suspend a great deal of disbelief to read this genre anyhow, so it matters little. "
— Barbara, 1/7/2011" Horrible book. Couldn't finish it. Started off interesting enough, but got progressively worse over time. Scary Bad "
— Jeffrey, 12/7/2010" Audiobook well produced. Thrilling but the end waffled on a bit and got very predictable. Very enjoyable nevertheless. "
— Mrsterrapinpond, 11/17/2010" It was a five until the end, I felt disappointed because it was somewhat predictable. Still a read that kept me turning the pages. "
— Ryan, 10/19/2010" Good book and plot very mysterious its the best Ludlum book Ive read so far. "
— Nw, 10/5/2010" Totally amazing, a roller coaster ride from page 1. Enough action, plot twists to ensure that you never keep the book down. "
— Rashmi, 8/10/2010Eric Van Lustbader is the author of more than twenty-five bestselling novels, including New York Times bestsellers The Ninja and The Testament. His novels have been translated into over twenty languages. He has also written several novels in Robert Ludlum’s highly successful Bourne series, including The Bourne Legacy, The Bourne Betrayal, The Bourne Sanction, and others. Before turning to writing full-time, he enjoyed a highly successful career in the New York City public school system, where he holds licenses in both elementary and early childhood education.
Scott Sowers is an actor and audiobook narrator. AudioFile magazine named him the 2008 Best Voice in Mystery and Suspense. He is the winner of seven Earphones Awards.