Paul Janson has a difficult past, which includes a shadowy, notorious career in U.S. Consular Operations. Now living a quiet life, nothing could lure him back into the field. Nothing - except Peter Novack, a man who once saved Janson's life, who has been kidnapped by terrorists and is set to be executed. Janson hastily assembles a team of former colleagues and proteges to rescue Novak but the operation goes horribly wrong. Now Janson finds himself marked for death and his only hope is to uncover the truth behind these events - a truth that has the power to foment wars, topple governments, and change the very course of history
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"I liked all the tactical-secret-operations-action in this book. Really cool stuff and Ludlum is a master at it. I also really liked a lot of the philosophy about the world and people in general in this book. I didn't like so much how the book snowballed into a matter of "it's the end of the world!". Too far fetched. He did the same thing in The Sigma Protocol. Just keep it simple!"
— Nate (4 out of 5 stars)
The intricately engineered plot thunders forward at breakneck pace....Ludlum has the reader hopelessly hooked.
— People Magazine on The Sigma Protocol“A page-turner of non-stop action that should leave his fans begging for more.
— New York Post on The Prometheus Deception" Another good Ludlum book in the same manner as the Bourne books. "
— Rich, 2/19/2014" Ludlum was kind of a 'you win some you lose some' author to me. Some of his stuff was really really good, and some of it was lackluster. The Janson Directive had moments of greatness, with long drags. I don't know, it wasn't everything it could have been. "
— Ross, 2/14/2014" In the free book box... "
— Erin, 1/30/2014" Nancy 4.5 stars; Ron 5 stars "
— Ron, 1/29/2014" I doubt that Ludlum wrote much of this book. The descriptions of murder and violence are excessively detailed and in many cases just gratuitous sadism- if there is a reason for that to be gratuitous. It seems like an attempt to showcase research into random topics. Is the average thriller reader going to appreciate the inclusion of the use of halogens, the anatomy of the autonomous nervous system and the complete description of the assembly of an assault weapon in the same book? The plot was acceptable but I was aggravated to have thought I was reading Ludlum; I had to conclude that his role in this book could not have been more than perhaps the idea for its plot. "
— Celeste, 1/28/2014" Nancy 4.5 stars; Ron 5 stars "
— Nancy, 1/27/2014" This story had trouble keeping my attention; it was overall a slow moving read a bit too much verbiage to keep me in full interest. But it was a fun book, a typical Ludlum novel. "
— Toni, 1/14/2014" It was a bit common story. But anyway I can still say it was good enough atleast. "
— Jason, 1/11/2014" Entertaining, but not his best work "
— Dan, 1/6/2014" 3 stars to Bourne's 4. Passable plane reading. "
— Jonathan, 1/4/2014" I found this book plodding at times, but Ludlum kept enough plot twists coming to make it worthwhile sticking it out. Not his best work, but still better than most out there. "
— Dom, 12/26/2013" I liked this book because it was a heart stoping crime thriller "
— George, 12/18/2013" This author wrote the Bourne Identity. I definitely enjoyed the action, mystery and surprise ending. "
— Paula, 12/15/2013" I enjoyed one of Ludlum's typically fast-paced novels. "
— Kyle, 12/4/2013" I always like the military snipper hunts. "
— Jason, 11/21/2013" Formulaic. Listened to it in the car. Passable entertainment. "
— Spencer, 11/15/2013" This was by far the worst Ludlum book I have ever read. It was like a bad fiction movie full of surrealism. The protagonist knew anything & everything in the world & was always saved by the heroine in the most unbeliveable fashion. I wouldn't recommend this one. "
— C., 11/11/2013" If you love Robert Ludlum novels you will not be disappointed. "
— Jeremiah, 11/6/2013" I was apprehensive at first to read another Ludlum book because i'd read the Bourne series and didn't know if he'd be a one hit wonder. I was wrong. He blew me away with the high intensity of the book, and the similarities yet worlds-apart differences from Bourne. Absolutely phenomenal. "
— Austin, 10/31/2013" This is my favorite of the Ludlam books I've read. "
— Lew, 10/21/2013" Very good; an ex-covert operative is called in to rescue a billionaire who is responsible for masterminding peace initiatives; but things go horribly wrong and he finds himself on the run from two factions determined to see him dead "
— Joe, 10/17/2013" Lots of I-did-not-see-that-coming twists. Awesome! "
— Jane, 4/29/2013" Great book! I'd made it about 50% through this before back in my traveling days (found the boarding pass in the book)...but glad to read it again and finish it. Fun read, good plot. "
— Brendan, 4/25/2013" ehhh. felt like i slogged through big parts of it. picked up speed in some parts. lots of background; thankfully it came together at the end. "
— Scott, 4/23/2013" This was my first book by Ludlum. I loved the Bourne movies though and I guess that is why this book felt like a movie in my head as I was reading it. It was good but predictable. "
— cassie, 4/12/2013" Ludlum knows how to craft an intricate plot, I'll give him that, but this book is way too long, and unnecessarily detailed. "
— Ellen, 4/7/2013" The story is full of terrible plots and yet very fascinating. "
— Kaoru, 3/17/2013" The romance was lame, but there were two excellent plot twists. "
— Mark, 1/21/2013" Non-stop ride. I have to concentrate to keep up with the twists and turns, but the effort is worth it. "
— Lawrence, 12/21/2012" Loved it, suspenseful, heart-felt, everything a girl could ask for really. "
— Aspyn, 5/28/2012" Not too bad. I really like Robert's earlier books better than the latter ones. "
— Elvis, 5/1/2012" Not bad, but too much borrowed plot from the Bourne series. "
— Eippo1, 4/27/2012" So many twist in this book, it just blew me away. Expect something with a lot of action and a lot to keep up with. "
— Brandon, 2/7/2012" Author of the Bourne series. Government agent type book. (love these kind) "
— Janei'a, 1/30/2012" It was a well thought out story. One of those that could happen. In places though it fell a bit flat. "
— Wayne, 12/7/2011" Author of the Bourne series. Government agent type book. (love these kind) "
— Janei'a, 12/2/2011" I enjoyed one of Ludlum's typically fast-paced novels. "
— Kyle, 10/24/2011" A classic Ludlum novel, my favorite of all his books. He goes into detail about weaponry and security systems, perhaps too much detail. But the plot is intriguing and the ending is excellent. "
— Jared, 9/29/2011" For what it is I'd probably give it three or four stars and say I liked the da Vinci code better. I guess I'm not so into these suspense thrillers anymore. "
— Dan, 9/2/2011" My excuse for reading this was that I was bored on a train. "
— Aparnaa, 8/22/2011" Great book! I'd made it about 50% through this before back in my traveling days (found the boarding pass in the book)...but glad to read it again and finish it. Fun read, good plot. "
— Brendan, 7/30/2011" This is my favorite of the Ludlam books I've read. "
— Lew, 7/29/2011" Very fast paced and enjoyable. A lot of twists and turns in the plot which I enjoyed and did not see coming. "
— Tonycorvelli, 7/5/2011" So many twist in this book, it just blew me away. Expect something with a lot of action and a lot to keep up with. "
— Brandon, 5/12/2011" It's written by RObert Ludlum...no not by the pretenders tot his throne by THE Robert Ludlum. So it need not be reviewed...point me towards one BAD Ludlum ! I dare ya! "
— Paul, 3/30/2011" It's written by RObert Ludlum...no not by the pretenders tot his throne by THE Robert Ludlum. So it need not be reviewed...point me towards one BAD Ludlum ! I dare ya! "
— Paul, 3/30/2011" Ludlum goes off on so many tangents to describe the characters - for me that distracted from the flow of the story. More like Clancy and not like Brown. Narrator was good. "
— Kendar88, 3/27/2011" Ludlum goes off on so many tangents to describe the characters - for me that distracted from the flow of the story. More like Clancy and not like Brown. Narrator was good. "
— Kendar88, 3/27/2011" Formulaic. Listened to it in the car. Passable entertainment. "
— Spencer, 3/2/2011" Formulaic. Listened to it in the car. Passable entertainment. "
— Spencer, 3/2/2011" **** Excellent plot and story. As usual, a very detailed reading experience but better pacing then the "Sigma Protocol" and "Prometheus Deception". Excellent ending twist. "
— lunaticprophet, 1/11/2011" **** Excellent plot and story. As usual, a very detailed reading experience but better pacing then the "Sigma Protocol" and "Prometheus Deception". Excellent ending twist. "
— lunaticprophet, 1/11/2011" I enjoyed it until towards the last 30-50 pages when it started dragging. "
— Meeds64, 12/22/2010" I enjoyed it until towards the last 30-50 pages when it started dragging. "
— Meeds64, 12/22/2010" Towards the end, it dragged on a bit. "
— Meeds64, 12/15/2010" Towards the end, it dragged on a bit. "
— Meeds64, 12/15/2010" I read most of Ludlum's books when I was in my teens and loved them all...lol. Can't remember them all though, but they stayed with all these years "
— Ednah, 9/15/2010" I read most of Ludlum's books when I was in my teens and loved them all...lol. Can't remember them all though, but they stayed with all these years "
— Ednah, 9/15/2010" An interesting military-spy thriller. It was a little long winded, but it had lots of twists and surprised turns. "
— Linda, 8/26/2010" An interesting military-spy thriller. It was a little long winded, but it had lots of twists and surprised turns. "
— Linda, 8/26/2010" Can go very wrong with Ludlum. "
— Catherine, 8/21/2010" Can go very wrong with Ludlum. "
— Catherine, 8/21/2010" Mindless escapsim but great fun, albeit with a few to many predictable cliffhangers at the end of almost every chapter. "
— Catherine, 5/30/2010" Mindless escapsim but great fun, albeit with a few to many predictable cliffhangers at the end of almost every chapter. "
— Catherine, 5/30/2010" Paul Janson, a retired U.S. Consular Operations operative, is <br/>persuaded to rescue Peter Novak, a man who once saved Janson's <br/>life, from a terrorist dungeon. Then the action begins. Pretty good <br/>story but not the old Ludlum, who unfortunately passed away in 2001. <br/> "
— Chuck, 5/27/2010" Paul Janson, a retired U.S. Consular Operations operative, is <br/>persuaded to rescue Peter Novak, a man who once saved Janson's <br/>life, from a terrorist dungeon. Then the action begins. Pretty good <br/>story but not the old Ludlum, who unfortunately passed away in 2001. <br/> "
— Chuck, 5/27/2010" Very goo one to read for leaisure "
— Levon, 4/22/2010" Very goo one to read for leaisure "
— Levon, 4/22/2010" The story is full of terrible plots and yet very fascinating. <br/> "
— Kaoru, 4/19/2010" The story is full of terrible plots and yet very fascinating. <br/> "
— Kaoru, 4/19/2010" Story was original and action packed. Although it's a little over the top (made for the movies) it is another great story by Ludlum. "
— Rick, 3/16/2010" Story was original and action packed. Although it's a little over the top (made for the movies) it is another great story by Ludlum. "
— Rick, 3/16/2010Robert Ludlum (1927–2001) was the author of twenty-five novels, each one a New York Times bestseller. There are more than 210 million of his books in print, and they have been translated into thirty-two languages. His works include The Scarlatti Inheritance, The Chancellor Manuscript, and, perhaps most famously, the Jason Bourne series—The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum—among others. The Bourne novels were the basis for three blockbuster films. Born in New York City, Ludlum received a BA from Wesleyan University, and before becoming an author, he was a United States Marine, a theater actor, and a producer.
Paul Michael, winner of several Earphones Awards, has also won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. He has acted on stage, radio, television, and in feature films in Canada, Great Britain, and the United States. He has had leading roles in series and made-for-television movies and has guest starred in such series as VIP and Alias. He has been nominated for a Canadian Emmy and has recorded over 150 audiobooks, including the international bestseller The Da Vinci Code.