Jason Bourne is once again drawn back in the shady world of international intrigue, dirty Washington politics, and ultimately, Treadstone. His new friends (Soraya, Tyrone, and Devon) help in Washington while Jason deals with his fiercest ever assassin, Arkadin. ( )

This is not a book in the normal sense: It is a mass of unrelated episodes stuck together as some sort of thriller but with so many holes in the plot I'm surprised the book didn't come with a leakage warning! Right from the outset it is unpromising with Lustbader compelled to admit he has "...taken artistic license.." (AND believe me, he certainly has!), and goes on, "..with places, objects, and possibly, even time.." - - he qualifies that disclaimer by asking the reader to, '...overlook these small anomalies.." - - alas Mr Lustbader as there are a great number of anomalies and the 'time' lapses so distortionate to the plot I fear I could not overlook them at all. It is allegedly a book, not a Hollywood blockbuster film where fade-outs and fade-ins plus flashback scenario can be taken as helpful by the audience, but the author has not got those eye-catching scenic trickeries, & must rely on the printed word on the page - trouble is the words in this tome do not add up to a sense of reality in any part of it! And so dear reader just remember not only is this plot implausible it is downright impractical to even consider as a narrative! ( )

30-12-2012
Re-reading this book. Not because it is so very good, but because I lost track of the Bourne story. Got the latest for my birthday this year and I wanted to read them (the ones by Van Lustbader) in order because movies and Ludlum's versions keep getting in the way of getting a good clear view om what happened when and why with what reason or consequence.

01-01-2013
After reading it again, I tried to make sense of it once again. And, starting with the Bourne books that Ludlum wrote, I just couldn't. As far as I can recall (have to re-read the last book of the trilogy to be absolutely sure, but please correct me if I'm wrong!), Bourne was around 57 when either the 3rd book started, or ended.
The book I'm reviewing now, takes place one year AFTER the book before this, and when I draw a linear line from Ludlum-Bourne to Lustbader-Bourne, the character must at least be 58, most likely even older.
And, despite films like Expendables etc. I do not really see a man, no matter how fit, pull the stunts that Bourne does in this book.

Okay, this book is a work of fiction, but this age thing bothers me nonetheless.
And I'm also bothered by the written out fighting scenes. they look / read like they could be copy-pasted from a film script. They feel very unreal and I must admit that when the next scene came, that I applied a form of speed reading...

The amount of stars stays the same, it was an okay book, but certainly not more than that!

december 2009
The synopsis at the back side of the book said it right: this work has nothing to do anymore with the original trilogy that Ludlum wrote about Jason Bourne.

Bourne is again (on of) the main character(s) in this book. But I did not find it as addictive as the first three books that were written by Ludlum.
Sometimes Bourne's past is mentioned, but I miss the confused Bourne, who tries to put together the memory flashes with reality as he lives it. He is now 'only' looking for some terrorist organisation that has roots in WW II, in a way like any other special forces man would do.
He is still being deceived by his friend / the man who hires him, but rather far-fetched in my opinion. I will not disclose any of the contents because that would spoil the fun for other readers.

For me this Bourne book was not as catching, because it was written 'in the ordinary way', without saying that Van Lustbader is a poor writer, or that I can do better. There was no surprize element, no big or sudden twist of fate, the story went on and on and on and then it ended.

What made Bourne special to me was his loss of memory and identity and all the things that came from that, his desperate search for 'him' alongside protecting the new family he had founded with Marie.

Now he has become a loner, not comfortable in his university job, but also not quite Bourne anymore. He doesn't raise his children, Marie is dead, there's nothing that ties him to life. The way the character of Bourne has developed over the books makes this book for me te be '13 in a dozen'. Not bad, but certainly not very special too. ( )

The series is getting dull and boring. It remains to be seen if I continue on in it, other than as mindless summer reading. ( )

Very good follow-up utilizing Ludlow's character/plot device. Unacceptable proofing errors for a series of this brand!! ( )