The Paris Option

A Covert-One Novel

By: Robert Ludlum, Gayle Lynds

Narrated by: Paul Michael

Length: 14 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

For 30 years, Robert Ludlum's novels have set the standard for the finest in international intrigue and suspense. With an unbroken string of bestsellers in almost every country in the world, Ludlum's books have been enjoyed by hundreds of millions of fans, and are acknowledged as classics in the field. Now, after the bestselling The Hades Factor and The Cassandra Compact comes the third thrilling novel in the Covert-One series—Robert Ludlum's The Paris Option.

An explosion in the middle of the night reduces part of Paris' esteemed Pasteur Institute to rubble. Among the missing is the world's top computer scientist, Emile Chambord. Even though a terrorist group claims responsibility for the bombing, many in the intelligence community suspect the scientist was actually kidnapped and the bomb set to divert attention. Chambord may have been close to devising a working molecular computer which, in the wrong hands, could be the most deadly weapon in the world. If he were now in the hands of hostile forces, the consequences would be unspeakably dire.

From Paris to London, Brussels, and Algiers, Covert-One agent Jon Smith searches for traces of the scientist and the ambitious forces behind the bombing and theft. With the help of MI5 agent Peter Howell, CIA agent Randi Russell, and cyber-wizard Marty Zellerbach, Smith uncovers a web of deception that threatens to reshape Europe and is one step away from destroying the United States.

©2002 Myn Pyn LLC (P)2002 Audio Renaissance, a Division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC

Critic reviews

“Ludlum is light years beyond his literary competition in piling plot twist upon plot twist, until the mesmerized reader is held captive...[He] dominates the field in strong, tightly plotted, adventure-drenched thrillers. Ludlum pulls out all the stops and dazzles his readers.” —Chicago Tribune

“Ludlum stuffs more surprises into his novels than any other six pack of thriller writers combined.” —The New York Times

“Reading a Ludlum novel is like watching a James Bond film.” —Entertainment Weekly

Great

I enjoy the characters and story from this series by Robert Ludlum. I have never read them but the audio rendition is great. The reader does an excellent job.

Good thriller

It was a great listen and the narration does it all. The covert one series is pretty good overall.

Good...But meandering....

When John Smith, covert one operative extraordinaire is called to Paris to investigate a bombing at the Pasteur Institute and subsequent death of a noted scientist, little does he realize the depths of the problem. The famous (or infamous) scientist has created a hellish 'DNA computer' capable of destroying and hacking into the most sophisticated systems. Who can help? John's old friend Marty a computer genius who suffers from Asperges syndrome. But Marty is in a coma, and the computer is missing....Can John stop the terrorist plot in time?

Frankly, the plot of this novel sounds far more interesting than this audio book actually was. Ludlum rambles on at length about each government, their response, each agent, their response. The Nefarious French. Muslim Fundamentalists. A bomb. Jihad. John smith is captured, manages to escape, is captured again, and the DNA computer is found and moved. Found and Moved.

I liked the idea of this book, and I like Marty. But John as a character is rather wooden and lifeless. The other characters are merely stereotypes. Not his best work.

A disappointment

The Bourne Trilogy films rekindled my interest in Ludlum and Jason Bourne but I find that Gayle Linds fails to uphold the elements that made Ludlum a master. This book is easily forgettable though easy enough to finish.
Predictable time killing fluff.

The Paris Option

Edge of your seat!