The Apocalypse Watch

A Novel

By: Robert Ludlum

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Length: 25 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

American agent Harry Latham has penetrated the fortresslike mountain hideaway of the Brotherhood of the Watch, a neo-Nazi organization that was born in the days after the fall of the Third Reich. But on the eve of his most spectacular success, after three years in deep cover, Harry disappears.

Drew Latham, Special Officer for Consular Operations in Paris, is frantic to discover his older brother’s fate. But when Drew receives the good news that Harry has surfaced, gut-twisting doubts arise. For Harry has emerged with an explosive document: a list of secret supporters of the Brotherhood, among them high-ranking officials of the United States and its allies. But is it legitimate? The search for the truth about Harry and the growing Nazi threat will plunge Drew into a labyrinth of deceit and death. And whoever makes it out alive will hold the fate of the free world in his hands.

Praise for Robert Ludlum and The Apocalypse Watch

“A powerful, exploding novel . . . vintage Ludlum in fine form.”—Booklist

“If a Pulitzer Prize were awarded for escapist fiction, Robert Ludlum undoubtedly would have won it. Ten times over.”—Mobile Register

“Bloody great fun.”—Kirkus Reviews

©2012 Robert Ludlum (P)2012 Random House

Critic reviews

"Don't ever begin a Ludlum novel if you have to go to work the next day." (Chicago Sun-Times)

“A powerful, exploding novel . . . vintage Ludlum in fine form.” (Booklist)

“If a Pulitzer Prize were awarded for escapist fiction, Robert Ludlum undoubtedly would have won it. Ten times over.” (Mobile Register)

Found it boring

A struggle to finish it. It was boring at some points and too detailed and dragging on and on at others.

Mixed Feelings

26 hours, what a (redacted) marathon, the narrator could read Tom Brokaw's autobiography. No inflection no individual voices, I longed for a text copy so that I could understand who was saying what and when. That said and having been raised on the 6 hour abridged version read by Edward Herrmann with individual sounding voices and inflections this unabridged version was an entirely different book so different that it seems like a plagiarized expanded version by a different author. The only good parts of this book was the fact that it explained in detail the background motivations of the characters and how and why they interacted the way that they did with each other and the world around them.

First Time Review

Would you try another book from Robert Ludlum and/or Michael Prichard?

This is the first time I have felt the need to comment on a novel. I spend a lot of time driving so I go through a book quickly. I tend to go for novels that last awhile. I was pleased when I saw this book because I really like novels by Ludlum, having read most of them. This is the first one I've had from Audible. The story might be OK - and I say might because it is fairly difficult to follow if the narration is hard to follow. I have to say the man reading it is truly bad. It is impossible to understand who is saying what. There is no pause between sentences - they just seem to run together. Think back to High school ( or maybe Grammar school) - remember when someone had to stand in front of the class and read something? Monotone, kind of slow, unsure of him/herself? That's Mr. Prichard's narration in a nutshell. The man has a dynamic voice - and I'm sure he has had a great career doing commercials - but please, please keep him away from novels.

Would you be willing to try another book from Robert Ludlum? Why or why not?

Only with another narrator.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Michael Prichard?

Sadly, I believe anyone would be better suited to narrate.

Did The Apocalypse Watch inspire you to do anything?

Not really

good story

Any additional comments?

The novel is marred by stilted dialog characteristic of early 20th century and excessive use of words. Also some of the actions by both heroes and villains are pretty stupid. Despite these flaws the book is entertaining.

terrible book and audio

hated it all the way. too boring. not recommend it for anyone I know ever.

Boring story, not a good performance by M Prichard

I have read a lot of books by Robert Ludlum. They are all kind of the same, but fun to read and you really want to find out what happens in the end. So that is the reason I bought this one. But I found out it is kind of outdated, unconvincing, and cheesy. But the worst, to my taste, was the performance by Michael Prichard. The tone of his performance is torturing.

Horrible

Corny storyline. Predictable plot. Narrator sounded like he was reading a 1950's on the care and maintenance of a breach block mechanism.

Don't like the narrator tone . A little boring

The reader just doesn't inspire my interest. Sorry but I'll try another.

I love Ludlum books