The Sigma Protocol

By: Robert Ludlum

Narrated by: Paul Michael

Length: 19 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Do you think you know what really happened after World War II? You don't. Sigma made sure of that.

American investment banker Ben Hartman arrives in Zurich, the first time he's been back to Switzerland since his twin brother died there in a tragic accident four years ago. But when Ben chances upon Jimmy Cavanaugh, an old college friend, Cavanaugh draws a gun and tries to kill him. In minutes, several innocent bystanders are dead, as well as Cavanaugh, and Ben is on the run, plunged into an unspeakable nightmare.

U.S. Department of Justice field agent Anna Navarro is being stalked by a relentless killer, managing to survive only by a combination of luck, skill, and her own quick wits. The attacks on her are somehow related to her current assignment: investigating the sudden, seemingly unrelated deaths of a number of very old men around the world. The only thing that connects them is an ancient CIA file bearing the code word Sigma.

Brought together by accident, Ben and Anna realize that their only hope of survival lies with each other. Together they race to uncover the long-hidden diabolical secrets of Sigma - secrets that threaten everything they think they know, everything they believed about their friends and families, everything they were taught about history itself. For behind Sigma lies a vast deception that is finally coming to fruition - and the fate of the world is in their hands.

©2001 by Myn Pyn LLC (P)2001 by Audio Renaissance, an Imprint of Renaissance Media, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Ludlum's trademark skills of intricate plotting, breakneck pacing, and high-wire drama are all on display in this gripping thriller." (Amazon.com)
"A memorable swan song." (Booklist)

Very nice book

This was a very nice book, I particularly enjoyed the great job the narrator Paul Michael did. At least for me was a little slow at the beginning, then hard to put down. As I listen to the book, I couldn't help to ponder, although the story is clearly fiction, if somewhere, somehow, there is a "Sigma sibling", as our fixation with eternal youth will cross the boundary of the scalpel to the genes.

Not Ludlum's Best

I am a fan of Ludlum. This is my forth one. But I'm a little disappointed. I am into the home stretch on it and have, frankly, lost interest. I will probably stay with it only because I don't believe in giving up. It might have a great ending. But it's taking FOREVER to get to it. And the love tension between the characters is way to Victorian in it's pacing and approach. Any other people in the same situation would have had a line of clothes on the floor long before these two.
Also, Paul Michael did a really good job on The Janson Directive. But he is definitely off his game here. The accents are ruining what little the book has to offer.
If you are looking for a good Ludlum or just a book in this genre, move on to something else, like The Janson Directive, for example. This one's a sticker.

Great to be reading the real Robert Ludlum again

After the last several supposed Ludlum books, it was great to experience the real Robert Ludlum again, Enjoyed very much, especially with the wonderful narration from Paul Michael.

I couldn't put down my player!

Once I got started, I found excuses to pick up my audible player and continue the drama: I was getting up at 5 am to ride my exercise bike (which I rarely do) and listen. I was ignoring the morning radio news during my commute to listen. I took a long walks on the weekend to listen. When it was over, I was happy I had my life back.

Great!!!

This is a great story. A wonderful tale for post WWII. Gripping from start to finish.

excellent book

Very enjoyable to listen too. At time the reader's attempts at accents were a bit much, but a fun book to listen to.

Classic Ludlum

If you liked other ludlum books, you should like this one. It has the standard formula regarding a character pressed into a situation requiring heroic feats, but has enough twists to keep it interesting.

Another FUN Ludlum Thriller

More than a decade ago, when I read this novel for the first time, I thought the plot line was way Waay too over the top. HowEVER, after surviving four years of a Trump disaster and recognizing that, with enough money supporting a psychopathic purely self-serving politician, there seem to absolutely no consequences. Thus, a current variation of the Sigma Protocol run by Trump’s red hat enablers feels chillingly realistic. On another note, I wonder whether or not thriller writers will ever become creative enough to change it up a bit and offend fans who may worship Yahweh, Allah, Krishna, etc. rather than defaulting to using Only the name Christ, Jesus, or, when a character is seriously pissed off, using the name Jesus Christ as a curse. Just curious… .

Will this become movie? It kept me on the edge!

Loved It! Will keep you up late at night! I was on the edge chapter after chapter!

excellent story.

Would you listen to The Sigma Protocol again? Why?

I have listened to this book about 12 times and get new info each time. Great details.

What did you like best about this story?

All of it

Have you listened to any of Paul Michael’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

One of my favorite narrators

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely