Robert Ludlum's The Altman Code

A Covert-One Novel

By: Robert Ludlum, Gayle Lynds

Narrated by: Don Leslie

Length: 15 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's Summary

On the dark waterside docks of Shanghai, a photographer is recording cargo being secretly loaded when he's brutally killed and his camera destroyed. Shortly thereafter Covert-One director Fred Klein brings the word to the President that there's a Chinese cargo ship rumored to be carrying tons of chemicals to be used by a rogue nation to create new biological weapons. Klein is ordered to get the President solid proof of what the Chinese ship is ferrying.

Covert-One agent Jon Smith is sent to Taiwan to meet with another agent who has acquired the ship's true manifest. But before Smith can get it, they are ambushed, the second agent is murdered, the proof is destroyed, and Smith escapes with only his life and scant clues to mystery behind the cargo ship. As the Chinese cargo ship draws ever closer to its end port, Smith must race against the clock to uncover the truth about the ship and its cargo, a truth that probes the deepest secrets of the Chinese ruling party, the faction in Washington working to undermine the elected government, and the international cabal who is thrusting the world to the very brink of war.

©2003 Myn Pyn, LLC (P)2003 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC.

Another WOW!

I got so wrapped up in the story as it started to conclude. Almost all the "Baddies" remained undercover right to the last. I recommend this series very highly. I've been listening to the Audiobooks while I hike, which I do 3 to 5 days a week. As the story was starting to close I was nearing the end to my hike. Knowing that I only had a few more minutes before the end, and being back at the trail head I had to turn around and go back about 1/2 a mile and return a second time just to finish the story. I'm glad I did but now into the next adventure.

Visiting an Old Friend

I was saddened in the recent past to read of Robert Ludlum's passing. Therefore, I was surprised to realize that there are still some of his novels left to be published. Ludlum's plots though predictable after reading a number of them, are so much fun and so exciting that their predictability take a back seat. His novels are also wonderful travelogues, taking you to some seldom visited parts of the world and giving the reader insight into the character and people in exotic places.

If you are listening to an Ludlum novel for the first time you will find it fast moving and rewarding. If you are a repeat visitor it will be like "old home week"... Enjoy!

Not up to the other Covert One Novels...

I too, have read all the Covert One novels. This one took quite a while to really get into the story. It would finally get moving, then bog down in details again. This is my least favorite of the Covert One novels and I was disappointed that Peter Howell and Marty Zellerbach didn't make an appearance in this one. The ending was weak. I'm not sure I'd try another Covert One novel. Too bad, the series had such a good start!

Terrific! A real page turner

This was one of the first books I download years ago and decided to re-read it. I am really glad I did. It is one of the best books I've ever read, a real page turner. The narrartor is also excellent. If you like esponiage and thrillers, you'll love this.

Not Ludlum's Best Work

I am a Robert Ludlum fan and have read nearly all of the covert one books. This books is predictable and over dramatic in many areas. While entertaining, it is not one that will keep you listening in your car after you arrive at your destination.

Different Reader!

i liked this story about as much as the other covert-one novels. but since i listened to it directly after the Paris Option, it was very jarring to me to have a new reader, especially since i liked the reader of the first three so much. the new reader isn't annoying or anything, but i would have listened to something different in between if i had realized.

Ludlum didn't write this

What a disappointment from a long-time Ludlum fan - I would bet the farm he didn't write any of this. It's an embarrasement to his name. Bumbling idiot for a hero. Liberal morality seeping in all over the place. Talks down to the reader. Painful attempt at history lessons. Falls short on all the things Ludlum excelled at. Ludlum's typical "mortal" hero makes embarrasingly amateurish mistakes. The lack of absolute right and wrong gives way to lecturing and concern over death toll. The plot is clumsy, with way too much explanation. I don't even know what to say...

predictable pastiche

this newest Covert One novel concerns the hunt for a cargo manifest for a Chinese ship carrying contraband chemicals to Iraq. Poorly written with a ridiculous plot and comic book characters, this book trades on Ludlum's name and is not worth anyone's time.

Best Covert-One yet

I’m reading them in order, this being the 4th in the series. Very very enjoyable. Not to spoil too much but a hilarious interaction between John and Randy about half way through. Excellent reading performance as well.

Reader was horrible. Used same voice for everybody

Struggle to finish. The narrator used the same voice for almost every character. Very difficult to distinguish who was talking..

Awful

I only post this review so no one else wastes their time like I did. A terrible book. A terrible read. Robert Ludlum must have been asleep when Gayle Lynds wrote this. A shame.

very good

Really enjoyed.