The Apocalypse Watch

A Novel

By: Robert Ludlum

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Length: 25 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

Deep in the Hausruck Mountains of Austria, there is a remote hideaway—the fortress-like nerve center of an ominous movement, the Brotherhood of the Watch. American agent Harry Latham has penetrated the movement, a neo-Nazi organization that was born in the days after the Third Reich's defeat and whose deadly tentacles have spread to the United States and beyond. Now, after three years in deep cover, and on the eve of his most spectacular success, Harry Latham has disappeared.

Drew Latham, Special Officer for Consular Operations in Paris, is frantic to discover his older brother's fate. But when he receives the sudden good news that Harry has surfaced, gut-twisting doubts arise. Has Harry's cover been blown? And if so, why has the Brotherhood of the Watch let him live?

For Harry Latham has emerged with an explosive list: the secret supporters of the movement, among them some of the highest-ranking officials in the United States and its allies, names synonymous with honorable service to their nations. It is a document that could topple governments—but is the list legitimate? Can Drew Latham trust his own brother?

To find the answer, Drew Latham decides to take on his brother's identity, stepping directly into the crossfire between the assassins gunning for Harry Latham—and those who want Drew himself dead.

From a hushed Alpine valley to the backstreets of Paris, from the ruling chambers of Washington and London to the casinos of Monte Carlo, The Apocalypse Watch is vintage Robert Ludlum, a superb international thriller from the writer who created the standard for a new kind of entertainment.

©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)

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

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.

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.

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

terrible book and audio

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

Horrible

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

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.