Robert Ludlum's the Paris Option: A Covert-One Novel

THE SETUP Emile Chambord, a French scientist has developed a DNA-based computer, with the help of Aspberger-syndrome afflicted Marty Zellerbach. The lab explodes, presumably killing Chambord and leaving Marty in a coma. Coincidentally, John Smith (Marty's childhood friend), the antagonist, a medical doctor and U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, is also working on DNA-based computers. Smith happens to be an agent for Covert One (essentially the U.S. President private espionage agency) and is sent to investigate. He is ultimately joined by his almost-sister-inlaw CIA agent Randi Russell and semi-retired MI-6 agent Peter Howell. Thats the setup. CRITIQUE Although some of the premises strain credulity, these are easily forgiven in the spirit of "suspension of disbelief". VERDICT "The Paris Option" is an unrelentingly fast-paced, captivating suspense novel filled with intrigue and populated by interesting characters. A page turner which keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Robert Ludlum's Covert One Novel the Paris Option lives up to the high standards of the Ludlum Legacy. In his third book featuring Operative Colonel Jon Smith (The Hades Effect, The Cassandra Compact); Ludlum keeps readers on their toes with many plot changing twists and turns. In this thriller of a novel the cunning Jon Smith with the help of his old friends MI6 Agent Peter Howell, Computer Genius Marty Zellerbach, and CIA Agent Randi Russell have to stop dangerous terrorist with the powerful DNA Computer before they launch a Nuclear Attack on America. Smith and his friends follow a trail of clues to finally catch up to the terrorist for a surprise ending. This book is highly suspenseful and one of my favorite Ludlum's yet.

I'm beginning to think that this book has gotten so many negative reviews because the reviewers have decided in advance to resent anything Ludlum coauthored with anyone. If you respect the man's other work, then let's respect his decision to collaborate on whatever level it worked out to be with Lynds, and give the Paris Option and the series a chance.The Paris Option was, in my mind, even better than the two earlier ones and a heck of a lot better than a lot of Ludlum's standalones, particularly from 1992 to 2000. Many of them were tedious, painfully overwritten, almost unreadable.This book reads fast, is highly suspenseful, and I learned a lot along the way. Obviously a lot of research went into the authors' creation of the molecular (or DNA) computer. We're going to see one in maybe twenty years, but in this novel we get quantum physics on an understandable and exciting level. I don't know anyone who's written so convincingly about a DNA computer.Plus, there's the growing political and economic conflicts between the United States and the European Union. Again, Paris Option delivers. Political suspense at its best. Yes, of course, the world is in serious danger in this book. This is not just a spy thriller, it's a political thriller ... a THRILLER. If you want something small and intimate to be the source of conflict, go read one of the wonderful so-called literary books that are out there.One of my favorite aspects of a Ludlum novel is the intricate intrigue he creates. I don't know how much of this is Ludlum, and how much is Lynds, but it's one heck of a terrific entwining of villains and maybe-villains. One group of terrorists seems to be behind everything, then . . . no! It's another group. Finally, the heroes figure out it's another party. And mind you, the clues are there all along. The authors play fair. When each twist happens, you feel as if you should've spotted it. For someone who usually does, I was really happy. It's no fun if you figure out everything in advance.And finally, I found the supporting cast ... Peter, Marty, and Randi to be fresh and unusual. Interesting. They're tough, and fun, and they talk like real people. They have moments of black humor. There are times when they're on top of everything, and other times when they fail --- both individually and as a group. You stick with them because you know they're in there pitching, and you hope and hope that they'll triumph in the end. They make a great counterpoint to the seriousness of the hero.And one final thought about who actually wrote and who actually outlined and who actually edited ... or whatever else one wants to complain about. If Lynds did it all, more power to her. If it was a collaboration based on outline and notes left behind after Ludlum's death, more power to both of them. I've heard that the way the two men who created Ellery Queen collaborated was that one wrote the outline and the other one wrote the book. They grew to detest o

Of the people who dont like this book, how many of them have read the first two in the series?

I came late to Robert Ludlum's novels, but I loved this one.