The Rhinemann Exchange

've read this book some 20 years ago, if my memory serves me right. I looked for this book and bought it since I would like to read it again!!! Good reading........suggest book lovers to read.

Ludlum has written several other very good spy stories, but in my opinion, this is his best. The events he desribes which go to make up the story follow each other in a logical progression, and therefore it is easy to see why what came after was necessarily preceded by what came before, and you are not left with asking yourself "how did this happen"? The mystery is neatly unfolded. The characters are well-described and interesting. The most basic premise of the story is the trade being arranged between the United States and Germany for materials critical to the war effort for both. The Germans need industrial diamonds for their Peenemunde rocket project, and the US needs a high-altitude gyroscope for its bombing runs, and an exchange is arranged in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a neutral venue. But our Man from Lisbon, Secret Agent David Spaulding is unaware of this treasonous act of helping the enemy by supplying them with the diamonds they need, because he is only aware of his assignment to bring back the gyroscope plans. But a very interested third party intervenes and makes him aware of the true nature of the deal, and from that point he has to deal with a new situation, and does he ever ! No review that I have read explicitly mentions the industrial treason on the part of a US manufacturer who can fulfill the contract for the gyroscope only by arranging this trade, but it is an important part of the story. I would agree with some critics that, in broad outline, there is a sameness to all of Ludlum's works, but this is his genre - he writes spy novels. In this particular one, the plot is very interesting, the characters are distinguishable one from the other and are interesting as well, and they are believable. From beginning to end, and throughout the middle, as well, it is a fast-paced, gripping tale, and a good read indeed.

Ludlum has used a unique plot and a very original approach to writing this book. Both of the powers in World War II are in need of a product to have a sucessful war effort. The Nazis are in need of industrial diamond to finish Peenemunde and the Allies need a gyro guidance system in order to effectively bomb the Germans. The two sides are finally brought together and a deal is made. The two parties will meet in Argentina. David Spaulding an excellent agent in Spain is sent to Argentina by his government. He doesn't know the real purpose of the illegal transaction. The Nazis are going to trade the gyro system foe the industrial diamonds. In the meantime the Haganah(an underground Jewish group) brings Spaulding the real nature of the transaction. Spaulding is finally able to crash the deal. The Nazis lose thanks to Spaulding, with the help of the Haganah. This is a very good book that is definitely a page turner.Buy it,you will not be dissapointed.

This was another good book written by Robert Ludlum. You could use the term pageturner with the Rhinemann Exchange. The two nations at war during World War II are in a desperate need for certain products to make their war efforts sucessful. The Nazis are trying to get their rocket factory Peenemunde on line in order to have a good war effort. The Americans need to get a gyroscope design to help their bombers. For the Americans their main invasion Operation Overlord is in jeapordy.The Nazis need to obtain industrial diamonds in order to put Peenemunde on line. The Nazis have the designs for a gyroscopic guidance system. The Americans (the Aircraft Company) can produce the industrial diamonds. The trading of these two products are a must for both sides. A meeting is arranged in South America in Buenos Aires. David Spaulding who is an undercover agent in Lisbon is sent to represent America. He knows only of the designs. Into the picture enters the Haganah(Jewish underground group).After several attempts the Haganah finally shows Spaulding the other side of the excahnge. Spauldin springs into action and sabotages the master conspiracy. With the help of the Haganah David is able to bring a close to this evil plan. This is a must read book. Another masterpiece from Ludlum.