Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Enigma (Jason Bourne Series Book 13)

I hoped that Van Lustbader would carry on Ludlum's Jason Bourne character and develop it as Ludlum would have. I have tried two books in the Bourne series written by Van Lustbader and am very unhappy with the way he is carrying on the Bourne character. This book was bloodthirsty as he didn't bother to develop a character and seemed to just kill anyone he didn't care to develop. Bourne is nothing like he was developed by Ludlum. This book leaned more towards Van Lustbader's writing of his own books and characters. I will not purchase any more Bourne books by Van Lustbader as I don't care for his style of writing and stopped reading his own books for that reason.

While I was somewhat disappointed with this book, I will continue to read Van Lustbader's Bourne entries in the future. I have read practically all of Ludlum's past works including his initial Bourne works and was quite satisfied with Van Lustbader's subsequent entries. This particular entry was somewhat of a plodding and predictable plot with an occasional event taking place that I found to be totally counter to the expected behaviors of the already developed character...and intellectually insulting to the reader. I.e.: Our heroine dispatches bad guys with ease, sky dives through a cloud-strewn sky from a forbidding height, mistakes an impostor for her lover Bourne, wins her battle with the impostor by somehow miraculously fighting off the effects of Rohypnol (channeling her inner chi or something), immediately and knowingly turns her back on another bad guy, gets hit on the head and re-captured, yadda, yadda, yadda...and all of this happening one thing after the other. I actually had to put this book down three different times as these type of character development flaws were just plain insulting. Like most readers, I love the Bourne character, but I think Eric "mailed this one in." Okay Eric, you used up your free one.

Disappointed is the only word I can think of to describe this book. Eric Van Lustbader fails to do justice to the legacy of Jason Bourne and to his creator, Robert Ludlum. It is unfortunate. I have never read Van Lustbader before, but if his display of people dying everywhere just for the sake of dying, graphic sexual scenes, including a violent, detailed rape, is his norm I can only ask why he was chosen to continue the character of Jason Bourne. Ludlum had a great thing going with the Bourne character. It is ashamed to see this series take a turn away from where it has been. Farewell to the true Jason Bourne. I will keep you in my memories and re-read your original books.

The author spends more time describing the surroundings in pseudo prose than he does on the plot. Ludlum used to weave an intricate story that seemed like non stop action, but this guy is more interested in using flowery language than writing a good plot. At times it felt like it was written by a romance novelist. The action scenes were extremely contrived and unbelievable. Sure, Ludlum's Borne was superhuman, but this was nuts. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

An above average novel but this author has continued the Bourne story line created by the late author Robert Ludlum. He has no equal and the current author does not compare. He is pale by comparison. Overall, the Bourne novels have changed and are not that outstanding. Sometimes I think when an author dies, his creation should not be continued. Ludlum was the best. This was his work not to be picked up by another author trying to enhance his image.

Another excellent novel in thee Ludlum tradition by Mr Van Lustbader. Never ending action, full of unexpected twists. Sometimes the jump in the logic seems to come out of nowhere and the villain you think invincible dies earlier than expected. The explanations for Rebeka's capacity to control her body and mind seem unreal, but I will take it that they have been researched and are therefore possible. I recommended this to all lovers of thrillers. Much as I enjoy others too, None can really compare.

A typical Bourne book. Full of twists and turns involving his old nemises; Arab, Russian, Israel. Though typical it was reading. I’ll continue with the series. Thanks

In the hands of Eric Van Lustbader, the Bourne character has evolved, become more complex, and is no longer loyal to any particular government. I have read Ludlum's Bourne and I still think the first book was perhaps the best with Carlos the Jackal as the arch Villain and Treadstone as this super secret spy agency within the US Government. As an avid reader of Lustbader before he started writing for the Ludlum Estate, I found his complex books about Nicholas Linnear to be well-crafted, extremely well-written, and engaging. He has certainly introduced the Nick Linnear persona into Jason Bourne. Sometimes, the character development actually gets in the way of the plot.

I'm 30% through and struggling to keep going. This doesn't feel at all like Bourne. More like a made-for-tv movie about Russian gangsters. Boring, vapid and filled with meaningless adjectives and cultural references. Eric must be just fulfilling his contract because there's no joy here, nor suspense, nor thrill.

Unfortunately I manage approximately 3 to 5 pages, delete it. I may say; Who wants to read in detail, someone cutting up all the parts of a human body so they can store it in a suit case to walk out of there hotel.I wish I never wasted my money on such trash. This was of course my fault for Amazon supply's an introduction chapter to the novels you purchase.Cheers Leo

not a compelling read as per normal Ludlum novels. disappointed! no one seems to be as good as the master.

Nice narrative and story line.One of the books I had trouble putting down. 😉Would definitely reccomend to friends.

Hard to keep track of everyone 'til well into it.. Not up to the usual Bourne style I thought..