At an international conference in Prague, Lt. Jon Smith, an Army research doctor specializing in infectious diseases and secretly an agent attached to Covert-One, is contacted by a Russian colleague, Dr.
Valentine Petrenko. Petrenko is concerned about a small cluster of mysterious deaths in Moscow and about the Russian government's refusal to release publicly any information or data on the outbreak. When the two meet, they are attacked by a group of mysterious men and Petrenko is killed, his notes and medical samples are lost, and Smith barely escapes with his life.At the same time, a series of government officials around the world are coming down with a mysterious, fast-acting virus with a 100% fatality rate. These deaths are somehow related to the increasing militarism from the new Russian government, headed by the autocratic and ambitious President Victor Dudarev. With few clues and precious little time, Smith and Covert-One must unravel this mysterious plot and find the mysterious figure who stands at the center of it all.
The old school hard-line Russians are up to their old tricks, trying to return Russia to its former glory from the days of the old Soviet Unions. In this novel, the Russians have developed a new weapon that delivers a poison based on the person’s DNA. This is the ultimate assassination weapon. With the use of this weapon, they are wiping out political opponents in an attempt to reclaim some of the republics of the former Soviet Union. John Smith is leading a covert unit investigating th The old school hard-line Russians are up to their old tricks, trying to return Russia to its former glory from the days of the old Soviet Unions. In this novel, the Russians have developed a new weapon that delivers a poison based on the person’s DNA.
This is the ultimate assassination weapon. With the use of this weapon, they are wiping out political opponents in an attempt to reclaim some of the republics of the former Soviet Union.
John Smith is leading a covert unit investigating this new weapon. Also, as part of the conspiracy the Russians are targeting the president of the US for assassination.This novel is not quite as far-fetched as some of the Robert Ludlum novels that I have read, which is a problem I usually have with them. There is a good bit of action and drama, but the overall writing and characterization left me a little ambivalent. The characters themselves felt a bit faceless, making this story more about plot than anything else. This was a solid, but unspectacular novel.Carl Alves – author of Blood Street. The plot is interesting because, though it was written in the mid 2000's, it mirrors a lot of what has gone on in the world these past few years. Having said that, for an international suspense thriller mystery type book the beginning is quite slow and the way the story lines weave together requires too much suspension of disbelief.Some of the dialogue is incredibly awkward.
The writing is lacking in general. Not only is it awkward, the author made mistakes with the characters actions that made The plot is interesting because, though it was written in the mid 2000's, it mirrors a lot of what has gone on in the world these past few years. Having said that, for an international suspense thriller mystery type book the beginning is quite slow and the way the story lines weave together requires too much suspension of disbelief.Some of the dialogue is incredibly awkward.
The writing is lacking in general. Not only is it awkward, the author made mistakes with the characters actions that made them incompetent in a way they shouldn't have been e.g. There is a complicated ruse for an informant to hand and envelope concealed within a magazine. Once the main character, Jon Smith, is in possession of the envelope he takes it out of the magazine and opens it in plain sight of everyone. There were lapses in the authors thinking of how a clandestine agent might act.The relationship between the male and female agents also takes on a weird turn at the end. Of course the men are keen to protect the woman, and there must be a bit of a love story, always.I gave it three stars because it is a quick read that did draw me in. I found the dialogue annoying, but the overall plot was interesting enough to keep me guessing as to what will happen next.
It's a light, if not particularly well written, read. An Army doctor specializing in infectious diseases is contacted by a Russian colleague concerned about mysterious death of government officials around the world. With few clues and little time our doctor (agent attached to Covert-One) must unravel the plot and find the figure standing at the center of it all.This book in the Covert- One series is a fast pacing and a tight plotting intrigue. It is surely an action drenched and a nail biting thriller; one can hardly put it down. In my opinion this An Army doctor specializing in infectious diseases is contacted by a Russian colleague concerned about mysterious death of government officials around the world. With few clues and little time our doctor (agent attached to Covert-One) must unravel the plot and find the figure standing at the center of it all.This book in the Covert- One series is a fast pacing and a tight plotting intrigue. It is surely an action drenched and a nail biting thriller; one can hardly put it down.
In my opinion this novel is a must read, you will definitively enjoy doing so. Patrick Larkin, under the umbrella of Robert Ludlum's prolific writing, has created a suspenseful story that rings true even in the present. It is fast-paced and kept me eagerly turning pages.At an international conference in Prague, Lt. Jon Smith, an Army research doctor specializing in infectious diseases and secretly an agent attached to Covert-One, is contacted by a Russian colleague, Dr.
Valentine Petrenko. Petrenko is concerned about a small cluster of mysterious deaths in Moscow and Patrick Larkin, under the umbrella of Robert Ludlum's prolific writing, has created a suspenseful story that rings true even in the present. It is fast-paced and kept me eagerly turning pages.At an international conference in Prague, Lt. Jon Smith, an Army research doctor specializing in infectious diseases and secretly an agent attached to Covert-One, is contacted by a Russian colleague, Dr. Valentine Petrenko. Petrenko is concerned about a small cluster of mysterious deaths in Moscow and about the Russian government's refusal to release publicly any information or data on the outbreak. When the two meet, they are attacked by a group of mysterious men and Petrenko is killed, his notes and medical samples are lost, and Smith barely escapes with his life.At the same time, a series of government officials around the world are coming down with a mysterious, fast-acting virus with a 100% fatality rate.
These deaths are somehow related to the increasing militarism from the new Russian government, headed by the autocratic and ambitious President Victor Dudarev. With few clues and precious little time, Smith and Covert-One must unravel this mysterious plot and find the mysterious figure who stands at the center of it all. As a long time Ludlum fan, I have read everything he as written and mourned his loss. His Covert One series has survived his death. Covert One was began by Robert Ludlum and the co-written with others. This enabled the series to continue.
These authors have remained true to the vision Ludlum had for the Covert One series.In The Moscow Vector, Fred Klein and his Covert One team are once again faced with a bio-weapon that targets a specific person's DNA. A designer bio-weapon. The enemy this time As a long time Ludlum fan, I have read everything he as written and mourned his loss. His Covert One series has survived his death.
Covert One was began by Robert Ludlum and the co-written with others. This enabled the series to continue. These authors have remained true to the vision Ludlum had for the Covert One series.In The Moscow Vector, Fred Klein and his Covert One team are once again faced with a bio-weapon that targets a specific person's DNA.
A designer bio-weapon. The enemy this time comes from within Russia and Germany. Russia is also moving to invade countries that it had once controlled.Jon and Randi are again working the case unknown to each other in the beginning. Jon is working directly with Fiona, a 'reporter' operating in Russia.
We also see Jon rejoined with Oleg, a Russian from a previous Covert One book.The mission get extremely personal when President Sam Castilla is targeted with the bio-weapon called Hydra.As always there is a great deal of twists and turns, action, history and science. Can't ever go wrong with a Covert One novel. The Moscow Vector by Patrick Larkin is book number six in the Covert One Series originally created by Robert Ludlum.
I found this Larkin novel quite a bit more enjoyable than his previous effort, The Lazarus Vendetta. Larkin maintains his edgier style, but presents a more believable and well-honed story. The Lazarus Vendetta read more like a espionage thriller and less like a science fiction work, which I for one, found to be an improvement. Now on to book number seven, which was written by Jame The Moscow Vector by Patrick Larkin is book number six in the Covert One Series originally created by Robert Ludlum. I found this Larkin novel quite a bit more enjoyable than his previous effort, The Lazarus Vendetta. Larkin maintains his edgier style, but presents a more believable and well-honed story. The Lazarus Vendetta read more like a espionage thriller and less like a science fiction work, which I for one, found to be an improvement.
Now on to book number seven, which was written by James Cobb, whom I know nothing about, but whom hopefully is up to the task!3 out of 5 cups of black coffee. I had to give up on this book. Partly because it has been overtaken by events.
The Russians aren't nearly as devious as the fevered imagination of American writers would have us believe. Partly because I found the style turgid. Partly because I find the genre of thriller where one Murican with almost superhuman powers saves the free world almost single handed, tedious. Also I must make a mental note that two author books - written thus, I guess because the well known half of the duo can't really I had to give up on this book. Partly because it has been overtaken by events. The Russians aren't nearly as devious as the fevered imagination of American writers would have us believe.
Partly because I found the style turgid. Partly because I find the genre of thriller where one Murican with almost superhuman powers saves the free world almost single handed, tedious. Also I must make a mental note that two author books - written thus, I guess because the well known half of the duo can't really be bothered and the lesser known is cashing in - are invariably bad.
This book was bad. I was going to say really bad, but in the penultimate chapter I actually was engaged by the plot for about 3 pages.It bothers me when publishers deke the reader with a cover that screams ROBERT LUDLUM'S MOSCOW VECTOR then in tiny letters written by patrick larkin. I want to know exactly the extent of Robert Ludlum's involvement in this book project.
I bet he didn't read it. If he had he wouldn't have put his name on it.The body count?
I lost count. There was no holding Oh my. This book was bad. I was going to say really bad, but in the penultimate chapter I actually was engaged by the plot for about 3 pages.It bothers me when publishers deke the reader with a cover that screams ROBERT LUDLUM'S MOSCOW VECTOR then in tiny letters written by patrick larkin. I want to know exactly the extent of Robert Ludlum's involvement in this book project.
I bet he didn't read it. If he had he wouldn't have put his name on it.The body count? I lost count. There was no holding back for Robert Ludlum's Patrick Larkin. Every time you turned around somebody was getting executed.
Really unnecessary massacres.The dialogue in this book was awkward & not like real conversations between people. Every male character called every female character 'Ms.' The Russian bad guys called the female CIA agents 'Ms' Whatever. At one point even another woman called a female agent 'Ms.' Um, we don't talk like that in real life.The use of cliches was rampant. No original writing here. Also the writer used weird phrasing like he'd run out of ways to say 'he said.'
At one point the dialogue went something like this: 'The drone missile has missed its target & hit civilians,' he said seriously.' Isn't the fact he said it 'seriously' implied?The author (who was the author?) seemed to be intent on sharing his knowledge (or recently-acquired research) about firearms & ammunition. Detailed descriptions of every weapon & its magazine, clip, bullet, or whatever other name you want to use for it was supplied in almost every chapter.And speaking of chapters: When is a lot too many? There were at least 50 chapters in this book. I was more engaged by the old Nancy Drew books written by the old syndicates. They stuck to a 20-or-so chapter maximum (you always knew whodunit by Chapter XX).The reader of this book had an annoying habit of making (US) President Sam Castilla sound just like George W. I was waiting for him to say, 'That dog don't hunt' or 'Big hat, no cattle.'
He came close. That was really irksome, having to be reminded of W, just when I was trying so hard to forget him (along with the rest of the country).The main reason why I disliked this book was because it was boring. Also, I love John le Carre & this book wasn't fit to act as a bookend to his spy novels. This is one of those 'Robert Ludlum's ' books so it's inspired by him, not written by him.
The actual writer for this book is Patrick Larkin. He also wrote the prior book in the series 'The Lazarus Vendetta' which I read in Feb 2013 and was much better than the prior 4 which had been written by Gayle Lynds and were pretty average.So Moscow Vector is the 6th book in the Covert One series, the second entry by Patrick Larkin. Sadly however, it's not as good as his prior entry in the series. It This is one of those 'Robert Ludlum's ' books so it's inspired by him, not written by him.
The Paris Option
The actual writer for this book is Patrick Larkin. He also wrote the prior book in the series 'The Lazarus Vendetta' which I read in Feb 2013 and was much better than the prior 4 which had been written by Gayle Lynds and were pretty average.So Moscow Vector is the 6th book in the Covert One series, the second entry by Patrick Larkin.
Sadly however, it's not as good as his prior entry in the series. It wouldn't surprise me if it was ghost written or fleshed out by a hired hand as in parts it's up to standard whereas in other parts it gets a little cheesy and the quality seems to dip.Overall it's a decent entry into a series which is all a bit far fetched aimed squarely at the action and intrigue at the price of realism end of the market yet that being said it is an entertaining read, much like a movie can be impossible in reality yet still be entertaining. Just not up to the standard set by his earlier work in the series. Pretty entertaining. Got better once you got through the first third.
All around, a good Ludlum inspired book. I liked Randy Russel, but found John Smith a little too all American. His 'crooked grin, and rugged features,' along with his pithy Bondish remarks in the heat of battle, made me occasionally hope that he didn't survive whichever firefight he was in. I won't spoil the ending though.
This book is awesome if you listen to it. Erik Bergmann is an awesome audio reader. His accents are amazi Pretty entertaining. Got better once you got through the first third. All around, a good Ludlum inspired book. I liked Randy Russel, but found John Smith a little too all American.
His 'crooked grin, and rugged features,' along with his pithy Bondish remarks in the heat of battle, made me occasionally hope that he didn't survive whichever firefight he was in. I won't spoil the ending though. This book is awesome if you listen to it. Erik Bergmann is an awesome audio reader. His accents are amazing.
While the book may not be the most impressive book on the market, Bergmann is the best voice actor I've ever listened to. His Irish accent for Fiona Devon is out of this world. I may start to choose my books on CD according to who is reading them, as opposed to who writes them. Once again, amazing book. I'm so loving this series and I wish I had the time to read them faster! Patrick Larkin gives another great addition to this series, with his intense attention to detail and great action scenes. Love it!Many of my fellow readers are naming vampires and werewolves as their book boyfriends, but I'm all for Jon Smith as mine!
He's badass in more ways than one. And so are the people he comes in contact with.
A new character was introduced in this one, and while Randi Russe Once again, amazing book. I'm so loving this series and I wish I had the time to read them faster! Patrick Larkin gives another great addition to this series, with his intense attention to detail and great action scenes. Love it!Many of my fellow readers are naming vampires and werewolves as their book boyfriends, but I'm all for Jon Smith as mine! He's badass in more ways than one. And so are the people he comes in contact with. A new character was introduced in this one, and while Randi Russel's character is amazing, Fiona Deavon had some great action scenes and baddass-ness of her own going on.
Wonderful to see some strong female characters in this series.Can't wait to read the next one! This is surprisingly my first Ludlum novel, and I enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for spy fiction especially when it involves USA and Russia (Big fan of the TV Show, The Americans!). I thought I'd start Ludlum after watching Jason Bourne (the movie) and now I think I'll start The Bourne Series too.A few expected scenes in this one, and a few unexpected ones too. Jon Smith is a typical bad ass under cover agent, and though there were a lot of repeating words (eg. Clandestine), the story was catchy enou This is surprisingly my first Ludlum novel, and I enjoyed it.
I'm a sucker for spy fiction especially when it involves USA and Russia (Big fan of the TV Show, The Americans!). I thought I'd start Ludlum after watching Jason Bourne (the movie) and now I think I'll start The Bourne Series too.A few expected scenes in this one, and a few unexpected ones too. Jon Smith is a typical bad ass under cover agent, and though there were a lot of repeating words (eg. Clandestine), the story was catchy enough to overlook some of the the common repetitions, like how he describes a shootout.All in all a good covert-one novel and I've already got Altman Code!
When I was nine years old, I caught the writing bug. My fourth-grade teacher read one of my stories to the whole class—something I found both embarrassing and exhilarating, all in the same moment.I doubt that story would qualify as great literature, but it was pretty darned exciting for a bunch of kids caught inside on a rainy day, full of archers and knights, ambushes, and thundering cavalry char When I was nine years old, I caught the writing bug. My fourth-grade teacher read one of my stories to the whole class—something I found both embarrassing and exhilarating, all in the same moment.I doubt that story would qualify as great literature, but it was pretty darned exciting for a bunch of kids caught inside on a rainy day, full of archers and knights, ambushes, and thundering cavalry charges. I've been interested in history, especially military history, for as long as I can remember. (As a three-year-old, one of my favorite books was a collection of illustrated stories about some of the great battles of history.
My parents grew a bit worried when they found me arranging my blocks as an Athenian phalanx and formations of Persian archers and cavalry to fight the Battle of Marathon, but it was too late.the damage was done.)After graduating from the University of Chicago with a degree in English, I went to work in Washington, D.C.—doing my bit as a researcher for a committee of the House of Representatives. Other jobs as a political and corporate speechwriter followed. Along the way, I wrote adventures for a Star Trek role-playing game and created the background history for Battletech—which has now spawned a whole series of popular board games, computer games, and novels.In 1985, I met Larry Bond while he and Tom Clancy were finishing their book RED STORM RISING. Larry and I teamed up in 1987, and our first book, RED PHOENIX, hit the New York Times best seller list as soon as it was published in 1989.
With bolstered confidence (or an inflated ego, depending on whom you ask!), I abandoned speechwriting to work as a full-time novelist. Over the next nine years, Larry and I wrote four more novels together—VORTEX, CAULDRON, THE ENEMY WITHIN, and DAY OF WRATH.While writing these books, I was also lucky enough to meet and marry a wonderful woman. We live in Central Texas with our two children, Olivia and Rhys.THE TRIBUNE was the first book to appear under my own name, and it is the first in a planned series involving the same lead characters. The first sequel, with the working title of THE STANDARD-BEARER should appear as an eBook sometime this summer or fall.I've also written two fast-paced contemporary thrillers in Robert Ludlum's Covert-One series, THE LAZARUS VENDETTA and THE MOSCOW VECTOR. If you enjoy international intrigue, cutting edge science, and spine-tingling action, these books are for you. Both novels are available in bookstores now.