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Robert Ludlum's The Altman Code: A Covert-One Novel [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Robert Ludlum , Gayle Lynds , Don Leslie
3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

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Book Description

Jun 17 2003 Covert-One (Book 4)
The thrilling fourth volume in the bestselling Covert-One series

On the dark waterside docks of Shanghai, a photographer is recording cargo being secretly loaded when he’s brutally killed and his camera destroyed. Two weeks later, on the dangerous high seas, the U.S. Navy covertly tracks a Chinese cargo ship rumored to carry tons of chemicals for Saddam Hussein to create new biological weapons. The president cannot let the ship reach Iraq. At the same time, he doesn’t want the navy to attack and board it either, because decades of negotiations with China have at long last yielded a landmark human rights agreement that China is willing to sign. Fighting to keep the agreement on track, the president orders the head of Covert-One to find proof of what the Chinese ship is ferrying. Under cover of a medical conference, operative Col. Jon Smith is sent to Taiwan to rendezvous with another agent who has acquired the ship’s true manifest. But the second agent is murdered, the proof is destroyed, and Smith is left only with a verbal message--the president’s biological father is still alive, held prisoner by the Chinese for fifty years. Racing against the clock, Smith uncovers the truth about the ship, a truth that probes the deepest secrets of the Chinese ruling party and reveals a terrifying cabal whose diabolical plan thrusts the world to the very brink of war.

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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

This latest product from the efficient assembly line of the Ludlum thriller factory has been somewhat overtaken by events: it revolves around a Chinese freighter carrying weapons-grade chemicals to the port of Basra in Saddam Hussein's Iraq. There are also a couple of neat subplots, including an elderly American being held prisoner in China who claims to be the real father of U.S. President Sam Adams Castilla, and the dirty doings of a giant international business combine called the Altman Group, whose members make Ian Fleming's old adversaries look like the operatives of a corner candy store. All of this provides plenty of action and intrigue for the folks at Covert-One, the top-secret agency which now operates out of a private yacht club in Anacostia, Md.-close enough to the White House for President Castilla to drop in on agency boss Fred Klein of an evening with just one Lincoln Town Car full of Secret Service folk. Most of the heavy lifting, actionwise, falls on the capable shoulders of Covert-One's Col. Jon Smith, who as "a medical doctor and biomolecular scientist" as well as an army officer is the ideal combination of brains and muscle. He needs both, as well as the patience to endure dialogue like this from Castilla: "I don't know whether you realize it, but China is one of the signatories of the international agreement that prohibits development, production, stockpiling, or use of chemical weapons. They won't let themselves be revealed as breaking that treaty, because it could slow their march to acquiring a bigger and bigger slice of the global economy." Exactly.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“Ludlum is light years beyond his literary competition in piling plot twist upon plot twist, until the mesmerized reader is held captive...[He] dominates the field in strong, tightly plotted, adventure-drenched thrillers. Ludlum pulls out all the stops and dazzles his readers.”—Chicago Tribune

”Ludlum stuffs more surprises into his novels than any other six pack of thriller writers combined.”—The New York Times

“Reading a Ludlum novel is like watching a James Bond film.”—Entertainment Weekly

“Welcome to Robert Ludlum's world...fast pacing, tight plotting, international intrigue.”—The Plain Dealer

“Robert Ludlum is the master of gripping, fast-moving intrigue. He is unsurpassed at weaving a tapestry of stunningly diverse figures, then assembling them in a sequence so gripping that the reader's attention never wavers.”—The Daily Oklahoman

“Don’t ever begin a Ludlum novel if you have to go to work the next day.”—Chicago Sun-Times

”If a Pulitzer Prize were awarded for escapist fiction, Robert Ludlum undoubtedly would have won it. Ten times over.”—Mobile Register

“An exciting medical-military thriller that moves at a rapid pace to its climax...an exciting new series.”—Midwest Book Review

“A pop hit...that should bounce right up the bestseller lists.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Gripping...robust writing and a breakneck pace.”—Boston Herald


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Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
Format:Paperback
Prefacing my remarks, I'm a 'true' Ludlum reader who has enjoyed every one of his works, starting at the very beginning with the Scarlatti Inheritance. I've read The Hades Factor, The Cassandra Compact and the Paris Option. As the series has progressed, I've noticed greater and greater divergence by the authors away from the Ludlum trademarks of subtle but deep character development, helically ascending plot twists, and intricate detail of surroundings and action scenes.

The Altman Code, sadly, did not meet any of the aforementioned Ludlum criteria. However, I'm not inclined to fault Gayle Linds. Her name isn't Robert Ludlum, and she has her own writing style, but if Robert Ludlum's name is going to have top billing on the front cover I (and I believe I speak for many other readers) expect the majority of the novel to reflect his writing style, regardless of whether he's alive or dead.

In reference to the plot, I can only say that it read as if it was hurried to print, slammed onto the shelves as fast as possible to keep the bucks rolling in without a lot of indepth effort put into it. There are many typographical errors, incomplete sentences, and circular statements (another reviewer pointed those out). Overall, I've been disappointed with the character developments, and quite frankly they're becoming very boring and predictable. Unfortunately, the next Covert-One book's description (not yet released) is going to recycle them once again.

It's time for President Castilla to finish his term and return to the New Mexico that he longs for, Col. Smith to retire from US AAMRID and teach microbiology at some reknown university, Randy to get promoted back to a desk job at Langley, and for god's sake get rid of Marty Zellerbach however you choose - I've hated that character from the start. The Covert-One series has a chance to be great! It's just time for a fresh start on the series - new characters, new authors, new plots. Flush and forget!

I'll pass on the next installments of Covert-One until this happens.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Not a Ludlum-caliber book Jan 5 2004
Format:Paperback
The book is entertaining if you're looking for an action story that doesn't require a lot of thought. However, it's certainly not a Ludlum-caliber book, and his name should not be so prominently displayed on the cover.

This book was not authored by Ludlum, and if you're looking for his quality of work, you're going to be disappointed.

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2.0 out of 5 stars disappointing Dec 2 2003
Format:Paperback
I LOVE Ludlum books! they are great for long plane trips (or study breaks) but this book was very disappointing. I was expecting the usual twists other Ludlum-isms but none could be found! I had been under the impression that Ludlum had written most of the book. Anyone who is familiar with Ludlum's style knows that in every book the character has rubber soled shoes when they are sneaking in to get the crucial bit of evidence. I don't think Mr. Ludlum had a whole lot to do with the writing of this book. It may have been his story line but he did NOT write any of it. The ending was telegraphed from the first chapter on. The publisher should not have made it seem like it was mostly Ludlum's work, his name is MUCH more prominent on the cover than Lynds' is (I missed her name when I bought the book in the store). While the book is not bad if you are looking for a great Ludlum try something else.
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Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Too much criticism; Open your mind and enjoy
Growing up with Ludlum and as an ardent fan, I too have been extremely critical of these co-authored books. Read more
Published on Aug 24 2003 by R. Shaff
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Ludlum, but not the Best!
I listened to this story on CD and it was abridged. I enjoyed the story, as the protagonist has make several appearances in stories before, and has been well developed as the... Read more
Published on Aug 15 2003 by Peter Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars FOR SOPHISTICATED MYSTERY LOVERS
For over thirty years Robert Ludlum has entertained readers with a string of international thrillers. Read more
Published on Aug 15 2003 by Gail Cooke
5.0 out of 5 stars FOR SOPHISTICATED MYSTERY LOVERS
For over thirty years Robert Ludlum has entertained readers with a string of international thrillers. Read more
Published on Aug 15 2003 by Gail Cooke
4.0 out of 5 stars A Sleeper
Sometimes the best of authors miss their mark. The Altman code
hits the bullseye. Co-author Gayle Lynds writes like a man and thinks smart as a woman. Read more
Published on July 28 2003 by Peter S. Copeland
2.0 out of 5 stars Not quite the real Ludlum
While this book was entertaining, using Ludlum's name to sell it does not do Ludlum justice.

The storyline and political backpedaling are well developed. Read more

Published on July 24 2003 by William J. Tennison
5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting Read
Ms. Lynds has surpassed herself once again! Altman Code with its return of solid characters is a page turner that will keep you reading well into the night! Read more
Published on July 22 2003 by Pat Remia
5.0 out of 5 stars One Terrific Read & Intelligent, too!
This is the first thriller in a long time that actually thrilled me. I just read some of the negative reviews on this site, which is why I'm even bothering to write. Read more
Published on July 20 2003
2.0 out of 5 stars Torturous
I stopped reading books written by Robert Ludlum approximately 20 years ago. I found them too complex and intricate for my somewhat simple mind seeking escape from my own... Read more
Published on July 18 2003 by Craig L. Howe
1.0 out of 5 stars Read it if you really ain't nothing better to do
Well, to put it short, this is a boaring book. Mr. Ludlum skill, knwoledge and writing style are been buried with him and what last is a naif atteimpt to imitate his... Read more
Published on July 9 2003 by Andrea Monti
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