Fiction Book Reviews
Book Review: The Bourne Betrayal
By Sandy Amazeen Jun 27, 2007, 18:22 GMT
This follow-up to The Bourne Legacy finds Jason Bourne suffering from nearly incapacitating flashbacks where a broke and bleeding woman dies in his arms. These visions become so bad that Bourne seeks out medical attention at the hands of psychiatrist Dr. Sunderland, little knowing the doctor is an imposter who is being paid a handsome sum to tamper with his mind. When Bourne is informed his best and only friend, Martin Lindros, Deputy Director of CI and head of Typhon, a special terrorist unit disappeared while carrying out a clandestine operation in Ethiopia’s Ras Dejen region, he immediately rides off to the rescue. Bourne rescues his friend easily enough but begins to question who that person really is. Working with Tyhpon agent, Soraya Moore is awkward given their mutual distrust yet the evidence Bourne and her uncover begins pointing to a massive terrorist attack about to be launched against the US, helped in large part to a high ranking traitor within the intelligence community. The clock is ticking as a globetrotting plot for revenge moves into an endgame between chameleons.
With the fast pace and plot twists this is a good read yet some large questions and improbabilities keep it from a great suspense thriller. The most glaring problem arises at the beginning when Bourne seeks out medical attention. Bourne has been drawn as an intensely private man so the decision to seek medical attention would not be a given, so how did the Islamic extremists know when and where to set up a fake doctor? Bourne and to a lesser extent, Lindros endure an amazing degree of physical and mental injuries yet continue to function with near superhuman strength which makes for an exciting though unlikely story. Still, if you are looking for a nice escapist thriller set in current events, Lustbader’s take on the Bourne character will do nicely.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
I agree with Nate. I just listened to Legacy - which I really liked - but this seems to be of a far lesser caliber. Bourne is too smart not to have checked before seeing a specialist and the the technology I assume they'll be using seems way out out of Sci-Fi.
Why too does the James Bond-esque stigma of 'the agent never being able to keep a woman for more than one episode' ideal stuck with?
I admit I have yet to finish, but am rather disapppointed thus far.
me too, disappionted. ludlum wouldn't have killed of marie and conklin. liked the movies better.
Also the time doesnt make sense. Bourne should be atleat between 55 and 60 and Soraya is mid-late thiries. If Bourne worked with her before he lost his memory that had to be when she was early 20's yet that would put that mission in the early 90's atleast 10 years after Bourne lost his memory and you know this book at least takes place a after 2004 because they mentioned stuff like 9/11.
Very let down by this recent book -- Lustbader can not hold a candle to Ludlum. Why do writers think that their charactors must be or should be masters of all knowledge? Here Bourne can fly a plane, speak every possible language on the face of the planet -- with no accent, and even be expert on Islamic religious practices (he even knows how to tell the quality of an Islamic prayer rug).
If Bourne has nothing to do with CI, other than having a relationship with the DDCI, how did he become the central figure to the bad guys plans?
All in all, the plot does not hold up, the charactors are not credible and the story is strung out too long.
It took me 3 weeks to read this book, I usually take about 3-5 days depending how much free time I have. The book seemed like it was written as if a Hollywood movie script, there were many times I was like 'blah yeah whatever Jason Bourne'. Like mentioned on past comments, the beginning when he lets a doctor mess with his mind without him not knowing even the most mundane details like that Doctor's opening hours, sure goes against his always paranoid nature. Many times he shows traits of almost super-human instincts, yet other times he gets into situations that makes you think if he's stupid. Some of the characters were very bland while others left you wanting more. For example, Deron was a character that's intriguing, yet you only hear from him briefly and then later on he takes off to Florida and you don't hear from him until on the later chapters when Bourne asks him for yet another favor. Instead, you're left with a very uninspiring black guy raised on the slums of DC, Tyrone. Lustbader completely overdoes trying to give Tyrone a 'brotha from the hood' character by typing one of the worst ebonics I have ever read, the guy starts every sentence with yo and almost always ends it with yo. The fake Lindros infiltrates the CIA and somehow he fools Lindro's lifelong friends like Bourne. I mean no matter how good is the disguise, anyone that knew Lindros would at least notice something weird.
I felt forced to read the whole thing hoping that the ending would make up for the mediocrity but it didn't. Is it a bad book? No, it's entertaining, but any Ludlum fan can be easily disgusted with Lustbader's offer.
Jason Bourne...please kill me!!!
So bad that somebody should hire an international assassin to take out the author...
*Race to prevent a nuclear bomb being detonated...check
*Cliched unrealistic, movie situations...check
*Killing of all of the major characters from the series because an intelligent plot couldn't be thought of...check
*Lack of understanding of any of the situations or events that are written about...check
*No mention of Bourne's age, despite that fact that he's got to be pushing fifty yet gets stabbed, shot, beaten, etc...and still keeps on trucking without a problem...check
*Ridiculous technology (miniature nuclear bombs? Makeup that makes you a total clone of the person you are trying to impersonate - even their body shape!)...check
*Realistic characters (doctors that study psychology AND miniaturization - please!)...check
Lustbader demonstrates his ability to have his computer's spellchecker write another Bourne novel. This series has been killed as effectively as Jason Bourne's earlier memories...
I'm ready to go back to Chapters to ask for money back...Can't force myself to finish chapter 6.
I realize I'm coming to this string late but I just picked up a copy of 'Betrayal' and wanted to add my opinion. In short, it's a crummy book, unbelievable plot and sophmoric action sequences.
Right from the beginning I was put off. The sequence in the Doctors office where Borne was put to sleep by the bad guy with the ominous drippy hypodermic needle and mysterious drug is completly unbelievable. Bourne has had all these hyper talents/survival skills, knowledge & abilities - and he doesn't know that the real 'Doctor' doesn't have office hours on Thursday and the guy with the needle is a bad guy? Baloney!
Then the escape of the smuggler from the sub-basement of a super secret/secure CIA site, the black Hummer which just coincidentaly has been waiting for the bad guy to escape, and the subsequent morotcycle chase by Bourne with that chick holding a knife to his throat is completly over the top. Anyone who has ever ridden a motorcycle can poke holes in this.
After four chapters I threw the book in the garbage. If Ludlum had a hand in writing this he must have been smoking something.
I am now in chapter 15...not sure why I'm continuing with the book but I guess it has something to do with me being such a Bourne fan. It seems so different from what I'm accustomed to regarding Jason Bourne. It is way over the top and hard to follow the action sequences because it seems we Lustbader flip-flops from the Dark Knight back to Bourne.
There is no way the author thinks we are stupid enough to buy-in to the fact these middle-eastern terrorist can use, uh, makeup to completely transform faces, bodies, voices, hair, fingers, hands, etc...into characters of the CIA and none of these supposedly astronaut caliber agents have the slightest clue, AFTER acknowledging to the reader that the technology exist! It's almost comedy at some points...a stab wound to Bourne in his side and the knife is twisted and salty sea water is knocking him all over the place...I fainted from imagining the pain! It gets more ridiculous as I type.
There should be a parenthetical reminder at the bottom of the book: (Action Figures Not Included: For ages 4-12).
I started reading these books because there were parts of the movies I wasn't understanding and I thought by watching the movies, it would help. Ugh no. It definitely didn't. But after reading the books I have decided that I am definitely an action-book reader. I enjoyed Ludlum's first 3 books (Identity, Supremacy, and Ultimatum) those were great. The 4th was okay, not bad, just okay. The 5th book, I'm still reading but am almost finished, is pretty odd. After reading some other posts I am totally seeing what those people are talking about. I was astonished about the false doctor thing, office hours mishap, and the retinal crap?! Seriously? Well anyways. I still think it is a good book to read. I still enjoy the way Lustbader ends his chapters and keeps the suspense growing. I am pretty excited to read the next book as this one has done enough for me.
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NateJul 29th, 2007 - 08:09:08
I'm a big fan of the Bourne novels and feel that Lustbader did an excellent job with 'Legacy,' but this latest offer is way too convoluted with questionable occurrences and stretches of the imagination. Bourne would never allow the brain experiment in the opening moments. Additionally, Lustbader's look into the CIA makes them less than a top-notch spy agency; seemingly easy to infiltrate and compromise. And, maybe it's just me, but who can keep all these Arab names clear as to who they are and their relationships to one another and the plot?
Is this book about Bourne or a supercriminal named Fadi?
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