Date first published	1995
ISBN Number	BCA Edition
Page Count	645 h/b
h/b= hardback : p/b= paperback

Storyline

Harry Latham has spent 30 months under deep cover trying to penetrate a secret organisation. At the moment of triumph, he finds himself trapped. Betrayed by his own side. After a radical mind control operation Harry is permitted to escape, and carry with him a list of suspects who want to further the organisations intentions. the only problem is the list is largely false.

Harry is assassinated by the 'Brotherhood', and his brother Drew, takes his place to try and draw out the mysterious organisation and destroy it. For failure will mean the emergence of the New Nazi state. only this time it will cover the whole world.

The race is on for the first attacks are just two days away. meanwhile Drew is hunted at every turn, not knowing who is friend or traitor, for the Brotherhood is everywhere. As they draw closer to the lair they find an even bigger surprise awaiting them in the Eagles Nest.

Review

Ludlum also has picked the supreme enemy to fight, the Nazis. Very few would hold sympathy for an organisation such as them, and of course they evoke revulsion in most people.

The story is also well mapped out, has some interesting characters, and relies on information being gathered, before moving onto the next stage. It is also a simple one plot book, and there is nothing wrong with this. Like a lot of Ludlum's work there is a strong female character, capable of giving as good as she can get, and is quite happy to be in the thick of the action.

Reading all of the books together, I have picked up a couple of themes which are not apparent if each book is read in isolation. The first is the use of the clergy, as a cover by the bad guys. This is perhaps most prominent in the Bourne Trilogy, where Carlos, very often disguises himself as a priest. In this story there is also a priest, a Lutheran this time.

The second theme, is well, just how bad some of the dialogue is, and a lot of the time pointless as well. It sometimes feels as if it is used to pad the book out! Also the interspersion of foreign language is quite off putting at times, and does little to convey anything about the characters. I find most American authors carry this trait, and seems at times most patronising.

At times (particularly Drew) a lot of the 'conversation' is actually abuse being lobbed around at anyone that says or does the wrong thing. In real life Drew would have been left to get on with it. This type of conversation occurs frequently with Witkowski the G2 officer stationed in Paris, a man he needs to run ensure he stays in touch with Washington, and a man who is able to provide essential backup when things get difficult.

Apart from the dialogue which becomes ludicrous at times this is a nicely paced book, plenty of action, yet not to far from the realms of reality. it does help that all of the central characters are all professionals, rather than an innocent being drawn into the action.

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