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| Date first published | 1979 |  |
| ISBN Number | 0 586 05029 9 | |
| Page Count | 540 p/b | |
| h/b= hardback : p/b= paperback | ||
The Matarese Circle
Storyline
Two implacable enemies. One working for KGB the other for Consular Operations, both not only professional enemies, but personal enemies who have killed each other loved ones.
Vasili Taleniekov, learns of a threat to destroy every government, and suddenly he is cut off by his own government, and there is only one man that can help him. A man who would sooner kill him than say hello. Taleniekov however manages to have the talk, and Brandon Schofield agrees to help root out the evil planning to take over the governments of the world.
Hunted by their respective governments, and the Matarese, the two men travel to Corsica, to try and learn the truth behind the Matarese, and find out who is now running the deadly organisation.
Review
It's amazing it must be at least five years since I last read this book, but parts of it I could remember. I think this shows what a good story this is, as my memory is not the greatest.
The setting up of the two main characters,Taleniekov, Schofield are well done, the background a simple story of how espionage leaks out into the mains private world, a dead brother for a murdered girlfriend. However there is a third character, which seems to be a feature of the early Ludlum books, a strong female character thrown into circumstances no-one would want to get involved in and surviving.
The story is really about globalisation, at a time when it wasn't fashionable to talk about such things. An organisation that thinks it can run the world better than any government, and through its' inheritance has the financial muscle to do it.
The story is very pacy, with the two operatives splitting up to try and reveal the identities of the Council, and find the Shepherd Boy. A character always in the shadows, waiting to spring, to kill.
The final show down is typical of Ludlum, the main character goes into the heart of the enemy lands but plans and co-ordinates chaos to help him get out.
Just as you think you know where the story is going Ludlum lobs in an unexpected twist, at the end you think that Schofield has got every base covered only to find betrayal at the highest levels.
Reading the older books you realise just how poor some of the later books are, in some ways the author becomes lazy, as he's not so worried about feeding his family. The stories have a harsher edge, and to my mind are less hysterical that some of the later books.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and would definitely recommend it to anyone.
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