The Matarese Circle

Hey ppl this is a review of Robert Ludlum's "The Matarese Circle".

The Matarese Circle is a classic thriller, a superb and fast paced prequel to The Matarese Countdown. Two rival spies; Brandon Scofield aka Beowulf Agate of CIA and Vasili Talaniekov of KGB. They both share a genius for espionage and a life of terror and violence. But more importantly, they both share something else! A desire to kill each other! But now they must become allies for only they possess the brutal skills and ice cold nerves that are necessary to destroy an international cabal of powerbrokers and assassins whose sole objective is to achieve worldwide economic domination, the Matarese.

Hmm isn't this plot a bit too familiar for the Ludlum lovers? Be it the Bourne series or the Janson Directive or The Apocalypse Watch, the plot was the same. But then if it's such a winning formula, who cares?

Brandon Scofield and Vasili Talaniekov have given their entire lives to their respective agencies, plotting strategies and counter strategies. Now suddenly they have become persona non grata and their own people are after their lives. In the midst of all this Aleksie Krupsky, an old time mentor of Talaniekov, warns him about the Matarese Circle, an organization that was formed about seventy years earlier in the hills of Corsica and asks him to work with Scofield, a sworn enemy.

As the duo of Scofield and Talaniekov unravel the layers of mystery, they find how deep the problem goes. With no one ready to talk about the Matarese, whom can they trust? With friends and foes dying alike, will they be able to survive?

The action shifts from the mountains of Corsica to Moscow to Rome to Paris to London and finally to Boston for a final showdown which is as fascinating as any of the Ludlum's best. The book proves why Ludlum is such a thriller rider! For all those who love roller coasters this is a must read!

Rating: 7/10