Ambler Alert : An Engaging Mystery About A Man Out To Prove That He Does Exist

The Ambler Alert By Robert Ludlum Smoothie Review

Long long ago, I was a Ludlum fan. Starting with the Bourne Identity and then venturing out into his other work. I found I loved his work. But spy novels, even the best ones, can only go so far as they wear out their welcome. So began a search for more variety, I left Ludlum behind to find other things which have been both good and bad. Yet you can not stay away from a good author forever. After a while, you start to miss the author’s work. So years later, I returned to Mr. Robert Ludlum with a book called the Ambler Alert.

So what is it about? Well it starts on Parish Island. There is a psychiatric facility for CIA and special operations members who become mentally ill with the inability to keep government secrets secret. There is a patient named Harrison Ambler, who has been thrown in there, drugged with dozens of psychiatric medications and is told over the course of two years that he is not who he thinks he is. Given the chance, Ambler escape. He makes his way off of the island into the real world to reclaim his life. But that is not easy as he hopes when he finds that everything he remembers does not exist. People he knows does not recognize him. His house is gone. Any trace of a man named Harrison Ambler is gone. And on top of that, when he looks in the mirror for the first time since he was admitted to hospital to see his face and finds that he does not recognize it. So as the mystery reveals itself, Ambler must find out if the life he remembers is real or if he is really insane. That is not where the trouble ends. Government men from Parish Island are after him. Also as a ex special ops agent, he is recognized by a number of people as the code name Tarqin. The moment that he is on the loose, private sectors and organization see the assassin on the market for hire. These various groups are trying to grab him, as well. He is able to avoid it, until he meets an operative he remembers working with on the job. A old friend who said he can work for someone who can tell him about who he really is. Ambler takes it, falling deep into a world of trouble with his much needed answers getting farther and farther out of reach the harder he tries to get it.

So the good? Ambler was a realistic character. Where an spy would be portrayed as some thing cold hearted, Ludlum makes Ambler real. Ambler is a man coping with the fact that his whole life might be fake and a man who was abused as a child. The fact that he may have been betrayed by the very country he worked for also adds something to the emotional depth of this character. Its something a reader can relate to. Like always, action is good. Also Ludlum, having served in the CIA himself, portrays the espionage world in a realistic fashion. He can describe the way that world works without confusing the reader. There are no James Bond elements. It is very real world.

The bad? Given it starts out with a bang, it does slow down a lot surprisingly just after the halfway point. It could just be me comparing this to the Bourne and Covert One novels that I read from Ludlum before, but I must realize that this is the only story. It just was not as exciting as past Ludlum books I read. Also there was one unrealistic issue concerning the internet. The book was written in and is set in 1992, yet there are parts of the book where they look up video files through the internet on certain people. I remember playing with the internet for the first time in 1994. And found it took up to three minutes to get page of text to show up. The government might had more powerful computers back then, but I highly doubt they had video that came up as quickly as it did in this book. It felt that Ludlum didn’t know much about computers when he wrote this , breaking up the realism.

Overall, its not perfect but it’s a interesting read and one hell of a mystery. Its a pleasant reminder of why I love Ludlum’s work so much. If you like spy novels it’s a must read. If you like action, and/or mysteries you might want to give it a try. Its most definitely is worth the read.

Four smoothies out of 4

Overall Rating: An Engaging Mystery About A Man Out To Prove That He Does Exist

P.S. If you like books then check out my book and ebook website Lelue’s Realm. Google it or go directly to http://www.freewebs.com/lelue/

Winter Kill : A Mediocre Tale of Earth Witches.

Winter Kill By Laurell K Hamilton Smoothie review

The last three novels haven’t been too amazing for me. What I’ve read have range from descent to absolute stinkers lately. So I must say I was very hesitant about starting another novel right away. Instead played it safe and went with a short story. This one is Winter Kill by Laurell K Hamilton.

So what is it about? It is a story set in a medieval sort of world. It focuses on the on the Earth witch Jessa. She is a witch hunter. But when she was a child a witch murdered her family and when she grew up to be a assassin, she killed him in return. But there was a catch. His mother is a very powerful witch and is slaughtering those in villages to find the witch that killed her son. To set things right, Jessa heads out to kill her and stop the madness with the aid of her friend Gregoor.

So the good and bad? I guess I’ll start with the good. Detail is great, and the snowy icy hell tundra is easy to picture. Also even though the character of Jessa is cold, there’s a little humanity in there. Especially in the parts that had to do with her mother who never wanted her to be evil or use magic to help others. Its interesting how she accepts and regrets the fact that she continue stood is a point her own family as she avenged her.

The bad? Not much. It was sad that Gregoor played such a small roll that he became the cliché side kick. Also, there was not much originality here. Everything in this story you have read before in something else.

Overall, its simple and fun. Its not a must read by any means. If you happen to stumble upon it, give it a read. Just don’t pay anything for it.

2 smoothies out of four.

Overall Rating : A Mediocre Tale of Earth Witches.

P.S. If you like books then check out my book and ebook website Lelue’s Realm. Google it or go directly to http://www.freewebs.com/lelue/