Customer Reviews

The Cry of the Halidon

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Taut with international intrigue and frenetic action, Robert Ludlum's novels are generally highly entertaining and rich with suspense. The standard of The Cry of the Halidon, however, is well below his usual.

Unlike most of his other books, The Cry of the Halidon is rarely suspenseful and does not build to a recognizable climax. The plot is typical Ludlum fare, with Alexander Tarquin Mcauliff selected by a company, -Dunstone Limited- to head a survey team deep into the Jamaican forests. Minutes after successfully attaining the survey assignment, he is approached by British Intelligence and informed that the motives of Dunstone are far from honest.

Naturally, he finds himself involved not only with British Intelligence, Dunstone and the rebel factions of Jamaica but also with a third faction, an organization known only as the "Halidon." While initially this may seem gripping and interesting, the text quickly becomes confused and rambling. With so many hostile organizations and no primary antagonist, it is frequently difficult to comprehend the plot, let alone the actions of the main character.

Although the novel does become more interesting at its conclusion, I found The Cry of the Halidon to be ultimately unsatisfying, with its more suspenseful elements overwhelmed by a confusing plot, a sprawling diction and a lackluster climax.

A weak story line and a confusing plot ensured that I was complete lost somewhere in the middle of Jamica in the first few chapters.Was disappointing to read this work of Ludlum, who otherwise has had an untarnished reputation so far.

being a ludlum fan,i took this book with great expectations.this book not onlylacks speed and action but also good characterisation.totally it is a big disappointment for ludlum fans.for new ludlum readers i would like to recommend the bourne identity

After you have read Ludlum's other better books "Cry of the Halidon" is without question a bitter dissapointment.The main
characters involved in the book fail to carry the story. The plot is very confusing and nearly impossible to read and understand.Ludlum must have wrote this book to pay a Lexus note.
It is not on a caliber of his previous or later books. If you can
find this book at a used book store buy it. Otherwise leave it alone.

It's sometimes a mistake when a writer re-issues a very early work that was done before he had really mastered his craft, and this is such a case. The earlier version was one of those written under a different pen-name, which makes one think that possibly it was written even quite a bit earlier than the publication date of 1974.

Anyway, the story does show a typical Ludlum theme - the evil conspiracy that wants to gain global power (though not for any very specified purpose). This organization has acquired all sorts of resources so that they can control or at least have information on almost any event anywhere. Insofar as this idea grips readers, it's a pandering to current-day paranoia. Then on the other hand he has this revolution-plotting sect that in many ways are righteous, or indeed Utopian: he really stresses their excellent physical health (if they weren't in Jamaica I'd be looking for references to Aryan purity). The only problem is, they have just about as totalitarian an organization as the bad guys, plus a nasty habit of treating assassination as a normal solution to any problem. A third element is British Intelligence, presented as capable but really amoral. The hero is batted about between these elements like the ball in a pinball machine.

The preoccupation with the British element stems, I imagine, from his travels in Jamaica and seeing the extreme contrast between grinding poverty and a well-to-do lifestyle that floated above it, the residue of colonialism. There's a strong undercurrent of social indignation, and a cutting portrait of a jingoistic Brit who minces no words in describing the "natives" as inferior. (Would anyone have been quite as obnoxious in 1974? Another reason to think it was written earlier).

All in all, not a very satisying read.

I picked up this book in desperation in an airport several years ago. I couldn't put it down! My mother was travelling with me, and had the same response that I did. The most telling thing was that we bought two "throw away" paperbacks (or leave in hotel rooms) to take to Portugal, and brought this one home with us! Excellent Ludlum.

I have read most of Ludlum's novels, and I usually can't put them down. I found that I was so distracted by the need to correct his grammar, usage, and spelling that I almost didn't finish the book. The story was not bad, but too contrived even for Ludlum, and not nearly as polished or compelling as his later novels. Also, of his dialogue was downright embarrassing in its naive lack of credible inter-sex conversation. Very disappointing for Ludlum.

It is not the best Ludlum, but it keeps you going. I find some of the plot bit naive, but then again most of Ludlum plots are rather fiction. If you like Ludlum, go for it, if you do not like him much stay away from this book.

I have read numerous Ludlum books and I have never had trouble following story line, characters and their importance. However I was quickly proved wrong with The Cry of the Halidon. The abudance of meaningless characters makes the reader annoyed and at sometimes confused. If you are looking for a good book by Ludlum may I suggest The Matarese Countdown.

The Cry of the Halidon isn't quite as good as previous Ludlum novels in terms of relentless suspense or political maneuvering, but it's still Ludlum and I like his writing style. I appreciate prose that has me going to the dictionary several times, helps me to expand my vocabulary.