Customer Reviews

The Matlock Paper

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

 

 

This book follows the prototypical Ludlum plot: take a somewhat ordinary man, throw him into a situation of international conspiracy, deceit, violence, and terrible danger, and watch him find the courage and the will to do great things. It's a plot that has worked many times, for many different writers, and Ludlum does it as well as anyone.

"The Matlock Paper" is my favorite of the early Ludlum books. It has a plot that moves swiftly and believably (as such things go), with jeopardy and intrigue that are both gripping and gratifying. I found the academic setting to be particularly interesting, as I did the main character of Matlock. (It doesn't hurt that I'm a professor myself.)

I recommend all of Ludlum's books to readers who enjoy a good thriller. This one ranks towards the top of the list.

--David Montgomery, Mystery Ink

After reading other reviews I didn't know if I wanted to read this book or not. I am now glad that I did. Professor James Matlock is chosen by the Justice Department to infiltrate a crime ring that is operating on the East Coast. This ring is very able being active in the world of drugs,prostitution,and gambling.Our hero has to go undercover at the risk of his own life. During his time undercover he discovers that the crime ring is far reaching and very powerful. By sheer luck Matlock survives several attempts on his life. The final ending of this book will also prove to be a shocker. Buy this book. It is a very good read.

I've read a lot of Ludlum's other books. Some of his early works, i.e. RHINEMAN EXCHANGE, GEMINI CONTENDERS, OSTERMAN WEEKEND, are among my favorites. By comparison THE MATLOCK PAPER, another early effort, is somewhat disappointing.

The story is based around an eastern college campus. Matlock, a popular local professor, is tapped by the FBI to infiltrate a crime conspiracy. Like any Ludlum story, there's plenty of action, but the plot was predictable and some of the story elements (especially the local mafiosi and the campus black caucus group) struck me as pretty corny. As a result, despite the fast pace, I never felt the kind of tension that comes with a good Ludlum book.

THE MATLOCK PAPER will keep you turning the pages, but I don't feel it's up to the standard Ludlum usually sets. There are plenty of worse books you could read, but I can't really recommend this one. In my judgement, it's a mediocre three stars.

Aspects of this book are so stereotypically bad that it was difficult to get through at first. The whole drug scene that Ludlum builds up is laughably bad. Ludlum also builds up a militant anti white black underground that would strike any reader as offensively racist in other contexts, though in this over the top book it fits right in. I wasn't around in 1970 or when this book was published, so it might have seemed plausible at the time. But Ludlum has just tackled so many areas that now read as folly that it would be difficult to stretch your credulity to really get into this book.

Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of Ludlum's and have pretty much read most of his books (his Road books are awful in my opinion if that is saying anything). I think that he has perfected the man on the run scenario and some of his later works are pure popcorn fun. In Matlock I think that we are seeing Ludlum toying with an outline that he used several more times in later novels. At the same time, Matlock is sedated in comparison to his later books because the evil doer (whom I wont give away) is so out of left field and implausible that it makes me groan thinking about the entire plot.

This is a pretty far-fetched book, and I think that 3 stars might be too generous. Try the Bourne Identity instead if you have yet to read Ludlum.

I've been a long-time Robert Ludlum fan - something that started when I read The Bourne Identity: A Novel for the first time, many years ago. Where Bourne was an amnesiac super spy, Matlock is an ordinary man, a Vietnam vet and a college professor. He is tormented by his younger brother's death from a drug overdose. He is asked by the government to risk everything to find the conspirators of a large drug ring near the college campus where he teaches. Thus begins a hair-raising tale of good vs evil with multiple twists and turns and some surprising suspects.

This story was understandably quite dated since it was written in the early 70s. However, Ludlum skillfully steered away from many things that could give away time period, thus making the story somewhat timeless. The only things that were in the book that were likely unavoidable, were some language and slang that was more prevalent during the 70s than in present day. None of that took away from my enjoyment of the story.

That said, even though Ludlum set us up early on by giving Matlock's prime motivation to continue his quest against the drug ring - the death of his younger brother from drugs - still I kept asking myself, with each twist and turn, why Matlock continued to pursue the nameless ring instead of going to his government contact. The motivation was just a bit hard to believe as things became more tense and disturbing. In the final analysis, I enjoyed this Ludlum story tremendously, but had to suspend logic just a bit to finish the story.

The book is well written and the action keeps you reading. But the plot is rather tired, having been used so often, in so many variations, before. Maybe a good book for the beach.

...as Springsteen once sang. With Ludlum's third book, "The Matlock Paper", he would finally develop the narrative style lacking in his previous books, most notably "The Osterman Weekend." Unfortunately, his characters and situations took a back seat.

As title characters go, Matlock is one of the weakest I've ever come across. Not only is he not sympathetic, but rather obtuse and tiresome. He makes so many mistakes that are obviously foolish that you find yourself disengaged from the book, shaking your fist and screaming. Well, that might be an exaggeration, but you know what I mean.

The lack of strong women, the obviousness of the villain, and the weak male lead all lead up to a less than stellar book. The only thing that makes it worthwhile is Ludlum's increasing narrative technique, which seemed to finally be coming to a head.

If you're a die-hard Ludlum fan who has to read everything by the man, then you'll find something here. Everyone else though, consider yourself warned.

I have read all of Robert Ludlums books, they are all great reading. It's a shame we will have no more of his writings.

It is good. The plot is developed firmly and there are some wonderfully satisfying twists. However, Matlock is sort of carbon and he doesn't seem to have a whole lot of brains. But that is excusable, because the book is interesting and compelling. Ludlum does well with his narrative. Read this book if you want to say you have read all of his, and if you are dying for a pretty good read that will keep you up at night.

Another lone man against a conspiracy, this time one of the criminal kind.

This time the setting is academic, and the law enforcement types choose a university guy to be their undercover man. A bit of a stretch, perhaps, but that won't stop Ludlum from inflicting lots of crazy stuff on his normal bloke becoming a heroic action figure.