Customer Reviews

The Road to Omaha

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Sam and Mac are introduced in Gandolfo. Sam is still the same inept character but incredible lawyer. Mac finally explodes larger than life in Omaha. I picture Mac the same as Col. Kilgore from Apocalypse Now with the smell of napalm in the morning speech. The two Dezi's are a perfect compliment to Mac. This is not for the spy thriller crowd. This book is for those who love the crazy antics of a larger than life hero

In "The Road To Gandolfo", we met General Mackenzie Hawkins and his unwilling sidekick, the kicking-and-screaming Sam Devereaux, attorney at law. The result was a satirical farce of rapid-fire action and broad humor, featuring an intricate plot to kidnap the Pope. In "The Road To Omaha" Hawkins and Devereaux return, with a new supporting cast and a new Hawkins plan: lay before the U.S. Supreme Court an old treaty and an airtight legal argument, and demand that much of the state of Nebraska (including the land around Omaha, site of the U.S. Strategic Air Command) be returned to its rightful owners, namely an obscure Indian tribe called the Wopotomis.

It is almost an axiom in both literature and film that sequels rarely live up to their predecessors, and this book is no exception. Where the concept of a funny espionage/intrigue novel was fresh and inspired in "Gandolfo", in "Omaha" it appears a trifle forced. The satire is less biting, and the humor devolves at times into a madcap, slapstick silliness reminiscent of the Keystone Cops. Reading the sequel, the reader too often gets an impression of the author struggling mightily to outdo the previous work in sheer hilarity, and in the process trampling subtlety and suspense completely out of some of the scenes.

That said, however, this is still a good book, and anyone who enjoyed "Gandolfo" will almost certainly get some fun out of "Omaha" as well. There is still plenty of wit and humor here, and Ludlum is a master at keeping the reader hooked into the story, turning the pages in anticipation and trying to get in just one more chapter before bedtime. The main characters grab you, and if some of the peripheral roles are mere cardboard cutouts, it's a flaw that's easy to forgive in the blazing pace of the story. The political satire may lack finesse at times, but it has teeth, and the casting of mob boss Vincent "Vinnie the Bam Bam" Mongecavalo as head of the CIA is a splendidly snide volley from an espionage writer.

This book does not really have the strength to stand on its own: if you didn't read, or didn't like, "The Road To Gandolfo", you'll most likely be disappointed. But if you liked "Gandolfo" and would like to revisit Hawkins, Devereaux and the oddly gripping world of humorous intrigue they pioneered, "The Road To Omaha" is good enough to make you overlook or forgive its flaws.

This is the fifth book I've read by the author who is a legend in the spy thriller genre. Though formulaic at times, his books always entertain me. When I discovered that Mr. Ludlum had tried his hand at humor, I had to give it a read.

The Road to Omaha is a scathing satire about the American government. Ludlum pulls no punches when it comes to what he thinks about our government, corruption and bureaucratic nonsense.

And I wouldn't have suspected it, but Ludlum can indeed be funny. However, alot of his humor is childish, slapstick, back and forth dialogue that no one would ever engage in. His humor is also politically incorrect, so if you are sensitive about that, please take note. At least he is an equal opportunity offender. He touches upon every overused stereotype there is.

I wanted to like this book, but the characters are shallow, and it seems to try way too hard to be funny. But I loved the creativity Ludlum showed. The plot is definitely unique and the characters are quite memorable.

So in conclusion, this book had all the elements to be great, but didn't quite pull it all together.

I was expecting a humorous ride ala The Road to Gandolfo. Sad to report that TRtO falls flat on Ludlum's face. Gandolfo was funny and exciting as the plot was plausible and the actors were not trying too hard to be comical. As you all know, comedy is lousiest when the actors attempt too hard to be funny. i was looking forward to having more of Hawk's 4 ex-wives, but alas they were not in the picture. This comedy required too much suspension of reality that it failed dramatically. The only reason I kept on reading was to see how ludicruous Ludlum can get. And I tell you it was very ludicruous to the end. I recommend you read this title only to see that Good Author's can have a bad day too.

Light hearted without being fluffy, this is a scathing satire of the American government, the American military, the American legal system, U.S.-American Indian relations, and American lawyers.

All-in-all, one of the best books I own. This isn't only funny, I was laughing aloud while reading it. This really shows off Ludlum's ability to lead you along a primrose path, only to find you're not really seeing what you thought you were.

A law student receives a letter from the U.S. Supreme Court. Surprising, since he didn't write to them. They have decided to hear his case involving a breach of contract between the U.S. Government and an Indian tribe. [apparently, there is a small provision for cases being heard directly to the supreme court without previous judicial consideration]

The only catch is - the law student has no idea what they're talking about. Suddenly the CIA, the FBI, the Department of Defense, and the mafia are all after him.

The legal case revolves around the fact that, under U.S. law, any improvements made to real estate which is illegally seized revert to the lawful owner when the real estate is returned. So, if I steal your farm, spend thousands of dollars improving it, and then you get the property back, I can't ask for restitution or the money back. Sure, no problem.

Now think about the U.S. Government and American Indian tribes .....

I thoroughly enjoyed The Road to Gandolfo, but this novel is superior. The principal characters are back, with a new female character created to replace the lost love of lawyer Sam Devereaux's life. This is a terrific satire of the American economic and political system and the incompetence of people at the highest levels of authority. I left this book feeling that in some small way, all of us are Wopotamis

I also could not finish this book, and I was captive on a coast to coast flight. The comedy in this book is strained and it is obvious that Ludlum was trying way too hard to be funny. I had to read and re-read passages just to make sense of what was written. The Road to Omaha is very bumpy indeed.

I'm sorry I bought it. Even though I read about it first, it was quite different from what I expected. In comparison to other Ludlum books,
this one is just awful. Didn't even finish it.

This is an excellent book, but probably not what you're expecting if you read a lot of Ludlum, unless you've read the Road to Gandolfo. It is a farcical book which I would not want to spoil for you. The many characters in the book are well developed, and as a whole the book is a good entertaining read. I recommend it for anyone who is looking for something different.

The Road to Omaha lacks the one ingredient that made The Road to Gandolfo so funny...spontenaity. Where Gandolfo was naturally, outrageously, and expertly humorous, Omaha's intentions are quite obvious from the outset...Nevertheless, Hawkins and his faithful lawyer sidekick engage in their share of hijinks as they try to hand Nebraska, and SAC, over to the Indians...

Although not Ludlum's best, it is indeed worth a read...