The Holcroft Covenant [Mass Market Paperback]

Robert Ludlum (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 1, 1984

The Fourth Reich is waiting to be born. The only man who can stop it is about to sign its birth certificate. In 1945 the children of the Third Reich were secretly hidden all over the world-to be concealed until the 1970's, when they would come of age. Then the most elaborate plans and $780 million in a Swiss bank would be waiting. There would even be an unsuspecting outsider to set the plan into action. that outsider is Noel Holcroft, the American son of a high-ranking Nazi. He's just been shown an amazing document, the Holcroft Covenant. If he signs, it will be his own death warrant and a devastating threat to the security of the world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Pleases and seduces... Mr. Ludlum stuffs more surprises into his novels than any other six-pack of thriller writers combined... I sprained my wrist tuming his pages and didn't notice until an hour later."—John Leonard, The New York Times

From the Publisher

The Fourth Reich is waiting to be born. The only man who can stop it is about to sign its birth certificate. In 1945 the children of the Third Reich were secretly hidden all over the world-to be concealed until the 1970's, when they would come of age. Then the most elaborate plans and $780 million in a Swiss bank would be waiting. There would even be an unsuspecting outsider to set the plan into action. that outsider is Noel Holcroft, the American son of a high-ranking Nazi. He's just been shown an amazing document, the Holcroft Covenant. If he signs, it will be his own death warrant and a devastating threat to the security of the world.

"Pleases and seduces... Mr. Ludlum stuffs more surprises into his novels than any other six-pack of thriller writers combined... I sprained my wrist turning his pages and didn't notice until an hour later."--John Leonard, The New York Times

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Bantam; later printing edition (May 1, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553260197
• ISBN-13: 978-0553260199
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,432 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After a successful career in the theatre, Robert Ludlum launched his career as a best-selling writer with THE SCARLATTI INHERITANCE in 1971, the first of twenty-two consecutive international bestsellers. Robert sadly passed away in March 2001.

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#77 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Action & Adventure

#78 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure

#77 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Action & Adventure

#78 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars PROMISE yourself you will read this book! November 10, 2000

By Jeff Edwards VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

What would happen if in the final stages of WWII, high ranking Nazi officials who knew the 3rd Reich was about to collapse, made a bold move and set the wheels in motion to begin the 4th Reich...but not for a very long time... Sounds interesting, huh? It IS.

I read this book many years ago, and recently I began the joyful task of re-reading all of my favorite Ludlum novels, mostly because I was in a slump and couldn't find anything that grabbed my interest--but also because I remembered how much I truly enjoyed these books and was curious as to whether or not I would like them as much all these years later. One of my favorites was 'The Holcroft Covenant' and I have to admit, this one kept me on the edge of my sofa for several days as I absorbed this great conspiracy-theory book for the 2nd time.

Noel Holcroft is unwittingly a part of this global project, even though he despises everything the Nazi's stood for. He realizes over time that what is to be set in motion is farther reaching than he thought was even possible. How could it be that an organization as hated as the Nazi's rise again? The answer to WHO is supporting the rise of the 4th Reich is shocking to say the least--and for the reader, immensely entertaining.

Let me warn you right away, for those who are hoping for the usual Ludlum launch of action from beginning to end, this might come as a bit of a let-down. He sets the stage early on, but takes his time building to the climax (which is most satisfying). The tension grows gradually, and as the conspiracies grow and multiply, so does the action and suspense. Give it a shot, and DON'T give up too soon. I promise you that as the plot unfolds, you WILL be happy to took the journey. I echo the thoughts of another reviewer, as I read 'The Apocalypse Watch' I couldn't help but wonder whether or not it was a sequel of some kind to 'Covenant'--but not as good. It has been said that Ludlum's earliest work was his best, and I have to agree. Not much that has come off the presses in the 90's has been nearly as suspenseful as what he produced in the late 70's and 80's. TRUST me, if you can pick up his early work and end up NOT finishing it, you either have NO attention span, or you just dislike good fiction, 'cuz that is what Ludlum produces: GOOD FICTION (VERY good stuff indeed). 'The Holcroft Covenant' is a hum-dinger and really fun to boot. The ending really IS worth the journey.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Robert Ludlum - Master Espionage Writer Strikes Again January 29, 2002

By iqhope

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am hooked on Robert Ludlum's books. I gave up romance after I turned 20, moved on to murder mysteries (Ellery Queen genre), but I never experienced an author that could keep me awake until 3:00 in the morning, not only with one of his books--but with all of them!

I have read The Chancellor Manuscripts, all three of the series of the Bourne books, and just finished the Holcroft Covenant, which teases and hints at a sequel in the last few pages, and I'm crossing my fingers there is one (have to still check out his list of books).

The Holcroft Covenant deals with Nazi sympathizers and a Covenant that is allegedly going to help all those victims of the Holocaust approximately 30 years after the conclusion of the war. Mr. Holcraft, the son of one of Hitler's closest officers who supposedly committed suicide in the last days of the Reich, is given a letter, written by his father before his death, directing the son to find two other Nazi offspring, go to Geneva, and recover a multi-million dollar account that is dictated to be used to 'help' those victims of war crimes committed during the war.

The twist, as expected in any Ludlum novel, occurs about half-way through the book, from a direction the reader would never guess, and involves a woman (the hero always has to get his gal in Ludlum's novels--I love it!), and this right after he encounters an experience that forces him to run for his life, hide from those he loves, and cuts his communications off from any normal life that the hero would normally use if this was real life.

While Ludlum's books smack of a 'formula,' I absolutely love it--you know that something unusual is going to happen to the main character, he's going to be forced to give up his normal life to go out and 'save the world,' he'll use life-long aquaintances for help throughout the book (although about 85% end up in a morgue by the end of the story), there's lots of shooting of the bad guys, a damsel in distress who will initially hate the main character, then fall in love with him, and after everybody shoots at each other and more bad and good guys die, the hero either ends up being 'savior' of the world, or he ends up physically chopped to pieces, but survives to take on the bad guys again.

Don't try this plot at home--only Ludlum can add enough realistic and believable imagery to convince you of the reality of the story with his details of Europe, lovely descriptions of continental hotels, and travelogues throughout the storyline.

If you haven't tried a Ludlum novel, pick one up--any one, and enjoy an espionage thriller that only a master like Ludlum can write.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Ludlum classic! August 19, 2000

By Mr N Forbes-warren

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I've recently found that in all the Robert Ludlum books I've been reading, and in some cases re-reading after several years, that his early work is by far his best. If you're new to this author, this is a good starting point - and this plot was re-used in part for his later effort THE APOCALYPSE WATCH, also worth checking out. This riveting story which has almost come true concerns a vast fortune left in a Swiss bank account by Hitler's aides for the SONNENKINDER project, a plan to start a Fourth Reich and take over the world. Sounds familiar? One of the earlier inspirations for many more novels of this nature, including Clive Cussler's ATLANTIS FOUND in part! Noel Holcroft, one of the Sonnenkinder, must use every trick and desperate measure in the book(no pun intended) to get his hands on the fortune to prevent the Fourth Reich getting their way. Along the way, he finds that he cannot trust anybody he comes into contact with as his trail leads him to Brazil, Switzerland and England. As usual, Ludlum never fails to surprise the reader - who is really the professional assassin TINAMOU? The answer does not come until near the end, which is a surprise in itself! Overall, a very fine read!