Customer Reviews

The Tristan Betrayal

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

When Robert Ludlum died, he apparently left behind a number of partially finished manuscripts that are being completed, polished and published posthumously. Although The Tristan Betrayal has Mr. Ludlum credited as the author, I think that cautious readers should assume that this book is only partially his. I have chosen to evaluate the book as though a new, unknown author rather than Mr. Ludlum wrote it.

That said, I thought that The Tristan Betrayal is a cut above the average espionage thriller written today. There's an abundance of action and a balanced plot that will keep you curious enough to want to get to the end. It's not quite the page-turner that will keep you up until the wee hours in the morning to finish it, but I did keep going until 12:30 one night.

The book contains two intertwined story lines. The briefer one involves the coup against Gorbachev in the early 1990s just before the collapse of the old U.S.S.R. Former ambassador Stephen Metcalfe has been summoned by an old friend to help foil the coup. The key player is a mysterious Communist bureaucrat known as the Conductor. Can Metcalfe persuade the Conductor to withdraw his support from the coup? Or will nuclear holocaust and civil war follow?

The longer story line is a flashback into the early days of World War II just after Hitler and Stalin formed their nonaggression pact. In this story, Stephen Metcalfe is a young espionage agent working for a small group authorized by FDR himself. He's picking up intelligence in Paris when his organization is penetrated by the Gestapo. Metcalfe barely escapes the fate of his colleagues who are assassinated by a dangerous counterespionage agent for the Germans. Arriving in Switzerland, Metcalfe is given a new assignment in Moscow that is even more dangerous than the situation he left behind. Before the story ends, his actions rekindle an old love and set off a series of international actions that have major consequences for the war.

I cannot remember reading very many stories that involve overcoming both the Nazis and the Communists. Such opponents provide wonderful grist for all kinds of social commentary, and make it easy to root for the good guys and gals. Even rarer, the book has a pretty credible love story in it. That plot structure is held together with lots of action as Metcalfe dodges watchers and pursuers. Although the action and plot aren't as intricate as a Le Carre plot, I found the book to be more than entertaining.

Ultimately, this book is based on the idea that one person can make a difference. As I finished reading it, I began to wonder what one thing each of us could do to make a large difference to those we love and to the world. That final reflection was a worthy gift for having read a fine novel.

I always liked Robert Ludlum's stories, despite one-sentence paragraphs, stilted dialog, and contrived excitement. He gave us a grand picture of an earth-shaking event. In the case of The Tristan Betrayal, we meet Stephen Metcalfe, American secret agent, using the cover of an Argentine playboy to gather intelligence in German-occupied Paris during World War Two. But his cover is blown and his cell members killed. He has to get out of Paris, so he is sent to Moscow to try to use the love of his life, a Russian ballerina, to feed false information to the Germans to influence them to attack the Soviet Union and bring it into the war on the side of the allies. Again, his cover is blown, and he escapes to Berlin. Unfortunately, the story has a continuous set of death-threatening situations that face Metcalfe with monotonous regularity, and a set of improbable escapes each time. It reminds me of a James Bond novel, but Metcalfe is not as clever as Bond. Having said all this, I recommend the book if you are going on a long flight, or other boring activity, because the action never stops, and it will keep your attention.

I thought this that the first half of the book was written by Ludlum and the second half by someone else. Someone who did not write nearly as well as Ludlum. The italics, the exclamation points, the weakness that the main character displayed, was NOT what the original author intended. If there are any more Ludlum books out there and need either editing or finishing, please find someone who is capable of measuring up the talent of the original author.

I've been a fan of Robert Ludlum since his first books (Scarlatti Inheritance, Gemini Contenders, Rhinemann Exchange). They were all historical what-if's. He moved into contemporary stories after that, but apparently left this story, from his earlier period, in the drawer. It was completed by an editor or writer. Whatever the real story, this is a winner. I couldn't put it down. The story ranges from 1940 Moscow to 1991 Moscow, with a long sequence in occupied Paris. Anyone interested in World War II history will love this novel. The premise -- how the war really started -- is not only intriguing but backed up by a number of serious histories I've read recently. I'm surprised I haven't read more about the controversial hook of this terrific page-turner. Along with the last several Ludlums (whoever's editing him deserves a Pulitzer Prize!), this is one of his best. I highly recommend it to all Ludlum fans -- and also to all readers of historical fiction!

With Robert Ludlum's passing in 2001, it was easy to surmise that any subsequent offerings would be "something less" than if the master were still alive. Still and all, we've seen the co-authored books, wherein Ludlum would provide the outline and the co-author would pen the tale. These books, while not in Ludlum's league, are still worthy offerings in the genre. Subsequently, Ludlum's agent and publisher commissioned completion of partial manuscripts and published them in Ludlum's name. While still solid mystery and intrigue, most have fallen short of true Ludlum quality. I guess the only thing to say is this is what we're left with...a remaining taste and a lot of great memories.

THE TRISTAN BETRAYAL opens in Moscow 1991, with political uprsing caused by Communist hard-liners intent on overthrowing Gorbachev's government. The reader is introduced to the venerable American Ambassador Stephen Metcalfe, who is secretly and urgently summoned to bring his considerable experience and knowledge to bear on this coup attempt. Only later does the reader learn why Metcalfe is called to broker this deal, one he is immensely qualified to handle.

Flashback 1040...Hitler's Nazi Germany has ravaged a great deal of Europe and is revelling in its short-lived glory. Russia has yet to enter the fray and is solidly glued to fence-riding. Similarly, America has not entered what would eventually become World War II however, Roosevelt is sparing no cost to ensure the cost of entering this conflict is well-studied and planned. To this end, America and Britain are running the gammut with their spys attempting to clandestinely ascertain the Nazis "Achilles Heel." American spy, Stephen Metcalfe, undercover as a debonair Argentian playboy, is assigned the seemingly impossible task of making contact with a former lover, the only woman he has truly loved in his short life. This woman, Lana, is a Russian primaballerina whose father is a fomer Russian general. Metcalfe learns that Lana has a new lover...a dispicable German (Nazi) diplomat. Metcalfe's mission? Regain Lana's trust with the goal of feeding false military information about the Russian military to the Nazis through Lana's lover. The goal? To give America the ally it needs by misdirecting Hitler to attack Russia.

Metcalfe's cover is unwittingly blown in Paris and he is pursued by the Nazi Gestapo from Paris to Moscow, and ultimately to Berlin. Along the way, many of Metcalfe's brethern agents and friends are murdered by various assassins but in particular, one German agent whose weapon of choice is a piano string. As Metcalfe winds his way toward his mission's goal, he runs afoul of the ever-paranoid Soviets, who now want to see him dead as well. Metcalfe has to stay ahead of both Gestapo and Soviet intelligence as well as his own side, a side willing to sacrifice one to benefit the many.

The resulting intrigue is pure Ludlum. The storyline however suffers without the master's transparent segues. This story moves back and forth from WWII to present day somewhat disjointedly and without much punch. I found myself willing these transitions to mirror other Ludlum offering albeit futilely. While the storyline provides the requisite twists and allure, the climax falls woefully short.

For Ludlum afficianados, TRISTAN is one you'll want to read. However, be prepared for something less than the master's touch.

It had been quite a few years since I had read a Robert Ludlum book when I decided to by The Tristan Betrayal. It had all the elements of a Ludlum book (i.e. espionage, unexpected twist and turns, a multi-dimensional (and of course multi-lingual) hero, etc.) I was especially drawn by the time frame of the story. The story starts out during the time of the 1991 failed coup in Moscow, but most of the story takes place during early World War II. Ludlum (or the ghostwriter) periodically flashes back to 1991 while telling the story. While this wasn't the best Ludlum book that I've read, it certainly made for enjoyable reading.

France has fallen, Hitler's Nazi Germany has gulped down half of Europe, and the Axis has formed a strong alliance with Russia, the only continental power with the strength to face Germany in the field. Although America has not yet entered the World War 2, F.D.R.'s spymasters know that the time will come when the U.S. will be drawn into conflict. But if only Britain remains as Germany's enemy, then defeat seems inevitable. American spy, Stephen Metcalfe is assigned a high-risk task--making contact with a Russian woman he once loved--a woman whose father is a Russian general and whose lover is a German diplomat, and using her to slip the Germans faked information about Russian military preparedness. Germany must be induced to attack Russia and give America the ally it needs.

Metcalfe is pursued from Paris, to Moscow, and finally to Berlin by a German assassin intent on uncovering the plot and saving Germany from American tricks. In Russia, Soviet spies also converge on Metcalfe, themselves certain that Metcalfe intends to destroy their nation if he can. Somehow Metcalfe has to stay ahead of both Gestapo and Soviet intelligence--and against his own nation's willingness to sacrifice an asset if it will help the cause.

Robert Ludlum was one of the greatest suspense authors ever before his death in 2001. THE TRISTAN BETRAYAL shows both Ludlum's incredible story-telling talents and the weaknesses of digging up and completing works that authors had decided not to pursue. The overall structure of TRISTAN is pure thrill. Metcalfe's adventures and the German assassin's pursuit compell the story forward. Ludlum's descriptions of occupied Paris, besieged Berlin, and terrorized Moscow are powerful reminders of Ludlum's narrative talent. But a key mark of a Ludlum book is the cleverness with which the hero overcomes obstacles. Here, all too often, Metcalfe uses the old gambit of pretending to know somebody higher up--someone who will be disturbed if annoyed at home. You can get away with this trick once or twice, but more often than that and it begins to sound like you're facing a bunch of losers. Ludlum would have rewritten these sections until they shone. Unfortunately, Ludlum wasn't able to do so and the book suffered as a result.

THE TRISTAN BETRAYAL is Robert Ludlum at far from his best. Still, even adequate Ludlum is worth reading and TRISTAN makes for an exciting read.

This, as most of Ludlum's books, is a page-turner. The first third of the book is well written, exciting and engaging. Though you still want to follow our spy, Metcalfe, to the end of the book, though it slows down a little in believability and excitement. Though there is still minor twist that I enjoyed because there are clues given before hand for you to figure it out before it is revealed.

The book starts with Metcalfe in his old age being summoned to 1991 Russia to help with interior turmoil. With that we flash back to where we can see him in action in NAZI occupied Europe. We see him operate in Paris, Moscow and Berlin. This is not his best book, but it is still worth reading.

In other book series where the author has died such as the Ian Fleming/James Bond series where Benson or Gardner's name is prominently displayed, or where the author has built such a name for himself such as James Patterson that he can just slap his name on the front cover and it will sell, the one who actually wrote most (or all?), or even some of the book is identified.

In the Tristan Betrayal, no one has claimed credit. And I can see why. But isn't this just plain wrong? Shouldn't the anonymous author own up to his words? For younger people whose only information about the author might be the admittedly good movies The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy, isn't The Tristan Betrayal a kind of betrayal? I think so. It's fraud by whomever owns the rights to Robert Ludlum's name.

Even if this book were good, which it isn't for the reasons well-covered by others below, no one should be allowed to perpetrate such a fraud on the public. And it's not fair to Ludlum either.

I had quite a few mixed emotions in reading this book. First, the basic underlying story is quite intriguing. We have a 1991 coup in the newly liberalized Russia, combimed with a pre-World War II intelligence plot to attempt to affect the alliances of the great powers. The story skips back and forth between the two stories (although the WWII story accounts for 95% of the book). The story plot is so clever, it is down right disappointing how poorly it is pulled off. My complaints are twofold. First, the hero is the luckiest SOB ever to have walked the face of the earth. Time and again he manages to escape death by the most ludicrious of means. At times, the story gets plain silly. Then, there are major actions that go virtually unexplained. For example, we know that the Gestapo is looking for our hero in Paris, and he somehow manages to escape Paris and then shows up in Moscow. A little more explanation couldn't have hurt. In another part, the spymaster Corky Corcoran ( as the literary counterpart of real life OSS founder Wild Bill Donovan)is murdered. How is it expained in the story: a character relates "Our agents took care of him." Wow, clever writing.

If you can't find anything better to read, I suppose this will do in a pinch; but I ceratinly wouldn't recommend anyone run out and buy this book.