From Publishers WeeklyIn Lustbader's workmanlike second novel to continue the saga of Robert Ludlum's amnesiac assassin and spy (after 2004's The Bourne Legacy), Jason Bourne joins the war on terror. Troubled by visions of a woman dying in his arms, Bourne seeks psychiatric help, unaware that the doctor is an imposter who has tampered with the rogue agent's already messy and incomplete memories. That mental sabotage is part of a diabolical plan by Islamic terrorists to strike at Washington, D.C., led by Karim, a human chameleon who has fooled the CIAand Bourneinto believing that he's actually deputy CIA director Martin Lindros. Aided by an attractive fellow agent who manages to overcome her distrust of Bourne, he races the clock to uncover the traitor within the intelligence community. Lustbader is less successful than Ludlum in dramatizing Bourne's inner tormenta feature that distinguished the character from many similar thriller heroes. (June) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.About the AuthorROBERT LUDLUM was the author of twenty-seven novels, each one a New York Times bestseller. There are more than 225 million of his books in print, and they have been translated into thirty-two languages. He is the author of The Scarlatti Inheritance, The Chancellor Manuscript, and the Jason Bourne series--The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum--among others. Mr. Ludlum passed away in March 2001. To learn more, visit www.Robert-Ludlum.com.ERIC VAN LUSTBADER is most widely known as the New York Times bestselling author of twenty international bestselling thrillers including Ninja and Black Heart. He is also the author of two successful and highly regarded series of fantasy novels, The Sunset Warrior Cycle and The Pearl Saga. His novels have been translated into over twenty languages. www.ericvanlustbader.comFrom AudioFileWhen Jason Bourne, now considered a rogue agent, seeks psychiatric help for troubling dreams, he doesnt know hes meeting with a doctor who intends to tamper with his muddled memories. Bourne doesnt realize the psychiatrist is an impersonator, part of a clever sabotage by Islamic extremists to strike at the heart of America. Jeremy Davidson captures the thrillers suspense and action, but not until the second half of the book. The plot builds slowly, with too many irrelevant details, but its worth sticking with because of Davidsons narration. His delivery and adept pacing of the second half animate the accelerating story to produce a satisfying finish. G.D.W. AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright AudioFile, Portland, Maine why do you love to read Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Betrayal (Jason Bourne series)
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Bourne no moreBy NolongerteachingI would like to know what happened to Jason Bourne. The Bourne I read in this book was not the Jason Bourne from previous books. In the first three books, we find the main character battling Carlos the Jackal and other Cold War threats. Those books were well written and very enjoyable. The first Bourne book by Van Lustbader wasn't too bad. It tied up some of the plot lines from the first three books. However, all of that comes to an abrupt end with this book. First, Jason Bourne has found a fountain of youth. He hasn't aged at all. It has been forty years since the end of the Vietnam War; a war that started the career of Jason. First, I am willing to forget that the character should be in his sixties however that are too many other items in this book that I cannot understand. This is no longer the tormented Jason Bourne; a man searching for his identity. Instead the character has morphed into a blend of Mitch Rapp, John Wells and James Bond. This has become a character that can beat all odds, destroy all enemies, out think and out smart all enemies and a character that can be stabbed, shot, beaten and still save the day. The human Jason Bourne has become an transparent character that is battling Middle East terrorism.Bourne has now become a comic book super hero with no traces of the old, more humane character. This was not an enjoyable book. Rather it was a marathon attempt to finish this book, a marathon attempt to try to understand why the author has taken the character down this path. This book contained too many implausible plot twists and it was a book that I was extremely glad to finish. I am sorry that the Bourne series has to end but I will not suffer through another travesty of a one time great character and book series.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Spare yourself and do not read this bookBy David BoyleThis book is not worth reading, that is for sure. I read Bourne Legacy and was disappointed. I was hoping that Bourne Betrayal would be better, but it was actually much worse.Firstly, there are a TON of errors in this book! I didn't know that people would seriously publish a book without looking it over first. Just to mention one problem with this book: on several occurrences, Bourne starts speaking a language he didn't speak in the original series. I know that he could have learned Russian or whatever in that period of time between Ultimatum and Betrayal but what are the chances of that? Ludlum makes it very clear that Jason does not speak Russian in Ultimatum, and he speaks it fluently in Betrayal.Secondly, the characters are so boring and unrealistic that it's annoying. Also, it seems that Bourne is constantly wounded. Why Lustbander?? Is this necessary? I very much doubt that. I hate how Jason seemed to be so void of emotions too.I am almost surprised at myself, because usually I am very open to books, even if they are not very good. But I am very disappointed with this book, and Lusbander for making it such a terrible read.It also seems that the antagonists are not very strong characters. Carlos, for example, is a very well-developed, evil, spine-chilling dude. What happened with Lustbander's antagonists? They seem to the reader unreal, see-through, and no personality at all. Not like Carlos in any way whatsoever. Lame with a capital L.Oh ya, and one more thing. The beginning of this book was so bad and poorly written I felt like quitting reading. (FYI: I love to read) I was so angry at how he shaped it, it was just so bad.I know that this is just personal preference, but I hate how Lustbander always calls Jason just "Bourne". It makes him seem like a machine, not a person. Not once does the author mention him by his first name, which really bugs me.I am not reading any more of his books, that is for sure. I need to cleanse my mind with some real books, like Ludlums "Prometheus Deception",g great book, by the way.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. What a sham! SpoilersBy mistyI hope you didn't read this as I did--having not seen the movies and wanting to read in order. In the last book it became clear that Bourne had been reborn to a different writer, one who didn't like Bourne's need and love of his wife because he felt some love scenes were needed during resented his age because it wasn't sexy and powerful. This book just reinvents him completely as a much younger man, kills off his wife and exiles the kids, and writes scenes clearly designed for the silver screen. It's the Bourne Sham. With the wife out of the way and the amnesia relegated to a convenient plot device, the book is a little better in the second half. But still. This isn't Bourne. It's a thirty years younger movie star. Bah.