The Moscow Vector

A decent, swash-buckling story with an interesting plot but the dialogue was very stilted at times and the overuse of certain words was frustrating. I think the word 'grimly' turned up on every other page.

his could have been a good book but it was very hard to follow all of the characters and what they were doing. I tried to finish it but it just wasn't possible. I like Covert-one books but this one fell short.

The old school hard-line Russians are up to their old tricks, trying to return Russia to its former glory from the days of the old Soviet Unions. In this novel, the Russians have developed a new weapon that delivers a poison based on the person’s DNA. This is the ultimate assassination weapon. With the use of this weapon, they are wiping out political opponents in an attempt to reclaim some of the republics of the former Soviet Union. Lt. Col. John Smith is leading a covert unit investigating this new weapon. Also, as part of the conspiracy the Russians are targeting the president of the US for assassination.<br /><br />This novel is not quite as far-fetched as some of the Robert Ludlum novels that I have read, which is a problem I usually have with them. There is a good bit of action and drama, but the overall writing and characterization left me a little ambivalent. The characters themselves felt a bit faceless, making this story more about plot than anything else. This was a solid, but unspectacular novel.<br /><br />Carl Alves – author of Blood Street

The plot is interesting because, though it was written in the mid 2000's, it mirrors a lot of what has gone on in the world these past few years. Having said that, for an international suspense thriller mystery type book the beginning is quite slow and the way the story lines weave together requires too much suspension of disbelief.<br /><br />Some of the dialogue is incredibly awkward. The writing is lacking in general. Not only is it awkward, the author made mistakes with the characters actions that made them incompetent in a way they shouldn't have been e.g. There is a complicated ruse for an informant to hand and envelope concealed within a magazine. Once the main character, Jon Smith, is in possession of the envelope he takes it out of the magazine and opens it in plain sight of everyone. There were lapses in the authors thinking of how a clandestine agent might act. <br /><br />The relationship between the male and female agents also takes on a weird turn at the end. Of course the men are keen to protect the woman, and there must be a bit of a love story, always. <br /><br />I gave it three stars because it is a quick read that did draw me in. I found the dialogue annoying, but the overall plot was interesting enough to keep me guessing as to what will happen next. It's a light, if not particularly well written, read.

An Army doctor specializing in infectious diseases is contacted by a Russian colleague concerned about mysterious death of government officials around the world. With few clues and little time our doctor (agent attached to Covert-One) must unravel the plot and find the figure standing at the center of it all.<br /><br />This book in the Covert- One series is a fast pacing and a tight plotting intrigue. It is surely an action drenched and a nail biting thriller; one can hardly put it down. In my opinion this novel is a must read, you will definitively enjoy doing so.<br />

Patrick Larkin, under the umbrella of Robert Ludlum's prolific writing, has created a suspenseful story that rings true even in the present. It is fast-paced and kept me eagerly turning pages.<br /><br />At an international conference in Prague, Lt. Col. Jon Smith, an Army research doctor specializing in infectious diseases and secretly an agent attached to Covert-One, is contacted by a Russian colleague, Dr. Valentine Petrenko. Petrenko is concerned about a small cluster of mysterious deaths in Moscow and about the Russian government's refusal to release publicly any information or data on the outbreak. When the two meet, they are attacked by a group of mysterious men and Petrenko is killed, his notes and medical samples are lost, and Smith barely escapes with his life. <br /><br />At the same time, a series of government officials around the world are coming down with a mysterious, fast-acting virus with a 100% fatality rate. These deaths are somehow related to the increasing militarism from the new Russian government, headed by the autocratic and ambitious President Victor Dudarev. With few clues and precious little time, Smith and Covert-One must unravel this mysterious plot and find the mysterious figure who stands at the center of it all.

What a time to be reading this book! Written in 2005. Russia invading Ukraine. Megalomaniac Russian President. Even the date of the invasion - 24 February. Spooky.

As a long time Ludlum fan, I have read everything he as written and mourned his loss. His Covert One series has survived his death. Covert One was began by Robert Ludlum and the co-written with others. This enabled the series to continue. These authors have remained true to the vision Ludlum had for the Covert One series.<br /><br />In The Moscow Vector, Fred Klein and his Covert One team are once again faced with a bio-weapon that targets a specific person's DNA. A designer bio-weapon. The enemy this time comes from within Russia and Germany. Russia is also moving to invade countries that it had once controlled. <br /><br />Jon and Randi are again working the case unknown to each other in the beginning. Jon is working directly with Fiona, a "reporter" operating in Russia. We also see Jon rejoined with Oleg, a Russian from a previous Covert One book.<br /><br />The mission get extremely personal when President Sam Castilla is targeted with the bio-weapon called Hydra.<br /><br />As always there is a great deal of twists and turns, action, history and science. Can't ever go wrong with a Covert One novel.

The Moscow Vector by Patrick Larkin is book number six in the Covert One Series originally created by Robert Ludlum. I found this Larkin novel quite a bit more enjoyable than his previous effort, The Lazarus Vendetta. Larkin maintains his edgier style, but presents a more believable and well-honed story. The Lazarus Vendetta read more like a espionage thriller and less like a science fiction work, which I for one, found to be an improvement. Now on to book number seven, which was written by James Cobb, whom I know nothing about, but whom hopefully is up to the task!<br /><br />3 out of 5 cups of black coffee.

I had to give up on this book. Partly because it has been overtaken by events. The Russians aren't nearly as devious as the fevered imagination of American writers would have us believe. Partly because I found the style turgid. Partly because I find the genre of thriller where one Murican with almost superhuman powers saves the free world almost single handed, tedious. Also I must make a mental note that two author books - written thus, I guess because the well known half of the duo can't really be bothered and the lesser known is cashing in - are invariably bad.