The Road to Gandolfo and the Road to Omaha

Road to #1-2

by Robert Ludlum

Book 1 -- War hero and infamous ladies’ man General MacKenzie Hawkins is a living legend. His life story has even been sold to Hollywood. But now he stands accused of defacing a historic monument in China’s Forbidden City. Under house arrest in Peking with a case against him pending in Washington, this looks like the end of Mac’s illustrious career. But he has a plan of his kidnap the Pope. What’s the ransom? Just one American dollar—for every Catholic in the world. Add to the mix a slew of shady “investors,” Mac’s four persuasive, well-endowed ex-wives, and a young lawyer and fellow soldier who wants nothing more than to return to private life, and readers have in their hands one relentlessly irreverent page-turner.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Spy Thriller

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Robert Ludlum was a titan of the suspense genre, whose name became synonymous with the modern international spy thriller. Before amassing a staggering readership estimated between 300 and 500 million copies, Ludlum forged a career in the theater as a Marine veteran turned actor and producer. This theatrical background proved foundational to his literary success; he often credited his sense of pacing and "what-happens-next" urgency to his years on stage. Writing from his home in New Jersey, he crafted 27 novels characterized by "lone wolf" protagonists battling shadowy global conspiracies, corrupt corporations, and clandestine military organizations.
Ludlum is most famous as the creator of Jason Bourne, the amnesiac assassin who first appeared in The Bourne Identity (1980). While the blockbuster film adaptations starring Matt Damon brought the character to a new generation, Ludlum's original trilogy delved deeper into the Cold War paranoia and intricate psychological trauma of the protagonist. His work often drew inspiration from contemporary conspiracy theories, such as rumors surrounding the Trilateral Commission, and he frequently explored the idea of terrorism as a tool for authoritarian manipulation. Even after his death in 2001, his literary estate has continued to expand his universe through video games and posthumous collaborations, cementing his legacy as a master of the "ticking clock" narrative.

Reviews

[Aaron Fk]

These books were hilarious! I had read Robert Ludlum books before (the Jason Bourne Trilogy BEFORE it was cool) and when I came upon these I thought it was going to be more of the same. I was delightfully surprised when I learned of the operations involved, the mastermind, and how this mastermind depended on his three ex-wives to help him with his plans. The funniest portion of this book was how he describes them.
These books are a treat and for me to actually describe parts of the plot would do it injustice. It is mean, but trust that finding out the story is more fun than the story itself.

[Utti Hietala]

The worst of Ludlum. I am a Robert Ludlum fan, but this omnibus was a complete bust. The first part (Road to Gandolfo) was still somewhat decent, but the second part (Road to Omaha) just dragged on forever without any semblance of a plot. I can't believe I plowed through this.

[Lany Kusnadi]

Sebenernya sih ini novel omnibus. Sayangnya cuma kuat baca bagian yg pertama aja. For no other reason than...not interested anymore. I don't think I like his writing style. Not to say that it's bad (heyy...who am I to judge a very famous and productive writer like him). It's just me :)

I finished the 1st part simply because lack of other reading materials and somehow along the way it got interesting. A unique character (this General MacKenzie). Witty and funny. So I sailed thru it. When it got to the 2nd part I expected the same. I guess it's still the same but I just didn't get the feeling anymore. So I kinda stop in the middle.

[Laura]

The road to Gandolfo was quite amusing and easily read by most intermediate readers. The Road to Omaha was absolutely hilarious, and laugh out loud startlingly. More than one coworker or fellow transit rider was jerked out of their personal meditation when I boisterously responded to a line in this book.

[Huma]

I re-read the adventures of Mac Hawkins and Sam Devereaux after a few years and I totally understand why I gave it 5 stars. The Road to Gandolfo is good, but it's The Road to Omaha where Ludlum us in his element. Omaha is a hilarious novel that I loved reading!

[Dennis Madden]

Gandolfo and Omaha are zany and comic. Great entertaining and a joy to read and re-read. Okay contrived too, but i loved it. My favorite is Gandolfo. Omaha is the follow-up of the tale. Gandolfo is short, try it first and if you like it you'll be looking of Omaha on the shelf or on line.

[J.]

Absolutely, laugh-out-loud, hysterical.

[Ndungu]

Ludlum is always good.

[Qutub]

It was an ordinary book, nothing great!

[Aoakhum]

not much like the other ludlum books i have read.... my friend recommended it to me,...... i wasnt disappointed... funny n interesting

[Venky]

Probably the most unique of all books from the Ludlum stable. This is a book that will throw one off kilter for its remarkably comic nature

[Penny Fay]

Hilarious, especially when you are expecting the usual Robert Ludlum spy thriller. I love the unexpected!

[Justin Neville]

(Actually have only read the first book of this omnibus. May or may not read the sequel at some point.)