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Covert-One #6
Robert Ludlum's The Moscow Vector
A once-great nation is determined to rebuild its shattered empire and lightning military strikes against its neighbours are planned. But first they must sow confusion and fear in the ranks of their enemies. They turn to one of the world's wealthiest and most powerful men. He has control over an undetectable and incurable bioweapon, the perfect assassin's tool. Created using a strand of each victim's own DNA, it is the ultimate precision-guided silent killer. Lt. Col. Jon Smith and his Covert-One operatives take orders from the U.S. President: their mission is to stop this murderous conspiracy - and thwart the leaders who are seeking to restore their country to her former power...
544 pages, Paperback
First published July 7, 2005
169 people are currently reading
3234 people want to read
About the author
Robert Ludlum
631 books5,278 followersRobert Ludlum was the author of twenty-seven novels, each one a New York Times bestseller. There are more than 210 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. Ludlum also published books under the pseudonyms Jonathan Ryder and Michael Shepherd.
Some of Ludlum's novels have been made into films and mini-series, including The Osterman Weekend, The Holcroft Covenant, The Apocalypse Watch, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. A non-Ludlum book supposedly inspired by his unused notes, Covert One: The Hades Factor, has also been made into a mini-series. The Bourne movies, starring Matt Damon in the title role, have been commercially and critically successful (The Bourne Ultimatum won three Academy Awards in 2008), although the story lines depart significantly from the source material.
Some of Ludlum's novels have been made into films and mini-series, including The Osterman Weekend, The Holcroft Covenant, The Apocalypse Watch, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. A non-Ludlum book supposedly inspired by his unused notes, Covert One: The Hades Factor, has also been made into a mini-series. The Bourne movies, starring Matt Damon in the title role, have been commercially and critically successful (The Bourne Ultimatum won three Academy Awards in 2008), although the story lines depart significantly from the source material.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
December 27, 2015
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.
June 24, 2022
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.
March 24, 2016
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.
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.
Carl Alves – author of Blood Street
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.
Carl Alves – author of Blood Street
May 17, 2022
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.
April 8, 2015
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
February 3, 2009
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.
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.
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.
September 1, 2024
Not much of a nod to Robert Ludlum here, these Covert One books are a long way from the dark conspiracy action of the original author. “Who can you trust” was a strong theme from Ludlum. The Covert One books are more like the Tom Clancy books of late (obviously by different authors) with an off the books US intelligence unit reporting directly to the President. Reading this in 2024 it has themes that resonate today. Russia wants some of its old territories back (including a big chunk of Ukraine) and is using a targeted bio weapon to distract the West while it moves troops to its borders. Can Covert One get the evidence to stop the Russian plot? It’s not bad. Colonel Jon Smith is too good to be true but there are some good female characters and plenty of action.
November 30, 2015
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
June 13, 2014
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.
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.
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.
The mission get extremely personal when President Sam Castilla is targeted with the bio-weapon called Hydra.
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.
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.
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.
The mission get extremely personal when President Sam Castilla is targeted with the bio-weapon called Hydra.
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.
January 23, 2016
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!
3 out of 5 cups of black coffee.
3 out of 5 cups of black coffee.
August 27, 2014
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.
June 30, 2019
An interesting read that kept you going. Well crafted with an original storyline.
Though very long the plot was fast paced and the characters are well developed and real. Even the supporting characters were developed to enhance the main characters. Making it believable.
The book takes you all around the Globe, the research well done so that you really could experience the different countries in real time.
A must read.
Though very long the plot was fast paced and the characters are well developed and real. Even the supporting characters were developed to enhance the main characters. Making it believable.
The book takes you all around the Globe, the research well done so that you really could experience the different countries in real time.
A must read.
May 25, 2010
Having read all of Ludlum's books, this was the first "inspired by" novel that I read. The novel starts slowly, and keeps on going a bit faster, and ends very fast paced. I liked the book and it does keep with the Ludlum spirit. From some reason it simply took me a very long time to read.
If you enjoy Ludlum's novels you will enjoy this one also, albeit maybe not each and every word.
If you enjoy Ludlum's novels you will enjoy this one also, albeit maybe not each and every word.
May 20, 2007
hey.. plz dont.. i could not take the shit.. and i do not want another innocent soul to suffer!!!
July 29, 2014
This was a terrible continuation of the John Smith story. They shouldn't have written this book.
March 2, 2013
Thoroughly disappointed.
July 15, 2018
De Moskou vector begint meteen al goed. In de proloog wordt een moord gepleegd. Een van de vele die nog zullen volgen. Deze ene moord, en naar later blijkt, ook een groot aantal andere, zijn het gevolg van een nieuw biowapen. Waarvan het onmogelijk is om zonder bewijs aan te tonen dat het om een wapen gaat. Want alle verschijnselen van de slachtoffers wijzen erop dat ze door een ernstige ziekte zijn overleden.
Aan het uiterst geheime Covert One-team, dat onder leiding staat van kolonel Jon Smith, is het nu de taak om aan te tonen dat het dodelijke middel wél een moordwapen is. In zijn onderzoek loopt hij tegen de plannen van de Russische president Dudarev aan. Wat hebben deze met het biowapen te maken? Dit wordt langzaam, maar zeker steeds duidelijker.
Smith en de zijnen schuwen geen enkel middel om de vijanden een kopje kleiner te maken. Dit gaat aanvankelijk nog vrij rustig, maar wordt steeds gewelddadiger. Vooral omdat die vijanden zich niet laten afschrikken. Ludlum en Larkin hebben ervoor gezorgd dat de spanning daardoor tot een climax wordt opgebouwd. Want in het tweede deel van het boek is deze in sterke mate aanwezig.
De Moskou vector is een boek dat prettig en vlot leest en, zoals gezegd, een goede dosis spanning heeft. Ondanks dat dit ook weer een boek is over de verstandhouding tussen Amerika en Rusland is het zeker niet vervelend en afgezaagd. Voor de liefhebber van Ludlum-boeken is het min of meer weer verplicht leesvoer.
Toch heb ik nog wel een puntje van kritiek. Ludlum gebruikt in dit boek veel termen als: 'de man met de grijze ogen', 'de zwaargebouwde man', 'de donkerharige vrouw', etc. Dit had hij van mij achterwege mogen laten. Gebruik dan gewoon de naam van de persoon (deze was al bekend) of houd het bij hij of zij. Dit neemt echter niet weg dat ik het boek uitermate plezierig en goed te lezen vond.
Aan het uiterst geheime Covert One-team, dat onder leiding staat van kolonel Jon Smith, is het nu de taak om aan te tonen dat het dodelijke middel wél een moordwapen is. In zijn onderzoek loopt hij tegen de plannen van de Russische president Dudarev aan. Wat hebben deze met het biowapen te maken? Dit wordt langzaam, maar zeker steeds duidelijker.
Smith en de zijnen schuwen geen enkel middel om de vijanden een kopje kleiner te maken. Dit gaat aanvankelijk nog vrij rustig, maar wordt steeds gewelddadiger. Vooral omdat die vijanden zich niet laten afschrikken. Ludlum en Larkin hebben ervoor gezorgd dat de spanning daardoor tot een climax wordt opgebouwd. Want in het tweede deel van het boek is deze in sterke mate aanwezig.
De Moskou vector is een boek dat prettig en vlot leest en, zoals gezegd, een goede dosis spanning heeft. Ondanks dat dit ook weer een boek is over de verstandhouding tussen Amerika en Rusland is het zeker niet vervelend en afgezaagd. Voor de liefhebber van Ludlum-boeken is het min of meer weer verplicht leesvoer.
Toch heb ik nog wel een puntje van kritiek. Ludlum gebruikt in dit boek veel termen als: 'de man met de grijze ogen', 'de zwaargebouwde man', 'de donkerharige vrouw', etc. Dit had hij van mij achterwege mogen laten. Gebruik dan gewoon de naam van de persoon (deze was al bekend) of houd het bij hij of zij. Dit neemt echter niet weg dat ik het boek uitermate plezierig en goed te lezen vond.
March 6, 2025
It's official. I'm not a fan of Patrick Larkin's writing. This book was, like the previous one, unnecessarily gory. Beyond that, though, I pinned down what else was bothering me. The writing is just... awkward. The first word I think of is "clumsy", like tripping over an ottoman. The writing is obtrusive, distracting from the story, constantly leaving me feeling like something's wrong and wondering what just happened.
E.g. The President of the United States calls his chief of staff, on an internal line inside the White House. He opens the call with, "This is Sam Castilla, Charlie." Like the chief of staff wouldn't immediately recognize the President's voice. Or have some kind of indicator that the call was coming from inside the White House, therefore limiting the number of people who could be calling. Or even know who "Sam" was, needing a last name for clarification. Did I miss something? Am I confused about whom he is calling? What just happened???
These two books are the only ones in the series so far that I haven't loved, and at the time of writing this review, I've already read the next two books after this one. That's eight books so far. These two were disappointing.
E.g. The President of the United States calls his chief of staff, on an internal line inside the White House. He opens the call with, "This is Sam Castilla, Charlie." Like the chief of staff wouldn't immediately recognize the President's voice. Or have some kind of indicator that the call was coming from inside the White House, therefore limiting the number of people who could be calling. Or even know who "Sam" was, needing a last name for clarification. Did I miss something? Am I confused about whom he is calling? What just happened???
These two books are the only ones in the series so far that I haven't loved, and at the time of writing this review, I've already read the next two books after this one. That's eight books so far. These two were disappointing.
December 31, 2024
The Moscow Vector is gripping politically dramatized work of fiction and is part of the Covert – One Series. It has the propelling action and concern of a bioweaponing while being epistolary by Patrick Larkin after the death of Ludlum who co authored it. It was published posthumously.
The narrative follows Dr. Jon Smith who is a senior member of Covert – One, which is an obscure policy making agency of the state in fictional languages charged with formulating and carrying forward agendas that the expected means cannot deliver. In this case, Smith is brought in for a mission to save humanity from dread ‘Russian resurgence’, but things get hotter when the death of key Russian supporters outside the country’s borders is followed by even more sickening reality of the conspiracy surrounding it.
The story goes through impressive lots of action, underhand tactics and theory and application of science that is not too far-fetched. The theme of bioterrorism is particularly chilling but all too possible in the age of shifting political confrontation that has always been the focal point of all of Ludlum’s written stories.
The narrative follows Dr. Jon Smith who is a senior member of Covert – One, which is an obscure policy making agency of the state in fictional languages charged with formulating and carrying forward agendas that the expected means cannot deliver. In this case, Smith is brought in for a mission to save humanity from dread ‘Russian resurgence’, but things get hotter when the death of key Russian supporters outside the country’s borders is followed by even more sickening reality of the conspiracy surrounding it.
The story goes through impressive lots of action, underhand tactics and theory and application of science that is not too far-fetched. The theme of bioterrorism is particularly chilling but all too possible in the age of shifting political confrontation that has always been the focal point of all of Ludlum’s written stories.
February 7, 2024
Like in every Ludlum, there are quite a few storylines to follow, with many different characters that all have their own agenda.
Inevitably the end up at the same spot at the same time, when the end game starts. Looking at the book this way, it certainly delivered.
But... I think conversation between the characters didn't always flow, it was halted at times. It may have been caused by the translation, I don't know.
I also had a hard time keeping apart the bad guys that worked for the Russian president. Especially the German ones. It was probably my bad, lacking concentration.
All in all it was a nice read.
Inevitably the end up at the same spot at the same time, when the end game starts. Looking at the book this way, it certainly delivered.
But... I think conversation between the characters didn't always flow, it was halted at times. It may have been caused by the translation, I don't know.
I also had a hard time keeping apart the bad guys that worked for the Russian president. Especially the German ones. It was probably my bad, lacking concentration.
All in all it was a nice read.
June 10, 2020
I realize that this "review" is a bit out-dated (by about 15 years or so). I really enjoyed Robert Ludlum's novels.....but after he passed away in 2001 and his estate (or his publisher) offered up some of his series (primarily the Bourne books but also Covert-One) to other authors, while giving me an exposure to some of their writings (or at least their writing styles), I have found them to be a bit formulaic.
April 15, 2019
The author spent a lot of words setting up the plot, probably a lot more than was necessary. The tough guys were almost to tough. The situations the good guys were involved in and got out of were unbelievable. Other than that it was not quite a waste of time. The times that the book was written in probably were very good for this type of plot.
March 31, 2022
The “Stunning” Moscow Vector
A really believable read that one could say,”yes”,that certainly COULD happen & the main characters COULD COME OUT IN one piece-most enjoyable; I really loved it and finally and also the little romance at the end to add a human aspect! NICE!
Coral Scherer Byrd….a real fan!
A really believable read that one could say,”yes”,that certainly COULD happen & the main characters COULD COME OUT IN one piece-most enjoyable; I really loved it and finally and also the little romance at the end to add a human aspect! NICE!
Coral Scherer Byrd….a real fan!
June 12, 2024
Un roman d’espionnage ce qu’il y a de plus classiques, mais qui datant de 2009 peut aussi s’apparenter a une bouteille de vin qui a bien vieilli. Le contexte du livre qui s’appuie sur des tensions géopolitique mené par un président Russe qui reprend très largement le parcours de Poutine reprend des themes qui sont au cœur de l’actualité et qui ajoute une nouvelle perspective à ce livre.
October 22, 2024
Deja vu all over again! Written in 2005, the two main plots invoke a virus that the Russians want to unleash on the world as a distraction from their invasion of Ukraine. Would that the Us had enough of these “good guys” in real life to thrawrt all of these nefarious plans. I listened to the audio version, so some of the Russian names made it difficult to keep track of who’s who.
December 9, 2024
Good action spy novel with plenty of spills and thrills. I read this almost 20 years after it was written, and Russia has been trying to invade the Ukraine for several years now.
I have some quips about the writing. Couldn't the authors come up with a less generic name for the hero than Jon Smith? And there is an overuse of adjectives when describing bad guys as hard faced and broad shouldered.
I have some quips about the writing. Couldn't the authors come up with a less generic name for the hero than Jon Smith? And there is an overuse of adjectives when describing bad guys as hard faced and broad shouldered.
January 7, 2025
My third time reading a Jon Smith Covert 1 novel in the series. There are so many parallels such as a Ukraine war initiated by Russia, a killer bio-weaponized virus, a billionaire using his wealth to sway right wing governments and in the end some good agents who do their job and the world goes on. Worth a read for the plot and action.
August 1, 2018
Another enjoyable Covert One novel. It wasn't as good as previous novels, however. For one, it borrowed too many themes from a previous book in the series. Secondly, it just wasn't as exciting. In short, I enjoyed it, but it could have been better.
July 30, 2022
At first, I wasn’t sure I was into this book. It started a little slow. However, once the action picked up, I couldn’t put it down. The second half of the book flew by in no time at all. Definitely enjoyed this book and will will for others from this author.
April 5, 2023
While the book is still good, by the sixth installment the repeating tropes are really noticeable. Even the doubting the CIA hierarchy has been done more than once now! Otherwise the thrills are nice, the science (odorless poisons based on DNA) is good enough, the characters remain themselves.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews