Robert Ludlum's™ The Bourne Shadow

Jason Bourne #19

by Brian Freeman

When secrets from Jason Bourne's past come to light, he may be the next thing that's buried. The latest thrilling instalment in the legendary New York Times bestselling series from the world of Robert Ludlum.

It's been over a decade since Nash Rollins recruited a brilliant, talented, but disaffected young man named David Webb to join Treadstone. Webb became the agent known as Cain - and later took on the identity of Jason Bourne.

That violent winter - which included Cain's first mission for Treadstone - was also a story of betrayal in ways that David never knew. So after the injury that erased Bourne's whole life, Nash lied about the circumstances of David's recruitment to Treadstone. He was afraid that learning the truth might drive Bourne out of the agency forever.

But now, when Bourne meets a woman who recognises him as David Webb, the secrets of those days begin to come out - and Bourne is forced to confront the dangerous ghosts of a past he doesn't even remember.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Action, Mystery, Audiobook, Espionage, Politics

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 26, 2024

About the author

Brian Freeman is a New York Times bestselling author of psychological thrillers, including the Jonathan Stride and Frost Easton series. His books have been sold in 46 countries and 22 languages. He is widely acclaimed for his "you are there" settings and his complex, engaging characters and twist-filled plots. Brian was also selected as the official author to continue Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne series, and his novel THE BOURNE EVOLUTION was named one of the Best Mysteries and Thrillers of 2020 by Kirkus.

Brian's seventh novel SPILLED BLOOD won the award for Best Hardcover Novel in the annual Thriller Awards given out by the International Thriller Writers organization, and his fifth novel THE BURYING PLACE was a finalist for the same award. His novel THE DEEP, DEEP SNOW was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original.

His debut thriller, IMMORAL, won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel and was a nominee for the Edgar, Dagger, Anthony, and Barry Awards. IMMORAL was named an International Book of the Month, a distinction shared with authors such as Harlan Coben and Lisa Unger.

All of Brian's books are also available in audiobook editions. His novels THE BONE HOUSE and SEASON OF FEAR were both finalists for Best Audiobook of the Year in Thriller/Suspense.

For more information on Brian's books, visit his web site at bfreemanbooks.com or find him on Facebook at facebook.com/bfreemanfans or Twitter and Instagram (@bfreemanbooks).

Reviews

[Jeremy Peers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Freeman delivers another outstanding Jason Bourne thriller, delving into his past in The Bourne Shadow. Bourne is piecing his past together and relying on his boss, Nash Rollins. When a woman from his past recognizes him, Bourne struggles to understand the implications. As they put the puzzle together, feelings will get hurt while the danger increases exponentially.

Robert Ludlum created Jason Bourne; Freeman has made him his own. Freeman’s Bourne is my favorite. He has given Bourne more humanity and vulnerability while maintaining his ability to ruin your day.

Freeman shines in the characters. Lenin was the perfect nemesis for Bourne, and I was concerned there would be a drop-off in future henchmen quality. Not to give anything away, my concern was dumb and unnecessary. Freeman excels in The Bourne Shadow, setting up the series for the foreseeable future. The Bourne Shadow is one not to be missed!

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Bourne Shadow.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Freemans fifth Jason Bourne novel and hé gets better at it with each book. Some of the critism is that the Bourne novels do not follow the Ludlum trilogy, considering that Bourne has been around as literary character for 45 years means some stuff has to be altered as nobody believes in a 75 year old super assassin. So like 007 the other JB one has to update the character which is very neatly done by Brian Freeman.
This novel opens with David Webb before we jump to Paris were Jason Bourne gets a warning hé is being hunted. Another Treadstone agent Vandal send him the warning. Before long Jason is in the midst of a chase in which the sister of a Monika, David Webbs fiance, is along for the ride to find the missing sister.
Treadstone disagrees with Bourne's search and the neo-nazi organisation with whom Webb clashed want his head and Monika's alike.
A very good and unpredictable thriller in modern Europe were the Bourne character seems to work best.
Looking forward to the next installment "the Bourne vendetta" beginning 2025. Freeman has made the Bourne franchise exciting again.

Well worth your reading time.

[TheMysteryMO (Mike O) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Bourne book by Brian Freeman narrated by Scott Brick. He writes a good moving story. I am not too much into all the espionage stuff but he did find a way to bring the end to a good spot for the next one. I know there will be at least two more Bournes coming from him and then we’ll see what happens after that.

Love his standalones and Stride novels a lot more but I accept whatever he wants to write.

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Jason Bourne since the beginning and these books by Brian Freeman are great. The Bourne Shadow is the latest and in this Cain has some difficullt decisions to make. I am a little irritated that the series changes a lot about Bourne and his background but I can appreciate the quality of the author anyway. I believe this one is the best ever written by Freeman but I had some difficulties to ignore the original by Ludlum. Maybe this would have been better as a totally new series? It is a great story and wonderful characters, some twists I didn't see coming and some I saw a mile away. Still I am very grateful that Penguin Random House G.P. Putnam's Sons and Edelweiss made this advance copy available to me. I already am looking forward to the next one.

[Wendi Flint Rank (WendiReviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great continuation of the Bourne Series, with more unexpected twists and turns than
I can explain in a simple review. I am glad that Treadstone is still in operation, and that we
have some new and exciting interactions and revelations, deftly manipulated by the
brilliants Brian Freeman. I thoroughly recommend this book. My thanks to
G Putnam & Sons via NetGalley for the download copy of this book for review purposes.

[Monnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I've always enjoyed books in this series, but this one is a real barn-burner! Besides that, the story clears up a good bit of previously murky background on main character Jason Bourne, who has been treading water, so to speak, after running from the spy-laden Treadstone organization and trying to revive deeply buried memories of who, and what, he once was.

For none of which, alas, I can reveal specifics; you'll just have to read the book for yourself. I can, however, provide something of an outline of events that officially begin as Jason is in Paris for the summer amid riots surrounding a major government election and a dangerous neo-Nazi organizers. Months earlier, he'd reluctantly left his latest love, Abbey Laurent, in Quebec City under a cloud; in Paris, he's hoping she'll contact him so they can reconnect once again. Instead, he gets a message from a Treadstone colleague that someone is hunting the man known as Cain - the person the original David Webb, a.k.a. Cain, a.k.a. Jason Bourne.

Eventually, he's found by a woman who claims to be related to Monika Roth, the woman at one time he was going to marry (insert backstory here). Monika, it seems, had disappeared supposedly for good with Jason's help; now, her sister insists that finding her is urgent. Jason, who desperately wants to remember details from his complicated past, agrees to help.

From there, it's the thrill of the chase; as clues turn up as to Monika's whereabouts, Jason and Joanna find themselves chased by baddies intent on taking them out - or find said baddies are ready and waiting for them at their next destination. Along the way, Jason has to rely on people who may or may not be on his side - and hope some of his long-lost memories will return to help him figure out if there's anyone he can trust. It all leads to a bang-up (and surprising) ending and hints of a new direction with a too-familiar ring.

All told, this is one I had trouble putting down and one of the best I've read of the post-Ludlum installments. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bourne Shadow is great story by Brian Freeman, delving into Jason Bourne's life, since losing his memory years ago. A deeper dive into his past, as new and old characters help him restore some of his lost memories. The plot is very good and there are some crazy developments throughout, but who can Jason trust? Governments, politicians, and spies lie...just so you know.
I am a huge fan of Robert Ludlum's work and Brian Freeman has done justice to his take on the Bourne series. You get quite a few answers about Treadstone and Jason's lost memories, and I can't wait for the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Brian Freeman, and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of this novel and I highly recommend this novel.

[Jeremy Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what an ending. The whole book is an incredible spy buildup that you would expect from a Bourne book but the ending had me floored and it might be the best thriller I’ve read this year!

[Mike Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another entry into the Jason Bourne series started by Robert Ludlum. This is Brian Freeman’s fifth booking series, and he continues to knock it out of the park. Bourne is in Paris having some dinner and looking to see if he has a dead drop from Abbie Laurent when he gets a completely different kind of note. Vandal, a Treadstone agent who has history with, sends an emissary to warn Bourne that someone is after him. it is someone from his past and throughout the book there are flashbacks to’s first mission. This leads Bourne down a path to find his memories and remember his first mission and the people involved. It leads to some big secrets that could possibly be revealed and a whole lot of action.

This book is intense both from an emotional side for Jason Bourne, and from a physical site I really enjoyed the look back into Bourne early missions, and it was very easy to distinguish what happened in the past and what was happening in the present. The plot was excellent with a number of Freeman‘s patented twist and turns, some of which you don’t see coming. I feel like Mr. Freeman is adding depth to the Jason Bourne character. There are some new and interesting characters that look like they will have a strong presence in future Jason Bourne books.

Overall, this book is a must read for any thriller. If you got away from the Jason Bourne series at the end of the Eric. Van Lustbader series, it is time to come back. Thank you to NetGalley, Brian Freeman, and Penguin Group Putnam for a free advanced readers, copy for an honest review.

[David Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a long time Jason Bourne fan from the first book on! I have read every one of Brian Freeman's Bourne books. Loved them all. He does a great job carrying on with the Ludlum legacy. As did Eric Lustbader. Another Bourne thriller already in the works. Wouldn't it be fantastic to see a Bourne/Bond cross-over?!?!

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many decades ago I read several actual hardcover books in Robert Ludlam’s renowned series. Life kept me busy and I had no idea it continued under other authors. I have devoured many of Mr. Freeman’s books, I wasn’t aware he’d authored more in this series. This was a treat to read, nonstop action and harrowing situations. I know I’ve missed lots in between but did not feel lost. I’ll just need to go back and catch up on all the in between. Since Bourne has pieces of his past missing from a brain injury I didn’t feel so bad not knowing either. This plot involves Treadstone, a secret organization with highly trained operatives. It’s equally about Bourne’s early days and his first love. He and Monika were engaged when an undercover infiltration job went sideways. For her safety she had to disappear from everyone. Years later Monika’s estranged sister wants to find her and seeks Bourne’s help. The search for Monika reignites old feelings and glimpses from the past. He seems to easily fall in love and is quickly entangled with the sister. The spies with their ever changing identities or legends kept me frantically trying to separate the good guys from the evil dissidents. There is political unrest in France with rioters, protests, vandalism and fear. Bourne soon learns the past is truly better left buried. The lies and secrets he’s been told all these years open old wounds and leave new scars. I highly recommend this to both new and old readers of this series.
An Advance Reader Copy of “Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Shadow” Jason Bourne Series #19, by Brian Freeman, Penguin Publishing Group, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, Publication expected 07/16/2024, was provided by NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are all my own honest, personal thoughts given voluntarily without compensation.

[Peter Ackerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bourne Shadow is another excellent entry in the Jason Bourne series as carried on in recent novels by Brian Freeman.
What any reader wants from a Bourne adventure, a face paced page turner of a story, Freeman delivers. With Lennon, the adversary from previous entries in the series, out of the picture, Freeman begins what is likely another series that will continue in further novels.
In this one Jason Bourne slowly recalls events that occurred before he lost his memory, including a love affair with Monika which prompts him to accept the assistance of her younger sister, to locate. Difficulties include a European group who hope to finally unleash their political racist filled agenda.
All of these elements produce a fast paced fulfilling adventure, something that will not surprise anyone who reads Freeman’s Bourne books. This latest novel is a great way to enter the continuing and still unfolding world of Jason Bourne!

[GAllonFan1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC to this book in exchange for an honest review.

There is no doubt that Brian Freeman is the best post-Ludlum Jason Bourne storyteller. The last one and this one written by Mr. Freeman have been fantastic. The action is non-stop while also exploring the more human elements of Bourne, which sets him apart from other Treadstone agents. This book also sets up where the stories are going to go from here so I greatly look forward to the next chapter. 5-stars!!!

[Athena Porter · Rating 2 out of 5]

To me, this story was just plain silly. Very dangerous people who had deadly skills, were throwing a tantrum. They continued until most of them were killed.
The political setting for the story was all too familiar if you read the newspaper or watch the news.
There is usually a pounding pulse beat that is relentless to these stories with a sense of urgency. Like I said, this one is just silly.

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Robert Ludlum published the first Jason Bourne book I was hooked on the series. Brian Freeman gives you all of the action and suspense that I expected from Ludlum and I continue to be a fan. Ten years ago David Webb became an agent of Treadstone and was given his first assignment, infiltrating a far right extremist group. It was a trap, with his fiancée Monica Roth taken as a hostage. Leaving a number of bodies in his wake, he managed to free Monica, but the group’s leader escaped. Monica was given a new identity and settled in a new location. Now living as Jason Bourne he and Monica are being hunted by the group. He is contacted by Monica’s sister Johanna to help her find her missing sister. Bourne, however, is missing a big chunk of his past, including all memory of Monica. With Johanna’s help and brief flashes of memory they track her across Europe while dodging assassins who seem to be one step ahead of them. Someone does not want Monica found, but Jason is persistent. When they finally meet, it is on Monica’s terms and Jason discovers that his whole relationship with her was a lie. That first assignment was a test of Bourne’s capabilities. He proved himself in the past. Now the future of Treadstone may be at risk if he fails to save himself and Monica. Non-stop action and constant twists will keep you glued to the pages to the very end. I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group - Putnam for providing this book.

[Rajesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freeman has reinvented Jason Bourne and made him his own. A cracking thriller. Though it will mess with the timeline of the original Jason Bourne books by Ludlum, I think we can forgive that as the first Bourne book was published 44 years back. So unless Bourne is a septuagenarian with arthritis, we should excuse such modifications to his history.

[Ray Palen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prologue is set ten years before the present action. At that time, we meet up with a young man racing in a motor car through treacherous, winding roads to his destination which is a Swiss-style a-frame house somewhere in the mountains. Upon arrival, the young man is met by another gentleman named Gunther who then passes him off after vetting and weapons-check to another young man named Mario who leads him inside the secluded mountain home.

We learn that our young protagonist was named David Webb, but also went by the codename of Cain. His fiancée Monika was missing and he was now being escorted inside the lion’s den on a highly confidential and dangerous assignment for the organization named Treadstone. Webb had been recruited for Treadstone by his handler, Nash Rollins. While inside, Mario eventually leads him into a room filled with armed men where Webb decides the safest thing to do is to pledge his allegiance and go deep cover. That is until they ask Webb to seal his loyalty by killing the woman that was tied to a chain in that very same room. Upon closer inspection, Webb could clearly see that this woman was none other than his missing fiancée, Monika. The last thing he remembers is grabbing her head in his two hands, preparing to snap her neck.

Thus begins ROBERT LUDLUM’S THE BOURNE SHADOW, the latest Jason Bourne mystery and fifth to be penned by author Brian Freeman. Fans and long-time readers will be well aware that David Webb literally lost himself ten years ago and now operates under the new name of Jason Bourne. He still cannot fully recall what became of Monika and only has loose details about his past and how he became affiliated with Treadstone. In the present day, Bourne is returning to one of his favorite places in the world, Zurich Switzerland.

He was passed on information while at his usual apartment in Paris when a man he has worked with in the past named Gabriel Wildhaber nearly died during an assignment to pass on a note to Bourne. That note involved a woman he did not know who had been looking and asking around for David Webb in Zurich. Once Bourne arrives in Zurich he heads directly to his regular spot, the Drei Alpenhauser. It is there when a heavyset man, who refers to him still as Cain, indicates he wants no trouble but was told to text a certain woman upon Bourne/Webb’s arrival. Bourne asks him to do so and then awaits the mystery woman.

When she comes in, Bourne does not recognize her yet she has a familiar look. The woman named Johanna Roth sits with him and refers to him as David. Bourne learns that she last saw him ten years ago in Zurich when he was with her half-sister, Monika. She has never heard from or seen her sister again and wanted to know if David had any leads. He tells her in no uncertain terms that he has little to no memory of those times and does not know anything about Monika. Johanna then brings up the men who have been after her just moments before they enter the place. He tells her to escape quickly through the kitchen and gives her a location where they will meet in one hour’s time as he subdues their enemies.

Like every great Bourne novel, the action is at break-neck speed and constantly moves at that speed. Once Bourne reconnects with Johanna, memories being to slowly permeate his dark wall of thought and he recalls being sent by his mentor, David Abbot, to meet with the Treadstone man Nash Rollins when he was still David Webb. This is when everything would change and Rollins informed him that he was now going to learn all the rules that would govern and run the rest of his life, essentially wiping out his entire past. What Bourne did remember was that the mission from ten years earlier for Treadstone had gone badly wrong and that people were killed. He also recalls being told to kill the love of his life, Monika.

With the guidance of this new and unwitting partner, Johanna, Bourne must once again face the shadows of his past and his own darkened memory to figure out what exactly happened ten years earlier and what needs to be done in the present to obtain those answers. The result is another astonishing Bourne tale from Brian Freeman that jumps around physical locations and between the present and the past to face Bourne’s biggest enemy of all --- his own mind.

I still have a difficult time wrapping my brain around the fact that the late, great Robert Ludlum only penned three Jason Bourne novels before passing away and essentially handing the reigns over to Eric Van Lustbader. Now, following in those footsteps, Brian Freeman has taken control of Jason Bourne and steered him into territories he has never gone before. Freeman is the ideal candidate to be continuing this world-renowned series and character since he has already proven himself to be a master of dark thriller fiction. That darkness is definitely needed to present a Jason Bourne for the modern age and the highly volatile world we all currently inhabit. THE BOURNE SHADOW is another winner, an absolute pleasure to read, and allows us the high honor of continuing to spend time with the imminently complex and troubled Jason Bourne.


Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, Freeman, takes the reader on a roller coaster of emotions, memory loss, female backstory, fire power, espionage and the awesome twists and turns of Bourne/Cain/Webb! Awesome read. Enjoy

[Nick Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 19th Bourne novel, but the first I’ve read by Brian Freeman. Luckily you don’t need to have read the others to enjoy this.
Robert Ludlum was a master of the conspiracy thriller and Bourne was his greatest creation. A solid character to be the base of ongoing stories.
Here, Bourne finds an old lover may be in danger and joins his sister in trying to hunt her down. At the same time, a far right group in France is gaining political momentum but also have Bourne in their sights, the added complication of the Treadstone organisation leaves Bourne (as usual) not knowing who to trust.
Good pace and action to this with sufficient twists and turns to keep the reader involved. Minor issue that there is an obvious twist that the reader will suss about 100 pages before Bourne does! For a top operator, he can be very dumb sometimes!
But this is quite good fun.

[Parth Shiralkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

let's get it🗣💯

[Thomas Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Brian Freeman, Penguin Group, and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is another fast paced entry in the Bourne series. In this case, secrets from Bourne’s past resurface that he must understand and confront. Betrayal and twists abound as Bourne uncovers and remembers his past.

An interesting and enjoyable read and a worthy addition to the series. Recommended.

#RobertLudlumsTheBourneShadow #NetGalley

[Emir · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent action filled thriller. This one was a real page turner from start to finish with non stop action. Jason Bourne keeps amazing with his talents and his amazing stories continues. A must read for every fan.

[Kymber Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Freeman's The Bourne Shadow is an excellent continuation of Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne series! This book has everything one could hope for from an action book, including high stakes, high speeds, non-stop action, high intensity, drama, deception, subterfuge, and more. This is the first book I've read in the series since Mr. Ludlum passed, and I have to say, Mr. Freeman did one heck of a job living up Mr. Ludlam's standard of writing. If one is not familiar with Ludlam's Bourne series, they would not know it was someone other Mr. Ludlam that wrote Bourne Shadow I sincerely hope we see another book in the Bourne series by Mr. Freeman soon!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

ROBERT LUDLUM’S THE BOURNE SHADOW is the newest book in the Jason Bourne series. I am glad that Brian Freeman is continuing the Bourne adventure. Cain, AKA Jason Bourne, is in danger in Switzerland and Paris. He’s being hunted. What will happen? Will he get together with woman he loves? I read on to find the answers to my questions.

I enjoy the exciting ride the plot offers. At times, when my interest is most piqued, I must slow my reading to a crawl to make sure I don’t miss anything important. The conclusion leaves me wanting more. After experiencing this novel, I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Thank you, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and NetGalley, for giving me the chance to read an advance reader copy of ROBERT LUDLUM’S THE BOURNE SHADOW.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulously engrossing and entertaining Jason Bourne tale.
When Jason runs into someone from his past, he once again enters the
game of chase , catch and kill or be caught and be killed.
His memory of his past remains hidden with bits and pieces coming forth at odd moments in his life.
He once again begins to regain some memories as his pseudo identities of Cain, David Weber and Jason Bourne, all seem to be suddenly coming together and giving him back some pieces of his past. As the memories begin to fracture and resurface, bit by bit, as he works to remember what really happened in a brutal attack 10 years previously that killed several members of a ruthless, but hidden in society, rebel organization that sent him running and the woman he loved, in hiding.
Believing she is now targeted, as well as himself, he sets out to track her down.
The story is brilliant in its complexity but clearly defined characters and plot with twists that you just do not see coming.
For all the back and forth between now and then of both characters and story, it is amazingly easy to follow and pulls you
in 100% on page 1.
Kudos to another simply great story.
Ready for the next one.

[Kevin Stumpf · Rating 2 out of 5]

NOTHING HAPPENS until chapter 40. Skip to that point and you will be able to pick up the “plot” and save yourself a lot of time. I thought Mr. Freeman had rescued the series, but maybe I was mistaken.

There is no possible way that unbiased reviews have rated this book 4 or more stars.

The overall plot is ridiculous, along with the “James Bond reveal” of the entire back story in a few pages. Overall the plot is utterly unbelievable, except it happened in this novel, so I guess I have no choice but to believe a seasoned author would do so in 2024. I thought that fad ended in the 1990s.

This entire novel was written as a prequel to the next series of books, but could have been completed in two or three chapters and the “new” storyline could have simply taken place in this installment.
My recommendation is wait until The Bourne Vendetta is published in January 2025….read The Bourne Shadow from chapter 40 to conclusion, then pick up Vendetta. You will thank me later.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another intense story to add to the Bourne series. Brian Freeman keeps you intrigued and riveted with the twists and turns wrapped around the characters. New characters and story lines added to continue the Bourne saga going forward. Action packed with the usual Jason Bourne dilemmas, truly a wonderful book to enjoy.

[Anna♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5!!!!!!! This was awesome and I am already so excited for the next book!!!!!! 🤩🤩🤩

this def was my fave of the Bourne books he has written so far!!! 😌😌😌🫶🏼✨

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Prologue is set 10 years before the present action. A young man is racing in a motor car through treacherous, winding roads to his destination --- a Swiss-style A-frame house somewhere in the mountains. Upon arrival, he is met by another gentleman, Gunther, who vets him and does a weapons check. Gunther then passes him off to Mario, who leads him inside the secluded mountain home.

We learn that our protagonist is David Webb, but he also goes by the codename “Cain.” His fiancée, Monika, is missing, and now he is being escorted inside the lion’s den on a highly confidential and dangerous assignment for the Treadstone organization. Cain has been recruited for Treadstone by his handler, Nash Rollins. While inside, Mario eventually takes him into a room filled with armed men, where Cain decides that the safest thing to do is to pledge his allegiance and go deep cover. That is, until they ask him to seal his loyalty by killing the woman who is tied to a chain. Upon closer inspection, Cain can clearly see that she is none other than Monika. The last thing he remembers is grabbing her head in his two hands, preparing to snap her neck.

Thus begins ROBERT LUDLUM’S THE BOURNE SHADOW, the latest Jason Bourne thriller and the fifth to be penned by Brian Freeman. Longtime readers will be well aware that David Webb literally lost himself 10 years ago and now operates under the Jason Bourne moniker. He still cannot fully recall what became of Monika and only has loose details about his past and how he became affiliated with Treadstone. In the present day, Bourne is returning to one of his favorite places in the world: Zurich, Switzerland.

Gabriel Wildhaber, whom Bourne has worked with before, nearly dies trying to pass on a note to him at his Paris apartment. It involves a woman he doesn’t know who had been looking for David Webb. Once Bourne lands in Zurich, he heads directly to his regular eating spot, the Drei Alpenhauser. There, a heavyset man who refers to him as Cain indicates that he wants no trouble but was told to text a certain woman upon his arrival.

Bourne does not recognize the mystery lady when she appears, yet she has a familiar look. Her name is Johanna Roth, and she calls him David. Bourne learns that she last saw him 10 years ago in Zurich when he was with her half-sister, Monika. She has never heard from or seen Monika again and wants to know if Bourne has any leads. He tells her in no uncertain terms that he has little to no memory of those times and does not know anything about Monika. Johanna then brings up the men who have been after her just moments before they met. He tells her to escape quickly through the kitchen and gives her a location where they will meet in an hour as he subdues their enemies.

Like every great Bourne novel, the action moves at breakneck speed. Once Bourne reconnects with Johanna, memories slowly permeate his dark wall of thought, and everything begins to change. Nash informs him that he is now going to learn all the rules that will govern and run the rest of his life, essentially wiping out his entire past. What Bourne does remember is that the decade-old mission for Treadstone had gone terribly wrong and people paid the ultimate price. He also recalls being told to kill the love of his life.

With Johanna’s guidance, Bourne once again must face the shadows of his past and his own darkened memory to figure out what happened and what needs to be done to obtain those answers. The result is another astonishing thriller from Freeman that jumps around physical locations and between the present and the past to face Bourne’s biggest enemy of all --- his own mind.

I still have a difficult time wrapping my brain around the fact that the late, great Robert Ludlum only penned three Bourne novels before passing away and essentially handing the reigns over to Eric Van Lustbader. Now, following in those footsteps, Brian Freeman has taken control of Bourne and steered him into territories he has never gone before. Freeman is the ideal candidate to be continuing this world-renowned series since he already has proven himself to be a master of dark thrillers. That darkness is definitely needed to present a Bourne for the modern age and the highly volatile world we currently inhabit.

THE BOURNE SHADOW is another winner. It’s an absolute pleasure to read, and it allows us the high honor of continuing to spend time with the imminently complex and troubled Jason Bourne.

Reviewed by Ray Palen

[Keshav Nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Bourne Shadow" by Brian Freeman is the nineteenth thrilling addition to the Jason Bourne series, created by Robert Ludlum. In this gripping novel, Freeman continues the legacy that is filled with relentless action and intricate plots.

The plot opens ten years ago with a high-speed drive on the Swiss Alps where protagonist, David Webb, aka Cain, aka Jason Bourne, is on his first covert “Treadstone” mission following recruitment by his mentor, David Abbott. However, the Treadstone director, Nash Rollins, is not convinced he can be a reliable operative and decides to put his skills to the test. David has been tracking his missing girlfriend Monica Roth, who has been held captive, and Webb is forced to snap her neck to show his loyalty to Treadstone. Following the bloodshed and another failed covert operation in which David is shot in the head, he loses his identity and now operates under the alias Jason Bourne. 

Present day, David Webb has lost his memory from that fatal gunshot to his head, except for a loose recollection of events and places. He is en route to his favourite destination in Switzerland when Johanna Roth, Monica’s half-sister, approaches him and addresses him as David, requesting his help to track her sister, Monica. Jason has no memory of Monica and what transpired on his first mission. Johanna informs Jason that some men are behind her to know the whereabouts of Monica, and they will go to any extent to track and hunt her down. Slowly, as memories begin to seep through, Jason recollects the first mission that went wrong: people were killed, and he was asked to kill his love, Monica.

Jason has to wade through the intermittent memories of his past, join the dots, and figure out exactly what went wrong ten years ago. Subsequently, he must find answers to what happened to Monica Roth and track her current whereabouts before adversaries hunt her down.

From the very first page, it is an explosive start, and Freeman maintains the pace throughout the book. The plot is a suspenseful masterclass, with each chapter ending in a cliffhanger. The author’s ability to create vivid, cinematic action scenes is impressive, making it easy for readers to visualize the high-stakes confrontations and narrow escapes that Bourne encounters.

While "The Bourne Shadow" pays homage to the original works of Robert Ludlum, Freeman brings his unique voice to the series. I have been an ardent follower of Bourne's adventures and am looking forward to yet another promising and unforgettable journey into espionage and intrigue.