What do you think?
Rate this book
Jason Bourne #13
The Bourne Enigma
On the eve of Russian General Boris Karpov's wedding, Jason Bourne receives an enigmatic message from his old friend and fellow spymaster. In Moscow, what should be a joyous occasion turns bloody and lethal. Now Bourne is the only one who can decipher Karpov's cryptogram. He discovers that Karpov was willing to betray his Sovereign to warn Bourne of a crippling disaster about to be visited on the world. Bourne has only four days to discover the nature of the disaster and stop it.
The trail Karpov has been following leads Bourne to Cairo and the doorstep of Ivan Borz, the elusive international arms dealer infamous for hiding behind a never-ending series of false identities, a man Bourne has been hunting ever since he abducted former Treadstone director Soraya Moore and her two-year-old daughter, and brutally murdered her husband.
In war-torn Syria and then Cyprus Bourne moves ever closer to discovering the astonishing truth, and ever closer to his own death.
The clock is ticking, and Bourne has less than four days to solve Karpov's riddle—and hunt down Borz—if he hopes to prevent a cataclysmic international war...
544 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 21, 2016
699 people are currently reading
5090 people want to read
About the author
Eric Van Lustbader
167 books1,227 followersEric Van Lustbader was born and raised in Greenwich Village. He is the author of more than twenty-five best-selling novels, including The Ninja, in which he introduced Nicholas Linnear, one of modern fiction's most beloved and enduring heroes. The Ninja was sold to 20th CenturyFox, to be made into a major motion picture. His novels have been translated into over twenty languages.
Mr. Lustbader is a graduate of Columbia College, with a degree in Sociology. Before turning to writing full time, he enjoyed highly successful careers in the New York City public school system, where he holds licenses in both elementary and early childhood education, and in the music business, where he worked for Elektra Records and CBS Records, among other companies.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/ericva...
Mr. Lustbader is a graduate of Columbia College, with a degree in Sociology. Before turning to writing full time, he enjoyed highly successful careers in the New York City public school system, where he holds licenses in both elementary and early childhood education, and in the music business, where he worked for Elektra Records and CBS Records, among other companies.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/ericva...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
November 2, 2016
In his effort to elongate the Jason Bourne series, van Lustbader continues to steer the protagonist in ways Robert Ludlum would likely never have dreamt or possibly wanted. In this 'lucky' 13th instalment, Jason Bourne is approached in Frankfurt with a present from a close friend; a coin, etched with a curious rebus. Upon arriving in Moscow, Bourne sets out to attend the wedding of a close friend, General Boris Karpov, who is a high-ranking official in the country's FSB. Before Bourne has a chance to inquire about the coin Karpov sent him, the General is garrotted outside his wedding reception. FSB officials are prepared to arrest Bourne for the murder, as he found the body, though the elusive 'man of mystery' asks for a short reprieve to prove that he is innocent. Embedded in the wound is a gold Star of David, one that Bourne recognises as belonging to Israeli Sara Yadin. While Bourne's past is somewhat fuzzy, he is well aware that Yadin is a Kidon assassin using the name Rebeka, though he cannot understand what reason she might have for killing the General. While pondering this, Bourne is left to wonder if the man for whom he has been searching over the past little while, Ivan Borz, might be responsible, and if this coin could play into the murder. Finding himself headed to Cairo in search of Borz, Bourne locates Yadin, who denies being behind the killing, but does admit her Star has gone missing. They begin examining the coin in Bourne's possession and wonder if it might hold the key to Karpov's murder. After coming head to head with Borz, it appears they have the assassin before them, but there is something even larger afoot; something that involves The Sovereign, the respectful name of the current Russian President. Once Bourne and Yadin are able to decipher the rebus, they realise that The Sovereign has been siphoning money from a secret account to terror cells, distracting the world from his own plans of renewed imperialism. Unless Bourne can stop the money train, world leaders will expend all attention and energy to fighting the likes of ISIS while Russian forces exact brutal takeover manoeuvres in hopes of recreating a 21st century USSR. Is this one mission Bourne will have to admit is too much for him to handle? Series fans may find much excitement in van Lustbader's latest instalment, though purists may cringe or turn away.
A few years ago I went on a Jason Bourne binge, reading the entire collection to that point. Some may remember this venture and how I saw a significant turn away from the Ludlum Bourne when Eric van Lustbader took over. This continues and, while the stories on their own might hold the reader's attention, I feel they are not upholding what Ludlum created. Far be it from me to lament times past or previous incarnations of characters whose entire being is embedded in a bygone era, but I simply find myself unable to be drawn in by the 'new' Bourne or the adventures crafted by van Lustbader. The characters in this story are varied and, in true Bourne series fashion, offer both those who fill the upper echelons of 'good' and evildoers. The author is able to spin backstories of both individual characters and how Jason Bourne fits onto their larger radar. While early novels were always about Bourne staying one step ahead of the law and government agencies (a la Jack Reacher), it seems he is now on more of an international spy/sleuth kick (a rougher Cotton Malone). The story weaves its way across continents and develops plots that have agencies battling one another, forcing Bourne to choose his loyalties, which could be of some interest to the dedicated reader. However, I find myself less than enthralled or captivated by this and sensed myself drifting mentally at times. Why do I keep reading whatever van Lustbader churns out when it comes to this series? Perhaps I find myself wanting to simply finish that which I have started, in honour to Robert Ludlum. Still, there comes a time when things have outlived their usefulness. Could this series be ready to end anytime soon? For the sake of purists, one can surely hope, though van Lustbader has at least one more book coming.
Thank you for your contributions, Mr. van Lustbader. Jason Bourne has grown and developed, but perhaps his ill-fitting britches are indicative that he needs to hang up his amnesia-riddled personality and retire.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A few years ago I went on a Jason Bourne binge, reading the entire collection to that point. Some may remember this venture and how I saw a significant turn away from the Ludlum Bourne when Eric van Lustbader took over. This continues and, while the stories on their own might hold the reader's attention, I feel they are not upholding what Ludlum created. Far be it from me to lament times past or previous incarnations of characters whose entire being is embedded in a bygone era, but I simply find myself unable to be drawn in by the 'new' Bourne or the adventures crafted by van Lustbader. The characters in this story are varied and, in true Bourne series fashion, offer both those who fill the upper echelons of 'good' and evildoers. The author is able to spin backstories of both individual characters and how Jason Bourne fits onto their larger radar. While early novels were always about Bourne staying one step ahead of the law and government agencies (a la Jack Reacher), it seems he is now on more of an international spy/sleuth kick (a rougher Cotton Malone). The story weaves its way across continents and develops plots that have agencies battling one another, forcing Bourne to choose his loyalties, which could be of some interest to the dedicated reader. However, I find myself less than enthralled or captivated by this and sensed myself drifting mentally at times. Why do I keep reading whatever van Lustbader churns out when it comes to this series? Perhaps I find myself wanting to simply finish that which I have started, in honour to Robert Ludlum. Still, there comes a time when things have outlived their usefulness. Could this series be ready to end anytime soon? For the sake of purists, one can surely hope, though van Lustbader has at least one more book coming.
Thank you for your contributions, Mr. van Lustbader. Jason Bourne has grown and developed, but perhaps his ill-fitting britches are indicative that he needs to hang up his amnesia-riddled personality and retire.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
April 2, 2018
I am a die-hard fan of Ludlum's novels. This is my first foray into Van Lustbader who has taken up the Bourne mantel, this being his 13th time. I wish I was as taken with this novel as I was with the originals.
Bourne travels to Russia to attend the wedding of a Russian General who Bourne has a curious friendship with. Bourne is given a coin that is to provide a clue why the general wants to get together. But before the two can talk, the general is garotted on his wedding night and Bourne is accused of the murder. He convinces the Russians investigating that he is the only one who can save them from the disgrace of a general being killed on their watch. So, he has 48 hours to find the real killer and save the life of a woman who the authorities have kept as collateral. This takes Bourne to the Middle East and to the top of the power elite in Russia, where abuse and power-grabs reign.
There seem to be all the requisite makings of a Bourne novel: fights, subterfuge, mystery, murders, agencies chasing Bourne and lost love. However, I wasn't grabbed by this Bourne, the man, as I was in the originals. This is a tough series to write. There's a ton of political intrigue that must be researched before written, a ton of foreign places. Yet, the pace feels slow and the story digresses on long dialogs that should be half their length. In this novel, Bourne has become something of a Bond rather than an assassin trying to escape a guilty, nagging conscience and his past. I wouldn't have been surprised if he'd stolen a car and found the passenger's side was an ejection seat. :-) Gone is the recluse misfit gifted with magical skills in tradecraft. He's still a great fighter in this novel, but so are boxers in the ring. There's a scattering of characters ranging throughout the novel, few of them fully drawn and perhaps that dilutes the personality that Bourne is.
If you're a Bourne devotee, you'll want anything with "Bourne" in the title. And although this novel is lesser fair, it's still some morsels to prolong the Bourne feast long after Ludlum's death.
Bourne travels to Russia to attend the wedding of a Russian General who Bourne has a curious friendship with. Bourne is given a coin that is to provide a clue why the general wants to get together. But before the two can talk, the general is garotted on his wedding night and Bourne is accused of the murder. He convinces the Russians investigating that he is the only one who can save them from the disgrace of a general being killed on their watch. So, he has 48 hours to find the real killer and save the life of a woman who the authorities have kept as collateral. This takes Bourne to the Middle East and to the top of the power elite in Russia, where abuse and power-grabs reign.
There seem to be all the requisite makings of a Bourne novel: fights, subterfuge, mystery, murders, agencies chasing Bourne and lost love. However, I wasn't grabbed by this Bourne, the man, as I was in the originals. This is a tough series to write. There's a ton of political intrigue that must be researched before written, a ton of foreign places. Yet, the pace feels slow and the story digresses on long dialogs that should be half their length. In this novel, Bourne has become something of a Bond rather than an assassin trying to escape a guilty, nagging conscience and his past. I wouldn't have been surprised if he'd stolen a car and found the passenger's side was an ejection seat. :-) Gone is the recluse misfit gifted with magical skills in tradecraft. He's still a great fighter in this novel, but so are boxers in the ring. There's a scattering of characters ranging throughout the novel, few of them fully drawn and perhaps that dilutes the personality that Bourne is.
If you're a Bourne devotee, you'll want anything with "Bourne" in the title. And although this novel is lesser fair, it's still some morsels to prolong the Bourne feast long after Ludlum's death.
September 10, 2016
Many, many Jason Bourne books have been spun by Eric Van Lustbader since the passing of the great Robert Ludlum. I have read most, if not all of them, and this is why I feel the book deserves three stars:
There comes a point when so many characters are conniving to one-up or seek revenge against enemies both present and past that the story loses its traction. That is the problem with this one. When I put the book down and picked it up the next night, I always forgot who hated who even more. The action is quite good - and graphic, often, and I enjoy Jason Bourne's gumption and abilities. I appreciate the current-day tie-ins: ISIS has a role in this book, and so does the Russian desire to reclaim the Ukraine, so there is believable geopolitical intrigue involved. Lots going on, keep a sharp and open mind to appreciate this one. I don't believe you have to have read all the Bourne books in order like some other series.
There comes a point when so many characters are conniving to one-up or seek revenge against enemies both present and past that the story loses its traction. That is the problem with this one. When I put the book down and picked it up the next night, I always forgot who hated who even more. The action is quite good - and graphic, often, and I enjoy Jason Bourne's gumption and abilities. I appreciate the current-day tie-ins: ISIS has a role in this book, and so does the Russian desire to reclaim the Ukraine, so there is believable geopolitical intrigue involved. Lots going on, keep a sharp and open mind to appreciate this one. I don't believe you have to have read all the Bourne books in order like some other series.
August 25, 2016
I do feel sorry for the Ludlum estate. This book reads like it was written by a college freshman. It is difficult to follow the sequence of events or conversations, pronouns and antecedents are jumbled. It is nowhere near the standard that Ludlum set and a sorry continuation of a great series. Let it rest and don't bother picking it up.
Reasons? a) Poorly researched attempt at all things Russian;.b) physically impossible descriptions, Bourne does some wicked crazy moves, drives the fight in masterful ways, but some of these fights are laughably poor; c) research - really? vampire bats? explained by not all of them were, but enough of them were of the type, and a quick look at Wikipedia will tell you the geographic locations of the species and even the type of climate where they exist; d) a single shot .357 at the climax?
Mr. Lustbader needs an edit who is not his wife.
Reasons? a) Poorly researched attempt at all things Russian;.b) physically impossible descriptions, Bourne does some wicked crazy moves, drives the fight in masterful ways, but some of these fights are laughably poor; c) research - really? vampire bats? explained by not all of them were, but enough of them were of the type, and a quick look at Wikipedia will tell you the geographic locations of the species and even the type of climate where they exist; d) a single shot .357 at the climax?
Mr. Lustbader needs an edit who is not his wife.
December 31, 2020
NOT GOOD. After reading the Bourne Ascendancy (book 12 in the series and I have read all in the series) I thought Eric Van Lustbader had found a way to finally make the series his own, maybe I was mistaken. If this is where the series is headed, I may have to give up. I will give Mr. Van Lustbader one more attempt.
This book felt like Bourne turned into Alex Cross and was a detective instead of an assassin. Way, way, way too many shallow characters created and too many "oh I just read that wrong" moments but "it's totally clear now".
Maybe the part that topped it off for me? Bourne can't remember facts about one character (non spoiler) even though the character was a "best friend" but another character he can recall ALL the facts of their previous interactions? Well...which is it? Does Bourne have his amnesia effects still? Or only when convenient?
Again, I absolutely enjoy the Bourne series but Mr. Van Lustbader needs to get this figured out, give up the series to an author that can get it back on track, or end the series once and for all.
This book felt like Bourne turned into Alex Cross and was a detective instead of an assassin. Way, way, way too many shallow characters created and too many "oh I just read that wrong" moments but "it's totally clear now".
Maybe the part that topped it off for me? Bourne can't remember facts about one character (non spoiler) even though the character was a "best friend" but another character he can recall ALL the facts of their previous interactions? Well...which is it? Does Bourne have his amnesia effects still? Or only when convenient?
Again, I absolutely enjoy the Bourne series but Mr. Van Lustbader needs to get this figured out, give up the series to an author that can get it back on track, or end the series once and for all.
November 23, 2017
We all love the Bourne character, whether in books or on the movie screen.
I persevered with this novel for that reason only.
It was wordy and clumsy. It didn't flow easily and I skipped my way through to the interesting parts.
I need to remember to NOT run off and automatically grab the next Bourne novel!
I persevered with this novel for that reason only.
It was wordy and clumsy. It didn't flow easily and I skipped my way through to the interesting parts.
I need to remember to NOT run off and automatically grab the next Bourne novel!
September 2, 2017
Sometimes when a writer takes up writing another writers idea for a novel, it doesn't work. Having enjoyed Robert Ludlum's Bourne series, I was at first a little dubious that Eric Van Lustbader was the right person for this task. Having read the ones that he has written however, I'm convinced that he was. Another great thriller which I really enjoyed and I hope that there is another one in the series. I also hope that we see more of the new characters that have been introduced in this novel.
August 12, 2017
Wonder if the story is about Jason Bourne or Rebeka (Israeli agent - Sara)? Also, disappointed to see a very weak Jason Bourne running around trying to solve a puzzle rather than confronting bad guys and coming up on top. This Jason Bourne seems no match to the original Jason Bourne that was Ludlum original character.
May 21, 2017
average book
starts of nicely
but i think the author gets complacent or confused towards the middle
the escapes by the main protagonists are too superhuman and unbelievable
the end is hurried
had to read to finish the series
starts of nicely
but i think the author gets complacent or confused towards the middle
the escapes by the main protagonists are too superhuman and unbelievable
the end is hurried
had to read to finish the series
July 16, 2017
Really good book......
Loved the movies, wanted to try a book. Not disappointed, at all. Enjoyed the Characters and the dialogue immensely.
Now when I see the books at a great price I will buy and read some more of Jason Bourne adventures. Thanks, Amarillo Turtle
Loved the movies, wanted to try a book. Not disappointed, at all. Enjoyed the Characters and the dialogue immensely.
Now when I see the books at a great price I will buy and read some more of Jason Bourne adventures. Thanks, Amarillo Turtle
February 7, 2017
I received this book via a goodreads giveaway.
This is another in the continuing episodes of Jason Bourne, basically in search of his lost memories. This episode begins on the eve of Jason’s good friend & fello spymaster, Boris Karpov’s wedding. Jason received a cryptic message from Boris via courier. The message is an old coin. Before Jason & Boris have the opportunity to discuss the cryptic message, Boris is murdered; embedded in the gash across Boris’ throat is a vert specific Star of David belonging to another of Jason’s friends, Mossad assassin known as Rebekha.
As always, Jason’s life seems to never be within his own control; not even when he is searching for answers to Boris’ message. He finds himself the target of many and finds friends murdered. Each step Bourne takes to solve the riddle leads him farther away from Moscow and deeper into enemy territory.
This time, Jason’s helping hand past may turn out to have been a vital error on his part, when he realizes that the young girl he rescued from Somali pirates is now known as the Angelmaker, one of the top assassins in the world and this time her target is him! Can Jason decrypt Boris’s message and stop another world war before his path collides with that of the Angelmaker?
While I have never really been a Jason Bourne fan, I must admit I have to give this book 4 stars!
January 10, 2026
A very average book.
I'm a big fan of the spy genre so if you're not a big spy fan, this will probably be a 2/5 rated book for you.
It took me quite a while to finish it and by the final third of the book I was dragging my feet just to finish it.
Now, the problem with this book is the storyline is quite convoluted and dare I say unnecessarily complicated. There is a strong investigative treasure hunt quality to the storyline a la Dan Brown which feels a bit uninspired and not very interesting to read.
The action scenes are decent, but unfortunately, Bourne, at this point of the character's evolution, is essentially a one man army, so there is almost zero anticipation and suspense because we know Bourne will always win.
I can only recommend this book you're a hardcore Bourne fan who must read every single book. Even then, you might be better off just reading the summary plot on Wikipedia to get up to speed to jump into the next Bourne book.
I'm a big fan of the spy genre so if you're not a big spy fan, this will probably be a 2/5 rated book for you.
It took me quite a while to finish it and by the final third of the book I was dragging my feet just to finish it.
Now, the problem with this book is the storyline is quite convoluted and dare I say unnecessarily complicated. There is a strong investigative treasure hunt quality to the storyline a la Dan Brown which feels a bit uninspired and not very interesting to read.
The action scenes are decent, but unfortunately, Bourne, at this point of the character's evolution, is essentially a one man army, so there is almost zero anticipation and suspense because we know Bourne will always win.
I can only recommend this book you're a hardcore Bourne fan who must read every single book. Even then, you might be better off just reading the summary plot on Wikipedia to get up to speed to jump into the next Bourne book.
July 9, 2017
Opět slabý Bourne od Van Lusbadera. Ludlum už se v hrobě neobrací, ale rotuje jako vrtule. Děj se trochu rozjíždí až kolem poloviny (celkem cca 420 stran), do té doby je to bolestně ukecané. Relativně strhující je (jinak neuvěřitelně prázdný) příběh až ke konci. Samotný Bourne je tu popisován necharismaticky a povrchně. Celkově nudné, nezajímavé, generické, ukecané, hloupé. Za vše hovoří tato jedna citace: "Bourne vytáhl xxx z kapsy krabičku s cigaretami, rozdrtil je v prstech a hodil mu hrst tabáku do obličeje." Prostě "prvotřídní" akční thriller...
Já vím, je to masovka. Nový díl vychází skoro každý rok, vždycky si to koupím a zapomenu, že je to taková sračka. A další rok si to na dovolenou koupím zase. Letos jsem si to aspoň půjčil, tak nemusím litovat peněz. I tak je s tím konec, za rok prostě NE! Na druhou stranu, je pravda, že jsem to dočetl - to ale spíš cosi vypovídá o mě než o knize.
Já vím, je to masovka. Nový díl vychází skoro každý rok, vždycky si to koupím a zapomenu, že je to taková sračka. A další rok si to na dovolenou koupím zase. Letos jsem si to aspoň půjčil, tak nemusím litovat peněz. I tak je s tím konec, za rok prostě NE! Na druhou stranu, je pravda, že jsem to dočetl - to ale spíš cosi vypovídá o mě než o knize.
March 1, 2017
After reading 'The Bourne Enigma' I've come to the conclusion that it's more Bond than Bourne. The whole adventure plodded along at a seemingly snail's pace, with more emphasis on Jason Bourne's character being sophisticated; something I couldn't quite get my head around. Other than that, the prose was descriptive and written intelligently.
A good read.
A good read.
July 6, 2016
I bought this book. I enjoyed reading it. It was full of action/adventure. It is my first book by this author and first one in this series that I have read. I look forward to the next book in this series.
September 8, 2016
More of a 2.5 ... I enjoyed Ludlum's novels. The Bourne Enigma does continue the world of Jason Bourne in a modern setting of conflicts in Russia and the Middle East. The writing does not have the same depth, and I found myself comparing the two authors in their style and substance.
November 28, 2017
I always love these books -- I listened to this on Audible, and it was about 15 hours. Parts did seem to drag out, but I like the vocabulary level and the characterization. The recording was good, as well, although I didn't love it.
August 20, 2016
Fast paced, compelling story line. Enjoyable read.
April 10, 2017
Plot-3.5 Stars
Characters-4.5 Stars
Setting-4 Stars
Overall-3.5 Stars
I wish again that they had half a star for rating.
The first part of this book was like a dark erotica. It seems like Mr Lustbader wanted to write erotica but had to write another Bourne book. He compromised and came out with The Bourne Enigma. That being said, I still think Bourne is the best spy out there. My order for spies so far: Bourne, Fisher, Smith...and somewhere way down the list is Bond.
This had the usual save the cheerleader save the world.....wait that is not right. Ok, it did have a plot that only Bourne could thwart and I am alright with that. It is a spy book after all. I am still interested in Bourne and Saras relationship. If you go with how all spy books go with love interests, she will die. I hope not myself.
Also, I get that Putin was on a horse with no shirt and if you haven't seen or heard about that you will, this book mentions it several times throughout the book.
Overall-If you have read one a Bourne book post Ludlum then you know what you are getting in this book. No crazy twists or turns. Just Bourne kicking ass and taking names. Which thanks to his eidetic memory he won't forget.
Characters-4.5 Stars
Setting-4 Stars
Overall-3.5 Stars
I wish again that they had half a star for rating.
The first part of this book was like a dark erotica. It seems like Mr Lustbader wanted to write erotica but had to write another Bourne book. He compromised and came out with The Bourne Enigma. That being said, I still think Bourne is the best spy out there. My order for spies so far: Bourne, Fisher, Smith...and somewhere way down the list is Bond.
This had the usual save the cheerleader save the world.....wait that is not right. Ok, it did have a plot that only Bourne could thwart and I am alright with that. It is a spy book after all. I am still interested in Bourne and Saras relationship. If you go with how all spy books go with love interests, she will die. I hope not myself.
Also, I get that Putin was on a horse with no shirt and if you haven't seen or heard about that you will, this book mentions it several times throughout the book.
Overall-If you have read one a Bourne book post Ludlum then you know what you are getting in this book. No crazy twists or turns. Just Bourne kicking ass and taking names. Which thanks to his eidetic memory he won't forget.
December 11, 2016
With suspects dropping like flies, with the turn of every couple of pages I never thought I'd find out what the hell was gong on. It was the twisted maze of broken glass, and shredded metal that I've ever felt that I ran through in my bare feet, with Jason Bourne. I love this guy, but I feel like I would be terrified to be his friend , that my life as such would be totally expendable, not having the training and instincts that he possesses, from the organization that he hates with every fiber of his being, is probably the only reason he is still alive! God help any one who pals around with J.B., your days are numbered.
May 7, 2017
VanLustbader has made Ludlum's Jason Bourne into a creature wholly his own. Re-reading the series, the pulp fiction author struggled early on, but found his comfort zone after 10 books on. David Webb is dead & gone, as is Marie and any mention of his children or academic career. On the upside, at least Book #13 recalls Bourne's original amnesia, even if the timeline remains necessarily vague. This is pulp, no doubt, tho not bad for all that.
August 9, 2017
A very average book . There are certain books which have a very cinematic feel to it and therefore seems pretty racy and interesting throughout, like most of the the Dan Brown books but this one was a hugely disappointing one. Having a certain few characters is okay but there were way too many, which sometimes is okay except the fact that, some of the characters were unnecessary and added nothing significant to the plot of the book and only made the book more longer and slower than required.
January 10, 2018
Much better than the previous books from Robert Ludlum’s state written by Eric van Lustbader! It seems more complete, with a more intriguing plot, and a lot of twists and turns. You’re never sure who’s really your friend, your ally or your enemy in this story. I really liked it. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
July 28, 2017
Not as good as the other Bourne's I have read. Quite poor in representation of the Jason we know and love. Not at one point in this did I visualise any scene, the 'contact' with Jason did not happen in this story.
October 5, 2023
I hate DNFing books. I’m an eternal optimist when it comes to books. They always have the chance to still surprise you. To pick up the pace. To bring out a new element. And that’s what I clung to as I began reading this book. However, after being arrested midway through a sentence by the need to know if a man was responsible for the crime that was that sentence, I realized I might not be able to make it through the book.
I was right. I love a good spy/thriller/action book, but this just fed right into all of the terrrrrible men-writing-women stereotypes that I cannot stand. I could tell that the author thought he was actually really edgy and feminist because he made his female girl-boss characters beat up three men in a car or had a character remark that he “marveled at this woman’s grasp of the tangled threads of economic and geopolitics.” Im sorry Eric, but you cannot remark on the marvels of a woman’s brains and fighting prowess and expect that to cancel out the fact that you wrote sentence after sentence like THIS:
“She extended her arms over her head even farther throwing her breasts into high relief”
or
“Svetlana sighed which only served to thrust her breasts out even more.”
I’m sorry but why do these men always act like women are out here thrusting their chests in every which direction, like breasts are two sentient beings to which women cannot for a moment forget are attached to them. Like puhLEASE stop. Im begging you.
Anther gem:
“She exuded sex the way other people gave off body odour. She smelled as if she had just had sex or was enflamed by it.”
What does this even MEAN. Like we get it. You want to emphasize the character has sex-appeal. Was there REALLY no other way to do it? Sounds kinda gross to me. It’s like an explicit version of the authors who write that their character smelled like wind, sea salt, and mermaids.
“Her mouth was wide, her lips like ripe fruit.”
Um. Ok? Is that even attractive? And what kind of fruit are we talking here, because lips like ripe blueberries vs. ripe pineapples would look very different, and I fail to see the beauty of Ms. Pineappple lips.
There were other aspects that I also really hated, but the part that kinda did it in for me was the graphic rape scene. I was looking for an exciting spy book, not degenerate grime dredged up out of perverted men’s minds.
I just felt like every single woman in the book was written to be viewed, used, or abused by men. They weren’t characters, they were just sexy pairs of breasts boobing around the room.
I DNFed this about 32% in and frankly that was more than I needed to read. I did pick this book up without having ever read any of the other books in the series (oops teehee) so maybe Robert Ludlum did a better job but as for Eric Van Lustbader… man is off my tbr list forever.
Please dont waste your time reading this book unless it’s to exploit it for men-writing-women fodder of which there is proably plenty more that I didnt get around to mentioning or reading.
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
I was right. I love a good spy/thriller/action book, but this just fed right into all of the terrrrrible men-writing-women stereotypes that I cannot stand. I could tell that the author thought he was actually really edgy and feminist because he made his female girl-boss characters beat up three men in a car or had a character remark that he “marveled at this woman’s grasp of the tangled threads of economic and geopolitics.” Im sorry Eric, but you cannot remark on the marvels of a woman’s brains and fighting prowess and expect that to cancel out the fact that you wrote sentence after sentence like THIS:
“She extended her arms over her head even farther throwing her breasts into high relief”
or
“Svetlana sighed which only served to thrust her breasts out even more.”
I’m sorry but why do these men always act like women are out here thrusting their chests in every which direction, like breasts are two sentient beings to which women cannot for a moment forget are attached to them. Like puhLEASE stop. Im begging you.
Anther gem:
“She exuded sex the way other people gave off body odour. She smelled as if she had just had sex or was enflamed by it.”
What does this even MEAN. Like we get it. You want to emphasize the character has sex-appeal. Was there REALLY no other way to do it? Sounds kinda gross to me. It’s like an explicit version of the authors who write that their character smelled like wind, sea salt, and mermaids.
“Her mouth was wide, her lips like ripe fruit.”
Um. Ok? Is that even attractive? And what kind of fruit are we talking here, because lips like ripe blueberries vs. ripe pineapples would look very different, and I fail to see the beauty of Ms. Pineappple lips.
There were other aspects that I also really hated, but the part that kinda did it in for me was the graphic rape scene. I was looking for an exciting spy book, not degenerate grime dredged up out of perverted men’s minds.
I just felt like every single woman in the book was written to be viewed, used, or abused by men. They weren’t characters, they were just sexy pairs of breasts boobing around the room.
I DNFed this about 32% in and frankly that was more than I needed to read. I did pick this book up without having ever read any of the other books in the series (oops teehee) so maybe Robert Ludlum did a better job but as for Eric Van Lustbader… man is off my tbr list forever.
Please dont waste your time reading this book unless it’s to exploit it for men-writing-women fodder of which there is proably plenty more that I didnt get around to mentioning or reading.
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
October 5, 2025
Rating = 3.5
I found this book very tedious to read. Bourne had to work through several layers of Russian / Ukrainian / Kurd / Isis spies, assassins, and arms dealers through Russia, Turkey, Eritrea, Syria, and Cyprus and the deciphering of Sumerian cuneiforms to disrupt Russian plans to attack Ukraine. Note that the book was written in 2020 before the actual invasion.
While I like books with complex story lines, I also like the story line to be 'tight'. This book offers many, many layers of bad guys (and gals) that Bourne systematically eliminates from the biggest arms dealer in the world to the Russian first minister to various FSB officers. [Spoiler:] In the end the ultimate bad guy was someone that was using the other high level bad guys to his own ends for his ultimate pay day.
While it has the typically Bourne attributes - i.e. meeting someone who has knowledge of his past to reunions with prior girlfriends to discovering a high-level assassin that is turned because of a prior run-in with Bourne.
If you read this, keep good notes on who everyone is and how they are interconnected. ;)
I found this book very tedious to read. Bourne had to work through several layers of Russian / Ukrainian / Kurd / Isis spies, assassins, and arms dealers through Russia, Turkey, Eritrea, Syria, and Cyprus and the deciphering of Sumerian cuneiforms to disrupt Russian plans to attack Ukraine. Note that the book was written in 2020 before the actual invasion.
While I like books with complex story lines, I also like the story line to be 'tight'. This book offers many, many layers of bad guys (and gals) that Bourne systematically eliminates from the biggest arms dealer in the world to the Russian first minister to various FSB officers. [Spoiler:] In the end the ultimate bad guy was someone that was using the other high level bad guys to his own ends for his ultimate pay day.
While it has the typically Bourne attributes - i.e. meeting someone who has knowledge of his past to reunions with prior girlfriends to discovering a high-level assassin that is turned because of a prior run-in with Bourne.
If you read this, keep good notes on who everyone is and how they are interconnected. ;)
November 12, 2019
Eric Van Lustbader is certainly the master when it comes to writing great spy thrillers. This story moves along at a great pace and it has some amazing characters in it. I love the way Jason Bourne constantly finds himself in trouble, and the people around the world that continue to underestimate him.
Most people would think it highly unusual that Jason Bourne a US spy would be invited to General Karpov, Russia’s most power spy’s wedding. However, these two had known each other for many years and formed a friendship where they trusted each other without question. Now Jason is on the hunt for a deadly assassin, who is more skilled and deadly than he has come up against in a very long time. A great read from the first page to the very last. 5/5 Star Rating.
Most people would think it highly unusual that Jason Bourne a US spy would be invited to General Karpov, Russia’s most power spy’s wedding. However, these two had known each other for many years and formed a friendship where they trusted each other without question. Now Jason is on the hunt for a deadly assassin, who is more skilled and deadly than he has come up against in a very long time. A great read from the first page to the very last. 5/5 Star Rating.
May 19, 2018
Once again Van Lustbader has delivered a great page-turner that will have Bourne fans waiting for the next one. The action is fast and difficult to put the book down; I only did so due to having to make a paycheck. Characters from previous novels return to both help and hinder Bourne on his current endeavor. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, the author goes and throws another twist into the plot.
January 13, 2019
I received this book as a Christmas gift and was excited to read a Bourne novel for the first time. The opening prologue was a masturbation scene. I thought maybe it would improve and develop some plot so I kept reading but after 30 pages filled with f-bombs and all sorts of sexual references I had to stop. This is more a James Bond type novel than a Bourne novel and just not for me.
August 31, 2025
#Binge Reviewing my previous Reads #Spy Thriller
By the time I reached The Bourne Enigma by Eric Van Lustbader, I was already deep into the adrenaline-soaked rhythm of Jason Bourne’s world—a realm where nothing is stable, every ally could turn traitor, and the clock is always ticking toward catastrophe.
This particular installment feels like Lustbader taking a step back from the sheer continuity weight of the saga and attempting something leaner yet just as urgent. Published in 2016, it throws Bourne into a race against time revolving around global security, a mysterious Russian general, and the very idea of coded secrets locked away like matryoshka dolls, one truth opening into another, then another.
What makes The Bourne Enigma striking in the binge sequence is how it toys with the geopolitics of our age while staying firmly within the Bourne formula of constant movement, disguise, and double-cross. Here, the hook is Bourne’s friend, a defector general from Russia, who gives Bourne a cryptic message before being assassinated.
From there, the novel swings across continents, ticking like a nuclear countdown, keeping both Bourne and the reader guessing what the real enigma is until the final hundred pages. It’s Bourne meets Cold War spycraft in the age of cyber intelligence—a fusion that feels oddly fitting, as if Ludlum’s Cold War DNA had been smuggled into Lustbader’s more contemporary settings.
Lustbader’s Bourne has always been more operatic compared to Ludlum’s grittier creation, and in The Bourne Enigma this contrast is amplified. There’s a flamboyance to the villains, a heightened theatricality to their schemes—something that places this novel closer to the Bond tradition of spy thrillers than the pared-down realism of, say, John le Carré. And yet, what saves it from tipping too far into caricature is the sheer pace at which Lustbader keeps the plot moving. You don’t pause long enough to question plausibility; you’re swept along with Bourne as he leaps from ambush to revelation.
Comparatively, if The Bourne Sanction or The Bourne Dominion flirted with the idea of Bourne being less about memory and more about duty, The Bourne Enigma reasserts him as the lone man up against unstoppable chaos. Think of it like watching Mission: Impossible – Fallout after rewatching the original Bourne Identity. Where the first offered taut paranoia and minimalist tension, this one revels in spectacle, shifting from gritty alleys to global flashpoints with blockbuster energy. If Ludlum’s Bourne was about survival, Lustbader’s Bourne is about preventing apocalypse.
What I appreciated here is that Lustbader doesn’t forget Bourne’s core humanity amidst the action. His loyalty to friends, his constant struggle with trust, and his weariness at being drawn again and again into the machinery of international politics—all these keep him tethered as more than just an action figure in a larger-than-life plot.
Even as Lustbader stretches the credibility of global conspiracies, he never lets Bourne’s moral core vanish. That’s what makes The Bourne Enigma readable in one sitting during my binge—it’s fast and furious but anchored.
If I had to map it against the wider spy-thriller universe, I’d say it sits somewhere between the cerebral chess games of Tom Clancy and the stylish, world-hopping dramatics of Bond. It doesn’t achieve the groundbreaking paranoia of Ludlum’s original trilogy, but it knows how to keep a reader hooked in the moment, which is the real strength of Lustbader’s contributions.
In short, The Bourne Enigma is not the most subtle of the Bourne books, but in the sweep of the saga, it provides a satisfying, pulse-racing entry. It’s less about the man who doesn’t know his name, and more about the man who cannot escape his destiny.
And in the binge-reading momentum, that shift feels inevitable—Jason Bourne may never truly solve his own enigma, but Lustbader ensures he’ll never stop running toward the next one.
By the time I reached The Bourne Enigma by Eric Van Lustbader, I was already deep into the adrenaline-soaked rhythm of Jason Bourne’s world—a realm where nothing is stable, every ally could turn traitor, and the clock is always ticking toward catastrophe.
This particular installment feels like Lustbader taking a step back from the sheer continuity weight of the saga and attempting something leaner yet just as urgent. Published in 2016, it throws Bourne into a race against time revolving around global security, a mysterious Russian general, and the very idea of coded secrets locked away like matryoshka dolls, one truth opening into another, then another.
What makes The Bourne Enigma striking in the binge sequence is how it toys with the geopolitics of our age while staying firmly within the Bourne formula of constant movement, disguise, and double-cross. Here, the hook is Bourne’s friend, a defector general from Russia, who gives Bourne a cryptic message before being assassinated.
From there, the novel swings across continents, ticking like a nuclear countdown, keeping both Bourne and the reader guessing what the real enigma is until the final hundred pages. It’s Bourne meets Cold War spycraft in the age of cyber intelligence—a fusion that feels oddly fitting, as if Ludlum’s Cold War DNA had been smuggled into Lustbader’s more contemporary settings.
Lustbader’s Bourne has always been more operatic compared to Ludlum’s grittier creation, and in The Bourne Enigma this contrast is amplified. There’s a flamboyance to the villains, a heightened theatricality to their schemes—something that places this novel closer to the Bond tradition of spy thrillers than the pared-down realism of, say, John le Carré. And yet, what saves it from tipping too far into caricature is the sheer pace at which Lustbader keeps the plot moving. You don’t pause long enough to question plausibility; you’re swept along with Bourne as he leaps from ambush to revelation.
Comparatively, if The Bourne Sanction or The Bourne Dominion flirted with the idea of Bourne being less about memory and more about duty, The Bourne Enigma reasserts him as the lone man up against unstoppable chaos. Think of it like watching Mission: Impossible – Fallout after rewatching the original Bourne Identity. Where the first offered taut paranoia and minimalist tension, this one revels in spectacle, shifting from gritty alleys to global flashpoints with blockbuster energy. If Ludlum’s Bourne was about survival, Lustbader’s Bourne is about preventing apocalypse.
What I appreciated here is that Lustbader doesn’t forget Bourne’s core humanity amidst the action. His loyalty to friends, his constant struggle with trust, and his weariness at being drawn again and again into the machinery of international politics—all these keep him tethered as more than just an action figure in a larger-than-life plot.
Even as Lustbader stretches the credibility of global conspiracies, he never lets Bourne’s moral core vanish. That’s what makes The Bourne Enigma readable in one sitting during my binge—it’s fast and furious but anchored.
If I had to map it against the wider spy-thriller universe, I’d say it sits somewhere between the cerebral chess games of Tom Clancy and the stylish, world-hopping dramatics of Bond. It doesn’t achieve the groundbreaking paranoia of Ludlum’s original trilogy, but it knows how to keep a reader hooked in the moment, which is the real strength of Lustbader’s contributions.
In short, The Bourne Enigma is not the most subtle of the Bourne books, but in the sweep of the saga, it provides a satisfying, pulse-racing entry. It’s less about the man who doesn’t know his name, and more about the man who cannot escape his destiny.
And in the binge-reading momentum, that shift feels inevitable—Jason Bourne may never truly solve his own enigma, but Lustbader ensures he’ll never stop running toward the next one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews