Trevayne

by Robert Ludlum

Trevayne was a self-made millionaire by the time he was thirty. Then he went into government, carving out a brilliant and honourable career. Now he is head of one of the biggest foundations in the USA. Fearless, intelligent and incorruptible, he thought no one could touch him... Then his investigation into the 'secret government' led him beyond the corridors of official power into a nightmare maze where Mafia leaders and 'legitimate' billionaires mixed, where even the Presidency can be bought and sold. And where a man like Trevayne could be a dreaded enemy, a duped victim, or maybe, just maybe, a king.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Espionage, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Novels

528 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Robert 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.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

It makes sense to try and avoid any real-life political issues in your mass-market political thriller. It’s dumb to risk alienating readers over politics when you’re writing fiction.

But when you make everything so vague that the reader can barely decipher the motivations of key characters or follow an important setup chapter, you’ve got problems.

This is a bad political thriller no matter what time period it’s from. Avoid.

[Suby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Ludlum wrote this book in 1973 just as the Water Gate scandal was unfolding.
The book envisages a situation where a few senior men try to substitute American democracy with an Aristocracy where few high intellectuals will rule the country. They put in motion a scheme by which they can appropriate large sums of money out of the state exchequer through defense contracts and accumulate enough funds so that eventually it will be their intellects backed by large sums of money that will rule the US and the world in the future.
Trevayne is a middle aged rich American of impeccable credentials who is chosen to head a Senate sub-committe to inquire into the Pentagons giving away of contracts. He chances upon this plot for Aristocracy and tries to stop it.by exposure. But the men he is up against are too clever for him. This leaves him the only option - that of contesting an election and becoming the President of the US. Eventually he manages it and goes about working the vast sums of money controlled by the defence contracts companies to the advantage of the State.
The book is very readable and I will recommend it to all.

[Tim Dudek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Half way through Trevayne I thought I had incontrovertible proof that Robert Ludlum was the greatest writer in english ever. Why did I believe that? Trevayne concerns itself with a Senate subcommittee set up to investigate defense spending misappropriations. Yes you read that correctly. Ludlum sat down and thought, "I know how to keep the readers interest. I'll write a book about a government committee looking into corporation ledgers." I thought it was a Ludlum book so there would be action and world travel. Nope. Over the first half of the book is about the work of a Senate subcommittee investigating malfeasance. They look at ledgers and interview executives. But I kept reading. Somehow Ludlum made it interesting enough for me to keep turning pages.
Then sadly comes the second half of the book. Entire plot points are forgotten. Characters act in seemingly unexplainable ways so the plot moves along. Finally the book ends with no resolution whatsoever. It's like he got bored half way through.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am such a fan of Bourne but Trevayne is definitely not one of Ludlum’s better one. Just doesn’t stand up to contemporary reading. There are a few times when the plot is exciting or thriller like but mostly just boring

[Carlo Hublet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un thriller prétexte pour Robert Ludlum: dénoncer la toute puissance d'un lobby, cannibale des milliards de l'Etat, avec approbation de tous les échelons. Andrew Trevayne, analyste financier, jeune et au talent fou, s'attaque, mandaté par le pouvoir, à la dénonciation de ce pouvoir dans le pouvoir. Un vrai mandat ou encore une machination, une manipulation?
Un décorticage complexe, complet, de tous les étages de cette conjuration, ardu à suivre. Plus proche d'un rapport hyper technique que d'un roman?

[Martin Smrz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have had a hard time to finish the book as it was taking on and on and on of the same ideas. The book is definitively not a thriller nor suspense. It is more just a political agitation, with more or less agreeable idealistic principles. This will not stop me to read other Ludlum books, but one learning for myself on future book from Ludlum, when you feel it is boring just drop it.....

[Vijay Chengappa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another classic Robert Ludlum thriller, delivering an adrenaline-fueled ride through a world of conspiracies, power struggles, and moral dilemmas

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story as only Ludlum can tell. But the backstory is equally interesting. In the introduction to this version (originally released in 1973, this version is a 1988 re-release), Ludlum explains that he wrote this book in a fit of fury in response to Watergate. He is outraged by the conduct of our nation's government - "the highest of our elected and appointed officials entrusted with the guardianship of our system, not only lying to the people but collecting millions upon millions of dollars to perpetuate their lies and thus the controls they believed were theirs along to exercise." He then expounds on his incredulity that it was happening again in 1988 (Iran-Contra Affair?). Poor Ludlum would be apoplectic if he were alive today....

[David Burnworth · Rating 1 out of 5]

(This was an in-between book for me. Meaning I only read it when my books from the library had not arrived leaving me with nothing to read)
Trevayne might be the most honest man in the USA and he proves to be a nightmare for all the politicians, even the one who hired him. The book does have a really god story but with it being as political as it is, this was a long hard read to me.

[Huma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jonathan Ryder is actually a pseudonym of Robert Ludlum. My copy is printed with Ludlum's name on the cover and a special note from the author. Ludlum explains his frame of mind when he wrote this novel and why the book was not initially published under his own name.

Andrew Trevayne is a successful American businessman who made a lot of money as a defense contractor with his brother-in-law. He also served once as the Undersecretary and is being chased to head a subcommittee for looking into American Defense Alloction Commission. Meanwhile, Trevayne's teenage children are being harassed by the police...possibly to scare him into rejecting the offer to chair the Congress committee to root out corruption from Defense contracts. In a secret meeting with the POTUS and Ambassador Hill, Trevayne accepts the position.

I always enjoy reading Ludlum and this book was the same. It has suspense, anticipation and gun fights all mixed with a basic political plotline.

SPOILERS Ahead. Consider yourself warned!!

After his kids, Trevayne's wife was drugged and taken to a hotel room, while the police held up Trevayne for giving his statement in a traffic accident. He's detetmined to walk away from the Senate Committee after this. But his wife and the POTUS convinces him to stay on board. Trevayne's lawyer, Walter Madison is taking money from a yet unknown figure to spy on his old client.

Trevayne attends the super-secret Senate Committee meeting to finalize his appointment to chair the sub-committee. "Mario de Spandate"...a folder in the hands of Senator Knapp, who decides with Senator Norton to bury it, during the Senate Committee hearing. So the people who have hired Madison are Senators Knapp and Norton. Trevayne's gets the confirmation from the Senate Committee and assurance of their cooperation.

Senator Gillette, the head of the Senate Committee, talks to Trevayne after the meeting. He tells him that he'll get his appointment reversed tomorrow morning. Trevayne tries to reach his lawyer, Madison all evening; but the hotel has been directed by someone that he's not to be disturbed tonight. When Madison finally reaches him after more than 2 hours, Trevayne finds out the Gillette has died in a road accident.

Trevayne is asked by the POTUS to keep Gillette's intentions and the wrap and start working on his sub-committee. Trevayne is assigned a Major Paul Bonner as his assistant. They scout office spaces and choose Potomac Towers as their headquarters.

Spandate is the defense contractor that Trevayne met on the plane and who dropped him to the hotel afterwards. The Mafioso men is working with the White Office aide, Robert Webster.
There is also some electrical disturbance at Trevayne's house back at High Barnegat, and he thinks someone might have tampered with it.

Trevayne has assembled his team and his target is Genneesse Industries. Major Bonner is spying on Trevayne on behalf of the military. Bonner saves Trevayne's life and then Trevayne saves him from De Spandate...

Ludlum's tribute to the mastery of Mario Puzo and his famed book, The Godfather, "Uncle Mario (again a nod to the author), the days of The Godfather are finished" , says De Spandate's capo, as he unsuccessfully tries to put a contract out for Major Bonner from the hospital bed.

Trevayne finishes interviewing all the people on his list. His assessment of Gennesse Industries is complete. It's "A council of the elite.
The United States of Genneesse Industries."

Webster, the White House aide has given the order to get rid of De Spandate and frame Trevayne in the process by defaming Major Bonner. Roderick Bruce, the journalist who earlier asked Trevayne for dirt on Major Bonner, is choosen to frame Bonner. Bruce wants to destroy Bonner as a revenge for killing his partner, Alex, killed in the Far East. Trevayne is annoyed that Walter Madison, his attorney is not ready to take up the case for Major Bonner, saying it will be a conflict of interest while representing Andy himself. Bonner meanwhile is under a lock-down at an army base and Sam is ready to defend him.

De Spadante threatens Trevayne to quit the subcommittee or he'll destroy his life by making public some cooked-up evidence about his family. Meanwhile, someone is taking pictures as Andy talks to De Spadante in his hospital room.

Robert Webster is told by a messenger from Aaron Green that his plans to frame Trevayne must stop. Also he's being thrown out of the center circle of the conspiracy. So the new core of Washington underworld consists of Green, Ian Hamilton, Senator Knapp and Trevayne's attorney, Walter Madison. At a meeting at Green's estate, he says that the only option left now is to make Andy Trevayne the POTUS. "Andrew Trevayne...The Mark of Excellence" is the campaign logo Green's team has come up with, as the inner brass is now convinced that offering the job to Trevayne is the right call for USA.

Trevayne goes to Roderick Bruce, the journalist's house. Against his instincts he reveals that he knows about Alexander Coffey, to make Bruce stop going after Major Bonner.

In part 4 of the book we see Trevayne getting comfortable with the idea that he could actually become the President. After he is made a Senator, he tells Green and Hamilton that he will not fully reveal the extent of Geneesse Industries involvement in the country's politics if they get out of the country and let him clear the mess they have made. But after a meeting with Major Bonner, Andy contemplates if he was right to withhold information report submitted by the sub-committee for Defense Allocation Commission.

Back at Potomac Towers, Sam tells him that Webster has been killed by De Spadante's men and the POTUS has intercepted and impounded the report as a precaution. The two begin to wonder if the POTUS is indeed the real Genneese Industries. After talking with General Cooper, Trevayne is convinced that he was trapped into submitting an incomplete report. Backtracking now would not only harm his credibility but also deliver a serious blow to his election plans.

James Goddard, the financial mastermind behind Geneesse Industries hands over proof of financial inconsistencies to Trevayne. Trevayne decides to confess to the POTUS that he was mistaken and tries to convince him that Geneesse Industries must be uprooted. But to his disgust, the POTUS thinks he can control it to his advantage. Also the POTUS was not so naive as he thought and knew about his ambitions to become the next President. Paul Bonner is acquited in the civil court and made a Colonel after Trevayne mentioned his part to the President.

Goddard assisinates the President and the whole country is falling apart. Trevayne decides that it his time for him to step up and complete his destiny.

In part 5 of the book, we see a scene after 18 months of the President's assisination. Trevayne is now the President and a very popular one. He made a deal with Geneese Industries that he will not expose them as long as they do not interfere with the country's politics anymore. But in the end, he talks to Ian Hamilton who has broken the ceasefire by attempting to acquire the media companies.

[Elmer Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ludlum (pre-Jason Bourne) delivers a political expose into government corruption (circa-1973 and Watergate) that it still applicable to government today. He combines the machinations of labyrithian governmental contracts for self profit, mafioso influence and activities, against the necessity to be transparent to the republic's population, in the form of one Andrew Trevayne, self made entrepreneur and millionaire.

The hook is set early on with the behind the scenes efforts to garner the right man for the job of investigating the government, the subsequent mafia attempts at gaining incriminating evidence on Trevayne's family members through trumped up criminal scenarios (the wife's situation was by far the harshest of the three), and coincidental meetings in passing between Trevayne and Despadante, the mafia boss.

Ludlum builds the tension quickly and effectively. The military liaison, Major Bonner, added another layer of espionage and concern, along with the Fourth Estate's journalist snooping around Trevayne's efforts. Mix in the "powers-that-be" dialogue of chess moves to be implemented and the novel has a lock on your breathing.

This book has plausibility at every turn, the need for reaction and retaliation on behalf of the hero on every other page, and the dread of knowing that this corruption existed then, and today still. Nevermind that the novel never gets placed in time or felt dated in history. Crisp and effective writing with a relevant situation, everything was spot on until the course corrected/reversed ending that was highly unsatisfying, to say the least. Nearly everyone was on track to meet a different ending. It just feels like the editors wouldn't let Ludlum write a realistic ending of mutally assured destruction that decimated the governmental structure as it deserved.

It is surely a page turner and thought provoking story.

Haven't read a bad Ludlum yet. Definitely worth a look.

Thanks for reading.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really Wonderful for the Most Part

Spoilers) The plot is exquisitely laid out, the characters are painted vividly- you can really see them-, as well as feel the tensions between governmental entities. From a character development sense, Trevayne and other characters come to see, for instance, Army personnel, in a more compassionate way (and vice versa with some of the Army personnel).

The reason I give this book 4 Stars is the ending. After Trevayne reaches the Presidency, he is able to address to some extent some of the issues he's been fighting for throughout the novel, but, from what I can tell, hasn't been able to reign in Gennessee Industries, his main goal in the book. Thus, the ending, although maybe "realistic," was very anti-climactic for me. The ending was so underspoken and briefly expedited with, that I kept reading a few pages after the ending before realizing I was reading the "extra" of the first chapter of the Bourne Identity that the publishers had inserted at the end! (Made me laugh!) There were also a few minor plot strands that weren't tied up, something I've found in other Ludlum books; for instance, you end up connecting with Bonner, but there's no final conversation or connection between Bonner and Trevayne at the end, given their significant connection throughout the book.
These last criticisms I've found in many of Ludlum's books: a drive to finish the ending of a book as soon as possible, and sometimes not tying up loose ends. Perhaps he felt the reader would be impatient by that point and would just want it over as soon as possible, or maybe he himself just wanted it done with, or maybe his publisher said, "Bob, deadline . . . we got a deadline here!"

[George K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Τον έχω παραμελήσει υπερβολικά πολύ τον καημένο τον Ρόμπερτ Λάντλαμ, ενώ έχω όλα τα βιβλία του στα ελληνικά και ενώ είναι εκατό τοις εκατό εντός των αναγνωστικών μου γούστων, έστω κι αν πλέον πολλά από τα θρίλερ του ίσως να είναι κομματάκι παρωχημένα (τεχνολογικά, πολιτικά κ.λπ.). Τέλος πάντων, ελπίζω με το πολύ καλό και χορταστικό "Αόρατοι συνωμότες" να κάνω μια νέα αρχή και να διαβάζω συχνότερα έργα του: Πολύ μου άρεσε τούτο το βιβλίο, κι ας έχει ελάχιστη δράση (ξέρετε, πίου-πίου, ξύλο, εκρήξεις και τα τοιαύτα), κι ας μην είναι απόλυτα πειστικό ως προς τη συνωμοσία και τα πολιτικά κίνητρα, όμως στην εποχή του σίγουρα έθιξε πολλά θέματα, αλλά και πολλούς ανθρώπους, που ίσως είδαν τον εαυτό τους σε κάποιον από τους χαρακτήρες. Δεν έχουμε να κάνουμε με ένα κατασκοπευτικό μυθιστόρημα α λα Τζέισον Μπορν, αλλά με ένα πολιτικό θρίλερ που αναδεικνύει κάποιες από τις παθογένειες των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών. Μου άρεσαν πολύ οι ιδιορρυθμίες της πλοκής και των χαρακτήρων, η όλη ατμόσφαιρα, οι περιγραφές των σκηνικών και των καταστάσεων, οι διάφοροι διάλογοι και μονόλογοι... δεν ξέρω, έφτασα πολύ κοντά στο να του βάλω πέντε αστεράκια γιατί μου φάνηκε ότι είχε κι ένα κυνικό τέλος που πάντα απολαμβάνω να συναντάω στα βιβλία (ήταν, πάντως, λιγάκι απότομο το τέλος), αλλά θα ήμουν υπερβολικός αν του έβαζα πέντε αστέρια. Όμως, σημασία έχει ότι το ευχαριστήθηκα τα μάλα. Υ.Γ. Είναι κρίμα που οι αγαπητές εκδόσεις Bell δεν βγάζουν τέτοια "παλιομοδίτικα" θρίλερ πλέον.

[Jesse Tucker · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had potential:

Government corruption, conspiracy to overthrow the government, plans to install a puppet administration run by greedy corporate executives, the triumph of the little man over Big Government, even a brush with the criminal underworld. Sadly, it was a letdown due to overly in-depth descriptions of how the checks and balances set forth in the Constitution are supposed to work. There is some action however; murder, internal espionage, conflict between supposed allies, it just seemed more of an afterthought than part of the main plot.

The author begins with an introductory explanation about why the book was published under a pseudonym and further explains that the idea for the book was conceived during the Watergate scandal of Nixon's administration. I can see how the abuse of power by the government inspired this tale, but it lacked enough offsetting action to compensate for the pages of dry details.

[Kees van Duyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Andrew Trevayne, een rijke topindustrieel, krijgt van de Amerikaanse regering het verzoek een rapport op te stellen over bedrijven die contact met het ministerie van Defensie hebben. Trevayne voelt daar aanvankelijk niet veel voor, maar laat zich uiteindelijk toch overhalen het rapport te schrijven.

Tot zover is het allemaal duidelijk en helder, maar vanaf het moment dat Trevayne aan de slag gaat wordt het boek alleen maar verwarrend. Er is geen touw aan vast te knopen. Misschien dat het boek voor de Amerikaanse lezer een eye-opener is en herkenning geeft, maar voor de markt daarbuiten is het boek ronduit nietszeggend.

Er zijn een paar momenten dat het boek wél aardig is en dat zijn die momenten waarop de zo goed als ontbrekende spanning toch even om de hoek komt kijken. Verder blinkt het boek van begin tot eind uit in vaagheden. Volkomen Ludlum-onwaardig. Waardoor dit boek tot een van zijn slechtere, zo niet zijn slechtste, boeken behoort.

[JohnMichael · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried but, as much as I hate to not finish a book I started, I had to quit this one. There's a reason the great writer of the Bourne books and other gov't thrillers started out his career under a pseudonym. One of his first attempts here you can see he's still figuring out his approach to bringing thrills and suspense into the bureaucratic side of gov't. This book, unfortunately, is all bureaucracy with a level of thrills and suspense tantamount to the real time bog of hearing, 2nd hand, all the office politics of a month's long caseload at the IRS. Life's too short when you can just read "The Bourne Identity"... or a NY Times or Washington Post article today.

[Monzenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about the system. I'm surprised Ludlum had time to write more than one book a year (well at least per his preferred narrative), but I suppose that's what surprising current events does to a creative mind - he said Trevayne was inspired by the Nixon saga. He weaves a narrative that is familiar enough with political thriller-heads (the multi-headed military-industrial hydra vs the inspired reformers), but adds his own structural flavor to it. Never have I been more interested with procedural documentation. A great book in the Ludlum lore.

[Mariana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Вече започвам да си мисля че аз имам някакъв шизофреничен проблем с книгите на Лъдлъм - всичко прочетено е или "много ми хареса" или "изобщо не ми хареса". Нищо по средата.
Тази не ми хареса изобщо - скучна и безинтересна. По същество - политически трилър. Може би и това е причината - не харесвам политика и са ми омразни политическите игри и задкулисия. А когато е намесена и твърде далечната ми американска политическа система с нейните комисии, подкомисии, конгресмени, сенатори и разни други - положението става неспасяемо. Сори, мистър Лъдлъм. Може би следващия път ще се харесаме...

[Connie Cockrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked up on a whim years ago, the book sat in my to be read pile for a long time. However, by chance, I picked it up and began to read it. To my surprise, it’s a thriller, based on the Nixon debacle. More over, it reflects much of what is happening in today’s political climate. Fast moving, showing Mr. Ludlum’s understanding of politics and behind the scenes maneuvering, I loved the story. It’s a peak into the past and into today’s morass all at once. A must read.

[Marsh "Bad Sci Fi" Bloom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alcoholism, chain smoking, casual racism, oh so much casual racism. Lots of angst over dirty hippies. Like Bourne, this Ludlum book serves as a heaping helping of American culture for the era it was written in. Ludlum did not look away from his time.

This book seems bizarrely naive but it does contain Paul Bonner who is undoubtedly the prototype for Jason Bourne. So if you are a Bourne fan this book might be worth it on that count.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into Trevayne expecting another run-of-the-mill, globe trotting Ludlum thriller. Instead, what I found was an all-too-relevant Senate subcommittee investigation into a 'too big to fail' government contractor manipulating the government through bought politicians and corrupt lobbyists. It jumps the rails a bit towards the end, but overall, one of Ludlum's better, and relevant, novels, I think.

[Aaron Diamond · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the first half of the book, I was hooked. Each page had heavy hitter plot points and more incredible twists. But the second half fell off. The main character took a turn I didn’t like in becoming a victim to the gennesse plot and the book ending was frustrating in that Trevayne becomes president and joins the system he hated to start.

Still a fun read, wish the start of the book kept the momentum up through the end

[Kurtis West · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author wrote this shortly after Watergate in the 70s. I wonder if anyone is thinking about doing a sequel now. With Trump in office, his family, Moscow Mitch and the rest of the Rep. Party you got a lot of things to use for a storyline and plenty of people to use as villains if they change the names.

[carl clause · Rating 5 out of 5]

CC 1

Excellent book. The whole plot was excellent.. like the way they intertwined Alex with the political players. The way they investigated Genesis Industries. Then the way they played Alex and Ian with his trying to become president. 5 stars Carl Clause

[Bill Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was OK but a bit long. I felt as though there was excessive dialog and redundancy as well. The story was all about Trevayne but the author felt it necessary give extensive background on Trevayne's wife which didn't add anything to the story in my opinion. There were some interesting turns in the plot but too few and far between.

[Luke Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

What starts as an intriguing political thriller ends up coasting and ending with a whimper, not a bang. There’s little intrigue here as the cards are in the table from the start. It moves along quickly though.

[Jon Zastera · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant surprise! Robert Ludlum books are very much a product of their time but this one holds up pretty well considering the date published. There is not as much action as you would find in his other works but if you are looking for a nice political thriller this is it!

[Wenzel Roessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very compelling political thriller in the plot is supported by the great characters in the book. I really wanted to give this book five stars unfortunately Ludlum hits you in the face over and over again with his point and that gets a bit weary at times.

[Rohan Malpure · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my second-ever Robert Ludlum book, and it was somewhat better than my first (The Icarus Agenda). Yet again, Ludlum struggled with writing dialogue, developing a truly remarkable protagonist, and creating actual female characters. The big improvement here was in the actual story. Very few people can turn something so procedural into something so intriguing. Unfortunately, the story nearly unravels by the end. It's hard to explain without getting into spoilers, but the ending feels completely deflating and even contradictory to the pages that came before it.

[Marc Tiefenthal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een minder typische Ludlum; dit betekent minder spanning. Maar niet minder interessant. Een uitgesproken kritische roman over het reilen en zeilen in Washington. Eigenlijk vernietigend. Heb het graag gelezen. Twee sterren verliest dit boek door de vele fouten die in de vertaling zijn geslopen.