Die Janson-Verschwörung: Roman

Paul Janson #4

by Robert Ludlum, Douglas Corleone, Norbert Jakober (Translator)

Paul Janson hat schon zahlreiche Morde vereitelt. Aber diesmal droht ein Krieg.

Seoul: Gregory Wyckoff ist auf der Flucht vor den koreanischen Behörden. Ihm wird vorgeworfen, seine eigene Freundin erdrosselt zu haben. Gregorys Vater, ein bekannter Senator, hat jedoch eine andere Theorie. Soll sein Sohn geopfert werden, um ein finsteres Komplott des U.S.-Außenministeriums zu vertuschen? Ex-Regierungsagent Paul Janson verspricht, die Wahrheit ans Licht zu bringen – und wird bald selbst von einem erbarmungslosen Killer gejagt.

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

433 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 2015

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

[Pierre Tassé (Enjoying Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Janson typical book. Easy to listen to and easy to follow. You need to have a good idea of the previous 3 books but not really a die-hard necessity.

[L.A. Starks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very much liked the complexity of the plot and recommend the book to anyone who reads geopolitical thrillers. I almost rated it four stars for that reason, however:

The writing used too many current references that don't age well. This is always a risk for me in my own writing, so I am sympathetic. There was a paint-by-numbers aspect that was a turnoff. I am fresh off of Lisa Brackmann's China trilogy which I found more realistic and immediate.

[Barry Martin Vass · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very exciting spy novel, set for the most part in North and South Korea. The characters are believable, the dialogue is excellent, and the plot just surges along like a racehorse. What rankles me about this novel is the way it is being marketed. Look at the cover. The title of the book is "Robert Ludlum's The Janson Equation", and there's another blurb at the top saying "From The Creator of Jason Bourne." So you would think Robert Ludlum, the author of the hugely successful Bourne franchise, wrote this novel, right? Ehh; wrong. Robert Ludlum died in 2001, so any participation by him on this book would be highly problematic. But here's the thing: book readership has been declining for years, and those folks that do like to read favor works by their favorite authors. And so, since Robert Ludlam wrote 27 novels that all became bestsellers, the publisher has his name right up there on the title to catch people's attention, no matter how deceptive it is. Douglas Corleone actually wrote this book, and did a very fine job, so this would seem like just another ploy to limit the impact of new authors and capitalize on the reputations of old masters. I'd talk about this further, but Ernest Hemingway is coming out with a new novel about the raid on Osama bin Laden by Seal Team Six, and they're holding a copy for me at my neighborhood bookstore. See you in the next life...

[Donn Lorber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely do I go 5 stars.. loved Ludlum 25 years ago, hated Van Lustbader, and have been gone ever since. Douglas Corleone has the right flavor to push the Ludlum agenda forward. Thoroughly enjoyed this one, and will look for the others.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

It kept my interest through the entire book. Plenty of excitement and action.

[Cornerofmadness · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5. I guess I'm not really the political thriller type nor did I know this was #4 not that it seemed to matter. It felt like we had the thriller checklist here: former government operative turned private after realizing the government made him a killer, check; female operative (younger) following in his footsteps and in love with him so we can make either of them do stupid things no normal person would do in that situation, check; teenaged hacker who has half the plot threads at his or her fingertips, check; some convoluted political gambit to start a war, check.

Basically Paul Janson is called in to find a senator's son in Seoul Korea. Gregory Wyckhoff is being charged with his girlfriend's death but of course he's innocent. He's also a hacktivist on the run. Janson and Kincaid (i.e. the female agent/love interest) take on what should have been a simple case.

All too soon both of them are in up to their eyeballs with targets on their back. Their former black ops bosses are in on this and they seem to be trying to start the next Korean war and from there WWIII. We have a thirteen year old girl hacker who is a huge help and is in as much danger as they are. We have Janson sneaking into north Korea and Kincaid being stalked but a north Korean assassin. And of course we have tons of pro-American, North Korean/commies suck sort of stuff (though admittedly the North Korean regime is frightening).

We know of course Janson will end up saving the day. But I have to say the ending just did not work for me at all. Consider this to be spoilery.

Okay 1. what assassin sits around and lets his prey talk and talk and talk especially when the assassin is badly injured and has instantly attacked everyone immediately every other time. So why let Janson talk?

2. Janson has the devil's own time sneaking into North Korea (which seemed rather unbelievable to begin with) but then he goes back in with another ally in a move that seems impossible (i.e. he needs to speak to the leaders, does that seem likely?)

3. Even if I buy Janson's convoluted plan to get back into North Korea and get them to listen to him (which I don't) this whole thing seems too 'big' somehow, too much for one man to deal with which okay we get that in spy stuff but this seemed WAY too big

I didn't particularly find any of the characters compelling. Maybe if I saw it as a movie it might be better but honestly this didn't do that much for me.

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Douglas Corleone in his new book, “Robert Ludlum’s The Janson Equation” Book Four in the Paul Janson series published by Grand Central Publishing gives us a new adventure with Paul Janson.

From the back cover: To prevent a war in Asia–one that could quickly spread to the rest of the world–Paul Janson and Jessica Kincaid must learn the truth behind a young woman’s murder…

Prominent U.S. Senator James Wyckoff hires former government agents-turned-private security consultants Janson and Kincaid to locate his teenage son Gregory. Gregory’s girlfriend Lynell has been found strangled in a Seoul hotel, and Gregory has fled the city to avoid being arrested for the crime. But Senator Wyckoff insists that his son is innocent, suggesting that Lynell, who was a translator, may have been murdered because of something she overheard at a recent international conference.

And when Janson and Kincaid realize they’re being hunted by an assassin, they suspect that this crime–and the cover-up–were orchestrated by a shadowy unit of the U.S. State Department as part of a larger plot to provoke violence between North and South Korea.

Now in order to prevent a multi-country war—and to escape with their lives intact—Janson and Kincaid must learn the truth behind Lynell’s murder before time runs out…

Robert Ludlum was a master on giving us spy versus spy stories. Douglas Corleone is a worthy successor to the title. In “The Janson Equation” Mr. Corleone has given us quite a run around South Korea and, then, even parts of North Korea. You never know who will betray him and both his life and Jessica’s life are in, practically, constant peril from the moment they land. These stories show the immense value of one human being and how one person can make such a marked difference. This is an amazing adventure that is also an incredibly exciting thriller. This one is a page turner that will keep you up late at night while you try to finish it. Absolutely worth it all!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Grand Central Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Simon McDonald · Rating 2 out of 5]

I often wonder about the limitations imposed on authors operating in other writers’ universes. I imagine it’s a little like helming a big-name super-hero title at Marvel or DC Comics; you get to play in the sandbox, bang the toys together and make some noise – – but when your time is up, everything needs to be put neatly away for the next person. You can have fun, sure; but nothing crazy. You can’t break the toys. There are rules, and you’ve got to obey them. Some writers are able to thrive under these conditions, while the creativity of others is inevitably dampened, if not entirely snuffed.

Douglas Corleone has the enviable task of crafting the third adventure in the late Robert Ludlum’s Paul Janson series. Enviable because, honestly, who wouldn’t want to share a by-line with one of the greatest ever thriller writers? The result – The Janson Equation – is an utterly readable, but ultimately undercooked novel. It’s a page-turner that lacks the obligatory thrills and spills Ludlum aficionados expect. Its plot is appropriately convoluted; Janson and his partner, Jessica Kincaid, are tasked with unravelling the truth behind a young woman’s murder, who so happened to be the lover of a prominent U.S. senator’s son, and a translator operating in high-stakes negotiations between factions of the North and South Korean governments. Janson and Kincaid’s investigation leads to the discovery of a diabolical plot organized by a shadowy unit of the U.S. state department to provoke violence between the opposing nations, and spark all-out war.

But for all that potential, The Janson Equation is disappointingly dull. It stays in neutral for its entire 400-page length, proceeding at a gentle pace, and lacking any sort of crescendo. That said, there’s enough here to persuade me into checking out come of Corleone’s original work; not so much to return to the next novel in the Janson series.

[Heather Kremer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been a fan of Douglas Corleone. When he told me he was selected to write under Robert Ludlum's Janson's series I immediately began reading these books. The Janson Directive ( a must read for this series) by Ludlum was very good and explains how the team of Paul Janson & Jessica Kincaid came about. Unfortunately Ludlum passed away, however he had requested to let other authors continue his series. I read books 2 & 3 in the Janson series, and even though they were good, I had a difficult time following them at times. Then came The Janson Equation with a different twist. I felt this book was a page turner and easy to follow without having to go back and re-read excerpts. With the focus being on North & South Korea, it was very interesting to gain a better understanding of the current conflicts that we face with Korea. I only hope that Corleone will be asked to write a follow up for the next book. He has a great talent in keeping readers enthused and wanting more. On that note I can't wait for his next Simon Fisk book due out August 18th - Gone Cold. If you haven't read the Fisk series I highly recommend to get caught up. You won't be disappointed!

[Tom Tischler · Rating 4 out of 5]

To prevent a war in Asia that will probably spread to the rest of
the world Paul Janson and Jessica Kincaid must learn the truth
behind a young woman's murder. Senator James Wyckoff hires the former
government agents turned private security consultants to locate his
son Gregory. Gregory's girlfriend Lynell has been found strangled in
a Seoul hotel. Gregory has now fled the city to avoid being arrested
for the murder. Lynell who was a translator may have been murdered
because she might have overheard something at a recent international
conference. When Janson and Kincaid arrive in Seoul they realize that
they are being hunted by an assassin and they begin to suspect that
this crime was orchestrated by a shadowy unit of the State Department
as part of a larger plot to provoke violence between North and South
Korea. Not a bad story and probably going to be another Hollywood
movie.

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The basic concept of this book is about Paul Janson and Jessica Kincaid who are hired to find a US Senators teenage son Gregory. Gregory's girlfriend has been found strangled in a Seoul, Korea hotel and Gregory has left the city because he thinks he might be arrested. The girl friend worked as a translator and might have accidently might have overheard something that make her a target. But Janson and Kincaid are now being hunted as well. There may be a bigger plot to start a war. They start thinking govt coverup. But at the end the killer is arrested. This book is part mystery, part thriller and it keeps you on your toes every minute. Really loved it.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its an entertaining book if one enjoys spy intrigue and chase scenes, because its mostly that with some interesting character background information developed along the way. For a spy vs spy book set in Korean it accomplishes the tension of the chase rather well and it carries the story along the way using the action of chase scenes for most of the book.
Its a good summer book. It is well done with the short chapters and changing the location of the story this way by moving the narration from one spot to another where the characters develop the plot in various locations without getting bogged down in detail development. I enjoyed it.

[Melanie Tuncay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was the first of this authors books to read and I read it in 2 days!!! Great read...kept me guessing till the end!!!

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

A story that goes nowhere. Think, Jason Borne and then think the opposite and wind up with this. 2 of 10 stars

[Dane Andrew]

Paul Janson, a former government assassin, has become a private security consultant with strict rules regarding the operations he accepts and, most importantly, the manner in which he executes them. He along with his partner, Jessica Kincaid, have been contracted to locate and extract a US Senators’ son from South Korea, who is on the run for allegedly murdering his girlfriend who happens to be a translator for the ongoing talks between North & South Korea.
They soon realize that all is not as it seems, and former allies become dangerous foes, in a race to unravel a conspiracy that could result in a global catastrophe.
The story line is captivating enough to keep you coming back for more. Pulse pounding fight scenes, frantic foot chases and good old-fashioned spy-craft evoke memories of vintage Ludlum. A roller-coaster ride that keeps you guessing to the very end.
This is a great work of fiction that intertwines modern-day facts to paint a plausible picture of behind-the-scenes power-brokers and their nefarious plans. It also realistically depicts the collateral damage left in the wake of said plans.
However, some aspects of the characters’ interactions appear at times, too convenient and coincidental, and could probably have been executed more believably.
I enjoyed this creation and would recommend it for anyone who is a fan of the genre. This being number four in the series, I would suggest for those that have not read the previous three; The Janson Directive, The Janson Command & The Janson Option, that you do so before delving into this one; thus, painting a more complete picture of the characters and their journey.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Douglas Corleone is no Robert Ludlum but the book is pretty good and it keeps the popular Janson character alive. I have been a Bourne reader and do not know Janson so I cannot say whether this does the character justice or not. The book improves about half way through as the pace picks up and the plot literally thickens. I didn’t identify with any of the characters so was not emotionally drawn into the book. The background information and mentions of contempory events and people made for interesting reading. It was different for me to read a book set in Korea but even though you are provided with political information , you don’t get the feeling you are in Korea. The atmosphere is missing. I found Lord Wicked to be thinly drawn and unbelievable but it is a character which could have some real potential.
I did not dislike the book at all. I just wasn’t sitting on the edge of my seat. In some senses it could have been two books since there were a number of characters which needed more depth and time to develop. It would have been good to know more about them and how they became who they were and behaved as they did. There is some background but not enough to be absorbing. I could see this as a TV series or Netflix series.

[Teo Weldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed The Janson Equation. In terms of fulfilling its genre, I think this book does pretty well. So much has already been done, but I was able to find original threads throughout the story. The book was easy to visualize like a movie, and the descriptions were vivid.

I liked the characters, and particularly the backstory development of the antagonist op, Sin Bae. It makes a big difference to how much we care about characters when we understand where they are coming from. Also, the insight into the world of North Korea was fascinating. I'm not sure how much is accurate, of course. Still, it was interesting.

I would give it 5 stars for the action, but I feel like the end isn't completely believable the way it unfolds. Maybe it could happen like that, in the same way that maybe James Bond could pull off some of the miracles he pulls off, but it's a stretch.

I also like the focus on the internal battle within the protagonist, Paul Janson, in keeping to his code, given extreme circumstances. Great book!

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

unusually good entry in a series, especially impressive considering the 'lead author' referenced on the cover has been dead since 2001! joking aside, Douglas Corleone crafted a riveting story using the pre-existing characters/world from the past Paul Janson novels. As if frequently the case in novels such as these, the ending unfortunately felt rushed and incomplete, and also fairly ludicrous and impossible, even allowing for the standard waiver of common sense/believability for a fiction book.
all aside, it was a great read almost all the way, which exceeded expectation for a 4th in a retread series referencing a long deceased author. 4 stars.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believe it or not I was halfway through this book when I realized that this was the fourth book in the Janson series. I am a HUGE fan of the Bourne series and I am well known of Ludlum's work and Douglas Corleone. The book started off very intriguing of the character of Paul Janson and his adventure throughout the book and the characters he meets and become a part of his team. I can not wait to read the first installment The Janson Directive and see where this whole saga began. Fantastic read if you are a lover of adventure and edge of your seat action.

[Byron Screaming-Eagle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story line was Scarily Intriguing, Interesting and Terrifying. However, Douglas Corleone either DID NOT read the First 3 (three) novels about Paul Janson written by Robert Ludlum and Paul Garrison or Corleone DOES NOT Care about continuity. Janson went from being a decorated Navy SEAL from the Vietnam War to a Navy SEAL from the Iraqi/Afghan War. I can only conclude that Mr. Ludlum’s original story and Characters are going to be drawn out so a young Paul Janson is needed. Despite this Continuity error, I STILL very much Enjoyed this novel.

[Dave Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5..Never read the other Janson books but this is one is flawless IMHO..Huge Ludlum fan--both this work and the post mortem ghost writers...Set in China, Hawaii and mainly the Koreas---exciting to see North Korea in a fiction book.A great book from start to finish....Great story, locales, characters, dialogue, plot, story, pacing, brevity, etc etc

[Helen Rodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great background in the context of world events and a good read to go with it many of the Korean names were hard to keep track of

Great background in the context of world events and a good read to go with it many of the Korean names were hard to keep track of in the narrative

[Henry Wade · Rating 2 out of 5]

Totally predictable. It's the type of book that you read when you have nothing else to read. I could have cared less what happened to the main characters. Bought it new in hardback at B&N for $5.98...

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably closer to a 3 1/2 star rating however four works. Decent book however if this is the first book I’ve read in the series. I think I’ll dive a little deeper into the series it’s not fantastic but it wasn’t bad either.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting Janson book where he is hired by a US Seantor to track down his son in Korea and he and Jessica end up against their old workmates. As he tries to stop a conflict on the Korean penisula Paul must do the impossible.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good suspense/thriller. The plot was engaging and fast-paced. I wasn't as much of character development as I would have liked. I struggled a bit w/ differentiating the similar-sounding foreign names. However, the author was very good at re-identifying the characters.

[Kevin Stumpf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful storyline, character development, pace, and action. I had not read a Janson series novel in a few years and I retreat that decision.

I have read nothing else from Mr. Corleone, but I intend to after this novel.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a good story. Once you've bought into the idea of the super-secret, super-black, special ops group in a non-military agency, it is totally believable.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read

Thoroughly enjoyed this next chapter in the Janson series. A little dry towards the end, but action packed and good story line e.

[Jerry King · Rating 4 out of 5]

2015