This was an interesting and gripping novel. The ghost writer who took over this Ludlum thriller did not have the same style or mastery as Ludlum himself however.
There were some truly masterful and clever additions. Some of the historical anecdotes were interesting, sayings from Lenin, interspersed with historical facts which lent credence to the tale. The hints of collaboration by Coco Channel (odious anti-Semite), Maurice Chevalier and Edith Piaf. The Collusion of U.S. industry such as Ford corporation, with the Nazi regime and other interesting facts from this dark period.
While I liked the overall development of the narrative, there were a number of shortcomings imho.
While heroes are usually over the top unbelievable, the hero of this work, Stephen Metcalf, is far from the top overemotional (as spy's go)an affable dilettante without the tough and tumble façade we've come to expect in our fictional spy heroes. He probably would not have actually lasted in the field for more than a day with any luck were this reality. P. 433 he is so maudlin and obsessed with carnal and emotional delusions that he becomes unbelievable as a field agent. P. 376 the Allegorical tale of Tristan and Isolde is also far too far over the top. It could have, and should have been toned down to render it more realistic.
At times I found myself wondering if this was actually a course in learning basic Russian instead of a work of fiction. The extensive use of Russian (sometimes not explained) was annoying, this was even more so when I found that the transliteration into English was suspect from the actual pronunciation. When used sparingly this technique (employing foreign terms and expressions) can add a sense of reality to a work of fiction...but too much, alas is too much.
On page 75 we read: "...he thumbed the safety, cocked the hammer by pulling back on the slide, and prepared to fore. (Ostensibly he is using a colt M1911 .45 caliber pistol here). Later on Page 75 we read that his baggy trousers: ",,,concealed the revolver, whose holster he strapped to his ankle. This appears to be a an error of omission.
P.390, While the German agent Kleist has a superior sense of smell I was feeling shades of Patrick Suskinds "Perfume" here. This was not merely annoying, but totally implausible and detracted radically from the veracity of the tale. We get the impression that the man is more animal (bloodhound) than human. P.497 for instance the story plunges quite frankly into the absurd; the ludicrous.
P. 504 while searching the deductions drawn by Metcalf, during his search for Lana, are simply too far fetched to be taken seriously
All in all it was an enjoyable read, but it was not the Master Ludlum. While Jason Bourne aka David Webb is believable Metcalf less so. I would still recommend the tale since it is a gripping page turner, especially in the cold winter nights which have recently best us here.
I think you will enjoy it albeit bearing in mind the few reservations I have noted.