WW II Spy Novels discussion

Just read The Rhinemann Exchange. Ludlum is verbose, so it took about 150 pages for the story to gain traction, but once it took off, it was a good, solid read. The story concerns espionage surrounding a meeting in South America to purchase technology stolen from the Germans. But there is much more than meets the eye with the "exchange.

Anyone else read the book? Did you like it or not? I liked it.

Any other Ludlum books to recommend with WWII counterintelligence as the centerpiece?

Oh that Ludlum. He was indeed verbose. You're right.

His plots were extraordinary though--multi-layered; twists'n'turns galore.

I've said before on Goodreads that everyone who jumped on the Ludlum bandwagon once 'Bourne Identity' became a hit, should be ashamed. Ludlum wrote the same caliber of crackerjack thriller for years...years before 'Bourne' and no one paid him any attention.

Bravo Mike. Yes, a lot of his early work is WWII related. 'Holcroft Covenant', etc

Mike wrote: "Just read The Rhinemann Exchange. Ludlum is verbose, so it took about 150 pages for the story to gain traction, but once it took off, it was a good, solid read. The story concerns es..."
Yep read it in the seventies and enoyed it pretty good, then read a few more of his books after that. Started into Forysth about the same time.

Feliks wrote: "Yes, a lot of his early work is WWII related. 'Holcroft Covenant', etc ."

Thanks. I'll pick up "Holcroft" on my next trip to the library.

Another thing I liked about Ludlum, his books were not fast easy reads, they were page turners for sure, on the most part they had a good number of pages.

I found them high-rate of absorbtion page-turners, but yes they were pretty thick page-counts too. The guy was a workhorse. He sure cranked 'em out.

Doubledf99.99 wrote: "Another thing I liked about Ludlum, his books were not fast easy reads, they were page turners for sure, on the most part they had a good number of pages."

I would have to agree. I found my reading speed was less rapid than normal (which means it was pathetic) with Ludlum, so the book lasted a long time. But a true page turner. I was reading about 50 to 75 pages per sitting which required a lot of time and concentration (for me), but speaks to the exceptional quality of the story itself.

My favourite Ludlum, many moons ago, was The Gemini Contenders but I wonder whether I'll be quite as satisfied with a re-read. I used to enjoy Dennis Wheatley's Gregory Sallust stories when I was a teenager but I re-read one lately and found it very dull.

Dennis Wheatley, very unusual figure in WWII history. Spy chief.

Read a few of Wheatley's novels, didn't find them to bad..
Kinda liked his WWI stories better.

Feliks wrote: "Yes, a lot of his early work is WWII related. 'Holcroft Covenant', etc ."

I have "Holcroft Covenant" now, but there's about 10 books ahead of it. I'll post a comment here when I finish it.

His early works are my favorites. The first book I read was 'The Matlock Paper'. Couldn't put it down. Has anyone read any of the Ludlum books authored by other people? I have a problem with that concept, so I've kept away...

Nah, don't waste your time with that...too many other classics waiting to be read...

I totally agree. Thanks, Feliks!