Jason Bourne.

He has no past. And he may have no future. His memory is blank. He only knows that he was flushed out of the Mediterranean Sea, his body riddled with bullets.

There are a few clues. A frame of microfilm surgically implanted beneath the flesh of his hip. Evidence that plastic surgery has altered his face. Strange things that he says in his delirium -- maybe code words. Initial: "J.B." And a number on the film negative that leads to a Swiss bank account, a fortune of four million dollars, and, at last, a name: Jason Bourne.

But now he is marked for death, caught in a maddening puzzle, racing for survival through the deep layers of his buried past into a bizarre world of murderous conspirators -- led by Carlos, the world's most dangerous assassin. And no one can help Jason Bourne but the woman who once wanted to escape him.

"Mr. Ludlum stuffs more surprises into his novels than any other six-pack of thriller writers combines." -- The New York Times

Customer Rating:
Summary: Even If You Have Seen The Movie
Comment: You should read the book (more so if you enjoyed the movie) I actually read the book quite awhile ago and had forgotten the details, but when I saw the movie the book instantly returned in my mind and the wonderful writing in the book where we first meet Jason Bourne.

And from then on Ludlum brings you along in the great mystery as Jason Bourne tries to discover himself and who he is. Based on his background as someone involved in extreme operations, with an obvious ability to injure and kill, he is hunted as he is also the hunter for himself.

Each page makes you want to continue reading as you want to come to a resolution as to who Jason Bourne is and what is the next step and obstacle that will come up. A great series of books and the movies were done fairly well also.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Better then the movies
Comment: I have just about finished the trilogy that this book is the first of. They are very different from the movies. In fact, it is as if the movies just had the same character names and were just inspired by the books but have a different story all together.

The books are a little slower reading then some of the more current books in the genre but I like the change of pace.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Wow - blows the movie right out of the water!
Comment: I first read this book 4 years before the movies started coming out, and it blew me out of the water. Wow. I read spy/action books all the time, and this was amazing. James Bond is the classy blue-blooded spy - he wouldn't stand a chance going through what Bourne did in these books. Please buy it. And forget what you saw in the movie!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Best spy novel, in my opinion
Comment: A lot of suspense and twists. Good stuff. The hits just keeps coming! You'll never predict what's going to happen next (that is, if you never seen the movie)! I guess that's all I have to say. The rest, the other people have it already covered (the plot, what's in it, etc. just pointless to restate)

5.1 stars

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Bourne Fan
Comment: The Bourne books by Ludlum do NOT follow the same storyline as the movies that share the same names as the books. The Movies have Matt Damon and were edited for the screen (Ludlum's characters were retained where they fit into the storyline--for the most part).

That being said, the books were published long ago and are good reads. However, if you expect an "extended" storyline from the movie, you will be disappointed (as I think the previous reviewer was). Taken independently, the book is a wonderful read, and the reader will see a character whose difficulty trusting the government is spot on--as is the government's willingness to use people (as is evident in all of the books of this "type").

The characters in the books are more rounded (both good and bad), rather than just one-sided as portrayed in the movie(s)--usually what happens in a "book."

I recommend this series so long as you do not expect a rehash of the movies, and the book gets a 5-star rating from me...

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