Lustbader's cookie-cutter fifth Jason Bourne novel in the Ludlum franchise (after The Bourne Deception) downgrades the title character to a mere co-star with villain Leonid Arkadin, a graduate of the same covert training program, who also possesses almost superhuman combat skills. Bourne and Arkadin's globe-trotting pursuit of each other drives the main plot, which includes yet another secret cabal bent on world domination, Severus Domna. The members of Severus Domna have their eye on a ring Bourne possesses that's a clue to the location of King Solomon's legendary gold. Arkadin's use of silly aliases (e.g., Stanley Kowalski, Frank N. Stein) dissipates any effort at realism, while implausible and formulaic side stories involving Soraya Moore, ousted from her position with the CIA, don't help. Those who don't mind Bourne's devolution from the tortured amnesiac soul Ludlum created into a stock action hero will be most satisfied. (June)

"Don't ever begin a Ludlum novel if you have to go to work the next day."—CHICAGO SUN TIMES

"Lustbader is an excellent storyteller and is not afraid to keep the twists and turns coming in this sequel...This is an explosive addition to a series with an unrivaled heritage and storied pedigree."—Bookreporter.com on THE BOURNE BETRAYAL

"Reading a Ludlum novel is like watching a James Bond film...slickly paced...all-consuming."—ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

"As twisted, dark and exciting as the others."—THE OKLAHOMAN on THE BOURNE SANCTION

"Don't ever begin a Ludlum novel if you have to go to work the next day."

"As twisted, dark and exciting as the others."

"Reading a Ludlum novel is like watching a James Bond film...slickly paced...all-consuming."

"Lustbader is an excellent storyteller and is not afraid to keep the twists and turns coming in this sequel...This is an explosive addition to a series with an unrivaled heritage and storied pedigree."

Don't ever begin a Ludlum novel if you have to go to work the next day.

Reading a Ludlum novel is like watching a James Bond film...slickly paced...all-consuming.

No one is what he or she seems to be. Lustbader's fifth installment (after The Bourne Deception) of Ludlum's saga of rogue agent Jason Bourne finds Bourne in possession of a ring with a cryptic engraving. Bourne, a product of the newly reformed ruthless and clandestine American Central Intelligence program called Treadstone, is still being hunted by his former employer. Treadstone is anxious to capture Bourne and Russian Leonid Arkadin, two of their top lethal graduates, to find out where their training went wrong. If that fails they want to manipulate the killer-with-a-conscience Bourne and the unscrupulous Arkadin into destroying each other. As Bourne works to put the shattered pieces of his memories back together, he doesn't know whom or what to trust. And time is running short for Bourne as various parties work to gain control over the ring, a key to unimaginable wealth, and terminate the indestructible Bourne. VERDICT Thriller addicts who love intricate webs of conspiracy mixed with an adrenalin rush of action and global adventure will snap this one up. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/1/10; for more summer thrillers, see Andrew Smith's "Short Takes: Summer Men's Fiction," p. 68.—Ed.]—Susan O. Moritz, Montgomery Cty. P.L.s, MD

Jason Bourne hits the ground running as he seeks an important artifact at the same time that he tantalizingly uncovers bits of his impaired memory. The trail of deadly mayhem moves through Africa and Bali, and ultimately involves a Russian mercenary who was part of the same covert CIA training program as Bourne. This installment explores secret societies, amassed gold, and hidden temples. Bourne fans will enjoy the audio portions peppered with gunfire and other realistic sound effects. Scott Sowers ably narrates various foreign accents, as well as Bourne's youthful and jaded vocalizations. Sowers delivers the book's nonstop action by speeding up his performance as we follow the characters through one fast-paced chase scene after another. The background music gives the story the feel of a movie. A.W. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine