The Osterman Weekend

Written by Robert Ludlum

Narrated by Stephen Hoye

In a secret room in Washington DC John Tanner is asked to stake his life - and his wife and children—on a gamble whose goals and risks no one will fully reveal to him.

In a small suburban town, where only the nicest people live, friends, neighbours, everyone and anyone could be part of a monstrous conspiracy of international evil.

The machinery has already been set in motion. And at stake is the very existence of America—and the future of the entire free world...Read by Stephen Hoye. Stephen Hoye has worked as a professional actor in London and Los Angeles for over 30 years. Trained at Boston University and The Guildhall in London, he has done six feature films, several television series, both drama and comedy, and appeared in London's West End on five occasions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette UK Audio
• Release date: Sep 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9781409128373

Robert Ludlum

Robert Ludlum (1927-2001) was the author of 25 thriller novels, including The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum--the books on which the international hit movies were based--and The Sigma Protocol. He was also the creator of the Covert-One series. Born in New York City, Ludlum received a B.A. from Wesleyan University, and before becoming an author, he was a United States Marine, a theater actor and producer.

Reviews for The Osterman Weekend

[lcmcsr-812737 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Different from the movie but an intriguing alternate ending. Considering that it was written in the 1970s, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[aliceanna-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I hadn't read any Ludlum in years and years and years. I don't know if my tastes have changed or if this one just wasn't one of his best, but I found the plot to be a bit ludicrous and the suspense extremely underwhelming. I don't recall that it was ever characterizations that were Ludlum's forte, but I do recall some really exciting plots. I'm going to keep re-reading these, though, since I recall really enjoying the heck out of him back in the day. Stay tuned!

[henrimoreaux · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An early 1970s cold war spy thriller. One of Ludlum's earliest books and if you're used to his other books such as the Parsifal Mosaic and the Bourne trilogy you'll be disappointed as it's more of a mystery novel than an action come spy thriller.Most of the novel is taken setting up the weekend for a 24 hour clash where the plot is resolved - CIA vs KGB allies. Whilst no doubt an excellent book in its time, it has aged poorly.If you're wanting to read all of Ludlum's works, sure give it a look but if you're after entertainment you'd be better off with one of his other titles.

[jeffome · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Reasonably good yarn that went very quickly......suspenseful enough that i wanted to continue.......but I never quite got the urgency of carrying out 'the weekend' plan as laid out in the book...... i could not understand why they just did not walk away.......thus the 3 stars......i know Ludlum has done much better than this.

[theoclarke · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In 1972, when this was first published, Ludlum had yet to establish himself as the writer of long thrillers. This is a much tighter work than his later novels but it contains little that is original: a member of the public is enrolled by the CIA to crack a Soviet cell. The characters are varied and convincing, the writing is interesting, and the plot twists are rewarding within this essentially corny device.

[reading_fox · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Not very impressive either, very contrived. Fortunetly it is also much shorter than a lot fo ludlum's works. More really odd conspiracy theories abound. In a rich enclave in New Jearsey four couple regularly meet as friends for dinner etc. One day John Tanner is acosted by the CIA and asked to help unravl a complex plot against american interests by luring his friends to a dinner party and making them unmask themselves as secret agents for a foreign power (which is always left unspecified). This tired and well known manouver by the secret services of roping in innocent public is just not beliable, unfortuetly it gets worse with out reluctant newspaperman, discovering he can shoot like a secret agent, hide like a secret agent and generally absorb bullets like superman. The accuacy of enemies firing automatic weapons onto a closed room without hittng anybody even by accident is also highly suspect. Nethertheless it is quickly over and with a high degree of disbelief suspension faintly enjoyable. The twists are well disguised and the final denouncemant should still manage to come as s surpise, to most readers.