The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

Synopsis (from back page)

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. 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 Jason Bourne 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 but the woman who wanted to escape him.

Review

I, probably like many others before me, actually saw the film version of The Bourne Identity prior to reading the book itself and it’s probably because of the film that I wanted to read the book in the first place. However if there happens to be anyone left out there who hasn’t seen the film adaptation yet, my advice to you would be to read the book first.

Why? Well because the film is only loosely based on the book and some aspects of the book (for example Carlos, which lets face it is actually a fairly big part of the plot) have in fact been totally left out of the film and although I hate to admit it I found it a little disappointing that the book didn’t follow the film more – which is wrong on so many levels especially seeing as the book came first and which is the reason why I recommend you read the book first so that you don’t have any preconceived ideas as to what to expect from it.

Anyway moving on and getting away from the film (after all this is a book review) this is actually a fantastic read.

Saying that I personally found it a little hard going. Not hard going as in having to struggle your way through it, far from it in fact as I found myself turning the pages at a fairly steady pace, but the plot is very intricate and detailed and it’s not really something that you can pick up and read for the odd five minutes here and there. It’s actually probably best read in just a couple of sittings so it’s probably the ideal book to take to read on a long haul flight so that you have the time to sit and read a good fair sized chunk of it in one go.

It is a little hard to read the book without picturing Matt Damon as Bourne, but putting that aside the characters, including that of Bourne, are all well thought out and with the action packed, fast paced speed that the book follows you can’t help but keep turning those pages.

Full of suspense, intrigue and mystery, The Bourne Identity is without a doubt one of the best thrillers ever written.

Reviewed by Karen.