In Print: The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum

This was the third book in the Bourne series, and much like the others, had very little, if anything in common with the movie bearing the same title.

In what was supposed to be the final installment of the Bourne storyline, David Webb, aka Jason Bourne, goes full circle and ends up in a battle to the death with his long time arch-nemesis Carlos the Jackal.

In this tome, it's thirteen years after the happenings in the Bourne Identity. David is a 50+ year old professor living in Maine, married to Marie with two kids. Someone takes a shot at David's friends Alex and Mo after telling them to meet "Jason" in a certain spot. The shots were intended to be a warning to David, as it's the signature style hit of Carlos.

Immediately David jumps to some insane conclusion that it was Medusa behind it and starts raising hell. The leap to the conspiracy was huge and nothing that a normal person would come to. Eventually they Do uncover a Medusa related conspiracy but it had nothing to do with Carlos. But, in an attempt to get away from Carlos, David and his family played into his hands. That's the Ultimatum part, David will not, WILL NOT relent until Carlos is dead. That would be the only way his family could ever be safe.

After page one or two hundred the story really picks up and ends up in France and then finally Russia where, let's say, matters are resolved in the most remarkable manner.

For the most part, this was a fun book. Once Bourne got away from his family and went into pursuit mode, it really got good. But the beginning was slow out of the gate. That really hurt reading it. It also grew tiresome to read about the nonstop whining from David and his family, giving the people trying to help them out. It got to the point that I HOPED the mob and the Jackal wiped out the entire family. But if you hang in there it does pay off.

If you liked the other Bourne books, this one is worth reading as well.