Rating:  Summary: A Fascinating Story Review: The Gemini Contenders makes you feel re-assured that Robert Ludlum will always be one of the finest thriller writers of our time. The story is magnificent and feels daringly true at times. It flows through three generations of time almost, beginning from 1939 to the 1970s. I liked the character of Vittorio Fontini-Christi, the son of Savarone, who is not aware where the dreaded vault has been buried. The way he unlocks the clues that his father left behind and passes them onto his sons, is simply amazing. The pace of the book is fast and difficult to put this book down. The only drawback of the book is characters come and go too quickly and theres hardly any character development. Also, once the two twins take up the story, Vittorio and his wife Jane are almost forgotten about and not treated too well. All in all, its a great book, among the top few of Ludlum's books.
Rating:  Summary: Almost did not finish reading it Review: This has to be one of the top Robert Ludlum books that I have ever read. This book tells about an order of monks transporting a vault to a secret hiding place out of the reach of the Nazis. The head of the Fontini-Christi family,Savarone is actually the one who hides the vault with it's secrets. Ludlum's book tells of Savarone's son's trials and tribulations that he has to face as a result of the hidden vault.This book also shows the vault's influences on the lives of Savarone's grandsons. This book is an interesting fiction history of the secret vault. The ending of this book is also exceptional. Read this book. It is easily one of Ludlum's finest writings ever.
Rating:  Summary: A Spellbinding Book! Review: This has to be one of the top Robert Ludlum books that I have ever read. This book tells about an order of monks transporting a vault to a secret hiding place out of the reach of the Nazis. The head of the Fontini-Christi family,Savarone is actually the one who hides the vault with it's secrets. Ludlum's book tells of Savarone's son's trials and tribulations that he has to face as a result of the hidden vault.This book also shows the vault's influences on the lives of Savarone's grandsons. This book is an interesting fiction history of the secret vault. The ending of this book is also exceptional. Read this book. It is easily one of Ludlum's finest writings ever.
Rating:  Summary: A classic, well-researched and believable! Review: Vittorio Fontini-Christi is the head of a highly regarded Italian family who harbours a deadly secret. When a vault from a religious order called Xenope is transported from Greece to Switzerland and Italy, his secret could alter the course of World War 2 - a secret which could shake the foundations of religion itself. From 1939 and on up to 1973(when this book was written, I should imagine), the feuding offspring of Vittorio - one a US Army soldier hardened by Vietnam, the other a radical peace campaigner, struggle to get their hands on the vault - but for what cause? Read on and you will be hooked. The action sweeps across well-researched European locations which I have visited and could relate to quite well, especially Rome and Milan. The action never stops and builds up to an awesome climax in the Alps. Unlike some of Ludlum's other books, the ending here builds up at the right pace - not too quickly and it certainly isn't an anti-climax - the last page will leave you breathless. A must read, and a Ludlum classic.
|