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The Apocalypse Watch by Robert Ludlum — book cover

The Apocalypse Watch

by Robert Ludlum
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Overview

Deep in the Hausruck Mountains of Austria, there is a remote hideaway—the fortress-like nerve center of an ominous movement, the Brotherhood of the Watch. American agent Harry Latham has penetrated the movement, a neo-Nazi organization that was born in the days after the Third Reich's defeat and whose deadly tentacles have spread to the United States and beyond. Now, after three years in deep cover, and on the eve of his most spectacular success, Harry Latham has disappeared.

Drew Latham, Special Officer for Consular Operations in Paris, is frantic to discover his older brother's fate. But when he receives the sudden good news that Harry has surfaced, gut-twisting doubts arise. Has Harry's cover been blown? And if so, why has the Brotherhood of the Watch let him live?

For Harry Latham has emerged with an explosive list: the secret supporters of the movement, among them some of the highest-ranking officials in the United States and its allies, names synonymous with honorable service to their nations. It is a document that could topple governments—but is the list legitimate? Can Drew Latham trust his own brother?

To find the answer, Drew Latham decides to take on his brother's identity, stepping directly into the crossfire between the assassins gunning for Harry Latham—and those who want Drew himself dead.

From a hushed Alpine valley to the backstreets of Paris, from the ruling chambers of Washington and London to the casinos of Monte Carlo, The Apocalypse Watch is vintage Robert Ludlum, a superb international thriller from the writer who created the standard for a new kind of entertainment.

A premier name in thrillers for nearly a quarter of a century returns with a supercharged novel of the Brotherhood of the Watch, true inheritors of Hitler's Third Reich. While he's working covertly to break open a neo-Nazi organization, a CIA operative's cover is blown, but he manages to escape with a list of the group's secret supporters--high-ranking officials in the U.S. and its allies.

Synopsis

Deep in the Hausruck Mountains of Austria, there is a remote hideaway—the fortress-like nerve center of an ominous movement, the Brotherhood of the Watch. American agent Harry Latham has penetrated the movement, a neo-Nazi organization that was born in the days after the Third Reich's defeat and whose deadly tentacles have spread to the United States and beyond. Now, after three years in deep cover, and on the eve of his most spectacular success, Harry Latham has disappeared.

Drew Latham, Special Officer for Consular Operations in Paris, is frantic to discover his older brother's fate. But when he receives the sudden good news that Harry has surfaced, gut-twisting doubts arise. Has Harry's cover been blown? And if so, why has the Brotherhood of the Watch let him live?

For Harry Latham has emerged with an explosive list: the secret supporters of the movement, among them some of the highest-ranking officials in the United States and its allies, names synonymous with honorable service to their nations. It is a document that could topple governments—but is the list legitimate? Can Drew Latham trust his own brother?

To find the answer, Drew Latham decides to take on his brother's identity, stepping directly into the crossfire between the assassins gunning for Harry Latham—and those who want Drew himself dead.

From a hushed Alpine valley to the backstreets of Paris, from the ruling chambers of Washington and London to the casinos of Monte Carlo, The Apocalypse Watch is vintage Robert Ludlum, a superb international thriller from the writer who created the standard for a new kind of entertainment.

Publishers Weekly

Ludlum's latest suspense tale of international intrigue spent 12 weeks on PW's bestseller list. (May)

About the Author, Robert Ludlum

When he died in March 2001, Robert Ludlum had become not only a veteran suspense author, but a reliable bestseller franchise. His plots involving high-level corruption and global conspiracy are like entering labyrinths; and readers keep coming back to get lost.

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Editorials

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Ludlum's latest suspense tale of international intrigue spent 12 weeks on PW's bestseller list. (May)

Library Journal

Many were concerned that after the reunification of Germany, Nazism would resurface. Ludlum The Scorpio Illusion, Audio Reviews, LJ 9/1/93 brings this fear to bear in a chilling story about the Fourth Reich. Neo-Nazis have infiltrated many key world government positions in an attempt to bring the Fourth Reich to prominence. The only person capable of stopping it is CIA operative Drew Latham. After Drew's brother Harry infiltrates a Brdershaft camp, he escapes with a list of secret supporters of the Nazi's agenda-men and women of high rank in the United States and other Allied countries. Harry's escape is not without problems, though. The Germans are aware that Harry is an impostor, so the reliability of the list is unknown. Drew enlists the help of Karin de Vries, a NATO analyst and longtime friend of Harry's, to determine the validity of the list and to stop the Nazis' march to prominence. The Germans, anxious to stop Latham, are seemingly at every corner and in every alley, making Latham and de Vries frequent targets. This powerful, well-written novel touches on such current issues as hate, ethnic cleansing, and racism. Classic Ludlum in fine form, ably read by Edward Herrmann. Demand should be high for this title. Recommended for adult fiction collections.-David A. Scott, Southwestern Oklahoma State Univ., Weatherford

Mary Frances Wilkens

Remember the hype about how Nazism would resurface with a vengeance once Germany reunified? Ludlum gives this paranoid nightmare amazing life in another fascinating thriller. Paris has been infiltrated by neo-Nazis, and the only American with the proper balance of physical power, street smarts, and diplomacy to aid the Duxieme Bureau, a secret French intelligence agency, is Drew Latham. Perhaps the only other qualified CIA operative for this assignment is Drew's brother, Harry. But Harry is already concentrating on breaking apart the so-called Fourth Reich; after assuming deep cover in a "Bruderschaft" camp, Harry escapes with a most valuable piece of information--a list of secret supporters of the neo-Nazis' agenda--men and women of high rank from the U.S., France, and other allied nations. His escape is not perfect, though, for the Germans knew all along that he was an impostor, so no one knows how much of the information retrieved is reliable. Drew enlists the aid of Karin de Vries, a former NATO analyst and a longtime friend of Harry's. Together, Drew and Karin carry an arsenal of potentially damaging information--including the list--that makes them the target of would-be assassins at every turn. A powerful, exploding novel that, frightening as it sounds, may not be so far reaching, for it touches on the issues of hate, ethnic cleansing, and racism that we read about every day. Vintage Ludlum in fine form.

Book Details

Published
April 1, 1996
Publisher
Random House Publishing Group
Pages
768
Format
Mass Market Paperback
ISBN
9780553569575

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