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From: norm@umcp-cs.UUCP (Norm Glick)
Newsgroups: net.books
Subject: Re: Thriller
Message-ID: <2586@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 16-Dec-85 23:47:07 EST
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.2586
Posted: Mon Dec 16 23:47:07 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Dec-85 01:14:21 EST
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Organization: U of Maryland, Computer Science Dept., College Park, MD
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Following is a response by my wife Ruth:

I've read a fair number of books in the suspense field.  As some of 
the other respondents have noted, Bourne Identity is somewhat
different from Ludlum's other books.  My particular favorite is
the Chancellor Manuscript.  One of the respondents mentioned the
Eye of the Needle.  It's by Ken Follett.  As far as I'm concerned
he's much better than Ludlum.  Ludlum writes the same characters
over and over again (e.g., the poor jerk wandering around getting
shot at and miraculously surviving--that's what makes Bourne
somewhat different.  Even if he doesn't know who he is, his
reflexes remember how to defend him).  Follett has more interesting
characters.  My personal favorite Follett book is Triple which has the
international espionage aspects you like.  The Key to Rebecca and
Eye of the Needle are also very good.  McInnes doesn't have quite
the level of action (If you like Ludlum's having his hero shot at
or assaulted every 20 pages, you won't like her!).  LeCarre is 
also a lot slower than Ludlum, but you might like The Little 
Drummer Girl.  I don't think Forsythe is as good as Follett or
Ludlum.  The Odessa File was OK, but not exceptional.  Clive
Cusler has been recommended to me, but I picked up one of his
books and couldn't get into it.