Robert Ludlum - The Scorpio Illusion

Arroz Caldo for Dinner at Slice with The Scorpion Illusion

                                                              

Don’t ever begin a Ludlum novel if you have to go to work the next day.

– Chicago Sun-Times

So true. So I was glad when we had a long weekend, courtesy of the Labour Day, though I started reading this at the night of 30 August. It was Thursday, in Slice. It was also the same night I bought the book. I was actually deliberating between The Scorpio Illusion and The Ambler Warning. I chose the former, half to an inch thicker than the latter, because I wanted a massive Ludlum comeback in my shelf. I do have The Road to Gandolfo, but for some reasons I couldn’t stick with it. By the way, The Road to Gandolfo was a gift to me by a foreigner whose name I can’t remember. I believe I wrote it on the book.

At the back of my copy was written:

Tyrell Hawthorne was a naval intelligence officer–one of the best–until the rainswept night in Amsterdam when his wife was murdered, an innocent victim of the games spies play.

Now he’s called out of retirement for one last assignment. For Hawthorne is the only man alive who can track down the world’s most dangerous terrorist.

Amaya Bajaratt is beautiful, elusive, deadly — and she has set in motion a chilling conspiracy that a desperate government cannot stop. Now, with his life and the life of the President hanging in the balance, Hawthorne must follow Amaya’s serpentine trail, a path of seduction, betrayal, an instant death…

Racing from a millionaire recluse’s fortress to the social whirl of Palm Beach and from the Oval Office to treacherous Caribbean waters, Hawthorne will uncover a sinister network of well-placed men and women who exist to help this consummate killer–and the shattering truth behind The Scorpio Illusion.

Pretty long and dramatic, right? Well, it makes sense. The Scorpio Illusion has a lot of story to tell, which in a way impressed me. You can actually have a jump-start if you’re planning to make a story out of the characters in the book. And how I wish I could, so there’d be one for Lt. Poole. He’s my favourite character in the novel.

Lt. Andrew Jackson Poole, US Air Force was:

(+) Intellectually-stimulating.

(+) Annoyingly witty. He usually got into the nerves of Major Nielsen, for sensible reasons which Hawthorne could and would not even dismiss.

(+) With intellectual humour.  You’d agree if you have some sensible intellect.

(+) Physically fit. Albeit being the tech-genius, but of course. US Air Force.

(+) Caring and protective. Major Nielsen and Hawthorne were very lucky to have him, not just for these traits of his.

Amaya Bajaratt, or “The Baj” for short, reminded me so much of Kate Blackwell from Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon. Both were highly intelligent, manipulative, and dangerous broads. The Baj put the U.S. of A. to shame. When I said that, I was referring to CIA, FBI, and the Pentagon put together. Don’t look for Homeland because it only came into existence after 9/11.

The Baj was so elusive that Deuxième, MI-6, and even the great Mossad missed her. But these three were able to redeem themselves. MI-6, with its persistent efforts, was able to recruit Hawthorne and led him into an attempt of saving the life of the US President. That was no spoiler, because the details were all that matter. Like how on earth they and they missed this and that.

The Scorpio Illusion is more than a story of international conspiracy. It’s as deep as the moles had penetrated. It goes through one’s heart and soul. Betrayals and doubts were not uncommon. There was one revelation in the first pages/chapters of the novel, but it did not surprise me albeit its gravity and ability to shatter and destroy any human soul. What surprised me though was the confirmation of Robert Ludlum.

I like how former Navy Intelligence Commander Tyrell Hawthorne was presented as self-confessed inadequate person. He knew he’d been away for a long time so he welcomed help, especially from Poole and Nielsen, but he was of course cautious.

The Scorpio Illusion, so far, is a favourite but only next to The Matarese Circle. Vasili Taleniekov will always be number one for me. Jackson Poole only comes next, but I will definitely choose him over The Serpent simply because Poole’s not so older.

The Ambler Warning will be included in my next must-read list, but I will be content for now. I’m glad I chose The Scorpio Illusion first.

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Originally posted on: 04 September 2012
Reposted on: 15 May 2013