[Jason Bourne 06] • The Bourne Sanction

From Publishers WeeklyGlobe-trotting secret agent Jason Bourne returns in the third installment under the helm of Lustbader, who struggles to captivate as convincingly and effectively as Ludlum did in the original novels. Amid a cheesy prologue that features corny background music to set the mood, Jeremy Davidson speeds through the opening paragraphs at breakneck speed. Perhaps in an attempt to increase tension from the start, Davidson comes off sounding incredibly forced and somewhat uncomfortable. As the story progresses, he slows down but lacks any real authenticity. His characters are flat and uninspired, his performance monotonous and bland. A Grand Central hardcover. (Aug.)  

From School Library Journal

Lustbader's third continuation of Ludlum's popular espionage series (after The Bourne Legacy and The Bourne Betrayal) finds Jason Bourne trying to unravel the terrorist plot of a previously unknown Muslim group. Audie Award nominee Jeremy Davidson does an outstanding job creating distinctive voices for the multitude of American, British, and Eastern European characters, but their sheer number and the constant switching of settings will test listeners' attention spans, and the musical cues employed during the action sequences are cheesy. Nevertheless, recommended for public libraries owing to the series' continuing popularity.—Michael Adams, CUNY Graduate Ctr. Lib.