'The Osterman Weekend' by Robert Ludlum is a cold war spy thriller set in the early 1970s, involving a complex plot against American interests. The story revolves around a group of four couples who are friends but are caught up in suspicion, manipulation, and betrayal as they are unknowingly involved in a Soviet plot orchestrated by the CIA. The plot builds tension as the protagonist, John Tanner, is enlisted by the CIA to uncover the secret agents among his friends during a weekend gathering, leading to a climax of action and suspense.

The writing style of the book is described as fast-paced, with crazy plot twists that keep the readers guessing. The story is filled with espionage, manipulation, friendship, fear, and murder, creating a thrilling narrative that unfolds quickly, engaging the readers till the end.

Characters:

The characters are complex, involving four couples with deep-seated secrets that drive the plot toward betrayal and suspicion.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is straightforward but unpolished, with significant errors in formatting in certain editions.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot involves a dinner party among friends where the main character discovers hidden identities related to espionage, amidst a backdrop of a Soviet plot against the United States.

Setting:

The setting is mainly a quiet suburb in New Jersey, with some references to international intrigue, but it mostly unfolds within the U.S.

Pacing:

The pacing features a slow build-up leading to a fast-paced and action-oriented climax.

The “Welcome” is in smaller lettering than any of the words preceding it, for Saddle Valley does not really welcome outsiders, those Sunday afternoon drivers who like to watch the Villagers at play. T...

Notes:

The Osterman Weekend was published in 1972, during the Cold War.

It's one of Robert Ludlum's earliest novels and more of a mystery than an action thriller.

The plot revolves around a dinner party where friends must reveal if they are spies for a foreign power.

The novel features a complex conspiracy against American interests.

It has a rich setting in a New Jersey enclave with four couples.

The book contains many twists, with a surprising conclusion.

Readers found the book less polished compared to Ludlum's later works.

The Kindle version had numerous typos, detracting from the reading experience.

It deals with themes of trust and betrayal among friends.

The story is described as having a long build-up followed by a quick climax.

From The Publisher:

In Zurich . . . in Moscow . . . in Washington, D.C. . . . the machinery has already been set in motion. In a quiet suburb, an odd assortment of men and women gather for a momentous weekend. At stake is nothing less than the very existence of the United States of America-and, with it, the future of the entire free world.

Praise for Robert Ludlum and The Osterman Weekend

"Shattering . . . [The Osterman Weekend] will cost you the night and the cold hours of the morning."-The Cincinnati Enquirer

"Ludlum stuffs more surprises into his novels than any other six-pack of thriller writers combined."-The New York Times

"Powerhouse momentum . . . as shrill as the siren on the prowl car."-Kirkus Reviews

"A complex scenario of inventive double-crossing."-Chicago Sun-Times

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About the Author:

Robert Ludlum was the author of twenty-one novels, each a New York Times bestseller. There are more than 210 million of his books in print, and they have been translated into thirty-two languages. In addition to the Jason Bourne series-The…

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The Osterman Weekend

Robert Ludlum