This may sound strange, but I read this book's sequel, THE ROAD TO OMAHA, first...I just saw the premise on the back of the book, knew Robert Ludlum's reputation as a great writer, and thought 'Okay, this might be worth a buy.' I had NO IDEA what I was getting into: THE ROAD TO OMAHA became one of my favorite books once I was done, and it took a little while afterward to hunt down and secure its predecessor, the madcap beginning of the absurd, OMG-they-didn't-do-that adventures of MacKenzie 'Madman Mac the Hawk' Hawkins and Sam Devereaux. And my friends, you'd better fasten your seatbelts for a completely irreverent yet weirdly plausible -- let's face it, in our crazy world, *anything* can happen! -- ride of epic proportions in THE ROAD TO GANDOLFO!(Keep in mind the novel is set in the time it was published, the mid-1970's!) The road starts with U.S. Army Lieutenant General MacKenzie Hawkins, whose military legend began in West Point football and immediately afterward as a teenaged hero of the Battle of the Bulge in WWII...a veteran of scores of successful covert ops in the Golden Triangle afterward, another character succinctly describes that he makes John Wayne look like a pansy! Unfortunately, in his current posting as America's military representative in China, he's set up for scandal by his hosts. Lots of property damage and chaos ensues. But the U.S. government, feeling future trade relations with China are more important than a national hero, prepare to disavow him out of embarrassment.Thus enters the second lead in the story, Samuel Lansing Devereaux, crusading lawyer in the Inspector General Office and all-around military mistake. He'd be the first to admit he's no soldier and never had any dedication to it, and he's only a month away from returning to civilian life for good. Sam could have been discharged two years sooner, but in a fit of (self-)righteous anger broke quite a few laws to get the dirt on a corrupt general...only to nab the wrong guy! He was given a choice of prison time or two more years in the military...which one would YOU pick? With his freedom imminent, however, he's the one chosen to become Hawkins' lawyer and convince him to play ball for the political manipulators in both China and Washington, D.C. (Mac calls them 'lace-pants', among a few other things I can't say here!)But Hawkins is as shrewd and cunning as he is patriotic, and he's knows above all how to survive...he publicly placates the politicians on all sides and agrees to leave the beloved Army he'd served his entire adult life to earn his freedom. He's also given the opportunity to make his final evaluations of his intelligence files in the Army's G-2 Archives. And Sam is roped into accompanying him. Things quietly but quickly fly off the rails right after that as Sam finds himself a reluctant player in an intricate, extravagant scheme by Hawkins involving blackmail and fraud on a grand scale, and ultimately, impossibly, shockingly...brace yourselves...a masterwork of a plot to kidnap the Pope!Crazy as a fox and more manic than Robin Williams on high-quality meds, THE ROAD TO GANDOLFO is a hilarious ride you have to read to believe! Outrageous and completely incorrect (ahem, I won't go into how many ethnic slurs Hawk hurls at the Chinese!), it's also a smart, engaging thriller about the ultimate scam. Hawkins and Sam couldn't be more different -- their being on opposite sides of the political fence is only the beginning! Oh, and Hawkins' Harem must be mentioned: four amazing, well-endowed women who are all ex-wives of Mac, yet still love him even though they couldn't live with the man! This Harem become his cohorts and accomplices in his ludicrous plot to kidnap the Pope(!) and offer aid and warm comfort to the frazzled Sam, who's on the verge of losing his mind trying again and again to stop Hawk and failing miserably! How it all turns out...what? I'm not going to spoil it for you! It may be dated by its time and setting, but it's no less relevant today as a thriller and as a comedy that will make you laugh as you turn the pages!
This is on of those novels by Ludlum which he wrote using another name (Michael Shepherd)and this books is radically different from his usual style that I can see why this was done.In comparison to his usual work, this book is more intended to be humorous and this can be a welcome chance from his usual books, however not all Ludlum fans will probably appreciate this.A story about an ex-general who has the plan to kidnap the pope with the help of his 4 ex-wives is not something you would expect in a Ludlum story. I myself found this book rather amusing, in fact this book was a succes as a sequel was written. (The Road to Omaha)However this book gets 3 stars, for the most part because when faced with a shelf containing all the book sever written by Ludlum this book would remain by the last ones left on the shelf waiting to be read. A welcome change, but outshined by his regular work.
What do You think about The Road To Gandolfo (1992)?
I was a little disappointed with this book to be honest. While descriptively it was well written, and it flowed nicely, as far as plot and progression were concerned, I hated it. My dead grandmother's one legged parrot's ass could have written better with a pen stuck in it. It reminded me a bit of The Ambler Warning. So much plot twisting and detail and counter plots (ridiculous plot twists too in my opinion) leading right up to the end of the book. With a few pages to go I was wondering to myself how the author could possibly iron it all out in time for the end of the book. And the truth is, he didnt. He just ended the book like a lazy high school student unwillingly finishing an essay. I am disappointed, like I said. Ludlum is one of my favourite authors too.
—Kevincl
tThis book was first published in 1975 and the author’s name given as Michael Shepherd. Turns out it was written by Robert Ludlum, using a pseudonym, at the mandate of his editor/publisher so as not to smirch his well known name. It was reissued several times and the paperback I have is the 1992 issue. According to Ludlum’s introduction this arrangement gave him the freedom to unleash his staggering imagination.tThe plot is way over the top and features an army general named MacKenzie Hawkins who concocts a scheme to kidnap the pope and hold him for ransom. I’ve read Ludlum’s novels in the past and enjoyed them, notably the series about Jason Bourne, but this book just doesn’t compare. In fact, I’m giving up on it after about eighty pages. It’s just too ridiculous and I’m not able to take it seriously. tI’m giving it the benefit of a doubt by rating it a generous three stars.
—Dick Reynolds
Mackenzie Hawkins is awesome.Not only does he cause a ton of trouble for the US government in the 1st third of the book, he then hatches a plan to kidnap the Pope so as to get $400 million in ransom.Sure there are plotholes big enough to fly a plane through but just by reading the back of the book you go in knowing this won't be an award winner. Still, for a 324 page novel, it took longer than it should have to get through it.Not sure when I'll get to reading The Road to Omaha but I do look forward to it.
—Dakeyras
