Lustbader's second Bourne attempt holds no candle to original author Robert Ludlum's work. However, the plot is a page-turner with the exception of a few areas where the action seems to fall more in line with a comic book superhero than an actual person.

Every Bourne novel introduces you to new supporting characters. From Dr. Sunderland's probing and downright head-tripping demeanor to Soraya, the agent who ultimately ends up helping Bourne in his quest to stop the terrorists, you actually feel like any one of these people can step in the room at any moment.

If you've seen any of the Bourne movies, you'll immediately feel like Matt Damon is speaking the words you're reading. The dialogue drives this story just as much as the action does.

Lustbader's descriptive writing helps you see clearly what's going on in the book. You get a sense of time and a visual idea of place, even with Bourne's flashbacks from memory snippets flooding back to him. The narrative and dialogue are a good mix, helping you see the action and setting without getting bogged down in overdescriptive narrative.

Blood. Blood on his hands, blood covering his chest. Blood on the face of the woman he is carrying. Marie! No, not Marie! Someone else, the tender planes of her neck pale through the streams of blood. Her life leaking all over him, dripping onto the cobbled street as he runs. Panting through the chill night. Where is he? Why is he running? Dear God, who is she?

Eric Van Lustbader has written more than 25 bestselling novels. In 2004, the Robert Ludlum estate chose Lustbader to continue the Bourne series. The Bourne Betrayal is his second Bourne novel.