When Robert Ludlum passed away in 2001, he left behind a legacy of great espionage thrillers that included three terrific Jason Bourne novels. It is hard to believe that Eric Van Lustbader, in firmly grabbing the Bourne mantle, has now completed his 10th book in the series.

Lustbader's Bourne novels have firmly created their own microcosm world filled with a plethora of characters who come in and out of the series. THE BOURNE ENIGMA, the latest installment, is no exception. It carries with it all the signature elements fans have come to expect from a Jason Bourne adventure: non-stop action, international settings, a myriad of villainous characters, secret codes and false identities.

"THE BOURNE ENIGMA is a rollicking roller coaster ride of spy games and colorful characters set against the expected multiple international locales.... This is an enjoyable and fast-paced read that faithfully continues the enigma that is Jason Bourne."

The book opens with a quote from the infamous Joseph Stalin: “Denial is the first impulse of a traitor.” This hits home as, in Jason Bourne's world, there are agents, double agents and those willing to turn on you at the beckoning of the highest bidder. Now for the novel's title. By definition, an enigma is someone or something that is mysterious or puzzling. Bourne uses the term more than once here as there are many unanswered questions surrounding a plot that involves several unexplained events. 

The initial event that draws Bourne's attention is the murder of his comrade and friend, Russian general Boris Karpov, on the eve of Karpov’s wedding. We now get to see Bourne in full revenge mode. His passion and anger are unbridled, and he is operating outside of the reigns of any handler. Long gone are the days of Treadstone, and THE BOURNE ENIGMA does not make much mention of Bourne's memory issues.

However, the past will return to smack Bourne in the face when one of his most cherished associates --- and a woman he once thought to be dead --- resurfaces. It is none other than Rebeka, the deadly Mossad agent who has a soft spot for our hero. She is just one of a growing list of characters contained within these pages. A scorecard would definitely come in handy to keep names, identities and allegiances straight in this wild story.

Initially aiding Bourne in pursuit of Karpov's killer is a Russian woman named Irina, who ends up being just one of many important female characters to play pivotal roles in the story. The first enigma Bourne notes is the mystery surrounding Karpov’s murder. It seems that it may have been an inside job, even though it is quite evident there was no love lost between the Russians and the Israelis. Bourne gets assurance from his contact at Mossad that they had nothing to do with it, and no member of their Kidon hit squad was involved. The enigma remains: Who ordered the kill and to what benefit?

To help Bourne with this puzzle is something Karpov left behind for him. A cryptogram that may contain all the answers is just one of the many challenges he faces in searching for the truth. Adding to the mix is the possibility that the mysterious and elusive assassin Ivan Borz may be the guilty party. The trouble is that Borz is as easy to catch as smoke, and his many identities present a problem.

THE BOURNE ENIGMA is a rollicking roller coaster ride of spy games and colorful characters set against the expected multiple international locales. One individual is deadlier than the next, and the introduction of another female character --- the assassin known simply as Angelmaker --- makes things quite interesting. It's fun to see the Russians as the bad guys once more, and their threat of a Ukrainian takeover looks like Cold War antics all over again. This is an enjoyable and fast-paced read that faithfully continues the enigma that is Jason Bourne.