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The Chancellor Manuscript

A Novel

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The Chancellor Manuscript

Written by: Robert Ludlum
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
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About this listen

“[The Chancellor Manuscript] exerts a riveting appeal, as it seems to justify our worst nightmares of what really goes on in the so-called intelligence community in Washington.” (The New York Times Book Review)

Did J. Edgar Hoover die a natural death? Or was he murdered?

When a group of high-minded and high-placed intellectuals known as Inver Brass detect a monstrous threat to the country in Hoover’s unethical use of his scandal-ridden private files, they decide to do away with him - quietly, efficiently, with no hint of impropriety. Then best-selling thriller writer Peter Chancellor stumbles onto information that makes his previous books look like harmless fairy tales.

Now Chancellor and Inver Brass are on a deadly collision course, spiraling across the globe in an ever-widening arc of violence and terror. All roads lead to a showdown that will rip the nation’s capital apart - leaving only one damning document to survive.

Praise for Robert Ludlum and The Chancellor Manuscript:

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

“A roaring ride on a roller coaster of suspense.” (The Pittsburgh Press)

“Powerhouse momentum...as shrill as the siren on the prowl car.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“A complex scenario of inventive double-crossing.” (Chicago Sun-Times)

©2012 Robert Ludlum (P)2012 Random House Audio Espionage Genre Fiction Fiction Exciting Thriller Suspense
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What the critics say

"[The Chancellor Manuscript] exerts a riveting appeal, as it seems to justify our worst nightmares of what really goes on in the so-called intelligence community in Washington." (The New York Times Book Review)

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

“Engrossing... pure, adrenaline-raising escapism.” (King Features Syndicate)

What listeners say about The Chancellor Manuscript

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Profile Image for Langer MD

Excellent Thriller

Yes, this book feels fairly dated (J. Edgar Hoover's death and the revelation that he kept "secret files" occurred when I was a toddler), but it is worth a read still. The plot builds around Hoover's abuse-of-power as a central point, but otherwise deals with a mesmerizing duel of wits between Author/PoliSci student Peter Chancellor and a secretive cabal of Intellectuals known as the 'Inver Brass'.. who arranged Hoover's assassination in an attempt to obtain the files to protect their interests (Chancellor is targeted having previously hypothesized their role in financing the Third Reich and other potentially embarrassing schemes).
The novel grips the reader right from Chapter One and doesn't let go.. progressing relentlessly through duplicity, manipulation, blackmail, and murder. Ludlum's story is clever, logical, well-written, includes realistic scenarios, and is populated with flawed but relatable characters. 'The Chancellor Manuscript' must have been an impressive book when published (1977) due to the topical (at that time) subject matter.. but it still has merit today as a piece of speculative "Historical Fiction" - and as a very good example of pulse-pounding 1970's espionage novels. I genuinely hope the proposed Leonardo DiCaprio project gets made.

The narration from Grover Gardner is excellent - with voice-acting worthy of particular praise (Ludlum often describes what a given character's accent sounds like in the text of the book - e.g. "Boston accent with an East-European twist" - and Gardner picks up on those cues and performs them beautifully). Additionally, his default reading voice is clear, emotive, and comfortable to consume for hours. I would listen to more from Gardner anyday.

This Random House Audio product merits 8 stars out of 10. 'The Chancellor Manuscript' is definitely one of Ludlum's better efforts.

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