I got to know Brian Freeman’s work through his great suspenseful psychological thrillers like THIEF RIVER FALLS, so I was curious to find that he has picked up the mantle for the iconic Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne series.

THE BOURNE EVOLUTION is Freeman’s first Jason Bourne book, and wow, he delivers a great thriller.

It was exciting to see Jason Bourne back in action. But first a warning, this isn’t the Jason Bourne from the 1980s. It’s not picking up after any of the previous novels. It’s basically a reboot. And this Jason Bourne more closely resembles the Jason Bourne from the movies (played by Matt Damon, not the one from television played by Richard Chamberlain).

Personally, I liked this component since the Bourne movies are outstanding and it’s what most people now associate with the character. But trust me, this book reads like a Robert Ludlum novel! Freeman has done a fantastic job bringing back Jason Bourne, and I would imagine the late great Robert Ludlum would enjoy this book.

In this book, Bourne is up against a terrorist group taking over a big tech social network company which now days is like a ripped from the headlines story. He finds himself framed for a mass shooting that kicks the non-stop action into gear.

The book is fast-paced with a lot of action and running around, which makes it a thrilling read that I highly recommend.

First up I did say to myself, "What are you doing reading a Bourne book?" Why, because at the very least there's the danger of Matt Damon running across my mental imagining of the storyline. Given the years of watching and occasional re-watches. Yikes, was I in danger of pre determining my response? After all, big shoes to fill!
I always like to read a book before the movie but is that even possible with the film franchises reeking havoc with my expectations.
So how did I go?
Freeman has obviously taken on the mantle of Ludlum of with gusto and this Bourne addition proves that. As to my worries? Well they were not as front and center as I'd feared.

A Penguin Putnam ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

The Bourne Evolution pays a respectful tribute to The Bourne Identity while introducing Jason Bourne into the modern era in a fresh and exciting manner, rather than simply rehashing the elements of the prior Jason Bourne stories. The Bourne Evolution factors in the influence of Big Data companies and software in this day and age, with a shadowy organization known as Medusa that is hellbent on causing anarchy through social and data exploitation of individuals. Jason Bourne is the one man standing between Medusa and world domination with an undeniably strong weapon, technology.

The Bourne Evolution retains the grounded and realistic elements one reads in Robert Ludlum’s novels, with vivid sceneries and intriguing developments in plot that come with surprising twists in the narrative to keep the reader on the edge of their seat and glued to the book. The idea of a phone app having the power of manipulating its users with non-state actors and tech cabals behind the scenes pulling the strings is a drop of fresh blood into the genre of action thrillers. Moreover, many elements of the plot are grabbed right from major events in the news, lending to the authentic vibe of the story.

The action is worthy of Jason Bourne’s reputation as a badass, with realistic and exciting shootouts, foot-chases, and fisticuffs. There is no dull moment in the book, as Bourne navigates from Canada to US, seeking the head of Medusa through infiltration and secrecy, aided by a Canadian journalist, Abbey Laurent. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and it is handled extremely well by Mr. Freeman. Medusa employs a femme fatale, one that ranks high in the deadliest provocative characters ever written. Miss Shirley. Definitely a vicious match for the prowess of Jason Bourne.

There is no shortage of wow moments in the book, whether pertaining to Bourne’s ingenuity in espionage tradecraft or straight up action sequences, the shocking revelations, or moments that come full circle in the storyline with a beautiful finesse. I would say The Bourne Evolution puts Jason Bourne back on the list of the deadliest characters in literature today, and definitely establishes him as a protagonist that readers would want to read more of. The ending definitely hints as Jason Bourne’s return. A must-read for all action thriller lovers. It doesn’t need any prior Jason Bourne books to be read, it introduces Bourne in the modern age.

Robert Ludtum's The Bourne. Evolutioon written by Brian Freemanwas a pleassur eto read. Many years ago Iread as many Bourne books as I could. This is the first one I've seen in a whille and enjoyed it completely. The plot moves quickly from one major incident to another. All are thrilling. The ending. is both satisfiying when the major villian is caught but it is also sad.

One of my favorite authors has always been Robert Ludlum. I have read everything he has ever written and eagerly awaited his new ones. The Bourne series was one of the best and will live as a literary testament to his memory. I was crushed when he passed away and thought his genre was doomed.

I was wrong. Brian Freeman has taken one of the most exciting iconic characters of our times and made him his own. I was thrilled to hear that this author was taking this challenge on and after reading this first entry I was impressed. It has it all...excitement, action, adventure, romance and is right on to current events that will have you looking at your computer profiles in a different light. This one should definitely be on your summer reading list!

This book is due to be released in July, 2020. Highly recommended!