Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Utopia Experiment

By: Kyle Mills

Narrated by: Jeff Woodman

With U.S. intelligence agencies wracked by internal power struggles and paralyzed by bureaucracy, the president has been forced to establish his own clandestine group--Covert-One. It's activated only as a last resort, when the threat is on a global scale and time is running out.The Utopia Experiment When Dresner Industries unveils the Merge, a device that is destined to revolutionize the world and make the personal computer and smartphone obsolete, Covert-One operative Colonel Jon Smith is assigned to assess its military potential. He discovers that enhanced vision, real-time battlefield displays, unbreakable security, and near-perfect marksmanship are only the beginning of a technology that will change the face of warfare forever--and one that must be kept out of the hands of America's enemies at all costs.

Meanwhile, in the mountains of Afghanistan, CIA operative Randi Russell encounters an entire village of murdered Afghans--all equipped with enhanced Merge technology that even the Agency didn't know existed. As Smith and Russell delve into the circumstances surrounding the Afghans' deaths, they're quickly blocked by someone who seems to have access to the highest levels of the military--a person that even the president knows nothing about.

Is the Merge really as secure as its creator claims? And what secrets about its development is the Pentagon so desperate to hide? Smith and Russell are determined to learn the truth. But they may pay for it with their lives . . .

Critic reviews

"Fast-paced and action-filled, with iconic characters and contemporary themes . . . Fans of Ludlum . . . thrillers will find The Ares Decision right on target."—Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star on The Ares Decision

"A tight and tense pageturner."—Booklist on The Ares Decision

"Freveletti turbocharges tension to nonstop levels in this Covert-One thriller."—Kirkus Reviews on The Janus Reprisal

"Fast-paced, exciting . . . a winner."—Booklist on The Arctic Event

"The cinematic chase through changing landscapes and mounting body count gives the book its rapid pace, while insider politics, tradecraft, and technical wizardry lend an extra kick."—Publishers Weekly on The Cassandra Compact

"Packed with all the classic Ludlum elements . . . the intricately engineered plot thunders forward at breakneck pace. Bottom line: Perfectly executed."—People on The Altman Code

Great book great storyM

Great book great story will would recommend it highly will get other books by this author

Entertaining but too predictable

The performance was well done and the idea of the overall theme was interesting. Unfortunately, I had figured out the major plot lines within the first couple of chapters. Even so, I enjoyed listening.

Covert One Rules!

I had forgotten how much I enjoy the Covert One series created by Robert Ludlum. Kyle Mills does a fabulous job penning the spirit of the lead characters and Jeff Woodman's narration was perfect.

The post-Ludlum John Smith may be more military savvy but surviving what he has over the course of the series it is only natural that the character continue to hone his skills and not just his brain.

I went into a fit of giggles as the author described the diverseness of what John & Randi would consider their perfect job. They are on such opposite ends of the scale in some ways but they do tend to make a great team.

I look eagerly to the next book (I am loading it on the ipod as I type).

interesting read

good book to read over an extended period of time. I enjoyed the book and trust you will also.

struggled to keep reading

I've read Kyle Mills/Vince Flynn novels which were great. This was a disappointment. good basic story but difficult to mo r through it and the reading of it was dull. The music at the end of chapters was very distracting and unnecessary.