The Bourne Retribution
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | December 3, 2013 |
| Founder | Eric Van Lustbader |
| Products | Spy thriller novel |
The Bourne Retribution represents the eleventh entry in the Bourne novel collection and the eighth authored by Eric Van Lustbader. Published on December 3, 2013, this book follows The Bourne Imperative and precedes The Bourne Ascendancy in the series timeline.
Plot summary
Eli Yadin, Bourne’s contact and leader of Mossad, discovers that Ouyang Jidan—a prominent Chinese Politburo figure and Mexican drug cartel kingpin—may be engaged in activities beyond narcotics trafficking. Yadin calls upon Bourne to delve into the matter. Motivated by personal reasons—since Ouyang was responsible for the death of Rebeka, one of Bourne’s few close connections—Bourne agrees. His pursuit of retribution draws him into a complex international plot involving Chinese, Mexican, and Russian factions.
The operation commences following the assassination of Eden Mazar, an Israeli Mossad operative, at the hands of the Mexican cartel Los Zetas. Yadin assigns Bourne to establish a connection between Mazar’s killing and Rebeka’s fate. While undercover in Shanghai, Bourne targets Colonel Sun, Ouyang’s deputy. After surviving an assassination attempt engineered by Mossad agent Amir Ophir, Bourne tracks Ouyang to Mexico City. There, he meets Maricruz, Ouyang’s injured spouse who is caring for a young girl named Angel.
When Colonel Sun threatens Angel in a hospital setting, Bourne intervenes disguised as a physician; Angel ultimately kills Sun. Bourne escapes with Maricruz and Angel, placing them under the protection of Anunciata, a reliable confidante. Framed for bombing the vehicle of cartel leader Carlos Danda Carlos and pursued for elimination by Ophir—whom Bourne kills—he obtains a flamethrower from arms dealer J.J. Hale and eliminates Carlos Danda Carlos.
Subsequently, Bourne travels to China and collaborates with Leonid, an agent of the Russian FSB. Disguised as part of Ouyang’s entourage, he infiltrates Ouyang’s residence but is captured. After breaking free from interrogation, Bourne kills Ouyang in a sword duel, fulfilling his vendetta.
Upon returning to Israel, Bourne learns that Rebeka (whose true identity is Sara Yadin) is alive; Eli Yadin had faked her death to manipulate Bourne against Ouyang. The story concludes with Bourne reuniting with Sara in a hospital.
Reception
Publishers Weekly commented that the originality surrounding Ludlum’s amnesiac superagent concept has waned over time, describing this latest volume as weighed down by familiar tropes. In contrast, Joel Wijesuria from The Star Online commended Lustbader for preserving the series’ high-octane action style and successfully continuing the legacy entrusted by Ludlum’s estate, depicting Bourne as an adept spy who balances skill with emotional depth.