The Ludlum Derivative Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Rhinemann Exchange

In 1943 the Allies are in need of gyroscopes that can operate at high altitude, the Axis powers need diamonds for their rocket missile project. The two organise an exchange. David Spaulding, a highly skilled American Intelligence operative, is selected to collect the gyroscopes. What he hasn't been told about are the diamonds. Numerous attempts are made on his life and, when he finally draws out his assailants, he discovers the ruse with the diamonds and determines that the exchange will not go ahead and gets himself into deeper water. "The Rhinemann Exchange" was published in 1975.

Answer: The Sigma Protocol

Ben Hartman is an investment banker taking a break. He meets Jimmy Cavanaugh with whom he'd been mates at high school. But Jimmy is different now. He's a little insane and he has been programmed to kill. He tries to gun down Ben but, in a matter of seconds, it is Cavanaugh who is shot dead along with six innocent bystanders.

As Ben tries to escape to safety, Cavanaugh's body disappears and so does his weapon. The gun is soon found in Ben's luggage and he is now on the run. Published in 2001, this was the last novel that Ludlum completed on his own before his death.

It was published posthumously.

Answer: The Scarlatti Inheritance

Published in 1971 this was the first of twenty seven thrillers that Robert Ludlum would create. In it, Washington are informed that there is a high ranking Nazi officer wishing to defect and with him will come information that will bring the war to an early conclusion, however, there is a catch. To effect the transfer will require the release of a book, known as the Scarlatti Inheritance, within whose pages is information that has the power to destroy the reputations of a number of powerful figures amongst the Allies.

There are some that will stop at nothing to ensure that this won't happen.

Answer: The Holcroft Covenant

The world knows that Noel Holcroft is a New York architect. What the world doesn't know is that Noel's father was the chief economic adviser to the Third Reich. When his father found out about the Holocaust he was horrified and he stole a vast sum of money from the Reich and secreted it away in Switzerland. Moving forward, Noel is now contacted and informed of the money and his father's wish that it be distributed to the families of the victims as a form of minor recompense. Unknown to Holcroft is that the Nazis had secreted away a number of children from influential families before the end of the war in the hope that they would form the next Reich.

This group, the Sonenkinder, needs funds to build their campaign and they know of Holcroft's legacy and will stop at nothing to get their hands on it. "The Holcroft Covenant" was published in 1978.

Answer: The Road to Gandolfo

The "Hawk" (Hawkins) is nothing short of a military genius. He is a legend to all until he is drugged and, under its influence, defaces an import Chinese relic. He is unceremoniously booted out of the Army. Aggrieved, he decides that the best way to settle this is to get revenge.

He kidnaps the Pope and demands a ransom of one dollar for every Christian in the world... $400 million. Ludlum published this novel in 1975 and wrote a sequel to it, "The Road to Omaha", in 1992.

Answer: The Osterman Weekend

John Tanner has a great life and a great job. Every year he and his three buddies get together for an annual weekend away. He's looking forward to it. That is until the CIA inform him that his three buddies are Russian sleeper agents working for an organisation called Omega.

They want his help to take them out. That's when the mind games begin. "The Osterman Weekend" was published in 1972

Answer: The Scorpio Illusion

Tyrell Hawthorne worked with Naval Intelligence and was regarded as their best operative. When his wife is killed, the innocent victim of a murder attempt, he throws in the towel, retires and steps away from the world. He gets called out of retirement when his government uncovers a terrorist plot to destabilise the United States.

The terrorist behind it all is the beautiful Amaya Bajaratt and Hawthorne is the only one who can identify her. Why? Because Hawthorne and "The Baj" were once lovers. Published in 1993, this was Ludlum's 19th novel.

Answer: The Parsifal Mosaic

Michael Havelock has seen the love of his life, Jenna Karas, gunned down on the Costa Brava. He is soon informed that she was marked for execution because she was a Russian double agent. Jenna Karas has been informed that Michael Havelock is a Russian spy and is looking to kill her, so she fakes her own death.

When she sees Michael in Rome, she becomes frightened and flees. Michael's pursuit of her across several countries has his country place a termination order upon him, fearing he will expose their operations across the globe. What Michael does uncover is a plot that could put the world on the path toward a nuclear war. "The Parsifal Mosaic" was published in 1982.

Answer: The Matarese Circle

On Christmas Eve, a prominent Russian physicist and the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are gunned down on opposite sides of the globe. The fingers are pointed at a top operative from both countries: Scofield from the US and Taleniekov from the USSR.

The pair are not only professional enemies, they also have a personal score to settle with each other. When their countries disown them and kill orders are placed on their heads they are forced to work together if they are to survive. They soon discover that a decades old organisation, the Matarese, is behind the murders and are looking to entrench their own members into seats of power in different governments. Published in 1979, "The Matarese Circle" also produced a 1997 sequel, "The Matarese Countdown".

Answer: The Bourne Identity

In what is one of Robert Ludlum's most celebrated stories, a man is rescued from the ocean by a fishing boat and has no idea who he is. His only clue is a chip inside his skin which leads him to a Swiss bank account containing $5 million. That's when a number of organisations try to hunt him down and kill him, along with a professional assassin called Carlos the Jackal and the CIA.

He uncovers that he's been placed under cover as an assassin, claiming a number of kills across the globe in an effort to draw out the Jackal. "The Bourne Identity" was published in 1980 and spawned two sequels, "The Bourne Supremacy" (1986) and "The Bourne Ultimatum" (1990). Since Ludlum's passing the series has been continued by author Eric Van Lustbader, who had completed a further eleven novels by 2017.