This is the third book built around the same character, Nickolas Marten, previously a Los Angeles policeman known as John Barron. It is, however, a stand alone novel and it is not necessary to read the previous books to enjoy this one.
I was immediately grabbed by the first sentence and the book is a fast page turner with unexpected twists and villains appearing throughout the novel. It's what I consider a great airplane book: absorbs your mind without requiring intense concentration.
I have rated the book with only three stars, however. The author failed to work through narrative detail. Descriptions are meager, character development is shallow. The result is a fast paced story without rich layering. I was also distracted by several typos in the book: the editor didn't edit.
I do recommend it for a fast read that will grab the reader's attention. ( )

Allan Folsom's newest read, The Hadrian Memorandum, is a very fast-paced and interesting thriller from the beginning. It starts off with sudden, and cold-blooded murders in equatorial Guinea, with tons of double-crossing and plot twists. The idea for the plot was pretty good, seeing the need for oil today. Though I was too young to know a lot about the politics, I could understand much of it by the author's explaining some of the background, which made it much easier to read and enjoy. I was very surprised by the conclusion of the novel. It's action-packed plot keeps the reader interested throughout, but that's about all that keeps the book up. There's not much more to it except hidden conspiracies and cat-and-mouse chasing, all for a couple of photographs that could make or ruin a company and many others. Lots of grammatical mistakes distract and confuse the reader. On the whole, very enjoyable for adventure-lovers, and a good stand-alone novel. But it's just like many others coming in today, nothing special or memorable about it. ( )

Nicholas Marten (on the run-former LAPD officer, landscape architect, personal friend of POTUS, and off the books investigator) is directed to look into what kinds of shady dealings are taking place in a newly discovered oil field in equatorial Africa.
Multiple murders, a developing civil war, mercenary-industrial conspiracies, large numbers of seriously bad villians, and innocents on the run are key elements of the story, which is too convoluted and tortured to follow with interest or enthusiasm.
The narrative seems more like a draft for an action/chase movie than a story. Dialogue is unnatural and doesn't sound like real people talking.
Not a good read. Not even distracting enough for reading on an airplane.
The book needs an editor, not just to rework the story but to check spellings, punctuation, and missing phrases. ( )

This adventure novel was written by Allan Folsom. It is an adventure set in Equatorial Guinea and all over the world, especially Europe. The premise of the novel is that a US oil company has discovered oil, more than enough oil for the US for a very long time. The American oil company is willing to do whatever it takes to keep it’s new found riches.
I found the novel to be interesting, suspenseful and very well timed in today’s energy conscience world. It is extremely hard to say without giving away the ending but I thoroughly the conclusion of the book and didn’t expect it at all.
I was very disappointed in one paragraph of the book. The novel was purported to be a stand alone novel but in one paragraph Mr. Folsom gave away the plot and ending of his previous two novels. This ruined my desire to go back and read his two previous novels, one of which I already own.
Aside from that minor transgression I really enjoyed this novel and will be on the look-out for more books by Mr. Folsom ( )

With a fairly complex plot and fast-paced action, The Hadrian Memorandum unfolds like any traditional conspiracy thriller. The reader is instantly involved in the conflict of protagonist Nicholas Marten, and author Allan Folsom doesn't let up until the end. As a whole, it is a fun, quick read. The plot is interested, relevant, and believable. It entertains and does its best to remain unpredictable; however, the story is forgettable as soon as its over and I had a difficult time finding any concern or empathy for the characters. As an "airport thriller", The Hadrian Memorandum excels, as I always had the desire to turn the page and continue from chapter to chapter. But if the reader is expecting anything beyond that, he or she will be disappointed.

My main critique of this book is the fact that Folsom has a tendency to explain everything. If there is a plot twist, you're guaranteed to find an explanation. Spelled out to the reader by one of the characters. If the protagonist is weighing options during a chase scene, all options are weighed in detail. In most circumstances this detailed discussion removes all intrigue and intelligence from the story and breaks the flow of the action. It dumbs down the plot, assuming that the reader isn't intelligent enough to understand its complex political and conspiratorial motifs. Unfortunately, when a plot twist or unexpected action occurs, the point or climax is belabored by description and discussion for the benefit of those readers who might have missed something crucial. This happens throughout the novel and doesn't serve the plot or the aims of the author well.

While it is the third book in a series featuring the protagonist, Nicholas Marten, the reader doesn't feel lost or unfamiliar. It is fairly self-contained and easy to follow. Although the novel isn't particularly memorable or unique, The Hadrian Memorandum is an entertaining thriller that is better than many of its genre. ( )