The Chancellor Manuscript

A Novel

By: Robert Ludlum

Narrated by: Michael Moriarty

Length: 3 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

"[The Chancellor Manuscript] exerts a riveting appeal, as it seems to justify our worst nightmares of what really goes on in the so-called intelligence community in Washington.” (The New York Times Book Review)

Did J. Edgar Hoover die a natural death? Or was he murdered? When a group of high-minded and high-placed intellectuals known as Inver Brass detect a monstrous threat to the country in Hoover’s unethical use of his scandal-ridden private files, they decide to do away with him - quietly, efficiently, with no hint of impropriety. Then best-selling thriller writer Peter Chancellor stumbles onto information that makes his previous books look like harmless fairy tales. Now Chancellor and Inver Brass are on a deadly collision course, spiraling across the globe in an ever-widening arc of violence and terror. All roads lead to a showdown that will rip the nation’s capital apart - leaving only one damning document to survive.

Praise for Robert Ludlum and The Chancellor Manuscript:

“Ludlum stuffs more surprises into his novels than any other six-pack of thriller writers combined.” (The New York Times)

“A roaring ride on a roller coaster of suspense.” (The Pittsburgh Press)

“Powerhouse momentum...as shrill as the siren on the prowl car.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“A complex scenario of inventive double-crossing." (Chicago Sun-Times)

©1988 Robert Ludlum and Bantam Audio Publishing (P)1988 Bantam Audio Publishing, Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, A Division of Random House Inc.

Critic reviews

"[The Chancellor Manuscript] exerts a riveting appeal, as it seems to justify our worst nightmares of what really goes on in the so-called intelligence community in Washington." (The New York Times Book Review)

“Ludlum stuffs more surprises into his novels than any other six-pack of thriller writers combined.” (The New York Times)

“Engrossing... pure, adrenaline-raising escapism.” (King Features Syndicate)

Distracting music

I am a HUGE Robert Ludlum fan and I hate to give a review less than 5 stars but I could not concentrate on the story with the added music of the narration. At some points I could not hear the voice over the music or it would be a battle between which one I could. I made it through chapter one but could go no further and I am extremely sad because I know the story has to be amazing as all RL novels are but I just can’t keep going 😭.

Chancellor Manuscript not enjoyed

I had read this book years ago and enjoyed it. In this version the reader seems to have numb lips, often swallowing his words and the background music is of bad scratchy irritating quality. Compared to other audiobooks, well I am sorry I bought it.

Huge disappointment for Ludlum fans

I discovered Ludlum about 30 years ago when I first read The Chancellor Manuscript, and eagerly devoured everything he wrote from that time until his death, and a few after that. I've been searching for an audio version to experience the thrill of it again, but couldn't find an unabridged version, and had to settle for this recording. It is unbelievably inferior to other audible.com offerings, with an almost constant musical soundtrack in the background that nearly drowns out the narrator, who sounds utterly bored. If he had been reading a phone book, it could not have been less exciting. The abridgement is abominable, having been chopped to the point of making it hard to make the huge jumps in the narrative. This is an old recording and the sound quality is dreadful. How about a new, unabridged version, audible?