The Road to Omaha by Robert Ludlum

Why read the book?

In Robert Ludlum’s The Road to Omaha, the hilarious sequel to The Road to Gandolfo, General MacKenzie Hawkins, the wild and wacky “Hawk,” is back with another crazy plan. This time, he wants to give the Wopotami, a made-up Native American tribe, their own land by using a old treaty from the 1800s that gave them land in Omaha, Nebraska; which is now home to a U.S. Air Force base. With the help of a reluctant lawyer named Sam Devereaux, the duo teams up with a bunch of con artists, mercenaries, and a fiery Native activist named Eleanor to pull off the heist.

From the complicated world of Washington, D.C. to the heartland of America, they face tough bosses at the Pentagon, sneaky financiers, and a whole bunch of hilarious obstacles. Written under Ludlum’s secret name Michael Shepherd, this 1992 novel switches up espionage for clever comedy, giving us a hilarious, fast-paced adventure filled with crazy schemes and sharp social commentary.

Favourite quote

In a world ruled by fools, the only way to win is to out-crazy the crazies.

What I Loved

The Road to Omaha is a hilarious and entertaining read with larger-than-life characters. MacKenzie Hawkins is the star, and his fearless and clever antics make every page a treat. Sam Devereaux plays the exasperated everyman role perfectly, balancing Hawk’s chaos with Eleanor’s fierce passion.

The settings, from Washington’s stuffy offices to Omaha’s vast plains, bring the absurdity to life. Ludlum’s satire of government incompetence, corporate greed, and historical injustices is sharp and playful, keeping the tone light but pointed. While not as intense as his thrillers, the novel’s fast-paced action and clever twists make it a fun and entertaining read that showcases Ludlum’s versatility.

Key Takeaway

In the face of bureaucratic nonsense and entrenched power, audacity and wit can turn the wildest dreams into reality, even if it means outsmarting the system with a smile.