This topic is currently marked as "dormant"—the last message is more than 90 days old. You can revive it by posting a reply.
2Carol420
The Templar Legacy - 3.04 - no other information available
The Alexandria Link - 4.50 - no other info available
The Venetian Betrayal - 4.00
The Charlemagne Pursuit -3.04
The Paris Vendetta -3.50
The Emperor’s Tomb - 4.38
The Jefferson Key- 3.83
The Lincoln Myth – 3.43
The Patriot Threat -
The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone series Book #1
June 2016 – Last one read on Leafmarks
Here we are introduced to Cotton Malone, a former covert agent of the U.S. Justice Department.
Malone finds himself drawn into the pursuit of the Templar legacy when what was supposed to be a visit with Stephanie Nelle, his former supervisor at Justice, turns into a purse snatching that ends when the perpetrator, after being cornered, commits suicide.
It develops that the would-be thief is after a notebook of Nelle's late and estranged husband that has passed into her possession under somewhat mysterious circumstances. Nelle's husband had become famous writing a number of speculative works concerning European mysteries of the 14th century, including the disappearance of the Templar fortune. His notebooks and a seemingly innocuous manuscript appear to hold the key to the ultimate location of the treasure trove.
Malone and Nelle are in competition with others in a race to the treasure…a race that includes the modern-day leader of the Templars, an organization that has continued to exist quietly, biding its time.
Malone gets some assistance from unexpected sources, including an exotic and capable Moslem beauty with an agenda of her own and a Templar monk whose destiny appears to be forewritten in prophecy.
Intermixed with the action and adventure is not only a good amount of information on the history of the Knights Templar, but the contradictions amongst the various Gospels in terms of the Resurrection as well.
As they draw closer to unearthing the treasure, however, Malone finds that the number of people whom he can fully trust becomes fewer and fewer, even as the path to the treasure, and the Templar legacy, grows more dangerous.
As a group we found Cotton Malone to be a likable, capable, and ultimately believable character….one who is perhaps more competent cerebrally than physically.
After cashing in his retirement from the Justice Department he owns and operates a bookstore in Denmark…but it seems his criminal hunting days are far from over.
This was the last book we discussed on Leafmarks in June 2016.
I did find a few of our comments:
“There are many twists and turns in the tale, which makes for a fast-paced, exciting story that is sure to grip the reader.”
Comment about the audio version of the story: “There were times when Brian Corrigan's attempts at the French accent of this book's arch-villain, Raymond De Roquefort, that he sounded so much like Peter Sellers's Inspector Clouseau with a bad head cold. In spite of that the story line was absolutely magnificent.”
The clues that Cotton Malone and his band of merry men and women were tasked with finding and interpreting were well over this readers head but I did so enjoy the journey. This is the perfect blend for thriller fans and history buffs alike.”
“The plot of finding the Templar treasure made for a very adventurous tale. I learned a lot about the history of the Templars, the Rennes-le-Chateau, Avignon and Pyrenees areas of France which was very fascinating.”
All I could find were ratings from 4 participants – Overall average from these - 3.04
The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone Book #2
Retired US operative Cotton Malone is attempting to live a quiet life and is running a bookshop in Copenhagen.
Retirement comes to an abrupt halt when he escapes the assassins who have burned down his bookshop and tells him they have kidnapped his son…nearly trapping him and his ex-wife, Pam, inside.
Cotton is forced to join forces with Pam when it seems assassins may be on her trail as well.
They get their son back, but then they find themselves caught between ancient organizations: the Guardians of the Library at Alexandria, pledged to keep its secrets safe, and the Order of the Golden Fleece, a ruthless sect of the powerful who meet in secret and who have vowed to claim the Library for themselves.
Accompanying Cotton and Pam is the Order's pet assassin, who has a few plans of his own regarding the library.
At the same time, treachery is afoot in the US government with the president, vice president, secretary of state, and the heads of several security departments all mistrusting each other as a web of secrets and lies is unraveled.
Cotton’s former boss who has always had his back has been fired by the President…but that doesn’t stop her from trying to sort out the mess at home with the help of a friend and super-hero type…Cassiopeia.
The plot is complicated, and intrigue and double-crossing abounds. The reader is kept off balance at every turn as the characters double and triple cross each other. The action is fast-paced, and the clues are intriguing but far above most reader ability to interpret.
At stake is an explosive ancient document with the potential not only to change the destiny of the Middle East but to shake the world’s three major religions to their very foundations.
There were 7 participants in the discussion and all 7 of us rated the book 4.5. In looking at other reviews this rating is much higher than any other sites. Reading together must have some benefit for the outcome.
There were 7 Participants
Overall rating: 4.5
Comments:
"Great book with a great ending! Lots of surprises, but none that made the reader feel cheated or left out."
"Great story and plot...fast moving and never a dull moment. Hope we continue to discuss this series. Hope Stevie can write fast enough for us."
"I like books mixed with history, religion and suspense. This book had it all!"
" Excellent story that was really plot filled…. I can't wait to continue the series."
The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone Book #3
Back for his third time is Cotton Malone, a spy-turned-bookseller-turned-reluctant-hero. This novel also sees the return of many of Steve Berry's regular cast of characters, including some of our favorites like Cassiopeia Vitt and Henrik Thorvaldsen.
We are taken to the Central Asian Federation, a new mega-state of former Soviet Republics such as Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan ruled by an interesting new character, ruthless and intelligent, but entirely unlikable, Irina Zovastina. It is her obsession with finding the tomb of Alexander the Great that drives the plot forward, taking us from Denmark to the borders of China.
Zovastina seeks the tomb for the political power associated with a claim on this world conqueror; however, there is another reason to seek the tomb. Apparently, there is a miraculous cure associated with the tomb which brings in the interest of an international pharmaceutical company which also just happens to produce biological weapons.
Of course the good guys are out to stop the bad guys from getting to the tomb and getting the goods to kill the world. It seems everyone is more than a little obsessed with Alexander the Great, his mummy and the draught said to cure anything that ails the person who might drink it. A number of riddles have been distributed throughout history that is supposed to help the searcher. Smarter people than most of us have failed to understand them so none of the discussion group should feel too bad.
Cotton Malone is paired up with Cassiopeia Vitt to solve this world class problem. This time Cassiopeia has another complex problem of her own to work through and takes many unnecessary risks to pull this off.
Malone is more or less pressed into service by his friend and mentor Thorvaldsen, as well as the President of The United States
There were 8 participants in the discussion
Overall average of 4.00
Comments:
Pros
"I loved learning about Alexander the Great and enjoyed Berry's writing and research. I found Irina Zovastina a fascinating character even though she was so wicked. If you love history with your adventure reads, you will definitely enjoy this series."
"I liked the story. I really want to know more about Alexader. I thought making Irina the bad guy was nice and creative. Usually the bad guy is the same character we've seen in so many books."
"I liked learning about Alexander the Great. Berry's writing and research was amazing. It was different to see a woman as the bad guy."
Cons
"I thought the ending was so unbelievable. I had to remember to keep my belief suspended."
"Too long and dragged in places."
"Didn't like Berry's portrayal of Cassiopeia or the boyfriend (gosh, I've already forgotten his name). This Cassiopeia was nothing like the woman we met in the prior book. Some of her behavior could have been explained away by her concern for what's his name, but her total meltdown, loss of common sense and lack critical thinking was too far out of character for me."
The Charlemagne Pursuit by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone series Book #4
Cotton Malone embarks on a search for answers about his father, Capt. Forrest Malone, after learning that instead of dying in 1971 in a nuclear sub accident in the North Atlantic, his father actually died while on a secret submarine mission to the Antarctic.
Using his connections in the federal government, Cotton asks to see a classified file that details the mission that resulted in his father's death.
Cotton is not the only person who wants this file, and they are willing and able to kill in order to get it.
Meanwhile, bad guy Adm. Langford Ramsey schemes to become the next ranking officer of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The two story lines merge as a group led by Malone races to Antarctica, where they find a strange underground city belonging to the Aryans, an advanced race who inhabited the earth at the dawn of our own civilization.
We found that Steve Berry is a meticulous researcher, as he skillfully integrates such elements as Charlemagne, Nazis, ancient manuscripts, historical puzzles and scientific surprises into the plot.
There were 7 participants in the discussion
Overall rating of 3.04.
Comments:
Interestingly they were all Cons
"The writing was choppy and the action moved from one subplot to another. There were several separate plot lines going on, none of them compelling. The characters are neither likable nor their motivations believable."
"Make the story shorter and more pacy; make every word move the story along."
"The story needed to be shorter. Don't jump around so much in the timeline. Put Cotton with his crew that he usually works with and give us some likable characters."
"I honestly thought that Ramsey and Smith were actually the best characters in the entire book. You could always look forward to seeing what new evil they would carry out. "
The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone series Book #5
When Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile in 1821, he took to the grave a powerful secret. As general and emperor, he had stolen immeasurable riches from palaces, national treasuries, and even the Knights of Malta and the Vatican. In his final days, his British captors hoped to learn where the loot lay hidden. But he told them nothing, and in his will he made no mention of the treasure.
Cotton is called into the latest adventure when Sam Collins, an American Secret Service Agent, breaks into his home in the middle of the nights with assassins on his heels.
Cotton discovers that Sam was sent to him by his old friend and ally, Henrik Thorvaldsen who needs his help to stop the Paris Club.
Cotton and Sam head to Paris where Henrik plans to infiltrate The Paris Club, whose members are some of the world’s richest men and women.
When he arrives in Paris, he finds that there is more to the situation than he was originally told.
The wily Danish tycoon has uncovered the insidious plans of the Paris Club, a cabal of multimillionaires bent on manipulating the global economy. Only by matching wits with a terrorist-for-hire, foiling a catastrophic attack, and plunging into a desperate hunt for Napoleon's legendary lost treasure can Malone hope to avert international financial anarchy.
But Henrik has his own plans, and he refuses to listen to Cotton or anyone else.
Thorvaldsen's real objective is to avenge the murder of his son by the larcenous aristocrat at the heart of the conspiracy.
Thorvaldsen's vendetta places Malone in an impossible quandary…one that forces him to choose between friend and country, past and present.
There were 7 participants in the discussion
Overall rating. 3.5
Comments:
Pros:
It was a good story and was told very close to the actual historical events. Cotton is always a good character and I did like Sam a lot. "
"It was an interesting concept set in an exotic locale."
"Liked the historical aspects about Napoleon."
Cons
"There were too many long, draw out descriptions of the buildings and scenery. The "good guys" had too many close calls. Henrik's revenge driven plot didn't really fit the character we've come to know. Cotton was a more of a secondary character in this adventure."
"Berry should not make the action scenes so confusing."
"I found the historical information interesting - if a bit too much as it slowed down the story too much.
The Emperor’s Tomb by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone series Book # 6
Cotton Malone teams with old heartthrob Cassiopeia Vitt on a dangerous mission to retrieve a priceless Chinese lamp from the third century B.C.E.
Two high-ranking Chinese government ministers, hard-liner Karl Tang and more liberal Ni Yong, both of whom are vying to be China's next premier, covet the lamp.
Tang, in particular, has left a trail of bodies in his own quest for the lamp, which, unbeknownst to Malone and Vitt, contains the secret to how the country will surmount its biggest obstacle to future economic growth, its dependence on foreign oil.
The tomb of China’s First Emperor, guarded by an underground army of terra-cotta warriors has remained sealed for more than 2,000 years. Though it’s regarded as one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world, the Chinese government won’t allow anyone to open it. Why?
That question is at the heart of a dilemma faced by former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone, whose life is shattered when he receives an anonymous note carrying an unfamiliar Web address.
He soon sees Cassiopeia Vitt, a woman who’s saved his life more than once, being tortured at the hands of a mysterious man who has a single demand: “Bring me the artifact she’s asked you to keep safe.”
The only problem is, Cotton doesn’t have a clue what the man is talking about, since Cassiopeia has left nothing with him.
He’s soon drawn into a power struggle in China, which takes him from Copenhagen, Antwerp and to the most incredible cultural sites in China.
The struggle between the two opponents, one a believer in Confucianism, the other in Legalism, could destroy the balance of power in China, which would affect the rest of the world.
There were eight participants in the discussion
Overall average rating of 4.38.
Comments:
Pros
"I really liked this book and found the history of China, the tomb and the terra-cotta soldiers fascinating."
"I Really loved this book from start to finish, a fascinating read"
"I enjoyed the historical backdrop and especially for a country we don't know that much about. This always makes it an interesting experience. Overall I enjoyed the plot of the book and the pacing of the book…. also enjoyed some of the humorous moments."
Cons
"It seemed to me that Cotton was more of a secondary character than the star of the series in this one. This was not my favorite of the series by any means."
"I also felt like Cotton was a secondary character and when he appeared he didn't seem like the usual strong, solid character. The eunuch idea was just ridiculous. Viktor changed sides way too many times."
The Jefferson Key by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone series Book #7
Four presidents of the United States have been assassinated—in 1865, 1881, 1901, and 1963—each murder seemingly unrelated. But what if those presidents were all killed for the shocking same reason: a clause contained in the United States Constitution?
This is the question faced by former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone. When President Danny Daniels is nearly killed in the heart of Manhattan…Cotton Malone comes to the rescue…but so do several others that have an entirely different agenda.
Malone risks his life to foil the murder—only to find himself at odds with the Commonwealth, a secret society of pirates first assembled during the American Revolution. Racing across the nation and taking to the high seas,
Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt must break a secret cipher originally possessed by Thomas Jefferson, unravel a mystery concocted by Andrew Jackson, and unearth a document forged by the Founding Fathers themselves…one powerful enough to make the Commonwealth unstoppable.
We find Cotton and Cassiopeia a couple in this one.
We also learn that things have not been a bed of roses in President Daniels and the first lady’s marriage since the death of their daughter Mary 30 years ago.
Pauline Daniels blames Danny for the fire that killed Mary when he left a lit cigar that caused the deadly blaze.
Pauline’s friendship with Shirley Kaiser may have been the tip off that the President was going to be going to New York and set the assignation attempt in motion.
We learn also that Stephanie and Danny may be thinking of becoming more than friends.
This is a book that presents the possibility of many changes that may turn to characterization of the series.
Comments
Pros
"I thought the story line was interesting, it started off really fast and caught me right away. I know many of you didn't like the jumping between scenes/locales but it didn't bother me and actually added to the suspense of the situation knowing what was going on in "real time" in the multiple areas. It was like watching a movie with a split screen."
"I also thought the storyline was very interesting and especially liked the way we were led to believe the presidential assassinations were because they fought with the pirates."
"The story of the Privateers was very interesting and there was lots of action, These books would make excellent movies."
Cons:
"Carbonell's actions/motivations needed to be explained a bit more. Just when you thought you knew what she was doing, she'd do something else. She even had Knox and Wyatt confused on a regular basis as they didn't know whose side she was on."
"I felt like the constant changing of perspectives was just too much. It worked at the end of the book to build up tension but it was too distracting throughout the entire story."
There were 6 participants in the discussion.
Overall rating of 3.83
The Lincoln Myth by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone series Book #9
September 1861: All is not as it seems.
With these cryptic words, a shocking secret passed down from president to president comes to rest in the hands of Abraham Lincoln.
As the first bloody clashes of the Civil War unfold, Lincoln alone must decide how best to use this volatile knowledge: save thousands of American lives, or keep the young nation from being torn apart forever?
The present: In Utah, the fabled remains of Mormon pioneers whose nineteenth-century expedition across the desert met with a murderous end have been uncovered. In Washington, D.C..
The official investigation of an international entrepreneur, an elder in the Mormon Church, has sparked a political battle between the White House and a powerful United States senator.
In Denmark, a Justice Department agent, missing in action, has fallen into the hands of a dangerous zealot…a man driven by divine visions to make a prophet’s words reality.
In a matter of a few short hours, Cotton Malone has gone from quietly selling books at his shop in Denmark to dodging bullets in a high-speed boat chase.
All it takes is a phone call from his former boss in Washington, and suddenly the ex-agent is racing to rescue an informant carrying critical intelligence.
It’s just the kind of perilous business that Malone has been trying to leave behind, ever since he retired from the Justice Department. But once he draws enemy blood, Malone is plunged into a deadly conflict…a constitutional war secretly set in motion more than two hundred years ago by America’s Founding Fathers.
From the streets of Copenhagen to the catacombs of Salzburg to the rugged mountains of Utah, the grim specter of the Civil War looms as a dangerous conspiracy gathers power.
Malone risks life, liberty, and his greatest love in a race for the truth about Abraham Lincoln—while the fate of the United States of America hangs in the balance.
Comments
Pros
"The author has also cleverly put some new interesting themes in the book and therefore some new energy, e,g where do Cotton And Cassiopeia go next - is there any future for them.
"Loved Luke who provided a new dimension of a character."
"The book was well written and educational; the fact that I did not like the premise so much is my problem, not Berry's.
"I learned a great deal with regard to American history and the development of the Mormon faith. The research was interesting as evidenced in the author’s notes at the end."
Cons
"The story had uneven passing, Salazar was too crazy and I didn’t care for Cotton’s and Cassiopeia's behavior"
"There was no suspense. The characters didn't fit what we were used to. I got tired of hearing from that stupid angel."
"As usual my problem with the book wasn’t Cotton, wasn’t Cassiopeia, it was Stephanie. I just don’t like her."
"A bit less references to the religion"
"Book got quite technical in places especially for a simple Brit who doesn’t know much about the American Constitution."
"Satisfactory, but I felt a bit weak, ending.”
There were 7 participants in the discussion
Overall rating of 3.43
The Alexandria Link - 4.50 - no other info available
The Venetian Betrayal - 4.00
The Charlemagne Pursuit -3.04
The Paris Vendetta -3.50
The Emperor’s Tomb - 4.38
The Jefferson Key- 3.83
The Lincoln Myth – 3.43
The Patriot Threat -
The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone series Book #1
June 2016 – Last one read on Leafmarks
Here we are introduced to Cotton Malone, a former covert agent of the U.S. Justice Department.
Malone finds himself drawn into the pursuit of the Templar legacy when what was supposed to be a visit with Stephanie Nelle, his former supervisor at Justice, turns into a purse snatching that ends when the perpetrator, after being cornered, commits suicide.
It develops that the would-be thief is after a notebook of Nelle's late and estranged husband that has passed into her possession under somewhat mysterious circumstances. Nelle's husband had become famous writing a number of speculative works concerning European mysteries of the 14th century, including the disappearance of the Templar fortune. His notebooks and a seemingly innocuous manuscript appear to hold the key to the ultimate location of the treasure trove.
Malone and Nelle are in competition with others in a race to the treasure…a race that includes the modern-day leader of the Templars, an organization that has continued to exist quietly, biding its time.
Malone gets some assistance from unexpected sources, including an exotic and capable Moslem beauty with an agenda of her own and a Templar monk whose destiny appears to be forewritten in prophecy.
Intermixed with the action and adventure is not only a good amount of information on the history of the Knights Templar, but the contradictions amongst the various Gospels in terms of the Resurrection as well.
As they draw closer to unearthing the treasure, however, Malone finds that the number of people whom he can fully trust becomes fewer and fewer, even as the path to the treasure, and the Templar legacy, grows more dangerous.
As a group we found Cotton Malone to be a likable, capable, and ultimately believable character….one who is perhaps more competent cerebrally than physically.
After cashing in his retirement from the Justice Department he owns and operates a bookstore in Denmark…but it seems his criminal hunting days are far from over.
This was the last book we discussed on Leafmarks in June 2016.
I did find a few of our comments:
“There are many twists and turns in the tale, which makes for a fast-paced, exciting story that is sure to grip the reader.”
Comment about the audio version of the story: “There were times when Brian Corrigan's attempts at the French accent of this book's arch-villain, Raymond De Roquefort, that he sounded so much like Peter Sellers's Inspector Clouseau with a bad head cold. In spite of that the story line was absolutely magnificent.”
The clues that Cotton Malone and his band of merry men and women were tasked with finding and interpreting were well over this readers head but I did so enjoy the journey. This is the perfect blend for thriller fans and history buffs alike.”
“The plot of finding the Templar treasure made for a very adventurous tale. I learned a lot about the history of the Templars, the Rennes-le-Chateau, Avignon and Pyrenees areas of France which was very fascinating.”
All I could find were ratings from 4 participants – Overall average from these - 3.04
The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone Book #2
Retired US operative Cotton Malone is attempting to live a quiet life and is running a bookshop in Copenhagen.
Retirement comes to an abrupt halt when he escapes the assassins who have burned down his bookshop and tells him they have kidnapped his son…nearly trapping him and his ex-wife, Pam, inside.
Cotton is forced to join forces with Pam when it seems assassins may be on her trail as well.
They get their son back, but then they find themselves caught between ancient organizations: the Guardians of the Library at Alexandria, pledged to keep its secrets safe, and the Order of the Golden Fleece, a ruthless sect of the powerful who meet in secret and who have vowed to claim the Library for themselves.
Accompanying Cotton and Pam is the Order's pet assassin, who has a few plans of his own regarding the library.
At the same time, treachery is afoot in the US government with the president, vice president, secretary of state, and the heads of several security departments all mistrusting each other as a web of secrets and lies is unraveled.
Cotton’s former boss who has always had his back has been fired by the President…but that doesn’t stop her from trying to sort out the mess at home with the help of a friend and super-hero type…Cassiopeia.
The plot is complicated, and intrigue and double-crossing abounds. The reader is kept off balance at every turn as the characters double and triple cross each other. The action is fast-paced, and the clues are intriguing but far above most reader ability to interpret.
At stake is an explosive ancient document with the potential not only to change the destiny of the Middle East but to shake the world’s three major religions to their very foundations.
There were 7 participants in the discussion and all 7 of us rated the book 4.5. In looking at other reviews this rating is much higher than any other sites. Reading together must have some benefit for the outcome.
There were 7 Participants
Overall rating: 4.5
Comments:
"Great book with a great ending! Lots of surprises, but none that made the reader feel cheated or left out."
"Great story and plot...fast moving and never a dull moment. Hope we continue to discuss this series. Hope Stevie can write fast enough for us."
"I like books mixed with history, religion and suspense. This book had it all!"
" Excellent story that was really plot filled…. I can't wait to continue the series."
The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone Book #3
Back for his third time is Cotton Malone, a spy-turned-bookseller-turned-reluctant-hero. This novel also sees the return of many of Steve Berry's regular cast of characters, including some of our favorites like Cassiopeia Vitt and Henrik Thorvaldsen.
We are taken to the Central Asian Federation, a new mega-state of former Soviet Republics such as Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan ruled by an interesting new character, ruthless and intelligent, but entirely unlikable, Irina Zovastina. It is her obsession with finding the tomb of Alexander the Great that drives the plot forward, taking us from Denmark to the borders of China.
Zovastina seeks the tomb for the political power associated with a claim on this world conqueror; however, there is another reason to seek the tomb. Apparently, there is a miraculous cure associated with the tomb which brings in the interest of an international pharmaceutical company which also just happens to produce biological weapons.
Of course the good guys are out to stop the bad guys from getting to the tomb and getting the goods to kill the world. It seems everyone is more than a little obsessed with Alexander the Great, his mummy and the draught said to cure anything that ails the person who might drink it. A number of riddles have been distributed throughout history that is supposed to help the searcher. Smarter people than most of us have failed to understand them so none of the discussion group should feel too bad.
Cotton Malone is paired up with Cassiopeia Vitt to solve this world class problem. This time Cassiopeia has another complex problem of her own to work through and takes many unnecessary risks to pull this off.
Malone is more or less pressed into service by his friend and mentor Thorvaldsen, as well as the President of The United States
There were 8 participants in the discussion
Overall average of 4.00
Comments:
Pros
"I loved learning about Alexander the Great and enjoyed Berry's writing and research. I found Irina Zovastina a fascinating character even though she was so wicked. If you love history with your adventure reads, you will definitely enjoy this series."
"I liked the story. I really want to know more about Alexader. I thought making Irina the bad guy was nice and creative. Usually the bad guy is the same character we've seen in so many books."
"I liked learning about Alexander the Great. Berry's writing and research was amazing. It was different to see a woman as the bad guy."
Cons
"I thought the ending was so unbelievable. I had to remember to keep my belief suspended."
"Too long and dragged in places."
"Didn't like Berry's portrayal of Cassiopeia or the boyfriend (gosh, I've already forgotten his name). This Cassiopeia was nothing like the woman we met in the prior book. Some of her behavior could have been explained away by her concern for what's his name, but her total meltdown, loss of common sense and lack critical thinking was too far out of character for me."
The Charlemagne Pursuit by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone series Book #4
Cotton Malone embarks on a search for answers about his father, Capt. Forrest Malone, after learning that instead of dying in 1971 in a nuclear sub accident in the North Atlantic, his father actually died while on a secret submarine mission to the Antarctic.
Using his connections in the federal government, Cotton asks to see a classified file that details the mission that resulted in his father's death.
Cotton is not the only person who wants this file, and they are willing and able to kill in order to get it.
Meanwhile, bad guy Adm. Langford Ramsey schemes to become the next ranking officer of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The two story lines merge as a group led by Malone races to Antarctica, where they find a strange underground city belonging to the Aryans, an advanced race who inhabited the earth at the dawn of our own civilization.
We found that Steve Berry is a meticulous researcher, as he skillfully integrates such elements as Charlemagne, Nazis, ancient manuscripts, historical puzzles and scientific surprises into the plot.
There were 7 participants in the discussion
Overall rating of 3.04.
Comments:
Interestingly they were all Cons
"The writing was choppy and the action moved from one subplot to another. There were several separate plot lines going on, none of them compelling. The characters are neither likable nor their motivations believable."
"Make the story shorter and more pacy; make every word move the story along."
"The story needed to be shorter. Don't jump around so much in the timeline. Put Cotton with his crew that he usually works with and give us some likable characters."
"I honestly thought that Ramsey and Smith were actually the best characters in the entire book. You could always look forward to seeing what new evil they would carry out. "
The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone series Book #5
When Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile in 1821, he took to the grave a powerful secret. As general and emperor, he had stolen immeasurable riches from palaces, national treasuries, and even the Knights of Malta and the Vatican. In his final days, his British captors hoped to learn where the loot lay hidden. But he told them nothing, and in his will he made no mention of the treasure.
Cotton is called into the latest adventure when Sam Collins, an American Secret Service Agent, breaks into his home in the middle of the nights with assassins on his heels.
Cotton discovers that Sam was sent to him by his old friend and ally, Henrik Thorvaldsen who needs his help to stop the Paris Club.
Cotton and Sam head to Paris where Henrik plans to infiltrate The Paris Club, whose members are some of the world’s richest men and women.
When he arrives in Paris, he finds that there is more to the situation than he was originally told.
The wily Danish tycoon has uncovered the insidious plans of the Paris Club, a cabal of multimillionaires bent on manipulating the global economy. Only by matching wits with a terrorist-for-hire, foiling a catastrophic attack, and plunging into a desperate hunt for Napoleon's legendary lost treasure can Malone hope to avert international financial anarchy.
But Henrik has his own plans, and he refuses to listen to Cotton or anyone else.
Thorvaldsen's real objective is to avenge the murder of his son by the larcenous aristocrat at the heart of the conspiracy.
Thorvaldsen's vendetta places Malone in an impossible quandary…one that forces him to choose between friend and country, past and present.
There were 7 participants in the discussion
Overall rating. 3.5
Comments:
Pros:
It was a good story and was told very close to the actual historical events. Cotton is always a good character and I did like Sam a lot. "
"It was an interesting concept set in an exotic locale."
"Liked the historical aspects about Napoleon."
Cons
"There were too many long, draw out descriptions of the buildings and scenery. The "good guys" had too many close calls. Henrik's revenge driven plot didn't really fit the character we've come to know. Cotton was a more of a secondary character in this adventure."
"Berry should not make the action scenes so confusing."
"I found the historical information interesting - if a bit too much as it slowed down the story too much.
The Emperor’s Tomb by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone series Book # 6
Cotton Malone teams with old heartthrob Cassiopeia Vitt on a dangerous mission to retrieve a priceless Chinese lamp from the third century B.C.E.
Two high-ranking Chinese government ministers, hard-liner Karl Tang and more liberal Ni Yong, both of whom are vying to be China's next premier, covet the lamp.
Tang, in particular, has left a trail of bodies in his own quest for the lamp, which, unbeknownst to Malone and Vitt, contains the secret to how the country will surmount its biggest obstacle to future economic growth, its dependence on foreign oil.
The tomb of China’s First Emperor, guarded by an underground army of terra-cotta warriors has remained sealed for more than 2,000 years. Though it’s regarded as one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world, the Chinese government won’t allow anyone to open it. Why?
That question is at the heart of a dilemma faced by former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone, whose life is shattered when he receives an anonymous note carrying an unfamiliar Web address.
He soon sees Cassiopeia Vitt, a woman who’s saved his life more than once, being tortured at the hands of a mysterious man who has a single demand: “Bring me the artifact she’s asked you to keep safe.”
The only problem is, Cotton doesn’t have a clue what the man is talking about, since Cassiopeia has left nothing with him.
He’s soon drawn into a power struggle in China, which takes him from Copenhagen, Antwerp and to the most incredible cultural sites in China.
The struggle between the two opponents, one a believer in Confucianism, the other in Legalism, could destroy the balance of power in China, which would affect the rest of the world.
There were eight participants in the discussion
Overall average rating of 4.38.
Comments:
Pros
"I really liked this book and found the history of China, the tomb and the terra-cotta soldiers fascinating."
"I Really loved this book from start to finish, a fascinating read"
"I enjoyed the historical backdrop and especially for a country we don't know that much about. This always makes it an interesting experience. Overall I enjoyed the plot of the book and the pacing of the book…. also enjoyed some of the humorous moments."
Cons
"It seemed to me that Cotton was more of a secondary character than the star of the series in this one. This was not my favorite of the series by any means."
"I also felt like Cotton was a secondary character and when he appeared he didn't seem like the usual strong, solid character. The eunuch idea was just ridiculous. Viktor changed sides way too many times."
The Jefferson Key by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone series Book #7
Four presidents of the United States have been assassinated—in 1865, 1881, 1901, and 1963—each murder seemingly unrelated. But what if those presidents were all killed for the shocking same reason: a clause contained in the United States Constitution?
This is the question faced by former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone. When President Danny Daniels is nearly killed in the heart of Manhattan…Cotton Malone comes to the rescue…but so do several others that have an entirely different agenda.
Malone risks his life to foil the murder—only to find himself at odds with the Commonwealth, a secret society of pirates first assembled during the American Revolution. Racing across the nation and taking to the high seas,
Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt must break a secret cipher originally possessed by Thomas Jefferson, unravel a mystery concocted by Andrew Jackson, and unearth a document forged by the Founding Fathers themselves…one powerful enough to make the Commonwealth unstoppable.
We find Cotton and Cassiopeia a couple in this one.
We also learn that things have not been a bed of roses in President Daniels and the first lady’s marriage since the death of their daughter Mary 30 years ago.
Pauline Daniels blames Danny for the fire that killed Mary when he left a lit cigar that caused the deadly blaze.
Pauline’s friendship with Shirley Kaiser may have been the tip off that the President was going to be going to New York and set the assignation attempt in motion.
We learn also that Stephanie and Danny may be thinking of becoming more than friends.
This is a book that presents the possibility of many changes that may turn to characterization of the series.
Comments
Pros
"I thought the story line was interesting, it started off really fast and caught me right away. I know many of you didn't like the jumping between scenes/locales but it didn't bother me and actually added to the suspense of the situation knowing what was going on in "real time" in the multiple areas. It was like watching a movie with a split screen."
"I also thought the storyline was very interesting and especially liked the way we were led to believe the presidential assassinations were because they fought with the pirates."
"The story of the Privateers was very interesting and there was lots of action, These books would make excellent movies."
Cons:
"Carbonell's actions/motivations needed to be explained a bit more. Just when you thought you knew what she was doing, she'd do something else. She even had Knox and Wyatt confused on a regular basis as they didn't know whose side she was on."
"I felt like the constant changing of perspectives was just too much. It worked at the end of the book to build up tension but it was too distracting throughout the entire story."
There were 6 participants in the discussion.
Overall rating of 3.83
The Lincoln Myth by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone series Book #9
September 1861: All is not as it seems.
With these cryptic words, a shocking secret passed down from president to president comes to rest in the hands of Abraham Lincoln.
As the first bloody clashes of the Civil War unfold, Lincoln alone must decide how best to use this volatile knowledge: save thousands of American lives, or keep the young nation from being torn apart forever?
The present: In Utah, the fabled remains of Mormon pioneers whose nineteenth-century expedition across the desert met with a murderous end have been uncovered. In Washington, D.C..
The official investigation of an international entrepreneur, an elder in the Mormon Church, has sparked a political battle between the White House and a powerful United States senator.
In Denmark, a Justice Department agent, missing in action, has fallen into the hands of a dangerous zealot…a man driven by divine visions to make a prophet’s words reality.
In a matter of a few short hours, Cotton Malone has gone from quietly selling books at his shop in Denmark to dodging bullets in a high-speed boat chase.
All it takes is a phone call from his former boss in Washington, and suddenly the ex-agent is racing to rescue an informant carrying critical intelligence.
It’s just the kind of perilous business that Malone has been trying to leave behind, ever since he retired from the Justice Department. But once he draws enemy blood, Malone is plunged into a deadly conflict…a constitutional war secretly set in motion more than two hundred years ago by America’s Founding Fathers.
From the streets of Copenhagen to the catacombs of Salzburg to the rugged mountains of Utah, the grim specter of the Civil War looms as a dangerous conspiracy gathers power.
Malone risks life, liberty, and his greatest love in a race for the truth about Abraham Lincoln—while the fate of the United States of America hangs in the balance.
Comments
Pros
"The author has also cleverly put some new interesting themes in the book and therefore some new energy, e,g where do Cotton And Cassiopeia go next - is there any future for them.
"Loved Luke who provided a new dimension of a character."
"The book was well written and educational; the fact that I did not like the premise so much is my problem, not Berry's.
"I learned a great deal with regard to American history and the development of the Mormon faith. The research was interesting as evidenced in the author’s notes at the end."
Cons
"The story had uneven passing, Salazar was too crazy and I didn’t care for Cotton’s and Cassiopeia's behavior"
"There was no suspense. The characters didn't fit what we were used to. I got tired of hearing from that stupid angel."
"As usual my problem with the book wasn’t Cotton, wasn’t Cassiopeia, it was Stephanie. I just don’t like her."
"A bit less references to the religion"
"Book got quite technical in places especially for a simple Brit who doesn’t know much about the American Constitution."
"Satisfactory, but I felt a bit weak, ending.”
There were 7 participants in the discussion
Overall rating of 3.43
3Sergeirocks
>2 Carol420: Cheers, Carol; love your synopses...
That's a lot of conspiracies to keep up with. What an endlessly active imagination our Mr. Berry has.
That's a lot of conspiracies to keep up with. What an endlessly active imagination our Mr. Berry has.
4Olivermagnus
>2 Carol420: - Thanks - For some reason I often get this series mixed up with the Sigma Force novels and your recap keeps me straight.
5Carol420
>4 Olivermagnus: I wish I had had more information on the two books we read on Leafmarks. It looks like we have consistently given this series mediocre ratings. The Alexandria Link and The Emperor's Tomb got the highest so far.
6Andrew-theQM
Some quite variable ratings. It’s a strange series as we (and I) don’t always give the books high ratings yet I really enjoy reading the books! Love spending time with Cotton. >5 Carol420:
