The Emperor's Tomb

The Emperor’s Tomb is pure Steve Berry and a really fun read for a dark winter’s day in front of a warm fire. Of course, this scene is for your benefit (and my imagination) since I’m reading it (advance reviewers copy) in sweltering 95+ degree summer heat.

From the book cover:

“Malone’s life is shattered when he receives an anonymous note carrying an unfamiliar Web address. Logging on, he 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, Malone doesn’t have a clue what the man is talking about, since Cassiopeia has left nothing with him. So begins Malone’s show more most harrowing adventure to date—one that offers up astounding historical revelations, pits him against a ruthless ancient brotherhood, and sends him from Denmark to Belgium to Vietnam then on to China, a vast and mysterious land where danger lurks at every turn.”

First, I should report a note of full disclosure – I’m a big fan of Steve Berry and anxiously await each new book. However, Steve Berry’s books aren’t going to win any awards for serious literature. This isn’t really a criticism of his writing but rather a statement of the niche that Berry fills. Every era needs authors that give readers a break and provide fun, exciting reading. This is what Berry does and very well!
It isn’t essential that you know Cotton Malone is a retired secret agent turned Copenhagen antiquarian bookseller or about Cotton’s previous escapades with the mysterious Cassiopeia Vitt and other minor characters. However, it does make reading a current Steve Berry book that much more enjoyable. So if you’re new to Steve Berry, pickup some of his earlier books to catchup with Cotton and Cassiopeia. Many are in paperback.
As is typical of the adventure genre today by such writers as Dan Browne, Berry skillfully weaves a set of historical facts, locations and events into a plausible, though maybe improbable, adventure scenario. Of course; there is the requisite gun fights and chases across the landscape but as I said, this is why you read a Steve Berry book. In the case of The Emperor’s Tomb, Berry takes much from Chinese history mixing in plot elements from today’s headlines about oil and China’s economic development.
After finishing the book (my recommendation) you can check the writer’s notes in the back to see what is fact and where Steve has taken some license to create a good story.
Another common adventure vehicle regularly used by Berry, in evidence throughout the book, is the disguised loyalty of characters. Good guys are bad guys but they aren’t. Bad guys are working for the good guys etc etc. In this book Steve Berry does over do the twists somewhat and narrative rationales get a little tiresome. But, overall this is a minor criticism in a basically good read. show less

Falling somewhere between Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon and Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon is Steve Berry’s character Cotton Malone. A retired Justice Department operative, not an active field agent like Gabriel Allon, Malone nonetheless gets involved in intrigue almost as esoteric as Langdon. Malone’s conspiracies are far more believable too. The Emperor’s Tomb may be the best Cotton Malone to date.

While falling squarely into the Adventure / Thriller genre, this installment throws the reader a curve in the form of a mild romance angle. Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt have been paired before, primarily as adventure buddies and as a convenient way for the author to save his main characters’ lives. It is only natural that after show more sharing so many close calls and great adventures, some feelings must develop between them. Cotton and Cassiopeia start recognizing these feelings in this adventure. These feelings are brought out by the reappearance of another Berry character, a freelancer who enjoys playing both sides against each other. Malone feels the first pangs of jealousy as Viktor, the interloper, saves Cassiopeia’s life several times in a relatively short span and Malone is angry at himself that it was not him saving her. As expected for this genre, the hero and heroine do fade into the sunset at the end of the story, but the journey to that fadeout is not an easy path.

The premise of the book, there are two types of oil, one finite and the other infinite and we are only told of the finite type, is quite a hook. I was extremely surprised to find in the Writer’s Note at the end of the book, this is not a product of Steve Berry’s pen, but there is some scientific backing and debate on this topic. To me, this is more real than Dan Brown’s Masonic Conspiracy theories. Having some grounding in scientific research, the political implications of the plot are all too real a possibility.

As an Adventure / Thriller story, Berry delivers. Using the time honored tradition of starting with a cliff hanger, literally, from somewhere near the end of the story, then using a the rest of the book as a flashback to explain how the main characters got there, Berry hooks the reader into the plot with a major shot of adrenaline. The action slacks off just long enough for the reader to absorb important background information, then back to the rapid paced action. It is also appealing for Political Intrigue fans as other than Malone and Vitt, you are never sure of who the good guys or bad guys really are; lots of allegiance twists along the way. Another notable aspect to the style is the descriptions of the locales used as the backdrop for the action. I found myself especially enthralled with the descriptions of China.

Not ground breaking, but I’m giving some extra credit for having such a believable plot and for the travel guide thrown in for free. Enjoyment far exceeds the effort to read this. I actually could not wait to get home from work so I could continue reading, a privilege usually reserved for audio books on my commute home. I have no trouble giving this a four and a half star rating. show less

I've said this before and this time I'm going to hold myself to it, no more Steve Berry books. There is absolutely no reason for anyone to read one of these books. The characters are interesting enough and some of the historical stuff will draw you in, but these books are saccharine. The plots are convoluted. The dialog wooden. There so many better books out there in this genre. From now on I'm leaving these on the James Paterson scrap heap.

This was not my favorite book in this series. It was riddled with Chinese politics and... for me at least... it was like wading through mud at times. The saving grace for the book was when Cotton and Cassiopeia were involved in the adventure taking place in the story. Thus having been said...that brings me to the main issue I had with the book. Cotton Malone was almost a secondary character here except for the Prologue...which I thought and hoped would be the setting for the entire book. It wasn't. Cotton seemed to have been incorporated into the story to make it a part of the Cotton Malone series. While the historical information was interesting, I found that something was just lacking in the story. I will certainly continue this show more series but I hope that Steve Berry brings Cotton out of where ever he had him hiding. show less

This is the sixth book in a series featuring retired Justice Department operative Cotton Malone. He receives an intense video of his friend, Cassiopeia Vitt, being waterboarded and knows he has to do whatever he can to save her. This set up Malone for one of his most traumatic adventures. He will travel from Denmark to Belgium to Vietnam and then on to China where he will be tested by ruthless ancient brotherhood.

It turns out several groups are searching for an artifact that is important to the Chinese. They are looking for an ancient winged dragon lamp, originally stolen from the tomb of the first Emperor of China. Both Karl Tang and Ni Yong are just a step away from becoming China's new Premiere, a position of power that will allow show more either man to set foreign policy for their country. Tang is of the opinion that China should remain unwilling to work with any foreign power, believing in the natural expression of totalitarianism. He would also strictly enforce laws and exact severe punishments for breaking them. Ni, on the other hand, would pursue peaceful international relations and permit some local democracy.

I really enjoy this series but for some reason I just wasn't riveted by the action. I felt like Cotton was a secondary character until the last third of the book and it could easily have been edited down a hundred pages for a better flow. Nevertheless, Steve Berry does a great deal of research and incorporates compelling facts into his action novels. While not my favorite, it was still an interesting story and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. show less

The latest Steve Berry action-thriller takes Cotton to China with a conspiracy linking back to the first Chinese emperor. At first it reminded me a lot of [b:The Tiger Warrior|6261846|The Tiger Warrior|David Gibbins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255608825s/6261846.jpg|6445069] but thankfully went a different way and had it's own unique conspiracy.

As usual with these books I enjoy them mostly for the history, spending half my reading time looking up articles on Wikipedia. There were some interesting historical facts I picked up interspersed with the usual action scenes.

The relationship with Cotton and Cassiopeia, as well as the growing age of the characters makes me wonder how much more this series has in it and if Berry is working show more on a new series or if he might resurrect Miles or Rachel from his earlier books

All in all it was another solid Indy book and I look forward to his next book soon. show less

Similar to another audio book, I just heard (The Ghost War, by Alex Berenson), this is a twelve disc audio book with a wonderful reader who has mastered accents and inflection so that the book keeps you on the edge of your seat and alert as you drive!
From a child’s kidnapping to foreign intrigue about a new scientific discovery, this book is filled with excitement. There are so many sub plots, but underneath them all there is the additional plot of several competing leaders in China, each of whom wishes to take over the government. Russia and the United States are involved in the intrigue, with each employing agents who may not be all that scrupulous.
Murder is simply a means to an end, viewed almost casually. Torture is acceptable show more in the Asian prisons. Maoists and Liberationists go head to head in their fight to take over the government and in the background, the “Ba” and the Eunochs also vie for power, aligning themselves with competing, powerful people. The "double cross" is routine, as ethical behavior is not of the slightest concern. The winner will determine whether or not China becomes a threat to, or a peaceful participant in, world affairs.
Underlying all of the varied sub-plots and side issues, is the theme of an undying source of energy, for which all three countries are searching; the key to its secret existence is thought to be hidden in China. Often the bad guy wins. China, as well as Russia, is a country with vastly different rules than the United States, and their tactics are sometimes appalling as are those of their agents. However, none of the participating countries is guiltless when it comes to reprehensible behavior. Greed and the desire for power appears to be the driving force and in its wake, valuable antiquities are destroyed and people are sacrificed with little or no reason other than expedience rather than justice.
This book is action packed; undercover agents and double agents go head to head. They sneak in and out of several countries to search for answers, often with violent outcomes. There is an abundance of characters, which sometimes makes it a little hard to figure out which one is being featured. There is definitely murder and mayhem and while the book may not keep you guessing, it will certainly keep you interested for many hours. It is worth the “road trip. show less