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Former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone isn't looking for trouble when it comes knocking at his Copenhagen bookshop. But narrowly surviving a ferocious firefight convinces him to follow his unexpected new ally--an American Secret Service agent--and help him stop 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 the legendary lost show more treasure of Napoleon Bonaparte can Malone hope to avert international financial anarchy. show lessTags
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"The Paris Vendetta" is the fifth (my first) Steve Berry thriller to feature Cotton Malone, a former operative of the U.S. Justice Department. Malone, with some help from Danish billionaire Henrik Thorvaldsen, is now the owner of a used-book store in Copenhagen. The men became friends because Malone was coincidentally at the scene of the Mexico City shooting in which Thorvaldsen's son, along with several others, was killed. Their relationship, which began with Thorvaldsen's heartfelt appreciation that Malone immediately gunned down some of the shooters that horrible day, has grown into a close one in the minds of both men.
Thorvaldsen, however, is still consumed by the knowledge that the two men most responsible for the Mexico City show more massacre are still alive. He wants them dead, and he is hoping that Cotton Malone will help him make that happen. Malone is sucked into Thorvaldsen's plot early one morning when his bookstore is invaded by an American agent running for his life. Soon, the bookstore has been shot up and the two men are on the run.
Malone will learn that one of the men being sought by Thorvaldsen is a British aristocrat who is involved in a plot with a group of financial experts to undermine the world's economy so that group members can profit from the ensuing chaos. As if that were not enough, the British millionaire is also on a mission of his own to find the looted treasure Napoleon supposedly hid before his exile to Corsica. Unfortunately for him, however, he is not the only one hot on the trail of clues needed to pinpoint the treasure's final resting place.
"The Paris Vendetta" serves up typical thriller material. Cotton Malone is a likable character, as are most of those he ends up working with in his attempt to save the world from what The Paris Club has planned for it. In the manner of James Bond and Mission Impossible, Malone also finds himself dealing with a hired terrorist determined to destroy a Paris landmark. His efforts to stop the terrorist are so spectacular that Malone often seems only a step or two short of qualifying as a bona fide super hero.
The most interesting character in the book is Henrik Thorvaldsen, a good man so caught up in grief over the way his son died that he is willing personally to murder the men responsible for that death. Nothing else matters to him anymore. Malone wants to help Thorvaldsen find peace, but for complicated reasons involving The Paris Club and the U.S. Department of Justice, he finds himself opposing the efforts of his old friend.
While "The Paris Vendetta" has its moments, it is too similar to all those other modern day thrillers out there to stand out as anything very special. Steve Berry's novel is better written than most thrillers in the sense that he treats history with more respect than most thriller writers do. The problem comes from the sense one gets that plots like this one have already been written too many times.
Rated at: 2.5 show less
Thorvaldsen, however, is still consumed by the knowledge that the two men most responsible for the Mexico City show more massacre are still alive. He wants them dead, and he is hoping that Cotton Malone will help him make that happen. Malone is sucked into Thorvaldsen's plot early one morning when his bookstore is invaded by an American agent running for his life. Soon, the bookstore has been shot up and the two men are on the run.
Malone will learn that one of the men being sought by Thorvaldsen is a British aristocrat who is involved in a plot with a group of financial experts to undermine the world's economy so that group members can profit from the ensuing chaos. As if that were not enough, the British millionaire is also on a mission of his own to find the looted treasure Napoleon supposedly hid before his exile to Corsica. Unfortunately for him, however, he is not the only one hot on the trail of clues needed to pinpoint the treasure's final resting place.
"The Paris Vendetta" serves up typical thriller material. Cotton Malone is a likable character, as are most of those he ends up working with in his attempt to save the world from what The Paris Club has planned for it. In the manner of James Bond and Mission Impossible, Malone also finds himself dealing with a hired terrorist determined to destroy a Paris landmark. His efforts to stop the terrorist are so spectacular that Malone often seems only a step or two short of qualifying as a bona fide super hero.
The most interesting character in the book is Henrik Thorvaldsen, a good man so caught up in grief over the way his son died that he is willing personally to murder the men responsible for that death. Nothing else matters to him anymore. Malone wants to help Thorvaldsen find peace, but for complicated reasons involving The Paris Club and the U.S. Department of Justice, he finds himself opposing the efforts of his old friend.
While "The Paris Vendetta" has its moments, it is too similar to all those other modern day thrillers out there to stand out as anything very special. Steve Berry's novel is better written than most thrillers in the sense that he treats history with more respect than most thriller writers do. The problem comes from the sense one gets that plots like this one have already been written too many times.
Rated at: 2.5 show less
The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone series Book # 4
3.5 Stars
From The Book:
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. Or did he?
Former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone isn't looking for trouble when it comes knocking at his Copenhagen bookshop. Actually, it breaks and enters in the form of an American Secret Service agent with a pair of assassins on his heels. Malone has his show more doubts about the anxious young man, but narrowly surviving a ferocious firefight convinces him to follow his unexpected new ally.
My Views:
Steve Berry always delivers a great story filled with history and loads of twists and turns. Sometimes he gets a bit carried away with the history part and that was the case with the first part of this book. It kept me reading for a couple of reasons...1. It was the book we were discussing on the Mystery & Suspense group read...2. Berry always eventually comes through with excitement and surprises...3. You just find that you simply have to see if your favorite character survives the mayhem they have created...4. Cotton Malone and company are unlikely heroes in even more unlikely scenarios but you are always guaranteed a good time. show less
Cotton Malone series Book # 4
3.5 Stars
From The Book:
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. Or did he?
Former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone isn't looking for trouble when it comes knocking at his Copenhagen bookshop. Actually, it breaks and enters in the form of an American Secret Service agent with a pair of assassins on his heels. Malone has his show more doubts about the anxious young man, but narrowly surviving a ferocious firefight convinces him to follow his unexpected new ally.
My Views:
Steve Berry always delivers a great story filled with history and loads of twists and turns. Sometimes he gets a bit carried away with the history part and that was the case with the first part of this book. It kept me reading for a couple of reasons...1. It was the book we were discussing on the Mystery & Suspense group read...2. Berry always eventually comes through with excitement and surprises...3. You just find that you simply have to see if your favorite character survives the mayhem they have created...4. Cotton Malone and company are unlikely heroes in even more unlikely scenarios but you are always guaranteed a good time. show less
This has been my least favorite Cotton Malone novel. It had too much action and not enough adventure for my taste. I really like Steve Berry's books because of all the history he weaves into them but this one lacked in that department also. It was still an enjoyable story and one that needed to be told.
Steve Berry's Paris Vendetta is magnifique! It is a perfect blend of history, economics, conspiracy theories, treasure hunting, suspense and action all rolled into one. Ballantine Books published it in 2009.
USDOJ operative Cotton Malone returns to investigate The Paris Club, founded by Eliza Larcoque, a descendent of Napoleon's childhood foe Carlo Andrea Pozzi di Borgo. di Borgo was able to manipulate international politics in order to bring about the demise of his lifelong enemy. Larcoque has a plan to do the same but for the purpose of making billions of dollars. Her premise that people will put up with anything from their leaders during war time, even though the leaders are making money off of war. In the age of terrorism, Larcoque show more believes that only the threat of war will result in the same behavior. Her aim is to use short selling of stocks just before a terrorist action occurs, an action that she controls and that will earn her billions. She also plans to use debt restructuring of nations run by dictatorships to make money. The Paris Club members, limited to 8, must each put up 20 million in order to join. Larcoque is also obsessed with finding Napoleon's hidden treasure as well as gold stored by the Nazi's at the end of WWII.
Regular character Henrik Thorvaldsen, a Danish billionaire and a friend of Malone's, is obsessed with finding out who murdered his son in Mexico City two years earlier. Once he learns that a British aristocrat, Lord Ashby, was responsible for the murder, Thorvaldsen decides to join The Paris Club in order to get close to Ashby so that he can kill him.
The Paris Vendetta is super-fast paced and has so much happening on each page that it is impossible to put down. You gotta read this one. show less
USDOJ operative Cotton Malone returns to investigate The Paris Club, founded by Eliza Larcoque, a descendent of Napoleon's childhood foe Carlo Andrea Pozzi di Borgo. di Borgo was able to manipulate international politics in order to bring about the demise of his lifelong enemy. Larcoque has a plan to do the same but for the purpose of making billions of dollars. Her premise that people will put up with anything from their leaders during war time, even though the leaders are making money off of war. In the age of terrorism, Larcoque show more believes that only the threat of war will result in the same behavior. Her aim is to use short selling of stocks just before a terrorist action occurs, an action that she controls and that will earn her billions. She also plans to use debt restructuring of nations run by dictatorships to make money. The Paris Club members, limited to 8, must each put up 20 million in order to join. Larcoque is also obsessed with finding Napoleon's hidden treasure as well as gold stored by the Nazi's at the end of WWII.
Regular character Henrik Thorvaldsen, a Danish billionaire and a friend of Malone's, is obsessed with finding out who murdered his son in Mexico City two years earlier. Once he learns that a British aristocrat, Lord Ashby, was responsible for the murder, Thorvaldsen decides to join The Paris Club in order to get close to Ashby so that he can kill him.
The Paris Vendetta is super-fast paced and has so much happening on each page that it is impossible to put down. You gotta read this one. show less
The Paris Vendetta is the fifth book in a series by featuring Cotton Malone, a retired police operative with the U.S. Justice Department's Magellan Billet. He now lives in Denmark and runs a bookstore, but is usually available to help stop terrorist attacks around the globe. When mentor, Henrik Thorvaldsen, sends an him a message via an American Secret Service agent who is being pursued by assassins, Malone feels he has to get involved.
Cotton and Henrik head to Paris where Henrik plans to infiltrate The Paris Club, whose members are some of the world’s richest men and women. Once he gets to Paris, he finds that there is more to the situation than he was originally told. Henrik has his own plan, and he refuses to listen to Cotton or show more anyone else.
The author always includes a history lesson in his novels and this it focuses on Napoleon. There's plenty of action blended with the historical aspects. While the first half was a little slow moving for my tastes, the last half was fast paced and filled with multiple plot lines. There were some unexpected twists and overall, an enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, The Emperor's Tomb. show less
Cotton and Henrik head to Paris where Henrik plans to infiltrate The Paris Club, whose members are some of the world’s richest men and women. Once he gets to Paris, he finds that there is more to the situation than he was originally told. Henrik has his own plan, and he refuses to listen to Cotton or show more anyone else.
The author always includes a history lesson in his novels and this it focuses on Napoleon. There's plenty of action blended with the historical aspects. While the first half was a little slow moving for my tastes, the last half was fast paced and filled with multiple plot lines. There were some unexpected twists and overall, an enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, The Emperor's Tomb. show less
You want a good thriller… pick up any Steve Berry/Cotton Malone book and you'll have one. As usually Steve Berry has taken a small historical fact and woven a tale of international intrigue that will take the reader through the troubles of Napoleon and use them to highlight today's economic issues as well as expand the characters that readers have come to care for.
In this 5th Cotton Malone story, the story surrenders Cotton's best friend, Henrik Thorvaldsen, who is searching for the men that were responsible for his son's death. In tracking them down, Henrik gets involved in a dangerous plot by the Paris Club (a financial cartel) to manipulate the world's economy and make billions. Henrik vendetta against his son's killers clashes show more with the vendetta of the head of the Paris club and Malone is caught smack in the middle.
Cotton and Henrik become estranged as they battle the Paris Club members for different reasons but in the end I believe that were emotionally on the same page.
As with all the Cotton Malone books, it was action-packed and whirled the reader through historical facts on a fictional road. One drawback, there was a new character introduced - Sam Collins. It seemed that Berry was trying to turn Cotton into a mentor so maybe Sam will be appearing in future books, however, it seemed to detract for the concentration on Cotton and his relationship with Henrik.
Overall, a solid addition to the series. show less
In this 5th Cotton Malone story, the story surrenders Cotton's best friend, Henrik Thorvaldsen, who is searching for the men that were responsible for his son's death. In tracking them down, Henrik gets involved in a dangerous plot by the Paris Club (a financial cartel) to manipulate the world's economy and make billions. Henrik vendetta against his son's killers clashes show more with the vendetta of the head of the Paris club and Malone is caught smack in the middle.
Cotton and Henrik become estranged as they battle the Paris Club members for different reasons but in the end I believe that were emotionally on the same page.
As with all the Cotton Malone books, it was action-packed and whirled the reader through historical facts on a fictional road. One drawback, there was a new character introduced - Sam Collins. It seemed that Berry was trying to turn Cotton into a mentor so maybe Sam will be appearing in future books, however, it seemed to detract for the concentration on Cotton and his relationship with Henrik.
Overall, a solid addition to the series. show less
This could be described as an airport thriller - financial conspiracies, a slightly jaded agent, Napoleon's missing treasures. Outside my usual reading fare but I thoroughly enjoyed this well researched and tautly written book.
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Author Information
57+ Works 35,092 Members
Steve Berry was born in 1955. He is a graduate of Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law. He was a practicing attorney when he started writing in 1990. His first book, The Amber Room, was published in 2003. His other works include The Romanov Prophecy, The Third Secret, The Columbus Affair, The Patriot Threat and the Cotton Malone show more series. He also writes e-book original short stories including The Balkan Escape, The Devil's Gold, and The Admiral's Mark. He and his wife founded History Matters, a nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding the preservation of our heritage. In 2015, The Patriot Threat made The New York Times Best Seller List. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Paris Vendetta
- Original title
- The Paris Vendetta
- Original publication date
- 2009-12
- People/Characters
- Cotton Malone; Henrik Thorvaldsen; Stephanie Nelle; Sam Collins; Graham Ashby ; Eliza Larcoque
- Important places
- Paris, France; Copenhagen, Denmark
- Epigraph
- Money has no motherland; financiers are without patriotism and without decency: their sole object is gain.--Napoleon Bonaparte
Money has no motherland;
financiers are without patriotism and without decency:
their sole object is gain.
- Napoleon Bonaparte
History records that the money changers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments.--James Madison
History records that the money changers have used
every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit and violent means possible
to maintain their control over governments.
- James Madison
Let me issue and control a nation's money and I care not who writes the laws. --Mayer Amschel Rothschild
Let me issue and control a nation's money
and I care not who writes the laws.
- Mayer Amschel Rothschild - Dedication
- For Gina Centrello, Libby McGuire, Kim Hovey, Cindy Murray, Christine Cabello, Carole Lowenstein, and Rachel Kind. With Thanks and Deep Appreciation
For Gina Centrello, Libby McGuire, Kim Hovey, Cindy Murray, Christine Cabrello, Carole Lowenstein, and Rachel Kind
With Thanks and Deep Appreciation - First words
- General Napoleon Bonaparte dismounted from his horse and stared up at the pyramid.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Deal."
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