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Cotton Malone #18
The Atlas Maneuver
From celebrated New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry comes the latest Cotton Malone adventure, in which Cotton unravels a mystery from World War II involving a legendary lost treasure, Yamashita’s Gold, worth billions.
1945. In the waning months of World War II, Japan hid vast quantities of gold and other stolen valuables in boobytrapped underground caches all across the Philippines. By 1947 some of that loot was recovered, not by treasure hunters, but by the United States government, which told no one about the find. Instead, those assets were stamped classified, shipped to Europe, and secretly assimilated into something called the Black Eagle Trust.
Present day. Retired Justice Department operative, Cotton Malone, is in Switzerland doing a favor for a friend. But what was supposed to be a simple operation turns violent and Cotton is thrust into a war between the world’s oldest bank and the CIA, a battle that directly involves the Black Eagle Trust. He quickly discovers that everything hinges on a woman from his past, who suddenly reappears harboring a host of explosive secrets centering around bitcoin. The cryptocurrency is being quietly weaponized, readied for an assault on the world’s financial systems, a calculated move that will have devastating consequences. Cotton has no choice. He has to act. But at what cost?
From the stolid banking halls of Luxembourg, to the secret vaults of Switzerland, and finally up into the treacherous mountains of southern Morocco, Cotton Malone is stymied at every turn. Each move he makes seems wrong, and nothing works, until he finally comes face-to-face with the Atlas Maneuver.
1945. In the waning months of World War II, Japan hid vast quantities of gold and other stolen valuables in boobytrapped underground caches all across the Philippines. By 1947 some of that loot was recovered, not by treasure hunters, but by the United States government, which told no one about the find. Instead, those assets were stamped classified, shipped to Europe, and secretly assimilated into something called the Black Eagle Trust.
Present day. Retired Justice Department operative, Cotton Malone, is in Switzerland doing a favor for a friend. But what was supposed to be a simple operation turns violent and Cotton is thrust into a war between the world’s oldest bank and the CIA, a battle that directly involves the Black Eagle Trust. He quickly discovers that everything hinges on a woman from his past, who suddenly reappears harboring a host of explosive secrets centering around bitcoin. The cryptocurrency is being quietly weaponized, readied for an assault on the world’s financial systems, a calculated move that will have devastating consequences. Cotton has no choice. He has to act. But at what cost?
From the stolid banking halls of Luxembourg, to the secret vaults of Switzerland, and finally up into the treacherous mountains of southern Morocco, Cotton Malone is stymied at every turn. Each move he makes seems wrong, and nothing works, until he finally comes face-to-face with the Atlas Maneuver.
416 pages, Paperback
First published February 20, 2024
1207 people are currently reading
8670 people want to read
About the author
Steve Berry
110 books7,499 followersSteve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of twenty-two novels, which include: The Last Kingdom , The Omega Factor , The Kaiser's Web, The Warsaw Protocol, The Malta Exchange, The Bishop’s Pawn, The Lost Order, The 14th Colony, The Patriot Threat, The Lincoln Myth, The King's Deception, The Columbus Affair, The Jefferson Key, The Emperor's Tomb, The Paris Vendetta, The Charlemagne Pursuit, The Venetian Betrayal, The Alexandria Link, The Templar Legacy, The Third Secret, The Romanov Prophecy, and The Amber Room. Steve has also co-written a novel with Grant Blackwood, The 9th Man (a Luke Daniels Adventure), and four novellas with M. J. Rose: The End of Forever, The House of Long Ago, The Lake of Learning, and The Museum of Mysteries, all Cassiopeia Vitt tales. His books have been translated into 41 languages with over 25,000,000 copies in 52 countries. They consistently appear in the top echelon of The New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestseller lists. Somewhere in the world, every thirty seconds, one of his novels is sold.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 537 reviews
March 16, 2024
Cotton Malone is back for his 18th mission and for me this was a return to form for both Berry and Malone. Malone is now in his early 50's and with age he is now a free agent, able to pick and choose his cases, as well as more permanent characters who help resolve the problems, of which there are many.. And, as with all of Berry's books, Malone's adventures always have an international setting. What I liked is that Cotton is handling on situation in Switzerland and then Morocco, Cassiopeia is handling something else in a different part of Switzerland and Luxembourg, which also includes European Bureau Chief Derreck Koger who was introduced in the last book. The story begins in 1945 in the Philippines at the end of WW2 with the burial of stolen gold by the Japanese. We then move the timeline to present day and concentrate on banking and Bitcoin issues in Switzerland. Oh, and lets not forget to stop off in Russia where a paid assassin is handling a removal for the Bank of St. George. Really well plotted with each chapter going back and forth between differing characters and locales. As with all of Berry's books, history plays a major part in the plot and at the end of the book he explains what is fact, what is fiction and to me he does a masterful job of weaving reality and fiction. Along the way he gives us some fantastic economic explanations on currency, debt, Bitcoin, blockchain and helped me understand this entire situation a whole lot more than I did when I began the book. Yep, Cotton Malone is back in top form and this book is one of Berry's best!!
4.5****
4.5****
February 21, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central for the pre-release copy. Below is my honest review.
I have a few things to praise about this one: I learned a lot about bitcoin and blockchain from this one, which was kinda cool as it's not something I knew much about. We also got more Cassiopeia Vitt, along with the return of Koger and TOO from recent previous stories. More Vitt = happy me. We also got a bit of backstory about Cotton's not-so-good history, meeting an old flame from the past, which was interesting.
I do have a few complaints as well. First, there wasn't enough Stephanie Nelle. I miss her! Second, Vitt and Cotton were separated the whole book, which sucked. Third, there were SO MANY SENTENCE FRAGMENTS, and so many of them starting with "which." Seriously, I don't recall Berry's work being this poor level of grammar before. Maybe there were lots of sentence fragments in previous books and my mind blocked them out, but this time there were so many that it took me out of the story over and over, making it hard to binge.
3.5 stars rounded up. Definitely still recommend for fans of the series.
I have a few things to praise about this one: I learned a lot about bitcoin and blockchain from this one, which was kinda cool as it's not something I knew much about. We also got more Cassiopeia Vitt, along with the return of Koger and TOO from recent previous stories. More Vitt = happy me. We also got a bit of backstory about Cotton's not-so-good history, meeting an old flame from the past, which was interesting.
I do have a few complaints as well. First, there wasn't enough Stephanie Nelle. I miss her! Second, Vitt and Cotton were separated the whole book, which sucked. Third, there were SO MANY SENTENCE FRAGMENTS, and so many of them starting with "which." Seriously, I don't recall Berry's work being this poor level of grammar before. Maybe there were lots of sentence fragments in previous books and my mind blocked them out, but this time there were so many that it took me out of the story over and over, making it hard to binge.
3.5 stars rounded up. Definitely still recommend for fans of the series.
February 29, 2024
I know Steve Berry has many books and is a successful author. This was his first (and last) book that I read and I don't understand his success. I rarely write reviews, usually give my 3-5 stars and move on, but this painful experience has driven me to list the many issues I have with this book. I'll try to be brief:
1) Belaboring points: How many times did he explain bitcoin in this book? At least 5 by my count. We get it, you did research. How many times were we told about Cotton's many special skills?
2) Implausible or suddenly explained skills of the principals: She's an expert on obscure German Artists? She learned how to SCUBA? Her father insisted she learn this one obscure skill she suddenly needs? He and She discussed a favorite book? He needs a gun and suddenly has one furnished by his boss at his private security agency. His memory is eidetic? Did I mention his memory is eidetic? Because it gets mentioned a lot in the book. also, "He looked at the 28 character number and memorized it instantly"
3) Difficult to believe that a very conservative banker named Catherine would be called 'Katie' and her equally conservative European finishing school mother would be 'Maddy' while a rough and tumble operative named Cassiopeia is always full-named, never 'Cass' or 'Cassie' or even 'Connie' (short for Constellation) which one wise-ass schoolmate would have labelled her on Day 1. Every time I saw the name Cassiopeia in full I became more firm in my resolve to deliver this review.
4) Just too much unbelievable activity, ffs. They're able to 'keep quiet' an explosion which kills ~80 global finance and government leaders including at least one head of state? How?? In what world??
5) Spoiler Alert: The telegraphing of Kelly/Suzy's baby's father leapt out of the page almost as soon as her existence was revealed. Shocked! Who would have ever imagined??
6) The prose was by turns, predictable, turgid, repetitive and just dull. I finished this book out of spite more than anything.
If you've gotten this far, please save your time and money and read something else. This guy is now in the Dan Brown/Robert Ludlum category ( I know, all successful, published authors with huge followings - doesn't make it right) The books are to be avoided.
Cassiopeia? Who the f would ever name a child that and then NOT shorten it/nickname it?? Say it out loud, you'd never say it twice.
1) Belaboring points: How many times did he explain bitcoin in this book? At least 5 by my count. We get it, you did research. How many times were we told about Cotton's many special skills?
2) Implausible or suddenly explained skills of the principals: She's an expert on obscure German Artists? She learned how to SCUBA? Her father insisted she learn this one obscure skill she suddenly needs? He and She discussed a favorite book? He needs a gun and suddenly has one furnished by his boss at his private security agency. His memory is eidetic? Did I mention his memory is eidetic? Because it gets mentioned a lot in the book. also, "He looked at the 28 character number and memorized it instantly"
3) Difficult to believe that a very conservative banker named Catherine would be called 'Katie' and her equally conservative European finishing school mother would be 'Maddy' while a rough and tumble operative named Cassiopeia is always full-named, never 'Cass' or 'Cassie' or even 'Connie' (short for Constellation) which one wise-ass schoolmate would have labelled her on Day 1. Every time I saw the name Cassiopeia in full I became more firm in my resolve to deliver this review.
4) Just too much unbelievable activity, ffs. They're able to 'keep quiet' an explosion which kills ~80 global finance and government leaders including at least one head of state? How?? In what world??
5) Spoiler Alert: The telegraphing of Kelly/Suzy's baby's father leapt out of the page almost as soon as her existence was revealed. Shocked! Who would have ever imagined??
6) The prose was by turns, predictable, turgid, repetitive and just dull. I finished this book out of spite more than anything.
If you've gotten this far, please save your time and money and read something else. This guy is now in the Dan Brown/Robert Ludlum category ( I know, all successful, published authors with huge followings - doesn't make it right) The books are to be avoided.
Cassiopeia? Who the f would ever name a child that and then NOT shorten it/nickname it?? Say it out loud, you'd never say it twice.
March 14, 2024
Steve Berry returns with another stellar Cotton Malone novel that is sure to keep the reader hooked throughout. The story, touching on historical events and modern-day tech, provides a great deal of action and education for the receptive reader. Looking at a cache of hidden gold the Japanese left buried at the end of the Second World War and a plan to push bitcoin into the mainstream financial conversation, Berry provides a brilliant bit of storytelling that will have series fans quite impressed.
In the waning days of World War II, the Japanese Military needed a place to hide their plundered gold in the Philippines. The mystery, known as Yamashita’s Gold, has left many trying to uncover its location, with only a portion ever having seen the light of day. That said, the United States secretly procured a sizeable portion of the stash and has left it in European banks, away from the public eye. Calling this cache the Black Eagle Trust, the money has apparently helped keep communism from rising for decades.
As former Magellan Billet agent, Cotton Malone, find himself in Switzerland to help a friend, he is caught in the middle of a battle between American Intelligence and one of the world’s oldest banks, nestled in the heart of Luxembourg. The central issues remains the Black Eagle Trust’s secrecy and the fallout of how the world will react when the truth is revealed. It is soon apparent that a woman from Cotton’s past, Kelly Austin, is at the centre of the struggle, whose sudden reemergence with explosive secrets could shift things significantly and leave a trail of destruction in her wake.
With the rise of bitcoin’s popularity, the cryptocurrency proves to be more a weapon than a reasonable form of alternative currency accumulation and trading. Some eye it as the future of currency and a means of trading for goods, though its finite nature makes that less appealing. However, Cotton soon learns that the cryptocurrency has some inherent issues and could prove explosive should its lies become too readily accepted. Working with Kelly, who holds other secrets that could cripple him, Cotton will span the globe to dismiss the bitcoin wave as a means of protecting world economic stability. With a group seeking to find the Japanese gold treasures and using bitcoin to control other secrets, Cotton and those closest to him will have to make a play to neutralise it all before the world falls into a pit from which it cannot find a way out. The Atlas Maneuver is only the beginning of the trouble, but Cotton is not yet ready to give up. Berry delivers a stunning story for all readers to enjoy with ease.
There is nothing like reading a novel by an author you respect, knowing that it is a gem, no matter the topic. Steve Berry is once such author for me, able to educate and entertain me with each twist of the plot. The narrative begins quickly and keeps gaining momentum as the story gets more intense. There is nothing impeding the story’s progress with strong chapters and characters who flavour things with each bit discovered about them. Berry offers some intriguing backstory on his protagonist, sure to spice things up and shock series fans. I have high hopes for Cotton Malone.
The plot of this piece balances two time periods, as well as a number of impactful events. The story relies on these aspects, leaving the reader hanging onto Berry’s every word. The twists that emerge prove fruitful and help push things along, allowing Berry to mix fact and fiction in his superior writing style. I always learn so much from Steve Berry and can only hope Cotton will emerge once more from his Copenhagen book shop!
Kudos, Mr Berry, for another stunning addition to the Cotton Malone series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
In the waning days of World War II, the Japanese Military needed a place to hide their plundered gold in the Philippines. The mystery, known as Yamashita’s Gold, has left many trying to uncover its location, with only a portion ever having seen the light of day. That said, the United States secretly procured a sizeable portion of the stash and has left it in European banks, away from the public eye. Calling this cache the Black Eagle Trust, the money has apparently helped keep communism from rising for decades.
As former Magellan Billet agent, Cotton Malone, find himself in Switzerland to help a friend, he is caught in the middle of a battle between American Intelligence and one of the world’s oldest banks, nestled in the heart of Luxembourg. The central issues remains the Black Eagle Trust’s secrecy and the fallout of how the world will react when the truth is revealed. It is soon apparent that a woman from Cotton’s past, Kelly Austin, is at the centre of the struggle, whose sudden reemergence with explosive secrets could shift things significantly and leave a trail of destruction in her wake.
With the rise of bitcoin’s popularity, the cryptocurrency proves to be more a weapon than a reasonable form of alternative currency accumulation and trading. Some eye it as the future of currency and a means of trading for goods, though its finite nature makes that less appealing. However, Cotton soon learns that the cryptocurrency has some inherent issues and could prove explosive should its lies become too readily accepted. Working with Kelly, who holds other secrets that could cripple him, Cotton will span the globe to dismiss the bitcoin wave as a means of protecting world economic stability. With a group seeking to find the Japanese gold treasures and using bitcoin to control other secrets, Cotton and those closest to him will have to make a play to neutralise it all before the world falls into a pit from which it cannot find a way out. The Atlas Maneuver is only the beginning of the trouble, but Cotton is not yet ready to give up. Berry delivers a stunning story for all readers to enjoy with ease.
There is nothing like reading a novel by an author you respect, knowing that it is a gem, no matter the topic. Steve Berry is once such author for me, able to educate and entertain me with each twist of the plot. The narrative begins quickly and keeps gaining momentum as the story gets more intense. There is nothing impeding the story’s progress with strong chapters and characters who flavour things with each bit discovered about them. Berry offers some intriguing backstory on his protagonist, sure to spice things up and shock series fans. I have high hopes for Cotton Malone.
The plot of this piece balances two time periods, as well as a number of impactful events. The story relies on these aspects, leaving the reader hanging onto Berry’s every word. The twists that emerge prove fruitful and help push things along, allowing Berry to mix fact and fiction in his superior writing style. I always learn so much from Steve Berry and can only hope Cotton will emerge once more from his Copenhagen book shop!
Kudos, Mr Berry, for another stunning addition to the Cotton Malone series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 17, 2024
Such a good and entertaining book. He involved Cassiopeia in this one-I love her independence and also enjoyed her own series. Alas, this book was everything I hoped it would be but it’s finished and I’ve learned some things about bitcoins.
May 11, 2024
enjoyed this latest in the series and didn't disappoint, fast paced thriller
March 24, 2024
The 18th book in the Cotton Malone series, entitled "The Atlas Maneuver," follows Cotton Malone as a favor from a friend leads him from Switzerland to Morocco all on a chance encounter from a woman in Malone's past. This story centers on the idea of currency as a value in trading, specifically the relatively new addition of Bitcoin to that list, and the potential for less powerful countries to come out from under the grip of traded currencies such as the US Dollar or Euro. The plot encompasses a powerful bank set upon weaking the US's grip on financial power using Bitcoin, the Central Intelligence Agency, along with the Japanese government's interest in long lost gold caches hidden away in the Philippines and discovered by the US in the aftermath of WWII.
It's quite an interesting idea but the plotline doesn't mesh together as well between all the subplots involving the gold and the main plot of the Bitcoin takeover. Granted these all interesting from the perspective of how we value currency and what that means for markets and country's economic strengths, but there are almost too many moving parts in this story that once again don't fit together well. What interesting element fairly unique to Steve Berry's story here is that most of the protagonists and antagonists are female and drive the story forward. The setting of Morocco is cool, although doesn't make much sense in the setting of the story other than the main antagonist conveniently has a second home located in the Atlas Mountains. It will be interesting to see where Steve Berry takes his next story, but hopefully this one will have a leaner plot that aids the story instead of the many moving parts here that don't add much depth to the plot being told.
It's quite an interesting idea but the plotline doesn't mesh together as well between all the subplots involving the gold and the main plot of the Bitcoin takeover. Granted these all interesting from the perspective of how we value currency and what that means for markets and country's economic strengths, but there are almost too many moving parts in this story that once again don't fit together well. What interesting element fairly unique to Steve Berry's story here is that most of the protagonists and antagonists are female and drive the story forward. The setting of Morocco is cool, although doesn't make much sense in the setting of the story other than the main antagonist conveniently has a second home located in the Atlas Mountains. It will be interesting to see where Steve Berry takes his next story, but hopefully this one will have a leaner plot that aids the story instead of the many moving parts here that don't add much depth to the plot being told.
April 4, 2024
A good read. Interesting background on bitcoin. However, I have little interest in cryptocurrency, so plot didn’t work for me as well as many of his others!!
April 1, 2024
I read Steve Berry's books solely for enjoyment and to learn things I never knew before. I like Berry's books in particular because he employs obscure items in myth, legend, and historical oddities and creates thrilling stories around them. In this book the author seems to deviate from his usual subject material and employs an oddity of our present world, cryptocurrency specifically bitcoin. Steve did his best to explain what bitcoin is all about but I have to admit it was over my head but that didn't get in the way of an otherwise action packed thriller of the highest order. The plot of this book involves looted WWII Japanese gold, the CIA gone amok, a Japanese intelligence service, private European bank attempting to corner the bitcoin market and exercise inordinate control over national economies. and, of course, Cotton Malone and a woman of significance from his past. This book is a page turner even if the bitcoin stuff confuses you. Enjoy.
April 10, 2024
The book was so technical. I got very tired of reading about bitcoin. I also felt that Cotton and Casopia's storylines were never really connected together at the end. It was two separate adventures gold/bitcoin and never really seemed to be one overall story. Very disapointing.
February 22, 2024
Fantastic. I love this series so much.
March 17, 2024
Not my favorite installment of this ongoing journey with Cotton Malone, but it was fun. It started out super intriguing with the premise that these vaults went missing in the Philippines, but then it turned into a race against Bitcoin. So the initial premise kind of fell to the wayside, with only bits and pieces here and there. We are reintroduced to some familiar faces and some new faces. The villains were a little on the underwhelming side. Like I never felt they held all the cards. The Atlas Maneuver did offer some new backstory for Cotton Malone, which should prove a catalyst for some of the next installments. After 18 novels in this series, I enjoy that Berry is always trying to find new ways to keep the story fresh. That is what is needed for a long serialized series.
June 15, 2024
I normally love Steve Berry’s books, but this one just fell flat. The mystery of the book involves a conspiracy around bitcoin, which I know nothing about. My lack of understanding of bitcoin and the tedious explanations about it made this book boring to me.
February 1, 2024
Ah, what a tangled web! In this case, tangling the old with the new: old gold, new Bitcoin. Two cases, two sets of investigators and several possible outcomes - almost all not for the good of the country or retired Justice Department operative Cotton Malone and his small cadre of close friends and colleagues. I feel compelled to say that while both scenarios are extremely intriguing and entertaining - and I've been chomping at the bit for a long time to understand why everyone is so hot to trot (or not!) over Bitcoin - much of the very detailed explanations were way above my intellectual pay grade (that said, I know quite a bit more now than I did when I started the book).
But even if I couldn't quite grasp the complexities of something I can't see, touch or feel (a condition, I believe, called acatalepsy), there's plenty here that kept me fingering through my e-reader pages of this, the 18th book in one of my favorite series. And the ending - for which I'll provide no clues whatsoever - leaves a door wide open for the next installment. Mind you, I'm not totally sure how I feel about the specifics (regular readers of the books, I think, will understand what I mean when they finish this one).
The first (old) situation involves Yamashita's Gold, a stash reportedly worth billions of dollars that was hidden underground in the Philippines near the end of World War II. Some was recovered secretely by the U.S. government and has remained a secret known to only a few ever since; whether there is more - and where it is hidden - is a matter of conjecture. On the newer side, high-level employees at a Swiss bank have gained control of the aforementioned Bitcoin - also secretely - and are planning to wreak havoc on the world economy. Complicating the situation is that a woman who once was, shall we say, close to Cotton is a high-stakes player.
Working on the gold side is Cotton's old friend Derrick Koger, a European CIA operative who's tuned into the reports of buried treasure. He ends up working alongside Cassiopeia Witt, who now is, shall we say, close to Cotton. That in and of itself makes for an interesting situation, to say the least; but it is the action-packed goings-on (and danger) of the two scenarios - and how they end up coming together - that made me not want to put this one down. It's another exciting adventure, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.
But even if I couldn't quite grasp the complexities of something I can't see, touch or feel (a condition, I believe, called acatalepsy), there's plenty here that kept me fingering through my e-reader pages of this, the 18th book in one of my favorite series. And the ending - for which I'll provide no clues whatsoever - leaves a door wide open for the next installment. Mind you, I'm not totally sure how I feel about the specifics (regular readers of the books, I think, will understand what I mean when they finish this one).
The first (old) situation involves Yamashita's Gold, a stash reportedly worth billions of dollars that was hidden underground in the Philippines near the end of World War II. Some was recovered secretely by the U.S. government and has remained a secret known to only a few ever since; whether there is more - and where it is hidden - is a matter of conjecture. On the newer side, high-level employees at a Swiss bank have gained control of the aforementioned Bitcoin - also secretely - and are planning to wreak havoc on the world economy. Complicating the situation is that a woman who once was, shall we say, close to Cotton is a high-stakes player.
Working on the gold side is Cotton's old friend Derrick Koger, a European CIA operative who's tuned into the reports of buried treasure. He ends up working alongside Cassiopeia Witt, who now is, shall we say, close to Cotton. That in and of itself makes for an interesting situation, to say the least; but it is the action-packed goings-on (and danger) of the two scenarios - and how they end up coming together - that made me not want to put this one down. It's another exciting adventure, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.
March 12, 2024
This Cotton Malone Novel is the latest of Steve Berry's protagonist.
Cotton is now retired from the Magellan Billet, an arm of the Justice Department. He has been asked to return to investigate the whereabouts of the Japanese Gold that disappeared after the Second World War. The investigation leads to the CIA and the Black Eagle Trust. Evidently cryptocurrency is being used to weaponize an attack on the financial markets.
Cotton is now retired from the Magellan Billet, an arm of the Justice Department. He has been asked to return to investigate the whereabouts of the Japanese Gold that disappeared after the Second World War. The investigation leads to the CIA and the Black Eagle Trust. Evidently cryptocurrency is being used to weaponize an attack on the financial markets.
October 28, 2025
Fast paced and easy paced. Another Berry winner
May 10, 2024
Another book which I got the arc of but just couldn’t read coz I didn’t have time. But now that I’m taking time out everyday to exercise, I’ve been able to dedicate atleast a little bit of time to listen to audiobooks, and i was glad to finally get to this.
There’s a reason Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone series has become a very comforting yearly ritual for me. Despite the violence that usually follows Cotton everywhere, it’s still nice to take a break from my heavy fantasy books and go along with him on his newest adventure, this time helpfully aided by Cassiopeia even if they are separated for all of it. The CIA is upto its messy shenanigans and now a bank has joined the fray, everyone trying to manipulate the world currencies through bitcoin.
This was a fun adventure and i was having a blast till it all literally blew up towards the end. I have to say it’s been a while since a Cotton Malone had such a huge body count, or maybe my memory is faulty. We also meet an old flame of Cotton’s making for some awkward moments, but Kelly Austin is the smartest of the bunch here and is the heart of the story. While the ending is definitely in line with the narrative, I’m just very upset about all that happened. It’s just unfair.
As always though, we get a fact and fiction mixed history of world war 2 plunder of gold and other precious metals by the Japanese imperial forces, what might have happened to it after the war, the history of how blockchain and bitcoin was created, the pros and cons of cryptocurrency, and if it’s manipulation is possible if someone powerful is diligent enough.
Overall, this was a fun audiobook to listen to. The final revelation on the last page was something I’m sure every reader saw coming but I’m excited to see how it’ll play out in the future books. Coz I’ll be ready to jump onto the chase when Cotton is back, hopefully next year.
There’s a reason Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone series has become a very comforting yearly ritual for me. Despite the violence that usually follows Cotton everywhere, it’s still nice to take a break from my heavy fantasy books and go along with him on his newest adventure, this time helpfully aided by Cassiopeia even if they are separated for all of it. The CIA is upto its messy shenanigans and now a bank has joined the fray, everyone trying to manipulate the world currencies through bitcoin.
This was a fun adventure and i was having a blast till it all literally blew up towards the end. I have to say it’s been a while since a Cotton Malone had such a huge body count, or maybe my memory is faulty. We also meet an old flame of Cotton’s making for some awkward moments, but Kelly Austin is the smartest of the bunch here and is the heart of the story. While the ending is definitely in line with the narrative, I’m just very upset about all that happened. It’s just unfair.
As always though, we get a fact and fiction mixed history of world war 2 plunder of gold and other precious metals by the Japanese imperial forces, what might have happened to it after the war, the history of how blockchain and bitcoin was created, the pros and cons of cryptocurrency, and if it’s manipulation is possible if someone powerful is diligent enough.
Overall, this was a fun audiobook to listen to. The final revelation on the last page was something I’m sure every reader saw coming but I’m excited to see how it’ll play out in the future books. Coz I’ll be ready to jump onto the chase when Cotton is back, hopefully next year.
December 9, 2023
This is an incredible story. One thing I love about Steve Berry is his ability to weave Cotton Malone and
Cassiopeia Vitt in, out and around factual historical threads, Government Agencies, foreign operators, and
in this story.< some interesting details concerning Cotton and a few of the characters that go back to early
in his career. This book revolves around missing gold bars stolen at the end of WW2 and the woman. who
claims to have invented / created cryptocurrency in the form of bit coin and from the block chain to
trying to convince the world to use crypto instead of the financial systems in place, Cotton is involved in
every kind of headache. We have heartache, very interesting murder, and a lot of unnecessary headaches
for a,guy no longer with the Agency..
You cannot go wrong with this book! I really enjoy all of the historical references, and the (mostly) accurate
locales and cultural references. There is a really great Authors Note with explanations and descriptions of’
lots of topics in the book.
My sincere thanks to Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley for the download of this book for review, purposes.
The book is expected 20 February, 2024
Cassiopeia Vitt in, out and around factual historical threads, Government Agencies, foreign operators, and
in this story.< some interesting details concerning Cotton and a few of the characters that go back to early
in his career. This book revolves around missing gold bars stolen at the end of WW2 and the woman. who
claims to have invented / created cryptocurrency in the form of bit coin and from the block chain to
trying to convince the world to use crypto instead of the financial systems in place, Cotton is involved in
every kind of headache. We have heartache, very interesting murder, and a lot of unnecessary headaches
for a,guy no longer with the Agency..
You cannot go wrong with this book! I really enjoy all of the historical references, and the (mostly) accurate
locales and cultural references. There is a really great Authors Note with explanations and descriptions of’
lots of topics in the book.
My sincere thanks to Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley for the download of this book for review, purposes.
The book is expected 20 February, 2024
December 4, 2023
There is a lot going on in this intriguing novel — hidden gold from World War II, bitcoin, murders, bombs, an adopted child given up by the mother, etc. The action takes place in various places— Switzerland and Morocco to name a few. My only complaint is that there are are too many characters to keep track of and unless the book is read in one continuous period, it is difficult to remember who is who and who the “good guys” are. The very end of the novel leads me to believe that this may be the subject of Mr. Berry’s next novel.
I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication.
I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication.
December 3, 2023
The author continues the series his Cotton Malone series. It is an engaging and fairly quick read. It involves gold and bitcoin. He does a very good job of giving an overview of bitcoin and how it works and can potentially be abused.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
March 3, 2024
I’ve been a Cotton Malone fan since discovering the series in 2018. Cotton is an antiquarian book dealer living in Copenhagen. But he is often dragged back into his old work as a top operative for the U.S. Justice Department. This is his 18th adventure and I’ve read almost all of them. They can be read as a stand alone but fans of the series will be aware of Cotton’s relationships with Stephanie Nelle and Cassiopeia Vitt. One is his boss, the other a trusted agent and sometimes girlfriend.
This adventure has him seeking WWII money (Yamashita’s Gold) that was hidden near the end of WWII. Along with that is a more modern story involving crooked bankers wanting to mess with the world economy using Bitcoin. Barry does a good job of explaining Bitcoin but I still don’t understand it entirely. Derrick Koger, a CIA station chief in Europe, also helps Malone.
These books are fast paced, action packed with violence and language kept to a minimum. I also love the European setting. This one is sure to please fans of Malone. (3.5 Stars)
This adventure has him seeking WWII money (Yamashita’s Gold) that was hidden near the end of WWII. Along with that is a more modern story involving crooked bankers wanting to mess with the world economy using Bitcoin. Barry does a good job of explaining Bitcoin but I still don’t understand it entirely. Derrick Koger, a CIA station chief in Europe, also helps Malone.
These books are fast paced, action packed with violence and language kept to a minimum. I also love the European setting. This one is sure to please fans of Malone. (3.5 Stars)
March 31, 2024
I've been a fan of Berry's Cotton Malone series from the beginning. And the books featuring Cassiopeia Witt are just that much better.
At the root of the story is millions in gold, originally stolen from various countries during WWII by the Japanese and hidden away for the Emperor.
In the midst of doing a favor for a friend, Malone, now pushing 50 is asked to keep an eye on a woman in Switzerland who turned out to be an old flame of his.
This leads Cotton down a rabbit hole to stop a powerful bank from destabilizing the world's finances. Fun, adventure and murder make this one of the best Malone books in the series.
At the root of the story is millions in gold, originally stolen from various countries during WWII by the Japanese and hidden away for the Emperor.
In the midst of doing a favor for a friend, Malone, now pushing 50 is asked to keep an eye on a woman in Switzerland who turned out to be an old flame of his.
This leads Cotton down a rabbit hole to stop a powerful bank from destabilizing the world's finances. Fun, adventure and murder make this one of the best Malone books in the series.
May 6, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book. After reading one of this author’s books before. This one didn’t disappoint me in the slightest in terms of nonstop action and. The whole experience kept me on the edge of my seat.
June 7, 2024
I enjoyed this Cotton Malone adventure more than the last few. I don't know much about bitcoin, and while this novel filled in a few gaps, I still don't know much about it. The history connections are very interesting as well.
September 17, 2025
Steve Berry is consistent. Consistent in his research and consistent in his writing excellence. What makes the Atlas Maneuver so intriguing is the real-world risks and scenarios around crypto currency and malicious manipulations of the market, value and future use.
The research into the Swiss banking systems and CIA manipulations are impressive, and echo research I did for one of my books.
The Cotton Malone series is a classic and this books adds to the library. I would recommend Steve Berry and the Atlas Maneuver to any fan of thrillers, international intrigue, espionage or techno.
The research into the Swiss banking systems and CIA manipulations are impressive, and echo research I did for one of my books.
The Cotton Malone series is a classic and this books adds to the library. I would recommend Steve Berry and the Atlas Maneuver to any fan of thrillers, international intrigue, espionage or techno.
October 2, 2025
Berry still impresses with his blending of history, fiction and action with no signs of flagging. Bitcoin and banking are the focus of Cotton's latest foray into the world of international intrigue. Personal issues slam into the professional issues making for extra taut action and higher stakes. Extra points for bringing Barbara Tuchman into the narrative!
February 24, 2024
Berry is fantastic as always. Somehow manages to tie 1945 Japanese gold, plundered from the war, to Bitcoin today. Impressed as always and again sad that I finished the book so fast and can’t wait for his next book. Well done Mr. Berry!
July 10, 2024
3.75 stars. This had all of the requisite elements of a Cotton Malone thriller—action, intrigue, larger than life characters, but for some reason it fell a little flat. Perhaps because it spent so much time explaining the economic impact of bitcoin.
April 10, 2024
I've read all of the Cotton Malone books (and a few Luke Daniels), and while they are still entertaining, they also seem to be wearing a bit thin. There's always the requisite action and the novels move at a fast pace, but the central historical conspiracies that act as their engine are less compelling as the series plods on. "Atlas Maneuver" taught me a few things about digital currencies, but I had thought that this adventure might at least lead me a little ways back into the post-WWII Philippines and cache of Japanese stolen gold, and instead it spent most of the time explaining about blockchain and international monetary standards. An OK effort, but one where I'm seriously considering moving onto other authors in the future.
April 10, 2024
This was a decent read although there were, IMO, way too many characters most of who were lacking in any development. However the storyline itself was more educational than being a great read as I was lacking in knowledge about bitcoin prior to picking up this book. The 3 stars are for the knowledge I obtained, not for the storyline itself. Unless you are interested in the subject matter, I would not recommend this read.
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