The Patriot Threat

Cotton Malone #10

by Steve Berry

The history of America's income-tax law can be found in the 16th Amendment to the Constitution. But someone has unearthed a secret that calls that law into question. Now it's up to Cotton Malone to learn the truth. . .

Once a member of an elite intelligence division within the Justice Department, Malone is now a retired bookshop owner in Denmark. But when his former boss, Stephanie Nelle, asks him to track a rogue North Korean who may have acquired some top secret Treasury Department files-the kind that could bring the United States to its knees-Malone is vaulted into a harrowing twenty-four-hour chase that begins on the canals in Venice and ends in the remote highlands of Croatia.

"Loaded with action, character sketches, [and] fascinating history...along the lines of The Da Vinci Code."- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

With appearances by Franklin Roosevelt, Andrew Mellon, a curious painting that still hangs in the National Gallery of Art, and some eye-opening revelations about the dollar bill, Malone's high-stakes investigation will ultimately beg the question: What if the federal income tax is illegal? Now it's up to him to find the answer-at all costs.

"One of Berry's best books to date."- The New York Times

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Suspense, Adventure, Audiobook

545 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 31, 2015

About the author

 

Steve 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.

Reviews

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone Series for a very long time. I really like this series but it’s one of those hit and miss for me.
His latest, The Patriot Threat, the 10th book in that series was sadly a bit of a miss!

The main plot in this book asks the question – “What if the 16th Amendment of America’s Constitution that allows the government to collect federal taxes was illegal? What would the consequences be if the government was forced to give back all the taxes paid by Americans?

The story started off well…..

Cotton Malone dove to the floor as bullets peppered the glass wall. Thankfully the transparent panel, which separated one space from another floor-to-ceiling, did not shatter. He risked a look into the expansive secretarial area and spotted flashes of light through the semi-darkness, each burst emitted from the end of a short-barreled weapon. The glass between him and the assailant was obviously extra-resistant, and he silently thanked someone’s foresight.

but I found myself plodding through a lot of American history that kept being repeated over and over again….causing me to skimmed over a load of pages! There were so many characters jumping all over the place that I needed to concentrate a LOT to just keep up with what was happening.

What I liked:

Seeing Cotton Malone again. He’s a really interesting character and love seeing how he operates on his missions. He’s fast thinking, brave and takes no crap from anyone. He’s a maverick and does what needs to be done to complete the mission. He’s like a Jason Bourne/James Bond mix!!!

”He was outgunned, but not outsmarted.
Control what’s around you and you control the outcome.”

The author does an incredible job of merging politics, conspiracies and history together, interwoven really well between present and past. He has a talent in his research of history, which is always part of his books. I am fascinated by what he includes in his books….and I find myself goggling a lot of the things that are part of the story….conspiracies…one I had never heard about…the $20 conspiracy theory aphorism!!! Wow!!!!

The twists and turns, the clues…..hell, I even checked out the famous painting to see what the author meant….

The action and escapades were beyond high-speed as all the good and bad guys “jumped” from one place to another….Venice, Washington, Croatia and more!!!

I am hoping that Cotton Malone’s side-kick, Luke Daniels will be having some more time in the next books. I find him totally irresistible….

The interaction between Cotton’s boss, Stephanie Nelle, chief of the Magellan Billet and Danny Daniels, the American President. I hope something comes together for these two in future books.

One of the new characters introduced in this book, Treasury agent Isabella Schaefer, who helps Cotton and Luke with getting the bad guys. I kind of had a feeling that something could be brewing between her and Luke Daniels.

What became boring after a while for me:

The meeting between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and financier Andrew Mellon, whilst very interesting, just kept being brought up over and over again.

I still have no idea of the ins and outs of income taxes, despite the very many many pages about it in this book. Can I be honest and say I did not find it very interesting???? There were a lot of pages about it..so I skimmed those I had read before.

Where was Cassiopeia Vitt? I wish that she and Cotton decide if it’s on or not? Cotton misses her and does nothing about it!!!!

I’m not sure if the reason for me not loving this book was the taxes storyline or something else.

But still, it is worth reading if you are a fan of this series.

[Frances · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5* Steve Berry is back stirring yet another political plot with The Patriot Threat. The story revolves around the legitimacy of the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, and stolen top secret files from the Treasury Department supporting the theory that not all is as it seems. Various interesting morsels are revealed and deemed to be true concerning Andrew Mellon who served more than ten years as Secretary of Treasury and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. However, there was repetitive detail throughout the book regarding the 16th Amendment which could easily have been reduced. Unfortunately it is not one of Steve Berry’s best, although many gave it a higher rating.

[Mihaela Abrudan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aparent Amendamentul 16, privind impozitul pe venit, din Constituția SUA ridică semne de întrebare privind legalitatea sa. Plecând de la această controversă și de la curiozitatea bancnotei de un dolar, Berry crează o poveste de spionaj foarte interesantă. Berry chiar e un scriitor cu o fantezie apartea.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Patriot Threat by Steve Berry
Published 2015, Minotaur Books
Stars: ★★★★★
Review also posted at: Slapdash & Sundry

Yup, Steve Berry has done it again. He's taken some tidbit of history or politics or religion or economics, and turned it into a full-blown adventure action thriller!


Here's the scoop: What would happen to the US of A if it turns out the 16th Amendment, the one that allows for income tax, wasn't ratified properly and was therefore illegal? It's this premise that throws Harold Earl "Cotton" Malone into danger yet again. Retired Magellan Billet agent Cotton Malone can't stay out of the action, it seems, as his old boss Stephanie Nelle asks him to do some simple surveillance, as he's already close by to where the watchees need to be watched. But of course, it doesn't stay simple. Turns out, there's EVIDENCE that the 16th Amendment wasn't ratified correctly, stolen from the Treasury department's vaults, and it's out there in the world, ripe for the taking. And an estranged North Korean disowned heir to the "throne" wants that evidence. It will give him everything he needs to take down the US and China, restore his name to glory, and take the role of supreme leader of North Korea from his younger half-brother who got it after their father stripped the main antagonist of his dignity and reputation. He wants it back, and he'll do whatever it takes.


Luckily for the world, Cotton Malone is on the job.


I love the way that Berry has of taking something that could be really uninteresting (honestly, income taxes are awful boring, and I'm an accountant!!!) and finds a way to make it into a spy action adventure thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat AND makes you want to travel the world to see all the places the characters get to go. But mostly, I love the way he posits scenarios that are based in reality and could very well happen. And honestly, there *are* conspiracy theorists out there who claim the 16th Amendment wasn't ever ratified correctly, and that our nation's income tax could be one of the greatest scams perpetrated in the history of the modern world.


Note: This is book TEN in a series. I'd recommend reading these in order if you plan on reading them. They *can* work on their own, but later books mention/spoil things from earlier ones in the series.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I don't think I have ever read any book faster than this 386-page book. I should have gotten up and walked around every half hour or so. This Cotton Malone adventure, the tenth one, kept up the fast pace--except for the big "info dumps" here and there, which I did like. I thought this was one of the better historical mysteries in the series and it certainly kept me engaged to see what would turn up next. As in any Steve Berry thriller, we get a lot of history mixed in with some fascinating speculation. I particularly like the Writer's Note at the end...

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Berry returns with another explosive novel in the Cotton Malone series. Full of interest and intrigue, it will keep the reader pondering key questions well after closing the book's cover. During their only face-to-face meeting on December 31, 1936, Andrew Mellon and FDR discussed their growing animosity towards one another. As the conversation disintegrated, Mellon shared that he possessed a few shocking secrets that might stun Roosevelt and cause havoc to the Republic. Mellon left the President with these secrets and a piece of paper covered in numbers. Moving into the present day, Cotton Malone is back, temporarily with the Magellan Billet, tasked with following a US Treasury official on a cruise through Europe. The official is apparently in possession with illegal copies of memoranda that relate to the 16th Amendment to the US Constitution, documents that are of great interest to Treasury and could pose many concerns if they fell into the wrong hands. Also aboard the cruise is a member of North Korea's ruling Kim family, who have held an iron fist over all inhabitants since the country's creation. Kim Yong Jin has been disinherited from the line of succession, but wishes to embarrass his family and destroy America all at once, which can easily be done if he comes into possession of these secret documents. While Malone tries to save the documents from falling into the hands of the North Koreans, members of the Magellan Billet investigate allegations related to the 16th Amendment stateside, uncovering some less than kosher facts about Philander Knox, Secretary of State in 1913 and the man who formally declared the 16th Amendment ratified. And what of the Mellon secrets? It all ties together in the larger picture, as Berry opens many lines of inquiry. The book is so detailed and the storylines so intricate that it is best left to reading or listening to garner the full effect.

The central tenet of the book is quite captivating on its own: did Philander Knox falsely report that the ratification threshold for the 16th Amendment was met? If so, how did he do this and what is the fallout to this act? Berry builds on this, exemplifying the many ways in which the 16th Amendment is key to the United States' stability, perhaps more so than the First, Second, or even Fifth. Berry takes this premise and creates a powerful web of plot lines that branch out and build independently, but who tie in nicely together at the end. The research in the book is extensive and the means by which it is presented forces the reader to open up to the possibility of a great conspiracy. With numerous characters from history making appearances, the story holds interest for historical fiction buffs and Malone thrill seekers alike. It also allows Berry to focus on some of the less glamorous aspects of the world, specifically North Korean prison camps and the treatment by the leadership of the citizenry. This is not the first author who has used North Korea as an important sub-plot in a novel recently, nor will it be the last. However, it does make some of the hoopla found within the Berry novel pale in comparison to the plight being suffered with no end in sight.

I wanted to take a brief moment to add a tidbit to the review. I took a gamble and listened to the "writer's cut' version of the audiobook, which was an added treat for an audio addict like myself. Where fans of Berry's books are used to his closing chapter, when truth and fiction are revealed, in the writer's cut Berry narrated some facts and tidbits at the end of a number of the chapter; little crumbs that the reader may not otherwise know, which brings the story to life on yet another level. Berry's narrative, offset by Scott Brick's wonderful reading, made this book even more of a treat.

Kudos, Mr Berry for this wonderful novel, which made me think even more, as I have recently been reading William Martin's Peter Fallon novels.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Dave Wickenden · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this installment of Cotton’s thriller story, he goes up against a North Korean bent on destroying both America and China. Leaked documents from early in the century exposes two secrets that can destroy the American nation. Cotton teams up with another of agent of the Magellan Billet and a Treasury Agent to regain the documents.

Exciting as ever, the exploits of Cotton Malone are as enjoyable as ever. The subject, which deals with the tax system in the United States, less so. I found this part dry and slow. Thankfully, Cotton’s scenes made up for this with fast-paced action and suspense.

Not my favorite Cotton Malone story, but I’m glad I read it.

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well-Researched, Decent Plot Concept Saddled By Mediocre Execution!

Let me start by saying that I have not, to-date, been a big fan of Steve Berry, as I've found him to be one of those "hit or miss" authors; with more of his books being misses than hits for me. However, because I mostly enjoyed Berry's last book, The Lincoln Myth, I decided to give The Patriot Threat a read. Overall, I found it, in typical Berry fashion, to be well-researched with an interesting plot concept -- but, also typical, I found Berry's execution of what had the potential to be a very entertaining story to be marred by mediocre writing and weak character development.

Without getting into the details of the plot (which can be gotten from the Amazon book description above), I was hoping to like The Patriot Threat because I found the basic concept on which the plot is based to be interesting and intriguing; that being: What if our federal income tax is illegal? And, in my opinion, Berry did a very good job researching this issue and did well in formulating a story around it that had a good amount of action and excitement (albeit often times far-fetched).

Unfortunately, perhaps because Berry has achieved such a high level of monetary success with his Cotton Mather series, it seems, in my opinion, that he is more than comfortable using the 'same old-same, same old formula" without as much need as in the past to provide his readers with some quality writing and character development in executing his story. As a result, I found The Patriot Thread to be just a mediocre read overall; whereas if Berry put more effort into developing his characters so that they didn't seem so one-dimensional and his plot so that it didn't seem as disjointed and implausible, I think it would have been a very good thriller

If you are a long-time fan of Berry's books, my guess is that you'll read his latest book and disregard my review -- and perhaps, although hopefully not -- even give it a "no/not helpful" vote. On the other hand, I hope my review will give some "food for thought" to those readers have had mixed experiences, or no experience, with Berry's books and are looking for some opinions to help them decide if The Patriot Threat is a book for them.

[Skip · Rating 3 out of 5]

The retired Cotton Malone gets a babysitting assignment for a fugitive, and stumbles into a political powerplay in North Korea, with a disgraced Kim family member trying to recover his ascendancy. Various U.S. government agencies seem to be working at cross purposes to try to preclude an attempt to discredit/eliminate the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, allowing for income taxation, which would essentially destroy the U.S. economy. I wish Cotton would either forget Cassiopeia Vitt or go after her already.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Patriot Threat by Steve Berry is the tenth in his Cotton Malone series and can easily be read as a stand-alone book. I have read and reviewed two other Cotton Malone books and this one is my favorite. In The Patriot Threat, Berry looks at the 16th Amendment to the Constitution and begs the question of what if Federal Income Tax is actually illegal? Cotton Malone is now retired from the intelligence division of the Justice Department, the Magellan Billet, living in Denmark, and the owner of a bookshop, that is until he receives a call from his former boss, Stephanie Nelle. Cotton finds himself once again on the run, this time tracking a rogue North Korean who possibly acquired top-secret Treasury Department files. Throughout the book it is clear that Berry has done extensive research prior to writing the book and while The Patriot Threat is indeed a fast-paced thriller, it can, at times, seem more like an economics class, but with the subject matter chosen for this book, that is to be expected. I enjoy a thriller which contains a lot of red herrings and that is precisely what readers will find in Berry’s lasted Cotton Malone book. I would recommend The Patriot Threat to those who enjoy international thrillers.

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers an interesting dilemma. What if there were some problems with the 16th Amendment? However, I felt that the story was pretty slow compared to previous books I've read in this series. I even liked the side story with Stephanie Nelle better than the story with Cotton Malone. I just found the Big Bad Guy, the North Korean dude to be a pretty boring nemesis. And Cotton's hunt for him and his daughter didn't rock my boat. I do love adventures thrillers with clues to be solved and that part of the book did I enjoy. I just hope that the next book will be better...

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best part of this book to me was the concept that President Reagan and the Pope plotted the destruction of the USSR. It explains so much about the Star Wars program. The author asserts there really was a private meeting between the two men and the discussion is still a secret. A big secret since both men are now dead but this is Berry's jump off point for this installment in the Cotton Malone series.

The thing I enjoy about his books are the mixture of fact and fiction of events in history. I have learned a great deal about them as they are really well researched. This one deals with recent history, the Cold War. There is the usual action, car chases, fires, shooting, slitting of people's throats and all the other requirements of a good thriller. It is an easy read and all the usual characters are present.

I am a little tired of Cassiopeia rebuilding her 13th century castle with the methods and materials used in that era. Everything is historically accurate. I wondered what that point of that really is but I guess it's like any hobby. It's just one that requires the big bucks and Cassiopeia certainly has that. Then I realized I am just a little tired of the series. The 11th book in the series is just a little tired. Danny Daniels is out now as President so this may be the time to fold the series.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can not even begin to imagine the amount of research that Steve Berry must do before even begins to write. History fans will love his books as he intertwines actual historical events and characters with his fictional plot... and he does so in a very convincing manner. In this one he attacks the dreaded income tax that was enacted due to the 16th Amendment. He brings in the North Koreans and the Chinese just to make life more difficult for Cotton Malone and Stephanie. The 3.5 stars came about not because the book wasn't interesting but because there was just too much information to absorb. Still a worthwhile read.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I typically like to start reading a series from the beginning. I usually download my books from the library but may have to go back to hardcover books to get all of these!

The storyline revolves around the legitimacy of the 16th Amendment allowing the government to impose income taxes. There is quite a bit of history woven into the story, with Cotton Malone sent to retrieve documents in the hands of a North Korean heir. The story was bogged down in places, but the plot kept me reading till the end.

I'll be looking for more Cotton Malone!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

International Intrigue Based on Secrets from American History

In 1913 Philander Knox stated that 33 states had ratified the 16th Amendment to the Constitution giving the US the ability to collect income taxes. However, the ratification was problematic. In the 1930's the antagonism between Andrew Melon and FDR came to a head just before Melon died. He challenged FDR to follow the clues he had laid out to learn about two great secrets from America's past, one relating to the ratification of the 16th Amendment. FDR died before he undertook the quest, but now other people are on the trail of the secrets.

A tax-evader, Anan Wayne Howell, has written a book setting out the case that the 16th Amendment wasn't properly ratified. A number of people are interested including Kim Young Jin, the discredited son of the late Korean dictator. The Treasury Secretary and the President are concerned enough to put the Magellan Billet, run by Stephanie Nelle, on the case. Cotton Malone, Stephanie's best agent, comes out of retirement to take on the assignment with startling results.

If you like action laced with liberal doses of history, you'll enjoy this book. I thought the author did a good job interspersing the historical mysteries with the action in Europe. The author's notes go into detail about the historical underpinnings of the story. It's quite fascinating. I recommend reading that section after you finish the book.

The characters are predictable. Malone is always on the brink of danger doing what seems to be impossible, but coming out unscathed. Stephanie Nelle is a serviceable character, but not one you can get close to. This book rests more on plot than character, but the plot is interesting.

I reviewed this book for the Amazon Vine Program.

[Ray Palen · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE PATRIOT THREAT, like all of Steve Berry's novels, is utterly brilliant. Meticulously detailed and researched each of these historical thrillers in the Cotton Malone series have a chilling plausibility. Enough so to keep you up at night wondering --- 'what if?'.

The Patriot Threat in this one goes back to a revenge threat made by Andrew Mellon to FDR. Mellon, a self-proclaimed Patriot, claimed to have proof that the 16th Amendment pertaining to the creation of Income Tax was never legally ratified. He also had documentation displaying the $800,000 loaned by one Haym Salomon to George Washington to fund the American Revolution. This money, to date, has never been paid back by the U.S. government and the monies now owed to the heirs of Salomon would amount in the hundreds of billions --- essentially bankrupting the nation.

These seem like meaningless details since Mellon, prior to his death, obviously never acted on his threat and was merely toying with his hated rival, FDR. However, in the hands of Steve Berry we see a reimagined fictional set-up where a deposed North Korean leader named Kim Yong Jin has obtained the original Mellon documentation and threatens to bring the U.S. (and inevitably the financial structure of the world) crashing down. It is up to Cotton Malone and a few allies to stop the rogue Korean before he can get this harmful paperwork in the wrong hands.

The alleged illegality of the 16th amendment might be the cleverest weapon of mass destruction ever created. In the fertile imagination of Steve Berry this is the thing of nightmares --- and an absolute pleasure to read!

[Iustina Dinulescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secretul marelui sigiliu este un roman plin de simbolistică. M-a făcut să caut pe Google bancnota de 1 dolar să văd cu ochii mei simbolurile ascunse de pe spatele ei și aproape că îmi vine să dau o fugă să fac rost de una de 20 ca să mă conving de „coincidența” descoperită. Și aceste simboluri (pe care vă las să le descoperiți singuri) sunt reale. Acele însemne chiar sunt acolo, pe dolarii americani, iar lucrurile astea te pun serios pe gânduri. Teoria conspirației e reală. Chiar cred că noi habar n-avem la ce nivel suntem manipulați și înșelați de către marile puteri ale lumii, în câte moduri murdare sunt rulați banii și de câte atrocități sunt capabili oamenii în lupta lor pentru putere.

Citiți neapărat cartea asta. O să se aprindă garantat un beculeț! Veți găsi o mulțime de date și fapte istorice despre SUA și Coreea de Nord, despre lagărele din Coreea, despre masonerie, spionaj, contraspionaj, conspirații și trădări.

Recenzia completa aici: http://momenteinviata.ro/secretul-mar...

[Phillip · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have read everything Berry has written and it saddens me to say that he has fallen into the same trap of Clancy and others before him - too much preaching and transparent politics creeping into the storyline

Please, Steve, keep to the excitement and plot twists and abandon the political rants - you're better than that

[Soo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Notes:

While I do like the author notes at the end of the book, I did not enjoy the author notes inserted at the end of various chapters of the story. It was disruptive to the story and emphasized the elements that did not work well in the story format.

Main concept is cool but the "bad guy" portrayals were not done well and made the story seem like a satirical farce vs a serious thriller.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is more like it. The Patriot Threat saw this series return to its true form. The characters felt fleshed out, including the villains. The plot was very strong and super engaging. This is probably so far in my top three favorite Cotton Malone books. The first being The Jefferson Key followed by The Paris Vendetta. The Patriot Threat also took on a new approach that the past installments didn't have. There were no parts or sections in this book. Everything just kind of ran seamlessly, which I due believe helped this story stay balanced. Another thrilling experience in the Cotton Malone series and I am so looking forward to what is next. Bring on The 14th Colony.

[Steven Z. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exceptional historical fiction should exhibit a number of important characteristics. First, is the story believable. Second, does it accurately blend historical fact with fictional characters in developing its plot? Third, are there multiple storylines within the larger narrative that come together in a rational and seamless manner? Lastly, the writing style that maintains the reader’s interest. If this was a checklist for successful historical fiction then Steve Berry has met all the criteria in his Cotton Malone series. Berry, along with his wife Elizabeth are founders of History Matters, an organization dedicated to historical preservation, and an emeritus member of the Smithsonian Libraries Advisory Board along with being a New York Times bestselling author. Berry has written eighteen Cotton Malone Novels and to this point I am up to number ten, THE PATRIOT THREAT. As in the previous nine Berry has written, Malone has been thrown into a situation where international threats dominate. The book is fast-paced and should appeal to non-history buffs in addition to those who enjoy a complex mystery with many moving parts.

THE PATRIOT THREAT returns a number of characters from previous books. Chief among them is Malone’s old boss from an elite intelligence division within the Justice Department called the Magellan Billet. Stephanie Knell, his old boss contacts Malone who is retired and running a bookshop in Denmark and asks him to locate a rogue North Korean who may have acquired some top secret Treasury Department files that could be detrimental to American national security.

Berry begins his tale in the White House of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 as former Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon is summoned. Their conversation is contentious as both men despise each other, particularly when the Internal Revenue Service has found that Mellon has cheated on his taxes for over $ 3 million. Mellon offers to donate the money that will result in the National Art Gallery to offset what he owes and as he leaves he presents FDR with a piece of paper with the picture of a newly printed dollar bill connected to make a pentagram. What does it mean, and from this point Berry has peaked the reader’s interest to continue to read on.

Berry immediately takes the reader to Venice where Malone finds himself hanging from a helicopter in a situation that has gone out of control. Berry then switches to Atlanta, GA at Magellan Billet Headquarters as Stephanie Nell discovers a breach in the security system, supposedly involving a Treasury official.

Berry has created a number of scenarios that will cause the reader to wonder how they will all fit together. The first involves Kim Yong Jin, a son of North Korea’s “Great Leader” who was first in the line of succession until what was viewed as an indiscretion removed him from the family hierarchy and forced him into exile. His younger half-brother assumed his position as next in line to succeed his father. Kim’s anger and jealousy knew no bounds. He created a playboy image so he would not appear to be a threat, unbeknownst to his brother he was plotting to seize power.

The second scenario involves the American Secretary of the Treasury, Joseph Levy who is trying to recover department documents which he believes posed a significant threat to the US economy. This pitted him against the Justice Department which employed the Magellan Billet. The missing documents dealt in some way to the passage of the 16th amendment and the right of the federal government to collect income taxes.

The third scenario involves a historical character named Haym Salomon who loaned the American government $800,000 to finance the American Revolution and was never repaid. The family tried for years to gain repayment, but they were never compensated. In 1925 then Secretary of the Treasury blocked any payment, and probably took the Salomon repayment documents which showed that the family was owed close to $330 billion. In 1937 FDR ordered an investigation over the validity of the claims and Mellon’s role. In the end the Salomon family never received any repayment.

The fourth scenario centers on a self-published book by a tax cheat who had fled the United States during his tax evasion trial named Anan Wayne Howell, who wrote THE PATRIOT THREAT which lays out the argument against the 16th amendment. The question is how does this all fit together and what role did Andrew Mellon and Franklin Roosevelt play in the process.
Malone’s role begins rather benignly. Hired by Stephanie Knell to observe the transfer of $20 million to “Dear Leader,” the money is a target of his brother. The situation deteriorates and Malone finds himself knee deep in something he doesn’t quite understand.

Berry provides many insights into life in North Korea. The poverty, malnutrition, ill health, lack of electricity, lack of freedom is on full display. Berry explores in detail through Hana Sung, Kim’s daughter what life was like in North Korean labor camps where people are worked to death, executed, or both. Life in the north is harrowing and anyone deemed a threat to the regime is immediately removed to a labor camp or is shot on the spot.

Berry poses an interesting question as to whether the federal income tax is legal. In doing so he integrates historical characters like Haym Soloman, George Mason, Andrew Mellon, Robert Morgenthau, Franklin Roosevelt, and Philander Knox and a number of fictional ones. The book is classic Berry leaving the reader to continually ponder what will be the next turn in the novel and how everything, no matter how disparate comes together. The next novel in the series is THE 14TH COLONY which has a strong Cold War bent and involves the possibility of Canada as part of the United States.

[Tyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secretul Marelui Sigiliu de Steve Berry este o carte învăluită în mister, plină de suspans și adrenalină, care te ține în priză de la prima până la ultima pagină. Autorul a reușit să îmbine magistral datele istorice reale cu elementele de pură ficțiune, rezultând un thriller deosebit de captivant.

Recenzia mea:

https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/sec...

[Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the Goodreads First Reads program for a copy of Steve Berry’s latest thriller, “The Patriot Threat”. I admit to being a huge fan of Berry’s early work, but I have passed on the last couple installments due to issues that are almost entirely absent in this latest book.

Berry weaves a fascinating, detailed and well-written tale, occasionally utilizing original source materials, to connect the present day United States with its Revolutionary and Gilded Age past. Secret documents stolen by former Treasury Secretary, Andrew Mellon, and presented in code to his nemesis, President Franklin Roosevelt, threaten to surface and destroy the modern American economy. Berry calls on reliable Cotton Malone, Stephanie Nelle, and an assorted cast of characters to thwart attempts by a North Korean exile and the Chinese government to reach the secret first.

I was particularly drawn to the stories of the Haym Solomon debt and potential problems with the ratification of the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I found myself putting the book down repeatedly to Google these topics as they were developed, and was shocked to learn how real these issues were, or maybe still are!

Berry also excels when discussing the oppressive nature of North Korea, specifically the infamous prison camps designed to eliminate enemies and opposition for multiple generations. Tragic beyond words.

The greatest difficulty for many authors is the ability to provide a satisfactory ending to a book. I can enjoy the first ninety percent of a Steve Berry book, totally enveloped by his narrative, and then want to throw the book across the room after reading the last few chapters. In this case, the never-ending fight/chase scenes at the conclusion were mercifully brief. I believe people are drawn to these books because of the connection to real historical events and the often convincing alternate realities presented by Berry. No one wants to read forty pages of silly chase scenes contrived to provide us a “thrilling” finale. STICK TO THE STORY!!!

All that said, I could not put this book down and absolutely loved it. This is the best Steve Berry book in a while, and I highly recommend it to other readers. Five stars in its genre.

Please check out my other reviews at: http://alexandriaredux.blogspot.com/

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC/Thriller: This book doesn't come out until March so no spoilers here.

I have read and listened to a several Steve Berry books. I really liked the Amber Room, but I thought the Romanov Prophecy read like a movie starring Will Smith. To me the Cotton Malone books are not the great American novel and I wish they were. I love the subject he writes about. I like that mixture of facts and fiction. There are problems. I do not find Cotton or any of the other characters witty or of a superior intellect that they should solve a case. There is a lot of chasing around, red herrings, and a constant regurgitation of the key plot points, over and over and over again.

The premise of the book is American income tax and should we be paying it. There is the evil character from North Korea and a new love interest for Cotton. Stephanie is back with red herrings that are annoying.

I read the majority of this book in the backseat while taking my son, The Punk, back to college (four hour trip). On the way home, the light was dimming and reading/concentrating was not an option. So I was telling my significant other. FooDog, about the book because he used to work at a talk radio station that had a show that ran every week. It was hosted by a "sovereign citizen" who is now serving federal time for not paying his taxes. Since we live in Alabama, I was wondering if the person in the book was kind of based on that guy. Anyway, being over halfway done with the book I had no problem reading Berry's notes in the back that covered the chapters I read out loud to FooDog. It killed 45 minutes of a four hour ride and FooDog was interested. BTW: we drove on a federal highway paid for with taxes and my son gets a tax funded Pell Grant.

I think the book is okay. I wish Steve Berry would slow down and write a better quality book instead of quickly writing an average book. I liked the facts and skullduggery. I did know how it was going to end. I was right on who dies and who survives. I was readable and had an ending.

P.S. I have no problem paying my fair share of taxes. Please don't audit me.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve Berry's "The Patriot Threat" is just exactly what we've come to expect from Berry, a complex international thriller interlaced with strong historical elements.

At the core of "The Patriot Threat" are two historical elements that a long line of presidents have kept hidden from the public because publicizing either could destroy the US government.

The international aspect of this intriguing story is that a North Korean politician has learned of these elements, and is seeking proof of them. Having proof of these secrets will give him power to dictate policy to the US government.

The thriller aspect of this story is that Cotton Malone, Berry's continuing character, is tasked with making sure the North Korean doesn't succeed.

Of course Cotton Malone doesn't know who the North Korean is or what specifically he's after, but that's what makes the story intriguing.

As befits an author of Berry's experience, his characters are clever, deceptive, and flawed which means there are plenty of twists, dead ends, and outright failures in Malone's rollercoaster pursuit of the North Korean. And there's a good mix of action.

I was hooked from the first chapter and, thanks to flights to and from the west coast, I read most of the novel in two sittings. I have to say, it's a page turner and very hard to put down.

I strongly recommend "The Patriot Threat" to all readers of thrillers.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Berry’s for a long time, but his latest installment in the Cotton Malone series was my least favorite. The topic was just so uninteresting and much of it read like a civics or economics textbook. The discussions of the legality of the 16th amendment (federal income tax), state ratification, and depression-era politics don’t exactly make a stimulating foundation for a “thriller.” I could go further into the plot involving a nefarious North Korean, Andrew Mellon and his vendetta against FDR, and the involvement of the Treasury Department, but these aspects don’t contribute any excitement to the plot. Overall, it was just a tedious novel with the requisite globe-trotting chases, shootouts, and conspiracy theories.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via the Amazon Vine program.

[itchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

typo:
p149: Kin Yong Jin.

wtf?:
p315: They bypassed the barricades and entered a set of galleries where the canvases were gone, the bare walls and hardwood floors being repaired. on. Workers milled about with paint and stain and the air smelled of varnish.

A tad too political for me, but I guess I've been warned enough.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

found with the latest cotton Malone book it wasn't as exciting as the others maybe it was the subject matter which dragged the excitement level down abit with the financial economic speak but still an enjoyable read.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

After a promising start, this novel plateaus before descending to conclusion. The author's comments are a bonus, but like the novel the stretch and wane to its end. 5 of 10 stars

[Ivana Oltovska · Rating 5 out of 5]

best of the best 5 stars