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Cotton Malone #8
The King's Deception
Cotton Malone is back! Steve Berry’s new international adventure blends gripping contemporary political intrigue, Tudor treachery, and high-octane thrills into one riveting novel of suspense.
Cotton Malone and his fifteen-year-old son, Gary, are headed to Europe. As a favor to his former boss at the Justice Department, Malone agrees to escort a teenage fugitive back to England. But after he is greeted at gunpoint in London, both the fugitive and Gary disappear, and Malone learns that he’s stumbled into a high-stakes diplomatic showdown—an international incident fueled by geopolitical gamesmanship and shocking Tudor secrets.
At its heart is the Libyan terrorist convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103, who is set to be released by Scottish authorities for “humanitarian reasons.” An outraged American government objects, but nothing can persuade the British to intervene.
Except, perhaps, Operation King’s Deception.
Run by the CIA, the operation aims to solve a centuries-old mystery, one that could rock Great Britain to its royal foundations.
Blake Antrim, the CIA operative in charge of King’s Deception, is hunting for the spark that could rekindle a most dangerous fire, the one thing that every Irish national has sought for generations: a legal reason why the English must leave Northern Ireland. The answer is a long-buried secret that calls into question the legitimacy of the entire forty-five-year reign of Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, who completed the conquest of Ireland and seized much of its land. But Antrim also has a more personal agenda, a twisted game of revenge in which Gary is a pawn. With assassins, traitors, spies, and dangerous disciples of a secret society closing in, Malone is caught in a lethal bind. To save Gary he must play one treacherous player against another—and only by uncovering the incredible truth can he hope to prevent the shattering consequences of the King’s Deception.
Cotton Malone and his fifteen-year-old son, Gary, are headed to Europe. As a favor to his former boss at the Justice Department, Malone agrees to escort a teenage fugitive back to England. But after he is greeted at gunpoint in London, both the fugitive and Gary disappear, and Malone learns that he’s stumbled into a high-stakes diplomatic showdown—an international incident fueled by geopolitical gamesmanship and shocking Tudor secrets.
At its heart is the Libyan terrorist convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103, who is set to be released by Scottish authorities for “humanitarian reasons.” An outraged American government objects, but nothing can persuade the British to intervene.
Except, perhaps, Operation King’s Deception.
Run by the CIA, the operation aims to solve a centuries-old mystery, one that could rock Great Britain to its royal foundations.
Blake Antrim, the CIA operative in charge of King’s Deception, is hunting for the spark that could rekindle a most dangerous fire, the one thing that every Irish national has sought for generations: a legal reason why the English must leave Northern Ireland. The answer is a long-buried secret that calls into question the legitimacy of the entire forty-five-year reign of Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, who completed the conquest of Ireland and seized much of its land. But Antrim also has a more personal agenda, a twisted game of revenge in which Gary is a pawn. With assassins, traitors, spies, and dangerous disciples of a secret society closing in, Malone is caught in a lethal bind. To save Gary he must play one treacherous player against another—and only by uncovering the incredible truth can he hope to prevent the shattering consequences of the King’s Deception.
544 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2013
1667 people are currently reading
6376 people want to read
About the author
Steve Berry
93 books7,542 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 1,259 reviews
June 26, 2019
This book has everything you need for when it comes to a great adventure book; an old secret, a secret society, American agents, British agents, two old ladies, a thief and, of course, our hero Cotton Malone smack in the middle. He has a talent for really getting in the way of things.
Cotton Malone is on his way to Denmark to celebrate Thanksgiving with his son Gary. But first, he needs to drop off a kid in London that has tried to enter The States with a false passport. And as usual, everything gets fucked up!
Adventure books are something I really, truly enjoy reading, especially a well-written one with an interesting and almost believable story. Well, the nonstop action is a bit over the top, but adventure book must be fast-paced, or it gets dull. But I loved how I was pulled into the story, how Steve Berry manages to write something so fantastic that one almost could believe it's true. The secret in this book, its dynamite (not literally) and if it would be reviled it would have such huge impact on the world that I just can't believe that those behind trying to bring the secret out in the open would do something so stupid. But pettiness is everywhere.
Anyway, it was a great book and if you like an adventure book, then you should read this one!
Cotton Malone is on his way to Denmark to celebrate Thanksgiving with his son Gary. But first, he needs to drop off a kid in London that has tried to enter The States with a false passport. And as usual, everything gets fucked up!
Adventure books are something I really, truly enjoy reading, especially a well-written one with an interesting and almost believable story. Well, the nonstop action is a bit over the top, but adventure book must be fast-paced, or it gets dull. But I loved how I was pulled into the story, how Steve Berry manages to write something so fantastic that one almost could believe it's true. The secret in this book, its dynamite (not literally) and if it would be reviled it would have such huge impact on the world that I just can't believe that those behind trying to bring the secret out in the open would do something so stupid. But pettiness is everywhere.
Anyway, it was a great book and if you like an adventure book, then you should read this one!
November 30, 2023
Conform legendei băiatului din Bisley, regina Angliei Elisabeta I ar fi fost nepotul regelui Henric al VIII-lea și nu fiica acestuia. Plecând de la această legendă și de la urmările devastatoare pentru Marea Britanie, dacă ea ar fi adevărată, Berry realizează din nou un volum reușit.
April 26, 2013
Poor Cotton Malone. He can't seem to make a simple trip from one continent to another without getting caught in a tangle of international intrigue. It's a gift, he says. He's a trouble magnet, says I. In this installment, Steve Berry takes us on a whirlwind tour of London's landmarks with the purpose of reminding us that "history matters."
If you've come this far in the Cotton Malone series, you know that a simple plot description never prepares you for the complexity and convoluted path of the story. Seemingly unrelated plot threads gradually come together in un-possible ways, but Berry manages to make it work.
Was Queen Elizabeth I an imposter? If so, what is the historical and political significance of keeping this a secret? While on his deathbed, did King Henry VIII reveal the secret location of a vast collection of Tudor wealth? And how can these things tie in to the pending release of a Libyan terrorist from a Scottish prison? Who is Gary Malone's biological father, and how does that man's identity have bearing on events taking place in London?
It all sounds confusing, but just when you despair of ever figuring out the complex connections in the story, you can be sure some clarification will be forthcoming. It really does all make sense by the time you reach the end. Trust me. Fictional sense, but sense, nonetheless. Steve Berry always includes an extensive Author's Note in which he separates fiction from fact, and I always appreciate the additional fascinating information he includes in these notes.
With each new installment, Berry teases us with the possibility that we'll finally get to find out why Malone goes by "Cotton" instead of using his real name. Will it finally be revealed here in book eight in the series? I'm not telling.
If you've come this far in the Cotton Malone series, you know that a simple plot description never prepares you for the complexity and convoluted path of the story. Seemingly unrelated plot threads gradually come together in un-possible ways, but Berry manages to make it work.
Was Queen Elizabeth I an imposter? If so, what is the historical and political significance of keeping this a secret? While on his deathbed, did King Henry VIII reveal the secret location of a vast collection of Tudor wealth? And how can these things tie in to the pending release of a Libyan terrorist from a Scottish prison? Who is Gary Malone's biological father, and how does that man's identity have bearing on events taking place in London?
It all sounds confusing, but just when you despair of ever figuring out the complex connections in the story, you can be sure some clarification will be forthcoming. It really does all make sense by the time you reach the end. Trust me. Fictional sense, but sense, nonetheless. Steve Berry always includes an extensive Author's Note in which he separates fiction from fact, and I always appreciate the additional fascinating information he includes in these notes.
With each new installment, Berry teases us with the possibility that we'll finally get to find out why Malone goes by "Cotton" instead of using his real name. Will it finally be revealed here in book eight in the series? I'm not telling.
April 6, 2014
Must say, I am astonished at all the good reviews this book has earned. I struggled to the end just in case it got better, but it really wasn't worth the effort. Firstly, the book is in serious need of an editor, there are spelling mistakes, incorrect uses of words (since when did 'apt' mean being good at something?), and even complete lines repeated. Plus, all the other things an editor should be doing - assisting the author where his writing could use a little tidying up, or a phrase is being over-used. I've just opened the book completely at random, and the first 4 lines on the page I am looking at are a perfect example:
"what drive?" Malone asked.
"Shut him up," Norse called out.
Devene jammed a fist into Malone's gut.
"Dad," Gary called out.
The repeated use of 'called out' is appallingly lazy, and and the writing style is so uncomfortably clunky, it kind of sucks all the tension out of the action scenes. Where is the editor? This stuff shouldn't get past first draft.
And this is the problem with the book. The plot isn't bad, in a convoluted sort of way, and could actually be reasonably interesting, if only the writing had been tidied up. Clearly the author can do his research, he just needs help with his writing. No shame in that. Unfortunately though, he hasn't had it.
Plus which, in so many places there are just awful "reality-glitches". The head of MI5, a knight of the realm no less, referring to himself as a 'Brit'. Really???? Clearly the author hasn't actually ever spoken, or listened to, any members of the English establishment! And the series of bizarre romps and chases through all churches, public buildings, underground stations etc, where doors lead conveniently to secret places and passages that unaccountably, no other inhabitants of the country seem to use or know about. It's really not the London that anyone who has spent any time there can recognise.
This might sound like minutae, and I guess that these details wouldn't faze a reader who hadn't spent time in these places, so maybe I am being unfair in concentrating on them. But the paper-thin characters, the really leaden development of the plot, the atrocious action scenes and the clunky writing really don't offer any saving graces. Yes, there is some interesting history in there. But not enough to lift this book even remotely into anything recommendable. I certainly won't be looking for any more Steve Berry fiction.
"what drive?" Malone asked.
"Shut him up," Norse called out.
Devene jammed a fist into Malone's gut.
"Dad," Gary called out.
The repeated use of 'called out' is appallingly lazy, and and the writing style is so uncomfortably clunky, it kind of sucks all the tension out of the action scenes. Where is the editor? This stuff shouldn't get past first draft.
And this is the problem with the book. The plot isn't bad, in a convoluted sort of way, and could actually be reasonably interesting, if only the writing had been tidied up. Clearly the author can do his research, he just needs help with his writing. No shame in that. Unfortunately though, he hasn't had it.
Plus which, in so many places there are just awful "reality-glitches". The head of MI5, a knight of the realm no less, referring to himself as a 'Brit'. Really???? Clearly the author hasn't actually ever spoken, or listened to, any members of the English establishment! And the series of bizarre romps and chases through all churches, public buildings, underground stations etc, where doors lead conveniently to secret places and passages that unaccountably, no other inhabitants of the country seem to use or know about. It's really not the London that anyone who has spent any time there can recognise.
This might sound like minutae, and I guess that these details wouldn't faze a reader who hadn't spent time in these places, so maybe I am being unfair in concentrating on them. But the paper-thin characters, the really leaden development of the plot, the atrocious action scenes and the clunky writing really don't offer any saving graces. Yes, there is some interesting history in there. But not enough to lift this book even remotely into anything recommendable. I certainly won't be looking for any more Steve Berry fiction.
November 16, 2013
Berry returns with his newest Cotton Malone installment, sure to impress those with an interest in British history. While transporting a young escapee back to London (a side mission organised by the Magellan Group) before taking his son with him to Denmark, Malone is put in the middle of an international incident. Before British SIS can assume custody, thugs try to kidnap him, which leads to the boy’s escape with young Gary Malone. While the elder Malone tries to find the boy and his son, a larger incident is brewing, all related to a flash drive this boy is purported to have in his possession. The drive, filled with a secret that could paralyse the British Government, is also the key to a covert plan a CIA Counterintelligence team is enacting. One particular agent takes much interest in Malone and pushes that this drive be found, all to derail a plan to release a convicted terrorist When Malone realises there is a larger issue at hand, one that could tear his own family apart, he is torn on which side he stands. Uncovering the mystery hidden on the flash drive, Malone sees history and the entire Tudor family’s time on the Throne come into question. With enough history and drama to keep the reader interested, Berry woos the reader once again with his latest Malone novel.
Berry does it again… to no surprise of the long-time fan. Using loose historical facts found during his extensive research, Berry concocts a tale that leaves the reader on the edge of their seat from the opening pages until the book’s epilogue. The dialogue is crisp and the style is fast-paced, which serves the plot and character development well. Berry weaves numerous realistic tales and only deconstructs the story in his afterwards, one of the best parts of the novel, as you learn where you have been duped as your jaw drops to the floor. Another great piece of work with quite the development of the Malone character.
Kudos Mr. Berry for another masterful piece of work. I am highly impressed.
Berry does it again… to no surprise of the long-time fan. Using loose historical facts found during his extensive research, Berry concocts a tale that leaves the reader on the edge of their seat from the opening pages until the book’s epilogue. The dialogue is crisp and the style is fast-paced, which serves the plot and character development well. Berry weaves numerous realistic tales and only deconstructs the story in his afterwards, one of the best parts of the novel, as you learn where you have been duped as your jaw drops to the floor. Another great piece of work with quite the development of the Malone character.
Kudos Mr. Berry for another masterful piece of work. I am highly impressed.
February 17, 2024
Great story and another wonderful narration by Scott Brick. Cotton Mallone still has the goods even though he's a retired Magellan agent and now runs a bookstore in Denmark. He's divorced and now finds out his son- isn't really his son. His then wife's affair with a CIA agent named Antrim produced the boy and they both get shocked by the news. And it's Antrim who engineered the reason Mallone and his son Gary end up escorting a street waif to London.
But more to the story. Could Queen Elizabeth I in actuality be a male substituted for the dead queen-to-be as a thirteen year old child? Stay tuned for a twisty-turny Steve Berry ride in jolly old England.
But more to the story. Could Queen Elizabeth I in actuality be a male substituted for the dead queen-to-be as a thirteen year old child? Stay tuned for a twisty-turny Steve Berry ride in jolly old England.
June 25, 2013
I know that Dan Brown gets all of the attention, but Steve Berry is definitely the better writer in this genre. Since Angels and Demons, Brown has been on a downward spiral with his books while Berry keeps getting better and better. This is probably the most well researched and plausible of all his books.
The format of this book is a little different from previous Berry works. The story is told by Cotton Malone to his ex-wife, Pam, after the fact, so we go in knowing that the CIA operation failed and Cotton and his son Gary survived. The inspiration for this Cotton Malone adventure came from Scotland's 2009 decision to release Pan Am Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi despite international anger. The United States was quite miffed with their close friend Great Britain for going along with the release. To make it fit with the Cotton timeline, the release is moved back a few years, but the events are kept the same. A CIA agent hatches a plot to blackmail the English government into pressuring Scotland not to release al-Meghrahi.
Berry then weaves a fabulous story by using actual historical facts, events, and places surrounding the old myth that Elizabeth I was actually a male substituted for the original Elizabeth who died at a young age. It's known as the Bisley Boy conspiracy and has roots in one of Bram Stoker's works! As always, Berry does such a brilliant job with his research that you are believing it by the end of the book. That along with his vivid descriptions of places that transport you there are two of the cornerstones to Berry's success as an author.
This is a side note, but this book puts Cotton's son Gary front and center. It has always bugged me that Cotton moved to Denmark and left his teenage son with his ex-wife in Atlanta. It seems like a very selfish decision to make. I know that it's fiction, but it has always bugged me!
The format of this book is a little different from previous Berry works. The story is told by Cotton Malone to his ex-wife, Pam, after the fact, so we go in knowing that the CIA operation failed and Cotton and his son Gary survived. The inspiration for this Cotton Malone adventure came from Scotland's 2009 decision to release Pan Am Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi despite international anger. The United States was quite miffed with their close friend Great Britain for going along with the release. To make it fit with the Cotton timeline, the release is moved back a few years, but the events are kept the same. A CIA agent hatches a plot to blackmail the English government into pressuring Scotland not to release al-Meghrahi.
Berry then weaves a fabulous story by using actual historical facts, events, and places surrounding the old myth that Elizabeth I was actually a male substituted for the original Elizabeth who died at a young age. It's known as the Bisley Boy conspiracy and has roots in one of Bram Stoker's works! As always, Berry does such a brilliant job with his research that you are believing it by the end of the book. That along with his vivid descriptions of places that transport you there are two of the cornerstones to Berry's success as an author.
This is a side note, but this book puts Cotton's son Gary front and center. It has always bugged me that Cotton moved to Denmark and left his teenage son with his ex-wife in Atlanta. It seems like a very selfish decision to make. I know that it's fiction, but it has always bugged me!
May 15, 2013
I figured it's close enough to publication date that I can go ahead and post this. Everyone else has!
I received (with immature, unadulterated, dance-around-my-living-room delight) an advanced copy from Netgalley for review.
The mere mention of King Henry VIII sends historians and lovers of Tudor fiction into wild meanderings on the twisted and tangled life that was the monarch’s. Wife after wife, child after child, this man
redefined not only what it meant to be regent and religious leader in Britain, but also the place of the Tudor family in the history books. His daughter, Elizabeth I, reigned over England and Ireland for decades. She created a golden era, full of dramas and adventurers. She never married, claiming virginity until her death. Her paintings are all mysteriously and specifically done, surrounded by rules of
what could be painted.
Steve Berry’s latest in the Cotton Malone series takes us back not only into British history, but also into the Malone’s family history. It is a tale of two years past, of how their family changed yet again. Lies and secrets marred the three Malones, and it took truth and honesty to heal. Funnily enough, lies and secrets altered the lives of the Tudor family as well.
What if she remained The Virgin Queen, unmarried, for a reason? What if she was part of what would be the greatest fraud in British history? What if all those rules about painting the Queen were necessary to veil an imposter? What if this secret could reignite a war that would change Elizabeth’s legacy from beloved queen to thief of her sister’s title of “Bloody?”
Take a ride down memory lane with Cotton Malone in his latest (well, perhaps not chronologically) adventure as a simple favor for a friend turns into a quest for truth and a battle for the lives of all involved. Just be prepared, as the secrets of the past are not the only dangerous mysteries mixed up in The King’s Deception.
I received (with immature, unadulterated, dance-around-my-living-room delight) an advanced copy from Netgalley for review.
The mere mention of King Henry VIII sends historians and lovers of Tudor fiction into wild meanderings on the twisted and tangled life that was the monarch’s. Wife after wife, child after child, this man
redefined not only what it meant to be regent and religious leader in Britain, but also the place of the Tudor family in the history books. His daughter, Elizabeth I, reigned over England and Ireland for decades. She created a golden era, full of dramas and adventurers. She never married, claiming virginity until her death. Her paintings are all mysteriously and specifically done, surrounded by rules of
what could be painted.
Steve Berry’s latest in the Cotton Malone series takes us back not only into British history, but also into the Malone’s family history. It is a tale of two years past, of how their family changed yet again. Lies and secrets marred the three Malones, and it took truth and honesty to heal. Funnily enough, lies and secrets altered the lives of the Tudor family as well.
What if she remained The Virgin Queen, unmarried, for a reason? What if she was part of what would be the greatest fraud in British history? What if all those rules about painting the Queen were necessary to veil an imposter? What if this secret could reignite a war that would change Elizabeth’s legacy from beloved queen to thief of her sister’s title of “Bloody?”
Take a ride down memory lane with Cotton Malone in his latest (well, perhaps not chronologically) adventure as a simple favor for a friend turns into a quest for truth and a battle for the lives of all involved. Just be prepared, as the secrets of the past are not the only dangerous mysteries mixed up in The King’s Deception.
February 27, 2014
I was so disappointed by this book. I have read and enjoyed most of Steve Berry's other books, including the first 6 Cotton Malone books and was looking forward to reading The King's Deception. I found this book hard to get into and only the thought of finding out about Queen Elizabeth I and the hoax surrounding her kept me going. While I really enjoyed the historical part of the book, I found the part set in the present to be slow-going at best. The author kept beating us over the head that Cotton and his wife had cheated on each other in the past and that lead to their marriage breaking up. Then, there was Gary and all his "father issues." All this whining. Enough already--get over it and move on! When we finally do "move on," it's to slog around with the most contrived storyline told in bits and pieces. The good news is that the parts about the hoax concerning Elizabeth were well written and very interesting. That part of the book was a really good "what-if" that almost made up for the rest of the book. Almost.
January 27, 2018
Dan Brown a starnit o moda. Undeva pe la mijlocul anilor 2000 a aparut un nou gen de autori - cei care combina faptele istorice (spun combina, desi adevarul este ca le rastalmacesc) pentru a crea un thriller istoric bazat pe teorii ale conspiratiei. Din genul acesta de autori - ca orice moda, a palit si ea si sunt putini cei care mai sunt si acum pe piata - Steve Berry pare sa fie cel mai de succes, dupa invetatorul metodei. Berry scrie anual un roman, cele mai multe in seria Cotton Malone inceputa (cum putea altfel?!) cu un roman despre cavalerii templieri si uneori mai ajunge si in NYT Bestsellers List.
Romanul acesta a fost ciudat. Am impresia ca Berry se chinuie sa scrie mai repede si mai mult. In ultimii ani, am observat ca mai toti autorii de romane populare scot cateva romane pe an - James Patterson scoate in colaborare doua romane pe luna, deci 20+ pe luna, Danielle Steel a avut anul trecut 6 romane publicate, pana si John Grisham a publicat doua, Nora Roberts 4, Clive Cussler cel putin 5. Industria le cere sa scrie mai mult si mai repede si sa publice cu viteza luminii. Si unii chiar asta fac.
Faptul ca trebuie sa scrii repede si mult se observa.
Plotul din Enigma Reginei mi se pare subtire, mult prea subtire. Actiunea exista, dar treneaza si lipsesc scenele cu adevarat dinamice. Stilul? Este irelevant in romanele de genul - sa fie cat mai usor de citit si romanul trebuie sa poata fi citit cat mai repede pentru ca sunt alte cateva ale aceluiasi autor care trebuie sa fie consumate.
In mod clar, romanul putea sa fie mai entertaining, dar nu a fost tocmai pentru ca a fost construit pe o structura subreda. Structura a distrus romanul. Si spun asta pentru ca sunt indulgent - nici ideea nu e cea mai reusita.
Romanul acesta a fost ciudat. Am impresia ca Berry se chinuie sa scrie mai repede si mai mult. In ultimii ani, am observat ca mai toti autorii de romane populare scot cateva romane pe an - James Patterson scoate in colaborare doua romane pe luna, deci 20+ pe luna, Danielle Steel a avut anul trecut 6 romane publicate, pana si John Grisham a publicat doua, Nora Roberts 4, Clive Cussler cel putin 5. Industria le cere sa scrie mai mult si mai repede si sa publice cu viteza luminii. Si unii chiar asta fac.
Faptul ca trebuie sa scrii repede si mult se observa.
Plotul din Enigma Reginei mi se pare subtire, mult prea subtire. Actiunea exista, dar treneaza si lipsesc scenele cu adevarat dinamice. Stilul? Este irelevant in romanele de genul - sa fie cat mai usor de citit si romanul trebuie sa poata fi citit cat mai repede pentru ca sunt alte cateva ale aceluiasi autor care trebuie sa fie consumate.
In mod clar, romanul putea sa fie mai entertaining, dar nu a fost tocmai pentru ca a fost construit pe o structura subreda. Structura a distrus romanul. Si spun asta pentru ca sunt indulgent - nici ideea nu e cea mai reusita.
September 3, 2017
Really enjoyed reading this book it was amazing really appreciated it as it was artistically good it had a good atmosphere big turns of events it is very engaging and most of all it has historic touches witch make it lovely.
I slightly disliked that not all the historic part is a hundred per cent true but didn't really affect my enjoyment.
Recommend it very much a thrilling story well written,I especially recommend it for those who like stories about royalty history and monarchies.
I slightly disliked that not all the historic part is a hundred per cent true but didn't really affect my enjoyment.
Recommend it very much a thrilling story well written,I especially recommend it for those who like stories about royalty history and monarchies.
July 31, 2017
5 stars!
I had forgot how much I enjoy these sort of books! I hadn't read this genre for ages but now reading it, I don't see why I had stopped, I loved it! The mix of history, thriller and adventure is great and Steve Berry writes it so well.
Without giving spoilers away, the ideas and theories about Queen Elizabeth I is captivating. The whole book was so enthralling and I enjoyed it a lot.
I had forgot how much I enjoy these sort of books! I hadn't read this genre for ages but now reading it, I don't see why I had stopped, I loved it! The mix of history, thriller and adventure is great and Steve Berry writes it so well.
Without giving spoilers away, the ideas and theories about Queen Elizabeth I is captivating. The whole book was so enthralling and I enjoyed it a lot.
May 27, 2013
Full review on my blog:- http://www.milorambles.com/2013/05/27...
A couple of years ago I read my first Steve Berry book – The Emperor’s Tomb – and was immediately caught up in Berry’s writing, his style and the adventure that ensued. I really enjoyed that book and couldn’t wait for the next adventure. Unfortunately for some reason I just couldn’t get involved with The Jefferson Key or The Columbus Affair, no idea why – surprising given my love for American history - but for me the magic wasn’t there. Now that I’ve read his latest novel – The King’s Deception – I may take another look at the books I failed to finish, you never know I might feel differently next time I read them.
Along with American history I do have a soft spot for the Tudor period, it makes for fascinating reading and with The King’s Deception it played right into my comfort zone, almost! The one era I have little knowledge on is Elizabeth I reign – The Golden Age and last of the Tudor’s - but with this book it gave me the opportunity to learn more about the Queen and those partly responsible for her long service. It really is fascinating stuff and the author has taken a long standing conspiracy, one I had heard of previously, morphed together with solid historical fact and made it into a highly intelligent and pacy adventure that made me reference the internet for more background information throughout the read.
Cotton Malone is key to the story as you would expect and is ably supported by an eclectic cast of spies, family members, friends and strangers, all playing their part to keep the story ticking along. The narrative is fluid and well thought out and the numerous plots all come together at the end without too much effort.
A couple of years ago I read my first Steve Berry book – The Emperor’s Tomb – and was immediately caught up in Berry’s writing, his style and the adventure that ensued. I really enjoyed that book and couldn’t wait for the next adventure. Unfortunately for some reason I just couldn’t get involved with The Jefferson Key or The Columbus Affair, no idea why – surprising given my love for American history - but for me the magic wasn’t there. Now that I’ve read his latest novel – The King’s Deception – I may take another look at the books I failed to finish, you never know I might feel differently next time I read them.
Along with American history I do have a soft spot for the Tudor period, it makes for fascinating reading and with The King’s Deception it played right into my comfort zone, almost! The one era I have little knowledge on is Elizabeth I reign – The Golden Age and last of the Tudor’s - but with this book it gave me the opportunity to learn more about the Queen and those partly responsible for her long service. It really is fascinating stuff and the author has taken a long standing conspiracy, one I had heard of previously, morphed together with solid historical fact and made it into a highly intelligent and pacy adventure that made me reference the internet for more background information throughout the read.
Cotton Malone is key to the story as you would expect and is ably supported by an eclectic cast of spies, family members, friends and strangers, all playing their part to keep the story ticking along. The narrative is fluid and well thought out and the numerous plots all come together at the end without too much effort.
November 6, 2013
Book 8, in the Cotton Malone series
This is another suspense thriller that weaves his tale around documented facts, events and known figures of history. Being a fan of conspiracy and the Tudor period I much enjoyed Mr. Berry’s spin on time.
Right from the start I was engaged by the secrets societies the political intrigue and the Tudor secrets although at the heart of the story is the all too real drama of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, a former intelligence officer, convicted of 270 counts of murder for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. After tweaking some facts and adjusting them to fit his creation, the author has filled the pages with the right formula and provided us with a panoramic view of the past while slowly introducing the present day setting. I will skip the intricacies not to spoil the enjoyment of this action-filled and well-written mix of history with the spy action. Yes there is plenty of action and the Tudor secret that is behind the operation has a great romp of intrigue. We have three strands in this story that are interwoven in cinematic scenes, very visual as they move from one plot to another. If you can keep track of all the characters you are in for a treat. There are no loose ends everything is wrapped up nicely. As always we find at the end of the book a writer’s note separating fact and fiction.
Most part is quite entertaining however on the down side I did find the central mystery to be rather flimsy and the machinations which involved the CIA lacked logical consistency. But again this is a thriller and it wouldn't be fun if our imagination wasn't stretched to its limits..
This is another suspense thriller that weaves his tale around documented facts, events and known figures of history. Being a fan of conspiracy and the Tudor period I much enjoyed Mr. Berry’s spin on time.
Right from the start I was engaged by the secrets societies the political intrigue and the Tudor secrets although at the heart of the story is the all too real drama of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, a former intelligence officer, convicted of 270 counts of murder for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. After tweaking some facts and adjusting them to fit his creation, the author has filled the pages with the right formula and provided us with a panoramic view of the past while slowly introducing the present day setting. I will skip the intricacies not to spoil the enjoyment of this action-filled and well-written mix of history with the spy action. Yes there is plenty of action and the Tudor secret that is behind the operation has a great romp of intrigue. We have three strands in this story that are interwoven in cinematic scenes, very visual as they move from one plot to another. If you can keep track of all the characters you are in for a treat. There are no loose ends everything is wrapped up nicely. As always we find at the end of the book a writer’s note separating fact and fiction.
Most part is quite entertaining however on the down side I did find the central mystery to be rather flimsy and the machinations which involved the CIA lacked logical consistency. But again this is a thriller and it wouldn't be fun if our imagination wasn't stretched to its limits..
March 18, 2013
The King's Deception opens with Cotton Malone and his fifteen-year-old son, Gary traveling to Europe so they can escort a teenage fugitive England. This favor for the justice apartment goes array, when upon arrival in London, both Cotton's son and the teen are kidnapped. This is the catalyst for Cotton to do what he does well, research, kick butt and beat the bad guys.
I have always liked Cotton Malone and his adventures, with their mix of history and suspense; they have always been a great read. BUT unfortunately the concept of this book and how the story played out was just nonsensical with its, terrorists and Tudor secrets.
Steve Berry needs to examine his plot formula as this is his 8th book with Cotton as the main character and it was predictable, there were few surprises and I struggled to finish it.
2 Stars
I have always liked Cotton Malone and his adventures, with their mix of history and suspense; they have always been a great read. BUT unfortunately the concept of this book and how the story played out was just nonsensical with its, terrorists and Tudor secrets.
Steve Berry needs to examine his plot formula as this is his 8th book with Cotton as the main character and it was predictable, there were few surprises and I struggled to finish it.
2 Stars
August 24, 2019
too bad i am not into royalty and such.
i've had my doubts about the percussion explosives.
p3: a part from the well-known actual people, events, and locales that figure in the narrative, all names, characters, places, and incident sare the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
p69: a garden party for a friend who’d attainted the rank of bencher, one of the select few who governed the middle temple.
p119: a couple of pocketknives, some jewelry, three watches, twenty pounds sterling, and a flash drive, 32g.
p200: he caught site of a placard that identified the tomb of anne of cleves, henry viii's fourth wife, the only one smart enough to walk away.
i've had my doubts about the percussion explosives.
p3: a part from the well-known actual people, events, and locales that figure in the narrative, all names, characters, places, and incident sare the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
p69: a garden party for a friend who’d attainted the rank of bencher, one of the select few who governed the middle temple.
p119: a couple of pocketknives, some jewelry, three watches, twenty pounds sterling, and a flash drive, 32g.
p200: he caught site of a placard that identified the tomb of anne of cleves, henry viii's fourth wife, the only one smart enough to walk away.
February 4, 2022
Great book.
Just didn't like the history portion, but I acknowledge that it was necessary for the plot.
Just didn't like the history portion, but I acknowledge that it was necessary for the plot.
July 27, 2023
3.5
The King's Deception is a sequel/prequel to the Cotton Malone series. The King's Deception was a little harder to get into in the beginning, but once I was settled I was enjoying the heck out of it. The story is told as a confession to Cotton's wife Pam of events that took place between the events of books 2 and 3. Berry did really well with this and it did not hinder my reading experience at all. What did hinder my experience was that the King's Deception was rife with very unlikable characters and uninteresting side characters who were semi memorable. Kind of like the Emperor's Tomb. Still very entertaining though and I really appreciated a lot of the backstory and fleshing out Cotton and his family. 8 down and 9 (?) more to go until I am all caught up with this series, for now.
The King's Deception is a sequel/prequel to the Cotton Malone series. The King's Deception was a little harder to get into in the beginning, but once I was settled I was enjoying the heck out of it. The story is told as a confession to Cotton's wife Pam of events that took place between the events of books 2 and 3. Berry did really well with this and it did not hinder my reading experience at all. What did hinder my experience was that the King's Deception was rife with very unlikable characters and uninteresting side characters who were semi memorable. Kind of like the Emperor's Tomb. Still very entertaining though and I really appreciated a lot of the backstory and fleshing out Cotton and his family. 8 down and 9 (?) more to go until I am all caught up with this series, for now.
April 1, 2019
การดำเนินเรื่องคล้ายงานของแดน บราวน์ แต่ไม่ค่อยมีความลุ้นระทึกเท่าไหร่ แม้จะมีฉากบู๊บ้างแต่ยังไม่ค่อยน่าติดตาม อ่านแล้วมีช่วงเบื่อๆอยู่ บางตัวละครไม่จำเป็นต้องมีก็ได้ ชอบช่วงท้ายที่ผู้เขียนได้อธิบายเพิ่มเติมเกี่ยวกับเรื่องราวที่เกิดขึ้นจริงและที่ได้แต่งขึ้นหรือเพิ่มเติม
February 10, 2024
Queen Elizabeth I was an imposter? A male queen?
The Queen's Potrait. NON SINE SOLE IRIS (No Rainbow without the Sun).
The Bisley Boy legend.
"She went to the grave with her SECRET inviolate." - No one was allowed to see her naked body in death. Manhood or Motherhood?
Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen, the last monarch of the House of Tudor.
The Queen's Potrait. NON SINE SOLE IRIS (No Rainbow without the Sun).
The Bisley Boy legend.
"She went to the grave with her SECRET inviolate." - No one was allowed to see her naked body in death. Manhood or Motherhood?
Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen, the last monarch of the House of Tudor.
April 20, 2018
Cotton Malone is back in Steve Berry's new international adventure, The King's Deception, which blends gripping contemporary political intrigue, Tudor treachery and high-octane thrills. A long-buried secret that calls into question the legitimacy of the entire forty-five-year reign of Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch who completed the conquest of Ireland and seized much of its land. Antrim Blake also has a more personal agenda - a twisted game of revenge in which Gary, Cotton's son, is a pawn.
I really enjoyed learning all about the Tudors in this action-packed adventure. It has sparked an interest to read more about Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. I found the characters to be very interesting, good and bad abound. The plot was riveting from the beginning until the surprise ending. Can't wait to read the next Cotton Malone. I would have to mark this one down as my favorite so far. I would highly recommend this series to those who love historical fiction.
I really enjoyed learning all about the Tudors in this action-packed adventure. It has sparked an interest to read more about Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. I found the characters to be very interesting, good and bad abound. The plot was riveting from the beginning until the surprise ending. Can't wait to read the next Cotton Malone. I would have to mark this one down as my favorite so far. I would highly recommend this series to those who love historical fiction.
July 12, 2015
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. -Albert Einstein
This is how I feel when I read a Cotton Malone series book. I will not recap the plot line, as it is done better in many of the more positive reviews. This is a review of the structure of the story and plot of The King's Deception. I have read several of Steve Berry's books, while i greatly enjoyed the Amber Room and the Third Secret, I have never cottoned to this series (see what I did there?). Berry finds his protagonsit far more interesting than I ever have. This book is particularly bad. Malone is wholly uninteresting, cocky and not particularly bright. For example, he is an ex Federal Agent, yet he gets into a car with is son, Garry 15, and another minor, Ian- who he was to transfer to British authorities, without first asking for the credentials of the "officers" who met them at the airport, subject himself, his son and the other minor to kidnapping and violence. Cotton Malone, Father of the Year.
The plot is overly convoluted and ultimately not all that interesting. The storytelling is weak and repetitive. Finally, worse of all there are continuity and factual mistake, for example he seems to indicate that the "Great War", which is typically a reference to WWI, as having happened after the abdication of Edward VIII. Of course, that would have been World War II. Berry repeats plot points unnecessarily. In some cases, he recaps a plot point that happened in the preceding paragraph. The mix of Malone's uninteresting former marriage, milk toast son and his anger at his ex-wife was a much larger plot point than it needed to be. The dialogue is clunky and he seems to have based his British conversational dialog on watching Downton Abbey. People just do not speak this way, even in England. He overuses phrases throughout the book.
Berry does not develop his characters enough for me to care about any of their ridiculous problems. The main driver of one of these family melodramas seems to be only written as a plot device to get Malone in the story. Gary serves no real purpose in this story, but only proves to be as clueless as his father. Ian is an orphaned street urchin, right out of a Dickens novel. Ian's dialog seems to be pulled from "Oliver!". Then there is Kathleen Richards, who I have no idea why she is even in the book. The only reason she seems to be in the book is to be a potential love interest for Malone (spoiler alert: nothing happens in this book). Blake Antrim is the main antagonist in this story. Antrim is about as basic and stupid as one can get. His motives are questionable and tactics are almost comical. Just to make him even more unlikable, he beats women. The only characters of any real interest were the old lady twin sisters.
Finally, Berry uses his character's eyes to convey conversation between characters, below are a couple of examples. Much like the clunky dialog and overly repeating plot points, The characters have full conversations just by what they can "read in each other's eyes". It is almost as if they have telepathy.
"He starred back and sent her a message 'good job'"
"Her eyes held the promise of more"
I cannot put in to words how much I disliked this book. While I am not going to spoil any plot points, I find the "history" part of this dismissive of women in general. It seems to imply that only a man could have ruled effectively for 45 years. I hope I have learned my lesson, and this will be my last Cotton Malone book.
This is how I feel when I read a Cotton Malone series book. I will not recap the plot line, as it is done better in many of the more positive reviews. This is a review of the structure of the story and plot of The King's Deception. I have read several of Steve Berry's books, while i greatly enjoyed the Amber Room and the Third Secret, I have never cottoned to this series (see what I did there?). Berry finds his protagonsit far more interesting than I ever have. This book is particularly bad. Malone is wholly uninteresting, cocky and not particularly bright. For example, he is an ex Federal Agent, yet he gets into a car with is son, Garry 15, and another minor, Ian- who he was to transfer to British authorities, without first asking for the credentials of the "officers" who met them at the airport, subject himself, his son and the other minor to kidnapping and violence. Cotton Malone, Father of the Year.
The plot is overly convoluted and ultimately not all that interesting. The storytelling is weak and repetitive. Finally, worse of all there are continuity and factual mistake, for example he seems to indicate that the "Great War", which is typically a reference to WWI, as having happened after the abdication of Edward VIII. Of course, that would have been World War II. Berry repeats plot points unnecessarily. In some cases, he recaps a plot point that happened in the preceding paragraph. The mix of Malone's uninteresting former marriage, milk toast son and his anger at his ex-wife was a much larger plot point than it needed to be. The dialogue is clunky and he seems to have based his British conversational dialog on watching Downton Abbey. People just do not speak this way, even in England. He overuses phrases throughout the book.
Berry does not develop his characters enough for me to care about any of their ridiculous problems. The main driver of one of these family melodramas seems to be only written as a plot device to get Malone in the story. Gary serves no real purpose in this story, but only proves to be as clueless as his father. Ian is an orphaned street urchin, right out of a Dickens novel. Ian's dialog seems to be pulled from "Oliver!". Then there is Kathleen Richards, who I have no idea why she is even in the book. The only reason she seems to be in the book is to be a potential love interest for Malone (spoiler alert: nothing happens in this book). Blake Antrim is the main antagonist in this story. Antrim is about as basic and stupid as one can get. His motives are questionable and tactics are almost comical. Just to make him even more unlikable, he beats women. The only characters of any real interest were the old lady twin sisters.
Finally, Berry uses his character's eyes to convey conversation between characters, below are a couple of examples. Much like the clunky dialog and overly repeating plot points, The characters have full conversations just by what they can "read in each other's eyes". It is almost as if they have telepathy.
"He starred back and sent her a message 'good job'"
"Her eyes held the promise of more"
I cannot put in to words how much I disliked this book. While I am not going to spoil any plot points, I find the "history" part of this dismissive of women in general. It seems to imply that only a man could have ruled effectively for 45 years. I hope I have learned my lesson, and this will be my last Cotton Malone book.
July 23, 2013
“The King’s Deception” by Steve Berry, published by Ballantine Books.
Category – Mystery/Thriller Publication Date – June 20, 2013
Steve Berry is one of the best writers today that can combine mystery/thriller with historical fiction. In fact, he is so good that sometimes it is difficult to distinguish what is fiction and non-fiction. It is a good thing that at the end of his books he explains what is fiction and non-fiction in his novels. Cotton Malone is back and is headed for England. He becomes involved in a long debated issue concerning the legitimacy of those that have ascended to the English throne. This legitimacy could possibly have far reaches into the problems concerning Irish rule. Scotland has just announced that they are releasing the Libyan terrorist who was responsible for the bombing of the Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland. The United States is trying to pressure England into convincing Scotland not to release him. In an attempt to increase the pressure on England the CIA is engaged in Operation King’s Deception. This operation tries to unravel a mystery concerning the English throne that goes back beyond Henry VIII and centers on the reign of Elizabeth I. Cotton, his son and an English teenage fugitive become involved in the operation. It is difficult to determine who your friends are when they seem to be deceiving you at every turn. The CIA, a secret society calling itself Daedalus, and MI6 all seem to have an interest in uncovering or covering up this information.
A great read for the mystery fan and an added bonus for those of us who like a little historical fact/fiction in our novels. Who has claim to the English throne, the Tudors or the Stuarts, it may not be answered but it sure will make you think.
Category – Mystery/Thriller Publication Date – June 20, 2013
Steve Berry is one of the best writers today that can combine mystery/thriller with historical fiction. In fact, he is so good that sometimes it is difficult to distinguish what is fiction and non-fiction. It is a good thing that at the end of his books he explains what is fiction and non-fiction in his novels. Cotton Malone is back and is headed for England. He becomes involved in a long debated issue concerning the legitimacy of those that have ascended to the English throne. This legitimacy could possibly have far reaches into the problems concerning Irish rule. Scotland has just announced that they are releasing the Libyan terrorist who was responsible for the bombing of the Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland. The United States is trying to pressure England into convincing Scotland not to release him. In an attempt to increase the pressure on England the CIA is engaged in Operation King’s Deception. This operation tries to unravel a mystery concerning the English throne that goes back beyond Henry VIII and centers on the reign of Elizabeth I. Cotton, his son and an English teenage fugitive become involved in the operation. It is difficult to determine who your friends are when they seem to be deceiving you at every turn. The CIA, a secret society calling itself Daedalus, and MI6 all seem to have an interest in uncovering or covering up this information.
A great read for the mystery fan and an added bonus for those of us who like a little historical fact/fiction in our novels. Who has claim to the English throne, the Tudors or the Stuarts, it may not be answered but it sure will make you think.
June 24, 2013
Love Steve Berry! I recommend reading the short story The Tudor Plot before beginning The King's Deception. It is not necessary, but will give you a little more background about the Tudor's and Sir Thomas Mallory.
I do not know that much about the Tudors (I have never seen any of the movie's or tv series). I am now completely hooked and can't wait to learn more. This book mainly focuses on Elizabeth I and the story of the Bisley Boy. I found all of the stories and the historical facts fascinating. The book gives some information about Henry VII and Henry VIII. The book also makes the point that things that occurred many years ago are still connected to events of today.
I loved the characters in this book. At the beginning of Berry's books, I often get a little confused about the character of Cotton Malone and Gray Pierce. The authors have similar styles and write in a similar genre, but once I get started I am able to sort out the differences between these main characters. Cotton's son Gary figures predominately in the current story. There was a wide range of supporting characters. I really loved Ian, Ms. Mary and Tanya. I hope that Katherine makes an appearance in a future story.
I really like to read about historical conspiracy theories. One of my favorite features of Steve Berry Books is that there is always a chapter at the end the describes what was fact and what was fiction. I thought the current story had the Bisley Boy had a lot of interesting features and would like to read more about this topic.
I do not know that much about the Tudors (I have never seen any of the movie's or tv series). I am now completely hooked and can't wait to learn more. This book mainly focuses on Elizabeth I and the story of the Bisley Boy. I found all of the stories and the historical facts fascinating. The book gives some information about Henry VII and Henry VIII. The book also makes the point that things that occurred many years ago are still connected to events of today.
I loved the characters in this book. At the beginning of Berry's books, I often get a little confused about the character of Cotton Malone and Gray Pierce. The authors have similar styles and write in a similar genre, but once I get started I am able to sort out the differences between these main characters. Cotton's son Gary figures predominately in the current story. There was a wide range of supporting characters. I really loved Ian, Ms. Mary and Tanya. I hope that Katherine makes an appearance in a future story.
I really like to read about historical conspiracy theories. One of my favorite features of Steve Berry Books is that there is always a chapter at the end the describes what was fact and what was fiction. I thought the current story had the Bisley Boy had a lot of interesting features and would like to read more about this topic.
June 17, 2013
There is a common opinion that many best-selling authors "phone in" some of their stories after enjoying massive success.
The implication is one of laziness, relying on formula rather than inspiration. Or, if the author collaborates, taking top billing from the hard work of the partner.
The King's Deception by Steve Berry is neither lazy nor derivative.
This is the eighth outing for Cotton Malone - Berry's ex-US agent-turned-bookseller and it doesn't disappoint. Malone and his son Gary are kidnapped in London while escorting young thief Ian Dunne to the authorities.
Apparently, Dunne has stolen a secret the British government will stop at nothing to protect and the Malones are the collateral damage. Complicating matters is a rogue CIA agent named Antrim and his Operation King's Deception which also wants Dunne.
King's Deception is a secret that threatens the monarchy and the rule of law. Dunne has a flash drive with the proof and MI6 wants it back.
Malone and his son Gary were also maneuvered to London by Antrim, who has a personal connection to the Malone family.
Berry's strength is his ability to weave thrillers from historical events. In this case, it's the succession of the Tudor family to the British Crown.
And what does this have to do with the impending repatriation to Libya of the Lockerbie bomber?
You'll have to read the book, due out in June, to find out.
The implication is one of laziness, relying on formula rather than inspiration. Or, if the author collaborates, taking top billing from the hard work of the partner.
The King's Deception by Steve Berry is neither lazy nor derivative.
This is the eighth outing for Cotton Malone - Berry's ex-US agent-turned-bookseller and it doesn't disappoint. Malone and his son Gary are kidnapped in London while escorting young thief Ian Dunne to the authorities.
Apparently, Dunne has stolen a secret the British government will stop at nothing to protect and the Malones are the collateral damage. Complicating matters is a rogue CIA agent named Antrim and his Operation King's Deception which also wants Dunne.
King's Deception is a secret that threatens the monarchy and the rule of law. Dunne has a flash drive with the proof and MI6 wants it back.
Malone and his son Gary were also maneuvered to London by Antrim, who has a personal connection to the Malone family.
Berry's strength is his ability to weave thrillers from historical events. In this case, it's the succession of the Tudor family to the British Crown.
And what does this have to do with the impending repatriation to Libya of the Lockerbie bomber?
You'll have to read the book, due out in June, to find out.
September 10, 2014
I may have read one of the previous 7 books by Steve Berry which featured the retired agency man, Cotton Malone, but don't recall it. This was good and bad, the former because I had no preconceptions with The King's Deception, and the latter because I could forget about this one too.
Nonetheless, I can say I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. Berry has a style of writing that works like a serialized comic, where threads are left hanging until the next episode, or chapter. In this way, he moves a somewhat convoluted story along, about an impostor Tudor queen (or king?), and how a centuries-old secret was about to rekindle the Troubles of northern Ireland. He also deftly weaves arcane historical tidbits with more current political events to keep the narrative accessible.
Good for a quick read, and, perhaps, the glimpses of the raw side of Elizabethan culture, where royal persons scheme against their people and against each other. Recommended for those who like thrillers and treasure-hunt mysteries.
Nonetheless, I can say I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. Berry has a style of writing that works like a serialized comic, where threads are left hanging until the next episode, or chapter. In this way, he moves a somewhat convoluted story along, about an impostor Tudor queen (or king?), and how a centuries-old secret was about to rekindle the Troubles of northern Ireland. He also deftly weaves arcane historical tidbits with more current political events to keep the narrative accessible.
Good for a quick read, and, perhaps, the glimpses of the raw side of Elizabethan culture, where royal persons scheme against their people and against each other. Recommended for those who like thrillers and treasure-hunt mysteries.
February 17, 2019
I was very excited to read this book. I am always looking for a good historical based mystery (there aren’t many) and people have told me to read Steve Berry. I have tried to start a few of his books but have never gotten very far. I managed to finish this one but not without skipping numerous pages. It seemed like certain things that should have been complicated to explain (the mystery of the Tudor treasure and the fact that this books claims that Elizabeth I was actually a man in drag) were simplified and things that wouldn’t have been been so complicated to explain (an ancient society protecting this secret) became too complicated to care about (the society wasn’t real. Who are all these people???? Are they cops? Are they trying to kill people because they really spend a lot of time TALKING about how they’re going to kill people but don’t actually do it). The story I actually wanted to read about was hidden amongst about 350 pages of separate people running from the same person....who is pretending to be a good guy? Or a bad guy? I really don’t know. There was just a lot of chapters about people running and really....I’m just here for the story about the dude in drag.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2013
I had high hopes for this novel since Steve Berry is one of my favorite authors and I’m a Tudor-phile. Though it was as exciting and entertaining as all Cotton Malone novels, this one didn’t quite hit the mark, perhaps because the subject is so near and dear to me. Berry takes an obscure and absurd legend about Elizabeth I and ties it into the release of the Lockerbie bomber and the conflict in Ireland, which seems a bit of a stretch. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the historical aspect of it, and the idea that there is long-lost Tudor treasure is certainly intriguing. But the way the American government gets involved, and ultimately Cotton, is a little too convenient. There were a great number of familiar historical characters that I thought were well portrayed and I appreciate that Berry certainly did his homework. I just found the idea of the “Bisley Boy” theory to be too conspiratorial to have much credence. Still, it was a fun read and I’ll always come back for more Mr. Berry.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via the Amazon Vine program.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via the Amazon Vine program.
July 16, 2014
I have read all of Berry's books and I have to say this one is clearly his best. It is right up with The Romanov Prophecy in my eyes. I have always been fascinated with the Tudors, and this gives some historical background I, was not familiar with, and even the major thing I won't spoil which I feel I had read or heard before. I feel Berry does a great job in feeding us the information we need a little at a time in order for us to anticipate and desire it more. Reading this will keep you up, because you will simply not want to put it down. The character development is strong, and the twists keep coming. Cotton Malone must not only save his son, but must also save the life of a runaway boy who holds the key to an old Tudor secret. Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, the Cecils, and more historical figures in English history find their way into this tale of betrayel, opposition, and revelation.
September 29, 2013
I think I've read all Steve Berry's Cotton Malone books, and this one, just like the others, does not disappoint. It always takes me a bit to get into the story, since Steve tends to start off the books with separate chapters that introduce a lot of different characters, but once you figure out how they all tie together, the books are hard to put down.
It seems that I'm reading a lot about Elizabethan England these days, and this book just adds to the list.
I thoroughly enjoy how he weaves his stories in with the history and especially love how he always has a section at the end where he explains what is real and what is his fiction.
It seems that I'm reading a lot about Elizabethan England these days, and this book just adds to the list.
I thoroughly enjoy how he weaves his stories in with the history and especially love how he always has a section at the end where he explains what is real and what is his fiction.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,259 reviews