Review - The Kaiser's Web

 In New York Times bestseller Steve Berry’s latest Cotton Malone adventure, a secret dossier from a World War II-era Soviet spy comes to light containing information that, if proven true, would not only rewrite history — it could impact Germany's upcoming national elections and forever alter the political landscape of Europe.

It has been a while since I reviewed a Cotton Malone thriller and this one grabbed my attention. My prior reviews in the series are: 

#5 The Paris Vendetta (click here).

#7 The Jefferson Key (click here).

#8 The King's Deception (click here). 

Author: Steve Berry

Copyright: February 2021 (Minotaur) 421 pgs

Series: 16th in Cotton Malone Thriller series

Sensuality: mild, gun-play

Mystery Sub-genre: political thriller, suspense thriller

Main Characters: Cotton Malone, former Dept. of Justice (Magellan Billet) 

Setting: Contemporary- International (Germany, Chile, S. Africa, Switzerland)

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review

Book blurb: "Two candidates are vying to become Chancellor of Germany. One is a patriot having served for the past sixteen years, the other a usurper, stoking the flames of nationalistic hate. Both harbor secrets, but only one knows the truth about the other. They are on a collision course, all turning on the events of one fateful day — April 30, 1945 — and what happened deep beneath Berlin in the Fürherbunker. Did Adolph Hitler and Eva Braun die there? Did Martin Bormann, Hitler’s close confidant, manage to escape? And, even more important, where did billions in Nazi wealth disappear to in the waning days of World War II? The answers to these questions will determine who becomes the next Chancellor of Germany.

From the mysterious Chilean lake district, to the dangerous mesas of South Africa, and finally into the secret vaults of Switzerland, former-Justice Department agent Cotton Malone discovers the truth about the fates of Hitler, Braun, and Bormann. Revelations that could not only transform Europe, but finally expose a mystery known as the Kaiser’s web."

 Cotton Malone is working as part of team and learning to be a couple with Cassiopeia.  I liked seeing this side of Cotton. Cassiopeia Vitt is always a great, dynamic character and for a while they cover different aspects of the story separately.  This was interesting to see her character more closely.  Former President Danny Daniels makes several appearances in the story, mainly to help facilitate special transportation or make it easier for Cotton to do what he needs via his contacts.  Chancellor Marie Eisenhuth is the politician Former President Daniels referred to Cotton for help.  Information has fallen into her hands about her opponent, information that would tie him to 1940s Germany in a very disturbing way. Rather than leak the information, she wants somebody trustworthy to investigate the validity of the information. There is a subplot of her failing marriage and how her hubby is more aligned to her opponent.  Her opponent, Theodor Pohl, is the spider in the middle of a tangled web to destroy the Chancellor.  Can Cotton and Cassiopeia cut through the elaborate scheme and get to the truth in time?

In the course of the investigation, Cotton and Cassiopeia travel light and far. The Chilean lake district, the harsh mesas of South Africa, secret bank vaults in Switzerland, and a German castle.  Mr. Berry is quite good at evoking the setting no matter where the story takes the reader.  This is special in a thriller to have such attention to the place for atmosphere and context. Wonderfully done.

The plot revolves around a volatile election with historical echoes and significance.  I found this timely with the resurgence of neo-Nazis and anti-Semitism around the world.  I felt this was handled well in the storyline. There is a tangled web to wade through and at times I wasn't sure if Cotton and Cass were getting to the truth amid all the subterfuge.  The pacing had just a few instances of slowing for a little too long, but it picked up again.

 The reader knows who the villain is and you approach the climax with that knowledge, but there is still a twist that makes your jaw drop. The final confrontation is exciting and tense, which is my favorite.  Excellent job there. 

A great addition to the Cotton Malone adventures series. As usual, Mr. Berry takes a historical event (Hitler's death in the furher bunker) and finds tidbits to weave a credible thriller from.  For clarification, this has Hitler definitely die from suicide, but looks for closely at Martin Bormann.  Well done and the twist at the end was superb.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

1) Short talk with Steve Berry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJlS1iEFu3s

2) Poisoned Pen Virtual Book Launch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laLihlm5HSQ

3) Steve and his wife discuss the book

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmV-hVkmm8k

Review - The Jefferson Key

My kind and wonderful neighbor Ken gives us another review this week.  Join us for the latest Steve Berry novel that combines spies and a American history to weave a thriller of grand stature.

Author:  Steve Berry

Copyright:  2011; Ballantine Books; 451 pages

Series:  #7 in the Cotton Malone adventures 

Sensuality:  Violence with some minor gory details  

Mystery sub-genre:  Action and Adventure

Main Character:  Cotton Malone, a former Justice Department operative 

Setting:  Modern day; USA  

Obtained book through:  Library Find

The information on the cover of the book describes the premise of the story well:

     “Four presidents of the United States have been assassinated – in 1865, 1881, 1901, and 1963 - each murder seemingly unrelated. 

     But what if those presidents were all killed for the same reason:  a clause in the United States Constitution  - contained within Article One Section 8 – that would shock most Americans.

    This question is what faces former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone in his latest adventure.  When a bold assassination attempt is made against President Danny Daniels in the heart of Manhattan, Malone risks his life to foil the killing – only to find himself at dangerous odds with the Commonwealth, a secret society of pirates first assembled during the American Revolution.  In their most perilous exploit yet, Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt race across the nation and take to the high seas.  Along the way they break a secret cipher originally possessed by Thomas Jefferson, unravel a mystery concocted by Andrew Jackson, and unearth a centuries-old document forged by the Founding Fathers themselves, one powerful enough – thanks to that clause in the Constitution – to make the Commonwealth unstoppable.

Oh what a tangled web he wove…or was it more like four or five interwoven webs?  Using historical facts and actual locales as basis and background for this thriller, Steve Berry has given us a most interesting, exciting, and enjoyable book.  Incorporating ingenious and challenging plots and subplots, a large cast of characters, and lots of action, he kept me “on the edge of my seat” in a “couldn’t put it down” kind of way.

The good guys and bad guys were well developed, competent, and believable.  Our hero, Cotton Malone, and his most proficient partner, Cassiopeia Vitt, aided by a few allies, take on a complicated array of evildoers some of whom are connected with the USA’s intelligence community and have their own nefarious agendas.  The primary arch-nemesis, the Commonwealth, consisting of four families whose heritages date back to the Revolutionary War days are particularly nasty.  Are they bona-fide privateers or pirates as their actions demonstrate?

This book contains all the essential elements including action and adventure, murder, mayhem, subterfuge, spy and counter-spy, secrecy, political intrigues.  The use of historical facts was very educational and added to the flavor of the book.  Some of the minor gory details involve the use of pirate discipline and torture; most of it was expressed more for the reader’s imagination rather than detailed descriptions.

I greatly appreciate Ariel allowing me the opportunity to read the various books she has provided.  I have been introduced to many new authors, and my list of favorites continues to grow.  Steve Berry is definitely added to this list. 

Review - The Paris Vendetta

It has been awhile since I have reviewed a hard core suspense novel. I purchased this when I was in Paris and the places and sites in the book where more alive to me for just having visited them. Join me in this fast paced ride combining contemporary suspense and historical mystery.

Author: Steve Berry

Copyright: July 2010 (Ballantine Books) 496 pgs

Series: 5th in The Cotton Malone Adventures

Sensuality: adult references

Mystery Sub-genre: Suspense

Main Character:  Cotton Malone, a former U.S. Justice Department operative now owner of a used book store in Copenhagen

Setting: Modern day Paris primarily

Obtained book: Personal Purchase

The prologue takes the reader to the Giza Plaza in Egypt, 1799 to join Napoleon at the Great Pyramid.  Chapter one jumps us to current day Copenhagen with Cotton Malone waking in his apartment to the realization somebody is there sneaking around.  He finds a young conspiracy theorist (Sam Collins) asking for his help.  Sam, an agent fired because of his conspiracy website, was sent by the Danish billionaire Henrik Thorvaldsen, who had set Malone up with his used book store.   

Henrik Thorvaldsen had befriended Malone five years earlier when Malone had taken out several terrorists in Mexico city who had killed Henrik's son in the incident.  Henrik has tracked down the two men responsible and one of them was about to attack Henrik.  The instant Malone rushes to Henrik's aid he steps into a whirlwind of Disaster Capitalism conspiracy (via the financial cartel "the Paris Club"), two vendettas, a hunt for Napoleon's mythic treasure, and a reunion with his Justice Dept. boss. 

It was my first Steve Berry novel and it was easy enough to catch up on the back story.  There are several instances of back flashes for several of the characters filling in histories.  At times the flashbacks hindered the flow a bit.  Also the story would occasionally alternate between Napoleonic times and modern day.  I didn't mind this technique but some dislike it - so fair warning. 

There are two real villains but one rises above the other as being the most dangerous that must be stopped at all costs.  This is suspenseful with plenty of danger and improbable stunts.  Cotton Malone is supposed to be middle aged and yet carries off "Jason Bourne" style rescues - which is a great thought and makes those "of a certain age" hoot and holler but stretches the believability a bit thin.  Never-the-less it is like junk food in its appeal.

Henrik's obsession with killing the last man who was behind his son's death got old later in the book.  I wanted to like Henrik and this was difficult for me.  

Sam was introduced and I got the impression that he may be featured more in future books of the series - but that made this book suffer.  I felt as though Malone's spotlight was being shared to setup Sam and I wanted to stay focused on Malone.  That along with the character flashbacks, several subplots and reverting back to Napoleon occasionally left the book feeling a bit unfocused.

There is plenty of history about Napoleon in this book which I found fascinating but not everybody will enjoy since it slows down the action.  The Disaster Capitalism conspiracy seemed to take the book "Shock Doctrine" and utilize it in the plot which actually gave a great demonstration of how powerful people make fortunes from disasters.  I found that a selling point for the book alone.

I enjoyed it overall, despite the few detractors.  If you enjoy history and suspense this may be a new series to indulge in.

Here is a video of Steve Berry and James Rollins discussing the book.  This is a short video but I think you will enjoy it.