Julien C. (jaimelesmaths) reviewed The Charlemagne Pursuit (Cotton Malone Series, Bk 4) on + 54 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
This is not my usual genre of book, and I haven't read any others in the series, but there was plenty of suspense, action, and twists to keep it going. Certainly an enjoyable read if you're a fan of books like The Sigma Protocol. The writing was top-notch in terms of pacing, vocabulary, and readability, and the characters motives were generally deep and well-motivated. Plots within plots within plots abound. Unlike, say, The Da Vinci Code, you're not expected to figure out the puzzles for yourself, which can cut both ways in terms of reader engagement. I would definitely consider reading another book by this author. 4/5
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Helpful Score: 8
Title: The Charlemagne Pursuit
Author: Steve Berry
ISBN: 9780345485793/Ballantine Books
Protagonist: Cotton Malone, bookseller and former US government operative
Setting: present-day, Germany and Antarctica
Series: #4
Rating: B
First Line: The alarm sounded and Forrest Malone came alert.
Cotton Malone's father was a submariner in the US Navy. When Cotton was ten, Forrest Malone went on patrol and never came back. Cotton always wanted to know what happened, but told the mission was classified, he let it go--until his own son began asking questions about his grandfather. Since he's a former operative for the US government, he knows people in the right places, and he's owed favors. He asks to see the file on his father's last mission...and people start dying. While Cotton finds himself in Germany, dodging bullets and thrown in amongst the very strange Oberhauser family, his former boss finds herself searching for clues and following the trail of an assassin in the eastern US. It all ties in with something called the Charlemagne Pursuit, ancient knowledge known to Charlemagne, with connections to Nazi Germany all the way to the present day.
I don't read many thrillers, but Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series is an exception. I like Berry's characterization of Cotton and his former boss, Stephanie. The author also seems to have a knack of choosing historical bits and puzzles that fascinate me like the Amber Room, the Romanovs, and the Knights Templar. Although the Charlemagne Pursuit is much more a puzzle of the author's own devising, I found it fascinating as well. The pages turned quickly in this book. The only thing in it that I didn't particularly care for was the entire Oberhauser clan. I think that, as I get older, my tolerance for twisted families becomes less and less.
[This is a review of an advanced reading copy.]
Author: Steve Berry
ISBN: 9780345485793/Ballantine Books
Protagonist: Cotton Malone, bookseller and former US government operative
Setting: present-day, Germany and Antarctica
Series: #4
Rating: B
First Line: The alarm sounded and Forrest Malone came alert.
Cotton Malone's father was a submariner in the US Navy. When Cotton was ten, Forrest Malone went on patrol and never came back. Cotton always wanted to know what happened, but told the mission was classified, he let it go--until his own son began asking questions about his grandfather. Since he's a former operative for the US government, he knows people in the right places, and he's owed favors. He asks to see the file on his father's last mission...and people start dying. While Cotton finds himself in Germany, dodging bullets and thrown in amongst the very strange Oberhauser family, his former boss finds herself searching for clues and following the trail of an assassin in the eastern US. It all ties in with something called the Charlemagne Pursuit, ancient knowledge known to Charlemagne, with connections to Nazi Germany all the way to the present day.
I don't read many thrillers, but Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series is an exception. I like Berry's characterization of Cotton and his former boss, Stephanie. The author also seems to have a knack of choosing historical bits and puzzles that fascinate me like the Amber Room, the Romanovs, and the Knights Templar. Although the Charlemagne Pursuit is much more a puzzle of the author's own devising, I found it fascinating as well. The pages turned quickly in this book. The only thing in it that I didn't particularly care for was the entire Oberhauser clan. I think that, as I get older, my tolerance for twisted families becomes less and less.
[This is a review of an advanced reading copy.]
William E. B. reviewed The Charlemagne Pursuit (Cotton Malone Series, Bk 4) on + 93 more book reviews
Great book, would recommend to anyone.
Jo W. (addict) reviewed The Charlemagne Pursuit (Cotton Malone Series, Bk 4) on + 5 more book reviews
the first steve berry book i read was ''the amber room" years ago. since then i have been trying to read all of his books. this is not as good as "the amber room," but still very good. 5 stars. read it--you will like it.
I liked this book the best of the "Cotton" series. It was very exciting all the way through. The story also seemed realistic even though it is fiction. Get this book if you liked Steve Berry and Cotton Malone.
Neda M. (ncoombes) reviewed The Charlemagne Pursuit (Cotton Malone Series, Bk 4) on + 11 more book reviews
This book is full of mystery and excitement to see what the next thing that is going to happen. To hide information one of the participants has begun a brutal game of treachery, blckmail, and assassination.
Great book...full of excitement.
Great book...full of excitement.
Larry H. (book-reader) reviewed The Charlemagne Pursuit (Cotton Malone Series, Bk 4) on + 144 more book reviews
Excellent book.
Eadie B. (eadieburke) -
I was a little disappointed in this book as it was not as good as the first three in the series. It started out as an interesting concept about finding out what was going on in Antartica but too much was going on with the other stories and made the book too choppy. I liked learning about Charlemagne and all the history but was spoiled by the weird sisters and their mother being involved. I thought the ending was a bit anti-climatic because there's no way I believe what they found and too many people died in this story. It didn't seem like Cotton needed to be involved with that family. They were a waste of his time and energy. Here are a few points in order to make the next book better:
1. Steve Berry needs to write his own books as I can't believe he wrote this one.
2. He needs to pick one event in history and write a story about that instead of having too many storylines going on at the same time.
3. I like when Vitt and Thorvalsen are in the story and it worked before so don't change that.
4. Never have weird people in your book again, Steve, we don't like them.
I don't think this book was a total disaster but it was a bit long when you are not really enjoying all the people in the story. I will continue with the series as I think this book may be a bump in the road and things will smooth out in the future.
1. Steve Berry needs to write his own books as I can't believe he wrote this one.
2. He needs to pick one event in history and write a story about that instead of having too many storylines going on at the same time.
3. I like when Vitt and Thorvalsen are in the story and it worked before so don't change that.
4. Never have weird people in your book again, Steve, we don't like them.
I don't think this book was a total disaster but it was a bit long when you are not really enjoying all the people in the story. I will continue with the series as I think this book may be a bump in the road and things will smooth out in the future.
