The Venetian Betrayal

I became hooked on Steve Berry after reading the fascinating "The Amber Room: A Novel." Since then I have eagerly awaited each of his novels; from The Romanov Prophecy: A Novel to The Alexandria Link: A Novel. I received my pre ordered copy yesterday and finished it last night! Berry's novels are an exciting mix of action, adventure, mystery, history, archeology, and modern geopolitical power games. Are some of the plot lines and situations outlandish? Well of course but that is what you expect from books like this. What Berry does though that sets his books above others is take historical facts and create fun historical what ifs and then blends them into modern thrillers. I won't say too much about the plot as that could ruin the read, but this one revolves around the search for the mysterious resting place of Alexander the Great (a true archeological mystery!). Of course Cotton Malone is soon pulled into mix, along with the beautiful Cassiopeia Vitt. The adventures take them across Europe and into Asia as they try to discover the truth behind a string of fires (one in a Danish Museum that almost cost Cotton his life) A mysterious group called the Federation bent on world domination, and the Tomb of Alexander the Great. Fans Of Cussler, Preston/Childs, James Rollins should enjoy this and any of Berry's books!

If you like Steve Berry books, you MUST read this one. It keeps up with the quality of his other books continuing the saga of Cotton Malone and several characters already appearing in other books. Yet, you don't have to already know them in order to follow the storyline. Just waiting for his most recent book to be in paperback so I can enjoy it too.

Although i have not actually read this book i was given the unabridged version of this book as an audiobook for christmas, I really enjoyed the story, plot line & reading. I think that this book would make a pretty good film. i would recommend it as a holiday read.

Best of the Cotton Malone tales so far. The story seems a bit more real than the Alexandria Link or The Templar Legacy. The political intrigue and shifting alliances of the new Central Asian Confenderacy gives this story a better conrtext than the other 2 Malone stories. The continual life threatening predicaments are typical of Berry stories, and keep the story moving. I am afan of Berry's, and I am seeing his stories getting better; I will be looking for his next book.

If you aren't familiar with a historical timeframe, by the end of a Steve Berry adventure you will feel you are an expert in the field... Berry's current outing deals with Alexander the Great - who died in 323 BC literally the king of the world. We know he was mummified and eventually was entombed in Alexandria Egypt - but the tomb was destroyed and his remains disappeared - Cotton Malone is in the middle of a raging fire - that's how we found him in the Alexandria Link - which was about the Library of Alexandria - in Alexandria which was named that in honor of Alexander, so we have some synchronicity there - The fire isn't just any fire - it is Greek fire - which was lost when the great civilizations were lost - but someone's got the formula and is using it - trying to find medallions circa 323 BC - they show Alexander fighting in India - Enter Irina Zovastina, a politician who has united a lot of the 'Stans' and has a plan to take over other countries with germ warfare - She also thinks of herself as a modern day Alexander the Great and is in a quest to find Alexander's tomb and the long lost remedy Alexander's physician had used to instantly cure him - Clues remain to find the tomb - history tells us that - Where Alexander went, what he admired - all clues - what you will find is Zovanista is no Alexander - But you will find a book that solidifies in the last half to be a great adventure - As always, Berry gives you a what-if scenario - But much thought went into this adventure - Cotton Malone is an excellent character with excellent supporting characters - Total package is thoughtful research by Berry coordinating history with cloak and dagger - Every Berry offering gives you more than just a spy book - you get in and play with history - Good read -