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qu33nofbookz's review against another edition
1.0
What a mess, this book needs a lot of editing to make it cohesive. It's like someone cut up the pages, tossed them in the air and picked them up and bound it all up for this book. It also isn't really what is advertised on the back. Women in this book are pretty in appearance but portrayed as inept cannon fodder except for the villainess. The pace is nonstop and unbelievable and just gets wilder and wilder. Also the government is blind, deaf and dumb, so is society. The pov shifts (there are WAY too many main characters and they have similar names) from page to page, paragraph to paragraph and even every other two sentences without any connections, lead-in, or relation to what just happened or was said just a sentence or two before. It gets confusing and is very annoying since the story, plot or pov gets jumbled. There is zero character development and the depth of the characters is as shallow as a tablespoon, they only have one feeling/emotion and their thinking is so single minded I am surprised they know what's happening around them at all. Also lots of talk/terms of a ship when there isn't one involved except briefly at the beginning and end of the story. A few scenes of graphic torture thrown in for shock value that don't need to be there at all.
Cotton Malone is summoned to a hotel room while on vacation with his girlfriend Cassiopeia by a former boss. When he gets there he stops the assassination President Danny Daniels and gets framed for it. But he knows the president who doesn't believe him guilty and points him in the direction of the real culprits. A modern day band of pirates who are angry that the power their families have abused for centuries is coming to an end and they are going to finally be punished for the abuse. There are many agencies that all have some kind of stake in this and they are all double-crossing and killing on another (in large quantities at an alarming pace that no one seems to care about) in a race to figure out a cipher that Thomas Jefferson used that can make the pirates invincible because of very broad language of the constitution.
Cotton Malone is summoned to a hotel room while on vacation with his girlfriend Cassiopeia by a former boss. When he gets there he stops the assassination President Danny Daniels and gets framed for it. But he knows the president who doesn't believe him guilty and points him in the direction of the real culprits. A modern day band of pirates who are angry that the power their families have abused for centuries is coming to an end and they are going to finally be punished for the abuse. There are many agencies that all have some kind of stake in this and they are all double-crossing and killing on another (in large quantities at an alarming pace that no one seems to care about) in a race to figure out a cipher that Thomas Jefferson used that can make the pirates invincible because of very broad language of the constitution.
duparker's review against another edition
3.0
I wished I liked this more. The pace was great and the overall story was interesting, with modern pirates as the main antagonist (not something you see a lot of). There were fun tie ins to history and the fictionalized accounts of certain historical events was fun.
The downside, I feel, was the sweet, and romantic portions. The series is part history, part spy, and while we all know spies like some romance, the inclusion in the book of marital discourse between the first family and some other characters, really seemed stretching it, and made the overall vibe syrupy. I think Mr. Berry might want to try a new character or some other fresh plot points. In some ways this series seems headed for the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan doom of loosing focus and originality.
The downside, I feel, was the sweet, and romantic portions. The series is part history, part spy, and while we all know spies like some romance, the inclusion in the book of marital discourse between the first family and some other characters, really seemed stretching it, and made the overall vibe syrupy. I think Mr. Berry might want to try a new character or some other fresh plot points. In some ways this series seems headed for the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan doom of loosing focus and originality.
dustfrmpluto's review
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rachylynn's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good. The main premise of the book was immersing and I enjoyed the storyline. The characters seemed a little flat to me.
shirlee2024's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe I'm just on a Steve Berry kick, but I really do like the way he presents history. This one was about pirates. Very interesting.
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
Cotton Malone finds himself in the deadly cross hairs of a political game of cat and mouse, where the stakes are high. When Cotton receives an invitation to meet his old boss, Stephanie Nelle, Cotton accepts. Cotton enters the hotel room where he is to meet Stephanie but she is not there. When Cotton realizes that he has walked into a trap it is too late. Cotton is than captured and charged temporary for the attempted assassination of President Danny Daniels. Once President Daniels learns that Cotton is involved, he turns to him for help to stop the real people behind the attack before it is too late.
The Jefferson Key is book seven of the Cotton Malone books. I have not read many books from Mr. Berry. I have to admit that I could not stop reading this book. I like the mixture of history with mystery that was in this story. Cotton is the man. He is like Nicolas Cage in the National Treasure movies but way cooler. Sorry Mr. Cage.
The reason I mention National Treasure is because the story incorporated present with past. It was fun reading Andrew Jackson’s letters and trying to decipher the hidden meanings behind them. There was lots of action that had me running from place to place. It was almost like I needed running shoes. The Jefferson Key is worth your time and money. This book would be approved by the voters!
The Jefferson Key is book seven of the Cotton Malone books. I have not read many books from Mr. Berry. I have to admit that I could not stop reading this book. I like the mixture of history with mystery that was in this story. Cotton is the man. He is like Nicolas Cage in the National Treasure movies but way cooler. Sorry Mr. Cage.
The reason I mention National Treasure is because the story incorporated present with past. It was fun reading Andrew Jackson’s letters and trying to decipher the hidden meanings behind them. There was lots of action that had me running from place to place. It was almost like I needed running shoes. The Jefferson Key is worth your time and money. This book would be approved by the voters!
johnbreeden's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this novel - even more so than the last few. I do wish that Stephanie had played a larger role, but having a solid foil against Cotton gave an interesting contrast to some of the villains of the past. Victor in the past novels fulfilled this somewhat, but now Wyatt is a mirror of Cotton in more ways. I'm looking forward to the next book.
katemoxie's review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. As with his other books I was prompted to do some research on my own.
Only drawback was the timing of some of the action as principles travelled from DC to Nova Scotia to North Carolina to..... all within 24 hours.
Only drawback was the timing of some of the action as principles travelled from DC to Nova Scotia to North Carolina to..... all within 24 hours.
bookloverchelle's review
4.0
I am a big fan of the Cotton Malone series. The mix of suspense, history, and a little romance make these a fun read. It's been a while but Cotton is back in the US trying to find who attempted to assassinate the president and track down his former boss, Stephanie. With the help of Cassiopeia, she and Cotton attempt to infiltrate a group of modern day pirates, The Commonwealth, who's misguided ideals have lead them down the wrong path. Can Cotton and Cassiopeia find and rescue Stephanie before it's too late for her or for them? Edge of your seat action, great read!
k_cavacini's review against another edition
4.0
This was another solid and interesting thriller by Steve Berry. I enjoyed that the story was based in the United States and included all of the characters that have been introduced in past books. The pirate aspect was also interesting; it was particularly intriguing to read about the privateer/pirate aspect of American history. The Cotton Malone series continues to evolve and intrigue.