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agentkronk's review against another edition
5.0
Cotton Malone comes back with a vengeance! I really enjoyed the action Steve Berry is so good at giving us interlaced with Tudor history. I love how all his novels get me thinking about history in different ways. Truly can't wait to see what he has in store for Cotton and the crew in the 9th in the series!
elizabethpero's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
gabmc's review against another edition
3.0
The heart of this book is a great conspiracy theory about Elizabeth I. Cotton Malone and his son Gary get inadvertently involved in a case that both America's CIA and England's SIS are working on. Lots of history mixed in with a healthy amount of action made for a great read.
dustfrmpluto's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
duparker's review against another edition
4.0
For the most part this book was a refresher on the series. I enjoyed it much more than the Jefferson Key. The only downside was the subplot with Gary and his birth father. You could see where it was going from the first step. It was truly a pace killer, because it was so transparent.
The saving grace was that the underlying story is interesting and compelling. It flows well, and is smartly laid out with a plot that moves the story and fills in historical gaps where need be.
The saving grace was that the underlying story is interesting and compelling. It flows well, and is smartly laid out with a plot that moves the story and fills in historical gaps where need be.
bluestjuice's review against another edition
1.0
I have to preface my rating by giving the caveat that I only learned about this book, and decided to read it, because I was interested in the Bisley boy conspiracy theory that I had read was presented in it, and wanted to know more about that theory. Unfortunately, this isn't a historical fiction, or an alternate historical fiction. It's a modern detective thriller with a historically-originated mystery, so there was not much of the parts that really interested me and too much of the chase scenes and obligatory personal drama to hold my interest. While I didn't expect the conspiracy theory to actually hold water (it's pretty ridiculous, if intriguing), I was also disappointed by the addition of extra layers of even more unlikeliness -
I can't fault this novel for being the sort of novel that it was, and I can't really judge its success or failure in that regard, but it's really not my thing. On the bright side, I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of many of the pieces of British architecture used as backdrops for the action. If you are a fan of detective thrillers with a historical (or, well, quasi-historical) bent, this might be right up your alley. Unfortunately it wasn't my cup of tea.
Spoiler
not only was Elizabeth I a man, but he was also the secret son of Henry VIII's illegitimate son! And conveniently transgender! Um, what.I can't fault this novel for being the sort of novel that it was, and I can't really judge its success or failure in that regard, but it's really not my thing. On the bright side, I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of many of the pieces of British architecture used as backdrops for the action. If you are a fan of detective thrillers with a historical (or, well, quasi-historical) bent, this might be right up your alley. Unfortunately it wasn't my cup of tea.
johnbreeden's review against another edition
4.0
I really wasn't sure what to think when I realized that this was going back into Malone's timeline. I had hesitations early on in the work. Like most of Berry's other books, however, I was quickly swept into the story. None of the plot lines stayed straight from start to finish. I do like the story line involving Gary's father. There were several points, however, where I would have like to see into Gary's mind. Some happened, but most were missed as an opportunity. Overall, however, I did enjoy this novel.
katemoxie's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating read. Now I want to research Elizabeth I.
rosepup77's review against another edition
5.0
Another fantastic book that delves into the history of the Tudors and Elizabeth I. In the latest Cotton Malone adventure, Cotton and his son Gary are going to Europe to visit after the revelation that Gary is not Cotton's biological son. Just before they leave the United States, Cotton's old boss asks him for a favor, to transport a teenager to London as Ian had witnessed a murder. The party is met at the airport by the police and quickly on their way. However not is all as it appears as Cotton soon realizes they are not with the police. Cotton is knocked unconscious and both boys run for their lives. What did Ian really witness that so many people seem to want him killed? Why was Cotton dragged into this? And what exactly does Elizabeth I and the Tudors have to do with it?
I love the mix of history and adventure. Fantastic!
I love the mix of history and adventure. Fantastic!