Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, is in Paris to give a lecture. When the Paris police wake him and ask him to come to the Louvre, he has no idea whHarvard symbologist Robert Langdon, is in Paris to give a lecture. When the Paris police wake him and ask him to come to the Louvre, he has no idea why. What he discovers is that the curator, Jacques Sauniere, has been murdered, and Langdon's name is written by the body. Cryptologist Sophie Neveu, is also drawn into the investigation - he's her estranged grandfather. The two learn that Jacques was the head of the Priory of Sion, the secret group tasked with concealing the Holy Grail. As they follow his clues, trying to stay ahead of those who were behind his killing, more and more is revealed.
I know I've read this previously, but it's been years and it was interesting to listen to it again.
2021 - 52 book Challenge - #5 Published by Penguin. This was originally published by Doubleday, which is now part of Penguin Random House....more
**spoiler alert** This was a strange book. I'm not a sci-fi fan, but this was just weird in parts. Shannon Moss is part of a clandestine part of NCIS.**spoiler alert** This was a strange book. I'm not a sci-fi fan, but this was just weird in parts. Shannon Moss is part of a clandestine part of NCIS. She and her fellow "astronauts" time travel, and somebody has brought the Terminus back to earth from a future other world. As Shannon is pulled into a murder investigation of someone who supposedly was lost in space on the ship Libra, she travels back and forth from the present to future times to figure out what's going on. Each time, the Terminus, or end of the world is closer. In the end, she discovers that she's really just an echo of her real self who died in a training mission at the beginning of her career, but by figuring out what happened to Libra, she's able to stop it all - and ends up back in her home town as a pregnant teenager with her best friend still alive. Weird....more
Set in Paris 1870-71. American girl sets out to find who murdered her mother - mistress of a French Baron in the period of uprising after the Franco-PSet in Paris 1870-71. American girl sets out to find who murdered her mother - mistress of a French Baron in the period of uprising after the Franco-Prussian War. Suspenseful Gothic novel. Good....more
Twin boys are born to young Stella Tuft after she's in a car accident. Her husband wasn't around when they found her. One twin is adopted in rural UtaTwin boys are born to young Stella Tuft after she's in a car accident. Her husband wasn't around when they found her. One twin is adopted in rural Utah - Rafe Collings. Greg Ralston, the other twin is stolen by his dad from the hospital and sold to a couple in ID. Rafe is young when his adopted mom is murdered in a bank robbery which he witnesses, but is told by the murderer not to say anything. In their teens, Rafe wins a rodeo championship and the national press picks it up. A girl in Idaho who knows Greg sees it and writes to Rafe about Greg - Lindsay Diamond. the murderer also sees it as does his grandfather and uncle. Lots of storylines start coming together, all of which involve people trying to do away with Rafe and Gabe. Lindsay also has a stalker. There's a bunch going on - hard to believe it would all happen to one person, but Poulson makes it believable and ties it all together, keeping the interest high....more
Kate Moore was a loner picked up by the CIA fresh out of college to work as an operative primarily in South America. After becoming a wife and mother Kate Moore was a loner picked up by the CIA fresh out of college to work as an operative primarily in South America. After becoming a wife and mother of two boys and having them threatened by her work, she becomes a desk jockey and finally gives it up to move to Europe with her computer geek husband. But old habits die hard, and Kate continues to sniff out intrigue. She tries to make herself into the perfect Expat wife and mother, but when another American couple inserts themselves into her life, she begins to wonder what’s really happening. Chapters alternate between a one day time line and scenes from earlier times to explain what’s happening on that day.
This has been highly reviewed as a “meticulously plotted, psychologically complex spy thriller”. It is all of those things, but I did NOT find it a compelling read – took me nearly 3 months to get through! In the end it was just confusing – it took me ¾ of the way through the book to figure out that the majority of the book was in support of the 2 page chapters with time headers chronicling the events of the one day. Very confusing!...more
Cotton Malone has asked Stephanie Nelle to provide the classified paperwork about the loss of his father's submarine 38 years earlier. She does, and iCotton Malone has asked Stephanie Nelle to provide the classified paperwork about the loss of his father's submarine 38 years earlier. She does, and it opens a giant can of worms, because others want to know what happened to it also. There are yet more that don't want the secrets to come to light. The body count starts early, and it's hard to know who to believe. While Cotton deals with the German Oberhauser family and their ruthless search for the truth which takes them through history to Charlemagne and through Europe to Antarctica, Stephanie Nelle and Edwin Davis are dealing with the Navy cover-up and the mastermind behind it - Admiral Langford Ramsey. The truth is revealed about an ancient civilization that once lived in Antarctica, and the crew of the missing sub is located.
Another good Cotton Malone story. The brief bedroom scene seemed unnecessary to the storyline. There are illustrations in the book that obviously don't translate to the audio, so I went back and checked them out.
I realized after starting the book, that I'd read it before but somehow forgot to record it. Since I didn't remember all the details, I listened to it again....more
I missed several of Steve's books in the middle of the series, and I'm going back and catching up, so this was read out of order which isn't really a I missed several of Steve's books in the middle of the series, and I'm going back and catching up, so this was read out of order which isn't really a problem with this series. Cotton Malone is just back from finding out the truth about his father's death (book 4) when he's pulled into an economic mystery by his Danish friend Henrik Thorvaldsen. They're following clues left by Napoleon to his hidden plundered treasure hoard, while Henrik is on a personal vendetta against the men who killed is son Kai. This has all of the trademarks of a Cotton Malone - history, lots of action, personal angst and a great story line. Steve really knows how to tell a good story!...more
This takes us back to when Stephanie Nelle first recruits a brash you JAG lawyer to recover something from a wreck off the Dry Tortugas. Cotton MaloneThis takes us back to when Stephanie Nelle first recruits a brash you JAG lawyer to recover something from a wreck off the Dry Tortugas. Cotton Malone doesn't know what he's really doing, but when it appears there's a lot more going on than just a simple recovery, he jumps in with both feet. This is a reimagining of the effect of Martin Luther King and J. Edgar Hoover and the possible government conspiracy to assassinate MLK, told through the eyes of MLK's (fictional) confidant. This first assignment was 30 years after the assassination, and Cotton tells the story of what happens when he returns to Atlanta for the 50th anniversary.
As usual, Steve has done his research and the history is fascinating. Fortunately, he also separates fact from fiction for the reader at the end. The audio interjects comments from Steve at the end of several chapters, which is also fun to listen to. Not my favorite Cotton Malone story, but still well done....more
Cotton Malone is back in the U.S. on the trail of another historical mystery - but this one involves one of his ancestors - another "Cotton". Cotton aCotton Malone is back in the U.S. on the trail of another historical mystery - but this one involves one of his ancestors - another "Cotton". Cotton and Cassiopeia Vitt are searching for clues in rural Arkansas when they're attacked and a series of events start to unfold that reach all the way to newly retired President Danny Daniels, his newly deceased U.S. Senator friend, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and then back to the early days the Smithsonian and Cotton's Civil War spy ancestor. This is another fascinating look at a piece of U.S. history that's not well known - something Steve does so well. ...more
34 year old Ramsey Hunt is a Federal Judge on sabbatical after a courtroom attack. In the CO Rockies, he discovers an unconscious, beaten, sexually ab34 year old Ramsey Hunt is a Federal Judge on sabbatical after a courtroom attack. In the CO Rockies, he discovers an unconscious, beaten, sexually abused little girl. Eventually Emma's mom finds them and together they flee. More and more attacks are made on all of them as truths are revealed. Sherlock and Savich from "The Maze" make several appearances. Good read....more
Lacey Sherlock was 19 with a promising career as a pianist when her half sister is murdered by a serial killer. Years later, Lacy is now an FBI agent Lacey Sherlock was 19 with a promising career as a pianist when her half sister is murdered by a serial killer. Years later, Lacy is now an FBI agent assigned to a special unit. When the maze killer strikes again in Boston, she goes after him with her boss' help. They find him, but he escapes and comes after Lacey. All is overcome eventually with brilliant Dillon Savich's help. Lots of supsence, not much romance....more
Dillon and Lacey got to rescue his sister Lily after a car accident and discover there's a weird plot to kill her to cover the sale/forgery of some ofDillon and Lacey got to rescue his sister Lily after a car accident and discover there's a weird plot to kill her to cover the sale/forgery of some of her famous grandmother's paintings that she owns. Weird things happening, but everything works out in the end....more
A techno thriller that doesn't let up until the fairly weak romantic ending. Book on CD was well read. Keeps you up late waiting for the end and wondeA techno thriller that doesn't let up until the fairly weak romantic ending. Book on CD was well read. Keeps you up late waiting for the end and wondering what could possibly happen next....more
Ostensibly about Lincoln and a secret he swapped with Brigham Young, but the majority deals with Mormons, and not always correctlI'll give this a 2.5.
Ostensibly about Lincoln and a secret he swapped with Brigham Young, but the majority deals with Mormons, and not always correctly/accurately. Mixing history with a current story about a Utah Senator/Pres. of the Quorum of the Twelve who wants Utah to secede, Cotton Malone and Stephanie Nell need to find the hidden document before the others do. Cotton saves the day, but loses his girlfriend in the process. Introduces Pres. Danny Daniels nephew, Luke, as another agent.
This is not one of Steve's best - the Mormon parts made me cringe at times and there are inconsistencies in the story - especially about Cassiopeia's back story....more
In the manner of the Cotton Malone series, but with only references to the Magellan Billet. Imagine Christopher Columbus as a secret Jew who was able In the manner of the Cotton Malone series, but with only references to the Magellan Billet. Imagine Christopher Columbus as a secret Jew who was able to smuggle the temple treasures out of Jerusalem to the new world. Fast forward to current times and Tom Sagan, a disgraced Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who discovers that he's involved in this story. The body count is high and you want to smack the daughter and cheer for Tom and the good guys to win, despite the odds....more
Cotton receives a note pointing him to a website showing Cassiopea being tortured and asking him to bring "them" an artifact. Cotton has no idea what Cotton receives a note pointing him to a website showing Cassiopea being tortured and asking him to bring "them" an artifact. Cotton has no idea what she's talking about, but rides to her rescue. This takes them from Europe to China and a mystery surrounding the tomb hidden by the Terra Cotta Warriors. Old friends and foes appear and Chinese politics and secret organizations are heavily involved in the mystery. Oil, eunuchs, and children also come into play!
Interesting info about China even though Steve didn't visit there....more
Cotton and Cassiopeia head to NY for Cotton to meet up with Stephanie Nelle. Instead, he foils a presidential assassination plot. When they try to figCotton and Cassiopeia head to NY for Cotton to meet up with Stephanie Nelle. Instead, he foils a presidential assassination plot. When they try to figure out who's behind the plot, they also find out Stephanie is missing - a prisoner of "the Commonwealth" - descendants of Revolutionary War privateers. After an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Andrew Jackson, he hid the Commonwealth's letters of Marque - making them illegal, and left them a clue to the location written in Jefferson's cipher. The race is on to decode the cipher, save Stephanie and demolish the Commonwealth. Happy ending! ...more
Cotton's son Gary has recently found out that his biological father is not Cotton. Mad at mom Pam, he requests to spend time in Denmark. Cotton picks Cotton's son Gary has recently found out that his biological father is not Cotton. Mad at mom Pam, he requests to spend time in Denmark. Cotton picks him up in Atlanta along with Ian, an English runaway, as a favor to Stephanie Nell. When all three are kidnapped at Heathrow, they're drawn into the King's deception. An interesting theory on Elizabeth I creates the deception, and Gary's birth father is exposed.
Not one of my favorite Berry books, but interesting....more
At a maritime auction in Barcelona, Merchant marine officer Manuel Coy witnesses an intense bidding war over a 17th c. nautical atlas. The winner is bAt a maritime auction in Barcelona, Merchant marine officer Manuel Coy witnesses an intense bidding war over a 17th c. nautical atlas. The winner is beautiful, but cool, Tangier Soto, who is obsessed with finding a Jesuit ship sunk in the 17th c. carrying a fortune in emeralds. They join forces with the help of Coy's friend and ship owner, El Piloto, and are able to locate the Dei Gloria & the emeralds. There are crosses and double crosses throughout and it's difficult to know who the "good" guys are.
Evidently not the author at his best and I wasn't enthralled. Sea info was interesting, but personal interactions and introspection are too detailed for my taste....more