The Emperor's Tomb (Cotton Malone, #6)

Sep 05, 2011 Jeanette rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-fiction, suspense-thriller

This is my least favorite of the Cotton Malone series. I'm grudgingly giving it three stars because I respect the research and travel Steve Berry did prior to writing the book. I did learn some interesting things about China and its history, and also discovered that there are some debates about the nature of what we consider fossil fuel.
As for the story, though, it was just too muddled and confusing. I could never keep track of who was on whose side and who was double-crossing and who was good...more

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Dec 09, 2010 Giovanni Gelati rated it 5 of 5 stars

Does Cotton Malone ever get to be behind the counter of his book store and actually sell a book to anyone? If so what would the book be and to what famous figure or character would he sell it? Fun thought? Well, since he didn’t sell any books this again, what exactly did he do with his bad self ?
“The tomb of China’s First Emperor, guarded by an underground army of terra-cotta warriors has remained sealed for more than 2,000 years. Though it’s regarded as one of the greatest archaeological sites...more Does Cotton Malone ever get to be behind the counter of his book store and actually sell a book to anyone? If so what would the book be and to what famous figure or character would he sell it? Fun thought? Well, since he didn’t sell any books this again, what exactly did he do with his bad self ?
“The tomb of China’s First Emperor, guarded by an underground army of terra-cotta warriors has remained sealed for more than 2,000 years. Though it’s regarded as one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world, the Chinese government won’t allow anyone to open it. Why?
That question is at the heart of a dilemma faced by former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone, whose life is shattered when he receives an anonymous note carrying an unfamiliar Web address. Logging on, he sees Cassiopeia Vitt, a woman who’s saved his life more than once, being tortured at the hands of a mysterious man who has a single demand: Bring me the artifact she’s asked you to keep safe. The only problem is Malone doesn’t have a clue what the man is talking about, since Cassiopeia has left nothing with him. So begins Malone’s most harrowing adventure to date—one that offers up astounding historical revelations, pits him against a ruthless ancient brotherhood, and sends him from Denmark to Belgium to Vietnam then on to China, a vast and mysterious land where danger lurks at every turn. “
The good stuff first, and understand I am giving this five stars; I love the character. Cotton and company are just excellent characters and the dialogue is just really good. I admit to the fact that character driven fiction is my thing and this is right in my wheelhouse. Steve Berry has crafted a truly awesome character in Cotton Malone. The plotline was fun, filled with history and interesting tidbits. One can tell that Mr. Berry did some homework before penning this novel, and the Writer’s Notes clarified a few things for me at the end; I was grateful for them.
The running gag about Cotton not getting the opportunity to sell books is fun. Maybe Mr. Berry can pull a Clive Cussler and be the guy that gets to buy the books from him in the next novel or do something that involves his non-profit organization, History Matters (As a prize, use the winner’s name in the novel, just an idea). Side note: I think that some of Mr. Berry’s readers have to be men and once a guy reads the ritual of the ancient brotherhood, well let’s just say that is all you need; it sticks in your head. I don’t need to have that reinforced throughout the novel, Ouch!!
Check out his website for all things Steve Berry. He is in the middle of a book signing tour right now, get the places and times. http://www.steveberry.org/
*** This Novel DEBUTS @ #8 on The NYT Bestseller list on 12/12.
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Apr 03, 2011 Miles rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviews

When I grow up I want to be Cotton Malone!

There I’ve said it – I feel better now – now that I’ve been true to myself – I am Spartacus - I am Cotton Malone! If only life was that easy and exciting! The world would be a better place and I’d go to work satisfied that I’d made a difference!

Long before I opened Steve Berry’s “The Emperor’s Tomb” I knew I wanted to read it! Not only did it sport an incredibly seductive and colourful book jacket (UK version infinitely better than the US version) but th...more When I grow up I want to be Cotton Malone!

There I’ve said it – I feel better now – now that I’ve been true to myself – I am Spartacus - I am Cotton Malone! If only life was that easy and exciting! The world would be a better place and I’d go to work satisfied that I’d made a difference!

Long before I opened Steve Berry’s “The Emperor’s Tomb” I knew I wanted to read it! Not only did it sport an incredibly seductive and colourful book jacket (UK version infinitely better than the US version) but the subject matter was just up my street – adventure, danger, spies, double crossing, an infinite amount of travel and a second hand bookshop owner – not necessarily in that order – what more could a guy want?!

“Hearing that his old friend Cassiopeia Vitt is in trouble, Malone follows the few clues he has and realises that they are in the middle of something huge, involving Russian and US oil interests and a centuries-old secret. After stumbling across two dead bodies and into the crosshairs of his former boss, Malone finds himself in a race to unravel the mystery of an emperor's tomb, a sinister society, and a deadly battle between two ruthless men for supremacy in China - and the world.”

My first introduction to the master of suspense – Steve Berry – I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but by the time I’d finished the enticing Prologue I knew I was in for the ride of my life – I was well and truly hooked. Crossing a rickety bridge in the middle of nowhere, our protagonists meet danger head on when disaster strikes. The bridge disintegrates and Cotton Malone is left clinging for dear life – reminding me of a predicament Indiana Jones also found himself in in “The Temple of Doom” - it certainly made me smile.

The world has been fascinated by the terra-cotta army ever since its discovery by three farmers, out digging holes to find water, in 1974. Berry utilises this fascination to great effect in “The Emperor’s Tomb” with a wonderful descriptive narrative that places the reader deep within the terra-cotta chambers in Xi’an, Shaanxi province in China – close your eyes and you can almost feel Qin Shi, China’s first Emperor’s, presence in the afterlife. It’s hard to believe that Berry, in the writer’s notes at the end of the book, confesses he’s never been to China due to time constraints.

Full Review on my blog:- http://www.milorambles.com/2011/04/04...
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Feb 08, 2011 Daniel Audet rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I finished this book a few minutes ago, and, among other writerly thoughts I'm walking away with an awestruck kind of respect for Berry's masterful use of multiple POV's as well his his fine tuned use of sweeping historical relevance in both his subplot and main storyline. Narration, dialogue, back-story - all woven into a spectacular tale. Love is the hardest thing to add to this kind of action thriller, in the sense that our hero Cotton Malone is, well, who he is. A capable "machine" of a man...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Mary Balconi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Berry brings China and its history to life with the lastest adventure of Cotton Malone. With lots of betrayals, and agents involved from the US and Russia and high ranking officials in China this mission gets really tangled over the retrieval of a little boy. Parts of the story are somwhat complicated and it gets a little tough to follow and you may find yourself re-reading parts of it. But I have found that in several of his books. However, I did like learning some of China's history.

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Apr 24, 2013 Randy Daugherty rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cotton Malone, former intelligence agent now book seller,, the one people comes to for those hard to find or obtain books. Cotton enjoys his new job and would like nothing better than to be behind the counter but it seems fate seems to intervene. Cotton receives a message and it was clear unless he returns an object placed in his care Cassiopeia Vitt a friend he has saved several times is in dire trouble, the problem is he has nothing.

Cotton follows his contact who are quieted by a Russian,one w...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Tony rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book began with a very exciting prologue. I discovered much later, in Chapter 75, the exact same words, so it wasn't a Prologue, but an excerpt from much later.

Unfortunately, there was very little between the "Prologue" and Chapter 75 to keep my interest, and little after.

Goodreads lists this as Steve Berry's 6th Cotton Malone novel, but it was my 8th Steve Berry, so I guess two of his earlier ones didn't have Cotton Malone as the central character.

I enjoyed all the previous ones, but this...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Karen Brooks rated it 3 of 5 stars

There’s no doubt that when Steve Berry decides to write a book set in a different country to his native one, he researches every last fact he can – from its people, politics, climate and geography, to its history. The Emperor’s Tomb is no different in that regard – the tomb referred to being the one containing the terracotta warriors associated with one of the ancient Chinese dynasties and, as it turns out, so much more as well.
The story features Cotton Malone, former naval pilot and lawyer and...more
There’s no doubt that when Steve Berry decides to write a book set in a different country to his native one, he researches every last fact he can – from its people, politics, climate and geography, to its history. The Emperor’s Tomb is no different in that regard – the tomb referred to being the one containing the terracotta warriors associated with one of the ancient Chinese dynasties and, as it turns out, so much more as well.
The story features Cotton Malone, former naval pilot and lawyer and member of the mysterious Magellan Billet who, two years earlier, retired to run a second bookstore in Copenhagen. Only, we rarely if ever get to see Malone in the store let alone reading as he’s always called upon to intervene in a global crisis – including in this novel.
When he’s sent a mysterious note with a web address and logs on to find his friend, the marvellously named and very beautiful Cassiopeia Vitt being tortured, he embarks on a whirlwind adventure that will take him to China and immerse him in a conspiracy that involves the Chinese government, the Russians and, of course, the United States as well. That his life is constantly at risk goes without question, but so is that of others, including a four year old boy.
On the brink of a new era, the current Chinese government is due for a change of leadership and there are two men currently vying for the role: one is a ruthless Legalist who will stop at nothing, destroying whatever and whoever stands in his way to achieve power. The other follows a different ideology and eschews violence as a solution unless it’s absolutely necessary, only he lacks the knowledge and support to be a serious contender.
With the Russians, Americans and the powerful Ba sect, a group of eunuchs who seem omniscient, pulling the strings and operating behind the scenes, saying one thing, promising and doing another, violence seems to be the only recourse for everyone. Enter Cotton Malone – not afraid to be the knight errant or even enter communist countries illegally if it means he will save the world. And, of course, violence is his middle name.
But Malone hadn’t counted on Chinese ingenuity, their ability to twist the truth or the past; nor can he rely on those he once believed could be trusted. And so the stage is set for a showdown of epic proportions, one that can change the balance not only in China, but the world.
For all that I can appreciate the research Berry does, and the travel he engages with and his passion to include a great deal of what he learns in his stories to give them authenticity, I feel this novel overdoes it. The plot was quite convoluted and the characters very two-dimensional, stereotypical and predictable. Further, the level of didacticism in this book took away from the story and slowed the pace to a crawl at some points. There were even repetitive bits – for example, on how one is made a eunuch. It was wince-worthy enough the first time (as well as interesting) but reading the details twice smacked of error and poor editing and diluted the effect. Likewise, a number of interesting facts about China were also repeated, rendering them redundant the second time around.
While the biotic and abiotic oil issue was fascinating, again, the plot had so many levels and unnecessary twists and turns, it became more like a labyrinth and I needed Ariadne’s thread to find my way out again.
Overall, however, it was a quick read – a bit of adventure brain candy and, hey, it featured Cotton Malone, a literary chick’s version of the stuff. So, in many ways, it served its purpose but I don’t think it’s as good as some of Berry’s other books.
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Jun 04, 2012 Angela Risner rated it 4 of 5 stars

I panned Berry's last book, the Paris Vendetta. I was so disappointed in it.

I am happy to say that I was very happy with The Emperor's Tomb. This book is a huge step back in the right direction, toward the Cotton Malone escapades we have come to know and love.

First of all, Cotton seemed, well, like COTTON again. He just wants to sell his books, enjoying his quiet little life. But of course, that will not last, as he is soon pulled into a quest to save his dear friend and perhaps soon lover, Cass...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Michael Johnston rated it 4 of 5 stars

Like all of Berry's books, easy to read, interesting back story, intriguing characters, etc. Berry is near the top of my list of writers of his genre. He may not be the best, but his books are consistently entertaining and of late I have found the stories getting better. Perhaps it's just that I like the main character who is an antiquarian book dealer, former government agent and current reluctant spy. I have to say, I'm an antiquarian book collector and never imagined that I would live to see...more

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May 21, 2011 Pamela rated it 3 of 5 stars

For some reason, this book by Steve Berry did not grab me the way that his other books have. In it Cotton Malone teams with Cassiopeia Vitt and travels from the museums of Europe to the terra cotta soldiers of China to rescue a stolen child. They become embroiled in a power struggle between Ni (a moderate) and Tang (an extremist) as each determines to be the next leader of China. Pau, the leader of the Ba (an organization of eununchs seeking control of China), forces this struggle to a head whil...more

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Apr 22, 2011 thewanderingjew rated it 4 of 5 stars

Similar to another audio book, I just heard (The Ghost War, by Alex Berenson), this is a twelve disc audio book with a wonderful reader who has mastered accents and inflection so that the book keeps you on the edge of your seat and alert as you drive!
From a child’s kidnapping to foreign intrigue about a new scientific discovery, this book is filled with excitement. There are so many sub plots, but underneath them all there is the additional plot of several competing leaders in China, each of wh...more Similar to another audio book, I just heard (The Ghost War, by Alex Berenson), this is a twelve disc audio book with a wonderful reader who has mastered accents and inflection so that the book keeps you on the edge of your seat and alert as you drive!
From a child’s kidnapping to foreign intrigue about a new scientific discovery, this book is filled with excitement. There are so many sub plots, but underneath them all there is the additional plot of several competing leaders in China, each of whom wishes to take over the government. Russia and the United States are involved in the intrigue, with each employing agents who may not be all that scrupulous.
Murder is simply a means to an end, viewed almost casually. Torture is acceptable in the Asian prisons. Maoists and Liberationists go head to head in their fight to take over the government and in the background, the “Ba” and the Eunochs also vie for power, aligning themselves with competing, powerful people. The "double cross" is routine, as ethical behavior is not of the slightest concern. The winner will determine whether or not China becomes a threat to, or a peaceful participant in, world affairs.
Underlying all of the varied sub-plots and side issues, is the theme of an undying source of energy, for which all three countries are searching; the key to its secret existence is thought to be hidden in China. Often the bad guy wins. China, as well as Russia, is a country with vastly different rules than the United States, and their tactics are sometimes appalling as are those of their agents. However, none of the participating countries is guiltless when it comes to reprehensible behavior. Greed and the desire for power appears to be the driving force and in its wake, valuable antiquities are destroyed and people are sacrificed with little or no reason other than expedience rather than justice.
This book is action packed; undercover agents and double agents go head to head. They sneak in and out of several countries to search for answers, often with violent outcomes. There is an abundance of characters, which sometimes makes it a little hard to figure out which one is being featured. There is definitely murder and mayhem and while the book may not keep you guessing, it will certainly keep you interested for many hours. It is worth the “road trip.
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Apr 10, 2011 Elizabeth rated it 2 of 5 stars

Emperor’s Tomb by Steve Berry (pp. 480)

When the best thing you say about a thriller is that’s well researched, you know you’re in trouble. Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Witt return in Berry’s sixth book to take the reader on a clunky journey to rescue a boy (weak premise at best) and get involved in a deep behind the scenes political intrigue in China.

From the start the premise misses the urgency of a thriller. The backroom politics of multiple Chinese men from the same areas of government seekin...more Emperor’s Tomb by Steve Berry (pp. 480)

When the best thing you say about a thriller is that’s well researched, you know you’re in trouble. Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Witt return in Berry’s sixth book to take the reader on a clunky journey to rescue a boy (weak premise at best) and get involved in a deep behind the scenes political intrigue in China.

From the start the premise misses the urgency of a thriller. The backroom politics of multiple Chinese men from the same areas of government seeking power by tracking the same item is so subtle and interwoven that it’s difficult to keep up with untagged dialogue. Cuts between the over adrenalized Malone and Witt in contrast feels like a rocking ship thrashing you about. The evil entity being blamed on a conspiracy perpetrated by a 2000 year old group of eunuchs called the Ba feels like Dan Brown’s evil albino. Which by extension feels like a lame, lazy premise.

Berry does a nice job of writing Chinese travelogue. He covers a wide variety of towns and hits on many of the cultural and religious elements of the region. Much of the material is similar to what you’d experience in a Comparative Religion class. The modern element of abiotic oil is timely and contrasting with the Russians is thought provoking despite the plot and narrative.

Berry’s afterword is more telling than the book itself. Each book takes him to a new region and he does heavy travel to get settings and details to pop. But at this point, it’s at the expense of the story. His books continue to feel like cobbled together notes from a great vacation instead of a well-developed story.

Berry is releasing the next in the series next month. And I will likely read it, too. I blame Dan Brown. There’s a lack of good offerings in the genre lately. Maybe the problem is less to do with writing and more to do with early success and writing contracts. Thank the heavens for eBooks. At least I’m not killing trees for the privilege.
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Feb 17, 2011 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

At first, this book scared me away, lol. It seemed like there would be too much history, it was long, and it is number 6 in a series of which I've read none of the books.

But I am hooked! There are three things I love most about this novel. First off, the characters: Cotton Malone is so much fun to read! His humor, fighting skills, logic skills: they all make for a great protagonist. And let's not forget about Cassiopeia Vitt, the leading lady who doesn't need a man to fight for her, and who neve...more

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Jan 21, 2011 Kate L rated it 4 of 5 stars

Growing up, I was always trying to be just like my dad and copied everything he did. Most of the things I picked up on as I tried to emulate him have stuck with me in adulthood, not the least of which is my love of reading. Specifically adventure novels in the vein of Clive Cussler and slightly more political, Tom Clancy. I remember reading them in elementary school not really understanding them, but determined to muddle through so that I could discuss them with my dad. As I grew up, I understoo...more

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Jan 09, 2011 Pamela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Steve Berry’s “The Emperor’s Tomb” is his ninth novel. In this outing, he intertwines history with modern-day action. Present once again are Cotton Malone, former CIA agent, and Cassiopeia Vitt, a woman who has saved Malone’s life on more than one occasion in other books. Together, they set off to find the son of another recurring character the Russian geologist Sokolov. The story takes place in several locations including Antwerp, Belgium and Xi’an, China. Playing a prominent role in the story...more

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Jan 02, 2011 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Cotton Malone fans

Cassiopeia Vitt has a problem. She owes ex-pat Russian Lev Sokolov a favour, and he's come to collect. His young son was kidnapped in China, a growing problem no one will admit exists. In her effort to find Sokolov's son, she steals an ancient Chinese artifact - a lamp - and then she finds herself kidnapped and being waterboarded. She does the only thing she can think of: she tells her kidnappers and torturers that Cotton Malone has the artifact they so desperately want.

With that, Cotton finds h...more

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Dec 20, 2010 Denise rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.0 out of 5 stars A thriller that takes you deep into the history of China, December 20, 2010

I have read most all of Steve Berry's previous novels -- my favorite was The Third Secret: A Novel -- and I like the way that the author blends history, archeology, and adventure into a mystery thriller. The typical Berry novel is a cross between Clive Cussler and Dan Brown, and they are fast paced, quick reads.

In this novel, Cotton Malone and Casssiopeia Vitt (these characters most recently appeared in...more 3.0 out of 5 stars A thriller that takes you deep into the history of China, December 20, 2010

I have read most all of Steve Berry's previous novels -- my favorite was The Third Secret: A Novel -- and I like the way that the author blends history, archeology, and adventure into a mystery thriller. The typical Berry novel is a cross between Clive Cussler and Dan Brown, and they are fast paced, quick reads.

In this novel, Cotton Malone and Casssiopeia Vitt (these characters most recently appeared in the previous novel The Paris Vendetta: A Novel) are reunited in a mission that focuses on China and a conspiracy that may prove deadly as there are those who want to keep an incredible discovery a secret. Malone and Vitt are brought into the inner workings of the post Mao government where there is a showdown between the two leading contenders (Tang and Ni) for that country's leadership role. Add in traitorous eunuchs, Russian spies, and trigger happy soldiers and you have a somewhat confusing story of cross and double cross. At stake is China's leadership yes, but also a race to verify that oil -- not fossil fuel as long believed was scarce -- but abiotic oil that is self replenishing and would never run out. What a find for China if true -- China that needs massive quantities of imported oil to run its industry and shelter its people. A Russian geologist has what he believes is proof that abiotic oil exists and was actually discovered in Gansu over 2200 years ago!! He is wanted by both the Russians and the Chinese and they will stop at nothing to get the verification they need. For if China doesn't need to import oil, it will no longer have to follow the dictates of the other nations and won't be held in check by threats of embargo. How powerful the leader of the nation that possesses unlimited oil would be. But no other country will find out! Is the verification they need hidden in the Emperor Qin Shi's tomb? The only problem is that the tomb has been off limits and sealed for over 2000 years!

Although the historical parts of the book were quite interesting (dynastic succession, eunuchs, important discoveries made centuries ago in China but kept from the western world) the narrative was somewhat disconnected. The point of view and the scene would switch back and forth quite frequently. I found the dialog more like an anthropology lecture sometimes and something that irritated me was the way the author wrote the way the Russians talked. The Chinese spoke English smoothly, but the Russians said things like "I not know" and "She gives to Tang who returns boy" i.e., skipped words, etc. Annoying -- I'm certain that any Russian secret agent would speak English quite fluently.

In short -- this book was OK but seemed more like a lecture in between unbelievable scenes of escapes and near death experiences. The fight scenes seemed to go on far too long and some of the transitions dragged on between bursts of action. Read it if you like to read about Chinese history and if you like spy stories and adventures. The conclusion was quite predictable. (less)

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Nov 09, 2010 Nightowltoo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Steve Berry's Emperor's tomb is escapist literature at its best. He hits all the required elements of the adventure/thriller genre - familiar recurring hero's (Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt), exotic locales (China and Belgium!?), historical mysteries (Chinese history and the 8000 man terra cotta army), chases gun-fire, explosions, women/children/fate of nations in jeopardy - without seeming stale.

Fans of Berry will not be disappointed. Which of course begs the question - can a new reader sta...more

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Oct 28, 2010 Chibineko rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm not going to lie to you, if you're hoping that this book will see the return of a story devoted to tracking down valuable & historically important treasures, you'll be disappointed. They're in here, but they are very much a backdrop to what is ultimately a political thriller. I do however, hope that you still give this book a chance. There's still enough here to like.

It was going to be a normal day for Cotton until he got a message containing a web address. He didn't know what to expect...more I'm not going to lie to you, if you're hoping that this book will see the return of a story devoted to tracking down valuable & historically important treasures, you'll be disappointed. They're in here, but they are very much a backdrop to what is ultimately a political thriller. I do however, hope that you still give this book a chance. There's still enough here to like.

It was going to be a normal day for Cotton until he got a message containing a web address. He didn't know what to expect from it, but he certainly wasn't expecting to see his old friend Cassiopeia Vitt being tortured. Cotton is given an ultimatum- give them what Cassiopeia left him or she dies. Only problem? He hasn't seen her in quite a while, let alone received anything from her. Unable to leave his friend (and possibly more) to die, Cotton meets up with one of the people involved in her capture, only to end up involved in something bigger than he ever expected. Not only is his & Cassiopeia's lives at stake, but also the future of China itself.

While there is a wonderful amount of history & ancient mystery to this book, that wasn't the main plot point of the book. At its heart this book was ultimately a fast paced political thriller, which I did enjoy for the most part. I do miss the old days of Cotton Indiana Jonesing his way through the story, but Berry seems to be exploring a new & untapped facet of this series that is pretty intriguing.

Unfortunately the book isn't completely perfect. There were times where the action laden scenes did seem to get a little bogged down under its own weight & I found myself really wishing the story would just move past that, especially when Cotton kept going on about how he didn't trust Viktor. It's during those times that I just felt that the book was a little overly drawn out & could've been about 30-50 pages shorter.

Overall though, this was a decent read & I would suggest it to fans of Berry or Clive Cussler. I'd really only suggest it to people who have been keeping up with the series, though. Some of the book is able to stand by itself but there are many times when the book keeps referring to past encounters & escapades that'll probably leave new readers wondering exactly what is going on. I just don't know if I'd recommend people going out & buying this immediately. I enjoyed this greatly, but it did seem to be more of a "get it from the library" type of read.

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Oct 21, 2010 Jj Kwashnak rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

In the landscape of literary Indiana Joneses - characters that cross the globe looking into historic artifacts, hidden history and historical conspiracies - Steve Berry's retired agent cum bookseller Cotton Malone has stood tall in his daring exploits and pursuit of truth for himself, his friends and even the safety of the world. His latest adventures take him in pursuit of ancient artifacts of China's first emperor with the fate of China's future, and of the world, hanging in the balance. Comin...more In the landscape of literary Indiana Joneses - characters that cross the globe looking into historic artifacts, hidden history and historical conspiracies - Steve Berry's retired agent cum bookseller Cotton Malone has stood tall in his daring exploits and pursuit of truth for himself, his friends and even the safety of the world. His latest adventures take him in pursuit of ancient artifacts of China's first emperor with the fate of China's future, and of the world, hanging in the balance. Coming off the death of his friend, and mentor, Henrik Thorvaldsen, Malone is questioning himself and his actions, only to receive a note with a Web address. At that address Malone sees Cassiopeia Vitt, a woman he not only loves, but has helped save his life several times, being waterboarded to find out the location of an ancient Chinese relic. Malone knows nothing about any object that Vitt may have had, but he needs to do anything he can to save her, and is plunged into a web of international intrigue involving the Chinese, Americans and Russians, and includes the return of Viktor Tomas, last seen in Central Asia in The Venetian Betrayal. Malone and Vitt find themselves between factions vying for the next Premiership of China incluiding the threatened reemergence of the Ba - a brotherhood of eunuchs that have been political power players in China for millennia. The race begins to find artifacts from the first emperor's tomb regarding ancient oil with the future direction of China, and subsequently China's power in the world. With characters not as they seem and carrying their own hidden agendas, Malone and Vitt must navigate a shifting landscape to help save the world, and the life of a kidnapped boy.

A hallmark of Berry's books has always been that they are long on research and builds upon, often obscure, facts and research. Along the way the reader is exposed to a lot of nifty factoid nuggets along the way, this time on the accomplishments of the ancient Chinese people. The concept at the heart of the story - that oil is not a fossil fuel but a product of the Earth, so called abiotic oil, may not shaky to some readers, but it is no further afield than the ancient Aryan race or ancient healing serums that have featured in previous stories. For some the discussions of Confucian vs. Legalism political philosophy may be a bit tiresome, but the book crackles with action and constantly draws the reader forward. The story is good, but somehow it feels just a bit undercooked. It does not seem to have the same cohesion and sense of urgency that previous stories have had. It may be because at the heart, the story is the struggle between two politicians and while the eventual prize is the chance to control a country and part of the world, it lacked some of the megalomania that marked earlier villains. Despite that, a visit by Cotton Malone is a visit with an old friend and a second tier Berry book still beats out so many of the other books in the Historic Mystery Adventure genre. Overall still a very enjoyable book to get lost in.
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Sep 29, 2010 J Edward Tremlett rated it 2 of 5 stars

Former Magellan Billet agent Cotton Malone has a genuine but complicated attraction to the exotic Cassiopeia Vitt. So when someone sends him realtime video of her being waterboarded, and demands that Cotton meet with agents to give back what she gave him — which was nothing, actually – he springs into action to save her life, as well as solve the puzzle of what she had, and who she took it from.

Finding the answer to that question brings him into contact with old friends and foes, as well as some...more

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Sep 22, 2010 aspasiacat rated it 4 of 5 stars

If there is one lesson to be learned from the Chinese culture it is that things are not always what they seem and a polite countenance and soft words can mask a country in major turmoil and upheaval beneath a placid surface. The frozen faced terra cotta warriors of China's First Emperor Qui Shi are just part of the adventure in this rollicking, suspenseful and history laden book by author Steve Berry. This story centers on an age old mystery with world wide implications - are the Chinese hiding...more

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May 02, 2013 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller-mystery

Having lived in China for four years and having read quite a bit of Chinese history, I found this story line of this book fascinating. Berry uses enough facts of history and current event to make his plot relatively plausible. I am not familiar with issue biotic vs. abiotic oil, but I do know that today's China relies heavily on petroleum imports to fuel it's economic growth. And the conflict between legalisms and Followers of Confucius has long existed in the dynasties that ruled China, includi...more

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Mar 22, 2012 Laura Williams rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is my first Steve Berry book. I chose to listen to it because I've found my listening standards aren't as high as my reading standards. I think it was a good choice to get this on cd, it fulfilled my primary goal when driving, which is to be entertained.

This is one of those adventure books that has a bit of everything: action, romance, history, etc. It put two American agents in the middle of a fight for Chinese power. It was pretty much the stereotypical action adventure book, full of rid...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Zeke Chase rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller

On a rating scale of 1-10, averaging scores on theme, prose, character development, structure and general story, I rate this book as 1.5 / 10.

That is the single worst score I've ever given a book. It nearly ubiquitously fails in all catagories. Even the structure I found repetative and thus annoying. The characters are flatter than my dream girl, and somehow I don't think the first five Cotton Malone books would help with that. The prose is so stilted as to be mechanical, and it doesn't elucida...more

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Mar 08, 2011 Stephanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller

This review originally appeared at www.readinasinglesitting.com

Steve Berry doesn’t muck around. Within five pages retired Justice Department operative Cotton Malone finds himself yanked away from his daily potterings in his Copenhagen bookshop and swept up in all manner of conspiracies, double crossings, and rat-a-tat shootings. The catalyst for all of this? Cotton’s ex-colleague and wealthy amateur archaeologist (and potential romantic interest) Cassiopeia Vitt has been kidnapped and subjected...more This review originally appeared at www.readinasinglesitting.com

Steve Berry doesn’t muck around. Within five pages retired Justice Department operative Cotton Malone finds himself yanked away from his daily potterings in his Copenhagen bookshop and swept up in all manner of conspiracies, double crossings, and rat-a-tat shootings. The catalyst for all of this? Cotton’s ex-colleague and wealthy amateur archaeologist (and potential romantic interest) Cassiopeia Vitt has been kidnapped and subjected to torture–over an ancient item apparently in Cotton’s possession. Soon enough (within another five or so pages), Cotton finds himself flying in to China with the butt-kicking Cassiopia, the hard-to-read Viktor Tomas, whose alliances are never a truly known quantity, and a couple of Chinese politicians whose loyalty is equally as ambiguous as Tomas’s. The mission? To retrieve a stolen lamp that may prove that oil is truly “abiotic” and thus replenishable–a fact that would allow China to sever its ties to Russia and the US and become a (more) formidable world power. The complicating factors? A missing child, some ninja eunuchs, various complex political machinations, double/triple/quadruple-crossing operatives, and the fact that near enough to everyone wants Malone and his cronies dead.

My thoughts

If your heart’s pounding a little faster, and your mind’s working overtime to figure out what’s going on, then you’re Steve Berry’s ideal reader. If your constitution’s on the weaker side, you’ll want to give this one a miss, because Mr Berry is perhaps the most relentless author I’ve come across of late, and like Chuck Norris, he’s a man you don’t want to mess with.

(Okay, just give me a minute to pause for breath)

I’ll admit to a little bit of cynicism when I picked this up to read on the weekend. With my predilection for gorgeous prose and deep, deep characterisation, I tend to eschew plot-heavy books in favour of slim and slight volumes that are told oh-so-beautifully. And let’s not beat around the bush and pretend that Berry is a master wordsmith or Freudian analyst, for he’s not. The prose is what you’d expect from a short novel that runs more than 70 chapters, and the characterisation is similar: think functional, concise, and not especially pretty. But Mr Berry knows how to work his stuff to keep you reading. And if that means torturing poor Malone and his buddies with incessant helicopter flyovers, martial artists in museums, secret tracking devices, and hilariously rendered Russo-English, then that’s what he’ll do. And you know what? For the most part it works, with the novel rocketing along at an impressive clip for most of its 400 or so pages.

Of course, there are times when the pace lags a little, and these sections typically share similar characteristics. You know what I’m going to say, don’t you? Yes, the ubiquitous info-dump. The Emperor’s Tomb touches on everything from biotic and abiotic oil to rebuilding 12th century castles to the precise layout of the famed Terracotta Warriors and you’ll find yourself subjected to a treatise on each (and in the case of the last, with bonus diagrams and schematics). There’s an earnestness to these sections that detracts a little from the otherwise wham-bam approach to the story, and I think the book is the worse for it. I’m perfectly happy to read a yarn so long as it’s aware that it’s a yarn and doesn’t try to take itself too seriously. But when it puts on its glasses and tries to get studious, that’s when I start to take issue.

In addition to these mounds of info-dumpery, The Emperor’s Tomb is weakened a little by the fact that it tries to outwit everyone–and having done so, to take them for a ride, pull the wool over their eyes, and then pull their leg. There are more twists in this book than you’ll find on the average 50s rockabilly dance floor, and one almost needs a visual concept map to tease out who’s doing what, and why. Viktor Tomas, for example, is utterly unfathomable, so often does he switch sides. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure that he knows why he’s doing what he does–perhaps he’s simply a pathological liar? Pau Wen is equally as ambiguous, and the fact that he’s rather stereotypically characterised as an impassive, inscrutable Chinese (one can imagine him stroking his china as he talks) doesn’t help matters. Things also slow down during the ubiquitous fight scenes, which are notoriously hard to render on the page–and perhaps shouldn’t be. The in-media-res beginning involving Cassipeia’s waterboarding is also problematic, and I can’t help that the novel would be stronger without it.

I found wise-cracking, belligerent Malone rather dire, too, and when one doesn’t identify with the protagonist, it’s hard to fully get into a book. This is a personal preference, of course: I typically avoid brash, tell-it-like-it-is people in real life, and this habit extends into my reading. But really, it’s no wonder that Viktor Tomas seems to want nothing more than to give Malone a good bruisin’ with his pistol. Hopefully now that Malone’s latest adventure is over, he can get back to selling books–and learning how to deal with the general public.

Conclusions

The Emperor’s Tomb is the latest release in Berry’s Cotton Malone series, and stands quite well on its own, although I’d imagine that reading the series in order would result in a little more grounding for the reader. It’s a fast and zippy (and occasionally zany) read suited perfectly for those long airport waits–so long as you’re sure that no spies or secret operatives are reading over your shoulder. Thriller lovers with a yen for historical fiction and like a bit of light politics with their morning coffee will find this one good value for money, but literary readers who love to lose themselves in finely wrought sentences and fascinating characters may find themselves a little underwhelmed.(less)

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Jan 18, 2013 Jody rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-fire, mystery, thriller, historical-fiction

Another great book by Berry. One of the reasons I like his books is that you learn from them without realizing that you are learning. He does his research and you can tell he really enjoys bringing out details that most of his readers probably didn't already know. He takes you to far away places (although the next book is based in America) and paints the landmarks so vividly that you feel as if you are there beside Cotton Malone through his many adventures. You will pull for the good guys and ha...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Au Fil rated it 3 of 5 stars

Mon avis:
La couverture:
Pour commencer, je parlerai de la couverture, sombre et mystérieuse qui nous donne l'impression que l'on va effectivement ouvrir les portes d'un monastère et nous met directement dans l'ambiance.
L'histoire:
L'histoire est plutôt compliquée, je ne saurai même pas par quel bout commencer, j'admire d'ailleurs la personne qui a dû rédiger la quatrième de couverture rendant ainsi le roman un peu plus clair... Comme vous l'aurez certainement compris, le récit va tourner autour d...more Mon avis:
La couverture:
Pour commencer, je parlerai de la couverture, sombre et mystérieuse qui nous donne l'impression que l'on va effectivement ouvrir les portes d'un monastère et nous met directement dans l'ambiance.
L'histoire:
L'histoire est plutôt compliquée, je ne saurai même pas par quel bout commencer, j'admire d'ailleurs la personne qui a dû rédiger la quatrième de couverture rendant ainsi le roman un peu plus clair... Comme vous l'aurez certainement compris, le récit va tourner autour de la Chine et d'un mystérieux tombeau. Tout commence avec un e-mail que Cotton Malone, un ancien militaire reconvertit en libraire, reçoit. Dans ce courriel, il peut voir son amie Cassiopée Vitt, torturée... Cotton va donc courir à sa rescousse sans vraiment savoir dans quel pétrin il va mettre les pieds.
Les personnages:
Les personnages en présence dans le roman semblent être récurrents chez Steve Berry. En effet, on comprend très vite que Cotton, Cassiopée, Stéphanie et Victor ont déjà vécu quelques aventures ensemble. J'ai trouvé d'ailleurs assez agaçants toutes ces anecdotes sur les romans passés et qui n'ont aucun intérêt dans le roman présent.
Le style de l'auteur:
Le style de l'auteur est plutôt inégal. Le livre commence par un réel départ en trombe puis semble stagner sur environ 200 pages. Le début du roman s'attache à un lieu et parfois à un ou deux personnages créant une certaine confusion. Je me suis sentie assaillie par pleins d'informations sans vraiment savoir quoi en faire. J'ai eu la sensation que tout partait dans tous les sens et j'avais vraiment du mal à m'imaginer la suite de tout ça. Heureusement, tout se rejoint environ vers 250 pages même si tout n'est pas encore très clair. Les personnages sont de sacrés manipulateurs et menteurs ceux qui crée une réelle confusion. Qui croire?
Le choix d'une narration externe fait de chaque personnage un suspect potentiel créant un certain suspens.
Une fois que le livre a pris son envol (pénible, il faut l'avouer), c'est un réel plaisir de lecture qui s'empare du lecteur. j'étais vraiment pressé de connaître la fin de cette histoire aux multiples rebondissements. Jusqu'aux dernières pages, un mystère plane...
Je note également une certaine confusion dans les dialogues que j'ai trouvé plutôt brouillons. Parfois, il me fallait les lire deux fois pour comprendre qui disait quoi à qui. J'aurai également aimé plus de passages "historiques", avec des retours en arrière. En effet, je trouve que les couvertures de ce livre créent cet effet d'attente du lecteur (en tout cas c'est ce que ça a fait chez moi).
Pour finir, je reviendrai sur la qualification de thriller de ce roman. J'ai lu énormément de thrillers et je n'ai pas eu la sensation d'en lire un avec ce roman. Je qualifierai plutôt ce livre de roman d'aventure.
Pour résumer:
Une intrigue longue à démarrer mais qui s'avère bien menée sur les trois quart du livre. Une lecture agréable mais qui me déçoit un peu.

Si vous voulez lire plus de critiques: http://aufildesplumes.blogspot.fr (less)

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Feb 04, 2011 Christopher Bunn rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'd heard a lot of good things about Steve Berry's thrillers, particularly within the context of how he takes established history and then embroiders in his own fictitious elements to create his books. That's been done and is being done, of course, all the time, by everyone from Alistair MacLean to Tom Clancy. At any rate, I really enjoy that approach when it's done well.

Anyway, I did enjoy the look at Chinese politics in this book, as well as the ideas (fictitious or not) on oil exploration th...more

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The Emperor's Tomb (Cotton Malone #6)

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