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Cotton Malone #11
De veertiende kolonie
‘De veertiende kolonie’ (The 14th Colony) van Steve Berry (‘Het koningsbedrog’ ‘De Lincoln mythe’’Het patriottenspel’) is opnieuw een weergaloze politieke thriller van zijn hand. Voor de fans van ‘House of Cards’ en ‘West Wing’.
Door een onduidelijke wet over de presidentiële opvolging, zou een succesvolle aanslag op de verkozen president én vice-president voorafgaand aan de inauguratie tot niets minder dan een politieke chaos kunnen leiden.
Enkele uren voor de inauguratie ontdekt de geheime dienst dat oud KGB-agent Aleksandr Zorin zwaar bewapend op weg is naar Washington D.C. Zorin is van plan die maas in de wet te benutten.
Zorin wordt gesteund door een groep die zich de ‘Society of Cincinnati’ noemt. Die beweging had ooit tot doel Canada als veertiende kolonie aan de VS toe te voegen. Cotton Malone raakt verwikkeld in een race tegen de klok om niet alleen de verkozen president, maar ook het voortbestaan van de VS te beschermen.
De boeken van bestsellerauteur Steve Berry worden alom geprezen vanwege hun rijkdom aan historische details en de grondige research. Zijn thrillers verschijnen in veertig talen.
Door een onduidelijke wet over de presidentiële opvolging, zou een succesvolle aanslag op de verkozen president én vice-president voorafgaand aan de inauguratie tot niets minder dan een politieke chaos kunnen leiden.
Enkele uren voor de inauguratie ontdekt de geheime dienst dat oud KGB-agent Aleksandr Zorin zwaar bewapend op weg is naar Washington D.C. Zorin is van plan die maas in de wet te benutten.
Zorin wordt gesteund door een groep die zich de ‘Society of Cincinnati’ noemt. Die beweging had ooit tot doel Canada als veertiende kolonie aan de VS toe te voegen. Cotton Malone raakt verwikkeld in een race tegen de klok om niet alleen de verkozen president, maar ook het voortbestaan van de VS te beschermen.
De boeken van bestsellerauteur Steve Berry worden alom geprezen vanwege hun rijkdom aan historische details en de grondige research. Zijn thrillers verschijnen in veertig talen.
573 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2016
1716 people are currently reading
7603 people want to read
About the author
Steve Berry
99 books7,598 followersSteve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of twenty-two novels, which include: The Last Kingdom , The Omega Factor , The Kaiser's Web, The Warsaw Protocol, The Malta Exchange, The Bishop’s Pawn, The Lost Order, The 14th Colony, The Patriot Threat, The Lincoln Myth, The King's Deception, The Columbus Affair, The Jefferson Key, The Emperor's Tomb, The Paris Vendetta, The Charlemagne Pursuit, The Venetian Betrayal, The Alexandria Link, The Templar Legacy, The Third Secret, The Romanov Prophecy, and The Amber Room. Steve has also co-written a novel with Grant Blackwood, The 9th Man (a Luke Daniels Adventure), and four novellas with M. J. Rose: The End of Forever, The House of Long Ago, The Lake of Learning, and The Museum of Mysteries, all Cassiopeia Vitt tales. His books have been translated into 41 languages with over 25,000,000 copies in 52 countries. They consistently appear in the top echelon of The New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestseller lists. Somewhere in the world, every thirty seconds, one of his novels is sold.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,036 reviews
May 9, 2016
I’ve enjoyed reading Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone Series but the latest and 11th adventure, The 14th Colony, was somewhat a bit of a disappointment for me.
Whilst I like the way the author blends in well researched historical mysteries with present day conspiracies, I found the plot, which revolves around the time of the Cold War and a lot of the USA amendments……Russian zealots bent on bringing down the USA today………..after a while I found myself skipping and skimming a lot of pages…….may I admit that I was bored….the slow pace until the last couple of pages …..did I struggle to get to the end.
Actually, I would have liked more pages given to Cotton Malone. Cassiopeia and other characters I have come to know and love.
This is the book in this series that never excited me. The author has written much better books in this series.
Whilst I like the way the author blends in well researched historical mysteries with present day conspiracies, I found the plot, which revolves around the time of the Cold War and a lot of the USA amendments……Russian zealots bent on bringing down the USA today………..after a while I found myself skipping and skimming a lot of pages…….may I admit that I was bored….the slow pace until the last couple of pages …..did I struggle to get to the end.
Actually, I would have liked more pages given to Cotton Malone. Cassiopeia and other characters I have come to know and love.
This is the book in this series that never excited me. The author has written much better books in this series.
April 5, 2016
Steve Berry has written a very believable plot along with several accurate and interesting facts that took place prior to the cold war, during the cold war and finally at its end. The Society of Cincinnati has been hiding secret archives for years and former Russian KGB spies are desperate to locate them to aid in their quest to bring about the downfall of the United States. Cotton Malone is back and flying on a mission to Siberia on a Russian Sukhoi /HAL fighter to locate Aleksandr Zorin, who is determined to punish America believing it was totally responsible for the demise of the Soviet Union. Although Malone has the blessing of the Russian government to fly into their country, others are not going to be so accommodating. The 14th Colony is an excellent political thriller and will keep readers well entertained.
Thank you to Goodreads giveaway contest and Minotaur Books for sending me an advanced copy of The 14th Colony
Thank you to Goodreads giveaway contest and Minotaur Books for sending me an advanced copy of The 14th Colony
December 17, 2023
În acest volum avem evenimente din istoria recentă pe care în mare parte le cunoaștem. Războiul Rece și activitățile de spionaj din astea perioadă au dat naștere multor povești. În acest volum urmărim două mistere, iar cel de al doilea, legat de planurile SUA de a anexa Canada sunt foarte interesante și cred eu că nu chiar atât de cunoscute, având în vedere că SUA a ratat de trei ori în această tentativă.
April 6, 2016
The best part of this book to me was the concept that President Reagan and the Pope plotted the destruction of the USSR. It explains so much about the Star Wars program. The author asserts there really was a private meeting between the two men and the discussion is still a secret. A big secret since both men are now dead but this is Berry's jump off point for this installment in the Cotton Malone series.
The thing I enjoy about his books are the mixture of fact and fiction of events in history. I have learned a great deal about them as they are really well researched. This one deals with recent history, the Cold War. There is the usual action, car chases, fires, shooting, slitting of people's throats and all the other requirements of a good thriller. It is an easy read and all the usual characters are present.
I am a little tired of Cassiopeia rebuilding her 13th century castle with the methods and materials used in that era. Everything is historically accurate. I wondered what that point of that really is but I guess it's like any hobby. It's just one that requires the big bucks and Cassiopeia certainly has that. Then I realized I am just a little tired of the series. The 11th book in the series is just a little tired. Danny Daniels is out now as President so this may be the time to fold the series.
The thing I enjoy about his books are the mixture of fact and fiction of events in history. I have learned a great deal about them as they are really well researched. This one deals with recent history, the Cold War. There is the usual action, car chases, fires, shooting, slitting of people's throats and all the other requirements of a good thriller. It is an easy read and all the usual characters are present.
I am a little tired of Cassiopeia rebuilding her 13th century castle with the methods and materials used in that era. Everything is historically accurate. I wondered what that point of that really is but I guess it's like any hobby. It's just one that requires the big bucks and Cassiopeia certainly has that. Then I realized I am just a little tired of the series. The 11th book in the series is just a little tired. Danny Daniels is out now as President so this may be the time to fold the series.
April 12, 2017
I would like to thank Hodder & Stoughton for a free copy of The 14th Colony which I won in a Goodreads giveaway.
The novel opens with Cotton Malone flying over a remote part of Siberia when he is shot down. After that it is non stop action with a rogue former KGB agent determined to wreak his revenge on the U.S. And Cotton and his team equally determined to stop him.
This is a series I have dipped in and out of over the years, although not for a while. The 14th Colony, which, incidentally refers to Canada, is a fascinating mix of historical fact, Mr Berry's imagination and plenty of action. The plot has plenty of twists and turns to hold the reader's interest and while highly unrealistic it is a high octane read.
I found much of the older American history interesting as it is new to me but, having lived through the Cold War, it is clear that Mr Berry has a very different take on events in the 80s to what I remember. In fact his smacks of revisionism and American jingoism at its worst - Ronald Reagan as a political visionary whose policies single handedly brought about the demise of the Soviet era. This hagiography really spoiled my reading of the novel.
Apart from this politicism of history the novel is a good adventure with superhero protagonists who can escape any situation.
The novel opens with Cotton Malone flying over a remote part of Siberia when he is shot down. After that it is non stop action with a rogue former KGB agent determined to wreak his revenge on the U.S. And Cotton and his team equally determined to stop him.
This is a series I have dipped in and out of over the years, although not for a while. The 14th Colony, which, incidentally refers to Canada, is a fascinating mix of historical fact, Mr Berry's imagination and plenty of action. The plot has plenty of twists and turns to hold the reader's interest and while highly unrealistic it is a high octane read.
I found much of the older American history interesting as it is new to me but, having lived through the Cold War, it is clear that Mr Berry has a very different take on events in the 80s to what I remember. In fact his smacks of revisionism and American jingoism at its worst - Ronald Reagan as a political visionary whose policies single handedly brought about the demise of the Soviet era. This hagiography really spoiled my reading of the novel.
Apart from this politicism of history the novel is a good adventure with superhero protagonists who can escape any situation.
September 29, 2021
A nice blend of history and fiction for those missing the old Cold War spy novels.
May 21, 2016
didn't finish. barely got past the reagan hagiography. unlike much of berry's audience, apparently, i was actually around when reagan was doing this crap. and crap it was. there is nothing in berry's writking that redeems this mess. makes me feel slimy just listening to as much of it as i did.
June 5, 2016
I have liked several of Steve Berry's books, though some of them are stinkers. This is the latter. Great if you like relentless scenes of people getting bombed, stabbed, shot, set on fire, etc. Why Cotton Malone hasn't developed PTSD is anyone's guess. The huge Secret at the end is obvious from a long way away. It will annoy you no end if you don't think Ronald Reagan was right up there with God. This has everything, in a kind of stew: Evil KGB fanatics and sleeper cells; nefarious secrets of a Revolutionary War society that makes plans to do dire things to Canada (that latter part per the afterwords is real --and we really should be ashamed of ourselves), secret hideaways in abandoned mansions, a lame duck presidency and constitutional crises that drives the bad guys, daring parachute jumps, super weapons, and people surviving things they really shouldn't survive. Few books I've read recently have had me constantly peeking to see how many pages are left, and sighing.
September 28, 2021
Hmmm, is this book where the "designated survivor" series came from? Interesting tale and for once in a series...everyone went off happy!
June 5, 2016
I enjoy Steve Berry's writing, but I had some issues with this book.
First off, I could have done without the Reagan hagiography. I loathed Reagan, and I find even a fictional attempt to rehabilitate him off-putting.
I like the characters, but I found the repeated emphasis on Cotton & Cassiopeia's renewed relationship unnecessary. I read the prior book, and I barely remembered "what happened in Utah" to cause problems between them - and honestly, I didn't care. In my opinion, it would have been a better choice to sum up what the problem was, then move on instead of hinting at it over and over.
I am not sure whether the bit involving Canada was meant to be a colossal red herring, since it really didn't have much bearing on the actual plot or action involved in the rest of the book. If it was meant to be a red herring, it didn't really work, since the bits written from the conspirators' perspective gave away the fact that Canada had little to do with the plot, and that their real objective was something else entirely.
I enjoyed the spy-thriller part of the book very much! The action sequences were taut, and I always enjoy Mr. Berry's writing style. Had the author trimmed out the Canada bits, and stuck with the actual plot plus the Washington, D.C. political intrigue, this would have been a better book.
First off, I could have done without the Reagan hagiography. I loathed Reagan, and I find even a fictional attempt to rehabilitate him off-putting.
I like the characters, but I found the repeated emphasis on Cotton & Cassiopeia's renewed relationship unnecessary. I read the prior book, and I barely remembered "what happened in Utah" to cause problems between them - and honestly, I didn't care. In my opinion, it would have been a better choice to sum up what the problem was, then move on instead of hinting at it over and over.
I am not sure whether the bit involving Canada was meant to be a colossal red herring, since it really didn't have much bearing on the actual plot or action involved in the rest of the book. If it was meant to be a red herring, it didn't really work, since the bits written from the conspirators' perspective gave away the fact that Canada had little to do with the plot, and that their real objective was something else entirely.
I enjoyed the spy-thriller part of the book very much! The action sequences were taut, and I always enjoy Mr. Berry's writing style. Had the author trimmed out the Canada bits, and stuck with the actual plot plus the Washington, D.C. political intrigue, this would have been a better book.
February 4, 2019
A political / spy / adventurous novel that is unobtrusive, but in fact can be more realistic than it seems. The action is good when it happens. I have developed none identification with any of the characters, whether good or evil, to worry if they have succeeded or failed. I enjoyed the main storyline and the more recent history but I have enjoyed other books much more.
November 12, 2017
Zanimljivo.
Read
May 20, 201640% done, but maybe later.
February 24, 2021
best of the best 5 stars loved it very much
February 11, 2016
I really loved Steve Berry's books, until the last 2. To me The Patriot Games was so boring that I almost did not finish it, and could only skim it to the end. Its lucky that I got a copy of The 14h Colony from Netgalley for review as I am not sure I would have tried it on my own. Berry is back on track, writing a thriller with lots of historical background. The history here concerns the founding of America, the War of 1812, and the fall of the Soviet Union while the thriller concerns a revenge destruction of the United States. While it was not the best I have read by Berry, it was worth reading. Recommended.
September 17, 2016
Another great Cotton Malone tale. The historic hook in this novel is the U.S. history of trying to invade Canada and the legal defects in our 20th Amendment and the Congressional Act of Presidential Succession. I hesitate to say more lest I spoil the enjoyment that we Berry fans have for these books and the author. I will simply say that this is a good one with Cotton and Cassiopeia back together and in the thick of the action as usual. These books are fun and entertaining and you can learn something about our history along the way. Can you ask for more?
July 30, 2017
I had previously read a novel by Steve Berry and I was hardly impressed. But with the combination of the cool cover and the concept behind the story, I was intrigued. What I found was that the execution matched the concept. Berry had a strong writing style that enhanced the tenor of the story. It was very reminiscent of Brad Meltzer when he is on his game.
There are several things going on in this novel, and it wasn’t always clear where it was heading. One part involved historical references to the United States invading Canada, the 14th colony. I found that this portion of it, although intriguing, was really subterfuge. There was also much discussion about the presidential succession and what would occur if the president and vice-president were killed on inauguration. I don’t think this part was factually accurate, but I thought most of the rest of the novel was factually accurate. I really liked the whole conspiracy angle between President Reagan and Pope John Paul 2 to bring down the Soviet Union. That might have been my favorite part of the novel.
Mixed in with all of this historical background and intrigue was an exciting storyline involving a plot to detonate nuclear bombs at the White House during the inauguration by former KGB members. There were multiple threads to this story line that were going at the same time, and it was woven well together by the author, kind of like a tapestry. The climax of the story was exciting if not a bit predictable. All in all, I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes history, politics, and action.
Carl Alves – author of Reconquest: Mother Earth
There are several things going on in this novel, and it wasn’t always clear where it was heading. One part involved historical references to the United States invading Canada, the 14th colony. I found that this portion of it, although intriguing, was really subterfuge. There was also much discussion about the presidential succession and what would occur if the president and vice-president were killed on inauguration. I don’t think this part was factually accurate, but I thought most of the rest of the novel was factually accurate. I really liked the whole conspiracy angle between President Reagan and Pope John Paul 2 to bring down the Soviet Union. That might have been my favorite part of the novel.
Mixed in with all of this historical background and intrigue was an exciting storyline involving a plot to detonate nuclear bombs at the White House during the inauguration by former KGB members. There were multiple threads to this story line that were going at the same time, and it was woven well together by the author, kind of like a tapestry. The climax of the story was exciting if not a bit predictable. All in all, I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes history, politics, and action.
Carl Alves – author of Reconquest: Mother Earth
April 15, 2016
The 14th Colony by Steve Berry is number 11 in the Cotton Malone series. If you're already a fan of the series, you know what you'll be getting. If you haven't read one before, while you might enjoy the actual story, there will be some things mentioned that you probably won't understand. These really are books that should be read in order for the most enjoyment.
Several years ago I read the first 5 books of the series and enjoyed them. Last year, after a break of several years I read the 8th book (The King's Deception) which was very disappointing. When I saw The 14th Colony offered on Netgalley I was excited to give both Cotten and Mr. Berry another chance. Unfortunately, I found myself disappointed again.
This book did have good things going for it: it was well researched, the action scenes were well written and fast paced, the characters were mostly old favorites and also well written. The things I didn't like about it included: hinting at things that happened in the previous book but not actually saying what happened (it was so frustrating to keep reading about what happened "in Utah" and not knowing what that meant), the slow pace of the book until the end of the book, and there really wasn't much more to the plot than was in the blurb. Once again I'm disappointed in a Cotton Malone book. The difference is that unfortunately now there won't be a next time.
Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC.
Several years ago I read the first 5 books of the series and enjoyed them. Last year, after a break of several years I read the 8th book (The King's Deception) which was very disappointing. When I saw The 14th Colony offered on Netgalley I was excited to give both Cotten and Mr. Berry another chance. Unfortunately, I found myself disappointed again.
This book did have good things going for it: it was well researched, the action scenes were well written and fast paced, the characters were mostly old favorites and also well written. The things I didn't like about it included: hinting at things that happened in the previous book but not actually saying what happened (it was so frustrating to keep reading about what happened "in Utah" and not knowing what that meant), the slow pace of the book until the end of the book, and there really wasn't much more to the plot than was in the blurb. Once again I'm disappointed in a Cotton Malone book. The difference is that unfortunately now there won't be a next time.
Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC.
March 6, 2016
I received an advance copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I always really enjoy Steve Berry books so I was thrilled to receive a copy. However, this was on Steve Berry book I did not enjoy. I found it really repetitive through the book. Also, he kept focusing on the renewed relationship of Cotton and Cassiopeia. It kept being repeated over and over that they both weren't great with feelings.
The story itself was interesting due to the fact it dealt with more recent history, the Cold War. However, maybe because I am a Cold War junkie I didn't like the story. Plus the part about the 14th Colony, the title of the book, was actually a small part of the book. And to some extent not relevant.
I think this is just a rare miss for Steve Berry and I will still look forward to his next one.
The story itself was interesting due to the fact it dealt with more recent history, the Cold War. However, maybe because I am a Cold War junkie I didn't like the story. Plus the part about the 14th Colony, the title of the book, was actually a small part of the book. And to some extent not relevant.
I think this is just a rare miss for Steve Berry and I will still look forward to his next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2015
It is the last days of President Daniels 2nd term and Cotton Malone is back to work for the US. This time he is asked by Stephanie Nelle, his former boss at the Magellan Billet, to travel to Siberia to track a former KGB agent and a former KGB archivist meeting in secret. Stephanie and her operatives are convinced that two are involved in a plot to activate high impact bombs from the Cold War days.
So begins another adventure involving Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul, the Society of Cincinnati, a fraternal group dating back to the Revolutionary War, and the present day White House.
This story is fast paced and will keep you riveted till the last page as you try to solve the complex mystery along with Malone and his coworkers.
So begins another adventure involving Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul, the Society of Cincinnati, a fraternal group dating back to the Revolutionary War, and the present day White House.
This story is fast paced and will keep you riveted till the last page as you try to solve the complex mystery along with Malone and his coworkers.
March 13, 2017
I am a big fan of the Cotton Malone series, thus the 3 stars, but this one was not as satisfying as his earlier novels. As always, Steve Berry manages to mix well researched historical events with political intrigue. Somehow the idea that Canada would be America's 13th Colony was not fully explored in this novel so the title is somewhat misleading. The issues with the Presidential Succession Act that were exposed in this novel is very timely considering the current political climate here. As the story lines expanded and contracted there was a lot of extraneous information that could have been edited to make the story flow better. I found myself skipping pages, which I have never done before.
September 14, 2025
I received this book from the Goodreads Giveaway and St. Martins publishing company in exchange for an honest review. I love Steve Berry books and was thrilled to receive this one early. I really enjoyed this book. Steve has a great way of writing that pulls you in.
May 14, 2016
enjoyed the latest in the cotton malone series based around invasion of canada and being the 14th colony as the background to a rogue soviet agent as this plot becomes a fast page turner and berry again mixes history with fiction
February 9, 2017
May not be interesting to readers who have a shallow understanding of the history and politics. I recommend this to those who might consider learning about politics more enlightening than going out in the streets trying to win friends through immature and impolite mob protesting.
April 1, 2016
See this review and more at TheRealBookSpy.com
When it comes to historical fiction, nobody is better than Steve Berry – who once again shows why he’s one of the best in the thriller genre with his latest Cotton Malone thriller, The 14th Colony.
Steve Berry’s books read like the love child of a National Treasure movie and a Brad Thor novel. This time around, you could even throw in a little Mission Impossible or 24.
Usually I recommend Berry’s work to history nuts, but he’s incorporated enough espionage and spy-type elements into The 14th Colony that I’m confident readers of that genre will enjoy this book as well. This is the eleventh book to feature Cotton Malone, but each novel is written somewhat as a standalone book, allowing readers to pick them up in any order and dive in.
I started reading this along with four other books I’ll be reviewing, hoping one of them would suck me in and force me to choose it over the others – this one did. I was hooked early, and devoured it within days.
THE STORY
The book opens with a great scene taking place in 1982 between President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, who met secretly and conspired to end socialism. From there, readers are reintroduced to Cotton Malone, an operative for the Justice Department, who is flying to Russia at the orders of his boss, Stephanie Nelle.
President Daniels is now a lame-duck commander-in-chief, which means the Justice Department’s top secret intelligence gathering group, Magellan Billet (which Malone works for), is living out its last days. But before they close up shop for good, there’s still at least one pressing issue at hand.
Rumors surfaced about suitcase nukes that were hidden by KGB officers who intended to keep them handy after the secret meeting in Vatican City between the Pope and President Reagan back in 1982. What’s worse, ex-KGB agent Aleksandr Zorin has access to the small nuclear devices, and he plans to use them.
Zorin also has a sleeper cell, one that might already be in the United States. Cotton soon uncovers a plot that doesn’t just target America, it targets a certain flaw in the Constitution – one that could leave the nation without a leader. Here Berry begs the question of what would happen if both the president and vice-president-elect were killed before being sworn into office?
In a fascinating side plot, Berry writes about a secret society created by Continental Army members after the Revolutionary War. The group is called the Society of the Cincinnati. I’ll be honest, I’d never heard of them, nor was I completely confident they were real. I paused reading just long enough to pull up Google and run a search.
As it turns out, the Society of Cincinnati is definitely real. It was founded in 1783, and is the nation’s oldest patriotic organization. They serve to “promote knowledge and appreciation of the achievement of American independence and to foster fellowship among its members.”
One of the things that makes the Society of Cincinnati unique is that the founders tasked their descendants with” preserving the memory of the patriotic sacrifices that made American liberty a reality” – making them a hereditary organization where membership is passed down from generation to generation. Additionally, past members have lent their military expertise to presidents, and even helped to draw up battle plans to take Canada, or what would have been America’s 14th colony.
What this secret society has to do with Cotton’s current problem is an answer you’ll have to get by reading Steve Berry’s new book. All I can tell you is that Berry took the Society of Cincinnati and expertly wove them into the book’s main plot in a way that will keep readers on their toes as they race to turn the pages and see where the story is headed.
What was supposed to be a quick, simple mission for Cotton Malone soon turns into a high-stakes game of espionage that could have a catastrophic ending. It’s up to Cotton and the rest of the gang from Magellan Billet to neutralize the threat and save the day once again.
WHY I LOVED IT
I’m a big fan of Berry’s work, but his last couple of books, particularly last year’s The Patriot Threat, didn’t seem to quite live up to the level of excellence fans have come to expect from him. If you felt that way as a reader, then rest assured, Berry is back and better than ever. In fact, The 14th Colony is my favorite Cotton Malone book since The Templar Legacy (2006), which first introduced the character.
There’s a lot to like about this novel. From beginning to end, it’s incredibly well-written and displays brilliant pacing. The opening scene, as I mentioned, is very strong. How could anyone not love reading a scene between Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II? I was surprised to hear Reagan’s voice in my head as I read, something I hadn’t planned on doing purposefully, which is a testament to the authenticity Berry writes with.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT
There’s nobody quite like Cotton Malone in the thriller genre. Brad Meltzer is the author most comparable to Steve Berry, but his series protagonist, Beecher White, is nothing like Malone.
Berry, like Brad Thor – especially in his recent novels – is one of the few authors who knows how to genuinely keep you entertained, while also teaching you something along the way. You close their books feeling satisfied that your thriller itch was scratched, but also smarter than when you began the story.
Longtime fans of the series will enjoy knowing that many recurring characters pop up throughout this book. There are plenty of twists, turns, potential love interests and explosions to satisfy everyone, so even the hard to please will find plenty to love about this novel.
There’s a reason why this series has lasted eleven books, and it’s not hard to figure out. Each novel is really good, and each of them offers something different. I don’t know how long Steve Berry can keep churning them out, but I hope he keeps writing Cotton Malone thrillers for many years to come.
When it comes to historical fiction, nobody is better than Steve Berry – who once again shows why he’s one of the best in the thriller genre with his latest Cotton Malone thriller, The 14th Colony.
Steve Berry’s books read like the love child of a National Treasure movie and a Brad Thor novel. This time around, you could even throw in a little Mission Impossible or 24.
Usually I recommend Berry’s work to history nuts, but he’s incorporated enough espionage and spy-type elements into The 14th Colony that I’m confident readers of that genre will enjoy this book as well. This is the eleventh book to feature Cotton Malone, but each novel is written somewhat as a standalone book, allowing readers to pick them up in any order and dive in.
I started reading this along with four other books I’ll be reviewing, hoping one of them would suck me in and force me to choose it over the others – this one did. I was hooked early, and devoured it within days.
THE STORY
The book opens with a great scene taking place in 1982 between President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, who met secretly and conspired to end socialism. From there, readers are reintroduced to Cotton Malone, an operative for the Justice Department, who is flying to Russia at the orders of his boss, Stephanie Nelle.
President Daniels is now a lame-duck commander-in-chief, which means the Justice Department’s top secret intelligence gathering group, Magellan Billet (which Malone works for), is living out its last days. But before they close up shop for good, there’s still at least one pressing issue at hand.
Rumors surfaced about suitcase nukes that were hidden by KGB officers who intended to keep them handy after the secret meeting in Vatican City between the Pope and President Reagan back in 1982. What’s worse, ex-KGB agent Aleksandr Zorin has access to the small nuclear devices, and he plans to use them.
Zorin also has a sleeper cell, one that might already be in the United States. Cotton soon uncovers a plot that doesn’t just target America, it targets a certain flaw in the Constitution – one that could leave the nation without a leader. Here Berry begs the question of what would happen if both the president and vice-president-elect were killed before being sworn into office?
In a fascinating side plot, Berry writes about a secret society created by Continental Army members after the Revolutionary War. The group is called the Society of the Cincinnati. I’ll be honest, I’d never heard of them, nor was I completely confident they were real. I paused reading just long enough to pull up Google and run a search.
As it turns out, the Society of Cincinnati is definitely real. It was founded in 1783, and is the nation’s oldest patriotic organization. They serve to “promote knowledge and appreciation of the achievement of American independence and to foster fellowship among its members.”
One of the things that makes the Society of Cincinnati unique is that the founders tasked their descendants with” preserving the memory of the patriotic sacrifices that made American liberty a reality” – making them a hereditary organization where membership is passed down from generation to generation. Additionally, past members have lent their military expertise to presidents, and even helped to draw up battle plans to take Canada, or what would have been America’s 14th colony.
What this secret society has to do with Cotton’s current problem is an answer you’ll have to get by reading Steve Berry’s new book. All I can tell you is that Berry took the Society of Cincinnati and expertly wove them into the book’s main plot in a way that will keep readers on their toes as they race to turn the pages and see where the story is headed.
What was supposed to be a quick, simple mission for Cotton Malone soon turns into a high-stakes game of espionage that could have a catastrophic ending. It’s up to Cotton and the rest of the gang from Magellan Billet to neutralize the threat and save the day once again.
WHY I LOVED IT
I’m a big fan of Berry’s work, but his last couple of books, particularly last year’s The Patriot Threat, didn’t seem to quite live up to the level of excellence fans have come to expect from him. If you felt that way as a reader, then rest assured, Berry is back and better than ever. In fact, The 14th Colony is my favorite Cotton Malone book since The Templar Legacy (2006), which first introduced the character.
There’s a lot to like about this novel. From beginning to end, it’s incredibly well-written and displays brilliant pacing. The opening scene, as I mentioned, is very strong. How could anyone not love reading a scene between Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II? I was surprised to hear Reagan’s voice in my head as I read, something I hadn’t planned on doing purposefully, which is a testament to the authenticity Berry writes with.
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT
There’s nobody quite like Cotton Malone in the thriller genre. Brad Meltzer is the author most comparable to Steve Berry, but his series protagonist, Beecher White, is nothing like Malone.
Berry, like Brad Thor – especially in his recent novels – is one of the few authors who knows how to genuinely keep you entertained, while also teaching you something along the way. You close their books feeling satisfied that your thriller itch was scratched, but also smarter than when you began the story.
Longtime fans of the series will enjoy knowing that many recurring characters pop up throughout this book. There are plenty of twists, turns, potential love interests and explosions to satisfy everyone, so even the hard to please will find plenty to love about this novel.
There’s a reason why this series has lasted eleven books, and it’s not hard to figure out. Each novel is really good, and each of them offers something different. I don’t know how long Steve Berry can keep churning them out, but I hope he keeps writing Cotton Malone thrillers for many years to come.
November 16, 2019
Another walk-the-dog audiobook. A thrilling and fun story. This was a well put together plot with all the stuff that makes a good tale. Russians, nukes, secret societies and secret government organizations. The first book by Cotton Malone story that I've enjoyed... but not the last. Kudos to the author Steve Berry. Enjoyable, fun and highly recommended.
January 14, 2022
eponymous sentence:
p215: "The 14th Colony."
novel:
p219: The music dimmed.
punctuation:
p426: And that was exactly what happened
Which only hastened the regime's downfall.
Couldn't have timed it better: January plus election year (well, ours anyway).
The downside is that I'm not too savvy with American history nor its politics (I didn't even know that Reagan was universally hated). Maybe Kiefer Sutherland's Designated Survivor will give me some perspective.
p215: "The 14th Colony."
novel:
p219: The music dimmed.
punctuation:
p426: And that was exactly what happened
Which only hastened the regime's downfall.
Couldn't have timed it better: January plus election year (well, ours anyway).
The downside is that I'm not too savvy with American history nor its politics (I didn't even know that Reagan was universally hated). Maybe Kiefer Sutherland's Designated Survivor will give me some perspective.
November 26, 2023
3.5
And so we have come to book number 11 in the Cotton Malone series. I have to say this series is still very fun and entertaining, this many books in. This was a fun installment and I loved that it brought a certain issue I had a few books back, back into the limelight and gave it a proper treatment. However, this book I think suffered some pacing issues. This felt more like a cat and mouse story. Never once did I feel like there were huge stakes involved up until the final act of the book. The villains of the story were a little on the bland side as well. I did enjoy the overall mystery though and thought there were some great character moments, as with all the Cotton Malone books.
And so we have come to book number 11 in the Cotton Malone series. I have to say this series is still very fun and entertaining, this many books in. This was a fun installment and I loved that it brought a certain issue I had a few books back, back into the limelight and gave it a proper treatment. However, this book I think suffered some pacing issues. This felt more like a cat and mouse story. Never once did I feel like there were huge stakes involved up until the final act of the book. The villains of the story were a little on the bland side as well. I did enjoy the overall mystery though and thought there were some great character moments, as with all the Cotton Malone books.
May 18, 2023
Reading a new Steve Berry novel is like visiting an old friend. No matter the plot line the reader immediately reaches a comfort level with the knowledge that the author is a master of historical fiction who has the ability to capture your attention and take you for an educationally thrilling ride. He has the ability to create believable scenarios involving new and returning characters performing in a pseudo-historical thriller at a high level. In the eleventh iteration of his Cotton Malone series, THE 14TH COLONY Berry meets expectations by producing a searing plot that evolves slowly and more importantly developing a realistic storyline which could have actually taken place.
Berry begins the novel with the June 7, 1982, meeting between Pope John Paul and President Ronald Reagan at the Vatican. The topic was Poland and the threats and oppression meted out by the Soviet Union. At the time the Kremlin’s hold over its Eastern European neighbor was weakening even as they tried to crush the Solidarity labor movement which emanated from Gdansk. The two men had recently survived assassination attempts, one by a man obsessed with a Hollywood actress, and one by a Bulgarian assassin in the pay of Moscow. The two men spoke in conspiratorial tones to undo the February 1945 Yalta Agreements concerning Poland and help diminish Soviet control of its Eastern European satellites. Reagan’s approach was a massive Pentagon rearmament which he knew the Soviets could not afford and the goal was to have them spend themselves into oblivion. Berry’s description of the meeting and other historical events throughout the book relies on a certain amount of conjecture, but also a solid grounding in historical accuracy, which he clearly explains in his writer’s note at the end of the book.
The scene swiftly shifts to the present day with a Russian surveillance plane flying over Lake Baikal in southern Siberia with Cotton Malone aboard which will soon be brought down by a SAM missile. Berry lays out Malone’s mission which was to learn about the machinations of a former KGB agent, Alexsandr Zorin and Vadim Belchenko, an old archivist for the KGB’s First Directorate. The agenda of the two men was clear – revenge against the United States for the destruction of the Soviet Union. Zorin, in particular, was apoplectic about events from 1989-1991 when he moved to southern Siberia where he was joined by like-minded people setting up their own community. It appears that the Kremlin was split between hardliners who supported a mission against the United States and those who did not.
Berry reintroduces a number of important characters from previous novels. Stephanie Nell, the head of the Justice Department’s Magellan Billet has been fired as a new president is about to replace Danny Daniels. Cassiopeia Vitt, Malone’s former lover, whose relationship redevelops throughout the novel. Luke Daniels, a Malone protégé and nephew to President Daniels also plays a major role. New characters aside from Zorin and Belchenko include SVR agent, Nikolai Osin who had requested American help and lays out for Nell what she is up against in the closing hours of her time in office. Jamie Kelly, an American who spied for the Soviet Union for decades and had in his possession important intelligence information. A number of officials from the Society of the Cincinnati, a fraternal society created by General Henry Knox, our first Minister of War after the American Revolution to look after revolutionary officer’s interests, even after the army was dissolved. Zorin’s girlfriend and SVR agent, Anya Pedrova, plays a limited role as do a number of others. Berry also includes historical figures like Pope John Paul, Ronald Reagan, and former KGB head and Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov.
Zorin was convinced of a US plan called “Forward Pass,” supposedly agreed to by Reagan and John Paul to destroy the Soviet Union. He believed it was implemented creating chaos and allowing oligarchs to steal the resources of the Russian people and create a criminal mafia that controlled his homeland. His revenge would be based on a plan developed by Andropov in 1984 to decapitate the American government.
Berry carefully lays out his plot as Zorin’s obsession plays out. His vehicle is Andropov’s plan which was based on the location of “suitcase nuclear weapons,” or RA115s, five of which were disseminated in the early 1980s in the event of nuclear war with the US. The question was whether the weapons were still operable after twenty-five years and how would they be employed. A second plot line that rests on a good deal of historical fact is How the Society of Cincinnati’s held documents outlining an American plan to invade and seize Canada called the l 14th colony which Berry ties into Russian resentment which is left for Malone and his cohorts to dig up and solve.
It is a race against time as intelligence showed that the Kremlin was fixated on a number of documents. First, Andropov’s plan to assassinate the American leadership; secondly the “zero amendment” which refers to the 20th amendment of the US Constitution that deals with presidential succession, and lastly the Tallmadge Journal written by George Washington Chief of Intelligence. Andropov dies in 1984 so his plan cannot be implemented, but Zorin and company have resurrected it for the January 20, 2009, inauguration of the new president Governor Warner Scott Fox, an intelligence and foreign policy neophyte who along with other members of his new administration where skeptical about to accepting advice from a soon to be former President Daniels, Stephanie Nell, or Cotton Malone.
As in most spy thrillers time is of the essence, and it becomes a race to negate what the assassins hope to achieve. As per usual, Steve Berry has concocted an absorbing thriller in creating THE 14TH COLONY where he explores flaws in our Constitution and the presidential succession act, the secrets (both real and made-up) of America's oldest fraternal organization, the Society of Cincinnati, and our sometimes contentious relationship with our northern neighbor. The book engages the reader from the outset and keeps them in a vise-like grip until the conclusion of the novel. In addition to the breakneck speed, character development is just as well-developed as in previous Malone thrillers, with each character having their own set of demons as well as long held grudges that are plaguing them. Some might argue that the book is a little drawn out with the violence that is interjected, but for me it is just about right.
Berry begins the novel with the June 7, 1982, meeting between Pope John Paul and President Ronald Reagan at the Vatican. The topic was Poland and the threats and oppression meted out by the Soviet Union. At the time the Kremlin’s hold over its Eastern European neighbor was weakening even as they tried to crush the Solidarity labor movement which emanated from Gdansk. The two men had recently survived assassination attempts, one by a man obsessed with a Hollywood actress, and one by a Bulgarian assassin in the pay of Moscow. The two men spoke in conspiratorial tones to undo the February 1945 Yalta Agreements concerning Poland and help diminish Soviet control of its Eastern European satellites. Reagan’s approach was a massive Pentagon rearmament which he knew the Soviets could not afford and the goal was to have them spend themselves into oblivion. Berry’s description of the meeting and other historical events throughout the book relies on a certain amount of conjecture, but also a solid grounding in historical accuracy, which he clearly explains in his writer’s note at the end of the book.
The scene swiftly shifts to the present day with a Russian surveillance plane flying over Lake Baikal in southern Siberia with Cotton Malone aboard which will soon be brought down by a SAM missile. Berry lays out Malone’s mission which was to learn about the machinations of a former KGB agent, Alexsandr Zorin and Vadim Belchenko, an old archivist for the KGB’s First Directorate. The agenda of the two men was clear – revenge against the United States for the destruction of the Soviet Union. Zorin, in particular, was apoplectic about events from 1989-1991 when he moved to southern Siberia where he was joined by like-minded people setting up their own community. It appears that the Kremlin was split between hardliners who supported a mission against the United States and those who did not.
Berry reintroduces a number of important characters from previous novels. Stephanie Nell, the head of the Justice Department’s Magellan Billet has been fired as a new president is about to replace Danny Daniels. Cassiopeia Vitt, Malone’s former lover, whose relationship redevelops throughout the novel. Luke Daniels, a Malone protégé and nephew to President Daniels also plays a major role. New characters aside from Zorin and Belchenko include SVR agent, Nikolai Osin who had requested American help and lays out for Nell what she is up against in the closing hours of her time in office. Jamie Kelly, an American who spied for the Soviet Union for decades and had in his possession important intelligence information. A number of officials from the Society of the Cincinnati, a fraternal society created by General Henry Knox, our first Minister of War after the American Revolution to look after revolutionary officer’s interests, even after the army was dissolved. Zorin’s girlfriend and SVR agent, Anya Pedrova, plays a limited role as do a number of others. Berry also includes historical figures like Pope John Paul, Ronald Reagan, and former KGB head and Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov.
Zorin was convinced of a US plan called “Forward Pass,” supposedly agreed to by Reagan and John Paul to destroy the Soviet Union. He believed it was implemented creating chaos and allowing oligarchs to steal the resources of the Russian people and create a criminal mafia that controlled his homeland. His revenge would be based on a plan developed by Andropov in 1984 to decapitate the American government.
Berry carefully lays out his plot as Zorin’s obsession plays out. His vehicle is Andropov’s plan which was based on the location of “suitcase nuclear weapons,” or RA115s, five of which were disseminated in the early 1980s in the event of nuclear war with the US. The question was whether the weapons were still operable after twenty-five years and how would they be employed. A second plot line that rests on a good deal of historical fact is How the Society of Cincinnati’s held documents outlining an American plan to invade and seize Canada called the l 14th colony which Berry ties into Russian resentment which is left for Malone and his cohorts to dig up and solve.
It is a race against time as intelligence showed that the Kremlin was fixated on a number of documents. First, Andropov’s plan to assassinate the American leadership; secondly the “zero amendment” which refers to the 20th amendment of the US Constitution that deals with presidential succession, and lastly the Tallmadge Journal written by George Washington Chief of Intelligence. Andropov dies in 1984 so his plan cannot be implemented, but Zorin and company have resurrected it for the January 20, 2009, inauguration of the new president Governor Warner Scott Fox, an intelligence and foreign policy neophyte who along with other members of his new administration where skeptical about to accepting advice from a soon to be former President Daniels, Stephanie Nell, or Cotton Malone.
As in most spy thrillers time is of the essence, and it becomes a race to negate what the assassins hope to achieve. As per usual, Steve Berry has concocted an absorbing thriller in creating THE 14TH COLONY where he explores flaws in our Constitution and the presidential succession act, the secrets (both real and made-up) of America's oldest fraternal organization, the Society of Cincinnati, and our sometimes contentious relationship with our northern neighbor. The book engages the reader from the outset and keeps them in a vise-like grip until the conclusion of the novel. In addition to the breakneck speed, character development is just as well-developed as in previous Malone thrillers, with each character having their own set of demons as well as long held grudges that are plaguing them. Some might argue that the book is a little drawn out with the violence that is interjected, but for me it is just about right.
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