Helpful Score: 6
Several returning charactors from the "Knights Templar" return for another exciting historical search for the lost library of Alexandria
Helpful Score: 5
I absolutely loved this book. It's like an intellectual Indiana Jones, complete with secret societies and ancient manuscripts. Although similar to Da Vinci Code, this book focuses on the origin of Israel as a nation-state and on what would happen its origin was based on a lie. Sorry, you'll have to read the book to find out more. :-)
Helpful Score: 3
Sort of an Indiana Jones adventure, with great descriptions of far away locations. Nice quick read, and engaging.
Candace B. (sdstargazer) reviewed The Alexandria Link (Cotton Malone, Bk 2) on + 57 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Interesting story, fast-paced. It's fascinating to me that Steve Berry can write a fictional story that indicates the Jewish and Christian faiths are based on lies but you don't hear much controversy; yet Dan Brown writes a fictional story about the Holy Grail and the Catholic church and the world screams blasphemer.
Helpful Score: 3
Trust your author. This is not an "easy read" but it is worth reading slowly to understand. Does not challenge religion as "Davinci Code" or "Devils and Angels," but does discuss changes in the text we know as the Bible from the original writings through various translations, either by simple error or by design. A nice mystery, murder, narrow escapes, a larger than life hero and a questionable ex-wife. Toward the end, the story gallops to a great finish.
Helpful Score: 3
Usual secret and hidden clues to great knowledge - I found it too wordy and not enough action - but if you like ancient and secret conspiracies then you may like this one.
Barbara B. (redhatter) reviewed The Alexandria Link (Cotton Malone, Bk 2) on + 577 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Steve Berry has another winner. Could not put it down.
Helpful Score: 1
This book has all the right elements for a great read. However, it's just a bit rushed, and if you didn't read Berry's other book, The Templar Legacy, you definitely feel like you came into the story in the middle. A few too many plot turns.
I thought it was a pretty good thriller in the ilk of "The DaVinci Code" and "The Last Templar." I really enjoyed the historical aspects of the story of the Alexandria library. The premise about the Biblical translations and that the Holy Land was actually in Saudi Arabia was very interesting. However, I thought the political implications of this were somewhat far-fetched. Overall though, an enjoyable and fast-paced story.
Another win for Cotton Malone and friends. If you are a Steve Berry fan - you will enjoy this book. If you have not read Steve Berry I suggest you start with his first "Cotton Malone" story, "The Templar Legacy"
Cotton Malone is a great hero and this story has everything a thrill seeking reader could want - suspense, intrigue, international mystery. Definitely worth the read!
In this book Cotton Malone who has appeared in other books discovers his son has been kidnapped and his book shop is burned to the ground? Why? Because, someone has learned that he has the secret to the Alexandria Link. The link is in fact a man but one who knows the secrets of the ancient Alexandria library. The Israelis' are hot on the trail determined to destroy the link, a group of greedy business tycoons also wants the link but their purpose is to further destabilize the Middle East and there is a traitor close to the White House who is also deeply involved. There is a potential revelation that will shake the foundation of the world's three major religions. The book reads quickly and is enjoyable although Berry does have some annoying writer's quirks.
I liked the characters, but the story itself was a little confusing. I'm still not sure what the "link" is! lol All in all it was ok, I finished it but it took some self-prodding.
I was really turned off by what I felt was very blatant anti-Semetism. Since I have not read any of the Author's other work, I don't know if it is him or just the characters (almost all of them, it seems). Or maybe it is just that I am not used to the Arab side of the Arab/Israeli conflict being the one sympathized with. I read maybe one negative reference to Arabs... one. VS Tons negative towards Jews. ???
I was really turned off by what I felt was very blatant anti-Semetism. Since I have not read any of the Author's other work, I don't know if it is him or just the characters (almost all of them, it seems). Or maybe it is just that I am not used to the Arab side of the Arab/Israeli conflict being the one sympathized with. I read maybe one negative reference to Arabs... one. VS Tons negative towards Jews. ???
Charlene (ATraveler) -
Good stand-alone story -- didn't need to read the first Cotton Malone story; but it did make references to the previous story.
This is similar to the Da Vinci Code where religion, as accepted today, is called into question. And a quest for the truth is full of twists and turns where friends and foes overlap. Lots of double crossing from obvious as well as surprising sources.
I'll be checking out the other books with this main character.
This is similar to the Da Vinci Code where religion, as accepted today, is called into question. And a quest for the truth is full of twists and turns where friends and foes overlap. Lots of double crossing from obvious as well as surprising sources.
I'll be checking out the other books with this main character.
This is the first Steve Berry book I have read--I liked it and will read more. Its classified as a thriller, and I suppose it is, but it is intelligent and well written. There are multi-level stories, all intertwined, of course. Our action takes place in cities across Europe, the Middle East, and Washington, D.C.
The story line is good, relatively realistic, and involves not only the protagonist, but includes participation by his ex-wife and son in the action, as well as many other parties. What was fun was the treasure hunt following clues across the continents in search of the lost Library of Alexandria. Berry interplays fact with fiction to move the plot along and leaves it to the reader to decide how much we might want to believe. While there is some violence, it is minimized without the usual blow by blow description, which I have come to appreciate, when so many current writers think it necessary to report how much blood has been shed or how many times the hero can be beaten up and still rise phoenix-like to best his enemy. Also rewarding, it was not overridden with foul language or vulgarity (can only think of a couple of instances with mild words and no real obscenities). Perhaps that is my peculiarityusing the language in private but preferring not to have it fill the written page because the writer is not skillful enough to think of better words.
Mr. Berry does add notes at the end discussing the facts and theories on which he based the novel. If you have not read Steve Berry before, you might try this one.
The story line is good, relatively realistic, and involves not only the protagonist, but includes participation by his ex-wife and son in the action, as well as many other parties. What was fun was the treasure hunt following clues across the continents in search of the lost Library of Alexandria. Berry interplays fact with fiction to move the plot along and leaves it to the reader to decide how much we might want to believe. While there is some violence, it is minimized without the usual blow by blow description, which I have come to appreciate, when so many current writers think it necessary to report how much blood has been shed or how many times the hero can be beaten up and still rise phoenix-like to best his enemy. Also rewarding, it was not overridden with foul language or vulgarity (can only think of a couple of instances with mild words and no real obscenities). Perhaps that is my peculiarityusing the language in private but preferring not to have it fill the written page because the writer is not skillful enough to think of better words.
Mr. Berry does add notes at the end discussing the facts and theories on which he based the novel. If you have not read Steve Berry before, you might try this one.
Eadie B. (eadieburke) -
Book Description
Cotton Malone retired from the high-risk world of elite operatives for the U.S. Justice Department to lead the low-key life of a rare-book dealer. But his quiet existence is shattered when he receives an anonymous e-mail: "You have something I want. You're the only person on earth who knows where to find it. Go get it. You have 72 hours. If I don't hear from you, you will be childless." His horrified ex-wife confirms that the threat is real: Their teenage son has been kidnapped. When Malone's Copenhagen bookshop is burned to the ground, it becomes brutally clear that those responsible will stop at nothing to get what they want. And what they want is nothing less than the lost Library of Alexandria.
My Review
This is book 2 of The Cotton Malone series and I would have to say that it is my favorite. This book had it all - history mixed with religion and suspense. It was a fast moving plot with great characters and never a dull moment that kept the pages turning fast. I loved the short chapters with lots of cliffhangers that Steve Berry does so masterfully. Lots of twists and turns with surprises in the end make for very adventurous read. I'm now looking forward to the next Cotton Malone read and I would highly recommend this series to those who love fast-paced adventure with history and religion mixed in.
Cotton Malone retired from the high-risk world of elite operatives for the U.S. Justice Department to lead the low-key life of a rare-book dealer. But his quiet existence is shattered when he receives an anonymous e-mail: "You have something I want. You're the only person on earth who knows where to find it. Go get it. You have 72 hours. If I don't hear from you, you will be childless." His horrified ex-wife confirms that the threat is real: Their teenage son has been kidnapped. When Malone's Copenhagen bookshop is burned to the ground, it becomes brutally clear that those responsible will stop at nothing to get what they want. And what they want is nothing less than the lost Library of Alexandria.
My Review
This is book 2 of The Cotton Malone series and I would have to say that it is my favorite. This book had it all - history mixed with religion and suspense. It was a fast moving plot with great characters and never a dull moment that kept the pages turning fast. I loved the short chapters with lots of cliffhangers that Steve Berry does so masterfully. Lots of twists and turns with surprises in the end make for very adventurous read. I'm now looking forward to the next Cotton Malone read and I would highly recommend this series to those who love fast-paced adventure with history and religion mixed in.
Boo.
This is my 3rd Steve Berry book, and it might be my last.
He is writing in the style of Dan Brown, with short 2 pg chapters written from various points of view (the hero, the villain, the unknown entity, etc) but it just doesn't work with this book. I didn't care about ANY of the characters.
The plot, here it is. The King James version of the Bible is flawed, the only true version is in the preserved, yet hidden, lost library of Alexandria. Only a few scholars have ever been invited to go on the quest to the library. One of those scholars has become the focus of an evil plot to ....dirupt the middle east peace process? undermine all three of the world's major religions? make an evil European secret society filthy rich(er)? Our hero must protect this scholar and world from this plot.
Sounds intriguing, but somehow Berry involves the POTUS and Vice POTUS, CIA, Hamas, and a host of other characters not worth caring about. All I really wanted was the history and the glorious quest to find the library! Enough with the espionage!
This is my 3rd Steve Berry book, and it might be my last.
He is writing in the style of Dan Brown, with short 2 pg chapters written from various points of view (the hero, the villain, the unknown entity, etc) but it just doesn't work with this book. I didn't care about ANY of the characters.
The plot, here it is. The King James version of the Bible is flawed, the only true version is in the preserved, yet hidden, lost library of Alexandria. Only a few scholars have ever been invited to go on the quest to the library. One of those scholars has become the focus of an evil plot to ....dirupt the middle east peace process? undermine all three of the world's major religions? make an evil European secret society filthy rich(er)? Our hero must protect this scholar and world from this plot.
Sounds intriguing, but somehow Berry involves the POTUS and Vice POTUS, CIA, Hamas, and a host of other characters not worth caring about. All I really wanted was the history and the glorious quest to find the library! Enough with the espionage!
This was one of Berry's best in my opinion. There was plenty of history and intrigue. It prompted me to read all of his books. I enjoyed every one of them. They made me think!
Pretty good combination of fact and fiction. If you like books along the lines of the "Da Vinci Code", you'll probably enjoy this one. Second in the Cotton Malone series.
Cotton Malone is the new Dirk Pitt
An ancient storehouse of forbidden knowledge.
Secret cabals of powerful men.
Conspiracy and murder.
Oh yeah! Give me more of that. Better than Dan Brown. Loved it.
Secret cabals of powerful men.
Conspiracy and murder.
Oh yeah! Give me more of that. Better than Dan Brown. Loved it.
This story really stretched the imagination. I think the author was really grasping at straws. But it was a good read anyway. I like adventure stories and this was full of adventure.
Good read. I love the character Cotton Malone. Makes one think about what one has been taught.
Oh my goodness! My husband just loved this book. He talked about it for days and has recommended it to many of his friends. If you're a Steve Berry fan, you'll love this one!
Steve Berry sux as a writer. He seems like a smart guy, but his fiction writing really bites. This book was a little better than The Templar Legacy, but not by much. The first 200 pages were pretty good and I actually cared about the story line. After that it just drawn out and lame. I got tired of all the chapters and mini chapters ending in some ridiculous twist or 'surprise'. I got tired of every other paragraph having to switch between characters and places that I just didn't care about. As soon as I would start getting into what a character was doing, he would switch it up and go back to other characters who were previously 'surprised' by something. These Cotton Malone books are just not enjoyable to me. I'm surprised by how many good reviews I read.
I was interested on some of the topics he brought up about the Bible and some other confrontational subjects. I haven't seen too many authors throw out touchy subjects like that in fiction writing. Like I said, he seems like a smart guy, but his story writing is not good.
I was interested on some of the topics he brought up about the Bible and some other confrontational subjects. I haven't seen too many authors throw out touchy subjects like that in fiction writing. Like I said, he seems like a smart guy, but his story writing is not good.
