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Book Review of The Venetian Betrayal (Cotton Malone, Bk 3)

The Venetian Betrayal (Cotton Malone, Bk 3)
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Book Description
In 323 B.C.E, having conquered Persia, Alexander the Great set his sights on Arabia, then suddenly succumbed to a strange fever. Locating his final resting placeunknown to this dayremains a tantalizing goal for both archaeologists and treasure hunters. Now the quest for this coveted prize is about to heat up. And Cotton Maloneformer U.S. Justice Department agent turned rare-book dealerwill be drawn into an intense geopolitical chess game.

After narrowly escaping incineration in a devastating fire that consumes a Danish museum, Cotton learns from his friend, the beguiling adventurer Cassiopeia Vitt, that the blaze was neither an accident nor an isolated incident. As part of campaign of arson intended to mask a far more diabolical design, buildings across Europe are being devoured by infernos of unnatural strength.

And from the ashes of the U.S.S.R., a new nation has arisen: Former Soviet republics have consolidated into the Central Asian Federation. At its helm is Supreme Minister Irina Zovastina, a cunning despot with a talent for politics, a taste for blood sport, and the single-minded desire to surpass Alexander the Great as history's ultimate conqueror.
Backed by a secret cabal of powerbrokers, the Federation has amassed a harrowing arsenal of biological weapons. Equipped with the hellish power to decimate other nations at will, only one thing keeps Zovastina from setting in motion her death march of domination: a miraculous healing serum, kept secret by an ancient puzzle and buried with the mummified remains of Alexander the Greatin a tomb lost to the ages for more than 1,500 years.

Together, Cotton and Cassiopeia must outrun and outthink the forces allied against them. Their perilous quest will take them to the shores of Denmark, deep into the venerated monuments of Venice, and finally high inside the desolate Pamir mountains of Central Asia to unravel a riddle whose solution could destroy or save millions of peopledepending on who finds the lost tomb first.

My Review
I loved learning about Alexander the Great and enjoyed Berry's writing and research. I found Irina Zovastina a fascinating character even though she was so wicked. It helps if you read the first two books of the series so you will be a bit familiar with the major characters but it's not too difficult of a read if you haven't read the other books as character descriptions reveal some of things that happened in the past. There are plenty of riddles to solve and lots of adventure which holds your interest until the very end. I can't wait to read the next book in the series and continue the adventures with Cotton Malone, Stephanie, Thorvaldsen and Cassiopeia. If you love history with your adventure reads, you will definitely enjoy this series.