The Charlemagne Pursuit

A Novel

By: Steve Berry

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 16 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

As a child, former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone was told his father died in a submarine disaster in the North Atlantic, but now he wants the full story and asks his ex-boss, Stephanie Nelle, to secure the military files. What he learns stuns him: His father’s sub was a secret nuclear vessel lost on a highly classified mission beneath the ice shelves of Antarctica. But Malone isn’t the only one after the truth. Twin sisters Dorothea Lindauer and Christl Falk are fighting for the fortune their mother has promised to whichever of them discovers what really became of their father - who died on the same submarine that Malone’s father captained.

The sisters know something Malone doesn’t: Inspired by strange clues discovered in Charlemagne’s tomb, the Nazis explored Antarctica before the Americans, as long ago as 1938. Now Malone discovers that cryptic journals penned in “the language of heaven”, inscrutable conundrums posed by an ancient historian, and the ill-fated voyage of his father are all tied to a revelation of immense consequence for humankind. In an effort to ensure that this explosive information never rises to the surface, Langford Ramsey, an ambitious navy admiral, has begun a brutal game of treachery, blackmail, and assassination. As Malone embarks on a dangerous quest with the sisters - one that leads them from an ancient German cathedral to a snowy French citadel to the unforgiving ice of Antarctica - he will finally confront the shocking truth of his father’s death and the distinct possibility of his own.

©2008 Steve Berry (P)2008 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Those who relish suspense in the Da Vinci Code vein will snap this one up, the best yet in the series." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Berry outdoes himself in his latest Cotton Malone adventure....Mixed in with the complicated action, Berry finds the time to explore the characters as well, making this his most personal and best book to date." ( Library Journal)

Interesting listen.

What did you love best about The Charlemagne Pursuit?

The search behind the vessel missing.

Which scene was your favorite?

The find at the very beginning and the end.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

Any additional comments?

Interesting listen and a GREAT NARRATOR!

!

!Good story. Numerous plot twists.
Intriguing plot premises.
I always like the comments on distinguishing fact from fiction.

Love these stories

Well I’m from the south and that southern drawl does get to me at times. That being said, I am fascinated by these stories. I really appreciate the work and research that the author applies to each story line. I love history and enjoy the way Mr. Berry weaves his storyline in the midst of reality.

Another Cotton Malone Winner

The was great. The narration was sometimes difficult to follow as the story jumped from scenario to scenario.

Cotton Malone on a personal quest

Cotton Malone is back. This time he initiates the action by gaining access to the previously top secret file relating to his father's death. And quite the can of worms it is that he opens. political intrigue, murders, ancient riddles, lost civilizations, this has a lot going on.

This book addresses my key issue with this series. How many times can you draft a retired agent to go out and risk his life by threatening his family, friends, etc. ?
Here Cotton initiates the action with previously a mentioned situation that was said to have been a long standing puzzle to him. He still ends up in the middle of international intrigue, but it flows much more naturally.

The underlying mystery is also one you rarely hear about but has been on my radar for some years now. Well done without going too far out and keeping it all within the realm of potentially possible.

I consider this volume to be the best of the series so far. I cannot recommend it enough.

Narrator

I love Scott Brick as narrator. I listened to all of the Sigma Firce series.

Difficult to follow

A great story but with too many moving parts for me. Had to go back several times over a few cheers to get into sync with the story again. Not an easy read!!

More and more Cotton

I just love this series. The storylines and character development are fascinating and never predictable in the least. I’m glad there are a number left for me to catch up.

Great plot

The development of all of the characters can be a bit confusing until things settle down from time totime

His best Yet

If you like suspense in the form of "The DiVinci Code", you'll love this one. Cotton Malone has his hands full but is very cool through the whole book. It is a real page turner and full of twists and turns. I HIGHLY recommend it!