The King's Deception

A Novel

By: Steve Berry

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This Cotton Malone adventure blends gripping contemporary political intrigue, Tudor treachery, and high-octane thrills into one riveting novel of suspense.

Cotton Malone and his fifteen-year-old son, Gary, are headed to Europe. As a favor to his former boss at the Justice Department, Malone agrees to escort a teenage fugitive back to England. But after he is greeted at gunpoint in London, both the fugitive and Gary disappear, and Malone learns that he’s stumbled into a high-stakes diplomatic showdown—an international incident fueled by geopolitical gamesmanship and shocking Tudor secrets.

At its heart is the Libyan terrorist convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103, who is set to be released by Scottish authorities for “humanitarian reasons.” An outraged American government objects, but nothing can persuade the British to intervene.

Except, perhaps, Operation King’s Deception.

Run by the CIA, the operation aims to solve a centuries-old mystery, one that could rock Great Britain to its royal foundations.

Blake Antrim, the CIA operative in charge of King’s Deception, is hunting for the spark that could rekindle a most dangerous fire, the one thing that every Irish national has sought for generations: a legal reason why the English must leave Northern Ireland. The answer is a long-buried secret that calls into question the legitimacy of the entire forty-five-year reign of Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, who completed the conquest of Ireland and seized much of its land. But Antrim also has a more personal agenda, a twisted game of revenge in which Gary is a pawn. With assassins, traitors, spies, and dangerous disciples of a secret society closing in, Malone is caught in a lethal bind. To save Gary he must play one treacherous player against another—and only by uncovering the incredible truth can he hope to prevent the shattering consequences of the King’s Deception.

Praise for The King’s Deception

“[A] perfect blend of history and adventure . . . The history enhances the main narrative and gives it an added punch. . . . Pick up this new fast-paced book by Berry and have an excellent thrill ride while you also get a wonderfully enjoyable history lesson. Education has never been this much fun.”—The Huffington Post

“Steve Berry does what Dan Brown thought he did. [He combines] a love of history with global thriller action and creates books that are impossible to put down and even educational. . . . A perfect blend of history and action . . . perfect summer reading.”—Crimespree Magazine

“Cotton Malone returns in a thriller that combines history and gunfire. . . . Readers old and new will enjoy The King’s Deception.”—Associated Press

“A complex, rollicking forty-hour ride through a very dangerous and wild weekend in London where the betrayals collide with current events and the deceptions of hundreds of years ago, resulting in an explosive finish that no one who reads it will forget. . . . Berry is a wonderful guide as always, interweaving fascinating bits of history into the narrative. . . . I can’t give you a better endorsement for a book or an author.”—Bookreporter

©2013 Steve Berry (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Berry raises this genre’s stakes." (The New York Times)

"Forget Clancy and Cussler. When it comes to this genre, there is simply no one better." (The Providence Journal)

“[A] perfect blend of history and adventure . . . The history enhances the main narrative and gives it an added punch. . . . Pick up this new fast-paced book by Berry and have an excellent thrill ride while you also get a wonderfully enjoyable history lesson. Education has never been this much fun.” (The Huffington Post)

Another wonderfully researched thriller

Would you consider the audio edition of The King's Deception to be better than the print version?

I typically don't read a title if I'm going to listen to it. The reader, Scott Brick, is excellent.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The King's Deception?

I'd really hate to give anything away! The whole premise of the story is very plausible.

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favorite?

Brick is a good reader for Cotton Malone, he does Malone's sarcasm very well

Any additional comments?

I really like the author's notes at the end which tell what parts of the book are accurate to history and what was made up. It really adds to the historical aspect.

Great Adventure

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The book was well written and the story was cohesive. It didn't go off on tangents.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

There were constant twists with the cohesive story line that made you think and made sure that you had to remain engrossed and pay attention.

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favorite?

Cotton Malone was my favorite character

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

It was

Any additional comments?

Steve Berry is an author that knows how to keep readers entertained and coming back for more.

Re-writing History !!

Scott Brick is the premier narrator in audio books, he truly brings each story to life.
The Kings Deception turns Royal lineage on its head. The blend of historic facts twisted with modern espionage keeps the reader/listener interested on two parallel planes, "what actually happen during and just after the reign of Henry the 8th and how far will modern day diplomats go to keep a 400 year old secret.
Another in Steve Berry's series of spell-binding masterpieces . . . Bring on the next in the series !!

A Light Listen Filled with HIstorical Intrigue

If you could sum up The King's Deception in three words, what would they be?

Elizabethan, paternity, and corruption.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The young pickpocket and Ms. Mary. They add a bit of humanity to the book that may have otherwise been missing.

Did Scott Brick do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

For the most part he did a great job. There were times I found it difficult to separate his portrayals because their voices and mannerisms were quite similar, but for the women he did a pretty nice job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not particularly.

Any additional comments?

I don't typically read Steve Barry books, but I purchased it for a road trip I was taking with my husband. I found the action packed narrative to go quite well with my cleaning schedule.

Berry misses the mark

I have listened to the entire Cotton Malone series from Steve Berry and looked forward to the next installment. I enjoy the interweaving of a historical narrative with a modern adventure. However, this book is simply ponderous. Though I normally enjoy Scott Brick, in this reading he sounds like a bored history professor. Overall, I would recommend the other books in the series and skip this one.

Fantastic Story!

I could not stop listening and I hope Steve Berry Has more great Stories to come. This Makes the work day go so much faster.

Great story line and more interesting historical facts

I enjoyed the flow of the story and it was not complicated to follow. Of the course the narrator is one of my favorites. The history surrounding this is fascinating. A good listen and undoubtedly a good read.

A brilliant twist on history...

I just love how author Steve Berry's mind works! Queen Elizabeth I was really a man???! What a great concept upon which to build a fast-paced novel of intrigue that only Cotton Malone can solve. Once again, the narrator, Scott Brick, does a fantastic job of relaying the action and drawing in the listener. He's my favorite narrator.

Very confusing

I found it very difficult to follow until late into the book when it started to make some sense.

Description of the settings around the characters was spot on, allowing the plot to unfold.

Unlike many audible books Steve Berrys characters voices matched each individual. The story flowed evenly building up to each fascinating twist and revelation.
The Kings Deception is a 5 Star book.

Tom R