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)

Interesting Premise

A bit confusing in the beginning for me, but because of the interesting premise for the story I enjoyed it and would recommend it

Another good Steve Berry adventure

A good story made even better by Scott Brick's narration. Cotton Malone back on the trail of a historical mystery.

Good story

It's a little hard to keep track of the characters in the story. But the plot is intriguing and plausible. It was a fun read.

Love this series

excellent storyline keeps you interested. Scott Brick does a wonderful job narrating. Brings true historical facts into the mix with a fictional twist.

Interesting concept...

Had to find the Bram Stoker work after listening to this book. Love it when a book makes me want to explore further. Scott Brick used his whiny voice too often. Too bad.

Steve Berry is a great historical writer.

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

Didn't read the print version

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

Yes. The Tudors fascinate me from a historical perspective. This story puts a really cool twist to the reign of King Henry the Eighth.

How could the performance have been better?

Anybody but the dramatic contortions of Scott Brick. I don't think I can listen to another book narrated by him. His whining got to me this time and added nothing to the story. It detracted a lot. Problem is I like most of the authors he narrates, so I guess I will have to read them. Don't the authors listen to the narration of their books?

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

No, it was too long. Did love the story though!

Any additional comments?

Find another narrator!!!

Cotton Malone caught in the middle again

Cotton Malone is taking his son to Denmark from the US after his mother tells him that Cotton is not his biological father. Along the way he is asked to chaperone a teenager back to Great Britain as a favor for his old boss. What could go wrong? Obviously, pretty much everything. No sooner do they land in the UK, when they are waylaid by people who say that they are police, but have bad intentions towards the accompanied teen.

From there it's a wild ride through British history and multiple secret agencies with international stakes. Along the way we find out who Gary's biological father really is and meet a few potential new supporting players for future books.

A good entry in the series and one with a legitimate reason for happening. No pulling in a retired agent without good reason, which did happen a couple times, early in the series. Well done. Recommended for thriller fans. Reminiscent of James Rollins, but with lawyers rather than scientists/soldiers.

A Big Improvement

I really liked the early Cotton Malone books, but the series seemed like it was losing steam into just being "ok" and formulaic. I found the story line here to be well paced and engaging. I did find the big historical secret to be a bit of a laugh-er, but if you can suspend your disbelief and stifle some giggles and focus on the spy story and intrigue aspects it's an enjoyable ride.

Scott Brick does his usual solid job. He's not my favorite but he does a good performance, but I do always struggle with his representation of female characters that always sound the same.

Steve Berry has done it again MUST READ

Would you listen to The King's Deception again? Why?

yes Reader was great and the story line was fasinating with the history

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

the emotion of all the characters

Any additional comments?

I loved it

Makes one yearn for a trip to London!

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

Yes, for the perfomance, the story line and the well researched background material.

What did you like best about this story?

The Tudor history is fascinating.

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

As usual, SB brings drama to the characters. Another top notch presentation.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Nothing extreme.

Any additional comments?

Berry seems to have his A game back. This books doesn't run off the rails like his last couple have ( to me at least ) and I enjoyed it immensely. Recommended.