Customer reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5 out of 5
136 global ratings
5 star
39%
4 star
17%
3 star
15%
2 star
7%
1 star
22%
How are ratings calculated?
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Review this product

Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Kitti Boesel
5.0 out of 5 stars Short, intense read - well done!
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2010
Verified Purchase
I honestly do not understand "fans" complaints about this great little story. The short story was clearly not meant to be a huge piece (though I have to admit that it did serve to make me want to read more). This was a sideline, if you will. Cotton fans (Malone's Clones)have been begging for more info and storyline on Cassiopeia Vitt and this was a little taste of what is to come. It makes for a lovely appetizer before the book release next month (a whole month earlier than usual!).

This short story is totally in keeping with Steve Berry's usual 'learn a little while all the action is going on' style. The details are lush and the suspense tense; all you would expect to find a full length novel - certainly more than one usually finds in a short story.

If you, like me, have devoured every single book by Steve Berry, then I highly recommend you spend the buck and a half on the download(I mean really - how much did your coffee cost this morning?). By the time the main course arrives next month, you will be very glad you did!
Read more
shawn e bell
5.0 out of 5 stars Short and to the point
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2011
Verified Purchase
This is a short story that takes place before the Emperor's Tomb novel, and features Cassiopeia Vitt.

Cassiopeia is a character from Berry's Cotton Malone universe, which includes the Templar Legacy, the Alexandria Link, the Venetian Betrayal, the Charlemagne Pursuit, the Paris Vendetta, the Emperor's Tomb and the Jefferson Key. She's a smart, strong-willed woman who is easily Cotton Malone's equal in many ways.

The story centers around Vitt's adventures in Bulgaria where she searches for artifacts from the tomb of a Thracian king.

This book is less a stand-alone short story than it is a back story for the novel the Emperor's Tomb. It sets up the relationship between Vitt and Lee Sokolov, a one of a group of Russians mining in the same area of the Rila mountains when she arrives there.

Steve Berry is a fantastic writer, and this short story is another great example of how he can weave history and modern characters into an intense action adventure that you just do not want to put down.

I wish the story was longer, and I looked forward to the Emperor's Tomb. Superb work!
Read more
R. Phillips
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Starter Book for Steve Berry! A Kindle Must Buy!!
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2010
Verified Purchase
Have you heard about Steve Berry, but wasn't sure if you would like his work? Or you were afraid you would be lost in the Cotton Malone universe? Then the Balkan Escape is for you. A short story, this Kindle novel is priced for less than two dollars and introduces you to Cassiopeia Vitt, a character from previous Berry novel's. The story is short and to the point. Has some interesting history and, most importantly, leaves you wanting to know what happens to her in the upcoming release of the next Malone novel. This short story introduces you to author Steve Berry's sense of writing and is a great read. Yes, it is short, but that is why they call it a short story! It is like a teaser, a prelude before the real story. But for those of you wondering about Steve Berry this is an excellent way to see just how good of a writer he really is.

If you have a Kindle, this is a must buy!
Read more
Frank J. Konopka
4.0 out of 5 stars Cassiopia Vitt in big trouble
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2010
Verified Purchase
This is a minor prequel (of sorts) to Mr. Berry's "Emperor's Tomb". It answers the question that many people asked of themselves while reading the latter work: "Why is Cassiopia Vitt going out of her way to help Lev Sokolov"? It's a short and slight story, but it tends to keep your interest, even though you know Cassy survives her peril, since she's in the next book, which takes place 5 years later.

I downloaded this story to my Kindle, and because it wasn't very long, it didn't take much time to download, or to read for that matter. There's not much else I can say about this story, except that you must be a rabid Steve Berry fan to pay to get this story, but once you do you'll have a few (unfortunately very few) minutes to savor an interesting storyline, and know how Cassy and Lev met.
Read more
J. McClure
4.0 out of 5 stars Great 'bridge' short story!
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2010
Verified Purchase
For fans of Cotton Malone and his friends, this was a nice short story to set up the next book. As this took place before the events of Paris Vendetta, fitting it into the next book, presumably set after PV, could have been awkward given all that happened. Those who complain about how short the story is seem to be complaining just to for the sake of it. It is marketed and priced as a short story, and that's what it is, a quick story to hold fans over and whet their appetites for more. I enjoyed seeing Cassiopeia Vitt in her own adventure, and the way the story was written, no more was needed to have a nice, tight, complete episode. I'd be glad to see more stories like this between full length novels, myself.
Read more
Edward Bishop
5.0 out of 5 stars Short but sweet!
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2010
Verified Purchase
This says it is a "short story" and, indeed, it is. Personally, unlike some reviewers on here, I thoroughly enjoyed it and understood what a "short story" means. I wish that Mr Berry would do a short story between all his books. It wet my appetite for the Emperor's Tomb and was a fun little read. It set up some background for his next full novel without getting into that storyline. It was also great to read about one of the Cotton Malone side characters. Overall, I was not expecting a NY Times bestseller and really enjoyed it for what it is. Here is to Mr Berry releasing a short story between every novel!
Read more
Dallas Pauls
5.0 out of 5 stars Great short story
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2010
Verified Purchase
THIS IS A SHORT STORY.

Reading the description, I figured this book was going to be a short read and all adventure. Steve Berry provided it as well. I love Ms. Vitt and in this adventure definitely had me hooked. One minute you are looking at ancient ruins and then running through a dark tunnels trying to find a way out, while explosions are going off and the cave is crumbling around you.
Read more
Ishmom
5.0 out of 5 stars The Balkan Escape: A Cassiopeia Vitt Adventure
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2013
Verified Purchase
Another Steve Berry short story ~ I loved it. His characters are very well described and as you read, you feel as if you are on whatever adventure or daring escape that they are involved in. As this also ties into the character of Cotton Malone, another favorite, it is very easy to get lost in the pages.
Read more
See all reviews

Top reviews from other countries

Clive
1.0 out of 5 stars A poor chapter not a short story, or adventure
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2011
Verified Purchase
I don't know how this got defined as a short story or an adventure. It is a poor chapter, and perhaps could have been included in the Emperor's Tomb, but most probably best left on the editors floor. Don't even waste your time. The slightly shorter version is that Cassiopeia is stuck in a cave in Bulgaria with Lev Sokolov, and they get out.
Read more
caro
1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointed.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 15, 2013
Verified Purchase
This story is so short it should be called micro. 33 pages and only 71% is the story. In comparison to a full length novel it is very overpriced. As one starts to get into the story, it ends. At the end it tells you it is a prequel to The Emperor's Tomb, this should be made clearer by Amazon.
Read more
barry
5.0 out of 5 stars Really like the Cotton Malone series of books
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 8, 2016
Verified Purchase
Really like the Cotton Malone series of books, a good spy thriller that keeps you interested to the last page and looking for the next one.
Read more
trubble007
1.0 out of 5 stars RIP OFF!!!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2011
Verified Purchase
This story is shorter than the free samples you can get! It is not advertised as a short story/sample & I am very dissatisfied with amazon for not specifying this .
It is probably only a chapter long and I read the whole thing while waiting for my computer to switch on... literally a couple of minutes!
Read more
Dave B
1.0 out of 5 stars I couldn,t believe it was so short. What a rip off for £2.99
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2019
Verified Purchase
A good story that set the scene for something that had the promise of more adventures to come. It all ended rather suddenly after a twenty minute read.
Read more
See all reviews