The Venetian Betrayal: A Novel (Cotton Malone) (Hardcover)

by Steve Berry (Author)
Key Phrases: central asian federation, venetian betrayal, elephant medallion, Alexander the Great, Irina Zovastina, Supreme Minister (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In bestseller Berry's predictable third novel to feature Cotton Malone (after The Alexandria Link and The Templar Legacy), Malone takes on another villain bent on world domination, Irina Zovastina, supreme minister of the Central Asian Federation, who's plotting to use a bioweapon to destroy Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Malone races around the globe trying to find the means to foil the minister, aided by longtime allies Cassiopeia Vitt, an enigmatic and deadly operative, and his former Justice Department boss, Stephanie Nelle. The answer may lie buried with Alexander the Great's remains. Both the good and the bad guys let their opponents live in circumstances that make no sense except to prolong the plot, and the genuine mysteries surrounding the death of Alexander the Great receive short shrift. Despite some pedestrian prose (He shook his head. Choices. Everybody made them), this international yarn, full of shoot-outs and explosions, won't disappoint fans of Berry's previous action-packed thrillers. (Dec.)
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Product 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 place–unknown to this day–remains a tantalizing goal for both archaeologists and treasure hunters. Now the quest for this coveted prize is about to heat up. And Cotton Malone–former U.S. Justice Department agent turned rare-book dealer–will 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 Great–in 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 people–depending on who finds the lost tomb first.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1 edition (December 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345485777
• ISBN-13: 978-0345485779
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #143,638 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No, not the great American novel, but great entertainment., December 12, 2007

By	Sasha Turkus (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I became hooked on Steve Berry after reading the fascinating "The Amber Room: A Novel." Since then I have eagerly awaited each of his novels; from The Romanov Prophecy: A Novel to The Alexandria Link: A Novel. I received my pre ordered copy yesterday and finished it last night! Berry's novels are an exciting mix of action, adventure, mystery, history, archeology, and modern geopolitical power games. Are some of the plot lines and situations outlandish? Well of course but that is what you expect from books like this. What Berry does though that sets his books above others is take historical facts and create fun historical what ifs and then blends them into modern thrillers. I won't say too much about the plot as that could ruin the read, but this one revolves around the search for the mysterious resting place of Alexander the Great (a true archeological mystery!). Of course Cotton Malone is soon pulled into mix, along with the beautiful Cassiopeia Vitt. The adventures take them across Europe and into Asia as they try to discover the truth behind a string of fires (one in a Danish Museum that almost cost Cotton his life) A mysterious group called the Federation bent on world domination, and the Tomb of Alexander the Great. Fans Of Cussler, Preston/Childs, James Rollins should enjoy this and any of Berry's books!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another exciting adventure - Cotton Malone and Co!, December 20, 2007

By	ellen "ellen in atlanta" (Atlanta, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

If you aren't familiar with a historical timeframe, by the end of a Steve Berry adventure you will feel you are an expert in the field...
Berry's current outing deals with Alexander the Great - who died in 323 BC literally the king of the world. We know he was mummified and eventually was entombed in Alexandria Egypt - but the tomb was destroyed and his remains disappeared -
Cotton Malone is in the middle of a raging fire - that's how we found him in the Alexandria Link - which was about the Library of Alexandria - in Alexandria which was named that in honor of Alexander, so we have some synchronicity there -
The fire isn't just any fire - it is Greek fire - which was lost when the great civilizations were lost - but someone's got the formula and is using it - trying to find medallions circa 323 BC - they show Alexander fighting in India -
Enter Irina Zovastina, a politician who has united a lot of the 'Stans' and has a plan to take over other countries with germ warfare - She also thinks of herself as a modern day Alexander the Great and is in a quest to find Alexander's tomb and the long lost remedy Alexander's physician had used to instantly cure him -
Clues remain to find the tomb - history tells us that -
Where Alexander went, what he admired - all clues - what you will find is Zovanista is no Alexander -
But you will find a book that solidifies in the last half to be a great adventure - As always, Berry gives you a what-if scenario -
But much thought went into this adventure -
Cotton Malone is an excellent character with excellent supporting characters - Total package is thoughtful research by Berry coordinating history with cloak and dagger - Every Berry offering gives you more than just a spy book - you get in and play with history -
Good read -

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Meh. Wait for the paperback., January 1, 2008

By	Stephen Fleming (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've read every book Steve Berry has published... so I know the guy can write. But not this time. I don't know if he was under pressure to make a deadline, or if he's just hoping to get Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Witt optioned by Hollywood. The book suffers from just too much of a muchness... if one evil overlord's lair isn't enough, how about two? If one ancient secret hidden away for centuries isn't enough, how about three? If a double-cross or triple-crossing agent isn't enough, how about a quadruple-cross?

Throw in some boats and an orange dive watch, and this book could have been churned out by Clive Cussler. And that's not a compliment. "The Venetian Betrayal" would probably make a fun movie, but it's not a very satisfying book.

I hope that Berry chooses to give his Malone series a rest for a while and goes back to stand-alone books like "The Amber Room" and "The Romanov Prophecy."