We have been to see that "Tower of London" and also the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai, and I have to say that the London one described in this novel does not impress me as a tower! I am impressed with all the exhaustive research the author has obviously performed to flesh out the British royal deception that is at the heart of this novel that is akin to the legend of such as "Pope Joan"! There is quite a bit of consequential felonious crimes that are imagined which are simply swept away under the carpet, so to speak!
This is really an enjoyable quasi-historical novel that encompasses Elizabethan England and contemporary 21st Century political ramifications.

I enjoyed the other Cotton Malone books, but this one was bad. The "history" was interesting, but the plot was weak. The book was also very slow in places, spending too much time on some characters' backstories. However, if there was an "Ian and Miss Mary Adventures Spinoff," I would definitely read that.

The History of this book does make you think; Elizabeth I a male. However the storyline and how things played itself out was in my opinion, somewhat weak. I would have thought the book would have been more like other works where the different clues and evidence would help further the study of History. Yet in this case, it wasn't so. More about protecting the nation and politics.

Nevertheless the ending (as in the author's note) was indeed interesting. So much in History that is not written, or left confused. I wonder if the truth will ever be revealed.

A good read nevertheless.

Learned a LOT about English history!

I love suspense thrillers and find myself wrapped up in the secrets, agencies, secret societies and the quest to unearth the truth, so I was excited to read The King’s Deception by Steve Berry. While this is the eighth book in the Cotton Malone series, it can be read as a standalone. Filled with political intrigue and Tudor secrets this tale kept me on edge. Three word review: suspenseful, riveting and action-packed.
The tale begins as Cotton Malone sits down with his ex-wife and shares a story about events that occurred when he and their then fifteen year old son Gary traveled to Europe. Leaving out of Georgia, Malone, a retired Magellan Billet agent for the Department of Justice agrees to escort a teenage fugitive back to London. When they arrive, British operatives meet them but things quickly go awry. Gary and the fugitive go missing and Malone realizes he is in the middle of a diplomatic showdown regarding the release of a Libyan terrorist and it somehow revolves around Tudor secrets. The story that unfolds kept me flipping the pages and completely enthralled.
Cotton Malone is a likable character and it is easy to see why he was a highly successful and admired member of the Magellan Billet. He is level headed, quick thinking and is able to see the whole picture in the game of chess he finds himself thrust into. His son Gary is clever, questions everything and has a lot of baggage to deal with for one so young. Ian, the young fugitive is a pick-pocket who lives on the streets of London. He loves to read and often sleeps in Mary’s bookshop. He has been on the run ever since he witnessed a murder and picked the pocket of the dead man. He is smart, comes up with plans and added to the overall intrigue. Blake Antrim is a CIA operative in charge of operation, “King’s Deception” and I quite loathe this vile man. His movements in London have the CIA and MI6 involved as one works to reveal a secret and the other works to bury it. Kathleen is a SOCA (Serious Organized Crime Agency) officer currently on suspension who is called in by Thomas Matthews the head of MI6. She is a real firecracker and I enjoyed her role in the events that unfolded. Miss Mary and her twin sister both offer Malone invaluable knowledge and added to the tale.
The best formula for a suspense thriller is when the author weaves his tale around documented facts, writings, and real historical characters and events. Berry tweaked very few facts and created a tale that felt plausible right down to the present day reasons Britain wants to keep this secret from being revealed. I am quite fascinated by the Tudor period and have read many books pertaining to this period; both fictional and non-fictional. Queen Elizabeth I has always intrigued me, so seeing her and Robert Cecil, King Henry the VIII and more held me completely captive. The author brought the present day setting to life, as he weaved in the history of the places we visited making him a delightful tour guide. I had a panoramic view of the past and present, all while caught up in this brilliantly paced and action-packed thriller. I was impressed and felt the tale was tight, the characters fleshed out and the secrets, along with the political game that was afoot to be believable. Fans of Dan Brown will be delighted with The King’s Deception.

Copy received in exchange for unbiased review and originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer

SPOILERS AHEAD:

I didn’t feel it. Not at all. It seemed like Berry decided he didn’t want the Gary not being Cotton’s son as a lingering story line and decided to write this book to close that loophole. Otherwise the whole Blake Antrim thing was pointless. And of all I’ve read so far, this had the weakest theory.

Amazing book! I still can't believe the secret that was revealed in this book. A must read for all historical fiction fans!

Great Cotton Malone adventure. Also gives long time readers a resolution to the issue of Cotton finding out Gary is not his birth son. (Although this does not affect first time reader enjoyment.) I enjoy Steve Berry's writing style, he keeps the story moving at a quick pace. I had trouble trying to figure out who was on what side, the tables kept turning throughout the novel. Keeps you guessing. I was missing some of the characters from previous novels, this was a whole new cast with the exception of his son, Gary, and the occasional phone call to his boss, Stephanie Nell.

I find the Cotton Malone stories so enjoyable because the historical twists are so plausible. Mr. Berry does his research, and weaves te reality with the fantastical elements so well. The secrect Queen Elizabeth was protecting? For me, it did seem possible by the end of the book. Great series, looking forward to the next installment.

i would rate this at 4 1/2 stars, but since goodreads doesn't have half stars...