Book Reviews of The Alexandria Link (Cotton Malone, Bk 2)

I absolutely loved this book. It's like an intellectual Indiana Jones, complete with secret societies and ancient manuscripts. Although similar to Da Vinci Code, this book focuses on the origin of Israel as a nation-state and on what would happen its origin was based on a lie. Sorry, you'll have to read the book to find out more. :-)

I've seldom come across a book with more twists and turns, a whole boatload of red herrings that sometimes almost overwhelm the plot. The author manages to hold all the pieces together, though, and the story is tightly written and full of interesting premises about biblical history and its implications in modern events. What I thought would be a mediocre knockoff of The DaVinci Code turned out to be a pretty good action thriller, and worth reading.

Usual secret and hidden clues to great knowledge - I found it too wordy and not enough action - but if you like ancient and secret conspiracies then you may like this one.

Sort of an Indiana Jones adventure, with great descriptions of far away locations. Nice quick read, and engaging.

This is the first Steve Berry book I have read--I liked it and will read more. It’s classified as a thriller, and I suppose it is, but it is intelligent and well written. There are multi-level stories, all intertwined, of course. Our action takes place in cities across Europe, the Middle East, and Washington, D.C.

The story line is good, relatively realistic, and involves not only the protagonist, but includes participation by his ex-wife and son in the action, as well as many other parties. What was fun was the treasure hunt following clues across the continents in search of the lost Library of Alexandria. Berry interplays fact with fiction to move the plot along and leaves it to the reader to decide how much we might want to believe. While there is some violence, it is minimized without the usual blow by blow description, which I have come to appreciate, when so many current writers think it necessary to report how much blood has been shed or how many times the hero can be beaten up and still rise phoenix-like to best his enemy. Also rewarding, it was not overridden with foul language or vulgarity (can only think of a couple of instances with mild words and no real obscenities). Perhaps that is my peculiarity—using the language in private but preferring not to have it fill the written page because the writer is not skillful enough to think of better words.

Mr. Berry does add notes at the end discussing the facts and theories on which he based the novel. If you have not read Steve Berry before, you might try this one.

This story really stretched the imagination. I think the author was really grasping at straws. But it was a good read anyway. I like adventure stories and this was full of adventure.

Cotton Malone is the new Dirk Pitt

This was one of Berry's best in my opinion. There was plenty of history and intrigue. It prompted me to read all of his books. I enjoyed every one of them. They made me think!

Another win for Cotton Malone and friends. If you are a Steve Berry fan - you will enjoy this book. If you have not read Steve Berry I suggest you start with his first "Cotton Malone" story, "The Templar Legacy"

I liked the characters, but the story itself was a little confusing. I'm still not sure what the "link" is! lol All in all it was ok, I finished it but it took some self-prodding.

I was really turned off by what I felt was very blatant anti-Semetism. Since I have not read any of the Author's other work, I don't know if it is him or just the characters (almost all of them, it seems). Or maybe it is just that I am not used to the Arab side of the Arab/Israeli conflict being the one sympathized with. I read maybe one negative reference to Arabs... one. VS Tons negative towards Jews. ???

Good stand-alone story -- didn't need to read the first Cotton Malone story; but it did make references to the previous story.

This is similar to the Da Vinci Code where religion, as accepted today, is called into question. And a quest for the truth is full of twists and turns where friends and foes overlap. Lots of double crossing from obvious as well as surprising sources.

I'll be checking out the other books with this main character.

An ancient storehouse of forbidden knowledge.
Secret cabals of powerful men.
Conspiracy and murder.
Oh yeah! Give me more of that. Better than Dan Brown. Loved it.

In this book Cotton Malone who has appeared in other books discovers his son has been kidnapped and his book shop is burned to the ground? Why? Because, someone has learned that he has the secret to the Alexandria Link. The link is in fact a man but one who knows the secrets of the ancient Alexandria library. The Israelis' are hot on the trail determined to destroy the link, a group of greedy business tycoons also wants the link but their purpose is to further destabilize the Middle East and there is a traitor close to the White House who is also deeply involved. There is a potential revelation that will shake the foundation of the world's three major religions. The book reads quickly and is enjoyable although Berry does have some annoying writer's quirks.

Cotton Malone is a great hero and this story has everything a thrill seeking reader could want - suspense, intrigue, international mystery. Definitely worth the read!