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.

Tom H. (
JTsDad) wrote on 1/20/2009...
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.

Teresa M. (
capagrl) wrote on 12/15/2008...
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!