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    The Charlemagne Pursuit: A Novel
    Unavailable
    The Charlemagne Pursuit: A Novel
    Unavailable
    The Charlemagne Pursuit: A Novel
    Audiobook (abridged)7 hours

    The Charlemagne Pursuit: A Novel

    Written by Steve Berry

    Narrated by Scott Brick

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    As a child, former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone was told his father died in a submarine disaster in the North Atlantic, but now he wants the full story and asks his ex-boss, Stephanie Nelle, to secure the military files. What he learns stuns him: His father's sub was a secret nuclear vessel lost on a highly classified mission beneath the ice shelves of Antarctica.

    But Malone isn't the only one after the truth.

    Twin sisters Dorothea Lindauer and Christl Falk are fighting for the fortune their mother has promised to whichever of them discovers what really became of their father-who died on the same submarine that Malone's father captained.

    The sisters know something Malone doesn't: Inspired by strange clues discovered in Charlemagne's tomb, the Nazis explored Antarctica before the Americans, as long ago as 1938. Now Malone discovers that cryptic journals penned in "the language of heaven," inscrutable conundrums posed by an ancient historian, and the ill-fated voyage of his father are all tied to a revelation of immense consequence for humankind.

    In an effort to ensure that this explosive information never rises to the surface, Langford Ramsey, an ambitious navy admiral, has begun a brutal game of treachery, blackmail, and assassination. As Malone embarks on a dangerous quest with the sisters-one that leads them from an ancient German cathedral to a snowy French citadel to the unforgiving ice of Antarctica-he will finally confront the shocking truth of his father's death and the distinct possibility of his own.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateDec 2, 2008
    ISBN9780739341315
    Unavailable
    The Charlemagne Pursuit: A Novel
    Author

    Steve Berry

    Steve and Phil were founder members of the TV Cream nostalgia website and have written several books on popular culture.

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    Reviews for The Charlemagne Pursuit

    3.5/5

    676 ratings154 reviews

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    • 3/5
      This was my first Steve Berry book and the plot is similar to a Dan Brown book. Like Brown's books this is a fast read. The beginning was quite engaging but the book slowed towards the end. While the historical secret is interesting, it is a little bland. Overall the book was enjoyable but is not up to Brown's standards.
    • 3/5
      [The Charlemagne Pursuit] by Steve Berry#4 in the Cotton Malone Series⭐⭐⭐After the first few books in the series this one was a great disappointment! It seemed too long and too disjointed. The usual characters were missing (and were a big miss) and I didn't like the central characters in this book. Even Cotton seemed to show poor judgement and to be acting out of character. Hopefully they get back on track with the next book.
    • 3/5
      A reasonably good action thriller, but seems to get bogged down a bit in all the political machinations. A little hard to follow with a lot going on and a lot of characters.I appreciate Steve Berry's usual practice of spending a few pages at the end of the book to separate fact from fiction.
    • 4/5
      Cotton's latest adventure has him in pursuit of answers about the death of his father, who supposedly went down with the submarine he was commanding when Cotton was 10. The file has always been classified, but Cotton has used one of the favors he's earned from the government due to his recent exploits to get a copy. He (sorta) teams up with a pair of German sisters who believe their father was also on the sub. Back in the states, Cotton's former boss, Stephanie Nelle is working with one of the president's deputy national security advisers to determine who's going around killing people who were involved with the sub back in the 70's. Berry's books are full of twists and turns and with the exceptions of Cotton and Stephanie, the reader has no idea who is a 'good guy'. This can be confusing at times. I'm not sure why there need to be so many double, triple and quadruple crosses. I think the subject matter is fascinating enough that extra suspense and intrigue scarcely needs to be artificially manufactured. In previous Cotton Malone books, I have enjoyed more the puzzle-clue-historical context portions of the tale than the running-shooting-blowing up museums and libraries parts. This volume had far more action-y stuff, and that made me less enamored of it, even though I find the historical subject matter of a possibly lost advanced civilization existing somewhere in Antarctica. Also, I wasn't a big fan of the ending, about which the least-spoilery thing I can say is that there were deaths that did not seem necessary. As always, I love Berry's wrap-ups at the end where he explains what parts of his story are true historical facts and which he made up for the story. I'm probably done reading these for a while, though.
    • 3/5
      The Charlemagne Pursuit and Cotton Malone reminded me of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt books. Unfortunately, for me, that is not a good thing. To be fair I have not read any of the Berry's previous books in the Cotton Malone series. The Pursuit struck me as convoluted and drawn out. Filled with betrayal after betrayal. At times I couldn't help but find myself surprised by the kind of awkward dialogue that you hear in an action movie that completely removes you from your state of suspended disbelief. On the positive side some of the historical aspects of the book were interesting. I expect fans of Berry and Cussler will have an entirely different take on this book.
    • 3/5
      I received an "Early Readers Version" of this from the publisher so presumably the typos and editorial gaffes were cleaned up before the book was released.This is my first book by Steve Berry, so I am probably ignorant of important information from previous books. This undoubtedly distorts my impression of "The Charlemagne Pursuit". Still... having two barely connected stories running simultaneously seemed very awkward. Why not just focus on Malone's quest, rather than introducing the whole stateside half of the story? Also, there were several instances where Berry used some rather unusual choices with both vocabulary and phrasing, and many instances where he'd throw in needless detail. I found myself stopping at several points to wonder, "Why'd he say it like that?" I found it very jarring. On the other hand, I did like the short chapters, they helped keep the story moving along.I did like the main story and I really appreciated the Author's Notes at the end. Really piqued my curiosity about some of these ancient mysteries. Overall I'm glad I read "The Charlemagne Pursuit" but once will definitely be enough.
    • 4/5
      I was a little disappointed in this book as it was not as good as the first three in the series. It started out as an interesting concept about finding out what was going on in Antartica but too much was going on with the other stories and made the book too choppy. I liked learning about Charlemagne and all the history but was spoiled by the weird sisters and their mother being involved. I thought the ending was a bit anti-climatic because there's no way I believe what they found and too many people died in this story. It didn't seem like Cotton needed to be involved with that family. They were a waste of his time and energy. Here are a few points in order to make the next book better:1. Steve Berry needs to write his own books as I can't believe he wrote this one.2. He needs to pick one event in history and write a story about that instead of having too many storylines going on at the same time.3. I like when Vitt and Thorvalsen are in the story and it worked before so don't change that.4. Never have weird people in your book again, Steve, we don't like them.I don't think this book was a total disaster but it was a bit long when you are not really enjoying all the people in the story. I will continue with the series as I think this book may be a bump in the road and things will smooth out in the future.
    • 4/5
      I always really enjoy the ending author's note in these as well, where he reveals what was fact and what was fiction. It's always surprising to me which things he didn't add!
    • 2/5
      When he was ten, Cotton Malone's father, Navy Captain Forrest Malone, was lost in a submarine accident. The body was never recovered. When Cotton is approached by a mysterious woman named Dorothea Lindauer she tells him the real truth. His father actually died on a classified mission in Antarctica along with Dorothea's father who was also on board. After requesting the classified file from former boss, Stephanie Nelle, Cotton teams with Dorothea and her twin sister, Cristl Faulk, to find out what really happened back in 1971. He's looking for his father, but they are looking for some sort of evidence that there was an advanced society that has now disappeared. Meanwhile Stephanie and deputy national security advisor, Edwin Davis, team up to try to find out why several of the men who knew about that mission are dying in different ways.

      The writing was choppy and the action moved from one subplot to another. There are four or five separate plot lines going on, none of them compelling. The characters are neither likable nor their motivations believable. Charlemagne didn't have much to do with the story and I believe he was only used to provide an interesting title. I've read and enjoyed the previous three books in the Cotton Malone series so I hope this was just a bad one. Overall, I'm glad this underwhelming and tiresome book is over.
    • 3/5
      Of the 4 books I've read in the Cotton Malone series by Steve Berry, this has been the most disappointing. The style was choppy, the storyline was jumbled, a majority of the characters were unlikable (or just blah) and Cotton, himself, seemed to be a side story. You know it's bad when the best characters in the book are the bad guys who are on a continent half a world away from your actual hero.Cotton has always wondered about his father who died in a submarine accident when Cotton was 10. There has never been a satisfactory answer -- let alone an actual body to bury. Cotton wants closure and uses his connection to the Magellan Billet to get access to the classified reports of the subs demise. However, the file is completely different from the fiction that Cotton has believed most of this life and he begins searching for answers.Unfortunately (!) Cotton isn't the only one searching for answers and he has to team up with Dorothea and Christl Oberhauser - two women also seeking the truth behind their father's death aboard that ill-fated submarine. The search will take you from Denmark to Germany to France and Antarctica. Meanwhile, another drama is playing out in Washington DC involving Stephanie Nelle.Rating: 3.25 stars
    • 5/5
      Great, exciting tale, and as usual Berry makes it almost believable.
    • 4/5
      Cotton Malone is a former Justice Department agent. He's interesting in knowing more about his father who was a captain on an experimental sub that went down in Antarctica and there were no survivors.Cotton pulls in some favors and gets a record of the ship so he can learn more.In a quick succession of events with many killings, he ends up working with twin sisters whose father was also on the sub and they want to learn of his final days. The women's mother is an iron fisted woman who has promised the family fortune to the sister who finds out about her father, first.There is also an influential man who is interested in the lost sub but this man wants to keep everything a secret and doesn't mind murder to stop anyone from finding too much.There is a puzzle that must be solved and ancient history comes into play. It has to do with Charlemagne and adding this touch has kept the book interesting and done so in a way that doesn't make the story drawn out.I enjoyed the characters and various settings and think those looking for an interesting read and a trip through history will enjoy it.
    • 2/5
      I guess I didn't enjoy this one as much as most other Steve Berry novels. Sure he managed to weave some obscure historical fact, make some entertaining fiction out of it and tell a good story. We also get some backstory on Cotton and his personal life which while intriguing and wraps itself into the overall story, I felt it to be contrived. Seemed like Berry had two stories to tell and couldn't quite pick which one he wanted to tell more. Thus both felt forced and reaching to fill some page count. I hate saying this about a Berry novel as I love most of them, this just was not one of my favorites. I will always come back to Berry again and again, but this just didn't reach his normal standards.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed this book, but I have to be honest and say that I didn't enjoy it as much as I did the first three Cotton Malone stories. The mystery at the foundation of this book is fascinating and kept my interest the whole way through but I kept finding myself thinking "Huh?!" at some of the characters actions. The Americans - including Cotton, Stephanie Nelle, Edwin Davis and President Danny Daniels - all made sense, but like another reviewer mentioned the Oberhauser women just didn't gel with me. The fast moving action and the stunning visual descriptions by far outweighed any issues I had with the Oberhauser characters though and I would definitely recommend the book to other Steve Berry and Cotton Malone fans.
    • 4/5
      I didn't think I like this kind of spy/thriller thing - but I read the book in one afternoon and evening, so apparently, I do. Fun, fast, probably a little loose with historical detail, quite enjoyable.
    • 2/5
      This was my least favorite of the Cotton Malone series, but I'm still amazed by Steve Berry and his historical mysteries. His writing kept me going throughout the book.
    • 1/5
      It's a not terribly subtle thriller involving an ancient German dynasty, Nazis, retired USA Special Forces members turned booksellers... and Antarctica. Mostly everyone dies.Finished with no great relish... ok for the Tube, but that's not a terribly high standard.
    • 4/5
      This book finds Cotton looking into his Dad's death which put not only him but high ranking officals of the US Government in harms way. On one side of the world Cotton is struck with and in between 2 German sister who hate each other along with a scheming matriarch looking toward the future of the family by any meanings possible. Then in the US there is a high offical using a killer to keep his secrets safe. Good book that keep my up and not wanting the book to end. Solid 4.5 out of 5. One of Cotton's best.
    • 4/5
      A son's quest for truth, a government cover-up, and an ancient mystery. Intrigued yet? You should be. When Cotton Malone, former U.S. government agent turned rare book dealer, was ten, his father and the submarine he commanded disappeared in the North Atlantic. In The Charlemagne Pursuit, Cotton sets out on a mission to find the truth about his father's death. He soon finds himself entangled in the Charlemagne Pursuit, the search for proof of an unknown ancient civilization on one side and the desire to suppress it on the other. You'll have to read the book to find out how the two are related. While only loosely based on historical fact, I found Berry's imaginative story completely plausible as I was reading. The Charlemagne Pursuit also stands well on its own despite being the fourth book to feature Cotton Malone. Steve Berry is surely compared to Dan Brown on a regular basis, so I hate to do it here, but if you enjoy Brown's work, I'm confident you'll love Berry and Cotton Malone. I enjoyed The Charlemagne Pursuit so much I've gone back to the beginning of the Malone series and have already powered through The Templar Legacy and am well into The Alexandria Link within a matter of days. Both are equal to The Charlemagne Pursuit. So why not start at the beginning?
    • 3/5
      This book was slow to start, but once you're committed, it picks up speed quickly around page 100. I can't read a mystery without reading the last chapter first, but the plot twists kept me interested, even though I knew how it would end. Recommended, though I wouldn't read it twice.
    • 4/5
      Cotton Malone has finally found a way to get the information which could lead to the answers of what happened to his father nearly 40 years ago. Calling in favors he is handed the file of the final mission that his father went on. Just as he receives the file he is accosted by agents of an unknown adversary.As the story evolves, Malone is caught between antagonistic twin daughters of a German who was also on the mission with his father and want the same information. As in the past, Berry weaves a parallel story involving Stephanie Nell pitted against, this time, an Admiral that wants an appointment to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and who knows exactly what Malone is searching for.I love the Cotton Malone series because of the way that Steve Berry manages to take some ancient historical fact/artifice and weave it masterfully into thriller that will hold my interest even while generating questions of whether something like this could actually happen.Looking forward to the next adventure!
    • 1/5
      I thought it would be a fast and enjoyable read. The description sounded interesting, but I couldn't get into it. Didn't flow at all, and was kind of boring.
    • 5/5
      The Charlemagne Pursuit is my introduction to author Steve Berry and his protagonist Cotton Malone. After reading this and researching previous novels, I think I have begun with the best.The story takes off with an exciting submarine accident and never really slows down too much. As for content, what more could you ask for? This is definitely a thriller, but it mixes in so much more. Tossing in history with science and not to mention science fiction & fantasy. We go for a roller coaster, James Bond ride throughout the world in search of the answer posed to Cotton Malone...just who was his father really and what was he doing in a sub deep under the ice?I enjoyed myself thoroughly reading The Charlemagne Pursuit and now must let you go. I have to go find copies of Steve Berry's other novels!
    • 3/5
      This book started off a bit slow for me and I felt a bit of a disconnect to the main characters since I hadn't read any of the previous books. I think that the reading experience would have been better if I knew the history of them. Overall though I did enjoy the story which is told from multiple points of view. I think that this will be a book to revisit down the road once I go back and read the other books.
    • 3/5
      I found this book slow that is still enjoyable, but really goes too far in tying together connections between ancient civilizations. It is obvious that the author spent a lot of time in research as background for this novel. The author's hero, Cotton Malone, is pulled into a mystery of Global pursuits that he did not expect to be involved in. Malone had started by trying to learn the facts surrounding his own fathers death while on a secret mission to the Antarctic. The American part of the story is interesting as any section of the book that has Cotton Malone actually in it. But there are many sections of the novel that could have been edited out without losing any of the plot and enhancing the enjoyment of the reader. Perhaps the two parallel story lines should have been released as two companion books. If you have not read another Cotton Malone mystery first I suggest you do yourself a favor and read any earlier book on Malone first and get yourself some back story or you may find this an even slower read than I did. By reading another book by the author you will see what a good writter he really is...do not let this book by the measure you use to judge this author.
    • 3/5
      Fun to read but far from his best.
    • 2/5
      I had a tough time getting into The Charlemagne Pursuit -- the first of the Cotton Malone series that I have read. It was hard to follow the character development and I just never got invested in any one of them. A poor imitation of the Da Vinci Code and others in the genre.
    • 4/5
      This was a pretty good book, though I read it over a period of weeks, and sometimes I found myself forgetting what had happened to the characters in previous chapters, especially when they alternated viewpoints. A solid mystery, not too controversial. I have read a couple of books by this author but not with this protagonist, and I think I would have gotten a little more out of it had I read previous Cotton Malone stories. This book seemed to wrap up a long-standing issue for Malone--great--but I would have liked the backstory from other books.
    • 4/5
      After reading the other reviews for this book I realize now that this book is part of a series which you wouldn't be able to tell by reading it on it's own. It was very well written as a single piece on it's on with giving you plenty of knowledge of the characters. It does explain the end though how it cuts off explaining that there should be another story to continue on later with.I thought it was a great story line an ancient civilization that could change the course of human thought. Drawing all the characters in either trying to find the truth or hide the truth they all are on one side or the other at least you think they are right up to the end.
    • 3/5
      I am a huge fan of Steve Berry's. That being said I had a hard time reading The Charlemagne Pursuit. It did not draw me in like the others did and at about half of the way through it started to become a chore to read this one. Steve Berry has some wonderful books to his credit but this is not one of them.