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The Venetian Betrayal: A Novel (Cotton Malone) | 
 enlarge | Author: Steve Berry
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy Used: $2.47
You Save: $23.48 (90%)
New (46) Used (84) Collectible (14) from $2.47
Avg. Customer Rating:  53 reviews
Sales Rank: 9259
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 496
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.7
ISBN: 0345485777
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780345485779
ASIN: 0345485777
Publication Date: December 11, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
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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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| Customer Reviews: Read 48 more reviews...
 Berry's worst book November 9, 2008
I don't like to write negative reviews, but this book is terrible. I know Steve Berry doesn't produce great literature, but here the writing is so bad--short, clunky sentences; cartoonish, cardboard characters; and stilted dialogue--and the plot is so ridiculous that I had to force myself to finish the book. I ended up just skipping over the last 40 or so pages. There are some unbelievable lapses in editing. For example, Iran is described as "a harbinger of terrorists" and there is "an eloquent Chinese cabinet." I really enjoyed Mr. Berry's first three books, but his last three haven't done anything for me.
 the best in the series! October 22, 2008
the venetian betrayal is the best of the cotton malone series, so far! well, imo, that is! this one had it all, action, history, mystery, everything!
this is my favorite berry book, the amber room is now second!
i'm looking forward to reading the next in the series!
Entertaining but unbelievable in spots... September 9, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Steve Berry has a knack for taking a piece of history and weaving a fictional story around that history. Berry has used this formula to good effect in everything he has written, including the latest--The Venetian Betrayal. My husband and I listened to the unabridged CDs on a very long road trip, and it kept us entertained for 14 long hours, and then some. But comparing The Venetian Betrayal to his other works, it's not quite a strong.
The piece of history in The Venetian Betrayal is the search for the remains of Alexander the Great. Irina Zovastina is the supreme minister of the fictional Central Asian Federation (a group of former Soviet states). She has an obsession with Alexander the Great and she plans to conquer the same regions that her hero conquered centuries ago. One of the reasons she wants to find Alexander's remains is that she also believes they will lead her to a draft that will cure HIV/AIDS (a definite stretch). At first, it is rumored that the remains of Alexander are actually buried in St. Mark's crypt in Venice--thus the book's name. But Zovastina and her henchmen will leave no stone unturned in their quest for Alexander and in the supreme minister's master plan for world dominance.
In The Venetian Betrayal, Berry brings back the characters from The Alexander Link and The Templar Legacy. They include Copenhagen-bookseller and former US operative, Cotton Malone, Cassiopeia Vitt, Henrik Thorvaldsen, and Justice Department boss Stephanie Nell. They all bring their unique talents to The Venetian Betrayal as they try to stop the evil and diabolical Zovastina. They certainly provide action at break-neck speed.
As with all thrillers, The Venetian Betrayal was unbelievable in spots. But I love the historical aspects of all of Berry's works (in this case, Alexander the Great). Also, I enjoy any story that makes a long car trip seem much quicker. In this respect, The Venetian Betrayal proved to be good entertainment.
Great Reading August 25, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book was absolutely fantastic reading. This is the first time I read any of his books and it held my attention from beginning to end and it took me only three days to read and absorb it and this being during the olympics on TV also. Like I said it was a great book and I have a few others of his and I am going to start reading them now. I am awaiting to others that I have preordered.
Once again Berry is excellent August 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am a fan of Berry so I am a little biased but I thought this book was right in line with the others with Cotton Malone as the central character. An enjoyable read for sure. I enjoy the way Berry continues to build his characters. This one is involves a fun look at history with a nice blend of conspiracy, action, and mystery!
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