The King's Deception

A Novel

By: Steve Berry

Narrated by: Scott Brick

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This Cotton Malone adventure blends gripping contemporary political intrigue, Tudor treachery, and high-octane thrills into one riveting novel of suspense.

Cotton Malone and his fifteen-year-old son, Gary, are headed to Europe. As a favor to his former boss at the Justice Department, Malone agrees to escort a teenage fugitive back to England. But after he is greeted at gunpoint in London, both the fugitive and Gary disappear, and Malone learns that he’s stumbled into a high-stakes diplomatic showdown—an international incident fueled by geopolitical gamesmanship and shocking Tudor secrets.

At its heart is the Libyan terrorist convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103, who is set to be released by Scottish authorities for “humanitarian reasons.” An outraged American government objects, but nothing can persuade the British to intervene.

Except, perhaps, Operation King’s Deception.

Run by the CIA, the operation aims to solve a centuries-old mystery, one that could rock Great Britain to its royal foundations.

Blake Antrim, the CIA operative in charge of King’s Deception, is hunting for the spark that could rekindle a most dangerous fire, the one thing that every Irish national has sought for generations: a legal reason why the English must leave Northern Ireland. The answer is a long-buried secret that calls into question the legitimacy of the entire forty-five-year reign of Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, who completed the conquest of Ireland and seized much of its land. But Antrim also has a more personal agenda, a twisted game of revenge in which Gary is a pawn. With assassins, traitors, spies, and dangerous disciples of a secret society closing in, Malone is caught in a lethal bind. To save Gary he must play one treacherous player against another—and only by uncovering the incredible truth can he hope to prevent the shattering consequences of the King’s Deception.

Praise for The King’s Deception

“[A] perfect blend of history and adventure . . . The history enhances the main narrative and gives it an added punch. . . . Pick up this new fast-paced book by Berry and have an excellent thrill ride while you also get a wonderfully enjoyable history lesson. Education has never been this much fun.”—The Huffington Post

“Steve Berry does what Dan Brown thought he did. [He combines] a love of history with global thriller action and creates books that are impossible to put down and even educational. . . . A perfect blend of history and action . . . perfect summer reading.”—Crimespree Magazine

“Cotton Malone returns in a thriller that combines history and gunfire. . . . Readers old and new will enjoy The King’s Deception.”—Associated Press

“A complex, rollicking forty-hour ride through a very dangerous and wild weekend in London where the betrayals collide with current events and the deceptions of hundreds of years ago, resulting in an explosive finish that no one who reads it will forget. . . . Berry is a wonderful guide as always, interweaving fascinating bits of history into the narrative. . . . I can’t give you a better endorsement for a book or an author.”—Bookreporter

©2013 Steve Berry (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Berry raises this genre’s stakes." (The New York Times)

"Forget Clancy and Cussler. When it comes to this genre, there is simply no one better." (The Providence Journal)

“[A] perfect blend of history and adventure . . . The history enhances the main narrative and gives it an added punch. . . . Pick up this new fast-paced book by Berry and have an excellent thrill ride while you also get a wonderfully enjoyable history lesson. Education has never been this much fun.” (The Huffington Post)

Get the Abridged version

What did you like best about The King's Deception? What did you like least?

2 hours to much with historical information. Certainly, a little is needed to support the premise of the story. However, every marriage and offspring in English history is overkill.
Other than that a solid story line. Scott Brick always a solid read.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Expected

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favorite?

Ian

Could you see The King's Deception being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No

I don’t want to write a review and I resent being forced to do so

I don’t want to write a review and I resent being forced to do so. I don’t want to write a review and I resent being forced to do so.

Subpar Cotton Malone

Would you recommend The King's Deception to your friends? Why or why not?

I would recommend it because it is part of the series but it isn't nearly as compelling as other entries into the series. Don't get me wrong, I love the writing of Steve Berry and Cotton Malone as a character. This was just my least favorite so far.

Have you listened to any of Scott Brick’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

As always, Scott Brick's performance was fabulous.

Scott Brick is the worst audio performer

If you could sum up The King's Deception in three words, what would they be?

great story

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Scott Brick?

anyone else. i could not listen, had to read the book he is so bad. will never get another audio book that he narrates

History matters

I love the way Berry takes quirks and mysteries of history and turns them into great fictional stories.

should run 8 hours

Nice read for Europeans, with historical scenes. For us Americans, too much dribble on detail. struggled through it.

Another history and Cotton Malone great!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes and I've been recommending these Steve Berry novels for years.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

How could it not? All of the good/bad guys plus the subject matter truly makes one wonder.

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Scott has a wonderful speaking voice which has become "Cotton Malone" to my ears.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Is truth worth the consequences?

Oh Yes !! If you like London !!!

I just got back from 2 weeks in London as I began listening to this book. Perfect timing, Berry incorporates so many places I saw into this book. Its worth the read. One of the castles in the book I did not see, but looked up in my London book and am now upset I didnt get there. It's an interesting tail that I understand after 2 weeks in London. Truth is the mystery could be told in 3 chapters but the sights and scenes of London make the unabridged version worth it.

the Cotton Malone series is awesome

the Cotton Malone series is awesome. can't wait to start the next book. keep up the great work.

Complicated thriller

Entertaining but a bit hard to follow while listening. Probably less confusing if read. Had to re listen at the start of a few chapters