When Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt get together, something big is always happening. In this 16th Cotton Malone book, they are both retired from their agent jobs, but you’d never know it. They get sucked back into a complex situation involving German Nazi heirs in this what if story, complete with high action and adventure!

When Steve Berry’s novel The Amber Room was first released I was attracted to the book’s cover and the description on the back of the book. After reading that book I was hooked and he became one of my favorite authors. He has an ability to merge an historic event and a contemporary thriller that never disappoints. The Kaiser’s Web involves the election for Germany’s chancellor and events at the end of WWII that will impact the candidates.

Information has come to the current chancellor that her opponent, Theodore Pohl, may be the son of Eva Braun. Documents reveal that a ruse was created in Hitler’s bunker that allowed her to escape and settle in Chile with Martin Bormann. She was supposedly pregnant with Hitler’s child at the time but there is no record of a birth. The chancellor calls on ex-president Danny Daniels for help and he turns to Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt to investigate. In Chile they face death at the hands of Pohl’s assistant and find information on Nazi wealth that ties back to the chancellor’s father that could derail her campaign. It is not until they follow the trail to South Africa that they discover the truth that leads to a final confrontation back in Germany.

As Pohl and Chancellor Marie Eisenhuth campaign across Germany, they raise the issue of immigration, one that is prevalent in everyday news. Eisenhuth sees it as an obligation that enriches society but Pohl sees it destroying German culture. Pohl’s tactics are deceptive and he is willing to use violence to achieve his goals. However, he is up against Malone and Vitt who are experienced in the field and are a formidable team. As the election draws near the pressure mounts to discover what really happened to Braun and Borman. It is a story that will capture the interest of both history and thriller fans and is highly recommended. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin Press for providing this book for my review.

THE KAISER’S WEB offers another WWII saga with a twist on Hitler’s final hours that causes some startling repercussions to arise in German political affairs in current time. This particular scenario was once a favorite plot line for political thrillers in the 1960s-1980s but hasn’t been used much lately. With the passing of the Cold War spy years, the fun of imagining hidden Nazis waiting to take over modern Germany fell out of favor. Until recently when it all seems so plausible again. This is a fast and tight thriller with nice twists and turns. If real life has taken some of the fun out of political thrillers, there’s still a few conspiracy theories left from 1945 yet to plum. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

3.75 Hearts This is the 16th in the Cotton Malone series and I will admit that I have been in and out of this series but each time I come back it is an educational and enjoyable read.

The thing about the Cotton Malone books is you have to enjoy political reads. While there is real history and political imagination you need to be open to the political element.

Berry drags you in with his first words. He has his hand in the political field.

Worth the read and you can read each book as a stand alone but having the history of the characters is worth reading the entire series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This, the 16th in the series, was exactly the escape I needed. The perfect blend of history and fiction with politics, spies, secrets from WWII and the future of Germany hanging in the balance.
Former POTUS Daniels asks Malone and Vitt to investigate an age old question which has come to light and tied to the battle for the next German Chancellor. The question that has kept many wondering is what actual proof was there that Hitler and Braun died April30, 1945? What if they escaped? What happened to them if they lived to start a new life?
Covering history and the present and several countries and continents, Malone and Vitt search for the answers before Germany has a chance to repeat history. It's a great read, full of the trademark twists and turns that are sure to keep one reading well past their bedtime. My only complaint is that once I have enjoyed the challenge presented to Malone and Vitt, I have to wait for the next book.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another year, another thriller from Steve Berry!

This time we have “The Kaiser’s Web”, the next (16th!) adventure featuring Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt. The focus this time is on Germany and the aftermath of World War II, with the effects being felt down to today.

The election for the chancellorship of Germany (and the direction of the European Union) are up for grabs. Marie Eisenhuth is the incumbent, anti-Nazi and left leaning. Her opponent is Theodor Pol, who is stoking the far right and pushing an anti-immigrant agenda. American ex-president Danny Daniels is asked by Eisenhuth to investigate the possibility that Theodor Pol is the son of Martin Bormann, Hitler’s close confidant. He brings Cotton and Cassiopeia into the mix, and off we go.

The action takes place all around the world and is heavily influenced/driven by what happened in April of 1945 in the bunker beneath Berlin. Did Adolph Hitler kill himself, along with Eva Braun? Did Martin Bormann escape to safety? Did any of them make it out to South America, as many of the Nazis did? What happened to all of the Nazi gold?

Cotton and Cassiopeia travel to Chile to start tracking down the truth, but the things that they learn may not give them the answers they want. And everyone has their own agenda, their own reasons for telling their version of history, their own reasons for stopping others. Cotton then travels to Africa to follow-up on the trail, with Cassiopeia going to Germany to pull on those threads they found. We also have some action in Switzerland and Austria before it all comes back to Germany for the finale.

There is a lot of history in this novel, and a lot of supposition about what happened after the war. Mr. Berry is an expert in weaving elements of the truth in his fiction, along with some interesting “what ifs”. But this time it seems that the history storytelling overshadows the action, the present-day issues. Cotton goes somewhere, finds someone, hears a story, gets threatened, escapes and does it again and again, in a new location halfway around the world. There are some surprises, some great twists, but not enough action in this one. And the ending will definitely divide readers. So – enjoyable for fans of the series, but not the best.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

The two candidates in the election for Chancellor of Germany couldn't be more different. They both have secrets, and of course, are in for a very bumpy ride that all seems to hinge upon April 30, 1945. What really happened in Hitler's bunker? Did he and Eva Braun die there? Was anyone able to escape? And what happened to all that Nazi wealth? Cotton is called upon to help figure out what really happened in 1945, and what he learns could change Europe in ways nobody can imagine.

This is the 16th book in this series, which is one of my all-time favorites, and I couldn't wait to read this book. Thankfully, it lived up to my expectations. I was happy to see Cassiopeia involved again, along with several other favorite characters from previous books. The story was fast-paced right from the start, and it was very hard to put the book down once I started it. There were so many twists and turns in the plot, I had a hard time figuring out who to root for and who should be taken down a notch or two. My only complaint is that much of the plot hit a little too close to home – with current political attitudes, behaviors and actions – to really enjoy the book. I read to escape reality, not to relive it, even if it is occurring in another country. That said, I look forward to reading the next book in this series!

I'm not really sure how he keeps doing it, but with each book release, Steve Berry manages to top the one's he's released before. Hands down, the Cotton Malone series is one of my favourites and The Kaiser's Web is a great addition to a great series. Filled with lots of intrigues, interesting characters, historical facts, and a race against time. What's not to love?

The Kaiser's Web starts off quickly and the pace never slows. The book is captivating from the start!

Former President Danny Daniels, out of office six months, has been asked to interview a woman being held on the direct orders of the current German Chancellor, Marie Eisenhuth. The woman has information pertinent to the upcoming election for Chancellor in Germany. Eisenhuth has served as Chancellor of Germany for sixteen years and would like to continue to do so. However a strong right opponent is gaining a lot of ground with his rhetoric of hate and plan to return to the tenets of German nationalism popular during the Nazi regime. The outcome of the German election will no doubt influence the upcoming European elections at well. There is a lot at stake here.

Cotton Mallone is drawn out of retirement as owner of an antique book store in Copenhagen at the request of Daniels. There is a secret dossier that has information pertinent to the election and Eisenhuth wants to know its contents. Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt are soon off to Belarus, and will travel to Switzerland, Chile and South Africa to find the dossier, give the information to Daniels and Eisenhuth, and get to the bottom of what really happened in the German bunker where Hitler, Braun, and Borner supposedly died.

Berry continues to demonstrate his finely tuned skills at writing intricate, twisty storylines filled with well-developed and realistic characters. As Berry fans have come to expect, there is plenty of action, adventure, espionage, and political intrigue as well.

This is a fast-paced thriller and I highly recommend it.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for allowing me the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel scheduled to be published February 23, 2021. Opionion expressed in this review are my own.

Well played. It is a tricky undertaking to take fiction and make it interesting and believable, historical and mixed it in with a little controversy and you may have a winner. I like Malone and his side kick, a partner in every good way. They compliment each other quite well. Malone and Vitt are called into the Kaiser's web by the current Chancellor of Germany with the United States silent blessing. With a contested political campaign and the dying words of woman poisoned uttering Kaiser to an American agent, something is not gut in Germany.

The question becomes is Germany at risk to another Hitler regime. Malone and Vitt travel to Germany, Chili, and South America to find out if Theodor Pohl who is running against the current Chancellor affectionally called Oma, has Nazi ties. With the imagery of place and time, Malone and Vitt are shrewdly played in a game of chess for their lives and possibly a new World Order.

I enjoyed the book and how it brought what those in Nazi Leadership did after the war. There are some out of this world turns in the plot and you were never sure of where it was going but I liked how it went. Not giving anything away. I strongly suggest to read it for yourself.

A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC but the opinions are my own.

I've been a big fan of Steve Berry and the Cotton Malone books and this book is just as great. Steve Berry's writing makes you want to keep reading and I had a hard time putting down the book, it was gripping and had me on the edge of my seat. If you like thrillers with some politics and history thrown in then this book is for you!

I love Steve Berry- it is a pleasure to read his stuff.

This story begins during World War II and the fall of Berlin. Where did people go and what happened to those who weren't killed?
The characters are well drawn and the story easy to follow, despite the number of people to follow.
The action is swift and moves fast, sometimes faster than I can keep up with.

The relationship between Cassiopia and Cotton is a bit unbelievable, that would be my main criticism and some of their narrow escapes strain credulity. But they persevere and manage to stave off world destruction.

The history and political context is what makes this book really come alive for me. I appreciate the background and how events shape what could happen in the future. He makes the situation understandable and accessible and frankly, frightening.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to get an advanced copy in exchange for a review!!

I LOVE Cotton Malone. I cannot get enough Cotton, and I will always love and cherish this series. Some of the previous books have been meh, most have been great. This one is awesome! I thoroughly enjoyed the story, which Steve Berry spins off from a previous novel, with all its twists and turns. There are some "shocking" moments but if you know Steve Berry and Cotton Malone, honestly, you can kind of see them coming. Even so, it is still a magical read.

Steve Berry is a great writer, although sometimes his descriptions of women characters is a bit "men writing women". He has a style of writing that leaves each short chapter with a small cliff hanger, then switching to another character in the next chapter, forcing the readers to continue reading on hungry for answers! The journey is always worth it.

Cotton Malone as a character is like a fine wine, he just gets better with age! I love how he has evolved as a character and I will continue reading everything he is in until he ceases to exist.

All in all, this is a page turner and one of the stronger stories Steve Berry has brought Cotton along for in my opinion....can't wait for the next one!

I haven't read ed Steve Berry in a long time, and have definitely missed a lot of the Cotton Malone books over the years.

However it was great to get back into his thrill a minute world.

I have always been curious about whether Hitler really did die in that bunker.

Our guys are sent on a treasure hunt from continent to continent on the search for the bad guys.

I never knew which way this tale was going to turn, and enjoyed the fact I didn't guys things before they were revealed.

I look forward to catching up wirh this Serie

This is a gripping thriller I read it with such alacrity that I’m surprised I didn’t wear out the buttons on my Kindle from pushing them so frequently.
This is a very timely cautionary tale as well as a reminder of the past the must not be forgotten. Germany is on the brink of an election the two front runners for chancellor are Marie Eisenhuth who has been a long-running chancellor and if elected will tie for longest-running. She is vehemently anti-Nazi and even holds a press conference at Dachau to remind the people of what happened and what must never happen again.
Her opponent Theodor Pol is riding a wave of discontent and xenophobia and, while being very careful to denounce the Nazi party is, in fact, trying to emulate it with his rise to power.
Enter Danny Daniels an ex-United States President who is asked by Marie to look into the possibility that Theodor Pol is the son of Martin Bormann. He enlists Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt to aid in the search.
Their journey of discovery is fraught with danger as they go to South America in search of the truth.
Did Bormann survive? Was Eva Braun with him? Did they have a baby together?
Along the way, they encounter many stumbling blocks and red herrings. They immediately find a deserted mansion with pictures of Bormann holding a baby standing by a woman who looks like Eva Braun but is the photograph real? Is the scene real? Has it all been staged for their benefit.
They encounter a “guide” who has become disenchanted with the people trying to mislead them and gives them a place to look for more clues. Is she on their side? Is it another ruse? They follow the clue but it turns out to be dangerous. Their guide tells them to go to Africa for answers and off they fly to a small village in an obscure part of Africa. Their questions get them no nearer to the truth but once again involved with danger. Unexpected people show up and threaten their existence. But here they encounter another “guide” who gives them more information that is very useful but is it the truth or another red herring?
The election is drawing near can they unravel the Gordian knot in time to follow the clues and get to the truth?
Ultimately there is a showdown in Germany that leads to a surprising yet pulse-pounding conclusion.
Steve Berry is a gifted writer he skillfully weaves together the world of Nazi Germany with today’s xenophobic world and the comparisons are startling.
To say I enjoyed the book would be an understatement. It became my life as I read it.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Steve Berry and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Steve Berry ushers Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt into the sixteenth novel of the series, which is full of intrigue, political banter, and historical ‘what if’ moments in the middle of an important election. The future of Germany is at stake with two contenders for the chancellorship and a country on the verge of change. As Malone and Vitt travel across three continents, they uncover the truth behind a mystery that is seventy-five years in the making. A chilling glance into what might have happened in a Berlin bunker and the web of deceit spun in its aftermath. Recommended to those who love Berry’s work, as well as the reader who enjoys a little historical pondering in their thrillers.

Working off the books, former US President Danny Daniels arrives in Germany with a portfolio of information to deliver to an old friend. At stake is the winner of Germany’s most coveted political position, the chancellorship. Its current holder seeks to continue use her control of the political system, but a challenger holds the reins of the nationalistic right and is supported by a base who find solace in hate and racial purity.

Within the portfolio is the truth behind the events of April 30, 1945, when Hitler and his new wife, Eva Braun, apparently took their lives rather than see the fall of Germany. However, while the Russians claim to have found Hitler’s body and buried it, questions remain about Braun. Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt are called in to poke around, which will include extensive research in Chile. While their lives will be put in danger, as they unravel the complexities of the post-war fates of many Germans, neither is willing to dismiss the possible truths that have been diluted by war-time histories with obvious biases.

Might Evan Braun have escaped with one of Hitler’s confidants? Could their connection have led to a romantic connection that bore a child, one who was whisked away and adopted by another family? It will take more than a crafty marksman to deter Malone and Vitt, as they reveal all and make their way to South Africa to learn just how complex this secret, dubbed the Kaiser’s Web, proves to be.

With the fate of Germany in the balance, secrets will come to light, but will it all be in time to let the country know before a chancellor is picked? Might the end result leave Germany back in the hands of the national socialists, no longer needing a putsch and beer hall to wreak havoc on the strongest economy in Europe? Malone cannot sit idly by, but even he is not sure which side is favoured in this web of lies and deception.

Steve Berry has never shied away from controversial subjects, all while injecting the ‘what if’ question into his narrative. Spinning truths he has uncovered with just the right flavouring of fiction, Berry develops a story that series fans are sure to love, with a backdrop of far-right politics that is sure to resonate in an era when elected leaders turn into tyrants drunk on power.

Cotton Malone has always been a strong, if not entirely loveable, character in these books. Painted as a former Justice Department operative who sought solitude with an antique bookstore in Denmark, Malone has always kept one foot in the realm of active duty. This story pushes him not to explore more of his backstory, but to help clarify a major issue, all while seeking to stay alive for one more day. There is not the traditional development that a series might bring to a character, but more a constant hunger for truth, even when it is buried beneath the rubble of time and deception.

Berry uses some returning characters to add flavouring to his series, but also uses a handful of key characters who are essential to the plot at hand. He mixes history and present-day when presenting those who serve as effective vessels in portraying the many layers of his narrative and there is never a dull moment as the reader learns more about the people on the page and the history behind them.

Blurring the lines between fact and fiction is what Berry does best, though he is always keen to shine the light on things in his author’s note. Berry touches on some relevant issues with the rise of the neo-Nazi movement, as well as nationalism in general, throughout this piece. The narrative is strong and keeps building throughout, while the characters embody the tension that comes from truths being unearthed. The pace of the plot never slows and the twists come throughout the story. Working through a strong storyline, the piece keeps the reader enthralled as they ask themselves what might really have happened as the Russians advanced on a crippled Berlin back in 1945. I know I was keen to see what Berry had to say in his end of story note, as I am sure many others will be who devour this book!

Kudos, Mr. Berry, for another winner. I love how you use the present day to make the past come to light, leaving many to question what they really know and where they may have been blindly led.

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This is my first Cotton Malone book and now I have lots of catching up to do. The author is talented at combining storytelling with historical events. The Kaiser's Web started slow but Berry unraveled the complicated tale until I couldn't put it down. His attention to detail makes this an unpredictable thriller which would make a great movie!

I have read a lot of book by Steve Berry. Especially the Cotton Malone series.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading some. Others not so much. Unfortunately, Kaiser’s Web falls into the latter category.
I can’t really decide when it happened in the book, but at some point, I just stopped caring.
The action was still there. The historical points that Berry is known for were still there.
Overall, it just didn’t blend together for me.
This won’t put me off reading the next book in the series, though.

I have read many books in the Cotton Malone series and while this one was not my favorite it was a solid entry. I enjoyed the overall story but found that the chapters following the politicians dragged a little. I also really enjoyed that this book has fewer shoot outs than others. Steve Berry excels at taking readers around the world and the amount of interesting locals visited in this book and expertly described will surely be a thrill for readers.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. I read this book in October and months later still find the message of the book to be haunting given events since then. I won't re-hash the premise, but as always, the historical and modern storylines are equally strong and mesh together at just the right moment. I love getting to check-in on Cotton and team and Mr. Berry crafts a version of history that feels believable. The part that stayed with me is the threat the rise of extremism across the world poses to the country and the willingness of people to believe in leaders that say what they want to hear and not in reality. The twists really kept me guessing and several times I thought I knew where the story was going only to be surprised. I couldn't put this one down and highly recommend it. I always look forward to Cotton Malone titles and this one didn't disappoint!