From the publisher:
King Ludwig II of Bavaria was an enigmatic figure who was deposed in 1886, mysteriously drowning three days later. Eccentric to the point of madness, history tells us that in the years before he died Ludwig engaged in a worldwide search for a new kingdom, one separate, apart, and in lieu of Bavaria. A place he could retreat into and rule as he wished. But a question remains: did he succeed?

Enter Cotton Malone. After many months, Malone’s protégé, Luke Daniels, has managed to infiltrate a renegade group intent on winning Bavarian independence from Germany. Daniels has also managed to gain the trust of the prince of Bavaria, a frustrated second son intent on eliminating his brother, the duke, and restoring the Wittelsbach monarchy, only now with him as king. Everything hinges on a 19th century deed which proves that Ludwig’s long-rumored search bore fruit--legal title to lands that Germany, China, and the United States all now want, only for vastly different reasons.

In a race across Bavaria for clues hidden in Ludwig’s three fairytale castles--Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee--Malone and Daniels battle an ever-growing list of deadly adversaries, all intent on finding the last kingdom.

The Last Kingdom by Steve Berry was published February 21st, 2023 by Grand Central Publishing.

My Thoughts:

The premise was interesting and creative regarding the missing land deed. And the book accurately portrayed which groups would be interested in it. One group did surprise me, but the reasoning and reality for its involvement made perfect sense. There was a lot of history and a touch of current events. Action packed, the plot generally moved forward at a brisk pace.

For me this was a 4.5 star read which I rounded up to 5 stars. The number of characters involved in the intricate plot had my head spinning a little at times. I almost felt as if I should take notes to follow who was doing what aligned with which group on the surface and in reality. The afterword is interesting and detailed. If you enjoy reading where ideas come from and what's real and what's not, it is not to be missed.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion of the book.

I went into The Last Kingdom with more than a bit of trepidation. I honestly did not like the previous book in the series and was hesitant on this one.
It started out as an improvement, but seemed to go downhill fast for me.
I was more interested in this one and that kept me going for a while.
Cotton was excellent, as always.
Luke Daniels has great promise as a main character.
There just seemed to be too many factions vying for this mysterious and hidden kingdom. It left me kind of bored with it. While I was reading, I never connected with a sense of urgency or importance for this one.
I may try the next Cotton Malone book. I may not.
Time will tell.

A new book by Steve Berry with an intriguing title, a favorite character or two - count me in. Research and history is interwoven into the plot so seamlessly that I was gratuitously educated about a subject upon which I thought I had a lock. Amazing everything you don’t know. Upon finishing the book I looked back at my notes to discover that there were none - I didn’t want to take time away and break the continuity and besides Berry always gives the reader complete and thorough information in the Writer’s Note section.

There are many references to the stories that have preceded this installment and readers who are new to Steve Berry and the previous Cotton Malone books may find this troublesome as there are some past, present and future nuances. Tightly crafted with enough action and mystery to balance the history made this book totally enjoyable for me.

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for a copy.

I am a big fan of Steve Berry, but I found this one to be hard to get through. There are a lot of characters to follow, which got confusion. I did not find myself invested in the Bavarian back story and Mad King Ludwig history and it lagged for me to the point where I would skim when the story would flash back. But it was very action packed and dramatic, similar to the other Cotton Malone books, but with the hero spotlight focused on Luke Daniels, much more than Cotton.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.


Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author for providing me an ARC for my honest opinion! #NetGalley, #Bookworm #Reader #Bibliophone

Good historical fiction with some wows and twists, but easy to get lost. Many characters came and went, I wasn't always sure if they were friends or foes, and I found Berry's random use of characters' first or last names somewhat confusing. Overall The Last Kingdom was a good story and kept me reading until the end.

Another historical novel by Steve Berry. I had trouble getting through the book which I felt had a bit too much historical background and not enough action. I understand the need for it because you are telling a story that’s mainly real but this was too much. Certainly an entertaining story and makes room for a continuing saga. I just kept losing the story in all of the background.

The Last Kingdom is book 17 in the Cotton Malone series. I have not read any of the others, and whole the story was understandable without doing so, there are numerous references to past events that are not explained here. The book changes point of views between several characters, and I didn't feel like I got to know any of them very well. Perhaps that's because this is book 17, but it made it hard to emotionally connect with them.

Many times this read like a history lesson. How good or bad that is depends on your love of history. Much of the "history" here is factual, as are the locations. Take the time to read the Writer's Note at the end that explains the facts versus the fiction.

Overall, I enjoyed the read but I wasn't wowed by it.

Not family friendly due to violence.

I wanted to really enjoy this book, but it wasn't for me. I felt like the book was drawn out. This was my first book by Steve Berry and I would be open to reading more. I had particularly high hopes due to the context for the book being about King Ludwig II.

I think this could very much be a book enjoyed by others! It is clear to me that this author does their research! The book has so many historical references and that aspect of the book was very enjoyable to me. My struggle I think was that there were ongoing plot lines for the main characters that I wasn't yet invested in, because this was my first Steve Berry book, so that's on me!

The Last Kingdom by Steve Berry is another enticing story involving the past with the present. The best thing about Berry’s work is the amount of research he does and how he brings it to the reader in an interesting fashion. This story revolves around the gift of a deed for the Hawaiian Islands from the last king of Hawaii to King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 1880’s. What is to be determined is if is real or a legend. The Nazis spent considerable time searching for it as did American intelligence, both giving up after the leads they had didn’t pan out. Not too many years after Ludwig II’s death, the kingdom was absorbed by Germany and the members of the Wittelsbach family were reduced to not much more than deposed aristocracy with no power and little wealth. Until now. The Germans are interested. The Americans are interested. And most importantly, the Chinese are interested.

Cotton is retired, but we know how much that means. He is old school. A fabulous character created by by Berry. He lives a satisfying life as a bookseller in Denmark. He loves a wonderful, Cassiopeia Witt, and has a son her loves. Occasionally he gets drawn back in as he has this time by a younger agent: Frat Boy, also known as Luke Daniels. It was supposed to be an in and out, but that is far from reality. It is a well-written thriller with all kinds of subplots. On the end, there was a lot of shooting and death, but the people left all went home satisfied, and the read learned plenty about an obscure Bavarian king. It was well worth my time.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Last Kingdom by Grand Central Publishing, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #GrandCentralPublishing #SteveBerry #TheLastKingdom

Steve Berry is one of those favorite authors who can jump to the head of the line when I have a stack of books to choose from. I don't even have to know what the setting, etc. are. He wrote it, I want to read it now. With seventeen books, so far, I have yet to be disappointed.
I won't go into great detail because I don't want to commit any spoilers. It's set in Bavaria, many super powers are chasing down a valuable document and Cotton Malone is on the search which will take him all over Bavaria. That includes the history of King Ludwig, his three castles and his remaining descendants, one of whom would really like to be a King. Pick up a copy, find a comfy spot and set out some snacks and beverages then settle down to enjoy the adventure. It's a great one.
My thanks to the publisher Grand Central publishing and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

It seemed to me throughout this typical Steve Berry adventure that he was setting the stage to retire Cotton Malone and elevate “The Frat Boy” Luke to primary badass and new “Captain America” status. However, by the end, I was nto so sure!

No matter what Berry chooses to do with these characters, I am confident he will keep turning out some of the best adventure fiction out there. Fans will welcome the fast-paced, action-packed story, told in relatively short sections and chapters which makes this a fantastic weekend read.

Recommended.

You can always count on Steve Berry to craft complex mysteries from real historical events and/or persons. The Last Kingdom is just the latest thrill ride in the Cotton Malone series. In many ways, it is one of the most multifarious Berry has produced. The reader would be smart to keep a lineup card handy to keep track of all the characters who grace the pages of this engaging adventure. A lot of countries and alphabet agencies are represented. Malone remains the star attraction, but he shares the spotlight with others in this historical mystery game. It's tantalizing tale. It's not the best of the series, but it's still pretty darn good. Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion. #TheLastKingdom #NetGalley.

In the book The Last Kingdom, author Steve Berry continues his popular Cotton Malone series. Cotton Malone is back along with Luke Daniels to try and save America from disaster. What does Bavarian King Ludwig II have in common with the Sandwich Islands? And how can a document given to King Ludwig from the King of the Sandwich Islands in 19th century affect America today? And does the Last Kingdom exist? This is another great book by Steve Berry in the Cotton Malone series. The audio-book narration was very well done by Scott Brick. I would recommend this book. I received a copy of this audio-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Steve Berry has written another entertaining tale in The Last Kingdom. Steve finds interesting historical events and uses them in his novels. Typically there is some missing or unknown aspect of the event that serves as the fulcrum point to develop the story. Through in some espionage and plot twists and an interesting adventure unfurls before you. Highly recommended. #TheLastKingdom #NetGalley

"What does it say?" asks someone after Cotton Malone has finally figured out the riddle at the heart of Steve Berry's latest, The Last Kingdom. "To infinity and beyond," Cotton answers. "That makes no sense," the other guy, a Duke, observes. Cotton smiles. "It did to Buzz Lightyear."

Yes, Cotton Malone is back after taking one book off, and though he is only one of three co-protagonists (along with Luke Daniels and a new guy) rather than the main character, he still does his thing, deciphering (literally) the clues that lead to the McGuffin -- a deed to ownership of Hawaii obtained by Mad King Ludwig of Bavaria in the 19th century that would upset contemporary geopolitics and the world economy if found.

The setting here are Munich and the three castles Ludwig II built during his controversial reign as king of Bavaria, the best known being Neuschwanstein, the fairy tale castle he built in the Alps that inspired Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. I visited the area, including this famous castle, back when I was in college (twice, actually, now that I recall) and have always counted it among the greatest world wonders I have had the good fortune of seeing (and I've been to all seven continents).

The mysteries of Ludwig's life and death prepare the stage for all the shenanigans that follow -- I even wrote my own short story about his last night back in my college days. We never get resolution about Ludwig himself -- there is none, that's why they're mysteries, and Berry is smart not to try to fictionalize it. Nevertheless there is still a very good story in this wonderful setting.

So we have all the classic Steve Berry elements in place -- an enduring historical mystery, a magical setting that is made better than a travelogue by the story, a riddle in need of a solution, and contemporary political intrigue. Add to that some infighting between U.S. intelligence services and the prickly current fictional president of Berry's world, and you just can't go wrong.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advance review copy of this book.

Cotton Malone is back in Steve Berry’s The Last Kingdom. The retired agent is called back into action as backup for Luke Daniels, who has infiltrated a group seeking to restore the kingdom of Bavaria. In the 1880s, King Ludwig II supposedly received a deed to the Hawaiian Islands. Through the years, the deed had been the subject of unsuccessful searches. Now, however, new clues have been revealed that could lead to the document’s discovery. Prince Stefan, a descendant of Ludwig II believes that possession of the deed could allow him to negotiate Bavaria’s secession from Germany. Deposits of rare earth have been detected in Hawaiian waters, leading the Chinese to become involved in the search. A renegade group of former CIA agents are also in the race, prepared to kill anyone in their way.

The current Duke of Bavaria is dying. As his heir, Stefan would be the rightful king if he succeeds. As the trail leads to Ludwig’s empty tomb, Linderhof and Neuschwanstein Castle, Cotton must decipher a series of clues left behind by Ludwig’s advisor to avert the political fallout that the deed could cause in the present. Mixing history and political intrigue, Steve Berry will keep you on the edge of your seat as the various factions converge on the location revealed by the final clue. Along the way alliances are broken and not everyone is who they seem. From his opening scenes to the last pages, Berry makes this a difficult book to put down. I would like to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing this book for my review.

Cotton Malone is helping out a friend from his days with the agency. It was supposed to be an easy thing; and then it wasn’t. All of a sudden he is being chased by men with guns. What could they want? It seems there is something from the late 1800’s that many governments want to get their hands on and they will do anything to get it; even tho no one is sure it even still exists, or even if it ever did.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher, but all views and thoughts expressed are my own. The Last Kingdom is the latest entry in the long running Cotton Malone series after Cotton took the year off in 2022 (Berry released a standalone title in place of the usual Cotton one). The Last Kingdom finds Cotton working with Luke Daniels to provide some cover to allow a pair to steal something from the desk of King Ludwig II, otherwise known as the Mad King who ruled Bavaria during the late 1800s. He is best known for Neuschwanstein Castle, which served as inspiration for Walt Disney when designing Sleeping Beauty's castle. As the pair flee, an unexpected group appears and things go south quickly. Cotton and Luke quickly find themselves involved with a society formed to protect Ludwig's legacy even though it occurred more than a century ago. Add in a Ludwig decendent determined to get the throne back, and you have a high octane race to find a mystery document that has the potential to rock international politics and the global economy.

As always, I love the way that Berry takes a historical event and spins it into a compelling and believable alternate version.. In this case, it involves correspondence between Ludwig and the leader of Hawaii during the period before Hawaii was part of the US. Add in the real mystery surrounding Ludwig's death as well as his reputation for being mad, and you have all the ingredients for a book that readers won't want to put down for even one minute. I am looking forward to an upcoming title featuring Luke as the lead coming in the summer of 2023 after this one. As always, I can't wait for the next Cotton Malone title.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC. This series is one of my favorites and was like coming back to a favorite place.

Cotton Malone is a retired Magellan Billet agent trying to live a quiet life as a bookseller, but he keeps getting pulled back in. This time someone is stealing from Ludwig II's castle, Herrenchiemsee. What ensues is an engrossing tale entwining mystery, adventure, and history into a rollercoaster ride of reading delight.

Cotton is, as always, an intriguing protagonist. The surrounding characters unfold, develop, and shift in interesting ways. The underlying historical mystery is engrossing.

I definitely recommend this one. Knowing the characters and the series is helpful. I think bits may be confusing without knowing the history, but the critical bits are well filled in.

Steve Berry has written another hit novel. The Last Kingdom starts with Ludwig II of Bavaria and continues to the present day. The history of the book is well researched and the descriptions of Germany make you think you are there. It's a fast paced novel that will have the reader at the edge of their seat until the finish the book. And best of all Tom Cotton is back for another adventure!