afox98's review against another edition
3.0
Entertaining book by Steve Berry, as always. I had high hopes for it because I love this author, and love American history. But I was let down just a tad. I had a hard time with several of the characters - their arrogance, pride, and in some cases, obliviousness. And there were some rather graphic violent scenes that were difficult too. Overall, an enjoyable read, but not my favorite Steve Berry book.
caslater83's review against another edition
2.0
Not my ideal book.
The synopsis and the prologue were probably the best parts of the book. I did not feel drawn into the story. It dragged on and on and I ended up skimming through the book.
The synopsis and the prologue were probably the best parts of the book. I did not feel drawn into the story. It dragged on and on and I ended up skimming through the book.
unacalle's review against another edition
3.0
I gave it a 3 but it was really a 3.5.
In the year of 2022, why can we not have half stars????
In the year of 2022, why can we not have half stars????
maggie56's review against another edition
5.0
OMG! This was one of his most recent books which I could not put down. The on going adventures of Cotton and Cass, their relationship with the two of them. Plus the government conspiracy along with the commonwealth. I think in the end what I love about Steve Berry's books are in the end when he sums it up with all the facts and true accounts that are within the story. I love all his books but this one topped it.
tuomosuominen's review against another edition
1.0
Steve Berry previous novel, The Emperor's Tomb, was disappointing. Unfortunately The Jefferson Key takes things even further and is down right awful. I mean really, a secret pirates' society that's been active with a secret government carte blanche since the American revolution and has assassinated US presidents that oppose them? Again, a number of parallel plots, served in bite-sized chapters with a cliffhanger every four or five pages. The first three or four chapters were interesting, and I had to force myself to plough through the rest.
beckielee0214's review against another edition
Too many POV jumps to add to the thriller aspect. But it justade it hard to follow.
ljjohnson8's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite Cotton Malone, but not my least favorite either. There is a secret organization of rich, powerful men (isn't there always?) called the Commonwealth, whose ancestors were early America's privateers, and they continue those pirate-y ways in modern day U.S. Our intrepid Cotton becomes entangled with them, along with other favorite characters like the Prez, Stephanie Nelle, and Cassiopeia, etc. There's lots of Cassiopeia in this one, which is a very good thing. There is a search for an antique document that Andrew Jackson hid and the action is non-stop and well-done. Loved the motorcycle at the hotel and the flooding caves in Nova Scotia. But I do prefer Cotton globe-trotting in far flung places - the U.S. locales were pretty mundane.
blackwaterlilly's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tinabaich's review against another edition
4.0
It’s no secret that Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone series is one of my favorites. In this installment, Cotton is drawn back to America by a mysterious note from his former boss, Stephanie Nelle. He quickly finds himself in the middle of a setup and must foil an attempt to assassinate President Daniels. Afterwards, Cotton has to figure out not only who is behind the attempt on the President but also who tried to frame Cotton him for it. Plus, Stephanie is now missing and may be in danger. Cotton’s investigation puts him up against a secret society of pirates who call themselves the Commonwealth. The families of the Commonwealth were privateers during the American Revolution and given extraordinary latitude by the government. The Commonwealth is on a mission to protect their privateering rights and gain power by locating a missing government document.
Berry injects history into his mystery as he always does, which is what makes me love the Cotton Malone series. However, there are fewer flashbacks to the past in The Jefferson Key. Berry leaves us primarily in the present and we learn our history secondhand. This is the first time a Cotton Malone mystery has been set in the U.S. Because of this, I missed some of the fascination for another culture of which I know nothing that I usually get from the series. I also wish I’d sprung for my new iPad before reading this book so I could have read Berry’s short story/eBook Original, The Devil’s Gold, in which he introduces a key character in The Jefferson Key first.
However, I still greatly enjoyed The Jefferson Key. I love the cast of characters Steve Berry has created and was excited to find Cotton and Cassiopeia becoming more of a couple. I love the history Berry draws on to create fascinating and conspiratorial mysteries. I hate waiting for the next Cotton Malone book. If you are a fan of Cotton Malone, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed by The Jefferson Key.
http://iubookgirl.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-jefferson-key.html
Berry injects history into his mystery as he always does, which is what makes me love the Cotton Malone series. However, there are fewer flashbacks to the past in The Jefferson Key. Berry leaves us primarily in the present and we learn our history secondhand. This is the first time a Cotton Malone mystery has been set in the U.S. Because of this, I missed some of the fascination for another culture of which I know nothing that I usually get from the series. I also wish I’d sprung for my new iPad before reading this book so I could have read Berry’s short story/eBook Original, The Devil’s Gold, in which he introduces a key character in The Jefferson Key first.
However, I still greatly enjoyed The Jefferson Key. I love the cast of characters Steve Berry has created and was excited to find Cotton and Cassiopeia becoming more of a couple. I love the history Berry draws on to create fascinating and conspiratorial mysteries. I hate waiting for the next Cotton Malone book. If you are a fan of Cotton Malone, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed by The Jefferson Key.
http://iubookgirl.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-jefferson-key.html