Action & Adventure
![Steve Berry - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B001H6W6DU.jpg)
The Last Kingdom
From celebrated New York Times bestselling author, Steve Berry, comes the latest Cotton Malone adventure, in which the discovery of a lost historical document challenges the global might of the United States.
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.
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.
Editorial Reviews
"High-octane […] A fun page-turner with historical elements."―Publishers Weekly
"When readers crack open a new Malone adventure, it's like reuniting with an old friend. Another strong entry in a consistently fine series."―Booklist
"What you'd expect if James Bond were an American who consulted with the CIA. Bring it on."―Kirkus
"Berry once again proves that history matters, skillfully crafting a fictional story around historical truths."―Library Journal
"When readers crack open a new Malone adventure, it's like reuniting with an old friend. Another strong entry in a consistently fine series."―Booklist
"What you'd expect if James Bond were an American who consulted with the CIA. Bring it on."―Kirkus
"Berry once again proves that history matters, skillfully crafting a fictional story around historical truths."―Library Journal
Readers Top Reviews
ReviewerGardenstate
While I am enjoying the book, the first thing I noticed when I received it was that the height is a solid 0.5" shorter than the other books in the series. The font size is still good, but the book loses the margins at top and bottom, so text is now much closer to the top/bottom edges. Book also looks out of place when placed on the same shelf with the rest of the series.
John S Burke Jr
There is too much repetition and description of historical facts that detract from the story line. Writing messages in German and French and then translating immediately below is tiresome. We know that Malone can speak German and French so he could be translating it in his head . I never pass on a Steve Berry book and think it is worth reading but it didn’t keep me as interested as his books usually do.
Ahhhh! So good to have Cotton back! It’s been too long! Berry’s new book The Last Kingdom, was a page-turner. I read it in two days, thoroughly enjoying the intricate historical details about Ludwig II and Bavaria, the twist and turns of the complicated plot, and of course, the boldness and daring of the one and only Cotton Malone. And without giving anything away, I loved the ending. Can’t wait to continue another journey with Cotton next year.
