The Charlemagne Pursuit

Cotton Malone Series Book 4

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Synopsis
 

As a child, former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone was told his father died in a submarine disaster in the North Atlantic, but now he wants the full story and asks his ex-boss, Stephanie Nelle, to secure the military files. What he learns stuns him: His father’s sub was a secret nuclear vessel lost on a highly classified mission beneath the ice shelves of Antarctica.

But Malone isn’t the only one after the truth.

Twin sisters Dorothea Lindauer and Christl Falk are fighting for the fortune their mother has promised to whichever of them discovers what really became of their father–who died on the same submarine that Malone’s father captained.

The sisters know something Malone doesn’t: Inspired by strange clues discovered in Charlemagne’s tomb, the Nazis explored Antarctica before the Americans, as long ago as 1938. Now Malone discovers that cryptic journals penned in “the language of heaven,” inscrutable conundrums posed by an ancient historian, and the ill-fated voyage of his father are all tied to a revelation of immense consequence for humankind.

In an effort to ensure that this explosive information never rises to the surface, Langford Ramsey, an ambitious navy admiral, has begun a brutal game of treachery, blackmail, and assassination. As Malone embarks on a dangerous quest with the sisters–one that leads them from an ancient German cathedral to a snowy French citadel to the unforgiving ice of Antarctica–he will finally confront the shocking truth of his father’s death and the distinct possibility of his own.

 


Praise
 

"Plenty of classic touch points are in this cliff-hanger: Nazis, secret missions, shootouts, cryptic journals and top-secret government files. In Malone, Berry has created a classic, complex hero."
—USA Today

 

"A meticulous researcher, Berry carefully integrates such elements as Charlemagne, Nazis, ancient manuscripts, historical puzzles and scientific surprises into the plot. Those who relish suspense in the Da Vinci Code vein will snap this one up, the best yet in the series."
—Publisher’s Weekly (Starred Review)

 

"Berry outdoes himself in his latest Cotton Malone adventure . . . So much is going on that there is enough material for two good books, let alone one great one. Mixed in with the complicated action, Berry finds the time to explore the characters as well, making this his most personal and best book to date."
—Library Journal (Starred Review, selected as one of its 5 Best Thrillers for 2008)"

 

"Berry, whose rapid-fire tales always pack a pleasing punch, scores a knock-out reminiscent of classic Robert Ludlum and Clive Cussler this time out. . . .Berry's series has been gaining speed with each successive effort, but the needle crosses the red-line in The Charlemagne Pursuit. The most satisfying pure thriller of the year."
—Providence-Journal

 

"A solid action thriller."
—Booklist

 

"Berry inundates readers with lessons in history, theology, geology, and through the political regimes of another era with the deft hand of a surgeon. He slices and stitches information skillfully throughout this hair-raising adventure. The plot is complicated and laden with emotion. Berry has another blockbuster."
—Romantic Times Book Review (4.5 stars out of 5)

 

"What separates this novel from the others in the series is plot development…Berry brings his fans a more efficient telling of yet another international quest…the research-obsessed writer injects facts and tension throughout, producing one addictive read. More importantly, (Berry) decides to use emotion as an impetus for adventure…and the story becomes increasingly more interesting. Whether you're a Berry buff or a beginner, this is one novel worthy of pursuit."
—Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA)

 

"Action-packed . . . engrossing and suspenseful . . . another stunning thriller."
—Wichita Falls Times Record News

 

"The Charlemagne Pursuit, Steve Berry's latest work combines fact, fiction, educated conjecture, and strong characterization while maintaining rapid-fire readability at all times . . . it is impossible to stop reading during the book's final half . . . There is literally something for everyone and all of it is great."
—bookreporter.com

 

FROM THE BLOG WORLD

 

"Steve Berry returns to form in his seventh novel, the fourth to feature Cotton Malone. . . . Berry manages to create interesting, three-dimensional characters without sacrificing the plot... . The Charlemagne Pursuit is thoroughly entertaining, pure escapist fun. Anyone who is a fan of Dan Brown’s novels and hasn’t yet, should read Steve Berry immediately."
—Curled Up With a Good Book (curledup.com)

 

"While only loosely based on historical fact, I found Berry's imaginative story completely plausible as I was reading. The Charlemagne Pursuit also stands well on its own despite being the fourth book to feature Cotton Malone....I enjoyed The Charlemagne Pursuit so much I've gone back to the beginning of the Malone series and have already powered through The Templar Legacy and am well into The Alexandria Link within a matter of days. Both are equal to The Charlemagne Pursuit. So why not start at the beginning?"
—Tina Baich on iubookgirl.blogspot.com

 


Excerpt
 

CHAPTER ONE

 

GARMISH, GERMANY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, THE PRESENT
1:40 P.M.

 

Cotton Malone hated enclosed spaces.

His current unease was amplified by a packed cable car. Most of the passengers were on vacation, dressed in colorful garb, shouldering poles and skis. He sensed a variety of nationalities. Some Italians, a few Swiss, a handful of French, but mainly Germans. He'd been one of the first to climb aboard and, to relieve his discomfort, he'd made his way close to one of the frosty windows. Ten thousand feet above and closing, the Zugspitze stood silhouetted against a steel-blue sky, the imposing gray summit draped in a late-autumn snow.

Not smart, agreeing to this location.

The car continued its giddy ascent, passing one of several steel trestles that rose from the rocky crags.

He was unnerved, and not simply from the crowded surroundings. Ghosts awaited him atop Germany's highest peak. He’d avoided this rendezvous for nearly four decades. People like him, who buried their past so determinedly, should not help it from the grave so easily.

Yet here he was, doing exactly that.

Vibrations slowed as the car entered, then stopped at the summit station.

Skiers flooded off toward another lift that would take them down to a high-altitude corrie, where a chalet and slopes waited. He didn't ski, never had, never wanted to.

He made his way through the visitor center, identified by a yellow placard as Müncher Haus. A restaurant dominated one half of the building, the rest housed a theater, a snack bar, an observatory, souvenir shops, and a weather station.

He pushed through thick glass doors and stepped out onto a railed terrace. Bracing Alpine air stung his lips. According to Stephanie Nelle his contact should be waiting on the observation deck. One thing was obvious. Ten thousand feet in the high Alps certainly added a heightened measure of privacy to their meeting.

The Zugspitze lay on the border. A succession of snowy crags rose south toward Austria. To the north spanned a soup-bowl valley ringed by rock-ribbed peaks. A gauze of frosty mist shielded the German village of Garmisch and its companion, Partenkirchen. Both were sports meccas, and the region catered not only to skiing but also bobsledding, skating, and curling.

More sports he'd avoided.

The observation deck was deserted save for an elderly couple and a few skiers who'd apparently paused to enjoy the view. He'd come to solve a mystery, one that had preyed on his mind ever since that day when the men in uniforms came to tell his mother that her husband was dead.

"Contact was lost with the submarine forty-eight hours ago. We dispatched search and rescue ships to the North Atlantic, which have combed the last known position. Wreckage was found six hours ago. We waited to tell the families until we were sure there was no chance of survivors."

His mother had never cried. Not her way. But that didn't mean she wasn't devastated. Years passed before questions formed in his teenage mind. The government offered little explanation beyond official releases. When he’d first joined the navy he'd tried to access the court of inquiry’s investigative report on the sub’s sinking, but learned it was classified. He’d tried again after becoming a Justice Department agent, possessed of a high security clearance. No luck. When Gary, his fifteen-year-old, visited over the summer, he'd faced new questions. Gary had never known his grandfather, but the boy had wanted to know more about him and, especially, how he died. The press had covered the sinking of the USS Blazek in November 1971, so they'd read many of the old accounts on the Internet. Their talk had rekindled his own doubts—enough that he'd finally done something about them.

He plunged balled fists into his parka and wandered the terrace.

Telescopes dotted the railing. At one stood a woman, her dark hair tied in an unflattering bun. She was dressed in a bright outfit, skis and poles propped beside her, studying the valley below.

He casually walked over. One rule he'd learned long ago. Never hurry. It only bred trouble.

"Quite a scene," he said.

She turned. "Certainly is."

Her face was the color of cinnamon which, combined with what he regarded as Egyptian features in her mouth, nose, and eyes signaled some Middle Eastern ancestry.

"I'm Cotton Malone."

"How did you know I was the one who came to meet you?"

He motioned at the brown envelope lying at the base of the telescope. "Apparently this is not a high-pressure mission." He smiled. "Just running an errand?"

"Something like that. I was coming to ski. A week off, finally. Always wanted to do it. Stephanie asked if I could bring"—she motioned at the envelope—"that along." She went back to her viewing. "You mind if I finish this? It cost a euro and I want to see what's down there."

She revolved the telescope, studying the German valley that stretched for miles below.

"You have a name?" he asked.

"Jessica," she said, her eyes still to the eyepiece.

He reached for the envelope.

Her boot blocked the way. "Not yet. Stephanie said to make sure you understand that the two of you are even."

Last year he'd helped out his old boss in France. She'd told him then that she owed him a favor and that he should use it wisely.

And he had.

"Agreed. Debt paid."

She turned from the telescope. Wind reddened her cheeks. "I've heard about you at the Magellan Billet. A bit of a legend. One of the original twelve agents."

"I didn't realize I was so popular."

"Stephanie said you were modest, too."

He wasn’t in the mood for compliments. The past awaited him. "Could I have the file?"

Her eyes sparked. "Sure."

He retrieved the envelope. The first thought that flashed through his mind was how something so thin might answer so many questions.

"That must be important," she said.

Another lesson. Ignore what you don’t want to answer. "You been with the Billet long?"

"Couple of years." She stepped from the telescope mount. "Don't like it, though. I'm thinking about getting out. I hear you got out early, too."

As carelessly as she handled herself, quitting seemed like a good career move. During his twelve years he'd taken only three vacations, during which he'd stayed on constant guard. Paranoia was one of many occupational hazards that came with being an agent, and two years of voluntary retirement had yet to cure the malady.

"Enjoy the skiing," he said to her.

Tomorrow he'd fly back to Copenhagen. Today he was going to make a few stops at the rare- book shops in the area—an occupational hazard of his new profession. Bookseller.

She threw him a glare as she grabbed her skis and poles. "I plan to."

They left the terrace and walked back through the nearly deserted visitor center. Jessica headed for the lift that would take her down to the corrie. He headed for the cable car that would drop him ten thousand feet back to ground level.

He stepped into the empty car, holding the envelope. He liked the fact that no one was aboard. But just before the doors closed, a man and woman rushed on, hand in hand. The attendant slammed the doors shut from the outside and the car eased from the station.

He stared out the forward windows.

Enclosed spaces were one thing. Cramped, enclosed spaces were another. He wasn't claustrophobic. More a sense of freedom denied. He’d tolerated it in the past—having found himself underground on more than one occasion—but his discomfort was one reason why, years ago, when he joined the navy, unlike his father, he hadn’t opted for submarines. "Mr. Malone." He turned. The woman stood, holding a gun. "I'll take that envelope."

 


Also in this series: