The King's Deception by Steve Berry

  

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Cotton Malone is back! Steve Berry’s new international adventure blends gripping contemporary political intrigue, Tudor treachery, and high-octane thrills into one riveting novel of suspense.

Cotton Malone and his fifteen-year-old son, Gary, are headed to Europe. As a favor to his former boss at the Justice Department, Malone agrees to escort a teenage fugitive back to England. But after he is greeted at gunpoint in London, both the fugitive and Gary disappear, and Malone learns that he’s stumbled into a high-stakes diplomatic showdown—an international incident fueled by geopolitical gamesmanship and shocking Tudor secrets.

At its heart is the Libyan terrorist convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103, who is set to be released by Scottish authorities for “humanitarian reasons.” An outraged American government objects, but nothing can persuade the British to intervene.

Except, perhaps, Operation King’s Deception.

Run by the CIA, the operation aims to solve a centuries-old mystery, one that could rock Great Britain to its royal foundations.

Blake Antrim, the CIA operative in charge of King’s Deception, is hunting for the spark that could rekindle a most dangerous fire, the one thing that every Irish national has sought for generations: a legal reason why the English must leave Northern Ireland. The answer is a long-buried secret that calls into question the legitimacy of the entire forty-five-year reign of Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, who completed the conquest of Ireland and seized much of its land. But Antrim also has a more personal agenda, a twisted game of revenge in which Gary is a pawn. With assassins, traitors, spies, and dangerous disciples of a secret society closing in, Malone is caught in a lethal bind. To save Gary he must play one treacherous player against another—and only by uncovering the incredible truth can he hope to prevent the shattering consequences of the King’s Deception.

I haven't read a Steve Berry book in a few years although he was one of my favorite authors before.  Deciding to check out his newer work I read The King's Deception.  Thankfully I wasn't disappointed story-wise, but the characters?  I will get into that later. 

Although it wasn't a book I couldn't put down, it was very interesting and I looked forward to returning to it whenever I got interrupted.  It shows the readers the underhanded methods the intelligence community will use to get the results they want in the political arena; how lives can be sacrificed as long as they think they are right, regardless of said people's innocence.  The book reminds us how the decisions we make, whether they be right or wrong, can have untold ramifications years or even centuries in the future.

Personally, I enjoy reading books that weave historical facts with conspiracies which create a believable environment for the story.  It brings so much more interest in the intrigue if the supposed mystery has basis on a possible fact which is something the author claims it to be.  Wouldn't it be great if someone actually found irrefutable factual evidence supporting this book's claim?  Partly yes, because it will change history forever and yet the dire consequences pointed out for Ireland is also very much a reality.  The conundrum here is whether to leave the status quo be or rock the boat with the truth that may (or may not, depending on how it is handled) cause thousands their lives.  What will our protagonists decide?  Read to find out although I would say the decision is pretty obvious.

As for the characters of the book, I have to let out a sigh.  You either hate them or love them.  I dare say though, that for experienced intelligence agents, Malone, Antrim and Richards made some pretty stupid moves that made me want to slap them silly.  I know they are just human, but really they irritated me a whole lot through the book.  If that was the author's idea then kudos to him because it worked. *Spoiler alert - highlight to view* I'm just glad he didn't kill off any of the important people in the story.
Overall the book was engrossing enough and the premise very intriguing.  I am now looking forward to reading the other novels of Steve Berry that I haven't read yet.



My short review on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/review/R32SLV8S8POG5Y/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm


(Book image and description from Amazon.com)

Kettle

We were looking for a place that was good yet affordable.  On our way to check out the restaurants on the East Wing of Edsa Shangri La Mall, the first one that caught our attention was Kettle.   The last time we were in the mall, the place was packed.  We had already had lunch then so we didn't get to try it.  This was our chance.  Looking at the menu, the price range really did not fall under the affordable range but we reasoned that if we didn't order too much we won't be in for a bill shock at the end of our meal.  Our little boy's assertions that he wanted to try the place sealed the deal.

For our starter, we ordered the Clam Chowder.  Hubby and I split it so they served the sourdough bread separately.  My first thought was that the portions were very small.   When we tried it the taste and texture was nowhere near the ones we tried in San Francisco.  For one thing it was watered down instead of thick, and the taste of milk was evident.  Still, it was their version of a delicious Clam Chowder.  Even my son liked it with the clams, which ended with him eating most of mine and hubby's share.  The bread was also pretty good specially when we dunked pieces in the soup itself.  In short, it wasn't authentic & there wasn't much of it,  but it was delicious.

One of the reasons the little boy wanted to try the place was because he heard that there was burger in the menu.  Since we were already planning on going to a burger place for the next day we bribed him with the Buttermilk Fried Chicken instead.  Thankfully he liked it specially the crispy chicken skin.  I tried their order too and what I liked most was the gravy and corn bread.  The food was a bit pricey but considering the size and heft of the chicken which was boneless, it evened out.

My order was the Shrimp Po' Boy.  I've seen it written down in menu's in the past and also read about people raving about it but have never personally tried it.  I asked the server if the sandwich was good (as if he was going to say if it tasted bad) but he said that it was actually their best seller in that category so I decided to go for it.  Since I don't have any comparison for taste I must say that it was good.  Not great enough that I would totally go back for this but good enough for me to have enjoyed eating it.  The shrimp was crispy on the outside and just right on the inside.  I dislike over cooked shrimp coz it turns to mush so I was glad this one was perfect.  The overall smell combined with that of the pickles reminded me of Disneyland. The bread was also crispy in toasted well sense and not because it's been left too long out somewhere.

Overall:
- The place was simply decorated which was one of it's charms. 
- The servers were attentive.  I liked how the left a carafe of water on the table to preclude the need for constantly asking for more.  In fact the servers were very efficient in refiling it in spite of the place being packed with customers. 
- The food wasn't cheap but it tasted good and the portions were acceptable, except for the soup.

Note:  We didn't get to finish the chicken and corn bread so brought it home.  We had it for dinner again and they still tasted good.