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Cotton Malone #7.5
The Tudor Plot : A Novella
In this original eBook novella by the New York Times bestselling author of The King’s Deception, globetrotting intelligence agent Cotton Malone is lured into dangerous intrigue surrounding the world’s most famous royals—and uncovers a murderous conspiracy of terrorists and traitors, all born from an ancient tale of Saxon history.
In England to participate in the trial of suspected international terrorists, Justice Department agent Cotton Malone is mysteriously summoned to an audience with the Queen of England. A cryptic call has warned of looming danger to the ailing queen’s son and grandson—the next two heirs in line for the throne. And when the source of that ominous information, a notorious tabloid publisher, dies mysteriously, the royal family has reason to fear a genuine conspiracy. But they also suspect that the enemy lies within—and no one at Buckingham Palace, or even the nation’s own Secret Intelligence Service, can be trusted. Now it’s up to Malone to discover the truth. Matching wits with a power-mad politician and a vicious royal blue blood, he must race against time through the streets of London to the forbidden reaches of Iceland, all to stop a monstrous plot to seize the monarchy—one that stretches back to the time of Arthur.
In England to participate in the trial of suspected international terrorists, Justice Department agent Cotton Malone is mysteriously summoned to an audience with the Queen of England. A cryptic call has warned of looming danger to the ailing queen’s son and grandson—the next two heirs in line for the throne. And when the source of that ominous information, a notorious tabloid publisher, dies mysteriously, the royal family has reason to fear a genuine conspiracy. But they also suspect that the enemy lies within—and no one at Buckingham Palace, or even the nation’s own Secret Intelligence Service, can be trusted. Now it’s up to Malone to discover the truth. Matching wits with a power-mad politician and a vicious royal blue blood, he must race against time through the streets of London to the forbidden reaches of Iceland, all to stop a monstrous plot to seize the monarchy—one that stretches back to the time of Arthur.
111 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2013
858 people are currently reading
4027 people want to read
About the author
Steve Berry
107 books7,389 followersSteve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of twenty-two novels, which include: The Last Kingdom , The Omega Factor , The Kaiser's Web, The Warsaw Protocol, The Malta Exchange, The Bishop’s Pawn, The Lost Order, The 14th Colony, The Patriot Threat, The Lincoln Myth, The King's Deception, The Columbus Affair, The Jefferson Key, The Emperor's Tomb, The Paris Vendetta, The Charlemagne Pursuit, The Venetian Betrayal, The Alexandria Link, The Templar Legacy, The Third Secret, The Romanov Prophecy, and The Amber Room. Steve has also co-written a novel with Grant Blackwood, The 9th Man (a Luke Daniels Adventure), and four novellas with M. J. Rose: The End of Forever, The House of Long Ago, The Lake of Learning, and The Museum of Mysteries, all Cassiopeia Vitt tales. His books have been translated into 41 languages with over 25,000,000 copies in 52 countries. They consistently appear in the top echelon of The New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestseller lists. Somewhere in the world, every thirty seconds, one of his novels is sold.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
May 15, 2013
In typical Berry fashion, Cotton Malone has left me begging for more!
This short novella really would have been a great full-length novel, but I appreciate that authors can only write so much so fast, and am grateful we got both this AND a full-length Malone book this year.
Since I read King's Deception as an ARC earlier this year, and have now finished this year, it's back to waiting until next year for another story from one of my favorite authors -- a well-deserved title, by the way. :)
This short novella really would have been a great full-length novel, but I appreciate that authors can only write so much so fast, and am grateful we got both this AND a full-length Malone book this year.
Since I read King's Deception as an ARC earlier this year, and have now finished this year, it's back to waiting until next year for another story from one of my favorite authors -- a well-deserved title, by the way. :)
May 11, 2014
I loved this short story which is a prequel to The King's Deception.
Cotton Malone is in London on the hunt for the people that want to destroy the British Royal Family.
I am a total addict when it comes to the Royal family....love all the going-ons and all the gossip about them...i know, i know....silly, right!!! But I adore all the history and pomp.....so, this quickie read was just up my "alley".
Mystery, history, city of London, bad guys, good guys....and wow....Cotton Malone a knight!!!!!!!!!!!!
Read this and find out why!!!! Then get to the King's Deception to get more about English history - read - kings, queens......twists and turns...and more.
Cotton Malone is in London on the hunt for the people that want to destroy the British Royal Family.
I am a total addict when it comes to the Royal family....love all the going-ons and all the gossip about them...i know, i know....silly, right!!! But I adore all the history and pomp.....so, this quickie read was just up my "alley".
Mystery, history, city of London, bad guys, good guys....and wow....Cotton Malone a knight!!!!!!!!!!!!
Read this and find out why!!!! Then get to the King's Deception to get more about English history - read - kings, queens......twists and turns...and more.
April 26, 2021
Another fine story from Steve Berry ... I thoroughly enjoy how his books are woven around historical events.
February 23, 2023
A nice little filler, worth a read if you enjoy the Cotton Malone series.
June 27, 2013
Berry prefaces his next full-length novel with a great novella, also set around the British Monarchy. Using some alternate history (admitted to in the author’s note), Berry uses his famed Cotton Malone to uncover a plot to commit regicide and create a major shift in power related to the British Monarchy. Tied in with the plot is a connection to Arthurian tales that leave Malone to piece together some ancient texts and relics, which will help to bring all to light. Is the Royal Family in danger and if so, by whom. With schemers inside the Palace and a group of parliamentarians trying to remove the monarchy forever, Malone must race to beat the clock before history shifts in a direction even he cannot predict. Berry keep the reader intrigued from beginning to end and makes the entire plot very realistic and highly plausible.
Having been a fan of Berry’s for many years, I expected a high-calibre story, even if it were only a novella. He does not disappoint as he weaves together some of the past history we have related to the Magellan Billet and some great breadcrumbs sure to find their way into the upcoming novel, The King’s Deception. Berry is able to inject humour as well as drama into the story, his characters, and the plot, while keeping it all flowing quite well. He even teases the reader by finally revealing Malone’s true name, but leaves the moniker as “a very long story”, that remains a mystery. For Monarchists and republicans (note the small ‘r’) alike, Berry offers up a great story.
Kudos Mr. Berry for your excellent work and attention to detail! Long Live the King (of the Malone series)!
Having been a fan of Berry’s for many years, I expected a high-calibre story, even if it were only a novella. He does not disappoint as he weaves together some of the past history we have related to the Magellan Billet and some great breadcrumbs sure to find their way into the upcoming novel, The King’s Deception. Berry is able to inject humour as well as drama into the story, his characters, and the plot, while keeping it all flowing quite well. He even teases the reader by finally revealing Malone’s true name, but leaves the moniker as “a very long story”, that remains a mystery. For Monarchists and republicans (note the small ‘r’) alike, Berry offers up a great story.
Kudos Mr. Berry for your excellent work and attention to detail! Long Live the King (of the Malone series)!
May 23, 2014
The Tudor Plot is actually a novella, a short novel, from an author that usually writes much longer and more involved novels. This short novel features some of the characters that regularly appear in his "Cotton Malone" novels. This particular story, is set several years earlier than his last novel, THE KING'S DECEPTION, while Cotton is still working for the Magellan Billett, a division of the CIA. It was strange to read how this novel uses a parallel lineage for the royals of Britian. Edward VIII did not abdicate; he infact, was crowned but went to to be a very poor and unpopular king. His daughter, Victoria II is now on the throne, but old and in very poor health. Her son,Richard, the Prince of Wales, is basically a good for nothing playboy who the people would like to see step aside in favor of his very popular and admired son, Albert. It is fun to see how this fictional royal line interacts and imitates to a certain extent, real people. I enjoyed reading this short novel more than any of Steve Berry's full length works because it was not so involved and got right to the point of the plot.
April 27, 2014
This short story takes the reader back to when Cotton Malone is still part of the Magellan Billet, and whilst on assignment in London he is summoned to Buckingham Palace. I did find that stretching the imagination a bit too far, especially as the Queen was Victoria II although that is no different to the US President being called Danny Daniels. There are the usual plots and sub plots that you would expect, and these eventually become enmeshed with Arthurian legend. Maybe not as strong as the other books in the series, but you do get to learn Cotton Malone's real name though.
December 9, 2015
Well, story was ok. I probably would have liked it a bit better if it had been a real book instead of the short novel since the plot was interesting, but honestly the story needed more meat on its bones. It was too easy, to short, you can't tell a story like this on so few pages, you have to get a bit more depth to the story. But this is Steve Berrys formula, write a short story as prequel to the next book, like an appetizer
December 5, 2019
Love Cotton Malone. Fun novella.
December 21, 2019
Simple.
I was headed to Scotland for a little get away and thought I’d read some English historical fiction. I kept thinking there must be more to the story... but no.
I was headed to Scotland for a little get away and thought I’d read some English historical fiction. I kept thinking there must be more to the story... but no.
December 15, 2021
the only problem with this novella is that it has nothing to do with the Tudors. The story includes King Arthur
March 16, 2019
This is another of the novellas that show as a point 5 on a sequenced list of the series of books. Previously I have marked these very low but The Tudor Plot was a bit better.
It was a bit longer than the usual novella length - enough in fact to get a bit of a story and a "spot the spy" into it.
I think that it was in Dragnet , a TV show back in 60s/70s that a voiceover at the beginning would say ..." The story that you are about to see is true , only the names have been changed to protect the innocent" I was reminded of that as I read the first few chapters here. May be , I was thinking that ....."only the names have been changed to protect against a charge of treason". If the author was really trying to avoid any comparisons then he should have changed a few things other than a couple of names.
I may have missed something at the beginning of the story or in the introduction but when I read.................."He collected books by the hundreds , his house back in Atlanta lined with shelves . His dream was to one day own a bookshop but he doubted that would ever happen".....................
I think that I have read all of the books in the series to this one (7.5). Cotton Malone got his bookshop in Copenhagen ( I think) many books ago and returned it after each adventure until it was blown up in a recent book when his benefactor ,who funded its purchase also died. I also found reference to his recent marriage breakdown and his young son, rather disorientating, as his ex is a person of the past and his son in now a young man who recently joined in one of his exploits.
It was only when reading the authors notes at the end that I realised that this book was set 7 years ago and before the earlier books of the series.
It was a bit longer than the usual novella length - enough in fact to get a bit of a story and a "spot the spy" into it.
I think that it was in Dragnet , a TV show back in 60s/70s that a voiceover at the beginning would say ..." The story that you are about to see is true , only the names have been changed to protect the innocent" I was reminded of that as I read the first few chapters here. May be , I was thinking that ....."only the names have been changed to protect against a charge of treason". If the author was really trying to avoid any comparisons then he should have changed a few things other than a couple of names.
I may have missed something at the beginning of the story or in the introduction but when I read.................."He collected books by the hundreds , his house back in Atlanta lined with shelves . His dream was to one day own a bookshop but he doubted that would ever happen".....................
I think that I have read all of the books in the series to this one (7.5). Cotton Malone got his bookshop in Copenhagen ( I think) many books ago and returned it after each adventure until it was blown up in a recent book when his benefactor ,who funded its purchase also died. I also found reference to his recent marriage breakdown and his young son, rather disorientating, as his ex is a person of the past and his son in now a young man who recently joined in one of his exploits.
It was only when reading the authors notes at the end that I realised that this book was set 7 years ago and before the earlier books of the series.
August 18, 2020
Exceedingly long for one of these interspersed tales. Either of the two plots would have been plenty, and the arbitrary changes to Modern British monarchical lineage is off-putting.
August 21, 2022
Lots of British history here, especially the Arthur legend and the search for the real Arthur. There is an interesting tie-in to Iceland and very early settlers before the Vikings.
April 9, 2024
King Arthur!!!
August 18, 2019
p101: "...i shudder to think what havoc richard iv will reek upon us."
January 2, 2023
I was browsing for e-books at my library and ran across this book. I'd never heard of Steve Berry or his character Cotton Malone, but the blurb had a Dan Brown vibe, so I figured I'd give it a try to pass the time. Honestly, it's not a great book, but I was intrigued to learn that Berry is a best-selling author and that there are at least 16 Cotton Malone books along with a few Cotton Malone novellas such as this story. Although I wasn't particularly taken with The Tudor Plot, I am curious about the Malone series, so I'm partway through Berry's first published Malone book, The Templar Legacy as I write this review.
The Tudor Plot, published in 2013, is set "seven years ago", when Cotton Malone was an agent of the U.S. Justice Department working for a secret unit called the Magellan Billet. The Templar Legacy, published in 2006, is set in the "present day", and Malone has been retired from the Magellan Billet for a year, after a 12-year career there. I mention this because it would seem to imply that The Tudor Plot takes place around 1999 or 2000, yet its characters and its narrator often refer to this being the 21st century, and imply that it's been the 21st century for at least a few years. In addition, one character mentions that two of his ancestors killed themselves with revolvers 200 years earlier. A type of revolver did exist in the early 19th century, but it wasn't common and it wasn't called a revolver. It's the little details like this that annoy me. It's the mark of a writer (and an editor) who didn't check their facts.
All that aside, the story involves a scheming British politician who dislikes the British royal family (fictionalized) so much that he wants to replace them with his family. He has concocted a plot worthy of a Bond villain to achieve his aims, but the royals are suspicious that something is afoot. They have reached out to Cotton Malone because he apparently has a reputation for being able to solve such problems. Malone is ex-military and currently a secret-agent lawyer. This is a novella, so the plot moves quite quickly as Malone investigates the politician, uncovers the scheme, and foils it. There is a sub-plot involving the burial site of the fabled King Arthur that really has nothing to do with the main story, but it does give Malone an excuse to fly to Iceland and back in a military helicopter.
I'm willing to cut Berry a little slack on this because it's clearly a filler, and is positioned as a sort-of prequel to another novel, which is excerpted at the back of this story. The writing is better than amateur, but not by a lot. It feels like Berry had a thesaurus at the ready as he wrote, and threw in words every so often that just don't quite fit. The action scenes are competently described, but lack tension or suspense. There's also a lot of exposition as the third-person omniscient narrator gives us backstories and sets each scene. I also noticed a lack of continuity. Malone visits the politician in his home early in the investigation, for example. Much later, Malone is again in that house, but he seems to be taking note of the furnishings as if for the first time.
I'm unimpressed by the story, but impressed by the author's success. So far, The Templar Legacy is somewhat better written, but I'm not done yet. I'll let you know how it goes.
The Tudor Plot, published in 2013, is set "seven years ago", when Cotton Malone was an agent of the U.S. Justice Department working for a secret unit called the Magellan Billet. The Templar Legacy, published in 2006, is set in the "present day", and Malone has been retired from the Magellan Billet for a year, after a 12-year career there. I mention this because it would seem to imply that The Tudor Plot takes place around 1999 or 2000, yet its characters and its narrator often refer to this being the 21st century, and imply that it's been the 21st century for at least a few years. In addition, one character mentions that two of his ancestors killed themselves with revolvers 200 years earlier. A type of revolver did exist in the early 19th century, but it wasn't common and it wasn't called a revolver. It's the little details like this that annoy me. It's the mark of a writer (and an editor) who didn't check their facts.
All that aside, the story involves a scheming British politician who dislikes the British royal family (fictionalized) so much that he wants to replace them with his family. He has concocted a plot worthy of a Bond villain to achieve his aims, but the royals are suspicious that something is afoot. They have reached out to Cotton Malone because he apparently has a reputation for being able to solve such problems. Malone is ex-military and currently a secret-agent lawyer. This is a novella, so the plot moves quite quickly as Malone investigates the politician, uncovers the scheme, and foils it. There is a sub-plot involving the burial site of the fabled King Arthur that really has nothing to do with the main story, but it does give Malone an excuse to fly to Iceland and back in a military helicopter.
I'm willing to cut Berry a little slack on this because it's clearly a filler, and is positioned as a sort-of prequel to another novel, which is excerpted at the back of this story. The writing is better than amateur, but not by a lot. It feels like Berry had a thesaurus at the ready as he wrote, and threw in words every so often that just don't quite fit. The action scenes are competently described, but lack tension or suspense. There's also a lot of exposition as the third-person omniscient narrator gives us backstories and sets each scene. I also noticed a lack of continuity. Malone visits the politician in his home early in the investigation, for example. Much later, Malone is again in that house, but he seems to be taking note of the furnishings as if for the first time.
I'm unimpressed by the story, but impressed by the author's success. So far, The Templar Legacy is somewhat better written, but I'm not done yet. I'll let you know how it goes.
November 20, 2018
With this book, I'm caught up with what Steve Berry has published so far. Even though I read this before The Jefferson Key, there is nothing in the story that needs previous books to understand.
As with most of Steve Berry's novellas, the story takes place 8 years prior to where the full length novels have us. While in England for a trial against some terrorists, Cotton Malone is escorted to Buckingham Palace discuss a matter than the Queen personally has requested Cotton to handle.
The matter is personal threat against the royal family. And an outsider is needed to investigate as there are spies everywhere. The threat goes much deeper than anyone can imagine as Cotton thwarts an attempt of regicide. And somewhere in the mix, definitive proof of King Arthur existence and burial is uncovered.
It's a fast-paced pleasurable read that gets you ready for his next full length novel, The King's Deception.
As with most of Steve Berry's novellas, the story takes place 8 years prior to where the full length novels have us. While in England for a trial against some terrorists, Cotton Malone is escorted to Buckingham Palace discuss a matter than the Queen personally has requested Cotton to handle.
The matter is personal threat against the royal family. And an outsider is needed to investigate as there are spies everywhere. The threat goes much deeper than anyone can imagine as Cotton thwarts an attempt of regicide. And somewhere in the mix, definitive proof of King Arthur existence and burial is uncovered.
It's a fast-paced pleasurable read that gets you ready for his next full length novel, The King's Deception.
January 3, 2016
A short Cotton Malone novel. This book takes place years in Cotton's past before he leaves the Magellan Billet. He is in England getting ready to help out in a trial and is asked by the Queen to look into a problem. She believes that one of the people from the House of Lords is going to kill her grandson and that her daughter may be involved.
The story deals with the royal family and how the presumed heir is not quite cut out to be the successor. Jealousy among siblings, quest for power and greed. Thrown into the mix is a story about the remains of King Arthur and where they are buried and the search for them.
An interesting short story.
The story deals with the royal family and how the presumed heir is not quite cut out to be the successor. Jealousy among siblings, quest for power and greed. Thrown into the mix is a story about the remains of King Arthur and where they are buried and the search for them.
An interesting short story.
July 11, 2015
A quick easy read -- it is a novella -- that works well when reading Berry's 2013 novel The Kings Deception as it introduces one of the characters and some of the locals from that book. In the Tudor Plot, we go go back in time when Malone was still working with the Magellan Billet and assisting in the trial of a terrorist in England. In helping to serve the Queen and her family, the reader sees the strength and character of Malone as he works to solve his objective despite the twists he finds from those who should have been working in parallel with him.
July 13, 2018
This was a exciting novella. It was a great lead in to The King's Deception, setting up similar themes and plot. The overarching themes of both books were royalty, succession and who truly should, or could be sitting on the English throne. The Royal family does not know who to trust, so they enlist the help of Cotton to unravel an intricate plot of deception, mystery and intrigue. Anything with Cotton Malone is just a wonderful read. He is such an interesting character with a lightning sharp wit, and personality.
September 21, 2014
Very good story, and a perfect read after reading The King's Deception. Answered some questions. I find the Cotton Malone series fantastic, and Berry's blend of History makes the stories so interesting.
December 30, 2014
I liked this better than his other eBook novellas. It occurs when Malone is still with Magellan and is a tight, lean adventure centered on a conspiracy to overthrow the monarchy with some help from Arthurian relics.
November 3, 2015
The longest of the Cotton Malone novellas, it had its ups and down. It revolves around Malone getting involved for the search for King Arthur's grace and a plot to take down the royal family. If you have read the rest of the series, it is worth the time. Otherwise I wouldn't bother.
April 6, 2020
Another short story within the Cotton Malone series. I thought this one was better, but with the other short stories it was definitely rushed. I felt like it could have been slowed without making it too long but it still had its moments.
May 7, 2013
This was fun! I love that we finally learned Cotton's real name. (Can't say I blame him for going by Cotton instead. LOL) I can't wait for The King's Deception to come out!
May 14, 2013
Berry seems to be at his best when describing history and mythology, and at his worst in creating plots and characters. His earlier books were much better.
July 1, 2013
Couldn't stop myself from reading it in a day, can't wait to dive into the King's Deception. 'nuff said.
January 22, 2014
I really enjoy the author, but did not really enjoy this book.
December 20, 2013
Finishes quicker than it starts....pick if you want something light, easy and mindless...nothing much to write home about.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews