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The Balkan Escape: A Cassiopeia Vitt Adventure
Unavailable
The Balkan Escape: A Cassiopeia Vitt Adventure
Unavailable
The Balkan Escape: A Cassiopeia Vitt Adventure
Audiobook44 minutes

The Balkan Escape: A Cassiopeia Vitt Adventure

Written by Steve Berry

Narrated by Scott Brick

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

This book of short stories finds an adventurer in a strange and forbidding land, in search of a long lost treasure, and very much in harm's way.

As a favor to enigmatic billionaire Henrik Thorvaldsen, Cassiopeia Vitt treks into Bulgaria's Rila mountains in search of a buried stash of exceedingly rare artifacts from a bygone civilization: the ancient tomb of a Thracian king. But when her presence is discovered by a shadowy group of Russians secretly mining the area, she needs a way out. Who to trust becomes the question, and her life depends on choosing the right option.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 13, 2010
ISBN9780307881175
Unavailable
The Balkan Escape: A Cassiopeia Vitt Adventure
Author

Steve Berry

Steve and Phil were founder members of the TV Cream nostalgia website and have written several books on popular culture.

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Reviews for The Balkan Escape

Rating: 3.6705607364485977 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

214 ratings38 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Not my favourite Cotton Malone book, but still an enjoyable read. 3.5 stars.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    not one of my favorite Steve Berry Books, Decent read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Another well paced thriller.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    You know what Steve Berry really likes?He likes single-sentence paragraphs.Or sometimes even shorter.Two words.I have a feeling he could have cut thirty pages out of the book just by using fewer paragraphs. The story, though, is mostly just a series of thriller cliches. A torture scene and an arbitrary murder scene to show what an awful person the bad guy is, two heroes fighting over a girl, helicopter chases, etc. I give it a slightly higher rating than I would have otherwise because of all the careful historical research that was done; but even so I think the scenic detail suffered as the author hurried along to get us to the next fight.Historical thrillers.There are better ones out there.Find them.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I really wanted to like this book and didn't much. I will say I did enjoy all the nonfiction bits. Maybe I would have liked this better as a nonfiction book. The part that I liked best was the Writer's Note at the back of the book. That was fascinating and as a author I learned a lot about combining fact and fiction in a novel.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The latest Cotton Malone book by Steve Berry has hit the shelves. This one takes place mostly in China and revolves around the terra cotta statues buried in the emperor's tomb. The most interesting part of the book, to me, was the abiotic oil theory. A quick read in Wikipedia revealed that this is for real, and I have to wonder why on earth we in the US do not pursue it since it has worked out so well for Russia. If oil is not a limited natural resource but a naturally occurring by-product of the earth, then why the heck are we paying these outrageously high prices for a gallon of gas?! The story itself was a little over-the-top and featured several miraculous escapes by the characters with their lives. Cotton and Cassiopaia Witt do finally solidify their relation in this book. It was kind of run-of-the-mill Malone but a good history/natural resources lesson.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great book with a lot of history of China.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The latest Cotton Malone book by Steve Berry has hit the shelves. This one takes place mostly in China and revolves around the terra cotta statues buried in the emperor's tomb. The most interesting part of the book, to me, was the abiotic oil theory. A quick read in Wikipedia revealed that this is for real, and I have to wonder why on earth we in the US do not pursue it since it has worked out so well for Russia. If oil is not a limited natural resource but a naturally occurring by-product of the earth, then why the heck are we paying these outrageously high prices for a gallon of gas?! The story itself was a little over-the-top and featured several miraculous escapes by the characters with their lives. Cotton and Cassiopaia Witt do finally solidify their relation in this book. It was kind of run-of-the-mill Malone but a good history/natural resources lesson.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The Emperor's Tomb by Steve Berry, provided to me by the publisher for review, is the next exciting chapter in the adventures of Cotton Malone, an operative for the Justice Department who keeps swearing he's retired and selling books for a living.

    Problem is, no one believes him, not even his former employer at the Justice Department who keeps involving him in missions. This time involving an old flame, Russian spies, two people vying to be the next leader of China's government, ancient Chinese relics, and new sources of oil that could change the world.

    I haven't followed the Cotton Malone books closely. I read one of the earlier ones and couldn't get into it. Not realizing it was the same series, I picked up a more recent one earlier this year and really enjoyed. The publisher sent me The Emperor's Tomb, and I thought it was the direct follow up to the one I read earlier, but it's the one after that. So. Many. Books. My TBR pile is getting out of control!

    The Cotton Malone series has a rich history of characters moving in and out of his life. The Emperor's Tomb is no different; featuring an old flame that has saved his life more than once, as well as competition for her attention, Cotton has his plate full with not only his interpersonal relationships, but with the mission he's forced into. And it's quite the adventure.

    I appreciated the author taking the time to include a section at the end of the book detailing what was accurate historical information he included in the story. That adds a sense of depth and realism to the adventure.

    The Emperor's Tomb is a suspenseful, exciting ride, that keeps you guessing about who's really responsible for what up until the very end.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I've been lucky lately in that Rollins, Thor, and now Berry have put out their best work in their latest releases (next to last for this Berry work). I enjoyed this Berry novel more than any of his others. The characters were much stronger and easier to identify with in this book than other Berry books and the plot was, in a word, fascinating (infinite oil, wow!). Cotton Malone just gets better and better with each book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Synopsis: The Emperor's Tomb finds Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt in China in search of a kidnapped child. In returning this child to his father, they become involved in the search of thousand year old abiotic oil.Review: This is another well researched book that does raise questions about the world view of oil reserves.Synopsis: In the Balkan Escape, Cassiopeia Vitt is looking for a tomb containing treasure and remains of a Thracian king. In the process she meets Russians looking for uranium.Review: The short story introduces Vitt to Lev Sokolov, a character who figures prominently in the Emperor's Tomb.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Cassiopeia Witt is in trouble. She has been kidnapped and is being water boarded in an effort to get her to disclose the location of a lamp from an ancient Chinese tomb. The torture is being broadcast to Cotton Malone, whom it is though Witt gave the lamp to. After many adventures together, Malone was not about to stand idle while Witt is tortured.The story that follows takes place in China, where three ancient disciples of Mao vie for power and the ability to set the future course of China. The crux of the story revolves around a theory that not all oil is fossil fuel, that it is created by the earth and endlessly replenished. Proving this makes all of the difference: with China's reliance on foreign oil and the fact they can be cut off with just two blockades far away, they forever have be diplomatic, especially when dealing with the west. If they could knew their meager production was actually endless, though...release the hordes!As with Berry's other novels in this series, a history lesson is wrapped up within the story. Unless you are well-read on Chinese history, though, you'll have to wait until for the historical notes at the end where Berry separates the fact from fiction. Witt and Malone endure, of course, but another recurring character does not survive (and Berry leaves it to the reader to ultimately decide why).
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Emperor's Tomb is another fast-paced action story involving Cotton Malone. They are all a bit fun to listen too and can make long drives more bearable. Berry's novels are exciting but shouldn't be looked at too closely. China's premiere is aging and a fight to be his predecessor is shaping up. Each of the two likely candidates are on diametrically opposed sides on how China should proceed to the future. One thinks going forward means opening up to more liberal ideas of the West, while the other thinks China needs to go back to a strong autonomy ruled by an iron fist. Cotton Malone gets pulled into the middle of the whole thing through Cassiopeia Vitt.It's a fairly tangled web that is woven, and the spiders in the center of it are the eunuchs, an ancient society that has been influencing China for centuries. I enjoyed the book and have listened to others in the series, lots of fun.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    This is one of the worst adventure stories I have read. Utterly pointless . Iwas going to give up on page 50 but decided to plug on. Wrong choice ...
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Book 6 of Steve Berry's "Cotton Malone" series takes our favorite ex-Magellan Billet agent to China where he must rescue his friend and sometime-lover, Cassiopeia Vitt. Vitt's gotten herself wrapped up in a web of conspiracy involving the Chinese premier and his top two ministers, some angry Russians, a handful of eunuchs, and Stephanie Nelle, Cotton's former boss. Everyone's on the hunt for a long-lost sample of oil which the Chinese need to prove that oil is not actually finite, but rather a replenishing source deep within the earth. Sound a but chaotic? That's because it is.Sadly this book failed for me, and this is the first time I've said that about any of Berry's books. I usually love the fast-pace and intrigue, but The Emperor's Tomb was mired in Chinese history from the very first page. I felt bogged down by the different history lessons, so much so that by the time it got to the real action, I was ready to be done reading. The set-up might have been necessary to give us the appropriate background for the drama between the two Chinese ministers, but I truly lost the message in all the information. "Less is more" is not a method Berry utilized here.I've received an advance copy of The Jefferson Key, Book 7 of the "Cotton Malone" series, and I really hope the next book can redeem Berry in my eyes. The last Berry book I read (The Paris Vendetta) received 3 stars from me, but the one before that (The Charlemagne Pursuit) received 5. I'm giving The Emperor's Tomb 2 stars. Not a good trend Steve, not a good trend.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the author's previous books. I thought he spent too much time on the ancient history of China instead of just telling the story. If I wanted a book on the history of China, I would have gotten a book on that subject. However, this won't keep me from reading his future books.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Great geopolitical spy action thriller. Lead characters are everything you could want in strong, honest, loyal, rich heroes. The male lead is Cotton Malone, a book seller and retired, highly trained Justice Department Agent. The Arab/Greek heroine (Cassiopeia Vitt) is particularly attractive with her self sufficient nature, her physicality and the fact she is a billionaire. The plot follows the political skullduggery of the two leading contenders to replace the aging Premier of China. One is a scheming Vice Premier Karl Tang, a proponent of the Legalist form of government (as opposed to Confucian humility) and the other, Ni Yong, is the head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China (and a reputed honest reformer). A third party of interest was Pau Wen, a eunoch and Hegemon of the Ba, a secret brotherhood of eunochs who had influenced the heads of Chinese government since the beginning of the Dynasties. Pau stood between the contenders and like the aging premier, didn't provide direct support to either. The contest depended on the ability of the contenders to win with their own influences. Pau did describe at length the historical significance of the Chinese inventions over time and how the eunochs influenced leadership and were in essence the power behind the throne. Lots of intrigue and spell binding suspense throughout with thoughtful philosophical perspective from the oriental view. I really enjoyed all the included historical background material. It meshed closely with the two Chinese works I recently read (Myths and Legends of China and The Sayings of Confucius).
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I've been meaning to read a Steve Berry book for ages and when I saw this one and I found out it involved the first emperor of China, the terracotta army and lots of action I knew I had to read this one. This is book 6 in the Cotton Malone series and I was told you do not have to have read the previous book to read this one. While this is true and the story is a standalone story I feel like there were nuances in the relationships between Cotton, Cassiopeia and one other character that I was not getting due to missing their early meetings. I definitely do want to go back and read the rest of this series.The prelude opens up in the middle of the action and then you are taken back to a few days earlier to find out what led to prelude. I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of this type of set up and I didn't really see the need for it in this book. The story was fascinating as we learn more about Chinese culture, history and I found myself so interested that I had to go look up several subjects to see if they were true or not. I love when a story gets me that involved. Be forewarned that the book switches from one situation to another frequently so one minute you are following Malone, the next Minister Tang's movements, Ni's movements, etc. So if you are not a fan of that this book may be jarring.Still for those who love a historical, action/suspense book this is one to check out! The characters are all great and the twists and turns of the story will keep you on your toes. I never knew who to trust until the very end.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Cassiopeia Vitt joins Cotton Malone in a fast paced mystery set primarily in China. These folks get in and out of scrapes more often than Jack Reacher, and Berry always has some interesting historical happening to go with the current mystery whether it's a Chinese Emperor or Templars. Fast paced, exciting, and solid entertainment.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Emperor's Tomb is the sixth installment in Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series. Cotton Malone is a former U.S. Justice Department agent turned bookseller who frequently finds himself drawn back into his former life. This time the impetus is Cassiopeia Vitt, who has been kidnapped by unknown assailants. Malone quickly reacts to come to her aid and finds that the situation is far larger than Vitt's abduction. What starts out as a simple mission for Cassiopeia quickly finds them both in the middle of a conspiracy surrounding the balance of power in China.Unlike most entries in the series, the prologue of The Emperor's Tomb does not take place in the distance past but three days after the beginning of this new adventure. This change has no bearing on the effectiveness of the story though. As Malone and Vitt work to understand what is happening and achieve several different goals, they are forced to put their trust in several untrustworthy characters. Will this be their undoing? You'll have to read to find out.Berry is a master of weaving historical fact into his fiction, and The Emperor's Tomb is no exception. I highly recommend this book to any lover of mysteries and/or thrillers. You don't need to have read the earlier entries in the Cotton Malone series to follow this one, but they're so good, why wouldn't you?
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I've said this before and this time I'm going to hold myself to it, no more Steve Berry books. There is absolutely no reason for anyone to read one of these books. The characters are interesting enough and some of the historical stuff will draw you in, but these books are saccharine. The plots are convoluted. The dialog wooden. There so many better books out there in this genre. From now on I'm leaving these on the James Paterson scrap heap.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I am a fan of Cotton Malone. I am perhaps more of a fan of Cassiopeia Vitt.I also enjoy a little bit of history with my thriller/adventure stories.I have to say that I felt totally swamped by history and all things Chinesein this offering.Maybe it was too much Cotton in too short a time?I just finished another which I thoroughly enjoyed.I don't think so though, I generally enjoy readingmore than one book in a series.I got to the point pretty early on where I just didn't careany more about the four year old, Tang, or anyone in China,Denmark, Belgium or anyone else in the book.I think it was just a case of information overload.Too much information stuffed into each chapter. I hope thatThe next Cotton Malone book is heavier on adventure and story andlighter on historical information. I feel that should be the backgroundof a story, rather than something that bulges out of every chapter.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Too many contrivances, not much character development; predictable ending. Peripheral historical stuff was interesting.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Emporers Tomb is the 8th Steve Berry novel that I have read, and as with the others, I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. This new book in the Cotton Malone series takes the reader from Denmark to Belgium and then to China via Vietnam.A lot of China’s history and achievements including a long list of discoveries made in china hundreds of years before they made their way to the west, one of these being the basis for the central theme of the story. Some of the characters have been seen in other Cotton Malone books, so some knowledge of them helps, but even without knoing them, I think a new reader to the book would not be at too much of a disadvantage.The main story is a political thriller placing two opposing Chinese politicians against each other in their quest to be the next ruler of the country. Whilst some of the scenarios seem a little far-fetched (such as the premise for Cassiopia Vitt being involved to rescue the child of a russian ex-pat living in China from one of the main protagonists,) as with a lot of these thrillers, if you suspend belief for a while, it’s a great fast-paced action book that educates on some aspects of Chinese history along the way.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I didn't enjoy The Emperor's Tomb as much as Steve Berry's other books. The pacing was a bit slow and the story line failed to hold me interest the way that Amber Room and the Romanov Phrophecy did. Additionally, the repeated and graphic descriptions of the castration of the eunichs really made me squirm. The brief tidbits of Chinese history were interesting and a subject that I would have like to learn more about. Overall it was not a bad book, just not up to the high standards of Steve Berry's other novels.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I found this installment of the Cotton Malone series to be.. slower than usual. I'm not overly interested in Chinese history, so the details of governments and dynasties just didn't work for me. Despite that, I loved the book. Steve Berry makes his characters extremely real. The evolution of relationships was a lot of fun, too. I have to admit that my opinion of Stephanie has dropped considerably - it makes me anxious to read the next book!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Far and away the best Steve Berry book yet. The Emperor's Tomb is a non-stop roller coaster ride from page one. All the usual character's were present, though sometimes moving in unexpected directions. Well worth the read and I can't wait to see what Berry brings us next.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    If there is one lesson to be learned from the Chinese culture it is that things are not always what they seem and a polite countenance and soft words can mask a country in major turmoil and upheaval beneath a placid surface. The frozen faced terra cotta warriors of China's First Emperor Qui Shi are just part of the adventure in this rollicking, suspenseful and history laden book by author Steve Berry. This story centers on an age old mystery with world wide implications - are the Chinese hiding a secret that may be within the walls of the off-limits tomb of the Emperor - a secret that could profoundly change what the world believes about oil? Hmmmmm. Ever wonder why one of the most fascinating sites in all of archeology was never revealed - akin to finding Cleopatra's resting place intact and never opening it. Just what is the reason? Berry spins another late night reading story that will keep you riveted. Cotton Malone, an American bookseller living and working in Copenhagen is back in another adventure as he battles to discover secrets from the past that will have implications impacting the political balance as well as the worldwide economy. Along with a fascinating assortment of new characters, favorites (or at least familiar ones) lend a hand including Casseioppeia Vitt and Malone's former boss Stephanie Nelle from the Magellen Billet, a secretive U.S. government organization that cannot seem to let him stay retired.This book is one of my best picks for the year - it will keep you entertained and fascinate you with historical details and provide you with insights into China.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone is back for his sixth adventure in this latest outing from Steve Berry. This time around, the focus is on China, its possible future, and its past in both the form of its first emperor, Qin Shi, and its more recent Communist leadership. In addition to the book's historical elements, much of the plot revolves around an interesting and plausible question regarding the nature of oil, and the real-world implications of that nature.The two main protagonists in the story are familiar from earlier entries in the series. The aforementioned Malone is front and center, of course, and this time around his friend and occasional accomplice Cassiopeia Vitt plays a large role throughout, after being largely absent from the last two entries in the series. On the other hand, Malone's former boss, Stephanie Nelle, makes little more than a cameo appearance this time around.In any case, the main protagonists are likable and competent and--and this is the part I really like--not flawless or superhuman. And we see them grow a bit as human beings over the course of the story, which is nice, as well. On the other hand, the principal antagonists in this outing are largely one-dimensional and inconsistently written, both in word and deed, often seemingly based on little more than the immediate needs of the plot. The line between good and evil was drawn early and there were no significant plot twists or red herrings on that front, which itself was something of a surprise.Beyond that, and in spite of my interest in history and geography (to the point where I often find myself getting happily distracted by Answers.com as I check out a name, event, or a place in a book that I'm reading), I believe that Berry has included too much of it here, and to the detriment of the main story and the pacing of that story. People looking for a fast-paced thriller are likely to be a bit disappointed by the many sections that read more like a college textbook than an adventure story.Overall, this is a better-than-average thriller based on its now-familiar and likable protagonists and its intriguing oil-based premise, but weaknesses in narrative and pacing mean that I would not put it among the best in the genre.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Emperor’s TombSteve BerryBallantine Books 2010 Hardcover464 pagesISBN: 0345505492 First a word about the main character - Cotton Malone will go down in history as one of the great action characters in literature (Yes, you heard it here first, parenthetically. They say that everything you put out on the Internet is permanent. If that's so then look me up in 20 years so I can tell you that I told you so.) Malone is a thinking man's James Bond, Jason Bourne, and Mack Bolan all rolled into one. Read the entire series just to acquaint yourself with the character. You won't be disappointed.With that said, The Emperor's Tomb is the sixth book in the series and while not the strongest of the six Berry does not fail to entertain once again. His history (even when slightly exaggerated and stretched) is believable and he has a knack for choosing some great off-beat topics and little-known historical events to conjure with. Fast paced, fun, full of adventure and with the occasional gun-fight Berry's Cotton Malone is sure to entertain for years to come. The series was written, I suspect, for the adrenaline junkie hidden in us all. Thank you, Mr. Berry for filling that need.Cotton Malone Series1. The Templar Legacy (2006)2. The Alexandria Link (2007)3. The Venetian Betrayal (2007)4. The Charlemagne Pursuit (2008)5. The Paris Vendetta (2009)6. The Emperor's Tomb (2010)