Travels to China

Title: The Emperor's Tomb
Author: Steve Berry
Genre: Suspense
Sub-genre: Thriller, historical fiction, mystery
Pages:  436
Published: 2010
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0345505492
Series Order:  #6 (First book in the series can be found here)
Reader's Annotation: How will Cotton get out of China?
Summary: Cotton Malone is once again dragged into an international problem in order to help save China and his love, Cassiopeia Vitt. As he travels first to Belgium, then to China, he has to figure out who is on what side. Will he do it in time?
My Evaluation: I adore Berry's books, however, this one was not my favorite. While the mystery was good and I as a reader was never quiet sure who was playing who and who was working for whom, I had a hard time getting into the historical stuff. I think it is because it's Eastern history and that's not a favorite of mine. Not to mention not being able to pronounce names made it doubly challenging.
Rating:  3.8 out of 5
Readalikes:

Altar of Bones by Philip Carter

Napoleon's Pyramids (Ethan Gage, #1) by William Dietrich

The Expected One (Magdalene Line Trilogy, #1) by Kathleen McGowan

The Crystal Skull by Manda Scott

The Solomon Effect by C.S. Graham

The Amber Room by Steve Berry

The Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry

The Hidden Oasis by Paul Sussman

Black Order (Sigma Force #3) by James Rollins

Southern France and the Templars

Title: The Templar Legacy
Author: Steve Berry
Genre: Mystery
Sub-genre: Historical, murder, Suspense
Pages:  528
Published: 2007
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0345476166
Reader's Annotation: Will Cotton Malone return safety as a bookseller?
Summary: Cotton Malone, former Magellan Billet agent under Stephanie Nell, is retired as a bookseller in Copenhagen when his former boss drops a mystery into his lap and intrusts his help in solving a mystery dealing with her former husband and son. As the mystery unfold itself, the Templar knights appear and Cotton and Stephanie have to figure out how to save their lives and those they love.
My Evaluation:Wirtten nearly the same time as The Da Vinci Code, Steve Berry does a much better job with the Templar history. Having read this book out of order of the series, it is a little discerning to hear the back story between Cotton and Cassopia, but it is nice now to have that story. Berry keeps the reader interested and throws in many twists and turns. Not only does he provide an excellent mystery but he throws in so many historical details and it shows how much research he has done.
Rating:  4.8 out of 5
Readalikes:
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
The Expected One by Kathleen McGowan
Sigma Force series by James Rollins
Altar of Eden by James Rollins
The Crystal Skull by Manda Scott