Another book which I got the arc of but just couldn’t read coz I didn’t have time. But now that I’m taking time out everyday to exercise, I’ve been able to dedicate atleast a little bit of time to listen to audiobooks, and i was glad to finally get to this.

There’s a reason Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone series has become a very comforting yearly ritual for me. Despite the violence that usually follows Cotton everywhere, it’s still nice to take a break from my heavy fantasy books and go along with him on his newest adventure, this time helpfully aided by Cassiopeia even if they are separated for all of it. The CIA is upto its messy shenanigans and now a bank has joined the fray, everyone trying to manipulate the world currencies through bitcoin.

This was a fun adventure and i was having a blast till it all literally blew up towards the end. I have to say it’s been a while since a Cotton Malone had such a huge body count, or maybe my memory is faulty. We also meet an old flame of Cotton’s making for some awkward moments, but Kelly Austin is the smartest of the bunch here and is the heart of the story. While the ending is definitely in line with the narrative, I’m just very upset about all that happened. It’s just unfair.

As always though, we get a fact and fiction mixed history of world war 2 plunder of gold and other precious metals by the Japanese imperial forces, what might have happened to it after the war, the history of how blockchain and bitcoin was created, the pros and cons of cryptocurrency, and if it’s manipulation is possible if someone powerful is diligent enough.

Overall, this was a fun audiobook to listen to. The final revelation on the last page was something I’m sure every reader saw coming but I’m excited to see how it’ll play out in the future books. Coz I’ll be ready to jump onto the chase when Cotton is back, hopefully next year.

Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book! I love Steve Berry so much so I was so excited to be able to get a copy of the new Cotton Malone book! Steve’s books truly never disappoint. This was one of my favorites I have read in a long time! I really enjoyed the setting of the book and I can’t wait to read the next Steve Berry book!

In the last months of World War II, Japan hid vast quantities of gold and other stolen valuables all across the Philippines. By 1947 some of that treasure was recovered by the United States government, stamped classified, shipped to Europe, and secretly compiled into something called the Black Eagle Trust.

Retired Justice Department operative, Cotton Malone is in Switzerland doing a favor for a friend. Cotton is thrown into a war between the world’s oldest bank and the CIA, over the Black Eagle Trust. He discovers that a woman from his past is involved with Black Eagle and Bitcoin. The cryptocurrency is being quietly being readied for an assault on the world’s financial systems

Cotton is one of my favorite characters and I love Steve Berry books.

To be honest I could not get into this novel at all. Just when I felt like the old Steve Berry was coming out boom it was like he took it back away again. The concept is interesting, but I needed more history and less bitcoin.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

I always enjoy a Cotton Malone adventure. The book stars with stolen gold from WWII and moves into large theft of Bitcoin in modern day.

I have never understood Bitcoin and after reading this book I feel both that I know more and less about it at the same time.

From celebrated New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry comes the latest Cotton Malone adventure, in which Cotton unravels a mystery from World War II involving a legendary lost treasure, worth billions, known as Yamashita’s Gold. 1945 . In the waning months of World War II, Japan hid vast quantities of gold and other stolen valuables in boobytrapped underground caches all across the Philippines. By 1947 some of that loot was recovered, not by treasure hunters, but by the United States government, which told no one about the find. Instead, those assets were stamped classified, shipped to Europe, and secretly assimilated into something called the Black Eagle Trust. Present day . Retired Justice Department operative, Cotton Malone, is in Switzerland doing a favor for a friend. But what was supposed to be a simple operation turns violent and Cotton is thrust into a war between the world’s oldest bank and the CIA, a battle that directly involves the Black Eagle Trust. He quickly discovers that everything hinges on a woman from his past, who suddenly reappears harboring a host of explosive secrets centering around bitcoin. The cryptocurrency is being quietly weaponized, readied for an assault on the world’s financial systems, a calculated move that will have devastating consequences. Cotton has no choice. He has to act. But at what cost? From the stolid banking halls of Luxembourg, to the secret vaults of Switzerland, and finally up into the treacherous mountains of southern Morocco, Cotton Malone is stymied at every turn. Each move he makes seems wrong, and nothing works, until he finally comes face-to-face with the Atlas Maneuver. (GoodReads synopsis)

I took one point off because of the bitcoin. If you know bitcoin and enough about it, then this will make sense to you. However, even with the description I still felt lost. Steve Berry is always very good about writing explanations, as well as weaving historical facts with fiction.

This also brought in some new faces, but left out a couple of originals. Series like this need progression, but sometimes this feels like a tv series soap opera plot twist. Especially this one’s ending. I can’t really decide how I feel about it until the next book. I do hope that Steve Berry doesn’t give us a cliche.

Overall I rate this one 4 out of 5 stars.

This book is full of history and action. Cotton Malone unravels a mystery from World War 2 that involves Yamishita's Gold and Bitcoin. The story alternates between the viewpoints of Cotton and his girlfriend Cassiopeia who are each working on the same problem but from different angles.
The Atlas Manager is an enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this free ARC in return for my honest review

Cotton Malone is back for his 18th mission and for me this was a return to form for both Berry and Malone. Malone is now in his early 50's and with age he is now a free agent, able to pick and choose his cases, as well as more permanent characters who help resolve the problems, of which there are many.. And, as with all of Berry's books, Malone's adventures always have an international setting. What I liked is that Cotton is handling on situation in Switzerland and then Morocco, Cassiopeia is handling something else in a different part of Switzerland and Luxembourg, which also includes European Bureau Chief Derreck Koger who was introduced in the last book. The story begins in 1945 in the Philippines at the end of WW2 with the burial of stolen gold by the Japanese. We then move the timeline to present day and concentrate on banking and Bitcoin issues in Switzerland. Oh, and lets not forget to stop off in Russia where a paid assassin is handling a removal for the Bank of St. George. Really well plotted with each chapter going back and forth between differing characters and locales. As with all of Berry's books, history plays a major part in the plot and at the end of the book he explains what is fact, what is fiction and to me he does a masterful job of weaving reality and fiction. Along the way he gives us some fantastic economic explanations on currency, debt, Bitcoin, blockchain and helped me understand this entire situation a whole lot more than I did when I began the book. Yep, Cotton Malone is back in top form and this book is one of Berry's best!! 4.5****

The Atlas Maneuver is the 18th Cotton Malone spy thriller from Steve Berry. The story is action packed on several fronts. The pace is super fast and it felt like I was reading faster than normal in order to keep up with the pace. In this installment of the series Cotton unravels a mystery from World War II that involves the legendary lost treasure, Yamishita’s Gold, worth billions.

Berry has utilized several conspiracy theories surrounding bitcoin and made them into the background for the story. Around the halfway point I was so curious about bitcoin that I stopped reading and went over to Wikipedia to determine what parts of the story were true to life. I was astonished to learn that every fact Berry gave us concerning the creation of the bitcoin, including the name of its creator as well as the rules on buying and selling, were accurate.

Also, there are several figures from real life. We have General Yamashita and his cohort Prince Chichibu as well as the legendary creator of bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoyo. Characters from earlier books in the series have returned in The Atlas Maneuver including Derrick Koger (CIA European station chief) and Casseiopia Vitt (Malone’s lover). In addition, there are several other characters who don't even know who they are really working for. This was confusing for me because I couldn't identify whose side they were on until the end. Instead of adding suspense it created confusion. Also, it amazes me how realistically Berry brings Malone back into the spy world from retirement year after year. Perhaps Cotton Malone should never have retired but it doesn't really matter because his return to work is always seamless. All of these characters are on the trail of a huge cache of bitcoin that, in the absence of any legal records of ownership, will belong to anyone who can track it down and grab it. As for what the Atlas Maneuver is, I will keep to myself in order to avoid spoiling the fun for future readers.

The Atlas Maneuver is an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it. Mystery fans will love it.

The Atlas Maneuver is a thriller that's full of history and action packed!

Malone Cotton once again saves the day when tracking down who is involves in what could be a CIA mission that could cause much devastation. The operation, which includes people from past and present, flows and is worth reading, especially for fans of historical thrillers with lots of action.

The latest entry in the long running Cotton Malone series concerns an attempt to use bitcoin in the world economy in ways it was not intended along with the quest for some WWII era hidden gold. The story alternates between the viewpoints of Cotton and his intrepid paramour Cassiopeia who are each working on the same problem but from different angles. This is a an easy read and a by the numbers type of story. Enjoyable but not particularly memorable.

My thanks to Steve Berry, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this new book.

I'm a big fan of Steve Berry and his historically based fiction/action adventure books. Cotton Malone is back in this new work, and the protagonist was simply helping out a friend when he is caught up in a dramatic kidnap/rescue/dangerous situation that involves numerous characters, potential economic chaos, and various locations in Europe and Africa (Morocco). It is Morocco that is home to part of the Atlas Mountains, which gives you some perspective as to the title of the book.

The subject of so much intrigue is a large cache of plundered gold bars (actually worth billions) hidden by the Japanese near the end of World War II in secret caves in the Philippines. The US recovered some of the gold, but didn't tell anyone about it, and used the "proceeds" to create a Trust that was used to fund all sorts of dastardly things--assassinations, coups, etc. It's now the 21st century, and the Japanese want the gold back, the US is not willing, and a Luxembourg bank is believed to hold a large amount of the stash.

The action is almost nonstop as Malone finds himself being chased by the CIA and its Japanese equivalent in trying to rescue a woman who works in the Luxembourg bank and is a tech wizard. We also learn that years ago she was involved with Cotton Malone romantically.

There is a lot going on in this novel, and I read it over a span of just a few days. If you are a fan of Cotton Malone you will want to get your hands on this one quickly! @GrandCentralpub

I’ve been a Cotton Malone fan since discovering the series in 2018. Cotton is an antiquarian book dealer living in Copenhagen. But he is often dragged back into his old work as a top operative for the U.S. Justice Department. This is his 18th adventure and I’ve read almost all of them. They can be read as a stand alone but fans of the series will be aware of Cotton’s relationships with Stephanie Nelle and Cassiopeia Vitt. One is his boss, the other a trusted agent and sometimes girlfriend.

This adventure has him seeking WWII money (Yamashita’s Gold) that was hidden near the end of WWII. Along with that is a more modern story involving crooked bankers wanting to mess with the world economy using Bitcoin. Barry does a good job of explaining Bitcoin but I still don’t understand it entirely. Derrick Koger, a CIA station chief in Europe, also helps Malone.

These books are fast paced, action packed with violence and language kept to a minimum. I also love the European setting. This one is sure to please fans of Malone. (3.5 Stars)

Berry always seems to come up with a story that makes you think and this one is about Bitcoin. He is good about separating fact from fiction at the end of his stories and this one is no exception. You can envision his characters and the surroundings as he describes the action. There is a lot of action, drama and emotion throughout the book. It’s not necessarily a fast read because of all the information but a good one none the less!

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry from Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley.

The Atlas Maneuver is the 18th book in the Cotton Malone series by Steve Berry. You could read it as a standalone but given many of the references to previous books, the overall experience might be better if you know Cotton's whole history.

It was exciting for me to have Cassiopeia back and not just in a cameo. While she isn't with Cotton for most of the book, she is featured heavily. There are also some other characters we've met before. Cotton is the best kind of friend to have apparently.

As always, there is an historic element here with gold that the Japanese hid in the Philippines during World War II. I thought we would be going on a treasure hunt but turns out the book is really more about cryptocurrency. I worked on financial crimes for awhile and have a fondness for bitcoin and its offshoots. It is one of those things that I understand enough to understand I don't understand it. Or at least, just when I think I understand it, I suddenly feel out of my depth. Berry does a good job of explaining the basics and the arguments for and against it. If everyone bought into bitcoin, would it create a utopian world of economic equality? I'm not sure about that. I think Berry's premise proves that as long as someone is greedy or power hungry, that world could never exist. I like to think there are people out there in the world trying to make it better for everyone and maybe they will win one day.

In the book The Atlas Maneuver, author Steve Berry continues his popular Cotton Malone series. Cotton Malone is back along with his girlfriend Cassiopeia Vitt to find the lost treasure of World War II Japan. In 1945 the Japanese hid vast quantities of stolen gold and precious gems across the Philippines. By 1947, some of the treasure had been found but the people in control hid the treasure through an organization called the Black Eagle Trust. Now people are dying and the treasure is gone. But who can Cassiopeia and Cotton trust? And who is really in charge of the Black Eagle Trust? This is another great book by Steve Berry in the Cotton Malone series. I would recommend this book and the series. I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Steve Berry did it again! Cotton Malone returns in another twisting tale through history. I love Steve Berry’s mix of intrigue, adventure, and historical context. I zipped through this novel and I am anxiously await the next one.

The Atlas Maneuver by Steve Berry is another great thriller featuring Cotton Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt. The truly amazing thing about the Cotton Malone series is how much one can learn from reading them. This book was an education about bitcoin, how it works and how to get involved. It is also about about a thirst for money and absolute power. We all know the stories about Nazi treasure in not only coin and jewels, but in art, much of it is still being repatriated. I had not been aware of similar stories about Japanese plunder and am still not certain that much of it is not urban legend. Berry, however, has taken those stories and woven an imaginative book around them. It seems a bank in Switzerland holds much of the treasure at the behest of the CIA. There are no records, just a “handshake,” but maybe the time has come for the CIA to cut ties with the bank and with the gold, public perception being what it is. At the same time, the head of the bank is planning a “coup” with bitcoin, planning to convince world leaders to switch their reserve economies to bitcoin and then she would cleverly manipulate them. It is a frightening scenario on so many fronts.

Cotton is happily “retired,” only occasionally getting involved with some incident, Magellan Billet connected, or not. This time, it’s a favor for a friend. And he involves Cassiopeia, although she is not working at the same location as he is. His friend, Derrick Koger, who referred to Cotton as “Captain America,” was currently with her. The book is a conundrum with neither the reader or Cotton and Cassiopeia knowing who to trust: who were the bad guys and who the good. Berry is not a misogynist. Even his bad “guys” are clever women. Cotton and Cassiopeia both rose to the occasion, as always, using their wits and their talents to avoid an even larger catastrophe than the one that happened. Cotton seems a regular guy: a book seller, but so well written the reader feels he knows him. Cassiopeia is as clever and knowledgeable as Cotton and also as talented. That is how they get in these messes, and how they got out of them. And we, the readers, get to follow along. Thanks, Steve Berry! For a great book!

I was invited to read The Atlas Maneuver by Grand Central Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #GrandCentralPublishing #SteveBerry #TheAtlasManeuver

If you are looking for an action filled thriller with historical details, you can always depend on Steve Berry. His latest, The Atlas Maneuver, begins with the burial of stolen loot by the Japanese at the close of WWII, to be retrieved for the emperor after the war. It was the CIA that retrieved much of the gold and used it to fund several of their operations. The remainder was hidden in a vault by the Bank of St. George, which has now taken control of it. The present leader of the bank is Catherine Gledhill. Breaking ties with the CIA, her plan is to introduce bitcoin to countries dependent on the dollar to weaken American influence.. Once they are committed, she will institute the Atlas Maneuver, her plan to manipulate the value of the bitcoin. Kelly Austin was involved in the creation of the bitcoin. She works for and is a friend of Catherine, but she can not allow her plan to become a reality. When her life is threatened it is Cotton Malone who saves her.

Cotton was an agent of the Magellan Billet. He is retired and runs a bookstore in Copenhagen, but is still available for special assignments. He has a history with Kelly that makes this personal. Not only is she being pursued by Catherine, but the PSIA, Japanese intelligence, is also attempting to find her. As he works to protect Kelly, he calls on Cassiopeia Vitt to work with his CIA connection to discover the gold’s location. It is a problem that an elite unit from the CIA does not want solved and will take any action to stop everyone involved, putting them all in danger. I am not familiar with the concept of bitcoins, but Steve Berry takes you through their origins and usage. His explanations are detailed, but do not take away from the action in his story. Cotton’s connection with Kelly gives you a look at his past and how he has changed over the years. It also leaves a question that concerns his future. This is sure to please Berry’s fans and have them looking forward to Cotton’s return. I would like to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing this book for my review.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher; all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. A long-time Cotton Malone fan, this book definitely didn't disappoint. The Atlas Maneuver weaves a fantastic story that ties to WWII and gold stolen by the Japanese that has been lost to time and merges it with "modern gold" in bitcoin and digital wallets. I don't want to ruin the plot, but an unexpected appearance by someone from Cotton's past dramatically complicates matters for both Cotton and Cassiopeia. I literally could not put this down and blew through the book; nobody takes a historical event and weaves a believable alternate version better than Steve Berry and this title is no exception. I wasn't familiar with lost Japanese gold or the creation of bitcoin, so I definitely learned something reading this book. Cotton continues to be a favorite of mine and the series shows no signs of slowing down. The explosive conclusion sets up the next book and takes Cotton into a new phase of his life.