The first case of New York Times bestseller Steve Berry’s iconic hero, Cotton Malone. History notes that the ugly feud between J. Edgar Hoover and Martin Luther King, Jr., marked by years of illegal surveillance and the accumulation of secret files, ended on April 4, 1968 when King was assassinated by James Earl Ray. But that may not have been the case. Now, fifty years later, former Justice … years later, former Justice Department agent, Cotton Malone, must reckon with the truth of what really happened that fateful day in Memphis.
It all turns on an incident from eighteen years ago, when Malone, as a young Navy lawyer, is trying hard not to live up to his burgeoning reputation as a maverick. When Stephanie Nelle, a high-level Justice Department lawyer, enlists him to help with an investigation, he jumps at the opportunity. But he soon discovers that two opposing forces–the Justice Department and the FBI–are at war over a rare coin and a cadre of secret files containing explosive revelations about the King assassination, information that could ruin innocent lives and threaten the legacy of the civil rights movement’s greatest martyr.
Malone’s decision to see it through to the end —- from the raucous bars of Mexico, to the clear waters of the Dry Tortugas, and ultimately into the halls of power within Washington D.C. itself —- not only changes his own life, but the course of history.
Steve Berry always mines the lost riches of history —- in The Bishop’s Pawn he imagines a gripping, provocative thriller about an American icon.
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This book looks back to April 1968 when Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated. It raises the question of whether James Earl Ray was the actual shooter, or if there was a conspiracy behind the event. Ray had no personal motive, yet he confessed, then retracted his confession. An enticing and convoluted tale of possibilities with a surprise ending.
I love a good conspiracy theory and Steve Berry is among the best at telling a great conspiracy story. The Bishop’s Pawn is an origin story for Berry’s famed Cotton Malone and centers around the fictionalized final days of Martin Luther King and his murder in 1968. At the time of this story, some thirty years after the assassination of King, Malone, based on his maverick reputation, specific skill set and at the suggestion of friends in high places, is recruited by Stephanie Nelle to recover a very valuable, highly illegal coin from a sunken boat off the coast of Florida. The situation is at once not what it seems and soon Malone is being hunted by several factions. His reluctant partner is a Florida Orange County police officer who is using the coin and what it is intended to buy to get information that her father, who had been a low-level confidant of MLK, has been hiding from her and the world for the last three decades.
This is classic Cotton Malone; wonderfully written, quick paced and full of intriguing plot twists. Various theories about the murderer and what connections he may have to the FBI and other organizations have been floating around for decades. The author has done a masterful job of weaving organic proven facts into his fictional world. While I was actually quite shocked at the final twist of the story, given what I know of that historical time frame, I find it, sadly, quite plausible. This is another must-read for Berry and Cotton
As usual Mr. Barry’s work is informative and fun to read. I learned quite a bit about the assasinatio of MLK. While not 100% true of course it does present many factual accounts of that terrible day. And as one conspiracy among many it certainly was very plausible.
Loved the twist on a tragedy we all know!!
Not as good as others in the series, but an entertaining read nonetheless.
Steve Berry is a master story teller with thirteen novels involving his signature character, Cotton Malone. My favorite, The Bishop’s Pawn, partly because in it, the author went full out in a first-person telling of the tale, which resonates with my chosen technique in the Michael Knight/Lex Devlin series, but mainly because his ability to bring historical events vividly alive in the context of a ripping-good novel is absolutely top notch. His unique take on the last year and assassination of Martin Luther King will send you back to reading all of his novels that preceded this one.
I can not recommend this Steve Berry Book high enough. A great historical look at a dark time in US History. Berry spins his magic once again as he does with every book. Maybe his best work…and I have read them all…love it!
Author let his obsession with the theme distract from his usual rhythm and character building. Still a good read with a favorite main character, Cotton Malone.
Twists to the very end.
Steve Berry never disappoints!
Steve Berry researches his material for his books and that makes them so realistic! He has you on the edge of t=your seat until the last page. He makes yo forget everything you heard or read in history books.
did not like it
A very plausible story line about a historical incident
Good read -the author is one of my favorite people to read
Not my favorite Steve Berry book
This is one of Berry’s best. The untold story of the death of Martin Luther King and the lengths Hoover would go to to ruin/destroy this great leader. I learned a great deal from the narrative and I think most people would find this story incredibly interesting!
For those that challenge the hard to believe current activities of the FBI, this book reminds us of another time when the reputation of the FBI was sullied, not all of it fictional.
Mix of history and intrigue
Not my favorite Cotton Malone book.
Probably the best Cotton Malone book yet.