Book Review: The Emperor's Tomb by Steve Berry (Cotton Malone #6)

 Every year, tens and thousands of tourists flock to China, to see the wondrous Terracotta army, and the Great Wall. These two archaeological remnants are culturally and historically significant. They were built by Qin Shi Huang (260-210BC), the first emperor of China. Furthermore, the Terracotta army has attracted enormous interests from around the world, making the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang a famous tourist attraction. However, Qing Shi Huang's actual tomb has never been found, and the final resting place for the first emperor of China remains a mystery. There are countless speculations and legends surrounding the tomb of Qing Shi Huang. Some of these legends even inspired movies and books in the popular culture. For example, the 2008 Hollywood blockbuster, Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, is inspired by the story of Qing Shi Huang's tomb.

It seems the story about Qin Shi Huang's undiscovered tomb also makes perfect story material for a thriller novel. In The Emperor's Tomb, International Best-selling author Steve Berry wrote a fast paced, geopolitical/conspiracy thriller based on Qin Shi Huang's hidden tomb. This is the 6^th installment in Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series. I have read this novel, and I thought it was a good book. Today, I would like to provide a book review for this novel.

Synopsis:

Cotton Malone, a retired agent of US Justice Department, was enjoying his life as an antique book dealer in Copenhagen, Denmark. Malone's peaceful life came to an abrupt end, when he received a video. The video depicted disturbing images of his friend, Cassiopeia Vitt, being tortured by a mysterious man. Cassopeia's abductor demanded Malone to bring “an artifact” in exchange for her life.

The abductor's demand seemed simple, but there is a problem. Malone has no idea what this “artifact” is. As Cassopeia's life hangs on a balance, Malone sets out on a desperate mission to rescue his friend, a mission that will take Malone from Europe to Asia. Where he will encounter a deadly, ancient brotherhood, and discover astonishing, historical revelations that will shape the fate of the world for ages to come.

What I think about this book:

I have read 5 books in Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series, and The Emperor's Tomb is my second favorite book in this series, just after The Templar Legacy. Previous installments in this series, were mostly set in Europe (or the Middle East). In The Emperor's Tomb, Steve Berry changed the scenery, and unleashed his fictional creation, agent Cotton Malone, in China. This gives the series a refreshing feel.

In this book, Steve Berry blended history into a fictional story. Even though parts of the story are unbelievable, but what makes this book really interesting, is this book explored the 21^th century, geopolitical climate, casting a special highlight, on the rise of China and the legacy of communism. It raised an age old question: Will China become a democracy?

The Emperor's Tomb is a page turner, the story is fast paced, and jam packed with explosive actions. I would describe this book as a blend between James Bond movies and Dan Brown novels, with a “Tom Clancy” styled twist.

In terms of characterizations, the protagonist, Cotton Malone, is a hybrid between James Bond and Robert Langdon. Brave and courageous, Malone a likable character, portrayed as an intelligent, knowledge man with a background in the military. The story also explored the background and the motivation of the antagonist, in great depth. However, I thought the character development in this book was lacking. For example, the heroes in this book didn't really change their outlooks about life, after they went through life-threatening dangers. But I've noticed the lack of character development seems to be a prevalent trend in most thriller novels. I wonder why?

Despite some shortcomings, such as the lack of character development, The Emperor's Tomb is an entertaining book. This book is set on an interesting, geopolitical premise that is relevant to the world today. The story is fast paced, a well crafted fiction tinted with history, shedding light to China's turbulent past during the Cultural Revolution. This book is the perfect way to spend a few relaxing hours on a weekend. I think readers who enjoy political/conspiracy/treasure hunt thrillers, will find this book a satisfying read .