The Lincoln Myth: A Novel (Cotton Malone)
Cotton Malone’s old boss at the Justice Department asks a favor: go into Sweden and pull out a man, Barry Kirk, who could have key information about the disappearance of an agent. Almost immediately after Cotton gets Kirk out of the country, someone tries to kill them. As it turns out, Kirk is connected to a high-profile international businessman who’s the target of a Justice Department investigation (and who might be behind the disappearance of the missing agent). The latest Malone novel sticks closely to the series format: Cotton gets mixed up in a historical mystery that has dire implications in the present day (in this case, a U.S. senator who is a high-ranking Mormon elder has ambitious plans that trace their origins to Abraham Lincoln). Berry keeps the story moving at a steady pace, giving us enough time to get to know the characters but not enough time to pay close attention to the more implausible elements of the plot. Fans of the series and of historically based conspiracies will enjoy the book, even if it breaks no new ground.      HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Berry has 15 million books in print; he has been translated into 40 languages; and his titles have sold in 51 countries. That’s called reach. --David Pitt