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Mar 26, 2019USAF1969 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
THE MALTA EXCHANGE by Steve Berry and starring Cotton Malone is another great read. I love historical fiction, and always learn things when reading Berry, which makes for an even better read. The plot is really convoluted with a lot of characters coming and going (usually by death) as the story unfolds. Starts with Mussolini, hearkens back to the Emperor Constantine, and through many Catholic Popes and other church figures over time. Throw in the Knights of Malta and lots of other 'offices' of the church hierarchy and you need a scorecard to keep up with who's on first as the story develops. One thing I like about Berry, and is essential in the case of this story, is he always has an author's note at the end which separates historical fact from portions of the story that come from his imagination. All that said, I have a cautionary note: if you are a Bible believer, and especially if you are Catholic, this story WILL challenge you. It implies many things about organized religion, some based in fact and some opinion. I am a believer and I still enjoyed the story as a work of fiction. That said, if you are a believer, you MUST read Berry's end notes separating fact from fiction.