The 14th Colony

A Novel

By: Steve Berry

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 15 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Bestselling author Steve Berry’s trademark mix of history and speculation is all here in this provocative Cotton Malone thriller, The 14th Colony.

What happens if both the president and vice-president-elect die before taking the oath of office? The answer is far from certain—in fact, what follows would be nothing short of total political chaos.

Shot down over Siberia, ex-Justice Department agent Cotton Malone is forced into a fight for survival against Aleksandr Zorin, a man whose loyalty to the former Soviet Union has festered for decades into an intense hatred of the United States.

Before escaping, Malone learns that Zorin and another ex-KGB officer, this one a sleeper still embedded in the West, are headed overseas to Washington D.C. Noon on January 20th—Inauguration Day—is only hours away. A flaw in the Constitution, and an even more flawed presidential succession act, have opened the door to disaster and Zorin intends to exploit both weaknesses to their fullest.

Armed with a weapon leftover from the Cold War, one long thought to be just a myth, Zorin plans to attack. He’s aided by a shocking secret hidden in the archives of America’s oldest fraternal organization—the Society of Cincinnati—a group that once lent out its military savvy to presidents, including helping to formulate three invasion plans of what was intended to be America’s 14th colony—Canada.

In a race against the clock that starts in the frozen extremes of Russia and ultimately ends at the White House itself, Malone must not only battle Zorin, he must also confront a crippling fear that he’s long denied, but which now jeopardizes everything.

©2016 Steve Berry (P)2016 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Brick sets a page-turning pace by intensifying the drama and the danger and underlining the nail-biting suspense in this thriller filled with conspiracies and intriguing historical information. Listeners should prepare to sit back and enjoy Brick’s riveting and immensely entertaining
performance.”--Booklist

I love this series.

This one does not disappoint. Wow - What a great story line. I'm hooked! I think you'll love this book!!!

jysr loved it

great read very intriguing thank you the auther was great and notice myself really into it

Wonderfull

One of the best Steve Berry 'Cotton Malone' books in a while. As usual Scott Brick did an amazing job!

Dan Brown meets National Treasure

Without letting on MY politics, I feel the story is heavily pro-Reagan, and anti- subsequent presidencies. Stories can be well-done whether you agree with the politics or not.

Can suitcase nukes work? Are there still old Soviet sleepers in the world willing to die for that dead cause? Would you throw the US government into irreparable chaos if you managed to kill the president, vice president, speaker of the House, and top Cabinet members? Is the Constitutional clause on the succession of the presidency really that flawed?

Those are the plot line questions to be answered by out-going-then-fired Stephanie, out-going President Daniels, the president's nephew Luke, Cassiopeia, and the unkillable Cotton Malone. It all takes place in about 48 hours, with long back flash history classes on Reagan, the Cold War, the fall of the USSR and the KGB. There's a real kick-a$$ Scarlett Johanssen (Black Widow) character who along with Cassiopeia's rebuilding of the chateau, are the most interesting things in the story. Okay, Cotton and Cass confronting their deepest fears was interesting too. The fights were too easily over. But the convo with the new president was a great, in-your-face so there!

another enjoyable Berry

Steve Berry's books are fun listens. Mix in some historical fact with fiction, throw in retired agent Cotton Malone and you have the makings of a good story.

In this one you have some old rogue, forgotten Soviet agents that want to go out with a bang. They use a manual written after the War of 1812 to help come up with a plan that will get them close to the White House on Inauguration Day. It's Cotton's mission to foil the plan.

I like the way you learn about history in reading Berry's books. I had never really thought about the United States government ever having aims on making Canada a part of the US. It turns out we have had that goal but it has never come to fruition.....so far.

The title of this book almost seems a misnomer. Even though there are aspects of the story regarding Canada and our desire to make it a part of our country (Manifest Destiny lives) the Soviet/Russian angle is the central part of the story. It was good the way the author weaved the two stories into one.

Favorite Part

After the novel's end, the author catalogs what is true and what is from his own imagination. Brilliant for those of us who might spend the next few days sussing it out online.

Great action and historical tie-ins.

Suspenseful and a great page turner. A thriller with excellent historical content. Centers around a change of leadership in the U.S. and old KBG agents. Brought back my memories of the Cold War.

Enjoyed this book

I like Scott Brick as a reader and also Steve Berry as an author. Together they rock.

I enjoyed this book and had a difficult time putting it down......this is good.

Wowzer - what a Ride

I couldn't put it down - seems very timely - now I want to find some books re Reagan ' s term in office.

Compelling story with great narration

Listened as often as possible. Well researched and informative. Well told story marrying history as written with plausible fiction.