The 14th Colony: Exclusive Free Preview

By Steve Berry

THE 14TH COLONY Exclusive Preview

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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. Steve Berry’s trademark mix of history and speculation is all here in this provocative new thriller.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Mar 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781250119629

Steve Berry

Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of The Patriot Threat, The Lincoln Myth, The King’s Deception, The Columbus Affair, The Jefferson Key, The Emperor’s Tomb, The Paris Vendetta, The Charlemagne Pursuit, The Venetian Betrayal, The Alexandria Link, The Templar Legacy, The Third Secret, The Romanov Prophecy, and The Amber Room. His books have been translated into forty languages with 19,000,000 copies in fifty-one countries. For more information, visit SteveBerry.org.

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PROLOGUE

VATICAN CITY

MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1982

Ronald Reagan knew that the hand of God had brought him here. How else could it be explained? Two years ago he was locked in a bitter primary fight against ten contenders, vying a third time for the Republican party’s presidential nomination. He won that battle and the election, defeating the Democrat incumbent Jimmy Carter and claiming forty-four states. Then fourteen months ago an assassin tried to kill him, but he became the first American president to survive being shot. Now he was here, on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace, at the pope’s private study where the leader of nearly a billion Catholics waited to speak to him.

He entered the room and marveled at its modesty. Heavy curtains blocked the summer sun. But he knew that from those windows, each Sunday, the pope prayed with thousands of visitors in St. Peter’s Square. Sparse furniture, the most prominent being a plain wooden desk, more reminiscent of a table, with two high-backed, upholstered armchairs fronting each long side. Only a gold clock, a crucifix, and a leather blotter sat atop. An Oriental rug lay beneath on the marble floor.

John Paul II stood near the desk, regaled in papal white. Over the past several months they’d secretly exchanged over a dozen letters, each delivered by a special envoy, both speaking to the horror of nuclear weapons and the plight of Eastern Europe. Seven months ago the Soviets had declared martial law in Poland and clamped down on all talk of reform. In retaliation, the United States had ordered sanctions imposed on both the USSR and Poland’s puppet government. Those punitive measures would stay in place until martial law ended, all political prisoners were freed, and a dialogue resumed. To further ingratiate himself with the Vatican, he’d directed his special envoy to provide a mountain of covert intelligence on Poland, keeping the pope fully informed, though he doubted he’d passed on much that had not already been known.

But he’d learned one thing.

This cagey priest, who’d risen to one of the most influential positions in the world, believed as he did that the Soviet Union was destined for collapse.

He shook hands with the pope, exchanged pleasantries, and posed for the cameras. John Paul then motioned for them to sit at the desk, facing each other, a panel depicting the Madonna keeping a mindful watch from the wall behind. The photographers withdrew, as did all of the aides. The doors were closed and, for the first time in history, a pope and a president of the United States sat alone. He’d asked for that extraordinary gesture and John Paul had not objected. No official staff had been involved with the preparations for this private discussion. Only his special envoy had quietly worked to lay its groundwork.

So both men knew why they were there.

I’ll come straight to the point, Holiness. I want to end the Yalta agreement.

John Paul nodded. As do I. That was an illegitimate concept. A great mistake. I have always believed the Yalta lines should be dissolved.

On this first point his special envoy had read the pope correctly. Yalta happened in February 1945. Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill met for the last time, deciding how a postwar Europe would both look and be governed. Boundary lines were drawn, some quite arbitrary, others deliberate as appeasement to the Soviets. Part of those concessions entailed an agreement that Poland remain under the sphere of the USSR, with Stalin pledging to hold free elections. Of course, that never happened and the communists had ruled there ever since.

Yalta created artificial divisions, John Paul said. I, and millions of other Poles, greatly resented that our homeland was given away. We fought and died in that war, yet it mattered not to anyone. We have suffered brutality for forty years, starting with the Nazis, then the Soviets.

He agreed. I also believe that Solidarity is the way to end Yalta.

That tear in the Iron Curtain happened two years ago at the Gdansk shipyards, the first non-communist-controlled trade union ever allowed. Now over nine million Poles were members, one-third of the entire workforce. A scrappy electrician named Lech Walesa served as its head. The movement had acquired power, force, and appeal. So much that last December the Polish government had imposed martial law to quell it.

They made a mistake trying to quash Solidarity, he said. You can’t allow something to exist for sixteen months then, just as it catches on, reverse course and outlaw it. The government has overestimated its reach.

I have made overtures to the Polish authorities, John Paul said. We must open talks on the future of Solidarity and the end to martial law.

Why fight it?

And he watched as this novel overture registered. His special envoy had urged him to broach the subject, thinking that the Vatican would be receptive.

A grin came to the pope’s lips. I see. Let them be. All they are doing is alienating the people. So why stop it?

He nodded. Any rebuttal the government mounts to Solidarity is a cancer. Let it grow. Every word in opposition the government speaks just makes the movement stronger. All Solidarity needs is money to keep it alive, and the United States is prepared to supply that.

The pope nodded, seemingly considering what he was proposing. That was far more than Reagan’s people had been willing to do. The State Department strongly disagreed with the tactic, saying the Polish regime was stable, solid, and popular. They provided a similar assessment for Moscow and the USSR.

But they were wrong.

He said, Pressure is building every day from within, and the Soviets have no idea how to deal with that. Communism is not equipped to handle dissent, short of dishing out terror and violence. The only morality Moscow recognizes is what will further its own cause. Communists reserve unto themselves the right to commit any crime. To lie. To cheat. To do anything they want. No political system like that has ever survived. It’s inevitable their system will collapse. He paused. But we can hasten it.

John Paul nodded. The tree is rotten, all it needs is a good shake and the bad apples will fall. Communism is evil. It prevents people from being free.

That was another sentiment his special envoy had reported, and what he’d been hoping to hear. Never had a pope and a president conspired in this way, and never could either of them admit it had happened. The church openly forbade itself from interfering in politics. Recently the world had seen evidence of that when John Paul scolded a priest for resisting a papal order to resign a government position. But that did not mean the church was oblivious to oppression. Especially when it hit so close. Which

Reviews for The 14th Colony

[lauriegienapp · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was well done, and very enjoyable. ... one of those with lots of apparent loose ends, that all come together. But the title was wrong. Yes, I know that sounds silly, yes the concept of the 14th colony did come into play... but by making this the title, it had me waiting for things - throughout the book - that never happened. The wrong title was a distraction, throughout.

[creighley_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This novel is questioning what happens when the President-elect and Vice President-elect die before taking office. The answer is questionable and would leave our government in total chaos. Cotton must come out of retirement again to stop what could be catastrophic.

[bensdad00 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good, but disappointing in relation to other volumes in the series. It feels overly long at 400 pages, the title is only tangentially related to the main plot, and the story itself is oddly un-compelling.

[carol420 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Cotton Malone series is nothing short of a treat for any history buff. Steve Berry writes with authenticity after doing very careful research. Sometimes he has to "bend' history a tad to make the story more interesting and less a classroom lecture...but the facts are always there. As we all know history isn't always pretty and [The 14th Colony] tells a story that is frightening and almost unbelievable...but check it out for yourself...its 100% true. Along with history...this series features really good characters, lots of action, and leaves the reader waiting for the next one.

[eadieb-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I usually like Berry’s books but this one has a problem. Berry predicts major chaos if the President and Vice President elect die before taking the oath of office on January 20th. He claims a flaw in the constitution and presidential succession act would cause nobody available to become president. The Speaker of the House would be in place during Congress’ 1st meeting 1st week of January and he is next in line of succession. We are led astray!

[labdaddy4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Steve Berry is a master of the Thriller genre. As with most authors he has his "hits" and his "misses". This one is a definite hit - fast paced, action filled, and still mostly believable. I especially like the way Berry weaves historical fact into his stories. This obviously takes research that many thriller writers do not bother with. His characters are well developed but still evolve with each novel. The reader gets the sense of time marching on with the logical changes happening to the characters. I also like the authors creating new characters - hopefully they will last and become important parts of his "cast".

[mckait · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have read several of the Cotton Malone books. Overall, I am a fan of Steve Berry. It's been a while since I read a thriller, even one by a known and solid author. Now I remember why. It has nothing to do with the book, it's me. I am not up for thriller lately, and have been staying with much softer reads. I intend to go right back to them, too. But who can resist Cotton, Stephanie and Cassiopeia in a book with a premise like this one? From the description "What happens if both the president and vice-president-elect die before taking the oath of office? "Sadly, not me. So I chose this book and I am far from sorry. This is a typical Cotton Malone. To me he is a laid back, supposedly retired spy who can get into and out of any situation. I like the character. So, we walk right into a dire situation, with a small plane that seems to have attracted the attention of someone who doesn't like small planes, or at least this one. Or maybe it's the pilot? Where is this shooty confrontation taking place? Lake Baikal, Siberia. There is no way for the plane to land safely, in the dark damaged, in the cold and dark. But when it does, of course it's Cotton who slips out the door and almost gets away without attracting attention..He's very stealthy for a bookshop owner, but he's getting older.Meanwhile back in the states, Stephanie is facing the end of the Billet, but of course she has something to do with this plane and its pilot. When Cotton is in trouble, so far away, who can she call. Come on, you know. Cassiopeia, of course. Rocky relationship notwithstanding, there is no one better qualified to give our man the help he needs. But as always, there are threads twined with threads that twine with other threads,And secrets. lots of secrets. Some old, some new. Some are ours, some are theirs. this is a typical Cotton Malone book, full of shenanigans, and last minute saves. But the thing with the president, what about that? well, it will take you a while to find out, but it is worth the journey there to find out.

[tatoosh-3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The inauguration of a new President and Vice-President is only two days away when the Russian government asks Stephanie Nelle, Director of the Magellan Billet, to send an agent to investigate the meeting of Vadim Belchenko, A Russian archivist, with Aleksandr Zorin, a former top level KGB agent. Former Magellan Billet agent Cotton Malone is dispatched but despite the official invitation the Russian military attempts to murder him. Nelle is forced to call upon Cassiopeia Vitt, Mallone’s former lover, to come to his aid. Meanwhile Luke Daniels, the President’s nephew and a Magellan Billet agent, is called upon to shadow Russian agent Anya Petrova. She is in the DC/Maryland area searching for something that may be related in some manner to the meeting of Belchenko AND Zorin. Thus begins a plot to assassinate President Danny Daniels, his Vice-President and all the members of his Cabinet with the exception of the designated survivor. Also targeted are the President-elect and Vice-President-elect. Unfortunately, the President-elect has just disbanded the Magellan Billet and all of it’s personnel including Luke Daniels and Director Nelle have been terminated. Eventually Zorin joins forces with Jamie Kelly, a Russian mole who has been resident in the U. S. his entire life. Luke is aided by Sue Begyn, a riverine who is the daughter of the Keeper of Secrets of the Society of Cincinnati. The Russian government sends paramilitary personnel to intercept Zorin and coopt his plot for their own purposes. The oligarchs who control Russian organized crime join the fray in opposition to the Russian government. “The 14th Colony” is a solid adventure with strong elements of mystery and intrigue that maintains suspense from beginning to end despite numerous shortcomings in the writing. Examples include murky exposition as in the description of the initial fight between Luke Daniels and Anya Petrova and the use of cliché’s like, “nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.” The initial meeting of former lovers Cotton and Cassiopeia reads like a romance melodrama straight out of pulp fiction. The motives for the protagonist’s actions are sometimes unclear or counterintuitive, further contributing to the sense of “lack of polish” that characterizes the text.The book could have been a sappier read if Berry had shortened it by some 50 pages. The final, post-climax narrative in particular is rather cliche and boring. Berry apparently felt the need to “tell” us how clever the President had been in resolving all the remaining issues. He also used those pages to create the structure for his next novel. Nevertheless, Despite Berry’s less than stellar writing, “The 14th Colony” is a worthwhile offering. The ambiguity created by Berry’s lack of clarity adds a additional layer to the mystery and intrigue and the action keeps the plot moving forward at an acceptable pace.

[lbswiener · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The 14th Colony: A Novel is an extremely well researched book that not only has a lot of United States history but is also a great adventure that involved Cotton Malone. The story begins in Siberia and concludes in Washington DC. To say anything more than this would spoil the story. It is a five star adventure, historical novel and very well written from beginning to end. The 14th Colony is highly recommended.

[andy_dimartino · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful story. Just love his mashups of truth and fiction!!!

[jfe16 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Cotton Malone matches wits with Aleksandr Zorin, a former KGB agent still loyal to the Soviet Union who, over many years, has developed an intense hatred for the United States. The Soviet agent, blaming the Americans for the destruction of the Soviet Union, seeks revenge; he’s found the perfect vehicle in a Cold War weapon that no one believes actually exists. And when a still-embedded sleeper in the West joins forces with Zorin, it seems as if the duo might find a way to exact their revenge. Things are unsettled in Washington, D.C. as Danny Daniels’s term draws to a close and the Inauguration of the new president draws near. Can Cotton, Cassiopeia, and Luke avert disaster and stop the Soviet agents before they bring their nefarious plan to fruition? The clock is ticking . . . and time is running out. The author’s inclusion of the nation’s oldest patriotic organization, the Society of Cincinnati, and the Twentieth Amendment as plot points imparts a historical authenticity even as it enhances the tension in the narrative. Well-drawn characters, a race against the clock, and startling reveals continually ramp up the urgency in this top-notch tale. The relentless action never subsides as this fast-paced thriller combines history and conjecture; readers will find impossible to set this one aside until they’ve turned the final page.Highly recommended.