This is another book my mom gave me, so I made a concerted effort to read it, even though historical fiction isn’t my thing. This one was easy to get through, as its structure was short and choppy, perfect for my A.D.D.-addled brain. Every couple of paragraphs, it switched to a different scene so there were many stories at play at once during a chapter. I found this a bit distracting and gimmicky. I’m not sure if this is the M.O. of Berry’s writing, but it’s not for me.

This is part of a series featuring Cotton Malone, who is some kind of high-up government guy, like a Jack Bauer or something like that. I’m not clear on what he actually does, other than kick ass. First, he foils a presidential assassination attempt, and then figures out an ancient riddle people have been puzzling over for years. All in a day’s work.

If you’re into political thrillers, you could definitely knock out this book in a couple days, or on a long plane ride. I’d rather read chick lit than this kind of stuff, and that’s saying a lot.