Malone was a sailor and then worked  at the Justice Department for twelve years but is now retired and  works in Copenhagen as a bookseller.

Problems begin immediately for Malone in a cable car at the top of a ski slope. Malone meets two German sisters, Dorothea and her twin Christl, whose grandfather worked for Hitler as head of the Ahnenerbe, a society organized by the Nazis to find a linkage with Aryan societies prior to the history of civilization. Their father was also on the submarine in search of a previously unknown seafaring culture which existed long before our civilization began and was capable of the "language of heaven." 

The sisters  are in competition for their inheritance. Each has pieces of a DaVinci Code-like puzzle which dates back to the time of Charlemagne, who had gained knowledge from a previous civilization. In order to discover why their father died, they are required to solve "The Charlemagne Pursuit."     

Meanwhile, Admiral Langford Ramsey,  the head of naval intelligence with significant political aspirations and who led the rescue efforts to find the nuclear submarine, tries to eliminate all of the remaining individuals who have any information. Even the President, Danny Daniels, wants to know why his advisers are so interested in a sub that sank 38 years ago. Malone travels from Aachen and Bavaria to France and ultimately to Antarctica in pursuit of his heritage.

With references to Nazi, Germany, the ancient history of Charlemagne and the question of a truly ancient civilization which defies "modern arrogance," Steve Berry weaves a tale of complicated conspiracies with too many characters especially for a first time reader. 

The Charlemagne Pursuit also includes a modern military political cover-up with a protagonist who has Vice Presidential aspirations. While The Charlemagne Pursuit certainly contains enough action and historical content to grab a reader's attention, unfortunately, it is mixed with a quite a bit of excessive detail.  

--Jerry Solot