CBR4 #17 The Amber Room by Steve Berry

Life is good for Atlanta judge Rachel Cutler. She loves her job, loves her kids, and remains civil to her ex-husband, Paul. But everything changes when her father, a man who survived the horrors of World War II, dies under strange circumstances—and leaves behind clues to a secret he kept his entire life . . . a secret about something called the Amber Room. Desperate to know the truth about her father’s suspicious dealings, Rachel takes off for Germany, with Paul close behind. Shortly after arriving, they find themselves involved with a cast of shadowy characters who all claim to share their quest. But as they learn more about the history of the treasure they seek, Rachel and Paul realize they’re in way over their heads. Locked in a treacherous game with ruthless professional killers and embroiled in a treasure hunt of epic proportions, Rachel and Paul suddenly find themselves on a collision course with the forces of power, evil, and history itself. A brilliant adventure and a scintillating tale of intrigue, deception, art, and murder, The Amber Room is a classic tale of suspense—and the debut of a strong new voice in the world of the international thriller.

I heard Steve Berry speak in January and after that talk read The Romanov Prophecy another stand alone early novel of his.  This book also has some Russian related plots, but this book was Berry's first novel.  You can see the similar style to Dan Brown.  This book is a good thriller, but I found it hard to connect with the characters. Unlike The Romanov Prophecy, the plot twists in this book were a bit more believable.  I appreciate the strong female characters within the book.  I was shocked by the amount of violence and sex scenes.