Summer Beach Reads: 'The Lincoln Myth' By Steve Berry

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The latest novel by bestselling author Steve Berry has his signature character, Cotton Malone, racing to rescue an informant carrying critical intelligence.

"The Lincoln Myth," the ninth novel about Malone, also includes a flaw in the U.S. Constitution and a mystery about Abraham Lincoln.

The book hit stores Tuesday.

Berry told WCBS 880's Pat Farnack that readers will learn something not only about the country, but about Mormons as well.

"There's actually a strong connection between the Mormon church and Abraham Lincoln," Berry said. "Lincoln was probably the first president to read the Book of Momon. We know that because he checked it out of the Library of Congress in July of 1862.

"When I found out this connection between them, I started putting this novel together," Berry said. "And ... there is something very interesting here from the Constitution. It deals with the concept of secession and whether a state can leave the union. And the answer to that question is not as clear-cut as people may think."

Berry added that the truth about Lincoln is more interesting than the myth that has grown about him over generations.

"We created this entire aura around Lincoln, and we've made him almost into sainthood," he said. "Now granted, he was a tremendous president and he had a tough battle, but he was not quite what the myth put him out to be. And to me ... the truth about him is even far more interesting, and to me, makes him even more of a great person."

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