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Gary McAvoy

Goodreads Author

Born

The United States

Website

https://www.garymcavoy.com

Twitter

@GaryMcAvoy

Genre

Thriller, Nonfiction, Crime

Member Since

July 2012

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/garymcavoy

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Gary McAvoy is an American novelist known for internationally bestselling thrillers that blend historical intrigue, religious scholarship, and modern suspense. A lifelong researcher of rare manuscripts and Church history, he draws on extensive archival study to craft narratives rooted in authentic detail. His work includes the Vatican Secret Archive Thrillers, the Magdalene Chronicles, and the Vatican Archaeology Thrillers. Before turning to fiction, McAvoy built a distinguished career as an entrepreneur, technology consultant, and collector of historical documents. He now writes full time from the Pacific Northwest, where he continues to explore the shadowed crossroads of faith, power, and history.

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Combine Editions
Gary McAvoy’s books

Average rating: 4.34 · 36,905 ratings · 2,143 reviews · 38 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Magdalene Deception (The Magdalene Chronicles #1) 4.21 avg rating — 6,238 ratings — published 2020 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Vivaldi Cipher (Vatican Secret Archive #1) 4.25 avg rating — 4,393 ratings — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Opus Dictum (Vatican Secret Archive #2) 4.48 avg rating — 2,900 ratings — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Magdalene Reliquary (The Magdalene Chronicles #2) 4.42 avg rating — 2,927 ratings — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Magdalene Veil (The Magdalene Chronicles #3) 4.51 avg rating — 2,819 ratings — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Petrus Prophecy (Vatican Secret Archive #3) by Gary McAvoy (Goodreads Author), Ronald L. Moore (Goodreads Author) 4.51 avg rating — 2,287 ratings — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Avignon Affair (Vatican Secret Archive #4) by Gary McAvoy (Goodreads Author), Ronald L. Moore (Goodreads Author) 4.46 avg rating — 2,223 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Jerusalem Scrolls (Vatican Secret Archive #5) 4.42 avg rating — 2,053 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Galileo Gambit (Vatican Secret Archive #6) by Gary McAvoy (Goodreads Author), Ronald L. Moore (Goodreads Author) 4.49 avg rating — 1,739 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Confessions of Pope Joan (Vatican Secret Archive #7) 4.36 avg rating — 1,595 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Series by Gary McAvoy

Vatican Secret Archive (9 books)
by

Gary McAvoy (Goodreads Author)

4.39 avg rating — 19,339 ratings

The Magdalene Chronicles (3 books)
by

Gary McAvoy (Goodreads Author)

4.34 avg rating — 12,522 ratings

Vatican Archaeology Thrillers (2 books)
by

Gary McAvoy (Goodreads Author)

4.07 avg rating — 1,168 ratings

Vatican Archaeology Thrillers (1 book)
by

Gary McAvoy (Goodreads Author)

4.12 avg rating — 713 ratings

Gary is Currently Reading

Gary McAvoy is currently reading

What Every Body is Saying: An FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People

by Joe Navarro

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Jan 03, 2019 07:22AM

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The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War

by Ben Macintyre

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Dec 29, 2018 10:41PM

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Seven Brief Lessons on Physics

by Carlo Rovelli

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Jun 11, 2017 07:47AM

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Gary’s Recent Updates

Gary McAvoy liked Robert Bennett's review of The Medici Heresy (Vatican Secret Archive Thrillers Book 12): "It all started with the three book series, "The Magdalene Chronicles," followed by the "Vatican Secret Archive" books, numbering twelve in all including this latest entry, "The Medici Heresy." Each can be read as a standalone, but after reading this " Read more of this review »
Dec 10, 2025 11:29AM · see review
Gary McAvoy liked Charles Sexton's review of The Medici Heresy (Vatican Secret Archive Thrillers Book 12): "Magnificent Gary movably writes a powerful story that resonates to all that read it. I found adventure, excitement, and love. He says many words that can reveal and feel comfort. He writes a huge story."
Dec 10, 2025 11:27AM · see review
Gary McAvoy liked Lisa Shower's review of The Medici Heresy (Vatican Secret Archive Thrillers Book 12): "Very engaging! This was the best book of the last few in this series. I love the historical content and am happy the author did not stay focused on science and astronomy like the last few books have been."
Dec 08, 2025 09:58AM · see review
Gary McAvoy liked Gregory R.'s review of The Medici Heresy (Vatican Secret Archive Thrillers Book 12): "The Medici Heresy is Gary McAvoy at his best—an irresistible blend of history, mystery, and nonstop suspense. From the very first chapter, the story pulls you straight into a world of secret manuscripts, Vatican intrigue, and high-stakes discoveries " Read more of this review »
Dec 07, 2025 04:04PM · see review
Gary McAvoy made a comment on Rusty Kehl’s review of The Magdalene Deception (The Magdalene Chronicles #1) " Thanks as always, Rusty! "
Jul 06, 2025 11:08AM · see review
Gary McAvoy made a comment on Madeleine Gingras’s review of The Magdalene Deception (The Magdalene Chronicles #1) " Merci beaucoup, Madeleine ! N'oubliez pas de lire les traductions françaises des six premiers livres de ma prochaine série sur mon site web (recherche ...more "
Jul 06, 2025 11:07AM · see review
Gary McAvoy made a comment on Kathleen Abeel’s review of The Vivaldi Cipher (Vatican Secret Archive #1) " Thanks, Kathleen! "
Jul 06, 2025 10:58AM · see review
Gary McAvoy made a comment on Chris’s review of The Vivaldi Cipher (Vatican Secret Archive #1) " Thanks very much, Chris. And thanks to your daughter too! "
Jul 06, 2025 10:56AM · see review
Gary McAvoy made a comment on Margot Schafflinger’s review of The Vivaldi Cipher (Vatican Secret Archive #1) " You're welcome, Margot, thanks! You're welcome, Margot, thanks! ...more "
Jul 06, 2025 10:55AM · see review
Gary McAvoy answered Liz Hatcher's question: I finished The Hildegard Seeds and enjoyed it immensely! I do have one question -- towards the end of the book Christophe Vaux from Zentara mentions "The Kronos Protocol". There is no further mention of it even to the end of the story (unless I missed it somewhere!). Are you planning to write another sequel in regards to this? Can you explain a little about this? That was a "plant" for a future book... and indeed, and I'm working on that book as we speak. Stay tuned!
May 25, 2025 06:54AM · 1 like · like

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Quotes by Gary McAvoy (?)

“Otto Rahn himself once wrote, ‘Intense faith finds attentive ears in a suggestible people.”
― Gary McAvoy, The Magdalene Deception

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“Well, he may be long in the tooth, but one doesn’t get to be leader of such a nation if he’s mentally confused or doddering in old age.”
― Gary McAvoy, The Magdalene Deception

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“Cathar fortress, perched strategically on”
― Gary McAvoy, The Magdalene Deception

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Polls

October 2019 True Crime Poll

We ask that you only vote if you are planning on participating in our discussion should your choice win.

Which True Crime book would you like to read in October 2019?

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

11 votes, 33.3%

Bitter Harvest by Ann Rule

9 votes, 27.3%

The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple by Jeff Guinn

6 votes, 18.2%

Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer

4 votes, 12.1%

And Every Word Is True And Every Word Is True by Gary McAvoy

3 votes, 9.1%

33 total votes

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Crime, Mysteries ...: True Crime Nominations - ALWAYS OPEN	84	227	Dec 13, 2019 10:15AM
Crime, Mysteries ...: True Crime Nominations for 2020	6	178	Aug 12, 2020 09:13AM
The Mystery, Crim...: * Currently Reading? Just Finished? 2020	2984	944	Dec 31, 2020 09:26AM
Book Nook Cafe: The Book Salon ~~ December 2020	249	52	Jan 01, 2021 06:11PM
NetGalley Readers: What NG Books have you just read? Any recommendations?	11585	1735	Jan 18, 2021 05:18PM
THE JAMES MASON C...: * WHAT ARE YOU READING AND WHY!!	10669	4165	Feb 12, 2021 11:14AM
THE JAMES MASON C...: * WHAT BOOKS HAVE YOU FINISHED RECENTLY?	1795	221	Sep 10, 2021 10:57AM

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Gary’s Quotes

“In Cold Blood is the story of these six people—the [four] Clutters, who died together November 15, 1959, and Perry Smith and Richard Hickock, who were hanged April 14, 1965. And my book is the story of their lives and their deaths. It’s a completely factual account and every word is true.

— Truman Capote, interviewed in A Visit with Truman Capote, Maysles Films, 1966 (alternate title: With Love From Truman).”
― Truman Capote

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“And suppose you don’t like it? Excellent question; and, strangely, one I’d never asked myself, principally because I had chosen the ingredients, and I always have faith in my own judgment.”
― Truman Capote, Portraits and Observations

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