286 ratings | 2 reviews | avg rating:4.17

Gary McAvoy’s Followers (500)

Gary’s Bookshelves

to-read (7)
currently-reading (3)
read (306)
did-not-finish (0)

Gary’s Friends (21)

Lily

1,891 books | 2,188 friends

Kathryn Beland

4,731 books | 105 friends

Adriana Trigiani

31 books | 836 friends

Sheila Lowe

480 books | 659 friends

Kathy Reichs

4 books | 673 friends

Ronald Moore

73 books | 1 friend

Brenda Peterson

107 books | 145 friends

Robin Kobaly

29 books | 1 friend

More friends…

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

edit data

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turning to fiction, McAvoy built a distinguished career as an entrepreneur, technology consultant, and collector of historical documents.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.

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Gary McAvoy questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Gary McAvoy’s books

Average rating: 4.33 · 39,555 ratings · 2,252 reviews · 26 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Magdalene Deception (The Magdalene Chronicles #1) 4.21 avg rating — 6,431 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) 4.23 avg rating — 4,661 ratings — 9 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 — 3,040 ratings — 2 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) 4.43 avg rating — 3,029 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 — 2,916 ratings — 12 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) 4.50 avg rating — 2,414 ratings — 4 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 — 2,328 ratings — 3 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) 4.41 avg rating — 2,157 ratings — 2 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 — 1,827 ratings	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 — 1,699 ratings	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

More books by Gary McAvoy…

0 posts
Gary McAvoy's Blog

Gary McAvoy hasn't written any blog posts yet.

Series by Gary McAvoy

Vatican Secret Archive (9 books)
by

Gary McAvoy (Goodreads Author)

4.38 avg rating — 20,493 ratings

The Magdalene Chronicles (3 books)
by

Gary McAvoy (Goodreads Author)

4.34 avg rating — 12,925 ratings

Vatican Archaeology Thrillers (2 books)
by

Gary McAvoy (Goodreads Author)

4.05 avg rating — 1,399 ratings

Vatican Archaeology Thrillers (1 book)
by

Gary McAvoy (Goodreads Author)

4.10 avg rating — 854 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

bookshelves: currently-reading

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

Jan 03, 2019 07:22AM

Gary McAvoy is currently reading

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

by Ben Macintyre

bookshelves: currently-reading

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

Dec 29, 2018 10:41PM

Gary McAvoy is currently reading

Seven Brief Lessons on Physics

by Carlo Rovelli

bookshelves: currently-reading

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

Jun 11, 2017 07:47AM

rss
Gary’s Recent Updates

Gary McAvoy and 4 other people liked Matt's review of The Pompeian Betrayal (Vatican Archaeology Thrillers Book 3): "First and foremost, a large thank you to Reedsy Discovery and Gary McAvoy for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Always a fan of Gary McAvoy and his work, I jumped at the chance to rea" Read more of this review »
Apr 15, 2026 12:34PM · see review
Gary McAvoy liked Jeff Planty's review of The Confessions of Pope Joan (Vatican Secret Archive #7): "By far his best book throughly enjoyed the story. "
Mar 18, 2026 01:20PM · see review
Gary McAvoy liked Caroline's review of The Confessions of Pope Joan (Vatican Secret Archive Thrillers): " A really thought provoking story. The Confessions of Saint Joan and the Gospel of St. Salome are two artifacts found by Father Michael Dominic and his team of Vatican investigators. Pope Joan's story is legendary, in so far as there has never, to th" Read more of this review »
Mar 18, 2026 01:20PM · see review
Gary McAvoy liked David Schwan's review of The Confessions of Pope Joan (Vatican Secret Archive #7): "Fast-paced as usual for the series. This book provides a bit of alternative history for the church. A really bad-guy group emerges quickly, later to be countered by a good-guy group. Lots of fun plot twists, and the British detective is certainly a c" Read more of this review »
Mar 18, 2026 01:19PM · see review
Gary McAvoy made a comment on David Eppenstein’s review of The Avignon Affair " A great review, David, thanks. You've set up the plot perfectly for other readers. ...more "
Feb 10, 2026 10:23AM · see review
Gary McAvoy made a comment on Scott’s review of The Medici Heresy (Vatican Secret Archive Thrillers Book 12) " Sorry about the rain, Scott (and I agree with you...). As for wedding bells? Stay tuned... "
Dec 24, 2025 03:00PM · see review
Gary McAvoy made a comment on Wendy Gordon’s review of The Medici Heresy (Vatican Secret Archive Thrillers Book 12) " Thanks so much, Wendy, for your generous and effusive comments! I have to agree with you about the weather. Sorry, but as I was writing it here in Sea ...more "
Dec 24, 2025 02:58PM · see review
Gary McAvoy made a comment on Ammar Davawala’s review of The Magdalene Deception (The Magdalene Chronicles #1) " Thank you for writing a well-reasoned review, Ammar, and for your kind words. I should point out, though, that the "series" moniker in this case—as is ...more "
Dec 23, 2025 08:23AM · see review
Gary McAvoy is now following Adriana Trigiani Author of The Shoemaker's Wife
Dec 22, 2025 10:53AM · like
Gary McAvoy is now following Charles P. Ries Author of The Fathers We Find
Dec 22, 2025 10:53AM · like

More of Gary's books…

Quotes by Gary McAvoy (?)

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

0 likes

“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

0 likes

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

0 likes

See all Gary McAvoy's quotes »

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

comments and details

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Crime, Mysteries ...: True Crime Nominations - ALWAYS OPEN	83	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	945	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!!	10668	4166	Feb 12, 2021 11:14AM
THE JAMES MASON C...: * WHAT BOOKS HAVE YOU FINISHED RECENTLY?	1795	221	Sep 10, 2021 10:57AM

More…

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

1 likes

“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

2 likes