A MYSTERIOUS FIGURE, hiding somewhere among the seven billion inhabitants of Earth, is threatening to reveal the startling truth behind a very modern myth.
A conspiracy so damaging it could destroy the very fabric of human culture.
Following the only lead he has, an encrypted email sent to an innocent proxy, Larry Walsh, Assistant Director of the National Security Agency, becomes embroiled in a race against time, fighting with subversives, saboteurs and religious fanatics to prevent a global iconoclasm.
The ancient deception he uncovers is stranger than he ever imagined...
Praise for The Bergamese Sect:
"Double the trouble, twice the action, quadruple the excitement. A web of deceit that grips you on page one and doesn't let up until its cataclysmic-bang-of-an-end." - Steve Berry, international bestselling author of The Templar Legacy.
"Gripped me from the first page. An intelligent, visceral conspiracy thriller involving a mediaeval sect pervading the upper echelons of 21st century society.” - Bill Napier, international bestselling author of Nemesis and Revelation.
"An intriguing and compelling mystery-thriller. Death and deception at every turn." - James Becker, bestselling author of The Lost Testament and The First Apostle.
ALASTAIR GUNN is an author, musician and professional astrophysicist based in the UK and is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. As well as an active scientist, Alastair is an experienced and popular public lecturer on astronomy and is known for his accessible (though challenging), light-hearted, and visually stunning lectures. He has made guest appearances on many TV and radio shows around the world and has hosted a regular astronomy program on radio. Alastair writes a regular column for BBC Science Focus magazine and has written for The Daily Telegraph, The Independent and The Guardian and is a contributor to many astronomy magazines including Astronomy Now, BBC Sky at Night and StarDate. His fiction includes ghostly short stories, a collection of supernatural stories called Ballymoon and his debut novel, The Bergamese Sect.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. -
This is my ignorance talking, but the prologue confused me so much at first. So I'll save everyone else the trouble and just say that it was about the Spanish Inquisition. You know, in case anyone else is as equally curious and confused (and history impaired) as to the locale and what the characters were talking about.
Aside from that, the rest of the novel was perfectly readable. It's a riveting tale and delivered so much more than promised. There really wasn't really a main character so much as distinct factions. And each faction was represented by a token character. Everyone wanted something and would stop at nothing to get to it. The story was presented in carefully divided sections with each character following their own plot line. Seemingly unrelated events were intricately woven together in the tangled web of a complex system.
All the characters are marred by obsession on some level. However, Castro was the one I found most relatable and intriguing. If nothing else, I understand obsession, and his obsession was all consuming. Besides, nothing feeds the fires of obsession like the oils of deprivation.
The novel manages something quite amazing in that for the first few chapters or so, it's very vague and nothing definable really occurs. And yet, it is completely engaging. Rather than being lost and confused, the fact that I had no idea what was going on only added to the mystery and appeal of the story. However, for the less forgiving, the story does pick up pace relatively quickly. I really had no idea what to expect until things finally started clicking together, and all of a sudden, it all made sense. Going back to the idea of obsession, at some point, I became equally invested in the the characters' obsessions as they themselves were.
And above all else, one particular idea that was presented was really quite brilliant. Beliefs, regardless of legitimacy and rationality, falls under two main categories, socially acceptable and culturally shunned. (Think, the judgement passed on someone who insists God is real vs. someone who insists that fairies are real. Even though the mythos, in its simplest form, are quite similar.)
Sometimes you find a book that hits you in the right spot at the right time, and The Bergamese Sect was exactly what I needed after a book club disaster and an utterly forgettable mystery by an author I usually enjoy. I liked the genre-bending diversity in this novel a great deal: 1 part Rubicon (the lamentedly cancelled AMC series) 1 part X-Files (hello reboot 2016!) 1 part Sigma Force (James Rollins novel series) 1 part Revelations (TV miniseries from 2005)
The book plucked several of my favorite strings: conspiracy, action, science fiction, theological debate, and characters with grey tendencies instead of strictly defined hero/villain roles. Steve Berry may have written a blurb for the cover, but I think James Rollins fans will enjoy the book as well.
I can't wait to see what Dr. Gunn publishes for an encore in this genre!
When I was asked to read this book by the author I had no idea of the story line. Gripping, and compelling you along to the final word. Loved it, looking forward to more books by the author!
If just thinking about Edward Snowden gives you the heebie-jeebies, then you should probably avoid this book. If, however, you like a story with lots of action, exotic locations and conspiracies, politics, religion, shadowy quasi-government agencies and abductions (all those taboo discussion topics) this is for you. And maybe if you miss Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. The characters' allegiances seem to be intentionally ambiguous. This made me feel a little off balance while reading...was I "backing the right horse"? There's alot going on here, and enough loose ends to justify a sequel. I'd read it.
Here's the bad news. This book is currently not available in any brick and mortar bookstores (boo, hiss...because we all love brick and mortar bookstores, right?). It's also not available right now for those of us who e-read on a Nook. However, the author and his publisher graciously made available to me a digital copy which I could read on my Nook. Thank you.
I look forward to more from Mr. Gunn in the future. Remember - brick and mortar stores!
I discovered The Bergamese Sect quite by accident after reading and thoroughly enjoying Simon Toyne's Sanctus. The Bergamese Sect has all the elements that I love in a story. It was intelligent, fast paced and Alastair Gunn unveiled the mysteries masterfully, a little at a time. A wonderful read.
Thoroughly enjoyed this debut thriller from start to finish. It mixes an ancient religious sect and an alien abduction conspiracy in an excellent plot which grabbed me from the start and kept me guessing right until the final few chapters.
The writing itself is excellent, alternatively building tension and intrigue. I never felt that there were any lapses in the pace of the book which was fast throughout. The characters are very good and I especially enjoyed some of the secondary characters as well. One of the things I do enjoy with this genre is the globe trotting aspect of some of the books, this was no exception with the action flitting through some great and interesting locales.
All in all, The Bergamese Sect has turned out to be one of the best thrillers I have read this year and for £1.99 you really can't go wrong. If you are a fan of James Rollins or Simon Toyne, give it a go. It's a belter!
What do a fifteenth century inquisitor, a lawyer from Arizona, a secret society and a man from Wapping have in common? They are all tied to a conspiracy which has been propagated for hundreds of years. Over time, the means have changed but the aim has remained the same. All the different quests come together in a gripping tale of betrayal and deception with a final twist.
This is a well written, complex thriller, full of beautiful descriptive language that took me on a journey from the Americas and across Europe. There is plenty of intrigue to draw you in and fast-paced action to keep you there.
The Bergamese Sect is a great first book from Alastair Gunn and I anticipate there will be many more from this author to look forward to in the future.
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review and I can honestly say that I really enjoyed this first novel by Alastair Gunn! It took me a bit to get into the book, and the prologue was a bit confusing, but as I got into the book, the pieces starting coming together and I really got into it. A great first novel! Can't wait to read more!
Not a bad story for debut author. I love the story and its premise. But the endings feel incomplete. To be honest, first I thought Matt is the main character but now I thought it was Walsh because he is the one who get to act. So, I feel sorry for Matt. Anyway, I still consider it good story. Keep up the good work Mr. Gunn. Cannot wait to read your next story.
From the very start of the book, a mystery pulls you in and you are holding your breath to the very end to learn the mystery. A very well written book, that has more twists and turns than a roller coaster. Together with characters you feel sorry for, some you hope will get what's coming to them and others with their own agendas. A highly recommended read!! 5 Stars all the way! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First of all a huge thanks to the author and his team for lending me a copy of his work to read
The Bergamese Sect is truly a great piece of work considering, what I believe is the author’s very first work. The plot is interesting, something that will evoke a whole lot of theories and opinions based on ones ideologies and perception. To put it simple, the whole concept of UFO and alien abduction has been a pretty good fodder for controversies and conspiracy theorists all over the world. Everybody has their own opinion of Alien life forms and this is the core of the book. The plot, as I mentioned will be totally on how you view the concept of UFO and alien life forms but what I liked about the book is that there is a visible effort in researching the topic. There are so many validations and contemplation throughout the book while engaging in a thrilling race against time. The language of the book is another topic for discussion. It’s a bit complex and adorned and actually gave me a little tough time when I started reading it but eventually I fell with its flow and actually started loving the beauty in the language. Narration is pretty engaging. But the truth also lies in the fact that the book is really lonnnnng. It’s either me or in realty the book is kind of an extensive narration. Whatever may it be the truth is that I did find the book a bit long and it took days for me to complete it.
Apart from being intimidated by the length of the book, I found the book to be really good. Interestingly, I felt that the author did not force his opinions on the readers (but to notice this you will have to complete the book). Whatever he puts forward comes with enough justification and arguments to convince you. I love the author’s effort towards forming a proper core for the book. Also I did not notice any loose ends but then again the whole topic of aliens is very vulnerable and open to personal judgments and because of which everybody will have their own opinion regarding the plot and its points but other than that the book is pretty intense and well written
The book is pretty extensive and rich in its plot so you better hold on as this is going to take a while. I felt that the book was lengthy but apart from that I have no other complaints because it is a well researched, written and narrated book that is engaging and is a good dose for thriller fans. The language let me warn you is not simple and is kind of complex and in my opinion intelligent and artistic. The topic of the book is pretty perceptive which means it totally depends on your perception of alien life forms for this book to appeal you.
I just finished reading The Bergamese Sect, by Alastair Gunn. This is a first for me with his books. I was completely blown away! Or, as the Brits put it - Gobsmacked! Went head first into the book not knowing what to expect. It's been quite awhile since I've read any SyFy. WOW! What a mind boggling re-introduction to the genre this book was. Mr. Gunn's other books will now be added to my 'to read' list. Ballymoon is already sitting next to my bed, waiting. This book grabbed my attention from the moment I started reading it. You are well into chapter 5 before the premise of the storyline, which has been teased at in prior chapters, is finally revealed. It has jaw-clenching excitement. Edge of your seat drama. Fingernail-biting suspense. Espionage, intrigue, adventure, car chases, shootouts - all woven into a global backdrop. Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? And aliens - did I mention the threat of aliens? Follow these opposing factions across the globe in search of the one person who knows the truth, then all of them meet in a final showdown that will blow you away!
Good multi-character line action packed plot. My major complaint was the over abundance of adjectives (not to mention some strange combinations,) that knocked me out of the story; needed some trimming. But, demonstrated some large periods of writing that not only flowed well, kept me glued to the kobo long after what should have been lights out. I am hopeful for next book and I would read a sequel.
PS Alastair, a writer should only describe little girls and boys --and only when living before the 18th century-- fairies and perhaps Peter Pan as skipping up a set of steps and never middle aged corpulent men. Writing needs to stay in character.
Wow, what a story! With a combination of government cover-ups, secret religious societies, anonymous informants, chases, close calls, and surprises at the end, etc., this book was very hard to put down. I've always enjoyed how Steve Berry writes books that keep me on the edge of my seat, but Alastair Gunn has taken the suspense level up to a new level. I know when the writing is great, as in this book, because I have a movie running in my head to match the action as I read. (Thank you, Alastair, for letting me know about your book. I loved it!)
Finished reading this last night and it was good. Interesting plot and some good characters. It sure kept me guessing until the end and once the truth was revealed, it does make you wonder about religions and how far people would go to keep the status quo. Some spots bogged down a bit with the narrative, but all in all a good read.
I have to admit, when I first heard the premise of this book, I thought -- what did I get myself into. But, luckily the writing was interesting enough that I kept on and boy am I glad I did. Lots of twists and turns, however, it was a rewarding adventure. Will have to look for more books by Alastair Gunn!
The Bergamese Sect is a highly entertaining book that I found very hard to put down. For me it was a refreshing storyline so different then what I typically read. Makes me think ,"Wow...very interesting...what really goes on in the world."
I gave this 2 stars but 2 1/2 stars is a better assessment. Parts of this book work very well, other parts are rather so-so. There are multiple story lines that are interleaved--the story line of the lawyers is the must compelling, the kidnappers rates in the middle and the NSA/CIA story lines seemed the weakest. There is lots of travel, it seemed that a great deal of the travel was unnecessary, somebody went off to so and so place, something happens there and we leave for the next place; there never really being a compelling reason to go to this location in the first place. The ending was a letdown, but on a positive note the ending was believable. The author has the skill to create compelling narrative and hopefully if he writes another novel will learn to prune the parts that don't work.
I liked this book and would have probably liked it better if circumstances had allowed me to read it in a shorter time frame. There were numerous characters of importance, and it was often hard to 'catch up' and remember who was who when I had extended periods of time not being able to get back to the book. It was definitely a good action/adventure/conspiracy/mystery.
At 1st I wasn't real sure about the Bergamese Sect as it appeared to be about aliens..... which isn't my genre. BUT...... I absolutely love it. While there were "aliens" it was so much more.
The Bergamese Sect turns out to be an intriguing espionage thriller.... which is my genre. Numerous government agencies... each with their own agenda and secrets. Deceit, backstabbing, corruption, murder, betrayal.... you name it they have it.
Alasair Gunn does a wonderful job of weaving the believable and unbelievable into a beautifully crafted story. The characters are believable. The action is intense.
This is the 1st book I have read by Alastair but will be on the look out for others that he writes.
Definitely a book fans of espionage and mystery will want to read.
After a recommendation from the author of this book, I ordered a sample of it from Amazon today. I only got to the third chapter, when I ordered the ebook.. So far I am finding this book great & hard to put down.. Now I am going to continue my reading on chapter 3... I will finish this review, when I am done reading the entire book.. I finally finished this book.. It is a very well written book.. But it seemed to drag a little. For a while I had some trouble staying with the story, because it was flipping between different characters so much.. But all in all I enjoyed this book & look forward to reading Alastair Gunn's next novel..
I had great difficulty starting this book. The initial half is so disjointed and there is never a long enough section of narrative with the same characters to get any feeling of investment in their well-being. The second half (bar the last chapter), provides a coherent storyline that can followed and begins to allow the reader some attachment to the plot and characters. The final revelation though is so convoluted and bizarre and the actions of the characters seem so unreasonable (especially to their experiences to that point), that ifs contrived as an exercise to see how complicated one could make a plot and still call it one.
This book is very well written and kept my interest until the end. There are a lot of moving pieces and parts and you really have to pay attention until the end to understand all of the intricacies of the book. Especially when you are dealing with the Inquisition, Nazi's and alien abduction! The lead up to the end was great-but I was disappointed with the end. I felt the book was extremely strong in the beginning-yet when I came to the end I was like-really? This was it? I wanted more-and I felt the characters just faded away in the end.
A very interesting story that starts with a prologue in the Spanish Inquisition and then brings you to the present with individuals to whom that history is very meaningful. Following an assumed threat to civilization by following these individuals on different paths to similar (but very contrasting) goals keeps the reader tied to the story until the end is known.
A very intriguing story. Perhaps it went on for longer than necessary, sometimes things seemed to hang for a bit, but all in all well worth the time to read.
Has religion been used as a tool of deception to keep the masses in line? Does the logic of science destroy this belief? Will men of vast power silence the non believers? An overwhelming awsome thriller,laced with mystery, action intrigue and a array of characters fixated on achieving their mission. One Hell of a fantastic, stupendous, immensely enjoyable read!!!
Not as good as it could've, but still a good read. Very well researched, couldn't find any issues with factual items, and those made-up were believable. The hardest part that I had was the use of British English with an American character when conversing. Certain words just don't fit with Larry, Jeff, or the other American characters, but would fit with Matt.
It was good enough that I will look for more books from Mr Gunn.
This story started slow for me. It did not start to hold my interest until the kidnapping in London. The book was difficult to read at times due to the British colloquialisms: saloon for a car (sedan), span for turned around, a car turning into a drive and rolling over. Otherwise it was a well written thriller about the alien abduction conspiracies. I recommend reading if you like thrillers.