The Fifth Gospel

by Ian Caldwell

🎧Listening Length = 15 hours and 37 minutes

In Ian Caldwell’s masterful follow-up to his international sensation The Rule of Four, a lost gospel, a contentious relic, and a dying pope’s final wish converge to send two brothers—both Vatican priests—on an intellectual quest to untangle Christianity’s greatest historical mystery.

Ten years ago, Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason’s The Rule of Four became a literary phenomenon that earned comparisons to Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose and Donna Tartt’s The Secret History. Hailed as "ingenious...profoundly erudite" (The New York Times), "compulsively readable" (People), and "an exceptional piece of scholarship" (San Francisco Chronicle), it spent forty-nine weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, sold nearly two million copies in North America, and was translated into thirty-five languages around the world. Now, after a decade of painstaking primary research, Ian Caldwell returns with a new intellectual thriller that confirms his place among the most ambitious popular storytellers working today.

In 2004, as Pope John Paul II’s reign enters its twilight, a mysterious exhibit is under construction at the Vatican Museums. A week before it is scheduled to open, its curator is murdered at a clandestine meeting on the outskirts of Rome. The same night, a violent break-in rocks the home of the curator’s research partner, Father Alex Andreou, a Greek Catholic priest who lives inside the Vatican with his five-year-old son. When the papal police fail to identify a suspect in either crime, Father Alex, desperate to keep his family safe, undertakes his own investigation. To find the killer he must reconstruct the dead curator’s secret: what the four Christian gospels—and a little-known, true-to-life fifth gospel known as the Diatessaron—reveal about the Church’s most controversial holy relic. But just as he begins to understand the truth about his friend’s death and its consequences for the future of the world’s two largest Christian Churches, Father Alex finds himself hunted down by someone with vested stakes in the exhibit—someone he must outwit to survive.

At once a riveting literary thriller, a feast of biblical history and scholarship, and a moving family drama, The Fifth Gospel is a novel about the depths of sacrifice and the power of forgiveness. Rich, authentic, erudite, and emotionally searing, it satisfies on every level.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Religion

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Ian Caldwell is an American novelist. After graduating from Princeton University in 1998, he and his childhood friend Dustin Thomason co-wrote the semi-autobiographical The Rule of Four, which was published in 2004.
Caldwell and Thomason graduated from the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, in Fairfax County, Virginia, in 1994. Caldwell was a Phi Beta Kappa in history at Princeton. In 2005, Caldwell's wife, Meredith, gave birth to their first child, Ethan Sawyer Caldwell. They live in Vienna, Virginia.

Reviews

[Sean Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4 Stars

It’s funny—as I get older, I pick up on things in books that I wouldn’t have if I’d read them earlier in life (not funny ha-ha, mind you, like “a baby seal walks into a club,” but funny hmmm, like “I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to be standing beneath this flock of seagulls after they’ve just eaten spicy burritos”).

Case in point: The Fifth Gospel, where, a few years ago, my primary focus would have been on all of the fascinating religious history and the close reading of the gospels contained therein (something I, as an unbaptized pagan, am only passingly familiar with), and that would have made this an interesting, albeit verrrrrrrryyyyyy ssllloooowwwwlllllyyyyy ppppaaaacccccceeeddddddd read (standard caveat: given my own pacing issues, I’m always loathe to call out an author for slow pacing, especially since I sometimes really enjoy slow pacing and build up, but let’s call a spade a spade and a kumquat a kumquat—sometimes a story just needs to speed it the hell up, my own included).

But, in reading this book now, at this point in my life, I was more drawn to the story of a single father struggling to raise his son and keep him safe and shielded from a lot of bad stuff. Because while I don’t know squat about the differences between the gospels of John, Paul, Mark, and Luke (well, I do NOW), I sure as heck know how it feels to literally ache at the thought of your kiddo being really upset and not being able to explain to him what’s going on or console him. And so it was that I kept finding myself getting pulled out of the historical narrative and imagining how I’d feel in a situation where there was murder most foul afoot and one of the most beloved figures in my son’s life was at the center of it, putting him in both physical and emotional danger. And I kept getting really nervous and antsy. And hugging my son tighter when I put him to bed, or was up with him in the middle of the night when he was upset.

So, while this is a fairly interesting (albeit somewhat slow and occasionally redundant) historical murder mystery-type story (I definitely wouldn’t call it a thriller, though) packed to the gills with juicy Biblical tidbits, my reading experience was so informed by where I’m at in life right now that I’m not sure I really can fairly assess it solely on the merits. It was an odd reading experience. Not a bad one, mind you—just odd to be so pulled out of the story by the author doing a good job of making one of the characters so utterly relatable.

I can only imagine how different my next fantasy reading experience would be if I were in the process of raising a baby dragon…

“Damn you, noble adventuring heroes for rightfully slaying that murderous red dragon! He just ate those innocent villagers because his tummy was rumbling!”

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went to Catholic schools for many years, went to church every morning forma few of them, had numerous religious classes and yet this book taught me things about Catholicism that I didn't know.

A priest is killed in Vatican City, the mystery consuming two brothers one a Catholic priest and one a Greek Catholic priest, the Eastern Catholic priest is allowed to marry and so has a son. The killed priest was working on an exhibition about the Shroud of Turin. This takes place during the end of John Paul's reign as Pope, as he is dying slowly of Parkinsons.

The amount of research that went into, this book is amazing, it took ten years for this book to be published. Not all were due to the writing of this novel but even so the details in this are unbelievable.

A very well written novel with and unusual mystery in the foreground, with some amazing characters. A few of the scenes in this book I find unforgettable.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received The Fifth Gospel through a Goodreads giveaway.
The reader is given a rare glimpse behind the walls of the Vatican with corruption and mayhem occurring among its members. It’s interesting to note a line taken from book: “Motto here is that a new door opens every time you push another man out a window”. The author writes a tremendous amount on deciphering and understanding the true meaning of the four gospels along with the possibility of a fifth. Meanwhile, there is also a murder to solve, again with much detail as to why, how, and who would take the life of the Vatican’s curator. Ian Caldwell writes extremely well with a great deal of passion and brings forth many emotions experienced by all those involved in this thought-provoking and powerful novel.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caldwell's "The Fifth Gospel" is a murder mystery set within the Vatican. Not the Vatican tourists see, but the the vast labyrinth kept from public view. Likewise, Caldwell's characters are all fashioned after those who actually administer the Vatican. I'm astonished at the amount of research Caldwell has done.

But, this novel isn't a travelog nor is it a Vatican expose. It's a carefully constructed murder mystery that had me guessing until the end.

At the core of this mystery is the Shroud of Turin, and a researcher (Ugo Nogara) who is mounting a public exhibit of the Shroud in the Vatican. An exhibit that promises to change everything the public believe about the Shroud. When the researcher is found dead just days before the exhibit opens, the hunt is on for his killer.

And what a hunt it is. Ugo's close friend Simon, a priest, is found standing over Ugo's body and is arrested by the Vatican police. But Simon's brother Alex, also a priest, Believes Simon is innocent. So Father Alex begins an investigation to find who the actual murderer is, an investigation that carries him through monsignors, bishops, and cardinals, all the way to those closest to the Pope. And, eventually, to the Pope himself. Needless to say church politics are in play, and Father Alex's investigation runs into one road block after another.

And in seeking the murderer, Father Alex also delves into the likely reasons why Ugo was murdered. An exploration that quickly focuses on Ugo's research discoveries about the hidden history of the Shroud.

This is a story with complex characters, and a plot that twists and turns. Details about Vatican life, canon law, and church history make the story feel real.

This is also a story about relationships. Brother to brother. Friend to friend. Father to son. The strength of relationships. Commitment. Devotion.

I highly recommend this book for mystery readers, especially fans of contemporary mysteries with strong historical elements.

[Alison · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, I needed a bit of fluff, and I'm a sucker for religious controversy. We recently received the galley of this at work, so I gave it a shot - but not without reading the editor's letter of recommendation on the back of the book first.

Note: editor's letters are standard procedure for galleys and often tend toward exaggeration and/or straight-up hyperbole. This particular letter, however, chose to emphasize this trend in the publishing industry right off the bat in order to establish the legitimacy of the editor's subsequent appraisal of the book (i.e., this tradition of wretched overkill does not apply here! I am legitimate, authentic, genuine when I say what I say about the book you're holding!)

So, needless to say, the letter and its editor, who I'm choosing not to name, goes on to sing the praises of "The Fifth Gospel", comparing it, among other things, to Umberto Eco.

Now. If you compare a book or a writer to another book or writer of Umberto Eco's caliber, you damn well better have something to back it up. And silly me, seeing mention of Eco, seeing the theme of ancient Christianity and Christian history (my bailiwick), allowed myself to get my hopes up. What an idiot!

Jk, jk. I'm not really that dramatic or effected by this book. I was just underwhelmed and pissed that the publisher's letter would lie to me so blatantly. So obviously, the only thing to do was rant on Goodreads... DUH.

This book is fine. Plot moves along, writing is mediocre, subject matter is interesting and dealt with somewhat adequately. Read at your discretion.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes it's impossible not to gush! British actor Davenport's reading of this fine thriller is so seductive--I didn't want to stop listening. It's a great book too set mostly in Vatican City, where protagonist Alex has lived all his life. A Greek Catholic (as opposed to Orthodox) priest and thus allowed to marry before his ordination, as was his father, so he and brother Simon (who became a Roman priest and church diplomat) were raised there, and we see Vatican city in a way I've never imagined, with a native as our travel guide to life in the Vatican City, as well as to the buildings and people. (Pope John Paul II plays a role). As was his earlier title, The Book of Four, this is a literary thriller. It's focused on the Shroud of Turin and the Diatessaron, an ancient text that attempted to combine the 4 gospels into one narrative. So there are secrets about the shroud and its history and New Testament and early church history and a wealth of information about the schism between the Eastern and Western Churches. Lots of "stuff," fascinating, intriguing trivia and puzzles, all laid out in Davenport's immersive narration. There's a murder and an investigation, a labyrinthine plot with twists and turns, fully-realized characters, a suspenseful tone that's also filled with a melancholy air, and, while not a page-turner because there's too much information to impart, a plot that moves with real urgency. And the writing is just lovely, good enough to please literary readers and polished with the facts well-researched and documented. Listen if you get the chance. I just hope Davenport narrates more!

[Monnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author says it took him 10 years to finish this novel; it follows The Rule of Four, a book he co-authored with Dustin Thomason that spent 49 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. And now that I've read it, I understand why it took so long. The time it must have taken to ferret out the details that make it so intriguing - from hidden nooks and crannies within Vatican City to nuances in passages from the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - boggle my mind (and this from someone who enjoys doing research). But I'll warn others up front: I found it impossible to speed-read my way through the book. The devil's in the details, so to speak, and those details are well worth the effort even though they get a bit heavy at times. Glossing over anything, though, would mean missing way too much.

Because of the subject matter, comparisons with Dan Brown's books The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demonsare inevitable; I've read and enjoyed both, but in many respects, I found this one more to my liking. For openers, the story is woven more around historical facts, insights into Papal law, Biblical interpretation and differences among Roman and Greek Catholicism than clandestine groups out to destroy the church and human feats that test the boundaries of believability.

There's another big difference: This one is a story about family ties - both with blood relatives and the family that is the Church. At the center are two brothers, Father Alex Andreou and Father Simon Andreou. Their love for each other is strong, as is their love for their churches: Father Simon is a Roman Catholic and Father Alex is a Greek Catholic. Among the differences? Father Alex is allowed to be married, even though he works at the Vatican. He lives here with his young son, Peter - his wife, Mona, abandoned her husband and child a few years earlier.

Early on, a man named Ugo Nogaro, curator of an upcoming exhibit involving the currently debunked Shroud of Turin, is found dead. In addition to his work with the Shroud, Nogaro has been doing extensive research on the four gospels as well as the Diatessaron, a fifth gospel that apparently was written to bring together and clarify differences in those first four books. Father Simon has been helping with the exhibit, and Father Alex, also a teacher and expert on scriptures, has been helping Nogaro with understanding what is written in the gospels.

Because Father Simon was standing near Nogaro's dead body, he is arrested by the Vatican police and stashed away in a secret place. Worse, he refuses to say a word in his own defense. But his brother, Father Alex (from whose perspective the story is told), steadfastly believes in his innocence and sets out to prove it - a journey that delves into the reasons Nogaro was murdered and secrets of both the Shroud and Diatessaron that church leaders may not want revealed.

For those who enjoy learning about the history and workings of the Catholic Church, complex interactions among family members and a good murder mystery, I highly recommend this book (conversely, those who believe every word of the Bible is literal fact probably won't like it at all). And as I said at the outset, it's far from light reading ("tedious" is a word that appears in a couple of the less-than-favorable reviews), but as far as I'm concerned, it's one of the best books I've read in quite some time.

[Jason Golomb · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We are a religion of captains hoping to go down with the ship…the truth is that what moves the lifeblood of our faith is a thumping impulse toward self-destruction. “Greater love has no one than this," Jesus says in the gospel of John. “To lay down one’s life for one’s friends.””
- from Ian Caldwell’s “The Fifth Gospel”

This is a very strong (and long-awaited) second offering by the co-author of “The Rule of Four”. I won’t spend much time summarizing the story lines…plenty of those words exist already...but suffice it to say that the plot orbits the Shroud of Turin and a newly discovered fifth Gospel. Caldwell’s a bit inconsistent through the first half of the book, in developing the series of mysteries, both secular and non-. But the smoldering plot ignites about midway through. The book is very smart…at times confusing, but very much worth the patience in understanding and learning. Patience is a virtue.

This is certainly similar to Dan Brown and yet it's not. Yes, there exists a mystery and yes, it revolves around a Catholic relic. The story itself is strong: in-depth Catholic knowledge not required. But one won't avoid reading this book and feeling smarter for it. I found myself engrossed by Caldwell’s deft hand at baking an almost religious dissertation (without seeming preachy), woven cleanly around the multi-threaded plot.

Brown has his almost superhuman Robert Langdon, and Caldwell has his Father Alex Andreou. Andreou's smart, wise and a little crafty, but far more human and, in many ways, realistic than Langdon. Langdon is a hero. Fr. Alex is a human. “The Fifth Gospel” is emotionally poignant, drawn subtly around Father Alex and those closest to him, and I’m not ashamed to admit that tears came to my eyes at two different points near the end of the book.

Father Alex narrates the following, perhaps even giving a little nod to the every increasing popularity of religiously-based thriller fiction: “Priests underestimate the appetite of payment for cheap thrills about Jesus. Most of us roll our eyes at the prospect of new gospels. Every cave in Israel seems to contain one, and most turn out to have been written centuries after Chris by little sects of Christian heretics, or else forged for the publicity."

"The Fifth Gospel" is a very good thriller/mystery. But it's more than the latest pseudo-archaeo-Dan Brown clone. It's about family, brothers, and sacrifice.

Highly Recommended.

I received this through the Amazon Vine program.

[Ray Palen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been 10 years since Ian Caldwell's first novel --- THE RULE OF FOUR --- co-written with Dustin Thomason. I may have been one of the only readers who disliked that effort. I found it trite and trying way too hard to be Dan Brown --- and falling well short.

It's taken Ian Caldwell 10 years, but he has made me eat my words. THE FIFTH GOSPEL is one of the best books I read this year (even though it will not be released until March 2015). There is enough historical and theological intrigue to please the biggest fans of this genre and enough action and thrills to please everyone else.

Ironically, the leaders of the Roman Catholic Orthodox churches met this week to discuss a mutual enemy --- ISIS. THE FIFTH GOSPEL finds an ancient rift that split the two largest Christian sects and traces it all the way back to the birth, life and death of Jesus Christ. The novel breaks down the four gospels of the Bible in a very intelligent way, outlining the many discrepancies between the history recounted by the four apostles who penned them. What this novel proposes is an alleged fifth gospel --- one that unites all four of those found in the Bible and giving clear answers on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

With the existence of the actual Shroud of Turin in question, a radical religious scholar is murdered just when he is about to display the purported item. It is then up to two brothers --- both priests --- to not only solve the murder of their friend but seek out the truth behind the existence of this fifth gospel and preserve it at all costs.

A fun and eye-opening read, THE FIFTH GOSPEL deserves to be discussed in the same breath as Dan Brown's work and also calls to mind Umberto Eco's NAME OF THE ROSE. Sit down, dig in and prepare for many hours of uninterrupted reading as you will most assuredly get lost inside this novel.

[Sallie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book. Although it's a fun "religious thriller" in the tradition of Dan Brown and, as such, full of interesting facts and speculations (and some scriptural education thrown in for good measure), one component rang untrue for me--the character of Father Alex's young son, Peter. The words and understandings that come out of five-year-old Peter's mouth would have been more believable from an eight- or ten-year-old. As it was, I found myself mentally sort of "clucking" when Peter would spout some deep wisdom, or throw his father a knowing look.

I was trying to finish the book quickly because I was traveling and planned on taking something physically lighter and smaller in my carry-on. I raced through the final five chapters and realized, the next day, I had no idea "whodunnit" when I thought about it. So, I re-read those chapters. And that might be what's flawed about this work; its premise and resolution are both obscure and somewhat unsatisfying.

[Rob Solomon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Simplistic story, made overly complicated by detailed Church history, ending devalued the entire investment of time required to wade throug. I remain unclear as to why I finished it, but something held me to wanting to find out "whodunnit".

[Tempo de Ler · Rating 4 out of 5]

"O que o meu irmão está a fazer neste momento é um ato de bondade cristã. (...) Acredita no fundo do seu coração que está a fazer isto para o bem de outra pessoa. Não sei quem. Não sei porquê. Mas sei que tenho de o impedir." - p. 196

Sendo a compreensão da Bíblia ainda imperfeita, o autor de O Quinto Evangelho aponta-nos as discordâncias entre os Evangelhos; compilados décadas depois, os relatos de Mateus e Lucas são versões editadas do Evangelho de Marcos, com acrescentos e supressões. Enquanto estes três evangelhos são históricos, o evangelho de João - o último a ser escrito - é teológico e filosófico, remodelando a personagem de Jesus.

O Quinto Evangelho - o Diatéssaron - reúne estes quatro evangelhos, compilando-os numa única história. E é este livro que Ugo está a usar para ajudar a comprovar a autenticidade do Santo Sudário - ou descartá-la de uma vez por todas - quando aparece morto a tiro em Castel Gandolfo. A pouco tempo da inauguração da exposição no Vaticano que revelaria as conclusões do seu trabalho, a morte de Ugo ganha contornos ainda mais misteriosos.

Estranhamente, poucos dos elementos que resumi acima conseguiram despertar o meu interesse. Quero com isto dizer que não achei a trama válida a 100%, pareceu-me uma história bastante simples que o autor complicou para poder ter enredo para o livro. Embora normalmente fique muito entusiasmada em relação a pormenores históricos, neste caso, a história do Sudário e o seu percurso não me cativou por aí além. Não é habitual um thriller ter um desenvolvimento tão lento e pouquíssimos pontos de tensão, o que pode resultar em aborrecimento para os leitores que gostam mais de acção/suspense e que se deixaram influenciar pelo que diz na capa: obrigatório para os fãs de Dan Brown; frase com a qual, já agora, eu discordo completamente!

Do que gostei mesmo foi das descrições da vida dentro do Vaticano, oferecendo um ponto de vista muito diferente do meu como simples visitante. Acompanhamos bem de perto um padre católico ortodoxo - Alex - e, nesse sentido, pareceu-me que a narrativa na 1ª pessoa funciona muito bem neste livro. Gostei da voz de Alex; é fácil simpatizar com este pai solteiro cujo casamento falhado ainda atormenta e que se esforça por criar o filho sozinho num cenário tão pouco habitual. Além disso, a intriga religiosa é abordada por um homem de fé que defende a sua crença sem ignorar os erros da instituição que representa e não por (mais) um ateu com revelações com potencial para revolucionar o mundo (...e que costuma tornar os thrillers religiosos tão atractivos...) traz singularidade ao livro. Também gostei de saber mais sobre os trâmites do direito canónico.

Portanto, como disse, embora a intriga e especulação que serve de base a O Quinto Evangelho não me tenha interessado como penso que era suposto, mantive até ao fim curiosidade para descobrir a identidade do assassino de Ugo e os seus motivos; gostei do narrador, da sua luta e impasse entre família e religião; gostei dos detalhes religiosos e dos pormenores sobre a vida dentro do país mais pequeno do Mundo.

"Acabou-se. A odisseia de ser irmão dele. O medo do destino. A dívida por pagar. A dúvida sobre aquilo para que fomos feitos. Amanhã acaba tudo.
Foi para isto que fomos feitos" - p. 453

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depois de ter lido A Regra de Quatro em 2012 era com grande expectativa que aguardava um novo livro do autor Ian Caldwell. O Quinto Evangelho demorou dez anos a ser escrito. Felizmente, como não tinha lido o seu primeiro livro aquando da sua saída, não precisei de esperar tanto tempo para ler a segunda obra.

Tal como no seu anterior livro, Caldwell junta o thriller e o romance histórico, transformando a leitura de O Quinto Evangelho muito atractiva e fascinante.

Através da morte do curador de arte Ugo Nogara, o autor conta a história de "rivalidade" entre dois irmãos que se encontram em pólos opostos na Igreja: um pertence à igreja Católica outro à Ortodoxa, levando, por isso, estilos de vida completamente diferentes no interior do Vaticano. O que torna este livro ainda mais interessante de ler e de descobrir.
Opinião completa em:

http://marcadordelivros.blogspot.pt/2...

[Maria Espadinha · Rating 4 out of 5]

"1 + 2 + 3 +4 = 5"


No género literário "thriller", nutro especial predilecção pelo sub-género histórico.
São obras que nos proporcionam estórias cativantes, capazes de nos manter despertos, além de contribuírem para o nosso enriquecimento cultural.

No caso concreto do "quinto evangelho", não sendo uma leitura ávida (é antes para folhear e saborear), tem intriga, suspense e mistério q.b.
Além do mais, aflora temas que muito provavelmente nos serão pouco ou nada familiares:
Teremos oportunidade de visitar o Vaticano, saber da existência de varias versões do evangelho, conhecer as diferenças entre Padres Ortodoxos e Católicos, etc...

Tendo em vista evitar "spoilers", não irei revelar quaisquer pormenores da estória. No entanto, como estamos perante um thriller e os thrillers gravitam em órbitas-mistério, convido-vos a desvendar o enigma que escolhi para cabeçalho desta review: "1 + 2 + 3 +4 = 5" !

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I'm a huge fan of bibliomysteries, this seems like a natural choice, a mystery relating to the greatest book of all. Though as it turned out the murder investigation/court drama aspect of the book were actually the least interesting, primarily because the setting has so very much overshadowed all other things. Set in Vatican and presented with the meticulousness of detail one might expect from a book 10 years in the making, this is an absolutely fascinating armchair trip into the world's smallest country that, despite its size and miniscule population, has its very own rules and regulations and traditions. There are hierarchies, canons, procedures that are completely different from the world around it in some respects, including the immediate world around which is Rome, Italy. Moreover, the themes here are just as fascinating to explore...the schism between the Catholic and Orthodox churches, history, theology, absolutely absorbing reading. That's all the factual components. The fictional component is a story of two priest brothers, one of whom, our main narrator, Alex,, professes at the beginning of the book that there is nothing he wouldn't do for his older sibling, Simon, and so surely enough his devotion gets tested when Simon stands accused of murder of a scholar. The reasons behind the murder are the finding of the eponymous fifth gospel and what it might means for one of the most famous relics that ever was, one of the inestimable ecumenical power, the Shroud of Turin. Here's where the book slacks, or at least slacks by comparison, some of the crime investigation (which Alex intrepidly takes upon himself) and its dramatic consequences are overdone (operatic, melodramatic?), the pacing is ok, actually, but it comes across slightly overwritten, protracted somehow. Compelling in its own right certainly, but maybe it's just more interesting to read about the day to day life in such a bewilderingly different locale or about the mysteries within the pages of The Good Book and its implications, working out the logistical puzzles of where theology and history blur together. The novel certainly demonstrates the exhaustive amount of research that went into it. It was certainly enormously educational and to me that's mostly what the book added up to, sort of an edifying travelogue in a fictional wrapper. Either way you read it, though, it's worth a read.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book you never want to end. It has everything: a religious conspiracy, scriptural interpretations, biblical artifacts, Catholic scholarship. And it is intellectual, engaging, and thought-provoking.

The Shroud of Turin has been a symbol of Christianity for centuries, but it was recently proved to be a fake dating from the Middle Ages. Ugo, curator of a groundbreaking exhibit based on The Shroud, is set to disprove the scientific evidence based on scriptural and and historical documentation. But when the Ugo is found murdered, it is up to two brothers, Alex and Simon, to find out why he was killed. Father Alex is a Greek Catholic priest living within The Vatican with his son. Simon, a Roman Catholic priest, calls him from the scene of Ugo's murder without explaining how he's involved. Desperate to help his brother prove his innocence, Father Alex must uncover the secrets of the Shroud that Ugo was going to uncover and reveal to the world.

There is so much going on here, but it is all so deftly woven and expertly rendered. If anyone were to compare this to The DaVinci Code, I would be embarrassed for them. Dan Brown can’t hold a candle to Caldwell. His writing is phenomenal and compelling. I am not a Catholic, but the way he portrays the history of the religion and its principles is approachable and never preachy or self-righteous. I was especially intrigued by the scriptural scholarship presented. The scandalous implications never came across as absurd, and the greater message of uniting the Eastern Orthodoxy with Catholicism is inspiring.

I just really hope it doesn’t take Caldwell another 10 years to write his next book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book via the Amazon Vine program.

[Άννα Σπανογιώργου · Rating 5 out of 5]

Χωρίς να έχω ακούσει κάτι για αυτό το βιβλίο, ένιωσα κάτι να με ιντριγκάρει απο τον τίτλο και το εξώφυλλο. Αγαπημένη μου κατηγορία ιστορίες που εμπλέκουν θεολογιές και δολοφονίες. Κατά βάθος, όμως, το βιβλίο αυτό μας διδάσκει την έννοια της αμόλυντης αγάπης, της ανιδιοτέλειας και της αυτοθυσίας. Στο αντίβαρο ο συγγραφέας έχει τοποθετήσει την απληστία, το συμφέρον και τον απροκάλυπτο τρόπο συγκάλυψης γεγονότων.
Δυο αδέρφια, δύο ιερείς τόσο διαφορετικοί και όμως τόσο ίδιοι. Γιατί, κατα βάθος, το μύνημα είναι ένα: η θέση του καθενός είναι αυτή που του αξίζει.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the “Historical Note” at the beginning of the book …

“Two Thousand Years ago, a pair of brothers set out from the Holy Land to spread the Christian gospel. Saint Peter traveled to Rome, becoming the symbolic founder of Western Christianity. His brother, Saint Andrew, traveled to Greece, becoming a symbolic founder of Eastern Christianity. For centuries, the church they helped create remained a single institution. But one thousand years ago, west and east divided. Western Christians became Catholics, led by the successor of Saint Peter, the pope. Eastern Christians became Orthodox, led by the successors of Saint Andrew and other apostles, known a patriarchs. Today these are the largest Christian denominations on earth. Between them exists a small group known as Eastern Catholics, who confound all distinctions by following Eastern tradition while obeying the pope.
This novel is set in 2004, when the dying wish of Pope John Paul II was to reunite Catholicism and Orthodoxy. It is the story of two brothers, both Catholic priests, one Western and one Eastern.”

Father Alex Andreou is a Greek Catholic priest teaching gospel studies to students inside the Vatican, where he lives with his son (Greek priests are allowed to be married if they do so before taking their vows). His brother Simon is a Roman Catholic priest working for the Vatican’s Secretariat of State. Both are acquainted with a man by the name of Ugolino Nogara who is currently curator of the newest Vatican Museum installation … an exhibit that both brothers are excited about and fear in equal measures. Nogara has found information that will refute the carbon testing conclusions ruling the Shroud of Turin fake, conclusions that greatly impacted the lives of the two priests when they were boys. One night Alex receives an urgent call from his brother asking for help. When he arrives at his brother’s location he finds that Ugo Nogara has been murdered and, impossible as it sounds, Simon may have had something to do with it. A break and enter into Alex’s apartment which terrorizes his son seems, strangely, to be related. When Alex attempts to get answers about what is going on he is stonewalled – the Pope’s office is unusually interested in the case, the Swiss guard is sworn to secrecy and the Vatican Police are less than forth coming with any information about the break in or the murder. With his son possibly in danger and his brother under house arrest Alex begins his own investigation.

This is the point where the book grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I had been reading bits and pieces of the book here and there when I had time, but when Mr. Caldwell got to the nitty-gritty of exploring the history of the gospels and of the shroud interweaving it expertly with what was going on in the lives of the characters he got my full attention. I finished the last two thirds of the book on Sunday afternoon. Admittedly, I do have a soft spot for conspiracy theories.

In his author’s acknowledgments Mr. Caldwell gives thanks to all the “generous assistance” he received from all kinds of Catholic scholars and theologians, both Eastern and Western, so I am working on the assumption that what he writes about the gospels has a reasonable foundation in truth. That part of the book was fascinating to me. He explores the history of the bible and the evolution of the Catholic Church in it’s shining moments as well as some of its less pride-worthy actions. However, the appeal of the book did not end there. This book is also about the struggle of a family trying to put their family first while living the confines of a country (The Vatican) where there is only one “Papa” and religion dominates every aspect of life.

This is the type of book that makes me wish I belonged to some sort of book club because there are so many other themes and so much imagery that could be discussed but I am refraining because this is a book review.

(Okay sorry - but I have to go there)

Since its publication The DaVinci Code seems to be the standard to which all other books of this type are compared. Yes, I loved it too. I feel The Fifth Gospel holds it’s own and in some respects surpasses Dan Brown’s blockbuster. If you pick up this book looking for another Robert Langdon – be warned – you won’t find him in these pages. You will find a very readable, sometimes complicated and always intriguing story. I feel Mr. Caldwell considered any personal beliefs readers might have and treated the topic respectfully throughout the book but it is a book that just might make you think twice about what you know about Catholicism and organized religion in general. Just as Mr. Brown’s book had me grabbing for some art books and looking up famous works of art this book had me grabbing a bible off my bookshelf to check on Mr. Caldwell.

* Personal note *
Being familiar with the various Saints and traditions involved in both Catholicism and Orthodoxy the following quote made me laugh out loud. Father Andreou sharing his 5-year-old son’s opinion on how to decide which is the appropriate Saint for a particular prayer.

“He told me once that praying is like being a soccer coach and calling saints off the bench.”

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caldwell returns after a decade with a highly controversial and yet equally powerful novel that stirs up the Catholic Church to its core. With a controversial exhibit set to open within the Vatican, the curator of the Vatican Museums is found dead and an attack on the home of his research partner, Father Alex Andreou, only adds to the mystery. Andreou, a Greek Eastern Catholic priest living inside the Vatican acts as the novel's central character and as a slew of inner battles to keep the reader curious. Andreou takes it upon himself to piece together not only what might have happened to the curator, once the police give up their investigation, but also any motives that outsiders could have for killing such a holy man. At the heart of the personal investigation lies the dead curator's secret: what the four Christian gospels - and a little-known, true-to-life fifth gospel known as the Diatessaron - reveal about the Church's most controversial holy relic, the Shroud of Turin. The reader is taken on numerous journeys as Andreou peels back the mysteries of the gospels, divisions between the two Catholic Churches, his own family, and the history of the Shroud, all in an attempt to come to the ultimate truth. However, this truth might not set anyone free, but simply imprison them all the more. In a thoroughly thought provoking novel, perfect for the time of year I read it (the week leading up to Easter), Caldwell pulls the open-minded reader into the midst of an extremely powerful battle within the Vatican walls.

After reading The Rule of Four, I was not too sure what Caldwell would do with this novel, nor why it took so long to create it. After completing this piece, I can now better understand what the delay might have been, as well as the eagerness to carefully present each and every sentence. This is not a swashbuckling Dan Brown-esque critique of Catholicism, but more of an overall analysis of Church doctrine, as well as the central stories on which Christians found their faith; the Holy Gospels. This novel is not for any reader seeking a light and fluffy navigation through a storyline, with some controversies peppered throughout, but a very cerebral analysis of events and issues that have confounded the Church for centuries. Is much of what Caldwell presents blasphemy or sacrilege? Perhaps to those who wish to bury their heads in the sand and accept the word from the pulpit without question. However, the open-minded reader will pick out some of the wonderfully ripe pieces of information, layered pristinely inside a plot and story, and expound on them at their own pace. Caldwell almost goads the reader to look into some of these issues further, as Brown has done in his books, and leave the reader to question rather than regurgitate. Brilliantly done, in my opinion, with more questions left dangling than when I started to read.

Kudos, Mr. Caldwell for such a great piece of work. It leaves much of the superficial Catholic-controvery fiction I have read in the dust and really has left me questioning what else the Vatican may be trying to whitewash or leave hidden.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Célia | Estante de Livros · Rating 3 out of 5]

O Diatesseron, da autoria de Taciano, um dos primeiros cristãos, foi uma paráfrase dos quatro evangelhos tidos como o cânone que deu origem ao Novo Testamento. O documento, datado entre 160 e 175 d.C., tinha como objetivo combinar em apenas uma única narrativa o conteúdo dos quatro evangelhos originais (escritos por Mateus, Marcos, Lucas e João). Este documento reveste-se de fulcral importância no enredo deste livro, uma vez que é com base nele que Ugo Nogara, curador responsável por uma exposição a abrir em breve no Vaticano, promete revelações que irão mudar as (complicadas) relações entre a Igreja Católica e a Igreja Ortodoxa. Só que, a poucos dias da abertura da exposição, Ugo é encontrado sem vida perto de Castel Gandolfo.

Alex Andreou, padre grego católico a viver no Vaticano e amigo de Ugo suspeita que a morte dele estará intimamente relacionada com a exposição e, uma vez que o seu irmão Simão foi o primeiro a encontrar o corpo e é, por isso, um suspeito, decide investigar por conta própria os últimos dias de Ugo, na esperança de tentar ilibar o irmão.

Num estilo pausado e, por vezes, algo jornalístico, Ian Caldwell agarra na mão do leitor e leva-o pelo meandros da história religiosa e, mais concretamente, pelas semelhanças e diferenças entre as Igrejas Cristã e Ortodoxa, sem esquecer uma detalhada análise à história dos evangelhos e do Santo Sudário. A componente policial é pretexto para que o leitor fique com algumas noções sobre direito canónico, cuja existência desconhecia por completo e sobre o qual gostei de aprender. Ainda que a história bíblica e cristã não seja o meu maior pólo de interesse a nível histórico, achei estas componentes do livro muito interessantes e didáticas, contribuindo para o meu (pouco) conhecimento sobre estas matérias.

Gostei bastante do esforço do autor por equilibrar a componente histórico-policial do enredo com o desenvolvimento da vida pessoal de Alex, nomeadamente a sua relação com o filho menor e com a esposa que o abandonou há alguns anos e que, ainda assim, continua a estar constantemente presente. Sem dúvida que ajudou a tornar a personagem principal, que narra a história na primeira pessoa, mais tridimensional.

Penso que talvez seja um pouco exagerado definir este livro como um thriller puro, uma vez que os elementos que normalmente o definem – suspense e tensão – não serão aqui os mais preponderantes. Aliás, como já referi, o ritmo da narrativa por vezes está longe de ser frenético e não me pareceu que as voltas e reviravoltas que costumam marcar os thrillers fossem aqui trabalhadas com a maior perfeição.

O Quinto Evangelho é um romance que mistura elementos históricos, de policial e de thriller, que às vezes parece falhar um pouco em corresponder às expectativas que gera mas que, no balanço final é uma leitura agradável, didática e que poderá ser um bom companheiro nas longas tardes de verão atuais.

[GreekReaders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ο κος Caldwell χρειάστηκε 10 χρόνια (ναι, ναι, 10 ολόκληρα χρόνια) για να γράψει το 5ο Ευαγγέλιο, το οποίο το ξεκίνησε λίγο πριν την έκδοση του πρώτου του βιβλίου «Ο κανόνας των Τεσσάρων», μιας και οι εκδοτικοί οίκοι του προσέφεραν σχετικό συμβόλαιο.

Το όλο πόνημα χρήζει συγχαρητηρίων από πλευράς έρευνας, με το οποίο, αν και αγνωστικιστής ο συγγραφέας, σου δείχνει τι και πώς μπορεί να σκέφτεται και να αντιδρά ένας καθολικός ιερέας. Επίσης επιδεικνύει εκπληκτική γνώση τόσο της τοπογραφίας του Βατικανού, όσο και των διαδικασιών της Καθολικής Εκκλησίας.
Πρόκειται λοιπόν για ένα θρησκευτικό μυθιστόρημα το οποίο καταπιάνεται με πολλά θέματα θεολογίας, πίστης, αγάπης, καθήκοντος, κανόνων, ιεραρχίας, οικογενειακών σχέσεων και όλα αυτά περιστρέφονται γύρω από το «μυστήριο» της Ιεράς Σινδώνης και ενός 5ου Ευαγγελίου που ονομάζεται «Διατέσσερον» και είναι κάτι σαν ο «Μέσος Όρος» των όσων αναφέρονται στα 4 αποδεκτά από την πίστη μας Ευαγγέλια.
Η γραφή του είναι λιτή, κατανοητή, ο λόγος του τρέχει, οι Θεολογικές πληροφορίες είναι άψογα και κατανοητά δοσμένες ακόμα και για τους μη μυημένους, αλλά τι να τον κάνεις το λόγο όταν δεν σε συναρπάζει η ιστορία που αφηγείται?

Ας μη γελιόμαστε, το παν σε ένα ανάγνωσμα είναι η ιστορία και όχι η τέλεια αφήγηση. Μπορώ να σου αφηγηθώ περίτεχνα πώς σφουγγάρισα το σπίτι, θα σου κρατήσω την προσοχή απερίσπαστη όμως? Μπορώ να σου αφηγηθώ με κάθε λεπτομέρεια τη λύση μιας εξίσωσης, θα σε συναρπάσω όμως?
Είναι το λάθος που κάνουν πάρα πολλοί συγγραφείς Έλληνες και ξένοι, να δίνουν βαρύτητα στο λόγο, στις πομπώδεις λέξεις και εκφράσεις, στην ενδελεχή έρευνα, στην αλάνθαστη δομή, στην πληρέστατη περιγραφή χώρων και συναισθημάτων, αφηγούμενοι όμως μια αδύναμη ιστορία: μια ιστορία που δεν σε συναρπάζει, που δεν σε τραβάει, που δεν σε αναστατώνει.

Διαβάζεται το βιβλίο? Διαβάζεται.
Είναι καλογραμμένο? Είναι.
Έχει ανατροπές? Έχει.
Θα σας το πρότεινα? Υπό προϋποθέσεις.
Είναι ένα καλό βιβλίο. ΔΕΝ είναι ένα δυνατό βιβλίο. ΔΕΝ είναι ένα εξαιρετικό βιβλίο. Δεν έχει ΚΑΜΙΑ σχέση με τον Dan Brown, ούτε καν και με τα χειρότερά του, πόσο μάλλον με τον Κώδικα Ντα Βίντσι και τους Ιλουμινάτι.
Δεν μένει παρά να το διαβάσετε και να διαμορφώσετε κι εσείς τη δική σας άποψη!

J.

[LBS · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the face of it, I’m not the ideal reader for this book: I’m not Catholic, know almost nothing about the shroud of Turin, and have made only short visits to Rome. I never covered the Vatican as a reporter. And I didn’t read The Rule of Four, the best selling prequel.

Having said that, The Fifth Gospel hooked me immediately. The story has more intricate twists and turns than the secret byways at St Peter’s. The characters are smart, fascinating and all too human. The history is riveting, with enough of the truth to make you wonder what’s real and what’s not. And there’s even a little Greek to translate. Not to worry, it’s all there in English, also. But for those of us who like to puzzle out ancient texts from time to time, an added bonus.

And those secret Vatican passageways? They’ll lure you to Rome in a flash.

I guess I’d call this an intellectual thriller. But when you combine a married priest with a murder investigation, a deeply affecting child and the kind of detail that keeps researchers busy for years, I’d also call it a smashup good read. I won’t tell you how any things I neglected to do because I was immersed in this book. And I haven’t even mentioned brotherly love.

[Kathy Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ian Caldwell’s THE FIFTH GOSPEL is a fascinating, intelligent mystery about faith, love, and Catholic politics. The story revolves around a mysterious “fifth gospel” discovered by a museum curator, a gospel which just might prove the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin (which was proven a fake through carbon testing in 1988). When the curator is mysteriously murdered, suspicion falls on Catholic priest Father Simon Andreou, who had been working with the curator on a museum exhibit set to reveal the truth about the Shroud. But Simon’s brother, Greek Catholic Father Alex Andreou, is convinced that something more sinister is going on, something linked to the 11th century schism between the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. Did the curator discover something so earth-shaking that powers within the Church might want him dead?

THE FIFTH GOSPEL is narrated by Alex, and he is the heart of the story. Alex has followed in his father’s footsteps, aligning himself with a small group of Greek priests who have chosen to follow Vatican law and bow to the pope. At the same time, Alex and his fellow Greek Catholics practice their own traditions (all Greek Catholic priests, like Orthodox priests, wear beards, and they are permitted to marry and have children). Simon, on the other hand, has fully accepted Catholicism, letting go of his Greek heritage. But both Alex and Simon have strong memories of their father’s lengthy fight to bring the Orthodox and Catholic churches together, a fight that seemed futile after the Shroud of Turin was debunked. Now, with the newly discovered gospel, Alex and Simon wonder if their father’s dream might still be possible.

While this is definitely a mystery story, and perhaps even a thriller, it is far more cerebral than it is action-packed. Yes, there’s a murder, and yes, there are shady characters (many of whom wear cassocks!), but most of the intrigue is political in nature and most of the suspense is intellectual. I found the theological discussions in this novel fascinating, especially the details provided about the four accepted New Testament gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the inconsistencies revealed within them. Caldwell’s “fifth gospel” is supposedly an attempt by a man living decades after Jesus’s death to condense the words of the four gospels into one definitive account of the life of Jesus. The suggestion Father Alex makes is that John’s gospel is different from those of the other three in that their accounts are historical while John’s is theological (meaning metaphorical, symbolic, and not necessarily factually accurate). Could there be a revelation in this fifth gospel that would not only pave the way for a reconciliation between the Orthodox and Catholic churches, but could prove the authenticity of the Shroud?

Equally engaging is Alex’s own personal story, including the dissolution of his marriage (his wife disappeared shortly after the birth of their son) and his struggle to maintain his identity as a Greek while pursuing a career in the Roman Catholic church. Alex is a wonderful father to five-year-old Peter (their relationship is beautiful and uplifting), a loyal brother to Simon, and a true friend to many (including the curator whose murder sets the plot in motion). It’s Alex’s voice that gives this novel a rich authenticity – because I believed in him, I believed the story he tells.

On one level, THE FIFTH GOSPEL can be compared to Brown’s much more mainstream THE DA VINCI CODE – both deal with church politics, and both focus on a specific religious relic (for DA VINCI it was the Holy Grail, and here it’s the Shroud of Turin). But while Brown’s novel reads more like an “Indiana Jones” movie, Caldwell’s is literature. He’s intrigued by biblical scholarship, the nuances of language, and the moral grayness that lurks between truth and lies. If this sounds interesting to you, then read THE FIFTH GOSPEL – just don’t expect chase scenes and demonic villains! I was hooked from the first page, but I have to admit that I really like intellectual debate and political chicanery. This is a challenging read that requires a level of thought absent from most popular fiction. It’s a great story, told by a great character, one I’ll not soon forget. I highly recommend it.

[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In den Gärten von Castel Gandolfo wird ein toter Priester entdeckt. Er wurde erschossen. Bei der Leiche kniet Priester Simon, der bald darauf des Mordes verdächtigt wird. Sein Bruder Alex, ebenfalls Priester, kann das nicht glauben. Der ermordete Priester war Kurator einer Ausstellung, die die Kirchengeschichte verändern soll. Wollte jemand die Ausstellung verhindern? Alex beschließt, seinem Bruder zu helfen und den wahren Täter zu finden.

Mein Leseeindruck:

Laut Danksagung des Autors wurde an diesem Buch zehn Jahre lang gearbeitet. Das kann ich sehr gut nachvollziehen, denn die Geschichte rund um Alex und Simon ist sehr komplex und sehr durchdacht. Das Buch ist unglaublich informativ. Ich habe vieles über das Leben in Vatikanstadt gelesen, das mir vorher unbekannt war.

Mir hat die Handlung sehr gut gefallen. Das Buch ist spannend und auch lehrreich, und die Figuren wirken authentisch. Besonders gut hat mir gefallen, dass Alex nicht nur als Priester dargestellt wurde sondern auch als liebevoller Vater seines kleinen Sohnes.

Ich hatte viel Lesefreude mit diesem Buch und kann es allen empfehlen, die spannende und durchdachte Geschichten mögen und sich nicht vom kirchlichen Hintergrund abschrecken lassen.

[Dale White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a sucker for any book that involves some intrigue surrounding the gospels or the life of Jesus so it wasn't hard for me to pick up The Fifth Gospel by Ian Caldwell. What was hard was finishing it.

That doesn't mean it was a bad book. The plot was interesting enough as a museum curator is killed just before a public exhibit involving the Diatessaron (a 2nd century gospel that tried to harmonize the four gospels) and the Shroud of Turin. So learning about that gospel and the differences between the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke and that of John made the book worth reading. As well, I learned a little more about the Shroud, some of the history behind the split between the Roman Church and the Greek Orthodox, and even some of the politics of the Church.

But the plot, despite a murder, a brother trying to defend his accused older brother, a courtroom drama, and all sorts of events that involved the highest ranking Church officials including the Pope, just did not grip me. It should have but it didn't, and I really can't say why.

[Πάνος Τουρλής · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ας ξεκινήσω με το σύντομο ιστορικό σημείωμα του βιβλίου εν περιλήψει: ο Άγιος Πέτρος και ο Άγιος Ανδρέας ξεκίνησαν από τους Αγίους Τόπους για να διαδώσουν το Ευαγγέλιο. Ο Άγιος Πέτρος έφτασε στη Ρώμη και ίδρυσε τη δυτική χριστιανοσύνη ενώ ο Άγιος Ανδρέας έφτασε στην Ελλάδα και ίδρυσε την ανατολική χριστιανοσύνη. Για αιώνες η Εκκλησία που δημιούργησαν παρέμεινε ενιαίος θεσμός όμως χίλια χρόνια αργότερα οι χριστιανοί της Δύσης έγιναν καθολικοί με επικεφαλής τον διάδοχο του Αγίου Πέτρου, τον Πάπα και οι χριστιανοί της Ανατολής έγιναν ορθόδοξοι, με επικεφαλής τους διαδόχους του Αγίου Ανδρέα, τους Πατριάρχες. Ανάμεσά τους υπάρχει μια μικρή ομάδα, οι ανατολικοί καθολικοί, που γεφυρώνει τις διαφορές ακολουθώντας τις ανατολικές παραδόσεις, υπακούοντας όμως στον Πάπα.
Η ιστορία ξεκινάει με τον Αλέξανδρο Ανδρέου, γιο ενός ελληνοκαθολικού ιερέα, που ανακαλύπτει στο Καστέλ Γκαντόλφο του Βατικανού το πτώμα του διδάκτορα Ουγκολίνο Νογκάρα, ενός επιστήμονα που ετοίμαζε μια σημαντική έκθεση με ένα πολύτιμο κειμήλιο-έκπληξη! Το κακό είναι πως πάνω από το πτώμα του Νογκάρα είναι ένας πανικοβλημένος Σάιμον Ανδρέου, αδελφός του Αλέξανδρου. Κι έτσι ξεκινάει μια ιστορία που θα βάλει σε κίνδυνο την πιθανή επανένωση των δύο εκκλησιών και θα αμφισβητήσει την αυθεντικότητα της Ιεράς Σινδόνης, με την οποία τύλιξαν το σώμα του Ιησού πριν το βάλουν στον τάφο Του.
Ειλικρινά προσπάθησα να το αγαπήσω αυτό το κείμενο. Ο συγγραφέας είχε μια πολύ ωραία κεντρική ιδέα, την οποία πλαισίωσε με όσες μπόρεσε να βρει περισσότερες πηγές. Η Ιερά Σινδόνη, που φυλάσσεται στο Τορίνο και θεωρείται επίσημα από τη Ρωμαιοκαθολική Εκκλησία ως μη αυθεντική, ίσως είναι τελικά αυθεντική και ο διδάκτωρ έχει τον τρόπο να το αποδείξει. Δεν είναι μόνο αυτό το θέμα του βιβλίου. Η Σινδόνη μεταφέρθηκε στην Κωνσταντινούπολη και φυλάχτηκε προσεκτικά ως το 1204 που επιτέθηκαν οι Σταυροφόροι στη Βασιλεύουσα και την έκλεψαν. Άρα θα θυμώσουν οι ανατολικοί που τους έκλεψαν το κειμήλιο οι Δυτικοί. Δεν είναι μόνο αυτό το θέμα του βιβλίου. Είναι και κάτι άλλο, κάτι μεγαλύτερο, που αν αποκαλυφθεί θα επιφέρει σοβαρή ρήξη στις σχέσεις μεταξύ των δύο Εκκλησιών. Και μέσα σε όλα αυτά υπάρχει και το Διατεσσάρων, ένα ευαγγέλιο που έγραψε ο Τατιανός ο Σύριος (γενν. περίπου το 120 μ. Χ.) και στο οποίο τοποθετούνται όλα τα γεγονότα και όλες οι απόψεις των τεσσάρων γνωστών Ευαγγελίων σε ένα ενιαίο κείμενο. Το οποίο φυσικά και δεν είναι επιστημονικά τεκμηριωμένο, οπότε ίσως σκόπιμα, ίσως κατά λάθος, ο Τατιανός απέκρυπτε ή παραμόρφωνε χωρία ώστε να υπάρχει μια συνολική εικόνα κατά το δοκούν!
Πάρα πολλές εκκρεμότητες που κάποια στιγμή κουμπώνουν, πάρα πολλά και διαφορετικά θεολογικά και ιερατικά στοιχεία, δύο αδέρφια που προσπαθούν να τα βγάλουν πέρα σε αυτήν τη συνωμοσία στην οποία ενεπλάκησαν, αναλυτικές περιγραφές της δίκης-σκευωρία που στήθηκε εις βάρος του Σάιμον, ο οποίος κατηγορήθηκε τελικά για τον φόνο του διδάκτορα, οπότε αγωνίζεται να αποκαλύψει την αλήθεια, πάμπολλες σκέψεις και περιγραφές τόπου, χώρου και στιγμών που παρεμβαίνουν στην αφήγηση, μειώνοντας την ένταση και τη δράση, επεξηγηματικές πληροφορίες για την ιεραρχία και τον τρόπο οργάνωσης και λειτουργίας του Βατικανού, συγκέντρωση Πατραρχών, αρχιερέων και απλών κληρικών στα εγκαίνια της έκθεσης, με μια ασυνήθιστη έκπληξη και γι’ αυτούς και για τον αναγνώστη, κάποια στιγμή ζαλίστηκα και κουράστηκα. Το έφτασα μέρι το τέλος, δε λέω, όμως είχα χάσει το ενδιαφέρον μου. Μάλιστα, ξαφνιάστηκα όταν στις Ευχαριστίες του συγγραφέα αποκαλύπτεται ότι χρειάστηκε δέκα χρόνια για να γράψει αυτό το κείμενο! Ίσως γι’ αυτό μου φάνηκε τόσο στριφνό, πολύπλοκο και μπερδεμένο, γιατί έχωσε πολλά πράγματα και πολλές λεπτομέρειες χωρίς να ξεκαθαρίσει τι θέλει να πει, πού να δώσει έμφαση και πώς να παρασύρει τον αναγνώστη στην πλοκή. Τέτοιες πολυεπίπεδες ιστορίες έχω συναντήσει μόνο στον Πέρεζ-Ρεβέρτε μέχρι στιγμής, τουλάχιστον όμως σε αυτόν ό,τι με κρατήσει από τα όσα αναλύει και περιγράφει, με κρατάει ως το τέλος.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent

I absolutely loved this book. It had an incredible plot line that kept me reading all night.

The characters were crisp and interesting. The research was in depth. As a reviewer with a MA in Theology, I give Caldwell credit for masterful work.

So far, this is my book of the year!

[Φίλιππος ²³ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5*

Καλογραμμένο βιβλίο, με πάρα πολλές πληροφορίες για θρησκευτικά θέματα και εξαιρετική αφήγηση!
Μη μπερδευτείτε όμως και περιμένετε να διαβάσετε κάτι με καταιγιστική δράση όπως τα αντίστοιχα βιβλία του Νταν Μπράουν... Όχι, εδώ η δράση απουσιάζει σχεδόν ολοκληρωτικά!

Αν σας αρέσουν τα βιβλία με θρησκευτικό περιεχόμενο, διαβάστε το! Αν ψάχνετε την δράση άλλων βιβλίων του είδους, προσπεράστε το!

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of The Fifth Gospel by Ian Caldwell through Goodreads First Read.

I am a sucker for conspiracy theories. Add religion to the mix, and I am smitten! Give it enough verifiable proof and I am in love! I have among my collection The Rule of Four and was over the moon for the chance to read this book and add it to my library.

Before reading this book, I did a little research on The Shroud of Turin and The Diatessaron. I remember when the carbon dating came out saying that the cloth could not be old enough to be the burial shroud of Jesus, I was a teenager and wanted to believe. I had never heard of the Diatessaron (the fifth gospel), so all of that was new for me. After the whole "Divinci Code" era, I had become obsessed with The Council of Nicea and what we today consider the complete Bible. Don't get me started on the whole Codex issue.... this could go on and on. So, in researching the Diatessaron and the scholars stance on the work, I could see where it would make GREAT fuel for fiction writing.

With this Genre of books, you have to go into it accepting that you are getting a made-up story based loosely on facts. I think people get bent out of shape when they take a story such as this and try to make it real, as if it were history. The fascination with these stories is the grains of truth they portray. How do you make history tell a fictitious story and make it believable?

The story is centered around 2 brothers: Alex and Simon, both priests, one is Orthodox, the other Roman Catholic. During the final days of Pope John Paul II's papacy, an exhibition is being planned by Dr.Ugolino Nogara around certain religious relics. It is the hope of many within the Vatican that this will bring a measure of peace between the Roman Catholics and the Orthodox Church. From the beginning, we know that Dr Ugolino was murdered. The classic plot with this story and others like it is not so much how and who, but it is more focused on why.

In 2005 we know that the carbon dating on the shroud could not be deemed accurate. This is a fact admitted by one of the scientist involved with the initial carbon dating data. For many, it gives the hope that the image is real, that we do have a recorded face to give to Jesus. What is interesting to note, (and you can check your bibles on this one) The accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John don't add up when it speaks of the burial of Christ. That is where the Diatessaron comes in. It is a first century account of the 4 gospels contained in one book. So, now we get to the thick of the plot- which one is the fake and who will kill for/because this knowledge?

I think the book was cleverly written with engaging characters and thought provoking dialog. There is a great sadness paramount in this book. One brother has an insatiable need to save the world, regardless of the cost to himself. The other brother must deal with the struggle to cope with a life of tragedy and pitfalls, while accepting that his career is firmly on a horizontal path. When you expose truth to the world, do you disregard the lives that the truth shatters as collateral damage? OR, do you take a different route, and bury the truth? Just let it evolve into a question for others to answer for themselves, thereby shielding others from the hurt it could cause?

As humans, we all know it is easier to forgive others more so than it is to forgive ourselves. The brothers know that there are ramifications for their actions in the role they played in Dr. Nogara death. It will affect their personal and professional lives as well as their faith. Not only will it alter how they view each other, it will change how they view themselves.

The story is ultimately about forgiveness. I cried through the ending, for what was lost, and what was gained. I was invested in the lives of Simon and Alex.... that is a credit to the author's magic. You can get lost walking through Vatican City while reading this book, even envision the dormitories and buildings of the story. (pssst: You don't even need to be Catholic to understand it!) If you love Dan Brown and Charles Brokaw, you will love Ian Caldwell all the more for the intimacy of his characters.

FIVE STARS GLADLY!

Happy Reading.

[Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fifth Gospel by Ian Caldwell is one of those books that I wanted to like more than I did. The story. The mystery. The attention to detail. Caldwell does a masterful job of telling his tale, only he does it at times at a snail's pace.

"...A long time ago, ' I say. 'our church used to have a fifth gospel. The Diatessaron. Its title is Greek for 'made of four', because that's how it was written. The author wove together the four gospels into one story. And because of that, the Diatessaron has one great weakness. Do you know what it is?'
I can feel Ugo beside me now. We are staring at the pages of the ancient manuscript.
'Its weakness,' I say, 'is that the four gospels don't always agree..."

On the night that Father Alex Andreou's home, in the Vatican, is broken into; the curator for a mysterious exhibit at the Vatican Museum is killed. When the Papal police are unable to get anywhere with the break in, Father Andreou realizes he must act to protect him home and his young son. Worse is the murdered curator, his friend Ugo, is suspected to have been killed by Father Andreou's own brother Simon.

A dying Pope, a lost gospel, a controversial Church relic and the murder of the museum curator all converge on Father Andreou. He is thrust upon a journey within the walls of the Vatican and the history of the Church to unravel the secrets of the lost gospel and the mysterious Shroud of Turin. Secrets that led to murder.

The Fifth Gospel is a labor of love. It is obvious that Caldwell is passionate about the subject matter and it shows in his writing. From the intricacies of Vatican politics to little known and forgotten times in the history of the church; Caldwell writes about them with detailed research and the sense of an author believing deeply in his subject matter. As flawed and regrettable as some of it is.

Father Andreou is an interesting and arresting character. An outsider in the Church he loves. A scholar in a system that requires so much faith. A priest allowed to marry and have a family. His failed marriage and private life a powerful contrast to his duty and position as a priest. Andreou is torn between fighting for his faith and fighting for his family as so much of what he once believed in is called into question.

The mystery behind the lost gospel and the connection it has to the Shroud of Turin is the weakest spot in this story. The reader does not find out until the end what the true mystery is. How it would affect the church and why it was worth killing for.

Calwell does not resort to the ploy of making the church the great evil in this book. While he does bring about what has been wrong in the acts of the church, it is not some diabolical secret society hell bent on destroying everyone's lives to further its own goals. A ploy that so many writer's are using today and as a reader and reviewer, has become cheap and insulting.

The Lost Gospel is a very good book with the flaw of moving too slowly at times in its telling. Caldwell fills the book with such detail and thought, that is seems to be a drawn out special on the History Channel. If you are interested in church history and ideology, then you will absolutely love it. If not, it can become tedious in spots.

But in that he has come up with a remedy of creating characters who are limited in how they can act and what they can do by their setting, yet still hold you breathless and intrigued.

Overall a good read.