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Cal Donovan #3
The Debt
Ritorna l’autore dei bestseller
La Biblioteca dei Morti e Il segno della croce:
3 milioni di copie in Italia
Nell’Archivio Segreto Vaticano, sepolto dalla povere del tempo,
è custodito un documento sconcertante.
Per il papa è la pietra su cui costruire una nuova Chiesa,
per altri una scoperta da celare agli occhi del mondo.
Per sempre.
In Vaticano è in corso una guerra silenziosa.
E nessuno è al sicuro…
Forse non è il paradiso, ma per Cal Donovan, docente di Storia della religione, è come se lo fosse. Per ringraziarlo del suo ruolo cruciale nel caso del sacerdote con le stigmate, papa Celestino VI ha infatti concesso a Cal un privilegio straordinario: l’accesso illimitato alla Biblioteca Vaticana e all’Archivio Segreto Vaticano; chilometri di scaffali su cui sono conservati centinaia di migliaia tra manoscritti, documenti antichi e reperti inestimabili. E Cal ne approfitta subito per le sue ricerche su un oscuro cardinale italiano vissuto a metà dell’Ottocento, durante i moti rivoluzionari che avevano sconvolto lo Stato Pontificio. Ed è così che s’imbatte in una lettera privata del segretario di Stato dell’epoca, in cui si fa riferimento a un banchiere e alla necessità di trasferirlo in gran segreto fuori Roma. Nel corso degli anni, Cal ha imparato a fidarsi del proprio istinto e quella strana vicenda lo attira come una calamita. Non può tuttavia immaginare che, dalle pagine ingiallite, emergerà un fatto sconcertante: un ingente debito – mai restituito – contratto in segreto dalla Chiesa con una banca gestita da una famiglia ebrea. Né può prevedere la sorprendente richiesta di Celestino: trovare le prove che quel debito è ancora valido. Ma quali sono le reali intenzioni del papa? Cal non è l’unico a porsi quella domanda. Per alcuni membri della Curia è in gioco la sopravvivenza stessa della Chiesa, e sono pronti a usare qualsiasi mezzo pur di fermare le ricerche di Cal e ostacolare i progetti del papa…
La trilogia della Biblioteca dei Morti
La Biblioteca dei Morti
Il Libro delle Anime
I Custodi della Biblioteca
La trilogia di Dannati
Dannati
La Porta delle Tenebre
L’invasione delle Tenebre
Le avventure di Cal Donovan
Il segno della croce
Il debito
Gli altri romanzi
La mappa del destino
Il marchio del diavolo
L’ultimo giorno
Il calice della vita
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2017
340 people are currently reading
434 people want to read
About the author
Glenn Cooper
38 books1,446 followersGlenn Cooper is an internationally bestselling thriller writer.
Glenn was born in New York City and grew up in nearby White Plains. He attended White Plains High School before enrolling at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he graduated from Harvard with an honors degree in archaeology. He then attended Tufts University School of Medicine and did his post-doctoral training at the New England Deaconess and the Massachusetts General Hospitals becoming a board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. After practicing medicine, Glenn began a research career in the pharmaceutical industry which culminated in an eighteen-year position as the Chairman and CEO of a biotechnology company in Massachusetts. Glenn began writing screenplays over twenty years ago and his interest in movies prompted him to attend the graduate program in film production at Boston University. He is currently the chairman of a media company, Lascaux Media, which has produced three independent feature-length films. In 2006 Glenn turned his hand to novel-writing. His debut novel, THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD, the first in a trilogy, became an international bestseller and was translated into thirty languages. All of his seven published books have become top-ten international best-sellers.
Glenn currently lives in New Hampshire.
Glenn was born in New York City and grew up in nearby White Plains. He attended White Plains High School before enrolling at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he graduated from Harvard with an honors degree in archaeology. He then attended Tufts University School of Medicine and did his post-doctoral training at the New England Deaconess and the Massachusetts General Hospitals becoming a board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. After practicing medicine, Glenn began a research career in the pharmaceutical industry which culminated in an eighteen-year position as the Chairman and CEO of a biotechnology company in Massachusetts. Glenn began writing screenplays over twenty years ago and his interest in movies prompted him to attend the graduate program in film production at Boston University. He is currently the chairman of a media company, Lascaux Media, which has produced three independent feature-length films. In 2006 Glenn turned his hand to novel-writing. His debut novel, THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD, the first in a trilogy, became an international bestseller and was translated into thirty languages. All of his seven published books have become top-ten international best-sellers.
Glenn currently lives in New Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
February 17, 2019
**3.5 stars **
Whilst browsing the Vatican libraries, Harvard professor Cal Donovan comes across evidence to suggest that Pope Pius VIII received a loan of £300,000 some 200 years ago, from a Jewish Bank owned by the Sassoon family. With the accrued interest on the loan, it now amounts to an astronomical 25 billion euros!
The whole future of the Vatican, and the Catholic Church as we know it is in doubt if the Sassoons insist on full payment. There’s also concern about the inevitable backlash against those of the Jewish faith, for bringing about the downfall of the Vatican. It’s against this backdrop that Cal finds himself at the centre of the maelstrom involving the wealthy and powerful Sassoon family and the Vatican. The Sassoons include certain members who have their own agenda, and they’re not averse to using whatever methods they see fit, regardless of the legality of their actions. This is also true of certain Cardinals serving Pope Celestine.
Pope Celestine asks Cal to act as mediator, but this will be no easy task as there are spies afoot and rebels plotting and scheming on both sides, and it doesn’t just put Cal’s life in danger, but many others too, including Pope Celestine’s!
Cal doesn’t fit the archetypal image of a Harvard professor, he’s a hard drinking womaniser who’s pretty handy with his fists! Pope Celestine on the other hand is a warm, caring, loveable character, so you’d think these two would have nothing in common, but actually they get on famously. But with greed and corruption both within the Vatican and the Sassoon family, there are dangerous times ahead for both our protagonists, where human life means little when pitted against wealth and power!
Although I found it difficult to get into initially, the storyline picked up considerably, and there were some tense moments towards the end. The narrative flits effortlessly between the mid 1800’s and the present, eventually revealing why this debt was never repaid, and what happened to the Sassoon family 200 years ago, and that in itself makes for a chilling read!
*Thank you to Severn House Publishers for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Whilst browsing the Vatican libraries, Harvard professor Cal Donovan comes across evidence to suggest that Pope Pius VIII received a loan of £300,000 some 200 years ago, from a Jewish Bank owned by the Sassoon family. With the accrued interest on the loan, it now amounts to an astronomical 25 billion euros!
The whole future of the Vatican, and the Catholic Church as we know it is in doubt if the Sassoons insist on full payment. There’s also concern about the inevitable backlash against those of the Jewish faith, for bringing about the downfall of the Vatican. It’s against this backdrop that Cal finds himself at the centre of the maelstrom involving the wealthy and powerful Sassoon family and the Vatican. The Sassoons include certain members who have their own agenda, and they’re not averse to using whatever methods they see fit, regardless of the legality of their actions. This is also true of certain Cardinals serving Pope Celestine.
Pope Celestine asks Cal to act as mediator, but this will be no easy task as there are spies afoot and rebels plotting and scheming on both sides, and it doesn’t just put Cal’s life in danger, but many others too, including Pope Celestine’s!
Cal doesn’t fit the archetypal image of a Harvard professor, he’s a hard drinking womaniser who’s pretty handy with his fists! Pope Celestine on the other hand is a warm, caring, loveable character, so you’d think these two would have nothing in common, but actually they get on famously. But with greed and corruption both within the Vatican and the Sassoon family, there are dangerous times ahead for both our protagonists, where human life means little when pitted against wealth and power!
Although I found it difficult to get into initially, the storyline picked up considerably, and there were some tense moments towards the end. The narrative flits effortlessly between the mid 1800’s and the present, eventually revealing why this debt was never repaid, and what happened to the Sassoon family 200 years ago, and that in itself makes for a chilling read!
*Thank you to Severn House Publishers for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
May 6, 2019
An interesting thriller that sees Professor Cal Donovan find a paper in the Vatican Archives that point to an old debt owed by the Vatican to the Sassoon Bank. Cal then goes on a search to find the original document for the current Pope, Celestine, which proves to be a hazardous occupation. Time and compound interest hasn't been kind to the Vatican and it now owes an astronomical sum to the bank. As Cal and Pope Celestine start negotiations with the bank, it comes to light that not all in the Vatican want the debt repaid...
I did enjoy this book, the main problem I had with it was it tended to get bogged down a bit in the middle. It had an excellent start and a satisfying end, but the in-between was, frankly, quite slow. However, it was all in all a rewarding read.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I did enjoy this book, the main problem I had with it was it tended to get bogged down a bit in the middle. It had an excellent start and a satisfying end, but the in-between was, frankly, quite slow. However, it was all in all a rewarding read.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2022
“IL DEBITO” è il secondo volume che Glenn Cooper scrive per la saga dedicata al protagonista Calvin Donovan, professore di Teologia ad Harvard, sempre impegnato in ricerche volte a fornire la documentazione di base per produrre articoli e saggi.
Grazie ad una sua pregressa collaborazione con il Vaticano, ottiene dal Pontefice la possibilità di avere un accesso illimitato sia alla Biblioteca Vaticana che all’Archivio Segreto Vaticano, dove Cal ha il privilegio di consultare veri e propri tesori tra manoscritti, antichi documenti e reperti di inestimabile valore.
In realtà, nel corso della vicenda, si vedrà che sarà necessario attribuire un valore a tutti i beni materiali della Chiesa (comprese tutte le opere preservate nei Musei Vaticani) poiché l’insigne professore, nel corso dei suoi approfondimenti su un cardinale che si era opposto ai moti risorgimentali in Italia, scopre l’esistenza di un debito non saldato nei confronti di una banca privata, posseduta da una famiglia ebrea, e che ammonta a circa 25 miliardi di dollari.
La decisione di Papa Celestino di restituire tale cifra sotto forma di una donazione ad una fondazione umanitaria, da costituire assieme ai suddetti banchieri, per combattere la povertà nel mondo, dà il via ad una serie di eventi frutto di giochi di potere (politica) e corruzione all’interno del clero stesso.
Il romanzo è piuttosto piacevole, lo stile scorrevole e coinvolgente, anche se è inevitabile non tracciare un parallelismo con Dan Brown per quanto riguarda le tematiche affrontate.
Certo è che da queste pagine si evince una sostanziale critica al “potere temporale” della Chiesa e, pertanto, alla mancata coerenza di tale istituzione con i principi basilari del cattolicesimo. Ne emerge però anche il suggerimento (nemmeno troppo velato ma a mio parere utopico) di imboccare una strada diversa, o meglio, di ritrovare la strada dell’umiltà e della carità insegnata da Gesù: «La missione della Chiesa non è accumulare ricchezze ma aiutare (…) coloro che non possono aiutare se stessi».
Grazie ad una sua pregressa collaborazione con il Vaticano, ottiene dal Pontefice la possibilità di avere un accesso illimitato sia alla Biblioteca Vaticana che all’Archivio Segreto Vaticano, dove Cal ha il privilegio di consultare veri e propri tesori tra manoscritti, antichi documenti e reperti di inestimabile valore.
In realtà, nel corso della vicenda, si vedrà che sarà necessario attribuire un valore a tutti i beni materiali della Chiesa (comprese tutte le opere preservate nei Musei Vaticani) poiché l’insigne professore, nel corso dei suoi approfondimenti su un cardinale che si era opposto ai moti risorgimentali in Italia, scopre l’esistenza di un debito non saldato nei confronti di una banca privata, posseduta da una famiglia ebrea, e che ammonta a circa 25 miliardi di dollari.
La decisione di Papa Celestino di restituire tale cifra sotto forma di una donazione ad una fondazione umanitaria, da costituire assieme ai suddetti banchieri, per combattere la povertà nel mondo, dà il via ad una serie di eventi frutto di giochi di potere (politica) e corruzione all’interno del clero stesso.
Il romanzo è piuttosto piacevole, lo stile scorrevole e coinvolgente, anche se è inevitabile non tracciare un parallelismo con Dan Brown per quanto riguarda le tematiche affrontate.
Certo è che da queste pagine si evince una sostanziale critica al “potere temporale” della Chiesa e, pertanto, alla mancata coerenza di tale istituzione con i principi basilari del cattolicesimo. Ne emerge però anche il suggerimento (nemmeno troppo velato ma a mio parere utopico) di imboccare una strada diversa, o meglio, di ritrovare la strada dell’umiltà e della carità insegnata da Gesù: «La missione della Chiesa non è accumulare ricchezze ma aiutare (…) coloro che non possono aiutare se stessi».
March 1, 2024
"Ciò che affligge un bambino di una data fede in una data area del mondo affligge tutti, ovunque. Inchinarsi con amorevole compassione al povero e al bisognoso è parte integrante dello spirito più autentico della fede cattolica".
Anche se il protagonista de "Il debito" è ancora una volta Cal Donovan, che già abbiamo incontrato ne "Il segno della croce", a farla da padrona in tutto il libro è la Chiesa… sia quella degli "ultimi" e dei veri insegnamenti del Vangelo (qui rappresentati da papa Celestino VI, "disegnato" sulla figura di papa Francesco), e sia quella dell'inganno, del tradimento e dell'avarizia (impersonata da alcuni esponenti corrotti della curia romana).
Il libro non è niente male (la trama molto avvincente ed il suo sviluppo sono ben studiati), ma paga lo scotto di un ritmo molto ma molto lento… praticamente succede tutto, anzi di tutto e di più, solo nelle ultimissime pagine. Il tema trattato (la ricchezza del Vaticano) si presta benissimo al solito ed antico interrogativo: è giusto che la Chiesa possieda soldi in abbondanza ed opere d'arte dal valore inestimabile (si pensi, tanto per fare un esempio, alla "Pietà" di Michelangelo Buonarroti) mentre, in tutto il mondo, c'è gente che muore di fame? E soprattutto, non sarebbe più opportuno che la Chiesa impiegasse la sua ricchezza (anche, è perché no?, vendendo il suo patrimonio artistico ed immobiliare) per debellare/alleviare la sofferenza degli "ultimi"?
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
Anche se il protagonista de "Il debito" è ancora una volta Cal Donovan, che già abbiamo incontrato ne "Il segno della croce", a farla da padrona in tutto il libro è la Chiesa… sia quella degli "ultimi" e dei veri insegnamenti del Vangelo (qui rappresentati da papa Celestino VI, "disegnato" sulla figura di papa Francesco), e sia quella dell'inganno, del tradimento e dell'avarizia (impersonata da alcuni esponenti corrotti della curia romana).
Il libro non è niente male (la trama molto avvincente ed il suo sviluppo sono ben studiati), ma paga lo scotto di un ritmo molto ma molto lento… praticamente succede tutto, anzi di tutto e di più, solo nelle ultimissime pagine. Il tema trattato (la ricchezza del Vaticano) si presta benissimo al solito ed antico interrogativo: è giusto che la Chiesa possieda soldi in abbondanza ed opere d'arte dal valore inestimabile (si pensi, tanto per fare un esempio, alla "Pietà" di Michelangelo Buonarroti) mentre, in tutto il mondo, c'è gente che muore di fame? E soprattutto, non sarebbe più opportuno che la Chiesa impiegasse la sua ricchezza (anche, è perché no?, vendendo il suo patrimonio artistico ed immobiliare) per debellare/alleviare la sofferenza degli "ultimi"?
[https://lastanzadiantonio.blogspot.co...]
September 30, 2019
A very interesting thriller written by Glenn Cooper, one of my favourite authors, I love reading his thrillers and even this one, (even if it's not my favourite) was a page turner. This is the second book (in Italy it is the second) of a series where we find Harvard's professor Cal Donovan again. I highly recommend this Cal Donovan novel to those who love religious thrillers with plenty of action and adventure, as for me I will surely read the last book of the series.
I liked this book, even if in the middle it was too slow for my tastes, but the end is what I expected and so I highly recommend it to all those who like reading historical thrillers.
I liked this book, even if in the middle it was too slow for my tastes, but the end is what I expected and so I highly recommend it to all those who like reading historical thrillers.
July 29, 2025
A ridiculous plot but that's just what Cooper does. Nevertheless, a very exciting and entertaining read.
June 12, 2022
Recensione originale: https://sonnenbarke.wordpress.com/202...
Non avevo mai letto niente di Glenn Cooper e ho scoperto questo libro grazie al mio gruppo su Goodreads, con il quale in questo bimestre stiamo leggendo dei libri sulla Città del Vaticano. La scrittura di questo autore mi è piaciuta molto e penso che senz’altro approfondirò la sua conoscenza. Ottima anche la traduzione di Barbara Ronca, davvero impeccabile.
In Italia questo libro è stato pubblicato come il secondo della serie di Cal Donovan, ma seguendo l’ordine di pubblicazione originale è in realtà il terzo e ultimo.
A Cal Donovan è stato concesso l’accesso illimitato alla sterminata biblioteca degli Archivi del Vaticano e il professore di Harvard ne approfitta per fare le proprie ricerche su un cardinale vissuto nell’Ottocento. Nel corso delle sue ricerche, però, si imbatte in un documento che porta alla luce un debito contratto dall’allora Stato Pontificio con la banca ebrea dei Sassoon nel 1848. Un prestito ottenuto con la violenza e il ricatto, che il Vaticano non ha mai ripagato. Papa Celestino VI, che con la sua lotta alla corruzione e la sua attenzione per i poveri ricorda Papa Francesco, si interessa a quel debito e chiede a Cal di indagare più a fondo. Ma non tutti nella Curia vogliono che il professore si intrometta in un vecchio affare della Chiesa e vorrebbero che Celestino mettesse da parte il suo interesse per la questione…
Il romanzo mette in evidenza la corruzione e l’attaccamento allo status quo di molti alti prelati del Vaticano, contrapposti alla bontà di Papa Celestino che vorrebbe riportare la Chiesa allo spirito originario del Vangelo, che esorta ad aiutare i poveri.
L’ho trovato interessante e ben scritto, un po’ alla Dan Brown a quello che ne so di quell’autore (che in realtà non ho mai letto). Quindi un po’ inverosimile, forse, ma sicuramente intrigante e che si fa leggere d’un fiato.
Non avevo mai letto niente di Glenn Cooper e ho scoperto questo libro grazie al mio gruppo su Goodreads, con il quale in questo bimestre stiamo leggendo dei libri sulla Città del Vaticano. La scrittura di questo autore mi è piaciuta molto e penso che senz’altro approfondirò la sua conoscenza. Ottima anche la traduzione di Barbara Ronca, davvero impeccabile.
In Italia questo libro è stato pubblicato come il secondo della serie di Cal Donovan, ma seguendo l’ordine di pubblicazione originale è in realtà il terzo e ultimo.
A Cal Donovan è stato concesso l’accesso illimitato alla sterminata biblioteca degli Archivi del Vaticano e il professore di Harvard ne approfitta per fare le proprie ricerche su un cardinale vissuto nell’Ottocento. Nel corso delle sue ricerche, però, si imbatte in un documento che porta alla luce un debito contratto dall’allora Stato Pontificio con la banca ebrea dei Sassoon nel 1848. Un prestito ottenuto con la violenza e il ricatto, che il Vaticano non ha mai ripagato. Papa Celestino VI, che con la sua lotta alla corruzione e la sua attenzione per i poveri ricorda Papa Francesco, si interessa a quel debito e chiede a Cal di indagare più a fondo. Ma non tutti nella Curia vogliono che il professore si intrometta in un vecchio affare della Chiesa e vorrebbero che Celestino mettesse da parte il suo interesse per la questione…
Il romanzo mette in evidenza la corruzione e l’attaccamento allo status quo di molti alti prelati del Vaticano, contrapposti alla bontà di Papa Celestino che vorrebbe riportare la Chiesa allo spirito originario del Vangelo, che esorta ad aiutare i poveri.
L’ho trovato interessante e ben scritto, un po’ alla Dan Brown a quello che ne so di quell’autore (che in realtà non ho mai letto). Quindi un po’ inverosimile, forse, ma sicuramente intrigante e che si fa leggere d’un fiato.
January 18, 2019
5 stars
In about 1848, the Vatican borrowed the considerable sum of 300,000 pounds sterling from a Jewish family named Sassoon. This was following the loan from another Jewish family named the Rothschilds. It was to be a completely secret loan; the loan papers were destroyed. Was it ever paid back? This forms the premise for Glenn Cooper's new novel The Debt.
While researching one subject in the Vatican archives, Professor Cal Donovan comes across a copy of the original loan papers that the Vatican had not destroyed. When presented to Pope Celestine, the Pope becomes quite worried. The Vatican finances are in a mess and this possible outstanding loan presents a great conundrum.
Cal is asked by the Pope to continue his research into the loan and while the Pope tells his closest advisors, he swears them to secrecy. But the secret gets out. Cal must now speak to the Sassoon family to whom the debt is owed. But the Sassoon family is entrenched in their own problems and their relationships are very messy.
This is a very well written novel as are all of Glenn Cooper's books. The writing is smooth and invites the reader to keep turning the pages as the story goes along. The transitions are very well done and almost flawless. I very much like Cal and Pope Celestine is a rare treat with his ferocious support of the poor and lesser fortunate in the world. I really like this book, but felt it was not quite as good as some of his others. No worries! It is still a very good read. I am very much looking forward to the next in this series.
I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House/Severn House Publishers for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.
In about 1848, the Vatican borrowed the considerable sum of 300,000 pounds sterling from a Jewish family named Sassoon. This was following the loan from another Jewish family named the Rothschilds. It was to be a completely secret loan; the loan papers were destroyed. Was it ever paid back? This forms the premise for Glenn Cooper's new novel The Debt.
While researching one subject in the Vatican archives, Professor Cal Donovan comes across a copy of the original loan papers that the Vatican had not destroyed. When presented to Pope Celestine, the Pope becomes quite worried. The Vatican finances are in a mess and this possible outstanding loan presents a great conundrum.
Cal is asked by the Pope to continue his research into the loan and while the Pope tells his closest advisors, he swears them to secrecy. But the secret gets out. Cal must now speak to the Sassoon family to whom the debt is owed. But the Sassoon family is entrenched in their own problems and their relationships are very messy.
This is a very well written novel as are all of Glenn Cooper's books. The writing is smooth and invites the reader to keep turning the pages as the story goes along. The transitions are very well done and almost flawless. I very much like Cal and Pope Celestine is a rare treat with his ferocious support of the poor and lesser fortunate in the world. I really like this book, but felt it was not quite as good as some of his others. No worries! It is still a very good read. I am very much looking forward to the next in this series.
I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House/Severn House Publishers for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.
February 21, 2026
Cal Donovan #3
Cal is back at the Vatican Library researching is next paper when he comes across an interesting letter. In 1848 when the Papal States were under attack by revolutionaries, the Vatican borrowed a very large sum of money from the Jewish Sassoon Bank.
Curious, Cal continued his research. Not finding any evidence that the loan was ever paid back, he contacted Pope Celestine VI who then asked him to discreetly research further this loan ……that is when trouble started…..
An unexpected discovery rocks the foundations of the Catholic Church. Have fun reading what comes next.
My thoughts:
The first part is laborious I even thought abandoning this story, nevertheless I stuck with it knowing well Mr. Cooper will move on and gives us an exciting journey into the annals of the Vatican. Its starts with an introduction of a large group of Cardinals and their responsibilities then ¼ in the conspiracy begins.
With intermittent flashbacks the story of the ancient loan is revealed …then we are deep into the conspiracy giving us plenty of suspense, globe trotting, blackmail, sabotage to content with.
Although I was captivated by this religious tale, nevertheless its concept failed to be plausible and the drama lacks in believable characters. Having said this,” The Dept” is smoothly said and its style invites us to keep turning the pages till the very surprising ending.
I am a huge fan of religious conspiracies and Glenn Cooper excels on that topic and each one have been captivating and entertaining.
My thanks to Lascaux Media and Netgalley for giving the privilege to read and review this book.
Cal is back at the Vatican Library researching is next paper when he comes across an interesting letter. In 1848 when the Papal States were under attack by revolutionaries, the Vatican borrowed a very large sum of money from the Jewish Sassoon Bank.
Curious, Cal continued his research. Not finding any evidence that the loan was ever paid back, he contacted Pope Celestine VI who then asked him to discreetly research further this loan ……that is when trouble started…..
An unexpected discovery rocks the foundations of the Catholic Church. Have fun reading what comes next.
My thoughts:
The first part is laborious I even thought abandoning this story, nevertheless I stuck with it knowing well Mr. Cooper will move on and gives us an exciting journey into the annals of the Vatican. Its starts with an introduction of a large group of Cardinals and their responsibilities then ¼ in the conspiracy begins.
With intermittent flashbacks the story of the ancient loan is revealed …then we are deep into the conspiracy giving us plenty of suspense, globe trotting, blackmail, sabotage to content with.
Although I was captivated by this religious tale, nevertheless its concept failed to be plausible and the drama lacks in believable characters. Having said this,” The Dept” is smoothly said and its style invites us to keep turning the pages till the very surprising ending.
I am a huge fan of religious conspiracies and Glenn Cooper excels on that topic and each one have been captivating and entertaining.
My thanks to Lascaux Media and Netgalley for giving the privilege to read and review this book.
February 23, 2018
Online dal 26/02 --> http://nientedipersonale.org/questa-v...
January 31, 2020
Secondo libro della serie con Cal Donovan, in questo nuovo thriller Cooper mantiene un alto livello di adrenalina ed avventura, scavando nel passato della Chiesa e nei suoi più oscuri segreti che rischiano di mettere in discussione tutto il suo "impero". Ancora una volta si intrecciano presente e passato, manoscritti e antichi reperti, fede e denaro, intrighi e colpi di scena sullo sfondo della Città del Vaticano.
La scrittura è come sempre fluida, i personaggi ben delineati e la storia, estremamente verosimile (anche nella definizione personaggi), confermano Cooper come scrittore convincente e di indubbio talento. Consigliato per gli amanti del genere e della Storia!
La scrittura è come sempre fluida, i personaggi ben delineati e la storia, estremamente verosimile (anche nella definizione personaggi), confermano Cooper come scrittore convincente e di indubbio talento. Consigliato per gli amanti del genere e della Storia!
May 2, 2018
Prima di accingerci a sfogliare le pagine di questo libro, cartacee o digitali che siano, pensiamo a una musica epica di sottofondo, perché, dopotutto, questo genere di romanzi d’azione sono i nostri poemi moderni,con tutto il rispetto per l’inarrivabile classicità.
Immaginiamo questa melodia e immergiamoci tra le parole della straordinaria penna di Glenn Cooper.
Questo autore è ormai diventato un vero maestro nel suo genere mantenendo, anche questa volta, una capacità di narrazione ragguardevole e una bravura nell’intrecciare fatti storici e fatti moderni difficilmente emulabile.
Con Il debito siamo di fronte al secondo capitolo delle avventure del professore universitario Cal Donovan (il primo era Il segno della croce). La narrazione ci porta in Italia, più specificatamente a Roma. Il professore decide di sfruttare le vacanze estive scartabellando tra gli archivi vaticani e per un colpo di fortuna per la storia, ma di sfortuna per la Chiesa, s’imbatte per caso in un documento che confermerebbe il prestito di una piccola e antica banca ebraica alla Curia romana nel lontano 1800. Il debito non risulterebbe pagato e addirittura sarebbe stato insabbiato dal Vaticano con atti illeciti e omicidi. Cal si trova in una scomoda posizione: se risultasse davvero insoluto la Chiesa dovrebbe alla banca miliardi di dollari.
Il Papa, lo stesso del primo romanzo della serie, uomo buono ed equilibrato, desidera solo aiutare i poveri e fare il bene del sacro soglio. Incarica Cal di trovare maggiori informazioni a riguardo e di scoprire la verità sul documento. Nel caso in cui il debito non sia stato pagato si impegnerebbe a estinguerlo creando, in collaborazione con la banca, un ente benefico per i poveri. È da qui che prendono il via gli intrighi e i sotterfugi che caratterizzano da secoli la Curia papale e che non mancheranno di creare problemi al protagonista.
Non vi svelo altro per non rovinarvi il finale del libro!
Ora però veniamo alle note dolenti.
Pur con delle ottime premesse, il romanzo sembra non riuscire mai a spiccare il volo. Il buonissimo stile narrativo e l’approfondita ricerca storica, non sopperiscono alle mancanze della trama che, a mio parere, rimane piatta e priva di colpi di scena o della suspense necessaria a mantenere viva l’attenzione del lettore. Alla fine rimane poco dell’avventura, se non un insieme di scene d’archivio, condite da forti bevute e sparatorie improvvisate.
Bello il “cammeo” riguardante Garibaldi e Mazzini, ma forse sarebbe stato meglio approfondirlo per arricchire la storia.
Il debito rimane un romanzo dalle belle speranze che non riesce, purtroppo, a mantenere le promesse.
Consigliato a tutti gli amanti del genere, ma che non si scoraggino davanti una lettura senza grossi scossoni né espedienti in grado di tenere incollati alla pagina.
Immaginiamo questa melodia e immergiamoci tra le parole della straordinaria penna di Glenn Cooper.
Questo autore è ormai diventato un vero maestro nel suo genere mantenendo, anche questa volta, una capacità di narrazione ragguardevole e una bravura nell’intrecciare fatti storici e fatti moderni difficilmente emulabile.
Con Il debito siamo di fronte al secondo capitolo delle avventure del professore universitario Cal Donovan (il primo era Il segno della croce). La narrazione ci porta in Italia, più specificatamente a Roma. Il professore decide di sfruttare le vacanze estive scartabellando tra gli archivi vaticani e per un colpo di fortuna per la storia, ma di sfortuna per la Chiesa, s’imbatte per caso in un documento che confermerebbe il prestito di una piccola e antica banca ebraica alla Curia romana nel lontano 1800. Il debito non risulterebbe pagato e addirittura sarebbe stato insabbiato dal Vaticano con atti illeciti e omicidi. Cal si trova in una scomoda posizione: se risultasse davvero insoluto la Chiesa dovrebbe alla banca miliardi di dollari.
Il Papa, lo stesso del primo romanzo della serie, uomo buono ed equilibrato, desidera solo aiutare i poveri e fare il bene del sacro soglio. Incarica Cal di trovare maggiori informazioni a riguardo e di scoprire la verità sul documento. Nel caso in cui il debito non sia stato pagato si impegnerebbe a estinguerlo creando, in collaborazione con la banca, un ente benefico per i poveri. È da qui che prendono il via gli intrighi e i sotterfugi che caratterizzano da secoli la Curia papale e che non mancheranno di creare problemi al protagonista.
Non vi svelo altro per non rovinarvi il finale del libro!
Ora però veniamo alle note dolenti.
Pur con delle ottime premesse, il romanzo sembra non riuscire mai a spiccare il volo. Il buonissimo stile narrativo e l’approfondita ricerca storica, non sopperiscono alle mancanze della trama che, a mio parere, rimane piatta e priva di colpi di scena o della suspense necessaria a mantenere viva l’attenzione del lettore. Alla fine rimane poco dell’avventura, se non un insieme di scene d’archivio, condite da forti bevute e sparatorie improvvisate.
Bello il “cammeo” riguardante Garibaldi e Mazzini, ma forse sarebbe stato meglio approfondirlo per arricchire la storia.
Il debito rimane un romanzo dalle belle speranze che non riesce, purtroppo, a mantenere le promesse.
Consigliato a tutti gli amanti del genere, ma che non si scoraggino davanti una lettura senza grossi scossoni né espedienti in grado di tenere incollati alla pagina.
May 5, 2019
The Debt is third installment in the Cal Donovan series. I received a copy from NetGalley and Severn House Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Cal Donovan is a colorful, intelligent man who appears to be damaged, but, the reader does not really find out how and why until The Debt. I was interested enough in this series that I backtracked and purchased the first 2 books and I will have to double back and read those. The title sort of speaks for itself. The Vatican finds itself owing a debt which was undertaken many years ago from the Sassoon bank. It was not an ordinary debt because the leaders of the Church committed some horrible crimes to find themselves in the place they are in this book.
Cal has a sort of associate friendship that is developing as the series continues and he has been given exceptional rights to almost all the archives and libraries of the Church. He is a scholar at a university that requires research and publishing and he is working on his next work which leads him to find the papers that start everything in this book. He goes right to the Celestine with his findings and the reader is shown just how far some of the leaders of the Church are willing to go to protect what they think is most important, the treasures of the Church which have been gifted and collected over the years. This pope is reminiscent of the current pope who sees the role of the Church as serving the underprivileged and poor in society. Pope Celestine understands the risk of what he is undertaking but sees his calling as protecting the Church's calling which is rooted in the Bible and not in the hoarding of treasures even if it means bankrupting the Church.
The Debt is a great mystery and thriller which does a great job of reminding the reader of the contentious relationship that has existed between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people. It is always great to see stories that look at the history of that relationship and combine it with fiction. It is a great read and I cannot wait for the next installment. But, in the meantime, I have 2 books to backtrack and read before the next Cal Donovan story. Review can also be seen at http://LadyTechiesbookmusings.blogspo....
Cal has a sort of associate friendship that is developing as the series continues and he has been given exceptional rights to almost all the archives and libraries of the Church. He is a scholar at a university that requires research and publishing and he is working on his next work which leads him to find the papers that start everything in this book. He goes right to the Celestine with his findings and the reader is shown just how far some of the leaders of the Church are willing to go to protect what they think is most important, the treasures of the Church which have been gifted and collected over the years. This pope is reminiscent of the current pope who sees the role of the Church as serving the underprivileged and poor in society. Pope Celestine understands the risk of what he is undertaking but sees his calling as protecting the Church's calling which is rooted in the Bible and not in the hoarding of treasures even if it means bankrupting the Church.
The Debt is a great mystery and thriller which does a great job of reminding the reader of the contentious relationship that has existed between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people. It is always great to see stories that look at the history of that relationship and combine it with fiction. It is a great read and I cannot wait for the next installment. But, in the meantime, I have 2 books to backtrack and read before the next Cal Donovan story. Review can also be seen at http://LadyTechiesbookmusings.blogspo....
December 16, 2017
Secondo capitolo del professore universitario Cal Donovan anche questo basato su vicende religiose.
L’atmosfera vaticana tinge la storia di una suggestiva aspettativa che, pur con delle ottime premesse, non riesce mai a spiccare il volo. Alla fine rimane poco dell’avventura, se non un insieme di scene d’archivio, condite da forti bevute e sparatorie improvvisate.
Il debito rimane un romanzo dalle belle speranze che non riesce, purtroppo, a mantenere le promesse.
L’atmosfera vaticana tinge la storia di una suggestiva aspettativa che, pur con delle ottime premesse, non riesce mai a spiccare il volo. Alla fine rimane poco dell’avventura, se non un insieme di scene d’archivio, condite da forti bevute e sparatorie improvvisate.
Il debito rimane un romanzo dalle belle speranze che non riesce, purtroppo, a mantenere le promesse.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2026
Recommendation: One for the Ages. A Must-Read!
Book Review: "The Debt" by Glenn Cooper
Cal Donovan #3
A Vatican Thriller of Faith, Blood, and Billions.
Review Spotlight: ── On Vatican thrillers!
Before Dan Brown's "Angels & Demons" (2000) and "The Da Vinci Code" (2003), Morris West penned his "Vatican Trilogy" (1963, 1981, 1990).
Book 1 of said trilogy, "The Shoes of the Fisherman" (1963) ─ which shares themes with this book, "The Debt", captivated the imagination of the world, selling millions of copies in several languages. In 1968, the book was adapted by MGM into a movie of the same title starring the legendary Anthony Quinn. The book features a priest from the Soviet bloc, a Ukrainian who'd spent years in a Siberian gulag and who becomes Pope Kiril I.
A pivotal point comes when the Pope Kiril tries to intercede with hostile world powers to avert a nuclear holocaust, with emerging nuclear power, China, stricken with widespread famine, determined to resort to drastic measures.
"Why should anyone listen to you, Pope? What do you have to offer?", derisively asks the Red Chinese leader.
It would be in front of tens of thousands at St. Peter's Square, and of millions more on television, that Pope Kiril would shock the world as he pledges to sell the entirety of the Church's property and assets. He declares that the Church be a "church of the poor"; that it be of a spiritual, rather than a church of material power.
And, as it so happens, that is exactly what Pope Celestine, the co-protagonist, sine qua non, of this book, "The Debt", would do. Shake to the core the very foundation of the Vatican and the Catholic Church...!
.
.
━═ "The Debt" by Glenn Cooper (2026) ═━
N.B. The "Sassoon" family mentioned in this book would be the non-fictional Baghdadi Jewish bankers reputed to have accumulated immense wealth, earning themselves the moniker "the Rothschilds of the East".
The Professor.
A regular visitor to the Vatican, historian and Harvard professor of archaeology, Cal Donovan, Catholic dad /Jewish mom, is a personal friend and confidant of Pope Celestine who affords him unfettered access to the Vatican archives.
The Debt.
It is in one of those visit to the archives that Donovan discovers the existence of a hitherto hidden loan paid to the Vatican over 200 years prior, issued by none other than the Sassoon family, prominent and influential bankers to Kings and Popes. The loan was issued subrosa with the loan, and its terms and stipulations archived separately, for certain reasons.
Unsustainable Arrears.
As the existence of the loan gets irrefutably documented, notwithstanding questions on its validity, it becomes clear that the present value of the debt at the stipulated interest rate compounded over 200 years would indeed up to a staggering amount, more than enough to bankrupt the Catholic Church, the Vatican City/State, and cause the ruin of many.
A "Divine" Repayment Plan.
It was then that the Pope Celestine, who himself grew up poor coming from a Neapolitan working-class background, comes up with the unfathomable idea of paying back the debt, while using the proceeds, with the agreement of the Sassoons, to create a foundation for the poor and suffering of the world, without respect to geography, race or creed. The "Interfaith Fund for Humanity", would to be funded by the divestment and disposal of all the assets of the Church to satisfy its obligations under the Sassoon debt.
The Papal Edict.
Pope Celestine does it by edict as the Holy Father acknowledges the existence of the loan and of all moneys owing, and summons all to undertake the unthinkable task of selling Vatican and Catholic Church assets under their charge ─ Art, Jewelry, Relics, Museums, Real Estate, Churches, Monuments, some carried by the Church since the time of Christ.
Fierce Backlash.
The plan is met with both praise, and loud uproar, the idea opposed by many, including entrenched Vatican apparatchik, even Cardinals and those in the sanctus sanctorum, the inner sanctum of the Papacy, the Holy See and the Roman Curia.
And it is then when the Pope gets abducted...!
────────
// Epilogue.
Would there even have been enough value in Vatican assets to cover the arrears?
The answer comes quickly, when the initial bid for a single marble sculpture begins at
─ 1 Billion Euros!
The sculpture was that of a mother holding the lifeless body of her son on her lap, the masterpiece of a 23-year-old Renaissance artist, the only sculpture that he'd ever signed. //
Review based on an advance review copy courtesy of Lascaux Media, Book Whisperer and NetGalley.
Recommendation: One for the Ages. A Must-Read!
tgw━━─━════════
Book Review: "The Debt", Cal Donovan #3 by Glenn Cooper
A Vatican Thriller of Faith, Blood, and Billions.
Published by Lascaux Media and Book Whisperer
Book launch date: February 26, 2026
★★★★★ (5/5 Stars, Rave!)
Book Review: "The Debt" by Glenn Cooper
Cal Donovan #3
A Vatican Thriller of Faith, Blood, and Billions.
Review Spotlight: ── On Vatican thrillers!
Before Dan Brown's "Angels & Demons" (2000) and "The Da Vinci Code" (2003), Morris West penned his "Vatican Trilogy" (1963, 1981, 1990).
Book 1 of said trilogy, "The Shoes of the Fisherman" (1963) ─ which shares themes with this book, "The Debt", captivated the imagination of the world, selling millions of copies in several languages. In 1968, the book was adapted by MGM into a movie of the same title starring the legendary Anthony Quinn. The book features a priest from the Soviet bloc, a Ukrainian who'd spent years in a Siberian gulag and who becomes Pope Kiril I.
A pivotal point comes when the Pope Kiril tries to intercede with hostile world powers to avert a nuclear holocaust, with emerging nuclear power, China, stricken with widespread famine, determined to resort to drastic measures.
"Why should anyone listen to you, Pope? What do you have to offer?", derisively asks the Red Chinese leader.
It would be in front of tens of thousands at St. Peter's Square, and of millions more on television, that Pope Kiril would shock the world as he pledges to sell the entirety of the Church's property and assets. He declares that the Church be a "church of the poor"; that it be of a spiritual, rather than a church of material power.
And, as it so happens, that is exactly what Pope Celestine, the co-protagonist, sine qua non, of this book, "The Debt", would do. Shake to the core the very foundation of the Vatican and the Catholic Church...!
.
.
━═ "The Debt" by Glenn Cooper (2026) ═━
N.B. The "Sassoon" family mentioned in this book would be the non-fictional Baghdadi Jewish bankers reputed to have accumulated immense wealth, earning themselves the moniker "the Rothschilds of the East".
The Professor.
A regular visitor to the Vatican, historian and Harvard professor of archaeology, Cal Donovan, Catholic dad /Jewish mom, is a personal friend and confidant of Pope Celestine who affords him unfettered access to the Vatican archives.
The Debt.
It is in one of those visit to the archives that Donovan discovers the existence of a hitherto hidden loan paid to the Vatican over 200 years prior, issued by none other than the Sassoon family, prominent and influential bankers to Kings and Popes. The loan was issued subrosa with the loan, and its terms and stipulations archived separately, for certain reasons.
Unsustainable Arrears.
As the existence of the loan gets irrefutably documented, notwithstanding questions on its validity, it becomes clear that the present value of the debt at the stipulated interest rate compounded over 200 years would indeed up to a staggering amount, more than enough to bankrupt the Catholic Church, the Vatican City/State, and cause the ruin of many.
A "Divine" Repayment Plan.
It was then that the Pope Celestine, who himself grew up poor coming from a Neapolitan working-class background, comes up with the unfathomable idea of paying back the debt, while using the proceeds, with the agreement of the Sassoons, to create a foundation for the poor and suffering of the world, without respect to geography, race or creed. The "Interfaith Fund for Humanity", would to be funded by the divestment and disposal of all the assets of the Church to satisfy its obligations under the Sassoon debt.
The Papal Edict.
Pope Celestine does it by edict as the Holy Father acknowledges the existence of the loan and of all moneys owing, and summons all to undertake the unthinkable task of selling Vatican and Catholic Church assets under their charge ─ Art, Jewelry, Relics, Museums, Real Estate, Churches, Monuments, some carried by the Church since the time of Christ.
Fierce Backlash.
The plan is met with both praise, and loud uproar, the idea opposed by many, including entrenched Vatican apparatchik, even Cardinals and those in the sanctus sanctorum, the inner sanctum of the Papacy, the Holy See and the Roman Curia.
And it is then when the Pope gets abducted...!
────────
// Epilogue.
Would there even have been enough value in Vatican assets to cover the arrears?
The answer comes quickly, when the initial bid for a single marble sculpture begins at
─ 1 Billion Euros!
The sculpture was that of a mother holding the lifeless body of her son on her lap, the masterpiece of a 23-year-old Renaissance artist, the only sculpture that he'd ever signed. //
Review based on an advance review copy courtesy of Lascaux Media, Book Whisperer and NetGalley.
Recommendation: One for the Ages. A Must-Read!
tgw━━─━════════
Book Review: "The Debt", Cal Donovan #3 by Glenn Cooper
A Vatican Thriller of Faith, Blood, and Billions.
Published by Lascaux Media and Book Whisperer
Book launch date: February 26, 2026
★★★★★ (5/5 Stars, Rave!)
January 3, 2019
Il magnifico professor Cal Donovan torna con una nuova fantastica e pericolosa avventura.
Non lo conoscete ancora? È il protagonista de Il segno della croce, primo volume della nuova trilogia di Glenn Cooper, ma anche se è una trilogia gli eventi narrati nei due volumi non sono collegati tra loro (in questo secondo libro si fanno solo alcuni accenni, ma che non influiscono sulla trama) a collegare i libri è proprio la presenza del protagonista, un sapiente e coraggioso professore di storia della religione e archeologia di Harvard.
Adesso torniamo al libro... Cal Donovan, dopo aver aiutato il Papa e il Vaticano nel precedente libro, riceve un regalo rarissimo - per non dire unico - (un regalo che ammetto piacerebbe anche a me): l'accesso illimitato all'Archivio Secreto del Vaticano!
Dovete sapere che in genere l'Archivio è aperto ai ricercatori, ma occorre essere in possesso di determinate qualifiche, presentare domanda scritta, riguardante specifici volumi... insomma varie formalità. Cal, d'ora in avanti, invece può aggirarsi nell'Archivio a suo piacimento, e per uno studioso come lui è la fonte di innumerevoli articoli e libri.
Proprio con l'intento di un nuovo lavoro comincia a sbirciare i documenti, quando si ritrova tra le mani quello che parrebbe una richiesta di un prestito da parte del Vaticano alla Banca Sassoon (una banca ebrea). Questi documenti portano la data 1848... e da ciò che legge Cal sembra che il debito non sia mai stato saldato.
Il Papa, messo al corrente, incarica il nostro acuto protagonista di scoprirne di più... e questo metterà in pericolo la vita di Cal, quella dello stesso Papa e di tutta la Chiesa come la conosciamo.
Non siete curiosi?
Io non so più come descrivere i romanzi di Glenn Cooper. Sono sempre così originali, pieni di colpi di scena ed emozionanti, così coinvolgenti e nonostante le tante pagine si leggono velocemente proprio per scoprire i vari misteri.
Come succede per gli altri libri di Cooper, la storia si svolge su più piani temporali, quello odierno e quello del passato in cui ci mostra ciò che è accaduto all'origine del debito del Vaticano.
Tanti sono i personaggi presentati e tutti sono descritti sempre molto bene... e parlando di personaggi Cooper ci ha fatto una bellissima sorpresa (almeno per me): ritroviamo Elisabetta Celestino. Per chi non la conosce è la protagonista di un altro libro di Cooper Il marchio del diavolo, qui non ha un ruolo principale, ma la si incontra solo in alcune scene, però è stato bello rivederla e conoscere il suo ruolo attuale nel Vaticano.
Ora sono in attesa di leggere l'ultimo libro della trilogia, chissà cosa succederà di nuovo.
Non lo conoscete ancora? È il protagonista de Il segno della croce, primo volume della nuova trilogia di Glenn Cooper, ma anche se è una trilogia gli eventi narrati nei due volumi non sono collegati tra loro (in questo secondo libro si fanno solo alcuni accenni, ma che non influiscono sulla trama) a collegare i libri è proprio la presenza del protagonista, un sapiente e coraggioso professore di storia della religione e archeologia di Harvard.
Adesso torniamo al libro... Cal Donovan, dopo aver aiutato il Papa e il Vaticano nel precedente libro, riceve un regalo rarissimo - per non dire unico - (un regalo che ammetto piacerebbe anche a me): l'accesso illimitato all'Archivio Secreto del Vaticano!
Dovete sapere che in genere l'Archivio è aperto ai ricercatori, ma occorre essere in possesso di determinate qualifiche, presentare domanda scritta, riguardante specifici volumi... insomma varie formalità. Cal, d'ora in avanti, invece può aggirarsi nell'Archivio a suo piacimento, e per uno studioso come lui è la fonte di innumerevoli articoli e libri.
Proprio con l'intento di un nuovo lavoro comincia a sbirciare i documenti, quando si ritrova tra le mani quello che parrebbe una richiesta di un prestito da parte del Vaticano alla Banca Sassoon (una banca ebrea). Questi documenti portano la data 1848... e da ciò che legge Cal sembra che il debito non sia mai stato saldato.
Il Papa, messo al corrente, incarica il nostro acuto protagonista di scoprirne di più... e questo metterà in pericolo la vita di Cal, quella dello stesso Papa e di tutta la Chiesa come la conosciamo.
Non siete curiosi?
Io non so più come descrivere i romanzi di Glenn Cooper. Sono sempre così originali, pieni di colpi di scena ed emozionanti, così coinvolgenti e nonostante le tante pagine si leggono velocemente proprio per scoprire i vari misteri.
Come succede per gli altri libri di Cooper, la storia si svolge su più piani temporali, quello odierno e quello del passato in cui ci mostra ciò che è accaduto all'origine del debito del Vaticano.
Tanti sono i personaggi presentati e tutti sono descritti sempre molto bene... e parlando di personaggi Cooper ci ha fatto una bellissima sorpresa (almeno per me): ritroviamo Elisabetta Celestino. Per chi non la conosce è la protagonista di un altro libro di Cooper Il marchio del diavolo, qui non ha un ruolo principale, ma la si incontra solo in alcune scene, però è stato bello rivederla e conoscere il suo ruolo attuale nel Vaticano.
Ora sono in attesa di leggere l'ultimo libro della trilogia, chissà cosa succederà di nuovo.
March 14, 2026
Book Review: The Debt by Glenn Cooper
Rating: 4 stars
I recently finished The Debt by Glenn Cooper and it was a thoroughly engaging read that I enjoyed quite a bit—earning a solid four stars from me. This book is part of a series I’m really starting to love, and this installment did not disappoint.
The story centers around Harvard professor Cal Donovan, who is granted rare access to the Vatican Secret Archives. There, he uncovers evidence of a long-forgotten loan made in 1848 by a Jewish banking family to the Vatican—a debt that was never repaid and now has ballooned to an eye-watering twenty-five billion euros. This discovery sets off a dangerous chain of events, as Pope Celestine VI, a progressive leader, wants to honor this debt and use the funds to create a humanitarian foundation aimed at helping the poorest communities. However, many powerful figures within the Vatican are fiercely opposed to this idea and will stop at nothing—including murder—to keep the Church’s vast wealth intact.
What I really appreciated about this book was how skillfully the narrative switches between the revolutionary turmoil of 19th-century Rome and the tense political intrigue inside today’s Vatican. The story gradually peels back the mystery behind why the debt was never paid and reveals chilling details about the Sassoon family’s fate over two centuries ago. Cooper’s writing flows smoothly, making it easy to keep turning pages as the suspense builds.
Overall, The Debt is a compelling mix of historical mystery, religious suspense, and high-stakes financial drama. It’s an exciting and entertaining read that kept me hooked from start to finish. I’m definitely looking forward to diving into the next book in this series! If you enjoy thrilling tales that combine history, faith, and conspiracy, this one’s worth checking out.
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
Rating: 4 stars
I recently finished The Debt by Glenn Cooper and it was a thoroughly engaging read that I enjoyed quite a bit—earning a solid four stars from me. This book is part of a series I’m really starting to love, and this installment did not disappoint.
The story centers around Harvard professor Cal Donovan, who is granted rare access to the Vatican Secret Archives. There, he uncovers evidence of a long-forgotten loan made in 1848 by a Jewish banking family to the Vatican—a debt that was never repaid and now has ballooned to an eye-watering twenty-five billion euros. This discovery sets off a dangerous chain of events, as Pope Celestine VI, a progressive leader, wants to honor this debt and use the funds to create a humanitarian foundation aimed at helping the poorest communities. However, many powerful figures within the Vatican are fiercely opposed to this idea and will stop at nothing—including murder—to keep the Church’s vast wealth intact.
What I really appreciated about this book was how skillfully the narrative switches between the revolutionary turmoil of 19th-century Rome and the tense political intrigue inside today’s Vatican. The story gradually peels back the mystery behind why the debt was never paid and reveals chilling details about the Sassoon family’s fate over two centuries ago. Cooper’s writing flows smoothly, making it easy to keep turning pages as the suspense builds.
Overall, The Debt is a compelling mix of historical mystery, religious suspense, and high-stakes financial drama. It’s an exciting and entertaining read that kept me hooked from start to finish. I’m definitely looking forward to diving into the next book in this series! If you enjoy thrilling tales that combine history, faith, and conspiracy, this one’s worth checking out.
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
March 18, 2026
In The Debt, a high-stakes Vatican conspiracy thriller, a forgotten nineteenth-century loan becomes the spark for a modern battle over morality, money, and power inside the Catholic Church. When Harvard professor Cal Donovan uncovers evidence of an unpaid 1848 debt, now worth an astonishing twenty-five billion euro, owed by the Holy See to a Jewish banking family, what begins as academic discovery spirals into a deadly political and spiritual crisis. Pope Celestine VI’s determination to repay the debt and redirect the Church’s wealth toward an interfaith humanitarian mission sets him on a collision course with entrenched Vatican interests willing to kill to protect their influence.
As always, the novel is well written and intelligently constructed. The plotting is clever, weaving together the revolutionary turmoil of 1848 Rome with the shadowy corridors of the modern Vatican. The historical elements add depth and gravitas, and the financial and theological stakes feel both timely and provocative. The moral question at the heart of the story, what does the Church truly owe, and to whom?, gives the thriller weight beyond its action-driven surface.
That said, the pacing occasionally falters. Certain sections drag, particularly when the narrative becomes dense with ecclesiastical politics or detailed background exposition. At times, the large cast of cardinals, officials, financiers, and operatives can be overwhelming, making it difficult to keep track of who is aligned with whom. While the complexity adds realism, it sometimes slows the momentum of an otherwise gripping plot.
Overall, The Debt is a mostly enjoyable and thought-provoking religious thriller. Its blend of historical mystery, Church politics, and financial intrigue will satisfy fans of Vatican-set suspense. Though it may feel dense in places, the novel’s strong writing and bold premise make it a compelling addition to the genre.
As always, the novel is well written and intelligently constructed. The plotting is clever, weaving together the revolutionary turmoil of 1848 Rome with the shadowy corridors of the modern Vatican. The historical elements add depth and gravitas, and the financial and theological stakes feel both timely and provocative. The moral question at the heart of the story, what does the Church truly owe, and to whom?, gives the thriller weight beyond its action-driven surface.
That said, the pacing occasionally falters. Certain sections drag, particularly when the narrative becomes dense with ecclesiastical politics or detailed background exposition. At times, the large cast of cardinals, officials, financiers, and operatives can be overwhelming, making it difficult to keep track of who is aligned with whom. While the complexity adds realism, it sometimes slows the momentum of an otherwise gripping plot.
Overall, The Debt is a mostly enjoyable and thought-provoking religious thriller. Its blend of historical mystery, Church politics, and financial intrigue will satisfy fans of Vatican-set suspense. Though it may feel dense in places, the novel’s strong writing and bold premise make it a compelling addition to the genre.
March 3, 2026
Vatican's Unpaid loan discovered in archives could bankrupt the Church and caused a schism - 5 stars
In the mid-1850s, the Catholic church had run out of money. The Rothschild bank refused further credit, so the church went to the Sassoon bank and attempted to keep the transaction quiet. After ten years, the unpaid loan changed from annual compounding to monthly compounding. Because of the secrecy, no one alive realized that there was a huge debt until a visiting scholar discovered documents hidden in the Vatican archives. The American researcher, Calvin (Cal) Donovan, had befriended Pope Celestine years earlier. Cal had been given special access to the archives. The amount of money involved was far more than the church could pay.
Pope Celestine sought to honor the loan, citing a duty to repay the debt. However, many of the Pope's advisors wanted to destroy the evidence of the loan and opted to retain the priceless treasures that the church had gathered through the ages rather than sell them to pay the loan. The intrigue, insider connections, and interplay of history were only the background. The large amounts of wealth involved brought new parties into the mix, including criminals, well beyond anything that you might anticipate in a highly principled religion.
Many betrayed confidences, double-dealt, and committed lawlessness behind the pope's back, and these were not just political power plays but were completely against the church's mission and counseling. The Sassoon bank leadership was similarly conflicted, opting for wealth, ignoring any possibility of forgiving any part of the long-forgotten, unknown loan. Both Cal and the fictional Pope Celestine had opportunities to share stories of their experiences, as they worked together to find a way to keep the tenants of the church and prepare to solve the dilemma of the debt.
In the mid-1850s, the Catholic church had run out of money. The Rothschild bank refused further credit, so the church went to the Sassoon bank and attempted to keep the transaction quiet. After ten years, the unpaid loan changed from annual compounding to monthly compounding. Because of the secrecy, no one alive realized that there was a huge debt until a visiting scholar discovered documents hidden in the Vatican archives. The American researcher, Calvin (Cal) Donovan, had befriended Pope Celestine years earlier. Cal had been given special access to the archives. The amount of money involved was far more than the church could pay.
Pope Celestine sought to honor the loan, citing a duty to repay the debt. However, many of the Pope's advisors wanted to destroy the evidence of the loan and opted to retain the priceless treasures that the church had gathered through the ages rather than sell them to pay the loan. The intrigue, insider connections, and interplay of history were only the background. The large amounts of wealth involved brought new parties into the mix, including criminals, well beyond anything that you might anticipate in a highly principled religion.
Many betrayed confidences, double-dealt, and committed lawlessness behind the pope's back, and these were not just political power plays but were completely against the church's mission and counseling. The Sassoon bank leadership was similarly conflicted, opting for wealth, ignoring any possibility of forgiving any part of the long-forgotten, unknown loan. Both Cal and the fictional Pope Celestine had opportunities to share stories of their experiences, as they worked together to find a way to keep the tenants of the church and prepare to solve the dilemma of the debt.
March 3, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book starts out slow and I do mean slow. We are thrown into Vatican intrigue from the second chapter and unfortunately, it's doesn't sound all that interesting. Financial problems blah blah blah. Cardinals plotting against the Pope-to steal a line from Beauty and the Beast, it's a tale as old as time. However, Professor Cal Donovan of the Harvard Religion Department enters the picture and all hell, no pun intended, breaks loose.
Cal is researching a Cardinal Lambruschini in the Vatican Archives. The Cardinal is a real person so that makes this a bit more interesting. Cal stumbles across a document discussing a loan from the Sassoon Bank to the Papal States. There is a Sassoon family who has been involved in finance for centuries in both Europe and Asia, but there's no evidence of them working with the Vatican. I had to look it up because it sounded so interesting.
Cal presents his findings to the Vatican officials, including the Pope. The Pope asks him to try and find out everything he can about the loan. There were some very dark happenings around it. As Cal finds out more information, things begin to spiral out of control. Some very important people do not want the loan made public because as of the date of the book, the Vatican would owe the Sassoon family over twenty-five billion euros. That is BILLIONS with a B.
Read the book, please! I really didn't think it would be all that interesting since I really don't care about finance, but it goes way beyond that. It discusses what people will do to protect their own interest, both good and bad. I was nearly finished with it last night, but realized it was going on 2 am and had to get up in the morning. It's that good.
The book starts out slow and I do mean slow. We are thrown into Vatican intrigue from the second chapter and unfortunately, it's doesn't sound all that interesting. Financial problems blah blah blah. Cardinals plotting against the Pope-to steal a line from Beauty and the Beast, it's a tale as old as time. However, Professor Cal Donovan of the Harvard Religion Department enters the picture and all hell, no pun intended, breaks loose.
Cal is researching a Cardinal Lambruschini in the Vatican Archives. The Cardinal is a real person so that makes this a bit more interesting. Cal stumbles across a document discussing a loan from the Sassoon Bank to the Papal States. There is a Sassoon family who has been involved in finance for centuries in both Europe and Asia, but there's no evidence of them working with the Vatican. I had to look it up because it sounded so interesting.
Cal presents his findings to the Vatican officials, including the Pope. The Pope asks him to try and find out everything he can about the loan. There were some very dark happenings around it. As Cal finds out more information, things begin to spiral out of control. Some very important people do not want the loan made public because as of the date of the book, the Vatican would owe the Sassoon family over twenty-five billion euros. That is BILLIONS with a B.
Read the book, please! I really didn't think it would be all that interesting since I really don't care about finance, but it goes way beyond that. It discusses what people will do to protect their own interest, both good and bad. I was nearly finished with it last night, but realized it was going on 2 am and had to get up in the morning. It's that good.
February 12, 2026
The Debt is a gripping, high‑stakes Vatican thriller that blends historical mystery, political tension, and moral complexity into a fast‑paced, utterly absorbing read. Glenn Cooper has a gift for taking a single, explosive “what if” and spinning it into a globe‑spanning conspiracy—and this one feels especially timely and provocative.
Harvard professor Cal Donovan is an engaging lead: sharp, curious, and just stubborn enough to get himself into trouble. His discovery of a forgotten 1848 loan buried deep in the Vatican Secret Archives is the kind of hook that immediately sparks the imagination. Cooper moves seamlessly between past and present, weaving in the revolutionary turmoil of nineteenth‑century Rome with the modern Church’s internal power struggles.
Pope Celestine VI is a standout character—idealistic, compassionate, and determined to use the Church’s wealth for genuine good. His vision for an interfaith humanitarian foundation gives the story real emotional weight, making the opposition he faces from corrupt cardinals and shadowy operatives all the more chilling. The stakes feel enormous, not just politically but morally.
The pacing is brisk without ever feeling rushed. Cooper’s descriptions of the Vatican’s inner chambers, the private vaults of a Jewish banking dynasty, and the labyrinthine world of Church politics create a vivid backdrop for the unfolding conspiracy. As Cal races to uncover the truth, the tension builds beautifully, leading to a finale that is both satisfying and thought‑provoking.
A smart, atmospheric thriller that blends history and suspense with real finesse. Fans of religious intrigue and political conspiracies will find this one impossible to put down.
With thanks to Glenn Cooper, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Harvard professor Cal Donovan is an engaging lead: sharp, curious, and just stubborn enough to get himself into trouble. His discovery of a forgotten 1848 loan buried deep in the Vatican Secret Archives is the kind of hook that immediately sparks the imagination. Cooper moves seamlessly between past and present, weaving in the revolutionary turmoil of nineteenth‑century Rome with the modern Church’s internal power struggles.
Pope Celestine VI is a standout character—idealistic, compassionate, and determined to use the Church’s wealth for genuine good. His vision for an interfaith humanitarian foundation gives the story real emotional weight, making the opposition he faces from corrupt cardinals and shadowy operatives all the more chilling. The stakes feel enormous, not just politically but morally.
The pacing is brisk without ever feeling rushed. Cooper’s descriptions of the Vatican’s inner chambers, the private vaults of a Jewish banking dynasty, and the labyrinthine world of Church politics create a vivid backdrop for the unfolding conspiracy. As Cal races to uncover the truth, the tension builds beautifully, leading to a finale that is both satisfying and thought‑provoking.
A smart, atmospheric thriller that blends history and suspense with real finesse. Fans of religious intrigue and political conspiracies will find this one impossible to put down.
With thanks to Glenn Cooper, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
June 6, 2018
Era un po’ che non leggevo Cooper e devo ammettere che un po’ mi era mancato.
In questa nuova avventura troviamo i vecchi personaggi che abbiamo imparato a conoscere in, si può considerare, un continuo di storia, anche se indipendente e quindi non è necessario conoscere i libri precedenti per comprenderla.
Questa volta troviamo il docente universitario Cal Donovan impegnato in una s malice ricerca nell’archivio di Stato Vaticano, ma ben presto questa semplice ricerca, si trasformerà in qualcosa di più pericoloso e l’inizio di una nuova avventura per Cal e lo stato Pontificio. Infatti Cal dopo essere entrato nelle grazie di Papa Celestino e aver instaurato con lui una specie di amicizia, si troverà a lavorare per Lui in incognito per cercare di risalire a dei vecchi documenti che potrebbero portare alla luce un debito secolare che la Chiesa aveva contratto con una banca ebrea.
Verranno così a galla piano piano i numerosi lati oscuri che la Chiesa nei secoli ha tentato di nascondere e insabbiare, e verranno a galla anche gli intrighi che si sviluppano al suo interno anche ai giorni nostri. Cal sarà di nuovo coinvolto in mille vicissitudini e addirittura in un rapimento ai danni del Papa, che permetterà ai due uomini di conoscersi meglio e sviluppare maggiormente il loro rapporto.
Un romanzo che tenta anche di fare riflettere su determinati aspetti in contrasto che si sviluppano o vedono all’interno della Chiesa moderna.
Lettura che io consiglio anche a chi non conosce questo autore, o chi vuole sperimentare nuovi gemere. Lettura scorrevole e piacevole, con capitoli non eccessivamente lunghi
In questa nuova avventura troviamo i vecchi personaggi che abbiamo imparato a conoscere in, si può considerare, un continuo di storia, anche se indipendente e quindi non è necessario conoscere i libri precedenti per comprenderla.
Questa volta troviamo il docente universitario Cal Donovan impegnato in una s malice ricerca nell’archivio di Stato Vaticano, ma ben presto questa semplice ricerca, si trasformerà in qualcosa di più pericoloso e l’inizio di una nuova avventura per Cal e lo stato Pontificio. Infatti Cal dopo essere entrato nelle grazie di Papa Celestino e aver instaurato con lui una specie di amicizia, si troverà a lavorare per Lui in incognito per cercare di risalire a dei vecchi documenti che potrebbero portare alla luce un debito secolare che la Chiesa aveva contratto con una banca ebrea.
Verranno così a galla piano piano i numerosi lati oscuri che la Chiesa nei secoli ha tentato di nascondere e insabbiare, e verranno a galla anche gli intrighi che si sviluppano al suo interno anche ai giorni nostri. Cal sarà di nuovo coinvolto in mille vicissitudini e addirittura in un rapimento ai danni del Papa, che permetterà ai due uomini di conoscersi meglio e sviluppare maggiormente il loro rapporto.
Un romanzo che tenta anche di fare riflettere su determinati aspetti in contrasto che si sviluppano o vedono all’interno della Chiesa moderna.
Lettura che io consiglio anche a chi non conosce questo autore, o chi vuole sperimentare nuovi gemere. Lettura scorrevole e piacevole, con capitoli non eccessivamente lunghi
May 18, 2018
Direi che ne ho abbastanza di Cooper. Dopo la bellissima trilogia della Biblioteca dei morti, ha scritto qualche altro romanzo carino e poi è sceso sempre più in basso con la trilogia dei dannati e con "Il segno della croce" che era praticamente illeggibile.
Cooper ha deciso di prendere e riciclare la caratteristica più noiosa di Dan Brown, ovvero fare da guida turistica a sproposito, giusto per far vedere che si è informato. Peccato però che sulle cose basilari spari cazzate... un esempio? Non facciamo neanche in tempo a finire di leggere tre pagine che Venezia attorno al 1840 viene descritta come "una città prospera", quando in realtà la "Venezia prospera" era morta da più di mezzo secolo e poi è arrivata la definitiva fine della Serenissima con l'invasione dei francesi e il dominio degli austriaci... e di nuovo i francesi... e di nuovo gli austriaci... e i moti rivoluzionari... Glenn, sei serio? Per Venezia era un periodo di m*rda!
E poi... io negli archivi ci passerei la vita, ma non vuol dire che abbia voglia di leggere centinaia di pagine di Cal Donovan che sfoglia cose in Vaticano senza trovare nulla... e poi di nuovo descrizioni turistiche inutili e sparatorie random.
Ho voluto dargli un'altra possibilità, ma a questo punto getto la spugna.
Cooper ha deciso di prendere e riciclare la caratteristica più noiosa di Dan Brown, ovvero fare da guida turistica a sproposito, giusto per far vedere che si è informato. Peccato però che sulle cose basilari spari cazzate... un esempio? Non facciamo neanche in tempo a finire di leggere tre pagine che Venezia attorno al 1840 viene descritta come "una città prospera", quando in realtà la "Venezia prospera" era morta da più di mezzo secolo e poi è arrivata la definitiva fine della Serenissima con l'invasione dei francesi e il dominio degli austriaci... e di nuovo i francesi... e di nuovo gli austriaci... e i moti rivoluzionari... Glenn, sei serio? Per Venezia era un periodo di m*rda!
E poi... io negli archivi ci passerei la vita, ma non vuol dire che abbia voglia di leggere centinaia di pagine di Cal Donovan che sfoglia cose in Vaticano senza trovare nulla... e poi di nuovo descrizioni turistiche inutili e sparatorie random.
Ho voluto dargli un'altra possibilità, ma a questo punto getto la spugna.
February 25, 2018
Buon libro per un volo lungo nel caso non vi piacciano i film a disposizione.
La trama è abbastanza ben congegnata, anche se le incredibili capacità di ricerca del professore protagonista della storia ricordano molto quelle del protagonista del Codice Da Vinci: dove gli altri non erano arrivati in secoli, lui lo fa in un centinaio di pagine e 3 giorni di lavoro....un Superman dei topi di biblioteca.
Nel complesso, pochi ma molto interessanti spunti storici sul Vaticano di un paio di secoli fa, qualche bella scena e una figura papale ben disegnata (vicina all'attuale papa), ma una trama che si poggia su un'idea un po' fragile, con la descrizione dei "cattivi" che rientra un po' nel facile stereotipo (banchieri spietati, ricchi grezzi vs ricchi illuminati, matrigne e figli che si ritrovano, etc etc).
La lettura è piacevole, complimenti alla traduzione, ma alla fine si respira un'aria di mistero e thriller che non arriva mai. A parte un paio di scene in cui il professore diventa Robocop e ovviamente debella il male.
Insomma, compratelo, leggetelo e poi lasciatelo lì per altri viaggiatori che sicuramente lo apprezzeranno ma che, come voi, difficilmente lo leggeranno due volte.
La trama è abbastanza ben congegnata, anche se le incredibili capacità di ricerca del professore protagonista della storia ricordano molto quelle del protagonista del Codice Da Vinci: dove gli altri non erano arrivati in secoli, lui lo fa in un centinaio di pagine e 3 giorni di lavoro....un Superman dei topi di biblioteca.
Nel complesso, pochi ma molto interessanti spunti storici sul Vaticano di un paio di secoli fa, qualche bella scena e una figura papale ben disegnata (vicina all'attuale papa), ma una trama che si poggia su un'idea un po' fragile, con la descrizione dei "cattivi" che rientra un po' nel facile stereotipo (banchieri spietati, ricchi grezzi vs ricchi illuminati, matrigne e figli che si ritrovano, etc etc).
La lettura è piacevole, complimenti alla traduzione, ma alla fine si respira un'aria di mistero e thriller che non arriva mai. A parte un paio di scene in cui il professore diventa Robocop e ovviamente debella il male.
Insomma, compratelo, leggetelo e poi lasciatelo lì per altri viaggiatori che sicuramente lo apprezzeranno ma che, come voi, difficilmente lo leggeranno due volte.
April 29, 2019
Harvard professor Cal Donovan, while looking through the Vatican libraries, discovers a 200-year-old-loan which the Vatican owes to a Jewish bank. With interest the sum of the debt is now 25 billion Euros. Pope Celestine asks Cal to meet with the Sassoon family, owners of the bank. Cal soon finds himself involved in more than he bargained for.
This is the 3rd book in the Cal Donovan Thriller series. I have read the other two books (Sign of the Cross and Three Marys) and have enjoyed both of them. This one does not disappoint either. I like the character of Cal Donovan and find him a very positive asset to the series. He is a good friend of Pope Celestine and comes to his aid whenever the Pope requests his help. I find the plots of these books to be very unique and full of interesting history. Glenn Cooper is an excellent writer and his books flow nicely and keeps the reader interested until the very surprise ending. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series and I would highly recommend them to those who love historical thrillers.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House Publishers for a copy of this book for an honest review.
This is the 3rd book in the Cal Donovan Thriller series. I have read the other two books (Sign of the Cross and Three Marys) and have enjoyed both of them. This one does not disappoint either. I like the character of Cal Donovan and find him a very positive asset to the series. He is a good friend of Pope Celestine and comes to his aid whenever the Pope requests his help. I find the plots of these books to be very unique and full of interesting history. Glenn Cooper is an excellent writer and his books flow nicely and keeps the reader interested until the very surprise ending. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series and I would highly recommend them to those who love historical thrillers.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House Publishers for a copy of this book for an honest review.
May 15, 2019
This novel is brilliant!
Cal Donovan was called by the Pope again – this time to investigate the debt the Roman Catholic Church owed the Sassoon family. Donovan needed to find the evidence before this 19th-century contract could be destroyed by the enemies of the Pope.
The story began with the financial reports in the Roman Curia, headed by the Pope. There was creative accounting reported by the auditor, and the Pope asked his secretaries to put everything right in the balance sheet. The Church was one of the first organisation to use the double-entry bookkeeping in the 16th century to find who were the corrupting clergies.
Cal Donovan was one of the thousand researchers who had access to the Vatican Archives, the secret place hiding from the public eyes. That place was typically the first location where Donovan usually started investigating the crimes against the Pope. He contacted the Sassoon family and asked them to keep their original document in a safe place.
I love this thriller whether the document was in the enemies’ hands. Well done, Glenn Cooper!
Caesar XIII
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Cal Donovan was called by the Pope again – this time to investigate the debt the Roman Catholic Church owed the Sassoon family. Donovan needed to find the evidence before this 19th-century contract could be destroyed by the enemies of the Pope.
The story began with the financial reports in the Roman Curia, headed by the Pope. There was creative accounting reported by the auditor, and the Pope asked his secretaries to put everything right in the balance sheet. The Church was one of the first organisation to use the double-entry bookkeeping in the 16th century to find who were the corrupting clergies.
Cal Donovan was one of the thousand researchers who had access to the Vatican Archives, the secret place hiding from the public eyes. That place was typically the first location where Donovan usually started investigating the crimes against the Pope. He contacted the Sassoon family and asked them to keep their original document in a safe place.
I love this thriller whether the document was in the enemies’ hands. Well done, Glenn Cooper!
Caesar XIII
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars for me.
I read this book as a free review copy from NetGalley and this review is my honest reflection and feedback about the book.
I am a fan of sorts of Glenn's works and have been reading the Cal Donovan books in series as well having a thing for thrillers. I read The Debt with a lot of trepidation having just completed three mary's and I was frankly intrigued. The reading gave me conflicting emotions, excitement for the basic idea of this story juxtaposed with frustrations with the way the story ran. Still a very intriguing and enjoyable reading.
The premise is undeniably compelling. A long forgotten financial debt tied to the Vatican resurfaces and suddenly centuries of history collide with modern power politics. The idea alone carries serious weight and is solidly in Glenn's territory as he clearly knows how to frame high stakes around religion money and morality. From the opening chapters there is a sense that something big is coming and that sense of looming consequence is easily the strongest part of the novel.
Where the book shines is in its concept and atmosphere. The Vatican setting is used effectively and the moral dilemma at the heart of the story seems genuine and quite thought provoking while provoking the inevitable question as to How and What does justice look like when history itself has accrued interest. Glenn raises interesting questions about responsibility accountability and institutional power even if he does not always explore them as deeply as he could.
The story's pacing is where the interest starts fading with a fabulous opening that is not sustained in the middle section where things slow down considerably. The shifts between timelines and explanations lessened the tension rather than deepen it and I found myself wanting the narrative to tighten its focus. There are moments that feel more like setup than payoff and that imbalance softens what should have been a sharper emotional impact.
The character work is solid as usual. Cal as the protagonist is likable and capable and now in his third novel very familiar. The Pope is an interesting figure who brings a sense of moral gravity to the story but several of the opposing forces feel more functional than fully developed. They move the plot forward without leaving much of a lasting impression.
Overall The Debt is a good read with a strong hook and flashes of brilliance but it never quite reaches the level it promises. Fans of religious thrillers and historical conspiracies will likely enjoy it more and there is plenty here to appreciate if you value ideas over character depth. For me it was engaging enough to keep turning pages having got used to Glenn's writing style.
A solid three point five stars for an ambitious story that just needed a bit more refinement to truly shine.
I read this book as a free review copy from NetGalley and this review is my honest reflection and feedback about the book.
I am a fan of sorts of Glenn's works and have been reading the Cal Donovan books in series as well having a thing for thrillers. I read The Debt with a lot of trepidation having just completed three mary's and I was frankly intrigued. The reading gave me conflicting emotions, excitement for the basic idea of this story juxtaposed with frustrations with the way the story ran. Still a very intriguing and enjoyable reading.
The premise is undeniably compelling. A long forgotten financial debt tied to the Vatican resurfaces and suddenly centuries of history collide with modern power politics. The idea alone carries serious weight and is solidly in Glenn's territory as he clearly knows how to frame high stakes around religion money and morality. From the opening chapters there is a sense that something big is coming and that sense of looming consequence is easily the strongest part of the novel.
Where the book shines is in its concept and atmosphere. The Vatican setting is used effectively and the moral dilemma at the heart of the story seems genuine and quite thought provoking while provoking the inevitable question as to How and What does justice look like when history itself has accrued interest. Glenn raises interesting questions about responsibility accountability and institutional power even if he does not always explore them as deeply as he could.
The story's pacing is where the interest starts fading with a fabulous opening that is not sustained in the middle section where things slow down considerably. The shifts between timelines and explanations lessened the tension rather than deepen it and I found myself wanting the narrative to tighten its focus. There are moments that feel more like setup than payoff and that imbalance softens what should have been a sharper emotional impact.
The character work is solid as usual. Cal as the protagonist is likable and capable and now in his third novel very familiar. The Pope is an interesting figure who brings a sense of moral gravity to the story but several of the opposing forces feel more functional than fully developed. They move the plot forward without leaving much of a lasting impression.
Overall The Debt is a good read with a strong hook and flashes of brilliance but it never quite reaches the level it promises. Fans of religious thrillers and historical conspiracies will likely enjoy it more and there is plenty here to appreciate if you value ideas over character depth. For me it was engaging enough to keep turning pages having got used to Glenn's writing style.
A solid three point five stars for an ambitious story that just needed a bit more refinement to truly shine.
February 28, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, Glenn Cooper and Lascaux Media for providing me the novel, The Debt: A Vatican Thriller of Faith, Blood, and Billions to review. This is my second book by Glenn Cooper that I have read within a month and I have to say his writing style is very addictive. I love the fast pace of his thrillers and how realistic the plot set up comes across. I even did a little research on my end to see if any of the facts that led up to the discovery were in fact true facts. Professor Cal Donovan unearthed a contract between the Pope Pius and a jewish banking family of a loan that dates back to the 1800s while researching in the Vatican library archives. When he goes searching to see what this loan was used for and when it was paid off he comes up empty handed. This leads to a whirlwind of activity in the Vatican and the financial institution who loaned the Vatican this money. The search for answers uncovers a plot made by the Pope to obtain this loan through nefarious measures. Cooper has written a well paced suspense novel that takes you on twist and turns that make sense and gives you a few aha moments. If you like mysteries, this will be right up your alley.
March 10, 2026
The Debt
by Glenn Cooper
This is another in the Cal Donovan series. Donovan is a professor of Religion at Harvard University. He spends much of his personal time researching in the Vatican archives and writing books. He has a special relationship with the current pope due to help he has provided previously (documented in previous books).
What Donovan discovers in the archives - at the behest of the pope - is that the Catholic church borrowed money from Jewish bankers hundreds of years earlier and the loan was never repaid. The amount owed is now in the billions of dollars. Payment would bankrupt the church.
When the descendants of the banking family and the Pope come up with a novel repayment plan, the old guard in the Vatican will stop at nothing to prevent the deal. Donovan is right in the middle of this mess!
As with most of Mr. Cooper's books, the Catholic church is a major player here. And as usual we follow both sides of the dispute. Mr. Cooper is a good writer and manages to involve his readers in these stories. Cal Donovan is a character worth following.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
by Glenn Cooper
This is another in the Cal Donovan series. Donovan is a professor of Religion at Harvard University. He spends much of his personal time researching in the Vatican archives and writing books. He has a special relationship with the current pope due to help he has provided previously (documented in previous books).
What Donovan discovers in the archives - at the behest of the pope - is that the Catholic church borrowed money from Jewish bankers hundreds of years earlier and the loan was never repaid. The amount owed is now in the billions of dollars. Payment would bankrupt the church.
When the descendants of the banking family and the Pope come up with a novel repayment plan, the old guard in the Vatican will stop at nothing to prevent the deal. Donovan is right in the middle of this mess!
As with most of Mr. Cooper's books, the Catholic church is a major player here. And as usual we follow both sides of the dispute. Mr. Cooper is a good writer and manages to involve his readers in these stories. Cal Donovan is a character worth following.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
March 6, 2026
I was offered this book as an ARC at a time when I was looking for something that could distract my father, who was in the ICU. We ended up enjoying the story very much, especially the main character, who we later discovered appears in several other books investigating fascinating topics through suspenseful adventures.
Unfortunately, my father was not able to enjoy the end of the book with me. Because of that, it took me longer than expected to return to the story and finish it, and for that I would like to apologize to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the delay in leaving this review. During this time, I also realized that grief affected not only my reading pace but sometimes the kind of books I could handle. When the suspense or emotional intensity becomes too high, I occasionally need to pause and switch to something lighter before returning. It’s not a reflection of the story itself, but simply part of navigating this difficult time.
That being said, the story is engaging from the very first page. It kept me curious and thinking about it even after I put the book down for the day. The author does a great job blending history, suspense, and investigation in a way that keeps the reader constantly wondering what will come next. While I prefer books over their screen adaptations, I believe this series has the kind of scope, suspense, and intriguing themes that could translate very well to the screen.
I have already downloaded the next book in the series and look forward to continuing the journey with this character, even if it takes me a little longer than usual while I navigate this difficult time.
Unfortunately, my father was not able to enjoy the end of the book with me. Because of that, it took me longer than expected to return to the story and finish it, and for that I would like to apologize to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the delay in leaving this review. During this time, I also realized that grief affected not only my reading pace but sometimes the kind of books I could handle. When the suspense or emotional intensity becomes too high, I occasionally need to pause and switch to something lighter before returning. It’s not a reflection of the story itself, but simply part of navigating this difficult time.
That being said, the story is engaging from the very first page. It kept me curious and thinking about it even after I put the book down for the day. The author does a great job blending history, suspense, and investigation in a way that keeps the reader constantly wondering what will come next. While I prefer books over their screen adaptations, I believe this series has the kind of scope, suspense, and intriguing themes that could translate very well to the screen.
I have already downloaded the next book in the series and look forward to continuing the journey with this character, even if it takes me a little longer than usual while I navigate this difficult time.
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