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Three Marys
- GenresThriller
338 pages, Paperback
Published February 10, 2026
About the author
Glenn Cooper
36 books1,452 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 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 23, 2026
I read this book as a free review copy from NetGalley and this review is based on my reading the book and is a reflection of my honest feedback about the story.
I have read several of Glenn's books including other Cal Donovan adventures and this is easily one of Glenn Cooper’s more engaging and confident outings. It leans fully into religious mystery territory (a staple for Glenn Cooper who thrives in this vertical with some great books) and actually commits to the questions it raises rather than skimming the surface. I went in particularly curious and came out genuinely impressed.
The premise is bold and unsettling in the best way. Three young girls from different parts of the world, all named Mary become pregnant while still virgins. Naturally the Vatican panics and Cal Donovan is once again pulled in to investigate what could either be the greatest miracle in modern history or a carefully orchestrated catastrophe. From the start the story toys with belief, science, fear and power and it does so with real momentum.
What really worked for me was the tension between faith and explanation. Glenn never rushes to an answer and allows the story to explore how different characters react to the possibility of divine intervention. Believers see salvation skeptics see danger and institutions see control slipping through their fingers. That push and pull gives the novel weight and keeps it from feeling like a gimmick driven thriller.
The pacing is strong overall. Once the investigation begins the story moves quickly across locations and revelations build naturally rather than feeling forced. There are quieter moments but they feel intentional and give the reader space to sit with the implications of what is happening. I appreciated that the novel trusted its idea enough not to constantly rely on shock value.
Cal Donovan remains a familiar presence and while he does not evolve dramatically here he is still an effective guide through the chaos. Where the book really shines is in its handling of the three girls at the center of the mystery. They are not treated as plot devices but as real people caught in something far bigger than themselves and that grounding adds emotional impact to the larger themes.
My only real hesitation is that some resolutions come together a little too cleanly and a few side characters could have used more depth. Still these are small issues in a story that mostly delivers on its ambition.
Overall the Three Marys is smart, tense and surprisingly thoughtful. It asks uncomfortable questions and follows them through with confidence. For readers who enjoy religious thrillers that actually wrestle with belief rather than just exploiting it this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Four solid stars from me.
I have read several of Glenn's books including other Cal Donovan adventures and this is easily one of Glenn Cooper’s more engaging and confident outings. It leans fully into religious mystery territory (a staple for Glenn Cooper who thrives in this vertical with some great books) and actually commits to the questions it raises rather than skimming the surface. I went in particularly curious and came out genuinely impressed.
The premise is bold and unsettling in the best way. Three young girls from different parts of the world, all named Mary become pregnant while still virgins. Naturally the Vatican panics and Cal Donovan is once again pulled in to investigate what could either be the greatest miracle in modern history or a carefully orchestrated catastrophe. From the start the story toys with belief, science, fear and power and it does so with real momentum.
What really worked for me was the tension between faith and explanation. Glenn never rushes to an answer and allows the story to explore how different characters react to the possibility of divine intervention. Believers see salvation skeptics see danger and institutions see control slipping through their fingers. That push and pull gives the novel weight and keeps it from feeling like a gimmick driven thriller.
The pacing is strong overall. Once the investigation begins the story moves quickly across locations and revelations build naturally rather than feeling forced. There are quieter moments but they feel intentional and give the reader space to sit with the implications of what is happening. I appreciated that the novel trusted its idea enough not to constantly rely on shock value.
Cal Donovan remains a familiar presence and while he does not evolve dramatically here he is still an effective guide through the chaos. Where the book really shines is in its handling of the three girls at the center of the mystery. They are not treated as plot devices but as real people caught in something far bigger than themselves and that grounding adds emotional impact to the larger themes.
My only real hesitation is that some resolutions come together a little too cleanly and a few side characters could have used more depth. Still these are small issues in a story that mostly delivers on its ambition.
Overall the Three Marys is smart, tense and surprisingly thoughtful. It asks uncomfortable questions and follows them through with confidence. For readers who enjoy religious thrillers that actually wrestle with belief rather than just exploiting it this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Four solid stars from me.
March 16, 2026
I loved this book! The premise was one of the very best I have read in recent years and paid off throughout. I love the psychological twists and turns, peril and a bit of romance. This will absolutely be a Hollywood blockbuster in the next few years. Get in on the ground floor. 5 of 5 stars all day long!!!
February 24, 2026
I have read many books by this author and always enjoy them. They are very interesting and always have a good plot that keeps you turning pages.
March 25, 2026
An excellent premise and great characters. The plot dragged for me in the middle, but picked up about 65% into the story. Clever plot.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews