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Conclave
Catholic theology and Cold War politics collide in this fictionalized retelling of an important religious the sudden passing of Pope John Paul I and the hastily arranged conclave to elect his successor.
When the pope dies of an apparent heart attack, the United States and Soviet Union go on high alert. The United States might be able to loosen communism’s stranglehold on Eastern Europe if a non-Italian successor is chosen to lead the Catholic Church. But the Soviets are determined to keep an Italian in the papacy. CIA and KGB agents infiltrate the Vatican as the two countries try to win this dangerous game.
Back stateside, army officer Carter Caldwell is sent to persuade American cardinals to wield their influence in the conclave. On his assignment, he meets beautiful CIA analyst Katherine O’Connor. Carter can’t get her out of his mind, although plenty of problems demand his attention.
Before the conclave is over, the Sistine Chapel will be bugged, a spy in the Vatican’s kitchen will be murdered, and CIA and KGB operatives will exchange gunfire. As the most important figure in the Catholic world is finally chosen, one question Will he survive long enough to become pope?
When the pope dies of an apparent heart attack, the United States and Soviet Union go on high alert. The United States might be able to loosen communism’s stranglehold on Eastern Europe if a non-Italian successor is chosen to lead the Catholic Church. But the Soviets are determined to keep an Italian in the papacy. CIA and KGB agents infiltrate the Vatican as the two countries try to win this dangerous game.
Back stateside, army officer Carter Caldwell is sent to persuade American cardinals to wield their influence in the conclave. On his assignment, he meets beautiful CIA analyst Katherine O’Connor. Carter can’t get her out of his mind, although plenty of problems demand his attention.
Before the conclave is over, the Sistine Chapel will be bugged, a spy in the Vatican’s kitchen will be murdered, and CIA and KGB operatives will exchange gunfire. As the most important figure in the Catholic world is finally chosen, one question Will he survive long enough to become pope?
459 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2016
121 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 16, 2021
Full review coming soon to the blog (link in bio), but here's a quick snippet: 1. It's based on real history. 2. It gives great insight into what goes on during a conclave (when the Cardinals meet to elect a new pope). 3. It goes back and forth between different characters and different locations, allowing the reader to see things from different perspectives and try to piece together the puzzle as the information is slowly revealed. 4. The author is a retired army officer who served as a military assistant to the Secretary of the Army and oversaw part of the U.S. Army Special Operations program. Makes you wonder how much of this fictional storyline might have some basis in reality.
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December 22, 2020A Great story
Usually an author thanks everyone who helped him/her writing the story. Also, the author explains some of the story lines that make up the book. This does not appear in this book.
It is a sensational piece of good writing keeping the reader engrossed with flow of the story. I highly recommend this book. I also hope that the reader should be familiar with the Pope in question and his life. Get familiar with the history of that time.
Usually an author thanks everyone who helped him/her writing the story. Also, the author explains some of the story lines that make up the book. This does not appear in this book.
It is a sensational piece of good writing keeping the reader engrossed with flow of the story. I highly recommend this book. I also hope that the reader should be familiar with the Pope in question and his life. Get familiar with the history of that time.
October 31, 2017
A fantastic read
Tom Davis has expertly combined history with a thrilling story and given us a very entertaining view of what was arguably a crucial moment in the 20th century .
I can’t wait for your next thriller.
Tom Davis has expertly combined history with a thrilling story and given us a very entertaining view of what was arguably a crucial moment in the 20th century .
I can’t wait for your next thriller.
September 17, 2020
I received a complimentary copy.
There is quite a bit going on in each chapter of this very lengthy read. You just have to delve into the well created story lines and get used to the nicely thought out character setups with a great crossover of mixed genre.
There is quite a bit going on in each chapter of this very lengthy read. You just have to delve into the well created story lines and get used to the nicely thought out character setups with a great crossover of mixed genre.
September 19, 2017
This book is immensely thought provoking, stimulating, exciting, slightly horrifying, but enlightening. Hugely well researched and written. Keeps you on edge to the very ( unexpected)end.
February 26, 2019
Conclave
This is the second time I've read this in the last ten years and I enjoyed it as much this time around. Thank you Tom Davis for a truly great read.
This is the second time I've read this in the last ten years and I enjoyed it as much this time around. Thank you Tom Davis for a truly great read.
March 5, 2022
Worth a read
Excellent story. Although I figured some of it out the final twists were well done and I didn't spot them
Excellent story. Although I figured some of it out the final twists were well done and I didn't spot them
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October 4, 2024Outstanding story
November 20, 2016
Conclave is by far the best book I’ve read in quite some time that offers the suspense thriller with a hint of romance, and all the old cold war spy stuff that I love. While I am not Catholic, I have long admired the tradition and ceremony involved in selecting a new Pope and Tom Davis’ Conclave opened a lot of doors that I had previously not known. There was not one page that let me down, rather each page left me wanting more. It’s very obvious that Mr. Davis has had some type of international experience because he writes so easily and convincingly about not only the era of the CIA vs. the KGB, he had me convinced that something like this could take place and leaves me to wonder if it actually did (in some form) occur. I could find nothing missing in Conclave – it gave me the stay-awake-all-night urge to keep reading and that’s just what I did. I couldn’t wait to see what was on the next page, but while the ending was quite decisive and satisfying, I was sad to see it come. I’m eagerly looking forward to the next chapter in Carter and Kath’s relationship. Great job and a book I’m definitely going to recommend to all my bookworm friends.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews