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The Pius Trilogy #1
A Pius Man
Murder in the Vatican!
As the head of Vatican security, Giovanni Figlia must protect a new, African Pope who courts controversy every other day. The Pope’s latest project is to make Pius XII, “Hitler’s Pope,” a saint. Things haven’t gotten better since the Pope employed American mercenary Sean Ryan.
Then a body fell onto the Vatican doorstep.
Mercenaries, spies, beautiful women, international intrigue and ancient secrets – The Pius Trilogy has it all!
As the head of Vatican security, Giovanni Figlia must protect a new, African Pope who courts controversy every other day. The Pope’s latest project is to make Pius XII, “Hitler’s Pope,” a saint. Things haven’t gotten better since the Pope employed American mercenary Sean Ryan.
Then a body fell onto the Vatican doorstep.
Mercenaries, spies, beautiful women, international intrigue and ancient secrets – The Pius Trilogy has it all!
ebook
First published March 21, 2013
101 people are currently reading
455 people want to read
About the author
Declan Finn
109 books748 followersDeclan Finn is the NYC based author of books ranging from thrillers to urban fantasy to SciFi, including the 2016 Dragon Award Nominated Novel for Best horror, Honor at Stake, 2017 for Live and Let Bite, and 2018 for Codename: Unsub in best Apocalypse. He is known for "his strong fight scenes and is romance novels are sexy without being dirty, providing enough sexual tension to curl toes."
He hosts the Catholic Geek Radio show, and can be found wherever someone is starting trouble. He also writes thrillers, video game reviews, and works for several blogs.
He is one of a legion of writers over at The Catholic Geeks blog (a legion, for we are many). Other books he has written includes the comedy-thriller It Was Only on Stun! where he blows up a sci-fi convention (no, not this one). He co-authored the science fiction espionage novel Codename: Winterborn. However, he is most proud of The Pius Trilogy – which includes “A Pius Man,” “A Pius Legacy,” “A Pius Stand,” and an anthology, “Pius Tales.”
He hosts the Catholic Geek Radio show, and can be found wherever someone is starting trouble. He also writes thrillers, video game reviews, and works for several blogs.
He is one of a legion of writers over at The Catholic Geeks blog (a legion, for we are many). Other books he has written includes the comedy-thriller It Was Only on Stun! where he blows up a sci-fi convention (no, not this one). He co-authored the science fiction espionage novel Codename: Winterborn. However, he is most proud of The Pius Trilogy – which includes “A Pius Man,” “A Pius Legacy,” “A Pius Stand,” and an anthology, “Pius Tales.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 23, 2022
Note: This book is currently out of print. The author is now working with a new publisher. But it is such an excellent read I am still writing a review of this edition. It will be updated with link to the new edition when it releases!
This is a brilliant book! The further I got into it, the more I was hooked. It is an amazing read. It is excellent as fiction and as presenting historical fact. It reached a point where I could just not put the book down. In many ways it reads like Robert Ludlum or Tom Clancy on steroids, And it puts the works of Dan Brown to shame for research and integrity. At the end he gives several references for works that support it as presented in this story and also several opposing views. The authors not at the end is excellent he states:
“The history here is completely true, with the exception of Pope Pius XII sending assassins after Hitler and his upper echelon. Most of the arguments that have been presented in real life, for and against Pius XII, have been inserted into the book. The author of Hitler's Pope, for example, really did backpedal about Pius, turning his attention towards Pope John Paul II not long after the Pope died in 2005. At least one source used false documents by a convicted forger, and yet other researchers have used real sources, leaving out data that exonerates Pius XII—some have argued deliberately.
The discussion of the Soviets’ policy toward religion in general and the Catholic Church in particular is well documented. Rolf Hochhuth’s play, The Deputy, which first accused Pius XII of supporting the Nazis, really was supported by the USSR. Try The Sword and the Shield by Vasili Mitrokhin and Christopher Andrews for the history between Rome and Moscow. Andropov’s plan to separate the Church of Rome from the American Catholic Church is real—the details, obviously, are made up. The list of people whom the Soviets had supported is real, and is longer than is portrayed in the novel. Additional material can be taken from the works of Robert A. Graham, SJ. The Mikhailov family is, to my knowledge, a complete fabrication, though the history around them isn't.”
And also:
“The Goyim Brigade, anything on a “new” Knights Templar, or Vatican Intelligence, is completely a product of my deluded imagination. Any and all similarities between the characters in the book and real people are completely miraculous. If any of them are real, I would like to meet none of them in a dark alley anytime soon. And they are probably hired as Vatican Ninjas.
Everything political, and referred to in past tense, is true—about the Soviet Union, the United Nations and their resolution against Israel, legal action against the Church in the United States, etc. The analysis of those facts is purely that of my characters, who are, again, paranoid by profession.”
This was the eighth story I have read by Declan Finn in the last 3 months. I have read the first 5 in the Saint Tommy Series, the first in the White Ops Series, and now the first in this series. And I cannot but put the pieces together between this series and one far in the future the White Ops books. Many of his works are coming back into print with a new publisher. And Some new volumes in those other two series. But I can state emphatically that readers are in for a treat when this story and series is back in print. I have been greatly impressed by all I have read that he has written. But back to this story, the description of this story is:
“As the head of Vatican security, Giovanni Figlia must protect a new, African Pope who courts controversy every other day. The Pope's latest project is to make Pius XII, "Hitler's Pope," a saint. Things haven't gotten better since the Pope employed American mercenary Sean Ryan.
Then a body fell onto the Vatican doorstep.
Soon, a pattern emerges-- people who go into the Pius XII historical archives are dying. Each time, a priest has been in the background-- a priest close to the Pope. One of the victims was an al-Qaeda operative, drawing Scott "Mossad" Murphy of Israeli intelligence to Rome.
Now, Ryan, Murphy and Figlia must join forces to unravel the mystery around the Vatican, as even the man Giovanni is supposed to protect looks like a suspect. To get out of this alive, they must discover if Hitler's Pope was a Nazi collaborator, or a pious man.”
This story has it all guns, bombs, plots, historic fact and a pope like one we need! The story races from nearly beginning to end. Starting with a murder then the assassin being taken out the story is off to the races. Nearly all the agencies from real life are represented and a few of Finn’s imaginings. This story is masterfully written. It has amazing characters. An excellent plot and pace. It is an action thriller, but the story has a purpose. It is a much better novel than many I read when I was younger, and even some I read today that are read just for entertainment purposes. I came away from this book with a deep desire to read more by and about Pope Pius XII and an ever greater commitment to read all the work s of Finn.
Last year I found I had a few books from Karina Fabian that I had purchased back in 2011 on my Kindle that I had not got around to reading. Like this those two are being rewritten and out of print. This was another long forgotten gem. If I had read it when I originally picked it up, I would not be playing catch up with over 35 books by him still on my to be read list!
This story reads like a cross up of James Bond with the TV Series The Fall Guy, set in and around the Vatican, with a generous dollop of history, a lot of action. And All kinds of government agencies.
I hope the new editions of this and other of the 5 books in the trilogy are reprinted soon. I know I will be recommending it often. And if you just cannot wait, track down a used copy, you will not be disappointed. I have been more impressed with each volume I read from Finn, and this one was amazing! I look forward to many more great reads from his most creative pen!
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan!
This is a brilliant book! The further I got into it, the more I was hooked. It is an amazing read. It is excellent as fiction and as presenting historical fact. It reached a point where I could just not put the book down. In many ways it reads like Robert Ludlum or Tom Clancy on steroids, And it puts the works of Dan Brown to shame for research and integrity. At the end he gives several references for works that support it as presented in this story and also several opposing views. The authors not at the end is excellent he states:
“The history here is completely true, with the exception of Pope Pius XII sending assassins after Hitler and his upper echelon. Most of the arguments that have been presented in real life, for and against Pius XII, have been inserted into the book. The author of Hitler's Pope, for example, really did backpedal about Pius, turning his attention towards Pope John Paul II not long after the Pope died in 2005. At least one source used false documents by a convicted forger, and yet other researchers have used real sources, leaving out data that exonerates Pius XII—some have argued deliberately.
The discussion of the Soviets’ policy toward religion in general and the Catholic Church in particular is well documented. Rolf Hochhuth’s play, The Deputy, which first accused Pius XII of supporting the Nazis, really was supported by the USSR. Try The Sword and the Shield by Vasili Mitrokhin and Christopher Andrews for the history between Rome and Moscow. Andropov’s plan to separate the Church of Rome from the American Catholic Church is real—the details, obviously, are made up. The list of people whom the Soviets had supported is real, and is longer than is portrayed in the novel. Additional material can be taken from the works of Robert A. Graham, SJ. The Mikhailov family is, to my knowledge, a complete fabrication, though the history around them isn't.”
And also:
“The Goyim Brigade, anything on a “new” Knights Templar, or Vatican Intelligence, is completely a product of my deluded imagination. Any and all similarities between the characters in the book and real people are completely miraculous. If any of them are real, I would like to meet none of them in a dark alley anytime soon. And they are probably hired as Vatican Ninjas.
Everything political, and referred to in past tense, is true—about the Soviet Union, the United Nations and their resolution against Israel, legal action against the Church in the United States, etc. The analysis of those facts is purely that of my characters, who are, again, paranoid by profession.”
This was the eighth story I have read by Declan Finn in the last 3 months. I have read the first 5 in the Saint Tommy Series, the first in the White Ops Series, and now the first in this series. And I cannot but put the pieces together between this series and one far in the future the White Ops books. Many of his works are coming back into print with a new publisher. And Some new volumes in those other two series. But I can state emphatically that readers are in for a treat when this story and series is back in print. I have been greatly impressed by all I have read that he has written. But back to this story, the description of this story is:
“As the head of Vatican security, Giovanni Figlia must protect a new, African Pope who courts controversy every other day. The Pope's latest project is to make Pius XII, "Hitler's Pope," a saint. Things haven't gotten better since the Pope employed American mercenary Sean Ryan.
Then a body fell onto the Vatican doorstep.
Soon, a pattern emerges-- people who go into the Pius XII historical archives are dying. Each time, a priest has been in the background-- a priest close to the Pope. One of the victims was an al-Qaeda operative, drawing Scott "Mossad" Murphy of Israeli intelligence to Rome.
Now, Ryan, Murphy and Figlia must join forces to unravel the mystery around the Vatican, as even the man Giovanni is supposed to protect looks like a suspect. To get out of this alive, they must discover if Hitler's Pope was a Nazi collaborator, or a pious man.”
This story has it all guns, bombs, plots, historic fact and a pope like one we need! The story races from nearly beginning to end. Starting with a murder then the assassin being taken out the story is off to the races. Nearly all the agencies from real life are represented and a few of Finn’s imaginings. This story is masterfully written. It has amazing characters. An excellent plot and pace. It is an action thriller, but the story has a purpose. It is a much better novel than many I read when I was younger, and even some I read today that are read just for entertainment purposes. I came away from this book with a deep desire to read more by and about Pope Pius XII and an ever greater commitment to read all the work s of Finn.
Last year I found I had a few books from Karina Fabian that I had purchased back in 2011 on my Kindle that I had not got around to reading. Like this those two are being rewritten and out of print. This was another long forgotten gem. If I had read it when I originally picked it up, I would not be playing catch up with over 35 books by him still on my to be read list!
This story reads like a cross up of James Bond with the TV Series The Fall Guy, set in and around the Vatican, with a generous dollop of history, a lot of action. And All kinds of government agencies.
I hope the new editions of this and other of the 5 books in the trilogy are reprinted soon. I know I will be recommending it often. And if you just cannot wait, track down a used copy, you will not be disappointed. I have been more impressed with each volume I read from Finn, and this one was amazing! I look forward to many more great reads from his most creative pen!
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan!
June 28, 2016
"A Pius Man" by Declan Finn
"A Pius Man" by Declan Finn
Last night i finished reading A Pius Man by Declan Finn. The best way to describe this book is to say that it's a pro-Catholic version of Dan Brown's writings. The story begins when a researcher at the Vatican archives finds something he shouldn't see. Somebody doesn't want it to get out. Of course they kill him for it. Action and hijinks ensue.
Most modern explicitly Christian fiction, to be blunt, sucks. I mean, it's really, really bad. Thankfully that is absolutely not the case here. This book is an enjoyable read.
The best thing about this book is the fun characters. I particularly enjoyed Sean Ryan, the Hollywood stuntman turned mercenary action hero. His background may seem to many to be implausible, but I've known enough people from really strange backgrounds that it actually felt more real to me for it. I also greatly enjoyed his portrayal of the fictional Pope Pius XIII. His life history rings very true, and he feels like a priest - the best kind of priest.
This is one of Mr. Finn's earlier novels. I picked it as the first to read and review under the mistaken impression that it actually was his first novel. Unfortunately, some of that shows through. Although the characters are as fun as I've already mentioned, there are a bit too many of them for this particular story. It is sometimes hard to keep straight what is happening to whom. There's also a bit too much expository dialogue. Indeed, even the author realizes this. One character goes so far as to explicitly comment that they're drifting into "Dan Brown monologue" territory. The comment would sit a little better if the book hadn't actually drifted a bit too far into that already.
On the other hand, the action flows pretty well - and there's rather a lot of it. That helps keep the exposition dumps from dragging the book down too far. Some of it is a little over the top. But then we kind of hope for that out of our action novels, don't we? It never goes so far as to break one out of the story.
A Pius Man is a strong read. I think most people will enjoy it, even non-Catholics. But the strongest audience for this book is definitely going to be those who want good, fun, action thrillers that don't insult their faith. I give the book four stars out of five and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
"A Pius Man" by Declan Finn
Last night i finished reading A Pius Man by Declan Finn. The best way to describe this book is to say that it's a pro-Catholic version of Dan Brown's writings. The story begins when a researcher at the Vatican archives finds something he shouldn't see. Somebody doesn't want it to get out. Of course they kill him for it. Action and hijinks ensue.
Most modern explicitly Christian fiction, to be blunt, sucks. I mean, it's really, really bad. Thankfully that is absolutely not the case here. This book is an enjoyable read.
The best thing about this book is the fun characters. I particularly enjoyed Sean Ryan, the Hollywood stuntman turned mercenary action hero. His background may seem to many to be implausible, but I've known enough people from really strange backgrounds that it actually felt more real to me for it. I also greatly enjoyed his portrayal of the fictional Pope Pius XIII. His life history rings very true, and he feels like a priest - the best kind of priest.
This is one of Mr. Finn's earlier novels. I picked it as the first to read and review under the mistaken impression that it actually was his first novel. Unfortunately, some of that shows through. Although the characters are as fun as I've already mentioned, there are a bit too many of them for this particular story. It is sometimes hard to keep straight what is happening to whom. There's also a bit too much expository dialogue. Indeed, even the author realizes this. One character goes so far as to explicitly comment that they're drifting into "Dan Brown monologue" territory. The comment would sit a little better if the book hadn't actually drifted a bit too far into that already.
On the other hand, the action flows pretty well - and there's rather a lot of it. That helps keep the exposition dumps from dragging the book down too far. Some of it is a little over the top. But then we kind of hope for that out of our action novels, don't we? It never goes so far as to break one out of the story.
A Pius Man is a strong read. I think most people will enjoy it, even non-Catholics. But the strongest audience for this book is definitely going to be those who want good, fun, action thrillers that don't insult their faith. I give the book four stars out of five and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
March 11, 2014
A Pius Man is a book for manly men with brains. Lead with the big compliment, right?
As a former-Catholic I wasn't sure the book would pique my interest. After all I was completely underwhelmed with the Dan Brown books and movies, why would this Catholic thriller be any different?
Well first, Declan knows how to write believable dialogue between intelligent people. He knows how much history to address without going into Michael Crichton's State of Fear territory and he has an excellent sense of good action.
Read this book or the Pope will throw a smoke grenade at you.
As a former-Catholic I wasn't sure the book would pique my interest. After all I was completely underwhelmed with the Dan Brown books and movies, why would this Catholic thriller be any different?
Well first, Declan knows how to write believable dialogue between intelligent people. He knows how much history to address without going into Michael Crichton's State of Fear territory and he has an excellent sense of good action.
Read this book or the Pope will throw a smoke grenade at you.
September 16, 2017
How can you not like a book which starts a scene with "The Pope held the smoke grenades"?
September 17, 2019
he is just like a normal police detective but he works for the pope and he needs to keep them safe. a dead body lands at his feet and before too long many more are appearing. What is going on?.Who is behind it all? Can he find them? See if he can solve it
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 8, 2018
Finn writes as well as Clive Cussler, which is a compliment in most ways when it comes to this example of the action genre. He sets up an interesting premise, peoples his script with the standard cast of impossibly talented heroes and heroines with the standard WW II -movie bomber crew diversity --- and proceeds to put them through exhausting paces until the final pages. That being said . . . there is an ax being ground in reasonably steady fashion throughout the book, and if you know much about Pius XII, it will eventually prove irritating. Finn provides a list of sources for his premises at the end of the book, and while he is right about Cornwell's execrable Hitler's Pope, he misses the boat with Susan Zucotti's Under His Very Window. You know you're in trouble when Finn can't spell Zucotti's name correctly. I can't reveal more of the premise without spoiling Finn's plot, but I do question the idea that a Pope would ever act in the manner he asserts, but if he did, it would torpedo his canonization process in a Roman heartbeat. I think the safest way to discuss Pius' role during the fascist/Nazi period is to call it "complicated".
The action sequences are described in such detail that they can serve as a shot-by-shot guide for a future movie. The dialogue ranges from competent to twee; as I said, he writes as well as Cussler, and better than Dan Brown. Finn takes a few potshots at Brown, which is totally understandable if you are working the same side of the street without the same success. My only reservation is that just as Brown creates a universe of impossibly arcane Church/art history (Templars, albino Opus Dei assassins, Dante and Da Vinci in cahoots with conspiracy theorists everywhere, yada yada yada), Finn has done the same but from the opposite point of view. Special Forces priests with "violet eyes" and "silver hair"?
I like this kind of thriller. It usually (in the case of Cussler, always) provides a few hours of mindless entertainment. As I said, A Pius Man is competent in its elements. But it makes a serious mistake, I think, in attempting to integrate the morality of Pius XII as as a major plot point. You're not doing something as insane as raising the Titanic or discovering the Library at Alexandria. Pius XII is still far too close and controversial a figure to hang a thriller on. As someone who has read nearly all of the sources Finn has, it pinged me too many times about actual history.
The action sequences are described in such detail that they can serve as a shot-by-shot guide for a future movie. The dialogue ranges from competent to twee; as I said, he writes as well as Cussler, and better than Dan Brown. Finn takes a few potshots at Brown, which is totally understandable if you are working the same side of the street without the same success. My only reservation is that just as Brown creates a universe of impossibly arcane Church/art history (Templars, albino Opus Dei assassins, Dante and Da Vinci in cahoots with conspiracy theorists everywhere, yada yada yada), Finn has done the same but from the opposite point of view. Special Forces priests with "violet eyes" and "silver hair"?
I like this kind of thriller. It usually (in the case of Cussler, always) provides a few hours of mindless entertainment. As I said, A Pius Man is competent in its elements. But it makes a serious mistake, I think, in attempting to integrate the morality of Pius XII as as a major plot point. You're not doing something as insane as raising the Titanic or discovering the Library at Alexandria. Pius XII is still far too close and controversial a figure to hang a thriller on. As someone who has read nearly all of the sources Finn has, it pinged me too many times about actual history.
June 6, 2013
I enjoyed this fast-paced thriller that begins with a bang (an explosion and two murders) and ends with a bang (lots of killing inside the Vatican walls) and has lots of action in between. At first, I wasn't sure who was a good guy and who was a bad guy.
Essentially, summarizing in a few sentences: the new pope wants to make Pope Pius XII (so-called "Hitler's Pope") a saint; there are secret archives containing extensive documentation on Pope Pius XII. Anyone who gets too close to the Pius XII archives winds up dead. Eventually, all the good guys must work together to determine whether Pius XII was Hitler's Pope or whether he was, in reality, a pious man (hence the title).
I liked the humor and found myself chuckling on more than one occasion. However, I especially appreciated the author's efforts to bring forth true information regarding Pius XII. I believe this information is the strength of this novel.
A few interesting tidbits about this novel: at least one priest is trained in martial arts and some characters use the rosary as a weapon - literally, to hurt someone - and there is a new pontiff (Pius XIII) from Sudan.
However, while there is promise in the author's inherent writing style, there's a definite need for line by line copy-editing (there were typos and grammatical errors) as well as developmental editing.
Most of this novel is either dialogue or fighting, although not overly graphic. So if you like a lot of action (in the form of fighting), then you'll probably enjoy this book. There were too many protagonists, in my opinion, and I wasn't really able to "bond" with one or two main characters because of that. It was also difficult keeping track of characters because there were so many.
The bottom line, though, is that I enjoyed the story and I appreciated the author's efforts.
Essentially, summarizing in a few sentences: the new pope wants to make Pope Pius XII (so-called "Hitler's Pope") a saint; there are secret archives containing extensive documentation on Pope Pius XII. Anyone who gets too close to the Pius XII archives winds up dead. Eventually, all the good guys must work together to determine whether Pius XII was Hitler's Pope or whether he was, in reality, a pious man (hence the title).
I liked the humor and found myself chuckling on more than one occasion. However, I especially appreciated the author's efforts to bring forth true information regarding Pius XII. I believe this information is the strength of this novel.
A few interesting tidbits about this novel: at least one priest is trained in martial arts and some characters use the rosary as a weapon - literally, to hurt someone - and there is a new pontiff (Pius XIII) from Sudan.
However, while there is promise in the author's inherent writing style, there's a definite need for line by line copy-editing (there were typos and grammatical errors) as well as developmental editing.
Most of this novel is either dialogue or fighting, although not overly graphic. So if you like a lot of action (in the form of fighting), then you'll probably enjoy this book. There were too many protagonists, in my opinion, and I wasn't really able to "bond" with one or two main characters because of that. It was also difficult keeping track of characters because there were so many.
The bottom line, though, is that I enjoyed the story and I appreciated the author's efforts.
January 14, 2014
I very much enjoyed this book. I am not well learned in Catholic history, and this book made me desire to learn more. The characters are well developed and the plot keeps the reader involved.
October 21, 2013
There’s a lot going on in A Pius Man: A Holy Thriller (The Pius Trilogy) (Volume 1). Finn assembles a massive cast of characters for this work reminiscent of the world of Daniel Siva crossed with that of Dan Brown. When the description says that these investigators are unlikely, they truly are. As a reader I puzzled over the idea of what each was doing in the Vatican from their respective countries but as the story unfolds, their goals become clear. Finn helpfully adds links to additional information regarding key characters that enhance their role in the plot line.
A Pius Man: A Holy Thriller (The Pius Trilogy) (Volume 1) has the feel of a well researched and plausible book. Much like Dan Brown, a lot of what is written appears to be based in fact with elements made up for enhancement in the story. A quick net search shows me that there has not been an African Pope since 198 A.D. though African archbishops have certainly been in the running. Another search shows that Catholic Archbishops in the Sudan do have cause to fear violence. The aforementioned Silva travels to varied countries and researches in those settings before writing and Finn’s work has that same feel of authenticity. This has not happened but it’s not so beyond the realm of possibility that it could.
Overall, A Pius Man: A Holy Thriller (The Pius Trilogy) (Volume 1) is a really solid work worthy of four stars. The story flows well and the action is well placed. There are times when we’re overloaded with information but the author is careful to give it to us in a way where we don’t break with the story. If you like political intrigue, A Pius Man: A Holy Thriller (The Pius Trilogy) (Volume 1) is the novel for you.
A Pius Man: A Holy Thriller (The Pius Trilogy) (Volume 1) has the feel of a well researched and plausible book. Much like Dan Brown, a lot of what is written appears to be based in fact with elements made up for enhancement in the story. A quick net search shows me that there has not been an African Pope since 198 A.D. though African archbishops have certainly been in the running. Another search shows that Catholic Archbishops in the Sudan do have cause to fear violence. The aforementioned Silva travels to varied countries and researches in those settings before writing and Finn’s work has that same feel of authenticity. This has not happened but it’s not so beyond the realm of possibility that it could.
Overall, A Pius Man: A Holy Thriller (The Pius Trilogy) (Volume 1) is a really solid work worthy of four stars. The story flows well and the action is well placed. There are times when we’re overloaded with information but the author is careful to give it to us in a way where we don’t break with the story. If you like political intrigue, A Pius Man: A Holy Thriller (The Pius Trilogy) (Volume 1) is the novel for you.
December 19, 2013
First, I would like to thank the author Declan Finn for giving me this book for an honest review. This is a very well written mystery and I kept turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next, there was quite a bit of action and the story has a lot of research invested in the story. Some of the chapters had some info at the end of those chapters pointing you to blogs for info on a specific subject introduced or expounded on in that chapter. I felt that those could have been added at the end of the book as it was a bit of an interference of keeping ingrossed in the story, when your told to go look up actual data on the subject or where you can do so, just should have been at the end of the book not the chapters. I am looking forward to Declan's next book.
March 26, 2013
This is one of the few books where learning history, philosophy, and religion is painless. In addition, I'm seeing where a trilogy really begins. I want to see what else this author holds in this universe.
January 13, 2018
This gets a qualified 4 stars: I really liked it, but struggle to think of anyone I know that I'd recommend it to.
Declan Finn seems like he'd be a great guy to go and have a beer with. I can imagine him pounding the table and exclaiming about how Dan Brown and his ilk dare to write thrillers about conspiracy and mayhem in the Catholic church. "We've been doing conspiracy and politics for 2000 years!", I can hear him declaim, "It's my birthright, I could write a much better version, and get the history right too! It would have spying Jesuits, Templar rings, Nazi secrets, Ninja assassins in the Vatican City, a kick-ass black Pope, a ton of cool but strange weaponry, and some HUUUGE action setpieces. Oh, and plot twists everywhere!"
The four stars is because, somehow, he does deliver all of that. Dan Brown, Jet Li and James Bond can eat their hearts out. I'll even forgive the essential ludicrousness of the plot conceit and a certain amount of info-dump as being integral to the genre. Also, the characters were ultimately more interesting than in his other novel I've read so far (Honor At Stake).
So why am I not recommending this to everyone I know?
* Too much infodump about the real Pius XII. Look, my level of history-geekiness is well north of anyone I know, and even I thought he was trying to pack a bit much in. I realise it's a key part of his plot and why he's writing but book, if you really want to do that, you need a narrative reason; perhaps some flashback chapters around Sean's grandfather to "show not tell".
* Too much American church-politics-ranting: unlike the Pius history, this was completely incidental to the plot and felt like virtue signalling. It would put off a lot of my friends for no reason, even though I agree with him about chunks of it.
* Too many POV characters, especially early in the book. I'm not saying it's an easy problem to solve in a spy novel with lots of characters, but too many POVs makes it hard to track and slow to start caring about any of them.
* Some occasional narrative discontinuities, where in the middle of an action scene I had to stop and reread a paragraph jump three times to try and work out what on earth just happened, or why. It needed an editor in places.
Declan Finn seems like he'd be a great guy to go and have a beer with. I can imagine him pounding the table and exclaiming about how Dan Brown and his ilk dare to write thrillers about conspiracy and mayhem in the Catholic church. "We've been doing conspiracy and politics for 2000 years!", I can hear him declaim, "It's my birthright, I could write a much better version, and get the history right too! It would have spying Jesuits, Templar rings, Nazi secrets, Ninja assassins in the Vatican City, a kick-ass black Pope, a ton of cool but strange weaponry, and some HUUUGE action setpieces. Oh, and plot twists everywhere!"
The four stars is because, somehow, he does deliver all of that. Dan Brown, Jet Li and James Bond can eat their hearts out. I'll even forgive the essential ludicrousness of the plot conceit and a certain amount of info-dump as being integral to the genre. Also, the characters were ultimately more interesting than in his other novel I've read so far (Honor At Stake).
So why am I not recommending this to everyone I know?
* Too much infodump about the real Pius XII. Look, my level of history-geekiness is well north of anyone I know, and even I thought he was trying to pack a bit much in. I realise it's a key part of his plot and why he's writing but book, if you really want to do that, you need a narrative reason; perhaps some flashback chapters around Sean's grandfather to "show not tell".
* Too much American church-politics-ranting: unlike the Pius history, this was completely incidental to the plot and felt like virtue signalling. It would put off a lot of my friends for no reason, even though I agree with him about chunks of it.
* Too many POV characters, especially early in the book. I'm not saying it's an easy problem to solve in a spy novel with lots of characters, but too many POVs makes it hard to track and slow to start caring about any of them.
* Some occasional narrative discontinuities, where in the middle of an action scene I had to stop and reread a paragraph jump three times to try and work out what on earth just happened, or why. It needed an editor in places.
August 3, 2019
I was in Europe during the era of the Fall of the Iron Curtain, the Berlin Wall, Perastroyka, the so-called reunification of Germany, and Mikhail Gorbachev. We read copies of our Stasi files - mine was brief and boring- documenting entries, exits, student programs, and what forms we filled out for our various staff and students.
Recovered documents from the camps that had not previously been sorted began to be analyzed and more efforts made at preservation. I had an excellent laugh at the joke that even a pizza could not be ordered without reams of paper being used. It does well raise questions how papal efforts against Hitler might have been made with little documentation. The role that Pius XII played was already under debate then.
This exciting book combines many snippets from history with good action and adventure- and it kicks it up a notch.
Personally, I can readily believe that the Pope was righteously enraged at the public compromises made to save the refugees. Acting as an enraged Italian nobleman with means, it is not outside the scope of my imagination that he might have tried to strike back. I would expect better results from such an effort, though as this novel aptly portrays, much can me difficult to manage amid chaos.
Great thought provoking read.
If you are a fan of Clancy, Lee Childs or Jordan Vezina you might just have found your next juicy read!
Recovered documents from the camps that had not previously been sorted began to be analyzed and more efforts made at preservation. I had an excellent laugh at the joke that even a pizza could not be ordered without reams of paper being used. It does well raise questions how papal efforts against Hitler might have been made with little documentation. The role that Pius XII played was already under debate then.
This exciting book combines many snippets from history with good action and adventure- and it kicks it up a notch.
Personally, I can readily believe that the Pope was righteously enraged at the public compromises made to save the refugees. Acting as an enraged Italian nobleman with means, it is not outside the scope of my imagination that he might have tried to strike back. I would expect better results from such an effort, though as this novel aptly portrays, much can me difficult to manage amid chaos.
Great thought provoking read.
If you are a fan of Clancy, Lee Childs or Jordan Vezina you might just have found your next juicy read!
July 31, 2019
Another great book and beginning of a series. I loved this book and the story. The head of the Vatican Police must solve the murder of a scholar doing research at the Vatican for the beatification of Pope Pius XII. He is particularly motivated as the body of his killer falls into his car. A plot against the current pope is suspected and Giovanni must join forces with several others to solve this murder and protect the Pope. While religion, particularly Catholicism is part of this story, it's exactly that, part of the story. There is nothing preachy about this book. The characters are real and flawed. The setting is revealed in all the glory and history of the Vatican and Rome. There is mystery, action, adventure and they come together in a perfect balance. I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed this book. It's everything I expect from this author and more. I wholeheartedly recommend this book. I am a huge fan and can't wait for more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 31, 2019
Another great book and beginning of a series. I loved this book and the story. The head of the Vatican Police must solve the murder of a scholar doing research at the Vatican for the beatification of Pope Pius XII. He is particularly motivated as the body of his killer falls into his car. A plot against the current pope is suspected and Giovanni must join forces with several others to solve this murder and protect the Pope. While religion, particularly Catholicism is part of this story, it's exactly that, part of the story. There is nothing preachy about this book. The characters are real and flawed. The setting is revealed in all the glory and history of the Vatican and Rome. There is mystery, action, adventure and they come together in a perfect balance. I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed this book. It's everything I expect from this author and more. I wholeheartedly recommend this book. I am a huge fan and can't wait for more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 3, 2019
Who is the pious man? After reading some of the negative reviews, I was concerned about reading this book. Thankfully I discovered this story is written in much the same style as his later books. It was a little confusing to keep track of all the characters, but I stuck with it and by the end of the story I was pretty comfortable with all the characters. Interspersed with the action scenes are some dialog scenes with Mr. Finn’s usual quirky sense of humor. I could picture the movie version as I read. I found this book of the same quality of Finn’s more recent publications.
I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
August 27, 2019
I really, really enjoyed the pace of this book. The author does a great job of making every word count without overusing words or over describing the characters, scenes, and situations faced in the story. Speaking of the characters, I found each to be well written and believable, especially the main character, Figlia.
This is the second book I have read from the author and just like the first one I read, I simply could not put it down! If you are searching for your next read and have an interest in suspenseful thrillers, political intrigue, or are simply looking for a good book to dive into, this book checks all of the boxes.
This is the second book I have read from the author and just like the first one I read, I simply could not put it down! If you are searching for your next read and have an interest in suspenseful thrillers, political intrigue, or are simply looking for a good book to dive into, this book checks all of the boxes.
August 8, 2019
I have a problem with this story. It has to much politics in it for me. I could not always fallow the plot ether. It sounded so good I just wanted to jump in and read. To many problems. It drives me nuts to not have been able to fallow it. Normally I don't have a problem with Mr. Finn's books,(I do LOVE the ones with Saint Tom in them). I received a complimentary review copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving a honest review.
March 1, 2018
Just a great action packed read for any reader of fiction.
Just a great action packed read for lovers of fiction with a solid background of historical fact. I stayed up all night till it was finished. Now to bed !
Just a great action packed read for lovers of fiction with a solid background of historical fact. I stayed up all night till it was finished. Now to bed !
March 8, 2018
An action packed adventure with a history lesson mixed in. For those that hope for a manly Pope to re-invigorate the Church, this book takes you there. If a critic prefers effeminate heros with homosexual tendencies, this book falls short. I look forward to reading the remaining books of this trilogy...I am confident they will be enlightening.
May 21, 2018
I found all of the action sequences well written, engaging, exciting and believable. On the other hand, the story that fills the spaces between the action, had some jumps in logic and left me wanting. It just didn't make sense for all of these, apparently, ultra competent characters to leave themselves and the Vatican open to attack.
July 31, 2019
Murder at the Vatican causes agents from different countries to work together to find a reason for the murder and find the killer. This story is fast-paced and action-packed while delivering a lesson in the Vatican and papal history. The characters in this story are well developed and described.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 12, 2019
I’ve read several books written by Declan Finn; he has done a great job at writing a good book; I will definitely be reading more of his books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
October 23, 2019
Badass characters with lots of flaws, trying to understand theological disputes while investigating multiple murders at the Vatican. All this action and political intrigue and police procedure gently leavened with Catholic creed and a truly kickass Pope (i.e. being a priest does not mean being a milquetoast). What is not to enjoy?
April 14, 2018
Ok but confusing read.
The story itself is fun but there are too many heavily detailed fight scenes that I began skipping over. Some of the dialogue among the characters was silly.
The story itself is fun but there are too many heavily detailed fight scenes that I began skipping over. Some of the dialogue among the characters was silly.
September 3, 2019
Unlike his other books this one took me a while to get into but once I was there it was a hard hitting rolicking ride to the finish with a high body count and some excellent fight scenes thrown in!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 20, 2020
Great action read
Declan Finn has produced a thrilling action filled book. I recommend it highly.
It was surprising to read that the Pope was from Africa in the story. Everything in the story is surreal. I hope and pray that whoever reads this book enjoys it.
Declan Finn has produced a thrilling action filled book. I recommend it highly.
It was surprising to read that the Pope was from Africa in the story. Everything in the story is surreal. I hope and pray that whoever reads this book enjoys it.
April 26, 2018
😤😡
One of the worst novels I read. You need a score card to keep up with the characters in this book, just like going through a maze. Keep it simple.
One of the worst novels I read. You need a score card to keep up with the characters in this book, just like going through a maze. Keep it simple.
May 5, 2020
Great mystery read
Non-stop action. Intrigue. Great characters. Fast paced, lethal weapons of an amazing sort. Looking forward to reading more in the series.
Non-stop action. Intrigue. Great characters. Fast paced, lethal weapons of an amazing sort. Looking forward to reading more in the series.
February 24, 2022
Fun read.
The speed of events muddled defining the characters but it was, overall, a compelling historical piece. Well worth the time.
The speed of events muddled defining the characters but it was, overall, a compelling historical piece. Well worth the time.
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