What do you think?
Rate this book
The Rock of Magus
A CRISIS IS BREWING IN THE VATICAN – AND ONLY ONE MAN CAN PREVENT DISASTER…
Jotham Fletcher returns in a race against time that takes him deep inside the Vatican. Cardinal Alpheus has ambitions far more sinister and explosive than anyone could imagine, and the death of Pope Linus is only the beginning.
Jotham is now a billionaire, dedicated to finding the Simonian Sect and he employs Madena, a former army officer, to help him. They rescue a televangelist in Seattle but find the photograph of a man who is soon elected as the new Pope, with Alpheus as his chief advisor.
The deadly Brotherhood re-emerges with Father Dominic at the helm. Jotham becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a cleric in Spain and the unwitting hero after a devastating event in Rome. He has a secret that he dare not reveal and is on the run from the police once again. But nothing prepares him for the final confrontation at the Pope’s summer retreat.
FEATURING: a fast-paced and gripping plot, chase sequences, murder and political intrigue in the Vatican, and a love story like no other.
Don't miss this action-packed thriller! Discover why it's Code Red in the Vatican.
There are three other books in this series - enjoy Jotham Fletcher’s continuing story.
Book 1: THE MAGUS COVENANT – The secret that will change the world
Book 3: THE MAGUS EPIPHANY – Ancient treasures and a new revelation
Book 4: HOLY SPEAR OF MAGUS – The covenant will be fulfilled
Jotham Fletcher returns in a race against time that takes him deep inside the Vatican. Cardinal Alpheus has ambitions far more sinister and explosive than anyone could imagine, and the death of Pope Linus is only the beginning.
Jotham is now a billionaire, dedicated to finding the Simonian Sect and he employs Madena, a former army officer, to help him. They rescue a televangelist in Seattle but find the photograph of a man who is soon elected as the new Pope, with Alpheus as his chief advisor.
The deadly Brotherhood re-emerges with Father Dominic at the helm. Jotham becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a cleric in Spain and the unwitting hero after a devastating event in Rome. He has a secret that he dare not reveal and is on the run from the police once again. But nothing prepares him for the final confrontation at the Pope’s summer retreat.
FEATURING: a fast-paced and gripping plot, chase sequences, murder and political intrigue in the Vatican, and a love story like no other.
Don't miss this action-packed thriller! Discover why it's Code Red in the Vatican.
There are three other books in this series - enjoy Jotham Fletcher’s continuing story.
Book 1: THE MAGUS COVENANT – The secret that will change the world
Book 3: THE MAGUS EPIPHANY – Ancient treasures and a new revelation
Book 4: HOLY SPEAR OF MAGUS – The covenant will be fulfilled
Unknown Binding
First published July 24, 2016
12 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Toni Pike
12 books27 followersToni Pike is a multi-genre author who enjoys writing page-turning fiction for adults, hilarious books for children, and non-fiction. She also loves travelling and being with family and friends. She lives in Australia and firmly believes that coffee and long walks are an essential part of any day.
Do you like books that you can’t stop reading? Pike is the author of LINDA’S MIDLIFE CRISIS, DESOLATION BLUFF, DEAD DRY HEART and The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series: THE MAGUS COVENANT, THE ROCK OF MAGUS, THE MAGUS EPIPHANY and HOLY SPEAR OF MAGUS.
The Brody Cody Series is for children aged 6-9: BRODY CODY AND THE STEPMOTHER FROM OUTER SPACE and BRODY CODY AND THE HAUNTED VACATION HOUSE.
She’s also the author of two non-fiction books. THE ONE WAY DIET is a no-nonsense guide to losing weight. HAPPY TRAVELS 101 is a short book of travel tips with advice for anyone who wants to travel overseas.
To find out more, her website is tonipike.com.
Do you like books that you can’t stop reading? Pike is the author of LINDA’S MIDLIFE CRISIS, DESOLATION BLUFF, DEAD DRY HEART and The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series: THE MAGUS COVENANT, THE ROCK OF MAGUS, THE MAGUS EPIPHANY and HOLY SPEAR OF MAGUS.
The Brody Cody Series is for children aged 6-9: BRODY CODY AND THE STEPMOTHER FROM OUTER SPACE and BRODY CODY AND THE HAUNTED VACATION HOUSE.
She’s also the author of two non-fiction books. THE ONE WAY DIET is a no-nonsense guide to losing weight. HAPPY TRAVELS 101 is a short book of travel tips with advice for anyone who wants to travel overseas.
To find out more, her website is tonipike.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 10, 2016
Vatican Palace (St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Italy). Pope Linus (Canadian) had brought some papers for Cardinal Alpheus (60, Canada) to sign.
The Cardinal took a Tibaldi fountain pen, placed it on the desk, & then commenced to smother Pope Linus with a pillow.
Jotham Fletcher (billionaire, former Franciscan Friar, Anglican priest, Australia, PhD) new job was to hunt down Simon Magus (magician/cult leader) & his Simonian Sect Brotherhood.
Jotham had acquired Iago Visser’s Beechcraft Premier One business jet, a mansion, a vast fortune & Felix & Cynthia Young (wife, Scottish) who had worked for Iago.
The cult was all over the world, & their mission was to destroy the Christian Church.
The Catholic Brotherhood had the same idea about the cult.
Sister Pauline, & Brother Gaspar Huet got Father Dominic out of the Holy Mother Catholic Mental Hospital.
What happened to Archbishop Pancras (Cadiz)?
Father Dominic & Brother Gaspar Huet were off to visit with Cardinal Alpheus.
The 2 met John Pedersen (financial advisor, treasurer).
He explained the Peter’s Pence to them.
Pope Theophilus greeted the public.
What later happened to Cardinal Alpheus?
Why were Captain Maria Rinaldi, & Lieutenant Bruno DiMarco (Caribinieri) looking for Cardinal Alpheus?
Where is Father Dominic’s new residence?
Warning: This book contains violence, & graphic adult content which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written historical fiction crime religious type thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a large set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great action-packed crime thriller movie, or a mini TV series. Fascinating. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Story Cartel; Smashwords; Chapman Reid Publications; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
The Cardinal took a Tibaldi fountain pen, placed it on the desk, & then commenced to smother Pope Linus with a pillow.
Jotham Fletcher (billionaire, former Franciscan Friar, Anglican priest, Australia, PhD) new job was to hunt down Simon Magus (magician/cult leader) & his Simonian Sect Brotherhood.
Jotham had acquired Iago Visser’s Beechcraft Premier One business jet, a mansion, a vast fortune & Felix & Cynthia Young (wife, Scottish) who had worked for Iago.
The cult was all over the world, & their mission was to destroy the Christian Church.
The Catholic Brotherhood had the same idea about the cult.
Sister Pauline, & Brother Gaspar Huet got Father Dominic out of the Holy Mother Catholic Mental Hospital.
What happened to Archbishop Pancras (Cadiz)?
Father Dominic & Brother Gaspar Huet were off to visit with Cardinal Alpheus.
The 2 met John Pedersen (financial advisor, treasurer).
He explained the Peter’s Pence to them.
Pope Theophilus greeted the public.
What later happened to Cardinal Alpheus?
Why were Captain Maria Rinaldi, & Lieutenant Bruno DiMarco (Caribinieri) looking for Cardinal Alpheus?
Where is Father Dominic’s new residence?
Warning: This book contains violence, & graphic adult content which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written historical fiction crime religious type thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a large set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great action-packed crime thriller movie, or a mini TV series. Fascinating. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Story Cartel; Smashwords; Chapman Reid Publications; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
July 10, 2023
Former Anglican Rector Jotham Fletcher continues on his quest to deal with the deadly pursuits of the Brotherhood of suspected members of the Simonian Sect. After saving televangelist whose behavior may have led the Brotherhood to suspect him, Fletcher heads to the Vatican. Shocking events happened one after another--the current Pope dying only months after taking office, a surprising choice installed to replace him and more.
It's a page-turner, accelerating the pace as it goes along. I finished it in one day.
Once again, Fletcher and his new assistant, Madena, are at risk. He avoids torture this time in the 2nd book of the series but he is still a suspect in deaths of other clerics. While I know little of the political conflicts of the Catholic church, power and corruption is the same whatever the venue and that's what keeps things moving. You don't need to be an insider, you just need to like mysteries, suspense and thrillers. Probably a good idea to start with the first book; if you liked that one, you'll go for this one. I'm in for the rest of the series.
It's a page-turner, accelerating the pace as it goes along. I finished it in one day.
Once again, Fletcher and his new assistant, Madena, are at risk. He avoids torture this time in the 2nd book of the series but he is still a suspect in deaths of other clerics. While I know little of the political conflicts of the Catholic church, power and corruption is the same whatever the venue and that's what keeps things moving. You don't need to be an insider, you just need to like mysteries, suspense and thrillers. Probably a good idea to start with the first book; if you liked that one, you'll go for this one. I'm in for the rest of the series.
October 5, 2025
The intrigue deepens in The Rock of Magus, where Jotham faces sinister Vatican ambitions and a rising tide of violence. As papal power shifts and the Brotherhood resurfaces, he must navigate betrayal, murder and political machinations. The story widens in scope, mixing religious power struggles with relentless action and pushing Jotham further into the heart of the ancient conflict.
A must-read!
A must-read!
October 1, 2016
Pope Linus is not the first and will not be the last to die at the hands of the Brotherhood. There are those that want to destroy the Catholic Church from within and will stop at nothing. The Rock of Magus is the second in a series with Jotham Fletcher as the hero who was once an Anglican priest and has become caught up in the battle between the Brotherhood and the Simonian Sect.
This book has plenty of action and intrigue, along with a little humour. The characters are believable, as is the plot which revolves around the Vatican and the secrecy it emanates. Toni Pike makes this a very descriptive, easy read. Towards the end, it became a definite page turner as I was hoping the evil ones would not get away. I look forward to reading another in this series.
This book has plenty of action and intrigue, along with a little humour. The characters are believable, as is the plot which revolves around the Vatican and the secrecy it emanates. Toni Pike makes this a very descriptive, easy read. Towards the end, it became a definite page turner as I was hoping the evil ones would not get away. I look forward to reading another in this series.
April 12, 2017
If you enjoy religious conspiracy thrillers, you will love Pike’s exciting, fast-paced adventure that takes readers to Rome and into the Vatican. Similar to Dan Brown’s main character, Robert Langdon in The DaVinci Code, Pike’s central character, Jotham Fletcher, also possesses unequaled expertise in a particular subject, in this case, the shadowy, religious figure Simon Magus.
I find it fascinating that Pike built her series around this little-known historical figure, a magician and cult leader at the time of the Apostles. Magus is mentioned in the Bible in Acts 8:9-24 as he tries to “buy” the anointing of the Holy Spirit, but was rebuked by the Apostles as a sorcerer and wicked charlatan. The heart of Pike’s adventure lies in this fictional, 21st century Simonian Sect, whose cult followers are nothing short of fanatical, according to her series.
Pike sets the scene for suspense, thrills and twists that leads readers to believe that Fletcher may not solve this mystery, as insurmountable odds stack against him and his female partner. I found the book to be a nail-biter and a page-turner!
The characters are believable, with Fletcher expressing doubt at one point, but using his shaky confidence to navigate the labyrinthine Vatican grounds as he and Madena attempt to solve the mystery. Pike’s research is extensive and written from the perspective of having visited Rome. I personally love it when authors write from their intimate knowledge of a subject and from the locations they have been.
I highly recommend this adventure series and am looking forward to book #3, The Magus Epiphany.
I find it fascinating that Pike built her series around this little-known historical figure, a magician and cult leader at the time of the Apostles. Magus is mentioned in the Bible in Acts 8:9-24 as he tries to “buy” the anointing of the Holy Spirit, but was rebuked by the Apostles as a sorcerer and wicked charlatan. The heart of Pike’s adventure lies in this fictional, 21st century Simonian Sect, whose cult followers are nothing short of fanatical, according to her series.
Pike sets the scene for suspense, thrills and twists that leads readers to believe that Fletcher may not solve this mystery, as insurmountable odds stack against him and his female partner. I found the book to be a nail-biter and a page-turner!
The characters are believable, with Fletcher expressing doubt at one point, but using his shaky confidence to navigate the labyrinthine Vatican grounds as he and Madena attempt to solve the mystery. Pike’s research is extensive and written from the perspective of having visited Rome. I personally love it when authors write from their intimate knowledge of a subject and from the locations they have been.
I highly recommend this adventure series and am looking forward to book #3, The Magus Epiphany.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews