THE POPE'S BUTCHER: Based on the True Story of a Serial Killer in the Medieval Vatican

by Joseph C. Gioconda

Abandoned as a child and raised by the Church, young Sebastian works tirelessly in his pursuit of priesthood. But when a shadowy hooded figure passes him a scroll, his careful plans face a turning point. It appears his name has drawn the attention of the Inquisition and his attendance is commanded at once—for retribution, information, or something else, he does not know.

Father Heinrich Institoris the Grand Inquisitor is lauded as a visionary man, driven by a burning desire to cleanse the world of Eve’s original sin by eradicating witches. As Inquisition courts bloom across Europe, he vows to leave no stone unturned, no hovel unexamined, and no woman alive, in his search for justice.

As the Inquisitor’s violent mission unfolds, Sebastian embarks on a quest through dank crypts, crumbling abbeys, and the darkest depravities known to man. Torn between duty and love when he encounters the beautiful pagan Brigantia, he fights to uncover the truth: of his past abandonment, the power of the occult, and just how far he’ll go to protect the Church he loves. A Church that is harboring deadly secrets.

Inspired by true historical figures and events in the 15th Century, The Pope’s Butcher is not only a hair-raising work of suspense and espionage, but an astonishing account of religion and the occult in the Middle Ages.

With an intriguing writing tone and a talent to create suspense and mystery from true events, Joseph C. Gioconda delivers a shocking story of serial murders within the Catholic Church. In writing his latest book, he has interviewed leading scholars in the U.S. and Europe and hired professional researchers to comb through newly discovered source material from Germany and Italy.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Medieval, Religion, Audiobook

292 pages, Paperback

Published May 26, 2021

Reviews

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I might have to say I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced, thoroughly researched – – A spellbinding read. I enjoyed it so much because of the writing.

The writing captures the reader and takes one on a journey with one hell of an ending. I must tell leaders in advance that it was a bit bloody but it is some thing the cover tells you right off the bat.

I love how it built throughout.

I received a free copy of this book from BookSirens and write this review voluntarily.

[Denis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't write reviews, but this is an exception. We read this in our book club and never has a book been so derided. Poor writing, poor editing (mistakes aplenty) and if you were ever in Ireland or 'Hibernia' you would know where is where. The geography of Ireland was all over the place. At some times it was extremely specific and other times it was wildly incorrect. A badly researched book

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I lied. I didn't read it, I couldn't. The writing was dire. Can you really describe someone's eyes as angular? The hero bemoans the fact that he has no memories of his mother, then a few pages later wishes he was being held by his mother having his hair stroked as he fondly remembered. Nope, life is too short for reading bad books.

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sebastian can barely remember his mother, though he remembers being sent away as a child. Raised by the church he feels duty bound to become a priest, and he reluctantly takes on a mission to search out and retrieve occult books to bring back to the Inquisitor and to learn how deep the "problem" of witchcraft runs. The Inquisitor wants to know what the witches believe and how they worship the devil. Sebastian is to collect and record this data which he is told will be helpful to the Pope.
In his travels he will discover what really happened to his parents and that there is more evil in the alleged men of god than in a witches coven.
With a mix of fact and fiction this historical thriller takes a brutal look at centuries past when thousands of people were tortured and killed for imaginary crimes.
3.5 out of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy for review.

[Julie (Bookshelf Adventures) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fascinating and well researched novel about the Inquisition.

Everyone knows about the Knights Templar and the Inquisition of Europe tracking down witches and other heretics.

What people may not know, and honestly I never thought about, what the total and complete devastation that be felled women in that time could be traced back to one man. Granted others helped in the persecution, but one man - the Grand Inquisitor - was ultimately responsible for the horrors surrounding that time.

This novel did take me a little bit to get really involved in the narrative, but After a few chapters I was able to speed through. The story itself is a compelling one that combines fiction with history.

I greatly enjoyed much of the story being told by Sebastian, a young man sent by Father Heinrich Institoris, the Grand Inquisitor, to research the Old Ways and witchcraft. Sebastian is naive and gullible, but his heart was in the right place while he travelled and learned.

The other points of view shared in the novel were wonderful to bring a well-rounded account of the actions and consequences therein of the time. I greatly recommend this novel to anyone interested in the culmination of the Inquisition and the appearance of the book that influenced the Salem Witch Trials years later.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hardly know what to say about this book in that I don't believe anyone can actually say it is light reading or "enjoyable" but it most definitely was educational and informative. This is a subject many of us have heard about in passing but I doubt any of us has extensive knowledge of the Inquisition. I know I didn't. So, yes, it is worthwhile to read this book even if you do come away wondering about man's inhumanity to man ... and more importantly man's inhumanity to women.

[Lex Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Pope's Butcher" by Joseph P. Gioconda is a thrilling work of fiction inspired by true historical figures and events in the 15th Century. The story is not only a hair-raising work of suspense and espionage, but an astonishing account of religion and the occult at the beginning of the Roman Inquisition in Germany. Abandoned as a child and raised by the Church, young Sebastian works tirelessly in his pursuit of priesthood.

Father Heinrich Institoris, the infamous Grand Inquisitor (a historical figure), recruits the naïve Sebastian, just a few months prior to his ordination, for a mission to travel across Europe compiling information concerning witchcraft; in particular, to find a book / documents that contain all the knowledge and spells of witchcraft and demonology. Sebastian sees this mission as an opportunity of a lifetime and eagerly drops everything to carry out the mission of The Grand Inquisitor himself. What he discovers and how his revelations affect the future of the Inquisition is brought forward with some of the best interweaving of fiction and fact I've ever read.

Joseph Gioconda is adept at keeping readers on their toes as he weaves a fictional story through historically documented events. His characters, historical and fictional, come to life under his skillful wordsmithing to provide a sense of reality that often falls to the wayside in fictional works of this nature. In "The Pope's Butcher," alternative history, action/adventure, mystery, horror, and romance fill the perfect circle of this enthralling story. His research, as evidenced by the glossary and bibliography at the end of the book, is phenomenal and seamlessly worked into the background of the escalating adventures of Sebastian. "The Pope's Butcher" is top-notch writing, the best book I've read this year, and I'm looking forward to Joseph Gioconda's second novel, "Salem's Ropes."

[Melisende · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was expecting something a bit different and as a result found no connection to the narrative nor the characters.

On the one hand we have the character of the witch-hunter and Grand Inquisitor, Fra Heinrich Institoris, a perverse and perverted man, whose mission is to eradicate witches and women he deems are witches. This is definitely a man worthy of further exploration, even if in a fictionalised account - but we are left with only a rudimentaty glance.

Then we have the naive, unworldly Sebastian, who is sent off on what is deemed to be a mission of such importance - to gather as much information as he can about witches and any heretical texts and report back to Heinrich. Quite frankly - Sebastian and his storyline was - for me - pure fantasy - it just didn't ring true for a supposed fictionalised account of actual historic events. Was Sebastian surplus to stock - probably, as I found myself wondering if he was really necessary at all, just there to pad out the word count and "make discoveries" (ie: display the author's research).

When this narrative finally gets to the point, we discover that this is the foundation story for the infamous "Malleus Maleficarum" or "Hammer of Witches" - and the narrative might have been put to better use instead, focusing on the character of the tome's author, Heinrich Kramer or Heinrich Institor.

Overall, this just didn't cut it for me - I did read it through to the end but was disappointed I didn't set it aside sooner.

[Lilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful writing style for a first novel. A few comments (good first, bad second):

First, the author clearly knew his stuff. The locations and dates were spot on. I was very impressed that he had clearly spent time researching. 5 stars for that.

Second, I remained interested as the chapters were short and brisk.

Third, the story was clearly very well-developed. The Author obviously knew where he was going all along.

The bad:

We don’t meet Brigantia until fairly late in the story. I would have liked more development of her character early on.

The history could be a little dense at times. I zoned out a few times when the author described the details of churches and abbeys in detail.

Finally, the crucifixion scene was a bit much. I could have done without that.

Overall, 4 stars and very good book for a first novel.

[Deana The Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.

Abandoned at a young age, Sebastian knows only the ways of the Church who took him in, so when he is called before the Inquisition for a job, his path lies clear before him.

Father Heinrich Institoris, the Grand Inquisitor, is hot on the trail of heresy and wants to send Sebastian in search of any nefarious books or occult practices throughout the land. Institoris, a devil cloaked in vestments and burnt embers, has one goal: Eradicate all he believes to be witches for Christendom.

But Sebastian’s journey opens his mind to other ways of thinking, especially when he meets the lovely witch Brigantia. How could someone as loving, gentle, and beautiful be a heretic?

I really enjoyed this book. Author Joseph Giaconda brings life to one of my favorite time periods: the Middle Ages, specifically the 15th Century.

The sights, sounds, and smells are all there, and so is the suspense. I loved the world building as well as the absolutely authentic feel.

Institoris is as twisted a character as one can have, but the scariest part is that he was real.

I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Trizah Kelvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannibal Lecter meets Game of Thrones.

Incredibly rich and detailed historically, this book is a real page-turner! From the very first chapter, I was hooked. The Inquisitor is a fascinating character and Sebastian is a compelling protagonist. The details are very nice.

For his first novel, the author did an incredible job! I look forward to more books about these same characters.

Really interesting story. I found myself wanting to learn more about Institoris as a real historical figure. It is amazing that we don’t know more about him. A real gem!

Intriguing characters. I want to get to know them better in a sequel.

[J.A. Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

There is no end to the infamy that Father Institoris of the Roman Inquisition intends for medieval Europe. He sends young Sebastian Alberti on a fact- finding expedition, and while on this research trip, Sebastian learns many things, including what really happened to his parents. Dark forces are at work within the Church but luckily, there are equally powerful forces ready to fight back. The history perfectly blended with the world building and characterization to create a hypnotic tale I couldn’t put down.

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from the author directly. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Narration was engaging, and the story was shocking. There were graphic details, but that didn’t bother me since they were done tastefully

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pope’s Butcher is probably one of the most well-researched and well-written books I’ve read in some time. To learn that it’s Joseph C. Gioconda’s first book makes it remarkable.

Based on historical facts, this book of fiction is about a priest initiate named Sabastian who is tasked with searching out witchcraft and its practices throughout the 15th century Roman Catholic world. Sabastian travels through Europe, Britain, and Ireland studying and taking notes on local witch practices. Toward the end of his travels, he judges witchcraft to be the innocent application of herbal medicinal practices that have been practiced from long before the founding of the Christian Church. In his notes, he opines that the actions taken by witches are entirely beneficial to the health and welfare of the communities being served. Spending a considerable amount of time with one young witch, he falls in love but leaves her to return to Rome to file his report with the chief inquisitor. According to the fictional account, Sabastian’s notes are misused and end up serving as the basis for the chief inquisitor’s widely distributed book on the evils of witchcraft. That book, The Witch’s Hammer, is still being published and is in circulation today. The initial publication of The Witch’s Hammer led to the deaths of thousands of women in Europe and America over the ensuing years.

In my experience, books that include a bibliography the size of the one at the end of The Pope’s Butcher are assigned social sciences texts that must be read in college. While historically factual and somewhat interesting as enhancements to the subject matter being studied, they are not enjoyable literary reading. Gioconda, on the other hand, wrote his book as reading literature, not an academic enhancement. I think that he succeeded in doing so and has, what will shortly become, a bestselling book as a result.

Gioconda, no doubt, has a busy schedule as a trial lawyer, but I do hope that he continues to set time aside for more historically based fictional writing. The Pope’s Butcher emotionally engaged me and always had me looking forward to my next reading session.

[Red Ink Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Pope’s Butcher – Joseph C. Gioconda



I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in order to provide an honest review.



Joseph Gioconda is an American author who spent several years studying at a Catholic seminary. He attended Yale Law School and earned a law degree and is a trial lawyer. This is his debut novel.



“The Pope’s Butcher” is a story about Heinrich Institoris, an actual Catholic clergy from history who published a book in Germany in 1487 regarding the extermination of witches.

However, the story is told from the point of view from a young clergyman and researched, Sebastian. He has been tasked with travelling and discovering all he could about witchcraft. How to detect a witch and discover how much of a threat witches really are to the Church, but also to collect any books about the blasphemy that is witchcraft.

Yet Sebastian discovered so much more on his year long journey. Most witches were not in fact anything like how the church had painted them, nor was witchcraft. Sebastian met a beautiful young witch, Brigantia, and her coven; whom he learned much from.

All he had gathered and discovered was written down in a manuscript for Heinrich who then later published his book – The Witches Hammer. In this book though, Heinrich barely referenced any of Sebastian’s research, persecuting those who practice witchcraft or who believed to have practiced it. He even went to so far as to mention Brigantia and her coven. Sebastian knew he had to protect her and the coven before they were burned, and it was all his fault. Their very lives were in danger and it was all his fault.

Alas, Sebastian left the Church and those he knew behind to try and save Brigantia because he knew true witches were not the villains, they were made out to be.



“The Pope’s Butcher” is a fascinating and engrossing historical fiction tale about the church and the way they dealt with those suspected of practicing witchcraft. It is a very unique take on the atrocities that were suffered by many innocent people of the time. But it also highlights how the Church, and most people, deal with something they do not understand and fear.

[BooksCoffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gioconda’s remarkable debut is a fictional yet relatively factual account of the 15th century Catholic Church history and the serial killer who lurked within it.

Blending real events and historical reconstruction, the story follows Sebastian, an abandoned orphan raised by the Church, who is working tirelessly in his pursuit of priesthood. But when Father Heinrich Institoris, the Grand Inquisitor, assigns him to a dangerous assignment on behalf of the Church, Sebastian has no option but to agree. But soon, Father Heinrich’s sinister mission unfolds, setting Sebastian through dank crypts and crumbling abbeys in search of truth. Torn between duty and love, Sebastian must decide where his priorities lay.

Gioconda’s prose is lively as he gives faces and voices to the true historical figures and events in the 15th century, exploring the prevalent corruption, poverty, the Church’s influence on the masses, class and gender inequality, and religious politics. There's a nonstop supply of surprising twists and shocking revelations, plus a dash of tender moments of longing and love.

The meticulously researched period details combined with intelligent writing and swiftly paced narrative keep the pages flying. This novel is everything popular historical thriller should be, diligently recreating a rich 15th century era, in which killing a person in the name of Christianity was relatively easy and serial killers could go virtually unnoticed.

Gioconda’s engrossing storytelling and deeply realized setting and character turn what could be a grim story into a page-turning historical thriller. Gioconda is an author to watch.

[Christine Patriarca · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first page of this book I was catapulted into an immersive medieval world, and within the first couple of chapters this author has proved to me his skill as a superbly excellent writer. Needless to say, I am incredibly impressed.

This is one of those one-of-a-kind finds that avid book readers search for amidst the vast universe of poorly written to mediocre content. I tell you: THIS is the book you are looking for.

There are so many reasons to love this book. First of all, the author writes intelligently and does not take shortcuts. Facts, reason, and plausible circumstances are not rushed along in order to advance the storyline. The book moves at a pace right in that sweet spot, the pace of real life.

It is not difficult to grasp just how much love and devotion has been put into this book, and the effort really shows. An intense attention to detail reveals the painstaking depth of research required. The author re-creates a medieval world no living human has ever known, only learned about, and wondered. Part of what makes this book as fascinating as it is comes from the raw truth of this time as our shared human history.

I recommend this book as one of the most exemplary examples of historical mystery fiction set in the Middle Ages and the superior execution of such an incredible story. As well as the rich vocabulary and subtleties contained within, this has been an enormously enjoyable book.

I give this book the highest recommendation possible.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young Sebastian is soon to get what he has been striving for and that is his priesthood but for the Heinrich the head guy wants him to go on a mission and Sebastian seeing it as a noble mission agrees and dropped everything to do it. It will be on this mission that Sebastian finds things that will change everything for him and the Roman inquisition that they are on the verge of. For the Heinrich is evil and is out to kill as many witches as possible he is blinded by what he believes it’s his calling by God. Sebastian wants only to do good for the church and his wide-eyed and guileless, he grew up an orphan and his one goal is to be the best priest that he can. When Sebastian isn’t on his mission by father Heinrich it is when the adventure begins. This is one of the best alternative history books I have read. I couldn’t stop reading it the first night by the time I put it down my eyes felt so sore, but couldn’t wait to get up and finish reading it. I absolutely love this book and can’t wait to read more by this author. I received this book from Books sirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sebastian is a young seminarian who was orphaned as a child. When he is asked to research witches for the Grand Inquisitor, Sebastian agrees without a second thought, believing that he will be rewarded for his hard work. Sebastian begins his research by travelling to France and he discovers that perhaps witchcraft (or Satan worship) is occurring there. He follows clues that lead him to the Mount Saint-Michel library where he discovers one book he has been told contains dark magic. From there he goes to London and finally to Ireland where he meets the intriguing Brigantia. Sebastian soon comes to discover that most women who are accused are actually more Christ-like than the male accusers, and that there are men who are out practicing dark magic for their own benefit. This was an interesting fictional look into the history of the most blood-soaked book in history, The Witch's Hammer and how fear of strong women by a probable serial killer lead to millions of women being murdered in the name of eradicating witchcraft.

[Annemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these historical novels that are based on actual happenings.

I really felt for Sebastian when he discovered his true heritage and that it was the Grand Inquisitor who crippled, and eventually caused the death of, his mother.

Discovering that the Grand Inquisitor lied to him about his research, twisted his findings to paint witches black and accuse them of the atrocities performed by members of the clergy practicing necromancy, he tries to reach Brigantia and her coven before the soldiers of the Inquisition trap them.

The book written by the Grand Inquisitor had far reaching effects. Having been circulated throughout the known kingdoms, it was instrumental in the tortures used against those charged with witchcraft at later 'witch hunts' where so many innocents once again lost their lives.

I received a free Advance Reader Copy of The Pope's Butcher through BookSirens and have chosen to leave a review.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptionally well-written book about the witch trials of the late 1400s. The author is clearly a well-educated writer; I learned several new words, which is difficult because I have a large vocabulary.

This is written as a fictionalized true story. We know from history that there were witch hunts and innocents were killed. Most of the people in this book were real, as stated by the author in the afterword. No, we don't know exactly what they would have said or how they'd have reacted to a situation, but we can glean a lot of info from the things they left behind, such as "The Hammer of Witches", which is essentially what this entire book is about. Except it's interesting and engaging, written as Brother Sebastian, who is researching witches for the Church.

I found this entire book fascinating and was shocked to learn it was the author's first novel. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys learning about the 'witches' of the 1400s.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though The Pope’s Butcher is a work of fiction, it is also based on factual events and the life of Father Heinrich Institoris, Grand Inquisitor. This well-researched story brings to light some of the horrific murderous history of the Catholic Church during the XV century. Institoris, one of the authors of the treatise on witchcraft know as the Malleus Maleficarum or The Hammer of Witches, was given free reign with the Papal Bull to hunt, torture, prosecute, and execute witches. The book was quite interesting in revealing this very dark period. It was a thought-provoking page-turner and made me want to learn more about this time in history. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Well done Mr. Gioconda. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I can say right now is Wow, Just Wow. This book was intense and the author did an awesome job putting it all together. The Inquisitor was some seriously troubled person. The fact that he hated women so much was disturbing and the fact that he believed that Eve caused the original evil, even more disturbing. I’ve heard of a lot of instances where a church representative was actually into the dark arts and it just boggles my mind how these things get covered up. I have no doubt whatsoever that the Vatican is hiding so much shit they don’t want people to know, it’s disgusting.

Personally I think the Inquisitor himself should have received his own types of torture before being burned. He was one sick man.

I received this book from BookSirens and I’m volunteering to post my review.

[Mary Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was enthralling and at the same time horrific in what Heinrich Institoris was able to perpetrate under his deception of the Church. It's so true to form on how the Inquisitions took human life, and the persecution of women deemed witches. I really liked the story of Sebastian and Brigantia - it lent a more comforting quality to the storyline. Be sure to read the author's notes at the end of the book. In reading the book, it was clear that the author was taking pains to be accurate in his portrayals of Church hierarchy and terminology. It states it's his first book, but I hope not his last!

[Michael Rutkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. While the subject matter may seem dark, it is based on historical figures and data. The author made the characters real and lifelike. The main character, Sebastian, discovers the truth about his past and the horror of the people in his present. The inquisition may not seem like a great topic for a book but it provided a realistic, if horrific, background for a real good story.

I had the pleasure of meeting the author, Joseph C. Gioconda, at my local independent bookstore. I had just come down to the register with the book in hand and he had stopped by to pick up a book and saw me with it. Very pleasant conversation. I am looking forward to reading more from him.

[Joseph D'Aquisto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!
I started this book early this morning and I had finished it by the evening. It is a very interesting story of a young man tasked with traveling all over Europe to gather information on witchcraft. On top of that it is based on a true story. I enjoyed hearing about all the different locations traveled by the main character. I've actually been to the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. I would have liked to have heard what happened with the main character's love interest at the end, but this is a solid read. Highly recommended!

[EVELYN ANN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really Good 👍

Reminded me of the show 'Salem' and some documentaries regarding the hysteria of everyone accusing anyone of being witches. Then comes the inquisition and men trying to keep independent women subservient.
Love how the author twisted the histories into a suspenseful/scary read. Didn't know what to expect, but dang this was out of my comfort zone, and I enjoyed myself! On to the next! #HappyReading 💖

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Phyllis Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top notch writing. Immense historical research went into writing this book, which contained interesting characters, a unique plot and fascinating details about a time in history when women were mistreated (to say the least!) The Inquisition's horrors are well-known, but this particular story about a type of 'serial killer' in the medieval church really made my blood boil. The misogyny was rampant and accounts for much of the murderous inclinations of these sick men who used the witch trials and accusations of witchcraft and the occult to commit a type of genocide. A great read.

[Yoneidis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The protagonist of the story is Sebastian, a young man who has grown up in the Church and who is now studying to become a priest, until the Inquisitor Heinrich entrusts him with an important mission: he has to travel, document satanic rituals and witchcraft, as well as find forbidden books.
The Inquisitor is a sadist and has women as his primary target.
The book has a point of black humor for me because some of the accusations that are given and their reasoning are 😂.
It's not bad, but there are times when it's been too long for me.

[James Bielli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The good: interesting historical setting, solid plot, fantastic villain.. Father Institoris is every bit as despicable in this book as he was in real life.

The bad: I often found the dialogue to be too "modern-sounding". It kind of broke the immersion for me at times. Also Brigantia's mysterious powers are never really explained very well.

All things considered though, it's worth reading. The author is a former Catholic seminary student and brings a very interesting perspective to this.. I just wish he was better at writing medieval dialogue. 3.5 stars rounded up.