What do you think?
Rate this book
Vatican #2
The Holy Assassin
nan
592 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
34 people are currently reading
707 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
August 14, 2018
Welcome to the world of secret societies and services! The story is full of them – the Opus Dei, the Freemasons, the P2, the Vatican secret service and of course our good old CIA, SIS and the Russian secret service. And, when these organizations are there and some forming the proverbial “unholy” alliance, you can count on having lots of conspiracies, assassinations and cover ups!!
This novel is the second installment in the Vaticano series featuring journalist Sarah Monteiro, who had got involved in a Vatican intrigue. You can read it as a standalone. The narrative has flashbacks which will help you gain some understanding.
The story revolves around the activities of a powerful Vatican group – corrupt and ruthless. They obviously think that they do what needs to be done. Their members hatch conspiracies sitting in unnamed restaurants in unnamed cities. They use their influence to make secret services work for them. Even the Pope himself is not safe from them.
To stop their machinations there is an “old man” with immense resources at his disposal. Oh! Did I tell you there is a James Bond-ish monk fighting against the evil.
There is plenty of action, suspense and twists.
But, you know what! I felt too much was happening here and there, which hampered the smooth flow of the narrative. I might have enjoyed the story more during my high school days, but now I found it mediocre. If you are into conspiracy thrillers involving religious groups then I would suggest Angels and Demons.
This novel is the second installment in the Vaticano series featuring journalist Sarah Monteiro, who had got involved in a Vatican intrigue. You can read it as a standalone. The narrative has flashbacks which will help you gain some understanding.
The story revolves around the activities of a powerful Vatican group – corrupt and ruthless. They obviously think that they do what needs to be done. Their members hatch conspiracies sitting in unnamed restaurants in unnamed cities. They use their influence to make secret services work for them. Even the Pope himself is not safe from them.
To stop their machinations there is an “old man” with immense resources at his disposal. Oh! Did I tell you there is a James Bond-ish monk fighting against the evil.
There is plenty of action, suspense and twists.
But, you know what! I felt too much was happening here and there, which hampered the smooth flow of the narrative. I might have enjoyed the story more during my high school days, but now I found it mediocre. If you are into conspiracy thrillers involving religious groups then I would suggest Angels and Demons.
February 11, 2020
Confesso-me desiludida. Esperava muito mais ênfase na vertente histórica dos atentados ao João Paulo II do que na parte de acção das personagens. Acaba por se tornar uma leitura aborrecida, principalmente para quem nunca teve contacto com os outros volumes da série. Tinha expectativas de aprender muito mais do que o que aprendi.
November 28, 2022
In septembrie 1978, la doar 33 de zile de la numirea in functie, Vaticanul anunta moartea Papei Ioan Paul I – un atac de cord, conform certificatului de deces, un mister ramas nerezolvat, conform altor opinii.
Douazeci si opt de ani mai târziu, ziarista Sarah Monteiro la intoarcerea acasa, la Londra, din vacanta, gaseste un plic cu o lista de nume necunoscute si un mesaj codificat. Aparent inofensive, hârtiile care i-au intrat in posesie o vor pune in pericol si in situatii limita, pe masura ce descopera povestea lor. Lista se dovedeste a fi o dovada pretioasa pentru demascarea unui complot de proportii internationale, care implica personalitati politice si religioase antrenate in incredibile abuzuri de putere, coruptie si crime. Reteaua conspirativa pe care ziarista ajunge sa o dezvaluie putin cate putin, o conduce catre noaptea mortii „Papei zambitor”, Ioan Paul I. Sarah Monteiro lupta pentru viata ei, amenintata de o organizatie secreta interesata de documentele cu pricina, dar si pentru adevar, cu aceeasi indârjire, incercând sa afle ce s-a intâmplat de fapt in acea noapte din 1978, de ce, dar mai ales in interesul cui.
Un secret pe care Vaticanul il pastreaza de zeci de ani. Noile realitati cu care este nevoita sa se confrunte ii zdruncina serios perceptia asupra vietii si asupra granitei dintre bine si rau. Un thriller intr-un ritm ametitor, bazat pe fapte veridice.
Douazeci si opt de ani mai târziu, ziarista Sarah Monteiro la intoarcerea acasa, la Londra, din vacanta, gaseste un plic cu o lista de nume necunoscute si un mesaj codificat. Aparent inofensive, hârtiile care i-au intrat in posesie o vor pune in pericol si in situatii limita, pe masura ce descopera povestea lor. Lista se dovedeste a fi o dovada pretioasa pentru demascarea unui complot de proportii internationale, care implica personalitati politice si religioase antrenate in incredibile abuzuri de putere, coruptie si crime. Reteaua conspirativa pe care ziarista ajunge sa o dezvaluie putin cate putin, o conduce catre noaptea mortii „Papei zambitor”, Ioan Paul I. Sarah Monteiro lupta pentru viata ei, amenintata de o organizatie secreta interesata de documentele cu pricina, dar si pentru adevar, cu aceeasi indârjire, incercând sa afle ce s-a intâmplat de fapt in acea noapte din 1978, de ce, dar mai ales in interesul cui.
Un secret pe care Vaticanul il pastreaza de zeci de ani. Noile realitati cu care este nevoita sa se confrunte ii zdruncina serios perceptia asupra vietii si asupra granitei dintre bine si rau. Un thriller intr-un ritm ametitor, bazat pe fapte veridice.
August 24, 2009
This book starts out with an important event that rocked the world.
The year is 1981. The day is May 13. A day people will remember for a long time. Pope John Paul, the second was shot at by Mehmet Ali Agca. Mehmet tried to assassinate the Pope. He was captured and questioned.
This story than flashes forward to the present day, where members of a secret group, known as The Holy Alliance and a group of others that include Sarah Monterio, a journalist, Marius Ferris, a retired priest as well as a few others that are trying to solve the mystery of what really happened to Pope John Paul, the first. History has it that Pope John Paul, the first died of a heart attack after serving in office for only thirty-three days. Though with any famous person, there was great controversy as to the real cause of death. Can this group of people solve the mystery of Pope John Paul, the first’s death?
The Holy Bullet seemed like it was suppose to be about Pope John Paul, the second but to me this book more focused on Pope John Paul, the first. This book started out a little backwards for me. I as to believe that this secret group was solving the true cause of Pope John Paul’s death in order to prevent his successor, Pope John Paul, the second but this story started out with the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul, the second and than flashed back to the events leading up to and after Pope John Paul, the first’s passing. I did find the storyline interesting but I wished that it flowed better. It flashed back a lot throughout the book and I had a little bit of an issue following it. Also I wished the characters had captivated me more. Overall through I did not think this was too bad of a book.
The year is 1981. The day is May 13. A day people will remember for a long time. Pope John Paul, the second was shot at by Mehmet Ali Agca. Mehmet tried to assassinate the Pope. He was captured and questioned.
This story than flashes forward to the present day, where members of a secret group, known as The Holy Alliance and a group of others that include Sarah Monterio, a journalist, Marius Ferris, a retired priest as well as a few others that are trying to solve the mystery of what really happened to Pope John Paul, the first. History has it that Pope John Paul, the first died of a heart attack after serving in office for only thirty-three days. Though with any famous person, there was great controversy as to the real cause of death. Can this group of people solve the mystery of Pope John Paul, the first’s death?
The Holy Bullet seemed like it was suppose to be about Pope John Paul, the second but to me this book more focused on Pope John Paul, the first. This book started out a little backwards for me. I as to believe that this secret group was solving the true cause of Pope John Paul’s death in order to prevent his successor, Pope John Paul, the second but this story started out with the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul, the second and than flashed back to the events leading up to and after Pope John Paul, the first’s passing. I did find the storyline interesting but I wished that it flowed better. It flashed back a lot throughout the book and I had a little bit of an issue following it. Also I wished the characters had captivated me more. Overall through I did not think this was too bad of a book.
July 19, 2009
The Holy Bullet is, for me, a great read - especially if you like mysteries, whodunits, thrillers, etc.
The book primarily involves Opus Dei and the Vatican and the whys and wherefores behind the assassination attempt on John Paul II in 1981. The story, however, is predominantly set in the present time.
Granted, following the twists and turns that make a garden maze look like childs play can sometimes be confusing, but that is one of the things that I really liked about it.
That, and the backstory (i.e., going back to the time of the events) showing the reasons behind the present-day actions of the characters - and the lengths they would (and do) go to in order to protect themselves and what they see the vision of the Vatican (and Opus Dei) as being.
Highly recommended.
The book primarily involves Opus Dei and the Vatican and the whys and wherefores behind the assassination attempt on John Paul II in 1981. The story, however, is predominantly set in the present time.
Granted, following the twists and turns that make a garden maze look like childs play can sometimes be confusing, but that is one of the things that I really liked about it.
That, and the backstory (i.e., going back to the time of the events) showing the reasons behind the present-day actions of the characters - and the lengths they would (and do) go to in order to protect themselves and what they see the vision of the Vatican (and Opus Dei) as being.
Highly recommended.
April 25, 2020
“— Considera-se um servidor da Igreja?
Phelps desvia o olhar para a fonte que enunciou a pergunta… Sarah. Não conseguiu permanecer calada.
Phelps sorri.
— A Igreja serve um propósito que não espero que entenda.
— Serve para matar?
— Para matar e criar. É muito mais do que uma casa de oração. A Igreja é o motor do mundo civilizado. A sustentação da democracia.”
Opinião no Blogue:
https://carolapontoevirgula.blogs.sap...
Phelps desvia o olhar para a fonte que enunciou a pergunta… Sarah. Não conseguiu permanecer calada.
Phelps sorri.
— A Igreja serve um propósito que não espero que entenda.
— Serve para matar?
— Para matar e criar. É muito mais do que uma casa de oração. A Igreja é o motor do mundo civilizado. A sustentação da democracia.”
Opinião no Blogue:
https://carolapontoevirgula.blogs.sap...
June 27, 2016
This Author finds a way of wrapping his readers into a plot of extraordinary density... Still, may favorite up till now remains "The last Pope".
I am now starting "Holy Lie"...
Maria Carmo,
Lisbon, 27 June 2016.
I am now starting "Holy Lie"...
Maria Carmo,
Lisbon, 27 June 2016.
July 10, 2016
Really good; couldn't put it down.
February 1, 2022
One of the best books I have read recently. An amazing thriller full of action, conspiracies and mysteries. Just the way I like it.
September 10, 2021
I have no idea why, but I am a sucker for a Vatican based thriller! I'm not even a catholic, so go figure!
Unfortunately, I didn't realise until I was well into it, that it is the second of a series. As a result, there was a lot of presumption of knowledge of the back story which I was missing. The book is entirely readable without, but you often find yourself without a context for certain relationships or actions. That said, it was an enjoyable and gripping read. I just have to decide whether to cut my losses and move on to the third volume or take a deep breath and tackle the first!
Unfortunately, I didn't realise until I was well into it, that it is the second of a series. As a result, there was a lot of presumption of knowledge of the back story which I was missing. The book is entirely readable without, but you often find yourself without a context for certain relationships or actions. That said, it was an enjoyable and gripping read. I just have to decide whether to cut my losses and move on to the third volume or take a deep breath and tackle the first!
February 28, 2020
I read a lot of books. A lot!! I'm up to page 440 of this one, and I still have no idea what's going on! I hope it's not another boring ending.....I'm sooo confused?! What is the plot?!! If any?! I like the characters but what have they got to do with each other? The back of the book mentions 'complex'. I agree!!! Too complex....??? It jumps around too much to follow. People being murdered, kidnapped, Vatican conspiracy theories, Opus Dei! Secret meetings and vague messages. But why?!!!! Dan Brown does it so much better! Some chapters seem to have no correlation with the three or four stories that don't seem to be related yet....I'm hoping it will all come together before the last page! But hey.....chapter 59 and I'm still going!!! Maybe it's the theme, the title or just the beautiful cover!!!! LOL seems not too many people have reviewed it yet even though it was published over 10 years ago! Enough said!
April 20, 2015
Já era para ter pegado neste livro há mais tempo porque gostei bastante do "Ultimo Papa", resolvi faze-lo agora de certa forma em homenagem ao autor recentemente falecido :( Se fosse fã de conspiraçoes diria q esta morte é muito estranha, dado o tipo de documentos que LMR teve acesso...
Mas falando do livro... nao é tão bom como o 1°, as primeiras 200 paginas chegam a ser entediantes mas depois o ritmo acelera, voltas e reviravoltas inesperadas, tudo o caracteriza um bom thriller.
Interessante tb é o pormenor do autor ser tb o narrador, falando directamente para nós.
Qto à Sarah, protagonista do livro anterior, neste anda ao ritmo da açao, raptada, empurrada de um lado para o outro...
Mas falando do livro... nao é tão bom como o 1°, as primeiras 200 paginas chegam a ser entediantes mas depois o ritmo acelera, voltas e reviravoltas inesperadas, tudo o caracteriza um bom thriller.
Interessante tb é o pormenor do autor ser tb o narrador, falando directamente para nós.
Qto à Sarah, protagonista do livro anterior, neste anda ao ritmo da açao, raptada, empurrada de um lado para o outro...
July 28, 2011
Surely ready to ruffle some feathers of the Church and Vatican, this book blatantly calls out some of the Vatocan elite (past and present) and points fingers at those directly responsible for the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II. Rocha tackles this touchy subject in an entertaining and thrilling fashion while nopt pulling any punches.
June 24, 2017
Awful. Characters and events are introduced that add nothing to the plot and the big reveal about a certain individual being involved in nefarious activities is no surprise to anyone with knowledge of the Vatican, P2 and Opus Dei. I only persevered to the end just in case all these plot strands were tied up but they weren't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2013
Eu gostei mas pessoalmente gostei mais d' "O Último Papa" mas sei quem tenha gostado mais deste :). Como todos sabemos os gostos literários variam de pessoa para pessoa :).
Não deixa de ser um livro interessante de se ler.
Como é óbvio fiquei curiosa para ler o próximo - "A Mentira Sagrada" :D
Não deixa de ser um livro interessante de se ler.
Como é óbvio fiquei curiosa para ler o próximo - "A Mentira Sagrada" :D
April 28, 2013
Emocionante. Viciante, é difícil parar de se ler. Para quem gosta de thrillers bem construídos, com fundos de verdade ou pelo menos em que entram pessoas reais, então encontraram uma sugestão perfeita.
Amei!
Amei!
April 13, 2020
Embora perceba que o background religioso seja necessário, torna a leitura pesada.
De resto, penso que é o nosso melhor escritor de policiais,mas quando a concorrência é o José Rodrigues dos Santos, isso não quer dizer grande coisa.
De resto, penso que é o nosso melhor escritor de policiais,mas quando a concorrência é o José Rodrigues dos Santos, isso não quer dizer grande coisa.
August 11, 2013
Mistério,conspirações, intrigas, acção, suspense, excitação e tensão...um sem número de mortes...tudo o que um bom thriller deve ter.
October 24, 2017
É interessante no tema e na forma como está escrito, merece mais atenção na sua leitura. Acabei por o colocar (apenas temporariamente!) de lado...Depois do verão, volto a pegar-lhe!
November 13, 2019
A história é interessante e merecia um 4 mas a escrita irritou-me um bocado, e isso fez baixar o rating para 3.5.
June 16, 2023
Okay, here's what I think is going on in this book:
There's a conspiracy in the Vatican regarding the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II. A journalist who investigated the death of Pope John Paul I has this information though she doesn't seem aware that she has this information?
Her parents in Portugal are first held under house arrest by someone who I think is a member of the Free Masons, and then they're put on a plane to Istanbul and he's actually helping the journalist and her parents?
There's a Muslim in Jerusalem who receives prophetic visions from the Virgin Mary and thus is held hostage by a priest from the Vatican.
There's an Archbishop, or Cardinal who Pope John Paul II doesn't like because... he's managing the Vatican finances in ways that are immoral (but also highly lucrative)?
In the 80's there's a girl who's writing to the Pope about his attempted and unsuccessful assassination because she's had prophetic visions of the event?
There's a few shady organizations such as, but not limited to, Opus Dei, the CIA, P2 (which, what even is that one), the KGB/FSB all kind of working with one another/undermining each other depending on what the goal is?
So, if you haven't figured it out, the plot of this book is obscure, and hard to follow. It's never clear just what the flashback in 1983 has to do with present day, or why I should care. There's never any big reveal about what everyone is racing towards and/or why it matters. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why the action suddenly shifts to a Moscow barbershop that doubles as an FSB safe house, or why the Muslim dude matters in any way to the narrative.
"Oh but did you read the first book?" No, and frankly, I shouldn't have to. If JK Rowling can bring me up to speed within a chapter 6 times, Rocha can do the same.
That being said, this was a page turner (if only because I kept hoping for some kind of clarity), and Rocha's prose is oddly addicting in its almost clinical tones.
There's a conspiracy in the Vatican regarding the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II. A journalist who investigated the death of Pope John Paul I has this information though she doesn't seem aware that she has this information?
Her parents in Portugal are first held under house arrest by someone who I think is a member of the Free Masons, and then they're put on a plane to Istanbul and he's actually helping the journalist and her parents?
There's a Muslim in Jerusalem who receives prophetic visions from the Virgin Mary and thus is held hostage by a priest from the Vatican.
There's an Archbishop, or Cardinal who Pope John Paul II doesn't like because... he's managing the Vatican finances in ways that are immoral (but also highly lucrative)?
In the 80's there's a girl who's writing to the Pope about his attempted and unsuccessful assassination because she's had prophetic visions of the event?
There's a few shady organizations such as, but not limited to, Opus Dei, the CIA, P2 (which, what even is that one), the KGB/FSB all kind of working with one another/undermining each other depending on what the goal is?
So, if you haven't figured it out, the plot of this book is obscure, and hard to follow. It's never clear just what the flashback in 1983 has to do with present day, or why I should care. There's never any big reveal about what everyone is racing towards and/or why it matters. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why the action suddenly shifts to a Moscow barbershop that doubles as an FSB safe house, or why the Muslim dude matters in any way to the narrative.
"Oh but did you read the first book?" No, and frankly, I shouldn't have to. If JK Rowling can bring me up to speed within a chapter 6 times, Rocha can do the same.
That being said, this was a page turner (if only because I kept hoping for some kind of clarity), and Rocha's prose is oddly addicting in its almost clinical tones.
March 22, 2019
As with the previous book this was a fast paced adventure ride. So much so that as the story began it jumped around so much I had trouble keeping up with all the threads. However, over time the story began to take shape and move along to it's conclusion.
I enjoyed these characters as much the second time around as I did the first. They were real, not without flaws or faults. The world that was written around them is seamless and detailed.
Well, written, timely and suspenseful right up to the end.
I enjoyed these characters as much the second time around as I did the first. They were real, not without flaws or faults. The world that was written around them is seamless and detailed.
Well, written, timely and suspenseful right up to the end.
June 23, 2025
This had promise and could have been so much better. Some of the ideas were good around secret factions within the Vatican all linked in with the CIA and Russian secret service, but the way the story was told was too clumsy and didnt hold my attention. Too many competing strands were running without being woven together well enough, so I got bored and was glad to finish this. I won't bother with any of the other books in this series.
July 14, 2019
255 pages into this book and I still have no clue what is going on...why have I wasted my time trying to read it? It jumps around from one character to another and nothing seems to tie any of it together!
March 4, 2022
Bala Santa é o segundo livro de Luís Miguel Rocha na série Vaticano.
A continuação de O Último Papa, neste livro revivemos o thriller inicial de outra forma, com as mesmas personagens que já conhecemos e com outras que nos vão sendo apresentadas.
Um livro onde não se percebe quem são os "bons" e quem são os "maus", o que o torna fascinante.
Desde Roma, a Portugal, Londres e Istambul, as viagens são muitas e o enredo prende o leitor desde a primeira página.
Quem terá atentado contra a vida de João Paulo II? Aconselho a leitura.
A continuação de O Último Papa, neste livro revivemos o thriller inicial de outra forma, com as mesmas personagens que já conhecemos e com outras que nos vão sendo apresentadas.
Um livro onde não se percebe quem são os "bons" e quem são os "maus", o que o torna fascinante.
Desde Roma, a Portugal, Londres e Istambul, as viagens são muitas e o enredo prende o leitor desde a primeira página.
Quem terá atentado contra a vida de João Paulo II? Aconselho a leitura.
December 23, 2017
Boa leitura - gostei da maneira como o escritor interligou os eventos históricos com eventos do presente.
January 6, 2018
I can honestly say at the end of the book I had no more of a clue than at the beginning, I have never read such a confusing book ever, I couldn't even tell you who was the main characters !
February 16, 2018
Muito interessante e prende até ao fim.
April 22, 2018
Non-stop action keeps the pages turning, despite a sometimes annoying authorial tone, but at the end one can be excused for wondering “Exactly what was this about?”
March 11, 2020
Way too convoluted.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews