A book has to work pretty hard to make [book: The DaVinci Code] look well-written...

Enjoyable, but a little slow at the start.

Adequate, but Not my favorite Berry book

ok/good
2.5 stars

very good book. this typically isn't the type of book I would read but it was given to me and I was engrossed from the beginning. At times it was a bit confusing and should be read without distractions so you can keep focused.

Fast paced, rather fun. But a lackluster ending. The thrill depends on people being up in arms about a "shocking revelation" about the truth and lies of the Catholic church. Instead, I felt it had all been done before.

The book was intriguing, and the characters were interesting. Never thought I would enjoy a book whose main characters were entirely clerics. Any Steve Berry book is one I can read. This one tested me at times though.

Without going into specifics, a little anti climactic. I was expecting something more groundbreaking. Just didn't seem like a secret worth killing for. I prefer his Malone books.

Spoiler

The third secret of Fatima is an intriguing premise. Just seemed so ripe for great material.,The church's late release of the secret does beg to question whether there was more to it or not. The actual secret was a let down. I was expecting something huge. Maybe apocalyptically huge. It didn't fit with the first part of the third secret, or the others. I mean, is heaven really that obsessed with clerical celibacy? I feel like the message would be worry more about the starving orphans in Romania than the extravagance of the church? Idk. It makes Clement's action even odder--he knew the secret, why not just change it? Why kill himself and let a crazy Cardinal take control? Again, good for intrigue, but on a second read I feel like it would fall apart.

The evil Cardinal's motives seemed to change. At times he was all about the cause, other times just out to be pope at all costs. His arrogance at the end was well played, and explained some of it a way, but I still feel his portrayal was off. Overall an interesting character though. All the characters grew on me. Michener'svstruggle was written well. Clement's actions confuse me, but I already said my piece on that.

Berry's note at the end was good and informative as always. It's interesting to see why he does what he does, and what historical basis he uses.

I'm rating two stars because it was okay. Not bad, but I can't say I truly liked the story. It was okay. Not bad, but I can't quite say it was good either. I wish goodreads had half stars, because it's almost a three star book to me, but not all the way there. Maybe I need time to think about it.

As far as recommendations, if you're into alternate history and conspiracies, you'll like it. If you have contempt for religion, you might not like it, as well as if you don't like criticism of organized religion. So if you're in either extreme, it'd probably rub you the wrong way. Idk, when I read a book, I'm wrapped up in the story, so I never feel like I'm being preached to. I wouldn't reread it, and truthfully I'm not sure I'd recommend it. I'd say check out his Cotton Malone books, and then when you run out of those, check out this one!

I chose this book for two reasons; 1. I'm fascinated by Vatican politics and The Vatican Archives. 2. It sounded like a fun, conspiracy-esque bit of fiction.

If it weren't for my interest in the subject itself, I doubt I'd have found the fiction terribly stimulating. It's well written, very well written in fact, but never quite reached the 'gripping' zone for me.

The book centres on a group of Vatican priests and a series of visions that have been documented by seers over centuries. Each priests attitude to the past and future revelations is the basis for the plot. The mysteries within the plot are well tied into the character arcs of each person and there's no labouring over simplistic plot points - in fact, at times there's a lot of complex information to digest, so be willing to take the time to read that.

Theres no one hero, and no major twist. But it's still an engaging story worth a read. I suspect it would work really well as a TV mini series - get into it TV people!

I got this book during the Filipino group’s Xmas Party! :D
This book kind of reminded me of Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons.
The story also revolved around the Vatican, the Popes but this time it also involved a secret.

The Third Secret was about three secrets that the Virgin Mary entrusted to three peasant children.
This secret had been kept hidden by the Vatican.
It was released in 2000, but was it really?
Did they really release the third secret that the Virgin Mary imparted to the three children?
No they didn’t.
What was so important about that secret?
Why was Pope Clement XV so worried?
Because this secret, if revealed to the public could change the Catholic world.

I highly recommend this book.
But if you are sensitive to the topic of religion in books then I don’t recommend it.
It was full of suspense.
The book was well researched.
Most of the facts here are very accurate.
Full of details.
If I’d not known this was fiction I would have believed what I read.