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A review by hermes262
The Third Secret by Steve Berry
2.0
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.
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!
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!