The Holy Bullet

I couldn't put this down. It's fascinating and provocative. I believe there is much truth to this historical fiction. The Vatican is just this complex and the story is riveting.

Luis Miguel Rocha may not be a household name in America --- but just wait! "The Holy Bullet" is the follow-up to his International best-seller, "The Last Pope", and it proves to be equally as exciting and entertaining as its' predecessor. Following in the wake of the mysterious death (or murder?) of Pope John Paul I, a group of operatives inside the Vatican are still struggling to make sense of who could be behind the death of the holiest of holy. When they come up against a cast of suspicious characters including a Muslim who continues to have visions of the Virgin Mary, an organized crime syndicate and a team of rogue priests --- they realize time is of the essence if they are to solve Pope John Paul I's death and potentiality save the life of his successor, Pope John Paul II. Mixing fact and fiction together again, Rocha has spun a tale of intrigue that will please fans of historical fiction and international thrillers, alike!

A secretive group out to take out each and every pope and Cardinal that takes office? In 1978 compromised candidate Pope John Paul I, in office a little over a month, is dead just after he announced plans to resolve the Vatican internal conflicts. But others have a much larger plan for all of them. While assassinations are occurring you as the reader are forced to focus on members of the clergy getting wacked between time periods throughout the book. For those who stay the course the book in the end will piece together the tail you have been following without disappointing the reader.

In 1978 compromised candidate Pope John Paul I, in office a little over a month, is dead just after he announced plans to clean up the House of God everywhere. Soon after his death, the College of Cardinals elects Polish exile Cardinal Karol Jozef Wojtya as Pope John Paul II. In 1981 an assassination attempt critically wounded the Pope, but he survived; another attempt a year later failed totally. In 2005, Pope John Paul II died. Soon after his death, rumors spread that the two assassination attempts were not done by crazed lone gunmen, but part of a Vatican conspiracy to prevent reform within the Church. However, it is ironically the death a year later of an octogenarian archbishop in Arizona that serves as the catalyst of a search for the truth to learn who ordered the two failed assassinations. Although too many wry commentaries detract from a fascinating sequel with a similar premise as that of THE LAST POPE, fans will enjoy this Vatican conspiracy thriller. The story line moves back and forth between the early 1980s (and occasionally late 1970s) and this decade. The fun in this tale (and its predecessor) is in the past although overly descriptive and slower than the modern day subplot filled with more action. Readers who enjoy Vatican conspiracies will appreciate the HOLY BULLET, an intriguing but at times slow paced thriller. Harriet Klausner

it's an intricate, complex, non-stop action and intrigue-filled thriller. i especially appreciated the parts based on truth. i always wondered about this attempted assassination on the real pope's life. not sure why others here seem so negative.