The Death of a Pope

This is a fast-paced thriller with deep spiritual and philosophical debate woven throughout. It is at once a page turner and a challenge to forces that would hijack the orthodox faith in favor of a politically correct hulk of relative truth. An exciting story of espionage, terrorism, and love with debates relative to the church today. A fascinating and quick read with the message that truth is not relative changing with the calendar but is objective remaining the same even against the popular fads of the time. Well worth the time to understand the importance of the philosophical challenges that face the church today. Neither the more conservative/orthodox nor the more liberal/popular reader will be completely satisfied with the depth of their side but at least enough of the debate is provided that we should not take it lightly.

Interesting and timely. A story well told with a subtext that illuminates important aspects of recent and unfolding Catholic history. Not just for Catholics.

Reid, Piers Paul. "The Death of a Pope", Ignatius Press, 2009. A New Thriller Jean Uriarte is a handsome and well-spoken Spanish ex-priest who favors nonviolence and compassion for the poor. However he is on trial for terrorist activities because his outreach program of Catholic charity is suspected of being a front for terrorist activity. Kate Ramsay is covering the trial; she is a young British reporter who sets out to find out the truth. She goes with him to Africa to see what she can learn and finds herself attracted to him. At the same time an international conspiracy is picking up speed and it reaches into the Vatican, When Pope John II's death brings about a conclave to elect John Ratzinger as pope Benedict XVI, a terrorist plot which favors blackmail, subterfuge and mass murder begins to take hold and this plot could mean disaster for Catholics the world over. Read can tell a story and his knowledge of the inner workings of the Catholic Church shines through his writing. Here is a psychological thriller that is driven by faith that will keep you on the edge of your chair. It fuses elements of thriller with substance and Read's characters are expertly drawn. This is a story of lust, betrayal, intrigue and love and redemption built around the death of one pope and the election of another. It's a page turner to the end and it is a quick moving and easy read.

Piers Paul Read spins a suspensful tale of intrique, love, betrayal, and redemption around the death of John Paul II and the election of Benedict XVI. Juan Uriate is a charismatic ex-priest who now works in Africa for Misericordia--a Catholic charity. He is a man on a mission; and the magnetism of his personality helps draw others to his cause--including the British journalist, Kate Ramsey. While Kate falls for the Don Quixotic Uriate, British agent David Kotovski becomes enamored of Kate. Kotovski suspects that Uriate might not be all that he appears. Eventually he uncovers a diabolical plot of global proportions. THE DEATH OF A POPE is a real page-turner right up to its dramatic conclusion. The mysterious attraction of evil and the contortions of the mind to justify it are explored in depth. The novel is a quick-moving, easy read--delightful and exciting. I could not put it down.

Finally, a British novelist who can write without showing his obsessed hatred of the papacy. It is ironic, however, that this is what the book's plot is all about. Piers Paul Read is a good writer; and he's a better reader, which as usual helps the writing. His style is quick, it is intriguing. Very enjoyable.