The Last Conclave

By Glenn Cooper

What’s it about?

A vanished conclave. An empty Sistine Chapel. And a secret buried for eight centuries.

From internationally bestselling author Glenn Cooper comes a gripping Vatican conspiracy thriller that has already topped the charts in Italy.

When Pope John XXIV is found dead in his bed just two years after his election, the world braces for a new conclave. But as the cardinal electors are sealed inside the Sistine Chapel, something unthinkable happens.

Hours pass. No smoke rises. No vote is announced.

And when Vatican Secretary of State Elisabetta Celestino breaks protocol to open the doors—she finds the chapel empty. The cardinals have vanished without a trace.

CNN religion expert Cal Donovan is on-site to cover the conclave, but soon finds himself swept into a global investigation. As panic spreads and theories abound, Cal uncovers a chilling trail leading back to a centuries-old order—one that has waited in the shadows to cleanse the sins of the Church… with blood.

Ancient secrets. Ruthless power. And a final reckoning that will shake the foundations of faith.

What I think:

The untimely death of a popular Pope shocks the world and the process of selecting the next one begins.

The world is watching and waiting for the signal of white smoke to appear, but nothing happens.

The Vatican Secretary of State, Elisabetta Celestino, is the first woman to hold such a senior position. She has to make a decision to interrupt the Conclave and see what has happened to the Cardinals. When she unlocks the door, they are missing.

With the help of Catholic historian and religious expert, Cal  Donovan, Elisabetta and the police work to  uncover the mystery and find the missing Cardinals and save the Vatican.

The novel is told from a variety of perspectives so that the reader can see all sides of a complex and fast paced adventure.

Cooper gives insight into the world of the Cardinals and their practices. Elisabetta faces the misogyny of traditionalists and the support of the progressives.

He also explored the beliefs and fate of the Cathars with chapters that explore the historical suppression of the sect that was labeled as heretical during the inquisition. These were engaging and interesting and did not impact the pace of the novel.

Overall this was an enjoyable read. It’s fast paced and cinematic. I didn’t particularly warm to the protagonist, Cal Donovan – but I did enjoy his scenes with Elizabetta’s family. The ending was satisfying and the whole plot is just about plausible. This is a good read with an eye-catching cover that will definitely benefit from recent events and people’s interest in the Vatican.

Thank you to Netgalley, Book Whisperer, and Glenn Cooper for my gifted copy of The Last Conclave