Conclave - Robert Harris

Conclave

By Robert Harris

  • Release Date: 2016-11-22
  • Genre: Mysteries & Thrillers
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 524 Ratings
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Description

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY EDWARD BERGER AND STARRING RALPH FIENNES, STANLEY TUCCI, JOHN LITHGOW, AND ISABELLA ROSSELLINI • The page-turning thriller set in the Vatican's secretive halls of power by the best-selling author of Enigma and Fatherland

"Pulsates with intrigue. . . . Ambition, sex scandals, financial corruption and terrorism all rear their ugly heads. And Harris saves one whopper of a surprise for the final pages." —USA Today

The pope is dead. Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, one hundred and eighteen cardinals from all over the globe will gather to cast their votes in the world's most secretive election. They are holy men. But they are not immune to the human temptations of power and glory. And they are not above the tribalism and factionalism that consumes humanity. When all is said and done, one of them will become the most powerful spiritual figure on Earth.

Reviews

  • Excellent

    5
    By VTpuzzler
    Even as an agnostic I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The history and ceremony of the Catholic Church is fascinating

  • Disappointing

    3
    By Adam L. B.
    If I guessed the ending, it couldn’t have been the creative literary work it has been made out to be. Good characters but…ehh.

  • Amazing book, I cannot wait for the movie!

    5
    By TheRealTobytime
    Well written, the ending totally caught me off guard. Bravo Robert Harris… BRAVO!

  • Abrupt Ending

    5
    By Cart10001
    Loved the book. I thought the surprise ending could have been more explicitly explained. When I turned the final page I was appalled that after all the details-even down to what they ate!- it wasn’t just an “a-ha”!😳 It was very abrupt and somewhat spoiled an otherwise excellent read. Do I want to see the movie now??🤷🏼

  • Wow

    5
    By YBqueen
    I reread this after having Reddit years ago because the movie is coming out. I must admit I cannot wait to see what they do with the movie. The attention to detail for the religious nature of the ceremonies is excellent.

  • Fun, fast read

    4
    By Auggie's Man
    Couldn’t put this down after the halfway mark. Moves along quickly, with some great twists and turns up to the very end. I read his Pompeii years ago and loved it, will read more of his works.

  • Well Written!

    4
    By ejwollet3316
    Conclave is richly detailed. That can make for slow going in reading some parts. However, the books relatively fast and becomes a page turner toward the end.

  • Conclave

    5
    By Flickprof
    What a read! I felt a part of this austere group of spiritual men. Couldn't put it down!

  • Good enough for a two day read

    3
    By WorthyReader
    Robert Harris writes well, easy to read. So it isn't his style that falls short here. The plot line moves glacially at the speed the papal Curia moves, probably intentional here. The premise, while entirely au currant, is questionable like so many gender issues today. The book ends abruptly, has no smooth transition to closure. His book Pompeii is a better read.

  • Stellar Work

    5
    By Lukester2012
    You needn't be a papist, believer or cynical atheist to be drawn into this thoroughly engaging work. Harris admirably strikes an "information equilibrium" in establishing the background--a targeted level of detail is deployed, enabling a gripping vicarious experience without sacrificing pace and space with theological/ecclesiastical excess. The book taps into Machiavellian intrigue of Catholicism, but avoids simplistic/cynical moral oversimplifications, thus illustrating the good within the bad and the bad within the good.

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