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A review by book_concierge
O Espião de Deus by Juan Gómez-Jurado
3.0
This sounded like a great novel, but it’s really not much more than a rip off of [b:Angels & Demons|960|Angels & Demons (Robert Langdon, #1)|Dan Brown|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1303390735s/960.jpg|3338963] by Daniel Brown. The Pope has died and as the cardinals gather in Vatican City to prepare to elect the successor, some crazed killer begins to kill some of the leading candidates to succeed as Pontiff.
What’s different from A&D? No great secret society is behind anything. The killer is a sociopathic deranged (former) priest who The lead man is also a priest – who was also in the CIA. And, There is no real love interest (although there is some subtle sexual tension
The author’s attempt to include the background of the killer through flashbacks to his time in a psychiatric facility for wayward priests falls short of the mark. He doesn’t really explain anything and leaves way too many questions for the non-psychology major. His introduction of the inexperienced but smart and intuitive Spanish journalist showed promise – but he The story, of course, will never be made known because it is not in the interests of the Holy Mother Church to have the public be aware of these issues/problems. And, of course, the Rome police will go along with this.
It’s a fast read and a decent enough thriller, but he’s no Dan Brown.
As we prepare for our book discussion, the fact that the scandal of sex-abuse by priests supposedly known by and covered up by our current pontiff (Benedict XVI, the former Cardinal Ratzinger of Munich) adds an interesting dimension.
What’s different from A&D? No great secret society is behind anything. The killer is a sociopathic deranged (former) priest who
Spoiler
also abused children back in Boston, and who was, himself, abused by his own father.Spoiler
unlike most heroes – he will die in the end.Spoiler
between the woman detective and the CIA priest).The author’s attempt to include the background of the killer through flashbacks to his time in a psychiatric facility for wayward priests falls short of the mark. He doesn’t really explain anything and leaves way too many questions for the non-psychology major. His introduction of the inexperienced but smart and intuitive Spanish journalist showed promise – but he
Spoiler
basically “killed” her off and no more is heard from her.It’s a fast read and a decent enough thriller, but he’s no Dan Brown.
As we prepare for our book discussion, the fact that the scandal of sex-abuse by priests supposedly known by and covered up by our current pontiff (Benedict XVI, the former Cardinal Ratzinger of Munich) adds an interesting dimension.