Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Trinity Game

3.5 of 5 stars 3.50 · rating details · 764 ratings · 155 reviews

Daniel Byrne is an investigator for the Vatican's secretive Office of the Devil's Advocate ? the department that scrutinizes miracle claims. Over ten years and 721 cases, not one miracle he tested has proved true. But case #722 is different; Daniel's estranged uncle, a crooked TV evangelist, has started speaking in tongues ? and accurately predicting the future. Daniel kno...more

Hardcover, 356 pages

Published July 31st 2012 by Thomas & Mercer

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Year's Best Thrillers (2012)

9th out of 12 books — 13 voters

The Templar Conspiracy by Paul Christopher

Crosses

52nd out of 56 books — 4 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 1,258)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jan 30, 2013 Charley Girl rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book sounded interesting to me right from the start. As I’ve grown older I’ve become increasingly interested in Christian claims and truths. My main conflict with most groups is there is always an outsider and I wanted to see if The Trinity Games addressed any of human flaws of the Catholic Church. I’m not sure why I thought that this book was the answer to all of my many questions.

Daniel Byrne works for the Devil’s Advocate, a secret organization within the Vatican. OOOO, now you are talki...more

like · see review

Dec 07, 2012 Steph rated it 3 of 5 stars

Tragically orphaned at childbirth and raised by his tent-show revivalist grifter uncle Tim Trinity, as a young man Daniel Byrne forgoes a promising boxing career and an alluring woman for the priesthood. Eventually Byrne earns a senior position in the Vatican's Office of the Devil's Advocate, the Church's bureau tasked with investigating and debunking claims of divinely-inspired miracles around the world.

Years after turning his back on Trinity and his religious scams, the Vatican dispatches Byr...more

like · see review

Oct 23, 2012 Benjamin Cheah rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Trinity Game is a solid thriller. It is an engrossing work with well thought-out characters and shows extensive research into technology, geography and psychology. It's a story of skeptics finding faith in the face of (maybe) miracles and believers protecting their interests through any means necessary. It's also a story of the real world, where miracles have mundane explanations, where the rich and the powerful decide world interests, and where the good guys don't, or can't, win every battl...more

like 1 like · see review

Oct 12, 2012 Edward Gordon rated it 2 of 5 stars

“The Trinity Game” (which came out on July 31, 2012) is one of the many books written by Sean Chercover and published by Amazon’s imprint, Thomas and Mercer. It’s a story about a priest, Daniel Byrne, who works for the Vatican investigating reports of alleged miracles. The problem is he has an uncle, Tim Trinity, who’s a con artist televangelist making a living off false miracles.

Actually, Trinity is more than just an uncle, given that he raised Daniel after Daniel’s parents died when he was jus...more “The Trinity Game” (which came out on July 31, 2012) is one of the many books written by Sean Chercover and published by Amazon’s imprint, Thomas and Mercer. It’s a story about a priest, Daniel Byrne, who works for the Vatican investigating reports of alleged miracles. The problem is he has an uncle, Tim Trinity, who’s a con artist televangelist making a living off false miracles.

Actually, Trinity is more than just an uncle, given that he raised Daniel after Daniel’s parents died when he was just a baby. But growing up with a grifter left Daniel angry and degraded. So, in an act of rebellion against his televangelist caregiver, does he turn to nipple rings and drugs? No. Instead he becomes a Catholic priest.

As a priest, the now Father Byrne works with the Office of Devil’s Advocate. The office of Devil’s Advocate (in this novel anyway) exists to expose false claims of miracles and confirm true ones. Daniel has taken up an assignment there with the hopes that one day his investigations will turn up a true miracle. If they do, he hopes he will be able to believe again.

What he doesn’t expect is for the true miracle to come through his con artist uncle, forcing him to reconnect with Tim Trinity in order to investigate and expose his miraculous powers of precognition.

But Trinity, as it turns out, is as confused by his newfound powers as Daniel is. During services, Trinity goes into a trance and speaks in tongues, but when a recording of the tongues is played backward at one-third speed, it comes out as deadly accurate predictions told in perfect English.

This miraculous clairvoyance leads people to the Reverend Trinity in droves. He predicts the winning lottery numbers and tells everyone what those numbers are; he predicts horse races, and disasters, and the weather.

There seems to be no stopping his fame and inevitable power in light of his enlightenment, so the powers-that-be determine Trinity is too dangerous to live. They figure if he keeps telling people what will happen, it will destroy the power structures and moneymaking systems of the world. Thus the Vatican, as well as the mob (interesting bedfellows indeed), set out to assassinate him.

The book is interesting to read, but it’s got some problems. In one part there’s a secret intelligence agency run by young priests who are computer hackers and are able to bring up any personal information that is needed or requested. That addition to the story comes across as hokey and a merely convenient device for getting needed information into the story to make the plot work out.

Then there’s this seemingly omnipotent world organization that makes a cameo appearance to help Daniel. Its sole purpose is to see that “good” prevails in the world. Again, this seems like a ridiculous insert into a story that can’t stand up without it. Not to mention, Trinity, himself, is portrayed as a bumbling almost stupid character that converts to the true religion of love and good works, way too easily.

And of course there’s a sexy female news reporter covering the whole thing against her bosses wishes (If it matters, her name is Julia.). A bit too ironically, Daniel broke up with Julia to join the priesthood and now has a hard time (and I use the term deliberately) maintaining his oath of celibacy whenever he comes in contact with her.

Apparently, the young celibate priest must struggle against his erections or the story just isn’t sexy enough for modern audiences. And in this service, Chercover never fails to mention Daniel’s inter-trouser tensions during his interludes with Julia. It becomes embarrassing to read.

Would I recommend this book? No. However “The Trinity Game” is interesting and suspenseful in parts, and the power plays and politics between priests and bishops is exciting to experience. The chapters are short, the pacing is fast, and Chercover is an experienced veteran within the action thriller genre. Not to mention, it’s available in all formats and if you’re an e-book reader reader, you’ll find the Kindle pricing refreshing at less than five dollars. If you like religi-politico thrillers, and you have a strong ability to suspend your disbelief, you’ll enjoy “The Trinity Game.”(less)

like · see review

Sep 03, 2012 Gloria Feit rated it 3 of 5 stars

This novel is quite a departure from the author’s previous books featuring a Chicago PI. It asks the reader to suspend disbelief and accept all kinds of conspiracies, while the protagonist, Daniel Byrne, a Roman Catholic priest working out of the Vatican charged with authenticating or disproving “miracles,” encounters one involving his own uncle, Timothy Trinity.

Dan’s mother died in childbirth, and his father committed suicide shortly afterward, orphaning the boy. Trinity took the child in and r...more

like · see review

Aug 19, 2012 Pamela Kramer rated it 5 of 5 stars

"The Trinity Game" by Sean Chercover is a most unusual and intellectually pleasing -- and challenging -- suspense novel. It raises religious and philosophical issues which are quite profound, issues which most novels of the genre would not even dare approach.

There are actually two protagonists here. One is Daniel Byrne, a young Catholic priest whose job for the church is to investigate and debunk miracle claims all around the world. Daniel lost both his parents when he was an infant and was rais...more

like · see review

Jul 31, 2012 Richard Gazala rated it 3 of 5 stars

Tragically orphaned at childbirth and raised by his tent-show revivalist grifter uncle Tim Trinity, as a very young man Daniel Byrne forgoes a promising boxing career and an alluring woman for the priesthood. Eventually Byrne earns a senior position in the Vatican's Office of the Devil's Advocate, the Church's bureau tasked with investigating and debunking claims of divinely-inspired miracles around the world. Years after turning his back on Trinity and his religious scams, the Vatican dispatche...more Tragically orphaned at childbirth and raised by his tent-show revivalist grifter uncle Tim Trinity, as a very young man Daniel Byrne forgoes a promising boxing career and an alluring woman for the priesthood. Eventually Byrne earns a senior position in the Vatican's Office of the Devil's Advocate, the Church's bureau tasked with investigating and debunking claims of divinely-inspired miracles around the world. Years after turning his back on Trinity and his religious scams, the Vatican dispatches Byrne to America to assess, and disprove, Trinity's new-found abilities to accurately predict future events while speaking in bizarre tongues during his internationally televised sermons. Trinity's ardent followers are convinced God has selected the old grifter as His latest earthly loudspeaker. Elements both official and clandestine in the Vatican believe otherwise, as does Byrne. Byrne travels to Atlanta to confront his uncle, only to find that perhaps Trinity's recent gift might indeed have supernatural, if not heavenly, origins. Organized crime bosses in Las Vegas don't care where Trinity's predictive prowess comes from -- they want him stopped at all costs, because his prescience includes not only foreseeing tragic oil rig explosions and horrific traffic wrecks, but also calling final scores in sporting events yet to be played. Pursued by countless fans and foes across the American South, including federal agents and professional assassins, Byrne enlists help from of his old lover, now a CNN journalist, and from a mercenary friend who owes his life to the priest after a violent episode in Central America years back, to slip Trinity out of Atlanta. Trinity demands Byrne get him in one piece to New Orleans, where Trinity must deliver to the world from the steps of the St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square a message only he can give.

Author Sean Chercover has written an engaging modern thriller. His prose is crisp. Byrne and Trinity are interesting characters, though the rest of the novel's cast are fairly flat stock good guys or bad guys. The novel reflects that the author knows the places where his story takes place very well, and this is particularly so regarding New Orleans. All considered, "The Trinity Game" is an entertaining book that will leave thriller readers satisfied.(less)

like 1 like · see review

Nov 30, 2012 A.M. Dean rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of thriller and suspense; those who enjoy books that explore religious belief

Shelves: thrillers, suspense, conspiracy, religion

I tottered heavily at thee ‘three stars or four’ question as I began this review, which should make my opening sentiments a clear sign of general approval. For most of my way through Sean Chercover’s The Trinity Game, I had in fact considered it a 5-star novel and I was engrossed in every chapter; but a turn towards the end started to lower that mark, and though it still sits right on the edge, I’ve had to offer three stars rather than four at the end of the day.

The Trinity Game is a strong nove...more I tottered heavily at thee ‘three stars or four’ question as I began this review, which should make my opening sentiments a clear sign of general approval. For most of my way through Sean Chercover’s The Trinity Game, I had in fact considered it a 5-star novel and I was engrossed in every chapter; but a turn towards the end started to lower that mark, and though it still sits right on the edge, I’ve had to offer three stars rather than four at the end of the day.

The Trinity Game is a strong novel, and in many ways an excellent read. The writing is crafted carefully, well, and in a manner that keeps you addicted to the story, eager to turn over each page, without ever feeling that the suspense or pace are forced. This is good writing, good atmosphere, and good storytelling.

I was intrigued from the outset by the unique and unexpected mixture of themes at the heart of the book’s plot. Neither a ‘cut down the Catholics for all their mystery and reclusiveness’ fabrication, nor a standard jaunt into the realm of snake-oil salesmen and big tent preachers, The Trinity Game mixes together these generally separate themes in a story that, almost accidentally, asks questions about the structure of religion, faith, Church, cult and deception. The unlikelihood of a direct interaction between Vatican researches and American televangelists is dealt with in the story itself, and shows just how broad the sweep of faith and practice can run within a family.

This is a suspense thriller with a twist of conspiracy thrown in, and in this genre it works well. The structure of the book is well planned, and gradually draws the reader into various plots and sub-plots that eventually come together in a single, overarching storyline; and the characters are real, troubled, gripping and inviting. What particularly pleased me about the writing was the way that questions of faith and belief were treated by the different characters with their own biases and opinions, yet in a way that left the book, as a whole, treating of various ‘takes’ in equal measure. So many books in this category push an agenda on religion -- it is good, or bad; it is misleading, or outmoded; etc. -- but The Trinity Game leaves it to the reader to ask these questions, and allows the characters to speak to many perceptions.

All that being said, the extremely promising beginnings of The Trinity Game (and as I was reading, I was prepared to give it a 5-star rating up until this conclusion of Part 2) definitely takes a downhill turn towards the book’s end. Structurally, the introduction of a whole separate religious tradition at the end of Part 2 (I won’t say which, so as not to provide any spoilers), which had been entirely absent from the book to that point, felt like a plot development that hadn’t been developed: something that might have felt more integral had there been hints or foreshadowings of it earlier in the story -- but as it was, it fractured the story by inserting a tradition and questions that felt like they were from another book altogether. At the same time, while the Council and Foundation (mysterious entities of unknown power and moral standing) were introduced early in the book, they don’t receive any real treatment or development until Part 3, almost at its end -- and by this stage it is too late, and I couldn’t help but feel like they were being used to explain away elements of the story that, without them, would remain mystifying.

Finally, I found the relationship between the protagonist, a priest called Daniel, and the female lead, a reporter and childhood sweetheart called Julia, unsatisfying. It has long, long since become a trope in books that deal with Catholic priests, that somewhere in the story the temptations of the world (and of women) lead them to abandon their calling; and in a book that spends so much time (artfully) challenging preconceptions of faith, belief and personal conviction, I’d hoped for a challenge to this stereotype as well -- but to no avail.

Still, The Trinity Game is a good, compelling read. No one who buys it will regret they did, and the great merit of the first two-thirds still outweighs the flaws of the final. Chercover’s writing is thoroughly pleasant, and includes a handful of memorable turns of phrase (such as one character’s frustration over ‘Ten years [spent examining] rust-stains that look kinda-sorta-almost like Jesus if you squint your eyes just so and hold your head on an angle and harbor an intense desire to see Jesus in a rust-stain’; or the lament that ‘living in a perpetual state of denial was exhausting’; or a newspaper reporter’s chagrined sigh, that ‘television is a possum with a tapeworm . . . always hungry and it’ll feed on any garbage’). There are little gems like this throughout the book, and many memorable quotes for the highlighting.

A good read, then, with some flaws but with many strengths. I’ll be looking out for Chercover’s next work.(less)

like 1 like · see review

Aug 06, 2012 Bryan Raines rated it 3 of 5 stars

To start off I would like to say that I would have given this book 3 1/2 stars if I had the option. I couldn't give it four stars, but I think it deserves better than 3 stars.

This is one of those books I am happy I read, but frustrated I finished. The ideas in my head seemed to be a bit grander than what the author intended. The finish left me feeling underwhelmed.

It is a fast paced book with lots of intrigue and drama. The characters are very well thought out. The main character irked me a bit...more

like 1 like · see review

Sep 01, 2012 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 110-books-in-2012-and-do-it-again, family-relationships, free-book-for-honest-review, read-in-2012, reviewed, second-chance, thriller, private-investigator

Daniel Byrne is a lead investigator for the Vatican. His job is to verify so called "mysteries."

Daniel is sent to the United States to investigate a televangelist who has made predictions that have come true. People begin to thing that he can see into the future. Daniel is given this assignment because the man, Rev. Tim Trinity is Dan's estranged uncle and Rome feels Daniel will be able to get close to him.

Also on the trail for Rev. Tim is a group of men from the Mob. They represent gambling int...more

like 1 like · see review

Sep 30, 2012 Michael Sherer rated it 5 of 5 stars

You know when "one more page" before turning out the light becomes one more chapter, and then another, that an author has you hooked. Cracking the cover of THE TRINITY GAME a few days ago was like taking a seat on a Brahman bull in the chute. I could feel the muscle, power and tension beneath the surface calm. It wasn't long before Chercover opened the gate, and the ride has been wild ever since.

This is an exceedingly well-written, soundly constructed, rip-snorting yarn that's cost me several h...more

like · see review

Aug 06, 2012 Holly West rated it 4 of 5 stars

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's fast paced and deals with topics I'm personally interested in. Daniel Byrne, the protagonist, is a priest who works with the Office of the Devil's Advocate at the Vatican and I liked the fact that although he's a priest whose given his life over to God, he's skeptical and therefore great at his job. He's not a man who will certify a miracle just to be doing it--he takes the job very seriously. The uncle who raised him, Tim Trinity, is a grifter who preys...more

like 1 like · see review

Feb 28, 2013 Kerri rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club

Don't read this book unless you are prepared to accept what the author has written without questioning. It was a quick read and entertaining (in a 'You want me to believe WHAT??!' kind of way), but it was so far removed from reality that I had to suspend my disbelief in order to finish it. You are introduced to a priest, Daniel, who is an upright and honest member of the clergy who investigates reports of miracles. He has so many doubts about being a priest (not to mention the references, of whi...more

like · see review

Jul 20, 2012 Gerald Sinstadt rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime

As a reader I am irritated by sweepingly dismissive reviews; they need some justification. As a grateful recipient of a gift, I feel a responsibility to provide a considered review of any book. The Trinity Game, I am sorry to say, has tested me to the limit.

I also have a problem in not wishing to reveal an important plot element. In this case, I will restrict myself to saying that the matter of Speaking in Tongues is investigated - and exposed - with a technique I find simply unbelievable. As is...more

like 1 like · see review

Aug 08, 2012 Gerald rated it 1 of 5 stars

I'm going to start commenting on Kindle books that I sampled but decided not to buy. If the author can't engage you in the sample, that's worth knowing.

I like spy thrillers. I particularly like spy stories that have intellectual and political intrigue and knotted up plots.

Right off, on the first page, this book is about an assassination plot told from the sniper's point of view.

I'm sorry. As much as I like the genre I have totally had it with gun violence as entertainment. That doesn't mean I'm...more

like · see review

Aug 07, 2012 Andi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Before "The Trinity Game" I had thought I was the only person looking for miracles. Guess not!

While conspiracy theories run rampant these days, rarely does one find a book that draws you in, from the first page, and takes you into the heart of the conspiracy, shows you both sides, and all the while continues to focus on the normal, everyday people that don't have a clue what's really going on behind the scenes. The characters are realistic, honest, and gut wrenching. And even when you think you...more

like 1 like · see review

Aug 13, 2012 Maya Panika rated it 4 of 5 stars

I rarely read mysteries or crime novels – I’m not really a fan. I picked up The Trinity Game because I enjoy most things that have a hint of the paranormal, and was glad I did, it was a truly terrific read, a fast moving thriller with an intriguing premise, a crime thriller with a supernatural twist that hooks you and doesn’t let go. My only complaint is that my favourite character, the best character, doesn’t make it to the end. Such a waste, but a demise that was always on the cards.

It’s hard...more

like · see review

Sep 08, 2012 Dave Jones rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, spiritual

This is the first contemporary book I've read in looong time. I took the bait when Amazon offered a healthy pre-publication discount and checked out the reviews.

The main character is a televangelist (Tim Trinity) who is also a grifter. [I know that combo is pretty far-fetched! ;-) Work with me.] Suddenly he has the ability to speak in tongues in such a way that when played backwards and slowed down a third (i.e. .666 - get it?), gives accurate prophesies ranging from disasters to proper gumbo re...more

like · see review

Sep 15, 2012 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Aug 14, 2012 Joanna (J.F.Penn) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm a sucker for books around religious themes, so this was a must buy. Daniel Byrne is a doubting priest who investigates supposed miracles for the Vatican. He hasn't ever found a true miracle. Then his attention is drawn to Tim Trinity, a tele-evangelist and the man who brought him up. Daniel knows that Trinity has an act going that brings in the dollars but this time he is speaking in strange tongues. This turns out to be human speech spoken backwards at a different speed and in these states,...more

like · see review

Feb 28, 2013 Carrie Anne Harrington rated it 4 of 5 stars

I will be purchasing and reading more from this author. I still pinch myself that now with a kindle I can read more and spend less.

This is a fast paced action/thriller with just the right amount or romance and sex thrown in. I love great character development and the characters in this book are people I want to read more about. You have a horrific crime that needs to be solved and a few unexpected twists along the way to keep you reading. I do read to enjoy and so I don't worry about tearing apa...more

like · see review

Aug 20, 2012 Cindywestover7 rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book took several pages for me to get into it, but once i did the pace picked up and I was hooked. It is quite suspenseful and found myself unable to read fast enough at times.

This is a book about a priest who works for the Vatican as an investigator of claimed miracles. He has pretty much proven each one to be a fake but the last assignment his boss sends him on: to investigate the man who raised him after his parent died at and after his birth. His uncle has been a con in the bible preac...more

like · see review

Nov 18, 2012 Sheila Beaumont rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-and-adventure, adult-fiction, mysteries-suspense-thrillers, paranormal-supernatural

I loved this thought-provoking, twisty, fast-paced religious-conspiracy thriller, which involves a priest who investigates purported miracles for the Vatican, a couple of shadowy secret societies, a televangelist who suddenly starts speaking backwards in tongues and foreseeing all sorts of future events (such as major disasters and horseracing outcomes), assassins, the Las Vegas mob, newspaper and CNN journalists, Hurricane Katrina, FBI agents, Central American politics, and much else.

This is de...more

like · see review

Oct 05, 2012 Kim Justice rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

My Review:
Awesome, a book that took me around the world into an area of unknown to me. Yes, I know it is fiction, but when you are able to read so that you feel you are actually in the book. Well then let me just say I am not of the same religion as what is in this book, neither am I a investigator but I was in this book.

Author Sean Chercover has a new fan. His style of writing is so intense that I did not want to put it down. And even though I knew the book I was reading at the time could be...more

like · see review

Oct 26, 2012 Spuddie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Stand-alone thriller that features a priest and an investigator of reported miracles for the Vatican as its main character. What Daniel Byrne doesn't expect is that he will end up investigating his own con-man televangelist uncle, Timothy Trinity, whom he severed all ties with as a young man. He knows what kind of con artist his uncle is--since Trinity is the one who raised Daniel--but isn't prepared to believe that he actually may be able to predict the future. That is, until he spends time wit...more

like · see review

Nov 19, 2012 Thebarrys10 rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Catholic Church has a devil's advocate who searches the globe for miracles. Not finding any in his 10 or so years, his faith waivers. His uncle is a con man TV preacher who raised him and seeing that really causes doubt. The uncle.though, starts speaking in tongues and after learning to unscramble the language, Daniel, the nephew-devil's advocate, sees his uncle really change into a "believer". There is a lot of action when the Vatican and the mob gets involved. I gave it 3 stars because the...more

like · see review

Sep 16, 2012 Kari Anderson rated it 5 of 5 stars

**There are spoilers in this review. I found it hard to write this one without laying it all out on the table.**

Daniel Byrne is an investigator for the Vatican. He travels around the world when miracles are reported and decides if they are really miracles or if people are trying to scam them to get attention. So far, Daniel has never found a miracle and normally makes the decision within just a few days.

His latest assignment hits close to home. His uncle, a traveling preacher who has a very lar...more

**There are spoilers in this review. I found it hard to write this one without laying it all out on the table.**

Daniel Byrne is an investigator for the Vatican. He travels around the world when miracles are reported and decides if they are really miracles or if people are trying to scam them to get attention. So far, Daniel has never found a miracle and normally makes the decision within just a few days.

His latest assignment hits close to home. His uncle, a traveling preacher who has a very large following and does televised sermons has started speaking tongues. That is no surprise to Daniel, who has known his uncle was a fraud for years. But when the video of the tongues that Tim Trinity speaks is played backwards, and at a different speed, it turns out to be English and they are predictions…. to the future. He has predicted things from the weather to sporting events to even a crash.

It isn’t like Daniel to believe these things, but when he has to make a decision between the Vatican and his family, the decision is easy for him. For a man of the cloth, you wouldn’t believe there would be any more eye opening to faith, but for Daniel, he is about to go on the religious journey of a lifetime.
When I first got this book, I was a bit excited because I read that it was similar to Dan Brown novels. I have faith, but do not attend church. I find myself liking novels with religious twists. I like the role of devil’s advocate and playing out all possible scenarios, like I have found in Dan Brown. I started this book with hopes that it followed a path similar to Dan Brown, but was pleasantly surprised that it followed it’s own path.

While this book does have a religious outline, there is also love, lust, murder, and a suspense, not to mention a great story line. There are a lot of people in this book that learn about themselves as a believer and learn more in just a few days than they had in decades.

I have read some reviews from people saying they are not happy with the ending of this book. There is a quick mention of a tumor found in Tim Trinity, possibly explaining his tongues. Granted, I think we all want answers when it comes to miracles and the unbelievable, and yes it is fiction, so Chercover could have said whatever he wanted, but this was the most believable. After watching seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, as soon as I heard he was speakin tongues, I immediately thought tumor, but we all like to think it’s something else.

I am still very intrigued by Chercover’s writing and story and give The Trinity Game 5 out of 5 bookmarks.

(less)

like · see review

Oct 02, 2012 Elizabeth A. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Daniel Byrne is a man who’s spent his entire adult life looking for a miracle. Raised by his con man uncle, Reverend Tim Trinity, after his parents died, Daniel grew up truly believing in the power of faith as evidenced by the miracles he witnessed at his uncle’s traveling tent revivals. Until he was old enough to begin questioning, that is.

Daniel was barely into his early teens when he learned his uncle was a sham and the miracles he performed were staged. The discovery was devastating, and dro...more Daniel Byrne is a man who’s spent his entire adult life looking for a miracle. Raised by his con man uncle, Reverend Tim Trinity, after his parents died, Daniel grew up truly believing in the power of faith as evidenced by the miracles he witnessed at his uncle’s traveling tent revivals. Until he was old enough to begin questioning, that is.

Daniel was barely into his early teens when he learned his uncle was a sham and the miracles he performed were staged. The discovery was devastating, and drove Daniel from his uncle’s house and into another, the Lord’s. Presenting himself as an orphan at a Catholic Church, Daniel started down the path to priesthood, and a lifelong quest to truly believe again.

Working as an investigator for the Office of the Devil’s Advocate, the Vatican’s secret branch whose members are tasked with investigating claims of miraculous happenings, Daniel is presented with his most challenging case yet…investigating the Reverend Tim Trinity, now a highly successful televangelist working out of Atlanta. Apparently Trinity has begun speaking in tongues during his sermons, and when played backwards at two thirds speed it becomes clear that Trinity is uttering prophecies on everything from the outcome of sporting events (including exact scores), to crippling traffic jams, to natural disasters. And he’s never wrong.

When CNN breaks the story millions of believers flock to Atlanta, eager to hear the prophecies of the “new Messiah” firsthand. The church is obviously not interested in competition, so Daniel is dispatched from Rome to debunk the Trinity Phenomenon. After all, who better to debunk the supposed miracle than a priest who’s never certified one in ten years of investigation and who’s carrying a serious grudge against a man he knows to be a fraud?

Despite being built around an obviously religious premise, author Sean Chercover’s The Trinity Game is actually not a book that hits the reader over the head with religion. At its heart The Trinity Game is part mystery (is the Trinity Phenomenon real?) and part thriller (the church isn’t the only group interested inTrinity; the mob, government, and a shadow organization known as the Fleur-de-Lis Foundation all also have a stake in controlling – or silencing – Trinity), with a dash of romance thrown in (Daniel must deal with a journalist he dated prior to entering the seminary, which rekindles his interest in having a relationship and further undermines his already shaky faith).

Chercover keeps the plot moving along at a pace that belies the book’s 400+ page length, perfectly balancing the action sequences with those in which Daniel reflects on and struggles with his conflicting desires: to reconcile with his uncle, or continue their twenty-five year estrangement; to prove Trinity a fraud, or actually discover a true miracle; to recommit himself to his faith, or leave the priesthood and pursue a relationship. Daniel’s struggles with these issues makes him a very believable and sympathetic protagonist; he is not polished and perfect. Similarly, while initially depicted as the stereotypical smooth talking, slick looking televangelist, Trinity actually undergoes an interesting transformation during the course of the story, finding himself every bit at a crossroads as Daniel with regard to his faith, albeit from a different angle.

Indeed, Chercover has written that all too often elusive creature: a thriller that actually has depth as well as a fast-paced, exciting plot. (less)

like · see review

Sep 17, 2012 Al Canary rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was attracted by the discounted price apparently based on being the 1st in a new series. Then draw in by the 1st action being from the snipers view.

But the storyline continues to require suspension of disbelief, right down to the last word in the book.... Frankly, I found myself with a strong sense of total disapointment & have decided that I'm no longer fond of 'conspiricy theorys". Could the Catholic Church possibly be behind all of this?

Ehhhhh. I wont read Chernover's next in series!

like · see review

Jan 10, 2013 Krista rated it 3 of 5 stars

Tim Trinity is a fake evangelist and a non-believer. His estranged nephew, Daniel Byrne, is a Catholic priest working for the Vatican who constantly struggles with his faith. When Tim starts speaking in tongues and predicting the future with 100% accuracy, Daniel is sent to debunk his "miracle." This mission tests the beliefs of both of these men and leads them on a strange path. The fast pace and short chapters kept me reading and there were some interesting religious ideas presented, but nothi...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 41 42 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
The ending (spoilers)	2	11	Aug 27, 2012 09:08pm

combine
Other Editions (9)

More editions...

Genres

Mystery

15 users

Thriller

12 users

Book Club

6 users

Suspense

4 users

Mystery > Crime

3 users

Religion

2 users

Fantasy

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Poison Flower
by Thomas Perry
The Thieves Of Legend
by Richard Doetsch
The Wrong Man
by David Ellis
The Skeleton Box
by Bryan Gruley
The Survivor
by Gregg Hurwitz

About Sean Chercover

His debut novel, "Big City, Bad Blood" won the Shamus, Gumshoe, Crimespre and Lovey awards for best first novel.

Formerly a PI, in Chicago and New Orleans.

Currently lives in Chicago and Toronto.

More about Sean Chercover...

Books by Sean Chercover

Eight Lies (About The Truth): A Collection Of Short Stories

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Trinity Game

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from The Trinity Game

“It isn't about miracles or proof or having God on speed dial. You want to be close to God? Reach down and help your neighbor. Faith without works is dead...” — 3 people liked it

“All that human energy, wasted, in response to the simple fact that we know we are going to die, and we don't know what happens after, and we're afraid that this life is all there is.” — 2 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: The Trinity Game
avg rating	preview: The Trinity Game Goodreads rating: 3.50 (764 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15096025-the-trinity-game?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1340752734l/15096025.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15096025-the-trinity-game?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Trinity Game by Sean Chercover[/url]

The Trinity Game

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website