"Meine Schwester Val war tot!" Man bekommt schon eine gehörige Gänsehaut, wenn der sympathische, aus zahlreichen TV-Serien- und Filmen bekannte Ul...
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reviews
Nov 21, 2010
Eileen
rated it: 
Once again, I wish there was a 3.5 star option. This was a book written in the late 80's that was a precursor to the Dan Brown novels - suspense thriller about the intrigues and secret happenings of the church - murder mystery and many twists and turns.
The story is of Ben Driskill, son of a super rich string puller, who was an OSS officer during WWII working with the Catholic Church. His sister (a nun) is killed in their family chapel, and overwhelmed with grief and anger, he goes on More...
The story is of Ben Driskill, son of a super rich string puller, who was an OSS officer during WWII working with the Catholic Church. His sister (a nun) is killed in their family chapel, and overwhelmed with grief and anger, he goes on More...
Nov 11, 2011
Riju
rated it: 
Although this book has been heavily publicised to encash upon the success of "Da Vinci Code", in reality it is rather predictable, full of characters lifted from soap-operas, unimaginatively narrated and (to sum it up) boring. Also, the entire concept of this book is dated and the onus is to thrash Pope Pius and the Catholic Church. Honestly, with eleven years research one can do better and is expected to do better. To check the veracity of my observation, please read "Angels & De
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Aug 17, 2011
Jeane
rated it: 
The assissini is one of those books you haven't heard about, don't look that special but something makes you try it out anyway. For me it was the name of the book and in some way the story, the places.
The story spreads itself around Rome, Princeton, the Donegal coast in Ireland and even Paris and Alexandria. The church is in the middle of everything, but is full of secrets ...in the past and now. And, the Pope is dying and Rome and the rest of the world wants to know who will become More...
The story spreads itself around Rome, Princeton, the Donegal coast in Ireland and even Paris and Alexandria. The church is in the middle of everything, but is full of secrets ...in the past and now. And, the Pope is dying and Rome and the rest of the world wants to know who will become More...
Dec 08, 2008
Reinhold
rated it:
Papst Calixtus liegt im Sterben, bereits vor zwei Jahren erfuhr er von seiner tödlichen Diagnose, doch nun geht ihm endgültig der Lebensodem aus. Gleichzeitig ist eine extrem säkulare Nonne drauf und dran aufzudecken, dass die Spitze der katholischen Kirche mit den Nazis gemeinsame Sache gemacht hatte und geraubte Kunstschätze in Milliardenhöhe von den Nazis kaufte. Ihre Nachforschungen sind schon sehr weit gediehen und nun will sie sich mit ihrem Bruder treffen. Noch ehe sich die beiden jedoch
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Jan 25, 2012
Elizabeth
rated it:
I can never resist a Vatican thriller. There are so many skeletons buried in their closets, and the more I learn about the history the more shocked I am. Well, this fun read is a fictional story about the intrigues in the Church as the Pope nears his death. This is an old school thriller - one that moves slowly. Not a wham bam thank you ma'am kind of a thriller, and I enjoyed losing myself in this world for a while. This is the first book I have read by this author and I would read more of his w
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Nov 28, 2011
Gordon
rated it:
I remember reading this book many years ago in the Navy and being blown away by it. I was terribly lucky to find it again last week at the book store by the movie theater. Yeah the whole Vatican assassin thing, Gifford did it way before the Dan Brown. This is a really good book but if you do happen to be a devout Catholic it might upset you.
Jan 21, 2011
Kyrie
rated it:
A priest's sister (his real sister, who is also a Sister) is killed and he's looking into her death. He uncovers all sort of plots regarding the election of the next Pope, intrigues in politics, intrigues in the church and honestly, I'm stunned it hasn't been made into a movie. I loved all the convoluted twists and turns the story takes.
Jul 18, 2009
Vinessa
rated it: 
Paperback thriller, but super well researched on the Vatican and the Catholic Church historically. Somewhat cold reading until about page 135 then it catches on fire. Anyone interested in the history of the Christian West, or the Church in particular, will highly value the story "behind" the story. Very rich.
Apr 21, 2009
Abe
rated it:
A great novel. Lots of intrigue. The characters were made to seem real. The story line was a black eye for the Catholic Church, however with so much factual information produced, it made the history of the church and the mysteries still being unraveled, plausible. It is a bit like the Da Vinci Code .
Apr 04, 2009
John
rated it:
This was mentionedin our local paper as better than the Da Vinci Code, but with the same theme. I tried to stick with it but gave up - a boring, name dropping piece of junk.
Aug 09, 2010
James
rated it:
In a similar vein to Dan Brown (I believe this was written earlier, however). Well worth reading if you enjoy this niche of fiction.
Apr 24, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
I found this book to be quite interesting, but I guessed who was behind it very early on into the book.
Jan 03, 2012
Eva
rated it:
Kinda makes you feel like Dan Brown "borrowed" here. Gifford is definitely the better option.
Jul 29, 2011
Wendy
rated it:
just could'nt get into this, too involved and complicated, hate giving up on a book, but i did try
Apr 17, 2009
Gabriela
rated it:
es un libro que pone en tela de juicio realidades, creencias y guias
Aug 29, 2010
Nafise
rated it:
بی نظیر بود!!! فعلا هیجان تموم کردنش رو دارم، جزئیات نظرم رو بعدا اضافه می کنم
Jul 21, 2010
Oceana2602
rated it:
A christmas preset from a friend, who, like many people, totally misjudged my taste in books.
I didn't finish this. Actually, I didn't start in a way that would count as starting, as this is clearly popular fiction like "The Da Vinci Code", and as such makes me want to run away and scream.
No, that's not true. I actually love these kinds of books because they get people to read that wouldn't usually read. I just don't want to have to read them myself.
I didn't finish this. Actually, I didn't start in a way that would count as starting, as this is clearly popular fiction like "The Da Vinci Code", and as such makes me want to run away and scream.
No, that's not true. I actually love these kinds of books because they get people to read that wouldn't usually read. I just don't want to have to read them myself.
Aug 04, 2008
Rae
rated it:
A superbly involving thriller about the Vatican and some deep dark Nazi secrets. A fun read and historically interesting to boot.
Dec 29, 2007
Ron
rated it:
An awesome book similar to The DaVinci Code but originally written in 1990. Great intrigue and well researched. Excellent.
Mar 04, 2011
Nivi_pooh
rated it:
Fanstastic descriptions into the world of Archbishop and cardinals and their manipulations at the temple city of Lord.
May 30, 2008
Excellent Book. could not put it down.
Very engrossing... Loved the thrills and description of Italy.
Very engrossing... Loved the thrills and description of Italy.
Feb 08, 2012
Feb 08, 2012
