The Magdalene Deception by Gary McAvoy

Dec 11, 2020 Barbara rated it liked it

Father Michael Dominic is a recently ordained Catholic priest assigned to work in the Vatican Library's Secret Archives, which aren't so much secret as reserved for elite scholars.

Dominic is a classical medievalist whose rapid rise in the church was engineered by his mentor, Cardinal Enrico Petrini, who's known Michael since he was a boy.

One of Dominic's jobs is to help digitalize the Vatican archives, so researchers around the world can have access to the documents housed there. Michael, who's ...more

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Jun 03, 2020 Matt rated it really liked it

Shelves: reedsy-arc

First and foremost, a large thank you to Reedsy Discovery and Gary McAvoy for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always a fan of novels with Catholic and/or historical twists, this book by Gary McAvoy caught my eye as soon as I found it. Michael Dominic grew up in United States, without a father but under the watchful eye of one of the most powerful men in the Catholic Church. Having finished his seminary studies and been ordained First and foremost, a large thank you to Reedsy Discovery and Gary McAvoy for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always a fan of novels with Catholic and/or historical twists, this book by Gary McAvoy caught my eye as soon as I found it. Michael Dominic grew up in United States, without a father but under the watchful eye of one of the most powerful men in the Catholic Church. Having finished his seminary studies and been ordained, Dominic accepted a position within the Vatican as a researcher, where he was able to hone some of his other interests in medieval history. When he trips upon a cache of old documents, he hides them away from prying eyes in hopes of exploring them a little more, only to discover that they are written in quatrain form and speak of some fairly significant things. After speaking to a superior, Dominic meets a Swiss reporter, Hana Sinclair, who has travelled to the Holy See in order to follow a story from a Nazi-era interaction with the Vatican Bank. While their work is not necessarily complementary, Dominic and Sinclair find themselves in the middle of a third mystery, one centred in rural France where a priest was blackmailing the Vatican with a set of documents in his possession, back before the turn of the 20th century. Travelling there, Dominic is being tailed by a powerful enforcer who seeks to obtain the documents to uncover what is going on while trying to strengthen a Croatian political and religious order. When Dominic receives the document, he is able to translate them and discovers a secret from two thousand years ago, one that would truly rock the Church to its core. With a killer on his trail and needing to ensure the document is preserved, Dominic returns to the Vatican, only to find that he and Hana may have caused a major panic. A great thriller that weaves numerous storylines together effectively. Recommended to those who love a good thriller worth historical implications, as well as the reader who enjoys Vatican and Catholic politics.

There’s something about biblical revelations set against a fictional thriller that pulls me in every time. Be it the history or the politics of what entered the narrative of the biblical teachings, there is something there and loads of mystery behind what did not make it. McAvoy creates a wonderful story that never stops building throughout. His protagonist, Michael Dominic, comes from humble beginnings, but is never one to let that get him down. He finds ways to work within his limits and find true passion for all he enjoys doing, without needing to focus on the solitary of life as a priest. His grit and determination is on show here and keeps the reader connected to him throughout. Other characters offer some wonderful flavour to the overall narrative and keep things exciting, amongst all the twists and revelations. McAvoy captures the secrecy and deep-rooted history of the Vatican and its politics throughout this piece, with a strong story and plot that moves in many directions. While there is the inherent biblical document that is revealed, there is not too much of a focus on its gnostic or apocryphal nature, but more that it adds new depths to the narrative of the Church’s past decisions on how to portray the Christian story. With a mix of longer and short chapters, McAvoy pulls the reader in and keeps them guessing, while also refusing to place a damper on the action. Juggling modern and ancient Church issues, McAvoy does not lose his reader at any point, as his writing is so clear that the attentive reader will likely want more. I look forward to more by the author, with Michael Dominic or others in the protagonist’s seat.

Kudos, Mr. McAvoy, for this wonderful book. This may have been the first of your books that I have read, but it will not be the last.

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A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/... ...more

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Jun 16, 2020 Carolyn Walsh rated it really liked it

This is a Vatican thriller with a believable storyline. The plot builds very slowly with intense action scenes near its conclusion. It is rich or dense (depending on the readers' reaction) with historic facts and speculations, making the story highly credible. Frequently pausing in my reading, I often consulted Wikipedia and Google which caused me to highly admire the author's scholarly knowledge and historical research. It was well-written but could have used some more lighter moments.

Michael This is a Vatican thriller with a believable storyline. The plot builds very slowly with intense action scenes near its conclusion. It is rich or dense (depending on the readers' reaction) with historic facts and speculations, making the story highly credible. Frequently pausing in my reading, I often consulted Wikipedia and Google which caused me to highly admire the author's scholarly knowledge and historical research. It was well-written but could have used some more lighter moments.

Michael Dominic grew up and was ordained a Jesuit priest in America. His godfather and father figure is a wise, powerful Roman Catholic Cardinal. Michael is transferred to the Vatican to work in its Secret Archives due to his expertise in ancient writing and codes. While working in the archives, Michael feels there is a connection to Berenger Saulnier, a priest in rural France in the recent past, who may have been blackmailing the Vatican with an ancient papyrus manuscript in his possession.

The Vatican is well described, with its hidden treasures and writings, the rivalries and ambitions within, and secrets which caused many conspiracy theories to spring up. Michael becomes friends with a Swiss Guard and meets his cousin Hana who is a journalist from a very wealthy Swiss banking family. The military training and experience of the Swiss Guards was a surprise to me. When photographing them in their elaborate, multi-coloured uniforms, I thought these men served a decorative function.

Hana is pursuing a story that Nazi and Croatian gold is held in the Vatican bank. Gold and other treasures were stolen by the Nazis and Ustasha (an extreme, brutal right-wing group in Croatia) from their victims of genocide proceeding and during WW11. Hana meets with Dr. Ginsberg who is documenting the collaboration of Pope Pius X11 with the Nazis and the role of secreting war criminals out of the country. A vast amount of looted and stolen treasure ended up in Vatican vaults.

Michael and Hana cooperate and their two investigations begin to coincide. They are followed and spied upon by members of Ustasha. These men are blackmailing an arrogant, intimidating and powerful man within the Vatican and following his cruel orders. Michael and Hana have retrieved the ancient manuscript in France, and are astonished that it is the long-hidden testament of Mary Magdalene which would shake the foundations of Christian belief were it to become known. They have placed themselves in extreme danger.

I wish to thank NetGalley, publisher, and author Gary McAvoy for this ARC in return for an honest review. I am hoping for further adventures of Father Michael Dominic and Hana. ...more

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Jan 03, 2021 John rated it really liked it

The Magdalene Deception is an interesting read along the lines of Dan Brown novels. Dominic is a priest new to the Vatican who uncovers an interesting document that could lead to the downfall of the church. He pairs up with a French journalist, on her own quest, to unearth this potentially damaging find.

I really enjoyed the book (a 3.5 rounded up to 4). While it held my interest the downgrade for me was the unlikely coincidences and the abrupt end.

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Sep 25, 2020 Jim rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 21st-century-mystery, international-mystery, historical-fiction, 21st-century-adventure-thriller, albigensian-crusade

Thank you Book Sirens, Literati Editions and the author for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.

Ever since the the publication of The DaVinci Code, I have had a fascination with the area around Rennes-le-Chateau/Carcassonne in southwestern France. As an adjunct to the area itself, I found the story of the Cathars and the Albigensian Crusade against them to be very interesting. Over the last decade, I have read several books, fiction and nonfiction, about the area and the people. In 2011, I eve Thank you Book Sirens, Literati Editions and the author for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.

Ever since the the publication of The DaVinci Code, I have had a fascination with the area around Rennes-le-Chateau/Carcassonne in southwestern France. As an adjunct to the area itself, I found the story of the Cathars and the Albigensian Crusade against them to be very interesting. Over the last decade, I have read several books, fiction and nonfiction, about the area and the people. In 2011, I even visited both cities.

THE MAGDALENE DECEPTION by GARY McAVOY is yet another entry in the Cathar legacy. The story opens in March 1244 as the last holdouts in the Castle Montsegur are about to surrender to the Crusaders led by King Louis of France. The night before their “final solution”, four Cathar men secretly depart the Castle with the treasure and holy relic(s) of the group. That event has been the subject of many books. What was the treasure and what were the relics that went missing?

Flash forward to the present. Father Michael Dominic has been installed at the Vatican through the good offices of his patron/godfather Cardinal Enrico Petrini of New York. His assignment is in the Vatican Archives, a place I would dearly love to visit because of all the secrets hidden there. The printed archives are being digitized and Father Michael is an expert in that field. When Napoleon sacked Rome in 1809, he took 3,000 crates of stuff to Paris. In 1814, only 700 were returned. The rest is still in France.

While doing research for his supervisor Father Calvino Mendoza, Dominic discovers a document that will lead him to Rennes-le-Chateau (a very small hilltop village), Paris and the story of Abbe Berenger Sauniere. The latter was a priest in that town late in the 19th and early 20th centuries. He built and rebuilt the local church and a manor house. When he died, he left everything to his friend and housekeeper Marie. Her grandniece is still alive and has some of Sauniere’s papers. One question that has baffled historians for a century is “Where did Sauniere get the money for his building projects?”

With the help of Hana Sinclair, a reporter for Le Monde newspaper and heiress to a Swiss banking fortune, and Karl Dengler a member of the Swiss Guards of the Vatican, Father Michael finds a document that could bring down the whole of Catholic religiosity.

Arrayed against the “good guys” are some malevolent individuals who will not hesitate to kill. Among the antagonists is Cardinal Fabrizio Dante, Vatican Secretary of State. His muscle is supplied by Petrov Govic a Croatian liaison to Interpol in Lyons, France. His father was a major leader of the Croation Ustasha who out Nazied the Nazis during WWII when it came to eliminating Jews and Romas in Croatia. The apple did not fall far from the tree.

A rip-roaring adventure with great characters. Even if you know nothing about the Cathars or the geographic areas, you will find the story riveting. There is even a hint at things to come and a tinge of romance. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

GO! BUY! READ!

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Aug 16, 2020 Joan rated it liked it

McAvoy has done a good job of weaving a fictional story into historical events. The descriptions of locations are detailed, allowing readers to get a very good sense of the setting. The characters are well developed, providing an essential aspect to an engaging novel. Unfortunately, the egalley I read did not have an author's note indicating which parts of the novel were, in fact, based on history and which were the author's imagination.

Readers who like speculative plots based on possible ancie ...more

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Sep 25, 2020 Kymm rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-i-own, 2020-challenge

Thank you to BookSirens and Literati Editions for the opportunity to read The Magdalene Deception by Gary McAvoy for free in exchange for an honest review. Choosing this book would come as a surprise to all that know me, since I'm an atheist and don't believe in anything that deals with god, the bible or religious beliefs. However I'm a huge fan of historical fiction and a true lover of history. One can't be a lover of history without knowing how religion has shaped the outcome of so much and so Thank you to BookSirens and Literati Editions for the opportunity to read The Magdalene Deception by Gary McAvoy for free in exchange for an honest review. Choosing this book would come as a surprise to all that know me, since I'm an atheist and don't believe in anything that deals with god, the bible or religious beliefs. However I'm a huge fan of historical fiction and a true lover of history. One can't be a lover of history without knowing how religion has shaped the outcome of so much and so many in our past as humans.

The Magdalene Deception was a really entertaining read for me especially considering Jesuit Priest Michael Dominic had just got a job working in the Secret Archives at the Vatican with the responsibility of going through archival documents and verifying their existence. While doing his job he stumbles across a particular papyrus that could break open a cornerstone to religious belief and show it for the lie that it is. Thus turning the words of the Catholic Church and all of Christendom on it's head. But this discovery doesn't come without danger either.

Meanwhile a journalist, Hana Sinclair, who also happens to be related to one of the cardinals at the Vatican is working on a piece that will highlight the theft of millions of dollars from the Jews in WWII by the Nazi's and the hiding of the money within various banks and even the complicity of the Catholic Church in stealing their share.

Father Dominic sees a kindred spirit in Hana and reaches out to her for help in his latest discovery which will lead them both into a maze of danger, secrecy and corruption. There are those within the higher ups of the church who would love to have this document to advance their own agenda without a care or concern for the repercussions of what this information could do to the world of believers.

This was one I was able to read in a day, it grabbed my attention from page one and didn't let go until I closed the book at it's end. I enjoyed the characters and thought McAvoy did a great job showing their growth as the book moved on. Father Dominic seemed so innocent and to me almost questioning his faith in the beginning, although he still had questions at the end, he seemed to have grown through his experiences and had his eyes opened to the corruption going on within the church. Guaranteed he felt differently about the church after his experiences than he did as a new employee at the archives. The mystery and subsequent chase for the document was exciting and had me on the edge of my seat. I wasn't sure Father Dominic and Hana would survive the corrupt forces that were trying to steal their treasure. Very exciting.

I must say as one who doesn't believe I thought it very brave of the author to put out a book that challenges one of the most basic and most revered tenets of religion and he handled it wonderfully. Of course I don't believe any of it happened, but I do respect the delicacy of how it was all handled in this book. The parts I found fascinating but not really surprising was the extent of the corruption the Catholic Church is engaged in and has been since it's inception and all the wars, destruction and death caused because of what they've done or said. I do recommend this one to anyone with an interest in historical fiction, the author seems to have his research down, or anyone with an interest in religious history or history in general. It's also a darn good mystery and thriller too! Happy Reading! ...more

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Jun 20, 2020 Kathy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book really surprised me, in a pleasant way. It has such a plausible story and is truly believable. It goes into great detail/background and provides a lot of historical information in an interesting way that ties into the story. Thanks to NetGalley and Gary McAvoy for the ARC

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Dec 14, 2020 Simone rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, thriller

Oh my, that gave me flashback to Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series!!! It was a slow burner in the beginning unlike Dan Brown's books. That is not necessarily a bad thing. I enjoyed reading about Father Michael's "journey" to the Vatican. It was definitely a believable storyline and kept me drawn in the entire time. it was a great take on the history of Christianity and the "what ifs" and the consequences of said "what ifs." I'm looking forward to the next book in the series! ...more

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Jun 12, 2020 Jeanne Jabour rated it it was amazing

STEP ASIDE DAN BROWN!!
I haven't read a novel that was so intriguing, fascinating, thrilling, edge-of-your-seat exciting, and historically accurate and informative in a very long time. The main protagonists are Michael Dominic, a priest transferred to the Vatican to work in their Secret Archives due to his expertise in medieval paleography and codicology, and ancient documents and texts; and, Hana Sinclair, a journalist and cousin to one of the Vatican Guards Michael befriends. In the course of h STEP ASIDE DAN BROWN!!
I haven't read a novel that was so intriguing, fascinating, thrilling, edge-of-your-seat exciting, and historically accurate and informative in a very long time. The main protagonists are Michael Dominic, a priest transferred to the Vatican to work in their Secret Archives due to his expertise in medieval paleography and codicology, and ancient documents and texts; and, Hana Sinclair, a journalist and cousin to one of the Vatican Guards Michael befriends. In the course of his new position as an archivist, Michael discovers an ancient document, purportedly written by Mary Magdalene, which would destroy the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church and Christian dogma if its' contents were ever to become known. Trying to decide what he must do with the newly discovered information and document, Michael confides in Hana and Dr. Simon Ginzberg, another scholar of antique writings, and man considered to be a "treasure" of the Vatican.

Both Hana and Dr. Ginzberg are investigating the Vatican - Hana is trying to establish the Vatican's involvement in the misappropriation and theft of treasures and gold bullion stolen from Nazi and Ustasha victims. She believes they are being held in the Vatican vaults. Dr. Ginzberg, as a as a survivor of Dachau Concentration Camp, is investigating the Vatican’s complacency during the Holocaust, and in particular the role of Pope Pius XII in collaborating with the Nazis. A very powerful man in the Vatican secretly hires a Ustasha assassin to halt the progress of these investigations. In the course of surveilling Michael and Hana, the assassin learns of the existence and significance of the Mary Magdalene text and receives instructions to secure that document at any cost and deliver it to the man who hired him.

This novel spans the ages and key historic events beginning with Jesus Christ on earth and Mary Magdalene, the annihilation of the last of the Cathars in 1244 (ordered by Pope Innocent III in 1209), the prophet Nostradamus, and the trial of Galileo, the 1885 mystery of Rennes-le-Château and the sudden acquisition of wealth by Abbé Bérenger Saunière, the rise of both the Nazi Party and the Ustasha and the atrocities and genocide committed against Jews, Gypsies, Mentally and Physically incapacitated individuals, Serbs from Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as Croatian Communists by both groups before, during, and after World War II, and the role the Vatican played in each of these events including protecting and aiding in the escapes of Nazi and Ustasha war criminals after the Allied victory, as well as the plunder and concealment of billions of dollars worth of artifacts, art pieces [paintings, statutes, bronze works, manuscripts, etc.], money, gold and jewels stolen from the victims murdered during the genocides.

Mr. McAvoy shows he is a master craftsman and student of history who challenges the reader to release previously held beliefs and to instead re-interpret Church teachings and their actions over the past two thousand years within the reality of hindsight, and possibility and information refuted by documented evidence. The novel is well-written, well-researched and thoroughly intriguing. I was unable to put it down once I started reading and the adventure was well worth late nights and lack of sleep. I cannot wait for Mr. McAvoy to publish a sequel.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. ...more

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Sep 16, 2020 Michelle Whitham (curled_up_with_a_good_book) rated it it was amazing

This is a fantastic novel full of conspiracy, suspense and fantastic characters.

When Michael finds the document that starts everything off, he definitely wasn’t prepared for what was to come! A fantastic character, I love that he’s a little rebellious and does things he shouldn’t, even if it does get him into some situations! At times I really felt for him as it’s clear that he has an internal battle on his hands – especially when there is clearly an attraction to Hanna! Also, with everything he This is a fantastic novel full of conspiracy, suspense and fantastic characters.

When Michael finds the document that starts everything off, he definitely wasn’t prepared for what was to come! A fantastic character, I love that he’s a little rebellious and does things he shouldn’t, even if it does get him into some situations! At times I really felt for him as it’s clear that he has an internal battle on his hands – especially when there is clearly an attraction to Hanna! Also, with everything he discovers making him question his faith and everything he believes in, I was impressed that he didn’t break his vows!

Hanna is another fantastic character. A strong female who, although determined to get what she wants, is caring and considerate to those she cares about. She has some major contacts and manages to get into the most protected places, helping to unravel some of the secrets that have been lying dormant for many years. Watching her friendship with Michael evolve is so lovely and heartwarming, and I really wanted them to get together – even though they can’t!! I hope something happens for them in the future…..

I absolutely loved Karl and the other members of the Swiss Guard. Brave and ready for action at any point; they had me on the edge of my seat!

The storyline is absolutely brilliant, and for the conspiracy theorists out there, will definitely get you thinking! With much of the story based on real historical people or events, I was fascinated by this and looking forward to doing some researching of my own to find out more. It definitely made me wonder what information is out there that us (the public) don’t know about…..there must be so many secrets that are kept hidden from us!

The pace of the story was just right. Building up the suspense and intrigue, exploding with action and giving us a fantastic finish. I also like that the author tied everything together at the end so I wasn’t left wondering what happened to some of the characters.

The writing style was really enjoyable to read, and as a History student I got so excited about the old texts and parchments! I get access to the local cathedral’s archive when I start my course and I can’t wait to get my hands on ancient texts (in gloves of course!). This made me so excited for it – and I could literally see and smell the books and the library. The descriptive aspect of the narrative makes it really easy to bring the story to life, and I could just see it playing out before me – this would make a fantastic film!

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this and can’t wait to read the next in the series. For those fans of Dan Brown, you will want to check this out! A suspenseful story based on conspiracy and hidden truths, this will keep you engaged and on the edge of your seat….. Highly recommended by me. ...more

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Jun 07, 2020 Matt McAvoy rated it it was amazing

Exquisitely written and highly entertaining, The Magdalene Deception is an investigative mystery in a very similar vein to The DaVinci Code, as a young, ambitious priest from New York starts a dream job as a Vatican digital archivist. In the course of his work he finds an ancient artefact which threatens the entire Catholic Church and sends him on an ominous quest, along with a feisty journalist investigating the Vatican’s corrupt complicity in the possession of Nazi gold, cruelly looted and lau Exquisitely written and highly entertaining, The Magdalene Deception is an investigative mystery in a very similar vein to The DaVinci Code, as a young, ambitious priest from New York starts a dream job as a Vatican digital archivist. In the course of his work he finds an ancient artefact which threatens the entire Catholic Church and sends him on an ominous quest, along with a feisty journalist investigating the Vatican’s corrupt complicity in the possession of Nazi gold, cruelly looted and laundered in the Holocaust. It is a complex book, requiring concentration, with a multi-stranded, woven story and, with a long cast of characters, from a range of countries, the reader needs to pay attention; and you should probably lock yourself away without distraction to read this one.

It is worth it, though. McAvoy (great name!) is a superb author, with an admirably detailed and profound knowledge of history and Christian theology. Whilst not especially high drama, particularly for one such as myself – an atheist – it was gripping nonetheless. I have to say that in my particular case, I did wonder why the idealistic young archivist was so obsessive about pursuing this case, when he really would be advised to leave well alone, and in fact I personally found the Nazi gold sub-plot a good deal more enthralling than the primary plotline – though, of course I can appreciate the huge appeal of the latter. All in all, it is a fine story, and its threads, when finally brought together, converge tremendously well. I would certainly recommend this book to most discerning readers, whether fans of religious history or not. There are some intriguing characters, and what action/drama scenes there are are infused with menace, rather than threat; no real deadly antagonist seems to be developed, until the final act. This is not really an out and out thriller, but perhaps more of a cosy mystery – at least until the climax.

The real quality to this book is the author himself – the writing is superb. There is an outstanding attention to detail in McAvoy, and the setpieces he weaves are vivid, colourful and authentic; this author treats his audience as intelligent and attentive, and this is always hugely beneficial to any writer. As well as being an evidently well-educated historian, McAvoy also knows his stuff in terms of modern-day information networking and the technology in present day use alongside ancient practices and customs – as one of the many who have been fortunate enough to visit the Vatican, I can vouch that the contrast between the two is visible all around the bordered state.
This is a good book, overall; I enjoyed reading it very much, and I am sure you will too.
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Sep 24, 2020 Ruthie Jones rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle-book, partners-in-crime-virtual-book-tour

“What we have here is the classic riddle, wrapped in a mystery, and literally hidden inside an enigma.”

The Magdalene Deception by Gary McAvoy is a thrilling caper that turns the long-standing belief of Jesus’ resurrection on its head. Father Michael Dominic is assigned as an archivist at the Vatican, and Hana Sinclair is a reporter on the hunt for evidence on gold stolen from Jews during WWII. When Father Dominic accidentally discovers a document allegedly written by Mary Magdalene herself, the “What we have here is the classic riddle, wrapped in a mystery, and literally hidden inside an enigma.”

The Magdalene Deception by Gary McAvoy is a thrilling caper that turns the long-standing belief of Jesus’ resurrection on its head. Father Michael Dominic is assigned as an archivist at the Vatican, and Hana Sinclair is a reporter on the hunt for evidence on gold stolen from Jews during WWII. When Father Dominic accidentally discovers a document allegedly written by Mary Magdalene herself, the thrill ride begins in earnest. The Catholic Church has frequently engaged in cover ups and harbored secrets to protect the Holy See and everyone connected with the universal church. Some documents in the Vatican archives have not seen the light of day in over a thousand years. Until now!

The action is slow at first as the author sets the scene and introduces the major characters. Father Dominic is likable and relatable as he revels more in the ancient documents than in his priestly duties, even though he has plenty of faith and integrity as a man of the cloth. Hana and Father Dominic form a friendship and an alliance as they head to France to uncover more evidence to support both of their quests, but they have a shadow who has been instructed to steal any document that the duo discovers.

The action picks up remarkably when Father Dante at the Vatican reveals his true colors to the reader as someone who will go to great lengths to ensure Father Dominic does not succeed in revealing the valuable document to the world. Blackmail is a powerful tool for the greedy, and the Church will not give up its treasures, ancient documents, and secrets easily, as both Father Dominic and Hana discover. McAvoy masterfully pieces the story together with many points to ponder on the ramifications if the truth about such a major tenet of the Christian faith is revealed and if this ancient document falls into the wrong hands. The characters are all well developed and interesting, propelling the story along and luring the reader into the characters’ lives, foibles, and intentions, both good and evil.

No matter your beliefs, The Magdalene Deception will appeal because it is a fast-paced thriller that captures both the imagination and the attention to the earth-shattering possible veracity of Mary Magdalene’s declaration. While this story is a work of fiction, the author does base several aspects on historical facts, spinning quite the exciting tale. While it is hard not to compare this story to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, Gary McAvoy presents a unique story that is just as thrilling and intriguing in its own right. Well done!

I received a free copy of this book from Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. ...more

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May 24, 2020 Santino Decaro rated it really liked it

Secret Vatican manuscripts, what could be better?

If like me you find the concept of secret, mysterious Vatican archives and a long tumultuous religious history, mixed with strong characters and moral dilemmas interesting than this books is for you!!

This book focuses on father Michael Dominic, an American priest, who is an expert in middle age writings and his new posting as an archivist in the Vatican archives. The book spends a lot of time building on Dominic’s character, which I have to say I Secret Vatican manuscripts, what could be better?

If like me you find the concept of secret, mysterious Vatican archives and a long tumultuous religious history, mixed with strong characters and moral dilemmas interesting than this books is for you!!

This book focuses on father Michael Dominic, an American priest, who is an expert in middle age writings and his new posting as an archivist in the Vatican archives. The book spends a lot of time building on Dominic’s character, which I have to say I quite liked. The moral dilemmas he faces throughout the books felt so real and I felt as if I was sharing those feelings with him.
In his journey to finding the truth about the manuscript he teams up with Hana Sinclair, who is a journalist investigating her own, what seems at first quite separate, investigation. I find the pairing to work quite well together the family history the author introduces for Hana is extremely interesting and brings the book into more modern history territory looking at WW2.
Being very interested in WW2 myself I found Hana’s investigation, and the link to the Vatican, just as interesting as the secret manuscript Dominic is chasing after. Which really helped the book to take hold of me!

I found the book to be quite realistic for books of this genre! Too many times I’ve read similar books where the main character will solve a plethora of codes, riddles and problems that have troubled humanity for centuries, only for the character to solve them in 10 seconds. It’s just farcical and really happens all to quickly.
In this book however the author builds the tension with discoveries coming at a much slower pace. Dominic has to either wait for resources or speak to a contact before he can move on and I find this so refreshing! It reminds you that Dominic is only human and can only do so much! It bought me a lot closer to Dominic, I felt the frustration of being so close yet so far away, I felt the impatience and anticipation and it made me connect to the characters that much more!
Too many times I’ve been rushed through a series of discoveries only to feel like they were pointless hurdles for the characters to jump through!
For me this is the books greatest strength, the time spent developing the characters whilst also letting me go on the journey with them in a way which made it very hard for me to stop reading!

There is only one thing that I could criticise the book for and that is the way the character building occurs. For me I found the background information on the characters was given separately to the story rather than being rippled through the story. But this did little to curb my enthusiasm and I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

From the amount of time spend developing the characters and little clues given in this book a sequel may be on the cards, and if it is it would definitely be on my must read list!!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ...more

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Aug 08, 2020 Wanda rated it really liked it

Shelves: giveaways

Received this book thru the Goodreads.com Giveaways for an honest review.
The story revolves around a young priest, Michael Dominic, who is working at the Vatican as a digital archivist and he discovers an old document that could shake the church to his foundations. This is in the same genre as the DaVinci Code and I really enjoyed it.
Father Dominic was brought up in the Catholic church as his single mother was the housekeeper for a priest who became his mentor. His mentor is now a high ranking Received this book thru the Goodreads.com Giveaways for an honest review.
The story revolves around a young priest, Michael Dominic, who is working at the Vatican as a digital archivist and he discovers an old document that could shake the church to his foundations. This is in the same genre as the DaVinci Code and I really enjoyed it.
Father Dominic was brought up in the Catholic church as his single mother was the housekeeper for a priest who became his mentor. His mentor is now a high ranking cardinal in the church and helped him get his job. He also has some secrets about his past that he has not shared with Michael.
A young female journalist, Hanna, is working on tracing gold that the Nazis stole from Jews and others and the banks that helped them and the possible connections to the Vatican. Her godfather is the president of France and her grandfather is a prominent banker. She meets up with Michael and while doing some research they end up working together and find the lost document. The powerful Secretary of State in the Vatican doesn't want anything to disrupt the power he has and tries to find out what they have discovered. When he does he wants to take it from them and uses some nasty contacts to do so. Michael and Hanna are aided near the end by Hanna's cousin who is a Swiss Guard who has befriended Michael. Lots of intertwining connections between the characters.
The author includes a lot of historical bits and pieces throughout the story to make the mystery plausible. It was very interesting. He also includes a lot about the inner working of the Vatican and its political intrigue and behind the scenes manipulations. He adds a little hint of romance and shows the temptations that priests face and some of their inner struggles to maintain their vows. The main character has a lot of turmoil as he tries to reconcile what he has found with what is best for the world and the church. Ultimately it is left up to the pope who only seems to play a minor role in the story.
The author sets things up at the end for future stories and I look forward to reading them.
Really enjoyed the book. ...more

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Jan 14, 2021 Sarah Crawford rated it it was amazing

This book is a religious mystery story which has some basis in fact. It is about Pope Pius XII who was the Pope during the Nazi takeover in Europe, and just what, if any, connection he had with them since he didn't really speak out against them during the war.

It also is about the Nazi's killing Jews and others and taking any gold (or other precious items) from them and how, in the story, some of that gold ends up in the Vatican.

It's also about a priest named Bérenger Saunière who was a real Cat This book is a religious mystery story which has some basis in fact. It is about Pope Pius XII who was the Pope during the Nazi takeover in Europe, and just what, if any, connection he had with them since he didn't really speak out against them during the war.

It also is about the Nazi's killing Jews and others and taking any gold (or other precious items) from them and how, in the story, some of that gold ends up in the Vatican.

It's also about a priest named Bérenger Saunière who was a real Catholic priest who, somehow, ended up meeting with someone in the Vatican and ended up quite rich with people today still going through his church and other places to see what they can find.

Then there's the issue of Mary Magdalene and just what was her relationship with Jesus. There is no doubt at all that she was a follower (which is made clear in the Bible) but some people believe she may have been more than that and may have even been married to him and had at least one child by him.

The fiction characters include a Father Dominic, a young man who is working in the Vatican archives, and Hana, a young woman newspaper reporter.

Father Dominic finds something in the archives that is of incredible importance. It's a document that could, possibly, end up undermining the entire Christian faith if its contents became known. Hana is there working on a story about the Nazi gold that found its way into the Vatican and end up working together to figure out what to do with the document.

There is a group that knows just what it wants to do with it, though. There's a Nazi-related group left over from the war. They want the document for themselves to do their own bribing of the Vatican. There's at least one insider working with them, other people Hana knows who become involved, a few of the Swiss Guard helping out and Father Dominic's mentor who gives him very good advice on what to do.

It's a wee bit complicated but it's an excellence story all the way through, especially if you know some of the history about what is going on. ...more

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Jun 03, 2020 Gregory R. rated it it was amazing

A mythic legend, Jesus’ resurrection, Holocaust Jewish gold, the French resistance, Nazis, Vatican palace intrigue, smoldering nascent romance, high tech and action — what more could you ask for in a novel?

This is one of those books you starting reading in the evening and decide to skip work the next day so you can read all night. This a masterful blend of real history and what-if present day. I found myself several times putting down the book so I could do an online search just to confirm what ...more

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Jun 20, 2020 Book rated it it was amazing

Shelves: thriller

An absorbing thriller, The Magdalene Deception enjoys the subtle touch of a consummate storyteller. As Father Michael Dominic and Hana Sinclair, an investigative reporter for Le Monde, search for secret documents relating to Vatican blackmail payments, they confront challenges from within the Vatican.

Gary McAvoy writes a complicated story with complex characters and authentic relationships. He weaves comprehensive research throughout the story to keep information about the secret’s importance an ...more

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Dec 06, 2020 Nabanita rated it really liked it

Mary Magdalene.
The Vatican.
An Ancient Manuscript.
Hidden papyrus.
The Ustaša.
Historical Controversies.
Swiss Guards.
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The Magdalene Deception by Gary McAvoy is a book I listened to recently. You could say, I stumbled upon it and luckily so. It is a religious thriller which I must confess I quite enjoyed.
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It all starts when Jesuit priest Michael Dominics finds a hidden papyrus in the Vatican’s Secret Archives which could alter the cornerstone of Christian faith. This curious but important discover ...more

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Jun 12, 2020 Christy Martin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I loved this book. The plots are better than most of the conspiracy theory books and the characters more believable and well developed. Yes, there were 2 plots and the author did a great job of intertwining them into one outstanding story.

The first plot of course explores the Magdalene and Rennes le Chateau. The second plot explores the Vatican involvement in the escape of Nazi war criminals and the long kept gold and money that the Vatican stored for the Nazi government. Much of the story as t ...more

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Aug 17, 2020 Catriona rated it it was amazing

Religion and Politics May Not Make Polite Conversation, But They're Great Topics For Thrillers

Lovers of ancient mystery-themed thrillers like Dan Brown's will love this book!

I really enjoyed reading The Magdalene Deception, the first work I've read by this author. He's an excellent writer and his well-researched fluency with the history, science, and procedures supporting many facets of the story made it an intellectually stimulating read as well as an immensely satisfying suspense thriller.

I'm ...more

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Sep 12, 2020 Rachelle rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviews, arcs

A friend recommended this book to me because both of us really enjoy Dan Brown and James Rollins.

The main character, Father Michael, is relatively new to the Vatican. He stumbles across some old letters in the archives that contain a secret so scandalous that, if exposed, could destroy the very foundation of the Catholic church and the faith of many.

In his quest to validate the claims someone higher up in the Vatican finds out about Father Michael’s discovery and is intent on stopping the inform ...more

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Jun 07, 2020 Lisa Chan rated it liked it

With this book I felt there was a LOT of build up, a lot of backstory, and a lot of intricate information that may or may not have been pertinent to the story. Once you got into the meat of the story, however, it pulls you in a bit more.

I really enjoyed getting to “visit” the Vatican and learn a little more about what life is like there. The descriptions were vivid and I could feel the heat and humidity outside, and the cool temperature of the archives within the stone walls.

What I didn’t enjo ...more

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Nov 16, 2020 Diane rated it really liked it

A young American Jesuit priest, Michael Dominick, is assigned to the Vatican’s Secret Archives. While there, quite literally stumbles into one of the church’s greatest secrets. Eager to find out exactly what his discovery means, he turns to Hana Sinclair, a French investigative journalist and member of an extremely wealthy and well connected family. Hana is looking into money that was taken from the Jews During WWII - a topic which may hit close to home. Their investigations lead them to discove ...more

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Nov 24, 2020 Nikki rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgally

The Magdalene Deception by Gary McAvoy
Narrated by Will Damron
Publisher: Literati Editions
Genre: Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers | Religion & Spirituality
Release Date: October 29, 2020

The Magdalene Deception is the first book in the new The Magdalene Chronicles series by Gary McAvoy. The Magdalene Deception is a captivating thriller seeking to uncover a possible conspiracy affecting the Catholic Church and all of Christianity, as we know it.

The narration by Will Damron is engaging and e ...more

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Nov 25, 2020 Caroline Price rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this thriller, it had everything I most enjoy about this type of book...dark secrets at the Vatican, great stuff. The Magdalene Deception by Gary McAvoy is perfect for fans of The Da Vinci Code although, in my opinion, it's better written.

An ancient document is found hidden in the archives of the Vatican and copied by the priest who found it. Assisted by the beautiful journalist who has befriended him, pursued by fascist Interpol detectives and protected by his friend in the Sw ...more

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Nov 27, 2020 Maxine rated it really liked it

Who doesn't love a Papal conspiracy? Well I certainly do, and I loved this one. I loved the characters and the fast paced exciting plot. It is very much along the lines of the Da Vinci code in it's style, but that doesn't matter, as the novel is a good one.

I loved father Dominic, the suave good looking priest, and I certainly hope that we hear more from him. I could see this book being made into a film or TV series, it would really work well with it adventure and action content, and it's cast of ...more

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Dec 10, 2020 Dawn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The Magdalene Deception by Gary McAvoy was an exciting read along the lines of Dan Brown’s Angels and Demon’s. A lot of intense build up as the two main characters, priest Michael Dominic and friend, Hanna Sinclair, an investigative reporter, investigate and uncover an old relic long buried and extremely important to the Christian church. This find can change the course of Christianity forever. Set, in part, in the Vatican library, this novel was suspenseful and intriguing as it leads you throug ...more

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Oct 01, 2020 Barbara rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020

First of all, thanks to the author and BookSirens for providing me with a free copy of this book in return for my honest review. I’m not sure what it is about the combination of religion and deception, but it grabs my attention every time. This is the story of an ancient document that could blow the Catholic religion apart. If you’ve enjoyed Dan Brown’s ‘Da Vinci Code’ and Kate Mosse’s ‘Labyrinth’ series, you’ll certainly enjoy this one. A very believable story with all the loose ends tied up an ...more

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Dec 07, 2020 Janet Martin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

When medieval scholar Father Michael Dominic is assigned to the Vatican archives, he's plunged into a political jungle. While trying to just do his job protecting and cataloging the treasures of the collections, he discovers a hidden document that sends him off to southern France, shadowed by a very bad actor doing the will of a Vatican rival. A rare and valuable document is at stake, along with the lives of Father Dominic and his journalist companion. Those who enjoy conspiracy adventure fictio ...more

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