Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Basilica
Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
William D. Montalbano
Class/Genre: Mystery Religious Fiction
Putnam, Jan 1999, $23.95, 304 pp.
The new millennium dawned without Armageddon arriving though a new Pope from Latin America sits in the Vatican. Pope Tredi has some radical ideas that will shake up the faithful, but he plans to implement. When a priest is pushed off the BASILICA, Pope Tredi turns to his close friend and troubleshooter, former Miami cop Brother Paul Lorenzo, to investigate.
Paul soon traces the murder to a conspiracy that is intended to destroy Tredi's reforms. However, before Paul can identify the ring leader, other individuals close to His Holiness are murdered. The evidence points back to their days together in Miami when they opposed a major drug cartel. If Paul does not uncover the enemy soon, Pope Tredi may find himself a historical footnote for one of the shortest papacy's on record.
BASILICA is fantastic ecclesiastic thriller that is going to be recognized as one of the year's best novels. The story line is superb and the wonderful characters feel genuine, but it is the insiders look into the Vatican that is truly awesome. On a sadder note, author William D. Montalbano will posthumously receive accolades from an adoring public as he passed away before he could obtain the well-deserved credit that will be coming his way. His death leaves a void in this sub-genre.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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