The Fifth Gospel

Author Ian Caldwell spent over a decade on this book, and it was NOT a waste of time in any way whatsoever. A terrific read, especially for current or lapsed Catholics--Roman, Orthodox or Greek--who want a reminder of the rich history of the Church and the gospels that gets presented as part of a compelling larger story.

In this one, the main mystery surrounds the death--on the grounds of Castel Gandolfo--of the man who was preparing to open a Vatican exhibit on the Diatessaron, a real-life "fifth gospel" that was essentially a blend of the four gospels that we know today. Tied in with that is the Shroud of Turin and questions regarding its authenticity. While the story acknowledges the past radiocarbon dating of the shroud to the Middle Ages, it also offers an enticing what-if that is central to the overarching story, which also involves efforts to reunite the Eastern and Western branches of Catholicism--which in turn was something near and dear to John Paul II, whose life is nearing its end at the time of this story's setting.

Was the curator's death tied to the Diatessaron, the Shroud, or something else? Greek Catholic priest Alex is trying to find out as he also tries to save his brother, a Roman Catholic priest, at the same time. Among the many awesome components of this novel, the relationship between Alex and his son, Peter, is simply terrific, and Alex works hard to try to protect his young son even as he works hard to protect his brother, who has been accused of the murder and who doesn't seem to want the help. Alex is the real hero of the tale, but there is plenty to like in many of the other characters, as well, as this book has no shortage of things for me to rave about.

So for me, this one will join Thomas Gifford's THE ASSASSINI as a five-star read with a strong Catholic setting. It's interesting to note that both Gifford and Caldwell required over a decade to produce their respective books. I don't know if that means that research on the Church is just that time-consuming or if it means that it's easy to get sidetracked in the history of it all. But like Gifford, Caldwall has provided me with a well researched and deeply intricate novel that I will surely be reading again at some point.

The Fifth Gospel. Ian Caldwell. 2015. Caldwell was the coauthor of Rule of Four, a fun novel that takes place on at an Ivey League college and concerns a mysterious medieval novel. Books, mystery, college campus, what’s not to like?! The Fifth Gospel is even more intriguing. It is set in the Vatican, and the main characters are two priests who are also brothers. One is Roman Catholic and the other is Greek Catholic so the differences between the Roman Rite and Eastern Rite are explored. The plot concerns The Shroud of Turin and a mysterious gospel, the purpose of which is to resolve the seeming discrepancies among the four gospels accepted by the Church and the murder of the curator of a Vatican Museum display concerning both. It will be compared to Brown’s Da Vinci Code, but it is so much more. It is chocked full of accurate descriptions of the Vatican, Biblical history, and the lives of priests. Best of all faith is taken for granted and treated as normal and with respect.

The real and the fictional are well blended in this mystery set in Vatican City during the last days of Pope John Paul II's life. Filled with details about Roman Catholics, Eastern Catholics, and Orthodox priests, this book is almost educational in what it discusses about the differences in religious beliefs, the Gospels, and Christian history. I loved the historical aspect and I'm tempted to now dig into research about early Gospels and the early Church and the Shroud of Turin to learn more about the topics this book touches on. Also, it's a pretty good mystery with complicated and subtle motivations that can challenge the reader.

What an achievement by author Ian Caldwell. To write something that is entertaining from begining to end and also teach us about past history. I'll admit I was brought up Catholic so the religious aspects of the book made it that much more intriguing. I don't know how this book would read for somebody with no interest or background in Catholicism. I suspect that is why this books rating is not over four. It is compared to Dan Brown's work but far exceeds it. Certainly not light reading like Dan Brown.

Although Ian Caldwell is non-Catholic, THE FIFTH GOSPEL is full of details about the Vatican and the priesthood. This is a literary mystery--who killed a religious scholar and why, is the Diatessaron really the fifth gospel and where is it, and is the Shroud of Turin really what is claimed and who does it belong to?What fine character development in this novel! In particular, two priests, brothers, one Roman Catholic, the other Greek Catholic, are the main focus. Told from the point of view of one of them, Alex, this story is his investigation of these mysteries after Ugo, the religious scholar, is found dead, apparently murdered. Ugo had been studying the Diatessaron and found allusion there to the Shroud of Turin. Is this the reason he was murdered?Catholic readers will appreciate all the research Caldwell did on the Vatican and the priests and bishops there. I'm not sure, however. if a non-Catholic would. I think THE FIFTH GOSPEL might have bored me if I were not a Catholic.Or maybe I'm wrong about that. Maybe the reader will appreciate this novel for its character-driven mystery when so many mysteries/thrillers are simply plot driven.

The story of the Shroud of Turin has been known for centuries and many Christians and Orthodox Christians believe the image it bears is that of Jesus of Nazareth. In spite of radio carbon dating of the burial shroud to the middle ages the belief endures that the negative-type image is a proof of Christ's resurrection. Of course, there's no way to definitively know if the shroud is authentic and even the Gospels conflict of the words used to describe the "clothe(s)" used to bury ChristThe story involves brothers, one a Catholic priest, the other a Greek Orthodox priest, and their life long residence in Vatican City. Alex, the Greek Orthodox, is distinctly different than other clergy in Vatican City. He has a wife and a child named Peter. Simon, the Catholic priest, is devoted to bringing the conflict between the eastern and western versions of Christian belief that has existed for centuries to an end. Both brothers have been working with a layman and curator on biblical research into the Shroud using the existing Gospel's as well as a fifth called the "Diatessaron," created long ago to combine an interpretation of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John into one. The curator has, evidently, made a discovery about the Shroud through his research and the Vatican has scheduled an exhibit to display his findings. The exhibit is being used to heal the long held schism between The Vatican and Greek Orthodox Church's and is controversial and risky for all concerned. Just prior to its opening the curator, Ugo, is killed at Castle Gandolfo, the Pope's home and retreat outside of The Vatican. The plot thickens and becomes very complex as passages of the existing Gospel's are interpreted and reinterpreted and, in the end, the reader will be challenged to piece together the complexities into an overall ending. Doubt, in an of itself, is the bedrock of faith. If there were no doubt faith would not exist, it would instead be certainty. Church dogma builds meaning into the doubt to lessen its offsetting effect on religion, yet it will never be eliminated. The author worked tirelessly for ten years to create this book and produced a fiction with real life facts about the Shroud, the Catholic Church, Greek Orthodox Church, and, ultimately, the reigning Pope, John XXIII, in the final phase of his papacy. Father Alex and Father Simon are caught between the murder of the curator, Ugo, the nature of how he died and in the final analysis the truth and authenticity of the Shroud. Their findings can affect the faith of millions and either heal or widen the schism between two great paths of faith, Catholicism or Greek Orthodox. The reader will learn a great deal about the Gospels and their conflicting history of Jesus' death calling into question the very foundation of belief. The author capitalizes on the nature of faith and its ultimate uncertainty. The information about the Vatican, its library, and geography was worth reading the book which is superbly written and includes characters that come to life during the story. Would highly recommend this book for anyone with curiosity about daily life in the mysterious world of the Vatican.

People are comparing this book The DaVinci Code, which was great. I would compare it to a bible studies class – for seminary students. As a recovering Catholic, the space devoted to gospel lessons was seriously overkill, and despite my Catholic upbringing, I was totally confused by all the religious workings of the Papacy. Going to Rome and doing the Vatican tour helped but I ended up doing research on the Vatican hierarchy and papal courts to try to understand it all better. The Roman Catholic-Eastern Catholics-Greek Orthodox connection and similarities is interesting but creates more religious weirdness. The biggest disappointment is the whole the Shroud of Turin debate: is it fake, is it real, who should have it, where is it now? After all the endless gospels lessons, the connection between the Diatesseron and the Shroud of Turin is left hanging, probably because the mystery hasn’t been solved in real life. But the biggest disappointment is the ending, which is a total copout, the lazy man’s way out. Of course, buying into the story in this book is based on the premise that one actually believes in the gospels and God. Ultimately, it reminded me of how screwed up organized religion is and what how much nasty stuff happens in the name of God.

The Fifth Gospel – A Compulsive Literary ThrillerIan Caldwell has written one of the best literary thrillers of recent times, that is shear compulsive reading, turning a complex subject in to a delightful read for the layman. As a former theology student some of the theological arguments contained within the book are familiar to me, but has turned what could be a dry, boring read in to an intelligent thriller.There are suggestions from others that this book should not be compared to the ‘Da Vinci Code’ I am of the opinion that should be a decision of the reader whether they wish too or not. Whereas one centres around a possible mythical code, the other surrounds an actual Catholic relic, the synoptic gospels and John’s Gospel, Vatican politics all of which are real.As Pope John Paul II’s pontificate enters its twilight year, he has tasked a curator, Ugolino to create an exhibition that covers the Diatessaron, a so-called fifth gospel and the Turin Shroud. He has been assisted in the research of this exhibition by two brothers, one of whom is Greek Catholic priest, Father Alex Andreou and his brother Simon who is a Catholic priest who works for the Vatican Secretariat.When Ugolino is murdered in the grounds of the Pope’s mountain retreat, and later that night Alex’s Vatican apartment is broken into, for which the police find no evidence, he is desperate to keep his family safe. Alex realises he is up against the Vatican but also whoever the murderer maybe. To be able to find the murderer and why the Vatican is so keen to find out what secret Ugolino had been keeping from the Vatican, Alex has to reconstruct the research, so that the secret may be found. At every turn Alex is not sure who he can trust, not even his uncle who is a cardinal, he knows he is being watched but not sure by whom.Ian Caldwell has spun together a real web of intrigue and suspense that throughout the book offers up a number of suspects, but you are never sure until the end. The suspense is wrapped around the fascinating historical break of the Catholic Church in the West from the Orthodox Church of the East and all the inherent arguments that have lasted over a thousand years. While at the same time being able to explain some of the theological arguments about the Gospels and their differences without turning it in to a boring argument.This is not your average thriller and police procedural book, it is a literary novel with underlying themes, that may be hard work for some, but well worth it. The reader needs to approach this thriller with an open mind as it is different from usual thrillers.A great book, enlightening in parts while immersing the reader in Church History, Catholic Theology and Vatican Politics, worth the time to read.

I enjoyed this book a great deal, even though it was fairly predictable.

This definitely kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The tempo and pace of the book was set right. If you like Dan Browns books you will most likely also like this one.

I am awed by the weight of history and humanity the words of this story convey. A tremendous undertaking by author Ian Caldwell that conveys so much more than I can ever summarize. Very impressed.

From the “Historical Note” at the beginning of the book …

“Two Thousand Years ago, a pair of brothers set out from the Holy Land to spread the Christian gospel. Saint Peter traveled to Rome, becoming the symbolic founder of Western Christianity. His brother, Saint Andrew, traveled to Greece, becoming a symbolic founder of Eastern Christianity. For centuries, the church they helped create remained a single institution. But one thousand years ago, west and east divided. Western Christians became Catholics, led by the successor of Saint Peter, the pope. Eastern Christians became Orthodox, led by the successors of Saint Andrew and other apostles, known a patriarchs. Today these are the largest Christian denominations on earth. Between them exists a small group known as Eastern Catholics, who confound all distinctions by following Eastern tradition while obeying the pope.
This novel is set in 2004, when the dying wish of Pope John Paul II was to reunite Catholicism and Orthodoxy. It is the story of two brothers, both Catholic priests, one Western and one Eastern.”

Father Alex Andreou is a Greek Catholic priest teaching gospel studies to students inside the Vatican, where he lives with his son (Greek priests are allowed to be married if they do so before taking their vows). His brother Simon is a Roman Catholic priest working for the Vatican’s Secretariat of State. Both are acquainted with a man by the name of Ugolino Nogara who is currently curator of the newest Vatican Museum installation … an exhibit that both brothers are excited about and fear in equal measures. Nogara has found information that will refute the carbon testing conclusions ruling the Shroud of Turin fake, conclusions that greatly impacted the lives of the two priests when they were boys. One night Alex receives an urgent call from his brother asking for help. When he arrives at his brother’s location he finds that Ugo Nogara has been murdered and, impossible as it sounds, Simon may have had something to do with it. A break and enter into Alex’s apartment which terrorizes his son seems, strangely, to be related. When Alex attempts to get answers about what is going on he is stonewalled – the Pope’s office is unusually interested in the case, the Swiss guard is sworn to secrecy and the Vatican Police are less than forth coming with any information about the break in or the murder. With his son possibly in danger and his brother under house arrest Alex begins his own investigation.

This is the point where the book grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I had been reading bits and pieces of the book here and there when I had time, but when Mr. Caldwell got to the nitty-gritty of exploring the history of the gospels and of the shroud interweaving it expertly with what was going on in the lives of the characters he got my full attention. I finished the last two thirds of the book on Sunday afternoon. Admittedly, I do have a soft spot for conspiracy theories.

In his author’s acknowledgments Mr. Caldwell gives thanks to all the “generous assistance” he received from all kinds of Catholic scholars and theologians, both Eastern and Western, so I am working on the assumption that what he writes about the gospels has a reasonable foundation in truth. That part of the book was fascinating to me. He explores the history of the bible and the evolution of the Catholic Church in it’s shining moments as well as some of its less pride-worthy actions. However, the appeal of the book did not end there. This book is also about the struggle of a family trying to put their family first while living the confines of a country (The Vatican) where there is only one “Papa” and religion dominates every aspect of life.

This is the type of book that makes me wish I belonged to some sort of book club because there are so many other themes and so much imagery that could be discussed but I am refraining because this is a book review.

(Okay sorry - but I have to go there)

Since its publication The DaVinci Code seems to be the standard to which all other books of this type are compared. Yes, I loved it too. I feel The Fifth Gospel holds it’s own and in some respects surpasses Dan Brown’s blockbuster. If you pick up this book looking for another Robert Langdon – be warned – you won’t find him in these pages. You will find a very readable, sometimes complicated and always intriguing story. I feel Mr. Caldwell considered any personal beliefs readers might have and treated the topic respectfully throughout the book but it is a book that just might make you think twice about what you know about Catholicism and organized religion in general. Just as Mr. Brown’s book had me grabbing for some art books and looking up famous works of art this book had me grabbing a bible off my bookshelf to check on Mr. Caldwell.

* Personal note *
Being familiar with the various Saints and traditions involved in both Catholicism and Orthodoxy the following quote made me laugh out loud. Father Andreou sharing his 5-year-old son’s opinion on how to decide which is the appropriate Saint for a particular prayer.

“He told me once that praying is like being a soccer coach and calling saints off the bench.”

More than ten years after The Rule of Four, co-author Ian Caldwell is back with a novel of his own, The Fifth Gospel. This one features a mystery centered around the Shroud of Turin, the Diatessaron—Tatian's attempt to harmonize the four gospels—and a pope's dying wish to reconcile the branches of the church. As a quick summer read, this does the trick nicely: it's fast-moving, the mystery is complex and not easily guessed, and it'll have you Googling early and often for background information.

The author has an excellent way with words and the book is obviously very well researched, but to me this novel was only somewhat readable. The story line was very convoluted and hard to get into. I am not Catholic and freely admit I was completely lost most of the time. Most of the action was set in Vatican City but the maps inside the front & back covers were little help in getting a "sense of place". Without a solid working knowledge of Catholicism in general and the inner workings of the Vatican in particular I felt I was wading through a waist deep swamp of minutia and details. Sorry, but thumbs down.

I went to Catholic schools for many years, went to church every morning forma few of them, had numerous religious classes and yet this book taught me things about Catholicism that I didn't know. A priest is killed in Vatican City, the mystery consuming two brothers one a Catholic priest and one a Eastern Orthodox priest, the Orthodox priest is allowed to marry and so has a son. The killed priest was working on an exhibition about the Shroud of Turin. This takes place during the end of John Paul's reign as Pope, as he is dying slowly of Parkinsons.The amount of research that went into, this book is amazing, it took ten years for this book to be published. Not all were due to the writing of this novel but even so the details in this are unbelievable.A very well written novel with and unusual mystery in the foreground, with some amazing characters. A few of the scenes in this book I find unforgettable.

The Fifth Gospel by Ian Caldwell is one of those books that I wanted to like more than I did. The story. The mystery. The attention to detail. Caldwell does a masterful job of telling his tale, only he does it at times at a snail's pace."...A long time ago, ' I say. 'our church used to have a fifth gospel. The Diatessaron. Its title is Greek for 'made of four', because that's how it was written. The author wove together the four gospels into one story. And because of that, the Diatessaron has one great weakness. Do you know what it is?' I can feel Ugo beside me now. We are staring at the pages of the ancient manuscript. 'Its weakness,' I say, 'is that the four gospels don't always agree..."On the night that Father Alex Andreou's home, in the Vatican, is broken into; the curator for a mysterious exhibit at the Vatican Museum is killed. When the Papal police are unable to get anywhere with the break in, Father Andreou realizes he must act to protect him home and his young son. Worse is the murdered curator, his friend Ugo, is suspected to have been killed by Father Andreou's own brother Simon. A dying Pope, a lost gospel, a controversial Church relic and the murder of the museum curator all converge on Father Andreou. He is thrust upon a journey within the walls of the Vatican and the history of the Church to unravel the secrets of the lost gospel and the mysterious Shroud of Turin. Secrets that led to murder.The Fifth Gospel is a labor of love. It is obvious that Caldwell is passionate about the subject matter and it shows in his writing. From the intricacies of Vatican politics to little known and forgotten times in the history of the church; Caldwell writes about them with detailed research and the sense of an author believing deeply in his subject matter. As flawed and regrettable as some of it is. Father Andreou is an interesting and arresting character. An outsider in the Church he loves. A scholar in a system that requires so much faith. A priest allowed to marry and have a family. His failed marriage and private life a powerful contrast to his duty and position as a priest. Andreou is torn between fighting for his faith and fighting for his family as so much of what he once believed in is called into question. The mystery behind the lost gospel and the connection it has to the Shroud of Turin is the weakest spot in this story. The reader does not find out until the end what the true mystery is. How it would affect the church and why it was worth killing for. Calwell does not resort to the ploy of making the church the great evil in this book. While he does bring about what has been wrong in the acts of the church, it is not some diabolical secret society hell bent on destroying everyone's lives to further its own goals. A ploy that so many writer's are using today and as a reader and reviewer, has become cheap and insulting.The Lost Gospel is a very good book with the flaw of moving too slowly at times in its telling. Caldwell fills the book with such detail and thought, that is seems to be a drawn out special on the History Channel. If you are interested in church history and ideology, then you will absolutely love it. If not, it can become tedious in spots.But in that he has come up with a remedy of creating characters who are limited in how they can act and what they can do by their setting, yet still hold you breathless and intrigued.Overall a good read.

I had read some early reviews of this book and they really made me want to read the book right away. I was in the mood for an adventure and that is exactly what this book delivered. My heart went out to motherless, Peter. I had not unraveled the whole murder until the author revealed it. This book was worth waiting 10 years for.

At last the next book. The Shroud of Turin is the focus of the book. It leads two brothers, one Orthodox and one Roman Catholic on a mystery of murder and concealment. The Shroud is to be in an exhibit at the Vatican but the artist is killed before e the opening. Why? Is one of the brother's involved? Can the other solve the mystery before the brother is forced to leave the Church.Excellent plotting and a view of both churches. One priest is married with a son, the other on his way to a Bishop's cap.I really enjoy this author and his writing skills. You learn as well are entertained. Hope it doesn't take so long for the next book.

The Good Stuff Learned so much about the differences between Roman Catholics, Eastern Catholics and Orthodox - for a girl who never went to church, you would think this would be dull and above her understanding, but nope got it and learned so much and was so fascinated by it all This is soooo not my usual type of novel, but I was intrigued by the premise, and I wasn't disappointed Fabulous character development Thoroughly delighted by the relationship between Alex and his son, Peter (from my experience with Ian Caldwell so far, he is fascinated by the relationships between father and son) Had no real interest in the Bible, Catholicism and quite frankly also no interest in every visiting Vatican City. That has changed thanks to this novel (Yup I even brought a copy of The Idiots Guide to the Bible - yeah have no religious background or knowledge whatsoever) I also have now added Italy to my list of places I NEED to go to Plenty of twists and turns and red herrings. Not a page turner, but it was still fascinating Father Alex is a wonderful protagonist that you cheer for and love The scene regarding the Orthodox and the Pope was beautiful and brought me to tears Wow what supposedly good Catholics did in the name of God disgusts me. But lets face it this isn't something that just Catholics have done. Realistic portrayal of Postpartum Depression Essences of Hope For someone like me with no real love for organized religion (Um why, you ask, History, I answer) it was nice to see a positive (yet frank) portrayal of the Vatican and Catholics in general I can see the comparison between Dan Brown, but I found it more fascinating (and less confusing) than Dan Brown Inspiring, and beautifulThe Not So Good Stuff The portrayal of Librarians was soo not flattering (Ok they are religious Librarians, but come on! -- sorry its one of those sore points) There were many occasions where I rolled my eyes and gasped - enough with the anal Librarians (that sounds so much kinkier than it is LOL) Was a tad confusing for this non religious girl Dont laugh, but I still am not sure about the significance about the last 5 o 6 pages (again I must mention the fact that I wasn't raised in a religious household)Favorite Quotes/Passages "They're so embarrassingly cartoonish tat for an artist to have created them in the shadow of the Sistine Chapel seems to require a belief in the existence of purgatory.""All lay workers have to sign ninety-five moral conditions of employment, and librarians tend to be stickers for the ones about papal property.""Peter is the duet that Mona and I wrote together""Priests underestimate the appetite of laymen for cheap thrills about Jesus.""There is one law under God. And it is love."4.5 Dewey'sI received this from Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review

Historical intrigue, theology, religious doctrine, and a mystery -- all wrapped around the story of two brothers, a gospel, and the Shroud of Turin.There is much to savor in this narrative where faith, family, and sacrifice are woven into a tapestry of absorbing Biblical history and glimpses of Vatican life. Readers will appreciate the respect shown for religious beliefs and will be drawn into this thought-provoking, intellectually stimulating novel.Highly recommended.

THE FIFTH GOSPEL by Ian CaldwellWhat a great book! The writer gives you a feast for the intellect while presenting a spell binding murder mystery. It might help if you have a bit of Biblical or Christian knowledge, but if you don’t, it will be liberally supplied without preaching. The schism between the Eastern (Orthodox) Church and the Roman Church is a major part of the plot. The schism plays out in the family that is the center of THE FIFTH GOSPEL. One brother is a Roman Priest, the other an Eastern Christian priest. The victim is a lay person who is investigating the provenance of the Shroud of Turin with the help of both brothers.The writing is clear and fluid. The characters are well rounded and interesting personalities. The plot is slowly revealed through the machinations and hierarchy of the Country that is Vatican City. You will be drawn into the plot, the family, the Vatican and the Church as the tale unfolds. Book groups will discover many avenues to discuss – family, faith, church, power, crime, punishment, divorce, suicide, among them.5 of 5 stars

“We are a religion of captains hoping to go down with the ship…the truth is that what moves the lifeblood of our faith is a thumping impulse toward self-destruction. “Greater love has no one than this," Jesus says in the gospel of John. “To lay down one’s life for one’s friends.””- from Ian Caldwell’s “The Fifth Gospel”This is a very strong (and long-awaited) second offering by the co-author of “The Rule of Four”. I won’t spend much time summarizing the story lines…plenty of those words exist already...but suffice it to say that the plot orbits the Shroud of Turin and a newly discovered fifth Gospel. Caldwell’s a bit inconsistent through the first half of the book, in developing the series of mysteries, both secular and non-. But the smoldering plot ignites about midway through. The book is very smart…at times confusing, but very much worth the patience in understanding and learning. Patience is a virtue.This is certainly similar to Dan Brown and yet it's not. Yes, there exists a mystery and yes, it revolves around a Catholic relic. The story itself is strong: in-depth Catholic knowledge not required. But one won't avoid reading this book and feeling smarter for it. I found myself engrossed by Caldwell’s deft hand at baking an almost religious dissertation (without seeming preachy), woven cleanly around the multi-threaded plot.Brown has his almost superhuman Robert Langdon, and Caldwell has his Father Alex Andreou. Andreou's smart, wise and a little crafty, but far more human and, in many ways, realistic than Langdon. Langdon is a hero. Fr. Alex is a human. “The Fifth Gospel” is emotionally poignant, drawn subtly around Father Alex and those closest to him, and I’m not ashamed to admit that tears came to my eyes at two different points near the end of the book. Father Alex narrates the following, perhaps even giving a little nod to the every increasing popularity of religiously-based thriller fiction: “Priests underestimate the appetite of payment for cheap thrills about Jesus. Most of us roll our eyes at the prospect of new gospels. Every cave in Israel seems to contain one, and most turn out to have been written centuries after Chris by little sects of Christian heretics, or else forged for the publicity.""The Fifth Gospel" is a very good thriller/mystery. But it's more than the latest pseudo-archaeo-Dan Brown clone. It's about family, brothers, and sacrifice. Highly Recommended. I received this through the Amazon Vine program.

Murder in the Holy City. A Roman Catholic priest, Brother Simon, is accused of the worst crime imaginable. Is he guilty, or protecting someone? Tied to this is the discovery of a fifth gospel, the Diatessaron. It is a manuscript that brings the other four gospels into focus. A long lost amalgamation, that may clear up mysteries surrounding Jesus’s life as we know it. Discovered recently in the vast recesses of the Vatican Library, it is missing again. Wrapped around this is the enigma of the Shroud of Turin. Is it truly a relic of Jesus, or merely a religious symbol of faith? Simon’s brother, a Greek Catholic priest, Brother Alexander, searches for the answers to these mysteries as he tries to prove Simon’s innocence. Who really killed the man who found the Diatessaron? Was he killed for trying to expose the truths about the book and it’s connection to the Shroud. Or was he perhaps killed so that these mysteries would finally be revealed and not buried once again in the dusty halls deep below the Vatican. The reunification of the Roman Catholic Church with the Eastern Orthodox Church may be in the balance. A well paced mystery. The book provides a wealth of history surrounding some of the priceless relics of the Catholic Church. Book provided for review by Simon & Schuster.

The Fifth Gospel, the second novel written by Ian Caldwell is an immense book. Full disclosure, i am fascinated by any book that involves the Vatican. I have no explanation for this, it's just the way it is. I have to review this book. It's part of the agreement, that if i select a Vine offering, I must review it. I hardly know where to start. This novel is a mystery, one of the best mysteries I have ever read. There are so many twists and turns that I could barley keep up with them, and had to resort to a bit of note keeping. The story takes place in 2004. Pope John Paul II is the pope and his health is declining rapidly. The story is that an exhibit will be opening in the Vatican Museum. IT is an exhibit that has been the subject of research for many years. The topic of the exhibit is a secret to most. The reason for this is that the topic has been one of great controversy over many years, and what is revealed may blow the dust away from one of the best kept Vatican secrets. one that has been held for years. It will also have an effect on The Orthodox Church. A group that had splt away from the Western Catholic church hundreds of years ago, those that had been the followers of Saint Andrew, brother of peter. A group whose doctrine was similar to the Roman Catholic Church, but does not follow the Pope, but their own leaders, called Patriarchs. Then there is the small group of Eastern Catholics who follow orthodox tradition, but they do acknowledge the Pope. The mystery involves, in particular, one family. A family whose tradition is the religious life, mostly the Orthodox tradition, aside from one of two brothers. The brothers were orphaned at a young age, but the older of the two took responsibility for the younger, and they had great love and devotion between them. This did not mean that there were no secrets. One week before the upcoming exhibit, the curator is murdered. Somehow both brothers were at the scene of his death. One part of this twisting and tangled mystery is why. But that was part of the secret. Another, perhaps more important part is the answer to the question, why is there a cover up and who is the one ordering it? The answers are a long time coming, and well worth the read. Recommended