⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Habemus Papam". Conclave caught my attention after I recently watched the film and followed the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo on television. This book stands entirely on its own as a piece of fiction, but my interest in the papal process made it all the more compelling. From the outset, Harris immerses the reader in the sacred drama of the Conclave. The story opens with the death of the pope, plunging the Vatican into mourning and setting the wheels in motion for the election of the new leader of the Catholic Church. The narrative follows Cardinal Lomeli, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, who must oversee the process with precision and integrity, despite his own internal crises of faith. As cardinals descend upon Rome, alliances form and rivalries emerge. Among the hopefuls are a variety of strong candidates from across the globe, each representing different theological and cultural perspectives. The unexpected arrival of Vincent Benitez, a secret cardinal appointed in pectore, adds a fascinating twist. His presence raises questions and subtly shifts the political balance within the conclave. Harris crafts a detailed and respectful portrayal of the Church’s inner workings while injecting just enough intrigue to keep the pace moving. Lomeli’s quiet determination and moral introspection provide a compelling anchor. He is a likeable and thoughtful protagonist, well suited to guide us through the traditions, ceremonies, and secrets of the Vatican. The story’s power lies in its restraint. Harris builds tension without resorting to melodrama, allowing the psychological depth of his characters and the gravity of the situation to carry the weight of the plot. The book is rich with atmosphere, from the grandeur of the Sistine Chapel to the whispered conversations that echo in candlelit halls. The surprise twist in the final pages is handled with finesse, ensuring the story ends on a memorable and thought-provoking note. Though this is a work of fiction, Harris has clearly undertaken careful research. The procedures, rules, and religious references feel authentic, lending credibility and seriousness to the plot. Some readers may find the middle section slightly slow as the voting process unfolds in real time, but the payoff is well worth the wait. Conclave is a masterfully written political thriller, wrapped in robes of faith and secrecy. It invites readers to consider the human side of the Church and the fallibility of even the most devout. Harris delivers a compelling and clever read that lingers in the mind long after the final page. Read more at The Secret Book Review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Habemus Papam". Conclave caught my attention after I recently watched the film and followed the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo on television. This book stands entirely on its own as a piece of fiction, but my interest in the papal process made it all the more compelling. From the outset, Harris immerses the reader in the sacred drama of the Conclave. The story opens with the death of the pope, plunging the Vatican into mourning and setting the wheels in motion for the election of the new leader of the Catholic Church. The narrative follows Cardinal Lomeli, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, who must oversee the process with precision and integrity, despite his own internal crises of faith. As cardinals descend upon Rome, alliances form and rivalries emerge. Among the hopefuls are a variety of strong candidates from across the globe, each representing different theological and cultural perspectives. The unexpected arrival of Vincent Benitez, a secret cardinal appointed in pectore, adds a fascinating twist. His presence raises questions and subtly shifts the political balance within the conclave. Harris crafts a detailed and respectful portrayal of the Church’s inner workings while injecting just enough intrigue to keep the pace moving. Lomeli’s quiet determination and moral introspection provide a compelling anchor. He is a likeable and thoughtful protagonist, well suited to guide us through the traditions, ceremonies, and secrets of the Vatican. The story’s power lies in its restraint. Harris builds tension without resorting to melodrama, allowing the psychological depth of his characters and the gravity of the situation to carry the weight of the plot. The book is rich with atmosphere, from the grandeur of the Sistine Chapel to the whispered conversations that echo in candlelit halls. The surprise twist in the final pages is handled with finesse, ensuring the story ends on a memorable and thought-provoking note. Though this is a work of fiction, Harris has clearly undertaken careful research. The procedures, rules, and religious references feel authentic, lending credibility and seriousness to the plot. Some readers may find the middle section slightly slow as the voting process unfolds in real time, but the payoff is well worth the wait. Conclave is a masterfully written political thriller, wrapped in robes of faith and secrecy. It invites readers to consider the human side of the Church and the fallibility of even the most devout. Harris delivers a compelling and clever read that lingers in the mind long after the final page. Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I’d been meaning to read this for ages and with the conclave about to start it felt like the perfect time to start this. I can’t believe I hadn’t read Robert Harris’ books before because they all sound really good. I definitely enjoyed this one, the attention to detail was so great that it really immersed me in the book from the beginning. Not only did I feel like I was learning something because Harris did not stray far from official information on the running of conclave’s but I was thoroughly invested in the mindset of the main character Lomelli as he went through his challenges throughout trying to run the conclave. The ending was of course an obvious outcome but the twist at the end was something I didn’t see coming, I did note that there was something Harris was alluding to regarding that particular cardinal but I did not see that coming at all. Definitely enjoyed this one and I think I’ll definitely be reading some more of Robert Harris’ books soon!

I bought Conclave to read ahead of the movie coming soon and then surprisingly discovered that I had never read Robert Harris before! Conclave was a great read that easily hooked me in. However, I did mostly guess it, but would still read some of his other books. Obviously a great writer.

Robert Harris has written another superb though less wide-ranging novel centring on the protracted election process for a new pope following the untimely death of the predecessor who is closely based on the reforming Pope Francis set just a few years in the future. Harris recreates the claustrophobic and menacing atmosphere of the antiquated processes in which cardinals are kept isolated within the Vatican until a decision is made. It almost has an Agatha Christie tension (though better written) as the candidates rule themselves out one by one for different reasons. Harris's research, as always, is first class and his use of religious language is so rich that you wonder whether he was converted during the writing. I guess that because the book focuses on an organisation which many of us feel is irrelevant and out of touch, it will be less memorable than say the Fear Index or Ghost and less epic than the Cicero series. What’s next: a book about a reality show host who becomes US president. No, too far fetched!