Customer Reviews

Basilica

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Basilica is definitely a different look at mystery. Looking through the rather earthly eyes of the a personal friend of the Pope, the reader is introduced to the "private" world of the Pontiff. And the problems of running a city-state. The reader is not mired down in the politics of the Vatican, but is cleanly moved though the private world of the Pope in a way that is at once believable and charming. The mystery is absolute. You will not know who the bad guy is until near the end. And even after that there is a final irresistable twist that will leave you with an intaken breath. The writing is crisp, the pace excellent, the mystery is perfectly crafted. The detail is exquisite. I cannot help but mourn the untimely death of the author, for this is his first work I have read. But you can bet I will read the rest!

The Roman setting being somewhat familiar to me, I was pleasantly surprised at the detail Montalbano was able to include in his story. He clearly was a careful observer, and likely a studious note-taker, and this book is that much more an enjoyable, and even whimsical read, thanks to his journalistic skills. He has written with a strong sense of reality, just slightly ahead of our time, and with some really nifty twists to the plotline. For readers who enjoy the novels of Father Andrew Greeley, and other church-related mystery stories, I highly recommend this book, possessing as it does a marvelous sense of how things do tend to work in the higher echelons of the Vatican...minus the actual murders, of course! This is a very pleasurable and engaging read. The tragedy is that there will be no more from William Montalbano.

And Brother Paul, ex-Miami cop is called upon to ferret out the murderer. It helps that the Pope is Brother Paul's best friend but as the case winds on and more church figures close to the Pope are killed, the trial leads further into Brother Paul's past. A past that saw the theft of Colombian drug money and the death of Brother Paul's family. But then Brother Paul discovers that the murder list not only includes him but the Pope himself.

Well written. A different venue for murder but the motivations are as old as the Catholic Church itself. Montalbano gives the reader excellent insights into papal politics. The characters are well drawn and fleshed out. A good thriller, a good plot, a clever ending. What more could you want?

Very nicely done thriller set in the world of the vatican and a "new " pope. The protagonist and other characters are interesting and real, their personalities are well-developed in the book. The pope himself is a bit super-human, but he is after all the pope and is beloved by our protagonist. Very good end, does not disappoint.

This book holds you on the first page. I could'nt put the book down. I have been telling very one to buy this book.

Basilica is an excellent new book. Set within the Vatican, sometime in the 21st century, the story joins old friends -- former Miami police detective and latin american cardinal who spent considerable efforts working toward ridding the drug lords of their product. As the story unveils, we learn the police officer, after the tragic loss of his entire family by the drug lords, has become a Roman Catholic Brother stationed in Rome. "The Cardinal" is now Pope and the drug lords are after both of them. Montalbano interweaves an excellent knowledge of the inner workings of Vatican City and weaves the suspense through the church's day to day workings. Many exciting turns and curves -- well written, and it certainly makes you burn the midnight oil trying the find out what takes place next. It's sad that Montalbano's sudden death in March 1998 makes this his last work. A wonderful read, especially for those who like mystery set in the context of the workings of the Catholic Church!

William Montalbano casts his central character, psychological warts and all, into the role of a brother/detective working within the Vatican to solve an apparent murder that has the Pope's attention. To boot, we soon find out the connection between Brother Paul and the young Pope is rooted in a common history. While the reader gets the sense that Montalbano is a relative newcomer to the genre of mystery writing [akin to the earliest Michael Connelly novels], his inordinate familiarity with all things papal colors the story with a vividness that overpowers the writer's occasional difficulty in story telling. And although he has couched the story in a religious setting, in no way do the polemics of church business interfere with the tale; in fact, it is the very REAL portrayal of churchly figures who have strong and weak moments that make the story so enthralling. It is only sad to note that William Montalbano's development as a writer will not go on, due to his untimely death in 1998. I highly recommend this story to readers who like to stroll down the less travelled path, but one with unparalleled views of one of the last empires on earth . . ..

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

Basilica is a one of those rare books that are so well written that even readers who normally wouldn't choose a book from this genre read it in one night. Interwoven into the fast moving plot and setting is the real albeit less "holy" backdrop of one of the most powerful organizations on earth. It shows the Vatican politics and accomodations to the needs of their very human priests and cardinals clearly and compassionately. They are neither the greatest evil nor the greatest good.

Staff, priests, cardinals, and the pope are portrayed as complex human beings caught up in the money, power, influence, and personalities of their time and place. Some are zealots, some are there for the party, and some are radical reformers. And in the midst of the clamor, those who view the church as their extended family struggle to save it from harm from within and enemies from without.

It is not just a story about the Vatican though. It also delves into the brutal nature of the South American drug cartels that kill and torture without mercy or compassion. It shows how their influence using money and intimidation can spread from their business into every part of society including the church. Tying the drug cartels and the Vatican together are two men - one a pope and the other a ex-cop lay brother - who share personal and political struggles to overcome the consequences of earlier mistakes that has led to one drug cartel family's obsession and revenge financing a deadly plan that could leave the church as a puppet of their international criminal activities.

The most interesting aspect of this book is the setting. It's uncommon to find a mystery-esque novel that has most of the action taking place in Vatican City and where most of the characters are priests or brothers. In this respect "Bascilica" reminds me a bit of "The Name of the Rose", although aside from the clerical theme, the similarity really ends there.

This book introduces readers to the world of the modern church. I was a little worried when I started reading that the author would either overwhelm us with church doctrine or would cast the story in a continuous "old world meets new world" light. Happily I found that neither of these concerns were warranted. Enough religious information is provided to enrich, but not overshadow, the plot, and the anachronisms are tastefully and subtly added.

The story itself is quite good, although the ending leaves a bit to be desired. I will say the most difficult thing to accept about the story is the idea that the main character is a brother (given his various vices and in spite of past) and that his friend in the Pope. I enjoyed the way the Pope was portrayed - it was especially interesting to think of the Pope having a pet - I just had a hard time accepting the fact that he was the Pope. All in all, however, the plot was good and the story was fast paced. The way in which the Chruch and the Latino-underworld were enmeshed was well done.