The Vatican Connection [Paperback]

James Brant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 7, 2003

What if Christ were not the Son of God-and it could be proven?

What if a software program could make smart bombs obsolete?

What if one man possessed both secrets-and he was killed?

A laptop with software that could revolutionize the defense industry. A document that could bring down the entire Catholic Church. One man possessed both. Now, he's dead. The laptop and document are missing. And everyone-from the Pope's elite bodyguards, the Exsequors, to the British Secret Service and the CIA-is trying to find them. Double crosses don't even begin to cover what happens next...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"I'm a priest. And promises of eternal life can do wonders," says a sinister padre in Brant's bewilderingly complex spy tale. Retired CIA agent Dave Chasen is forced to investigate the murder of a technology entrepreneur whose body is found on the beach. Missing from the dead man's effects are a laptop computer containing details about an incredibly powerful weapon that can remotely vaporize buildings and a 2,000-year-old document that supposedly contains Saint Peter's denial of Jesus Christ. Three different agencies-the CIA, England's MI6 and the Vatican's surreptitious cannoncciale-want the items, and in their pursuit, they each have tight dealings with an enormous Spanish crime family connected to the murdered man. Because the narrative is littered with so many characters, most of them never evolve beyond their "good guy" or "bad guy" labels. The most fascinating aspect of the tale is the cannoncciale, an intriguing but nebulous shadow group made up of church officials who traffic in stolen art and a priest who dispatches his victims with a corkscrew. The pages featuring this story line are the high points of the book. Unfortunately, Brant doesn't delve deep enough into the group or his characters to make this convoluted tale worthwhile.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Onyx (October 7, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451411102
• ISBN-13: 978-0451411105
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,555,837 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Actually surprised, January 13, 2005

By 

Fred Frizzjet - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Vatican Connection (Paperback)

I wasn't expecting much when I picked this book to read but was pleasantly surprised. It has an interesting mix of spy elements including an inept MI6 agent from Great Britain, a CIA good guy brought out of forced retirement and lo and behold, who would have guessed that the Catholic Church has their own worldly, suave and debonair James Bond! The story could have used more character development but all in all it was a fast and pleasant read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Vatican Conspiracy That Leaves Much to be desired, March 23, 2004

By 

Gary Turner (Powder Springs, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Vatican Connection (Paperback)

I had hopes that this book would be as intriguing as "Angels and Demons", but unfortunately I was disappointed. Dave Chasen is brought back into the C.I.A. to help the company locate two items: A laptop computer with technology that has cutting edge defense information and the "Professio" an alleged document that Saint Peter signed denouncing Jesus as the Christ. Throw in a Spanish Corleone family, a secret agent priest and a MI6 agent and you have the makings of a book that has an interesting premise but falls short in delivering the goods.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars TD, February 2, 2004

By 

Antonio Delgado "antoniodelgad68" (Hialeah, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Vatican Connection (Paperback)

A well written book with a nice pace. If you liked Angels & Demons and Dan Brown in particular you will like this book.