The Last Conclave has quite an interesting premise and considering recent events it definitely sounded like a book I would enjoy. Unfortunately for me, it just didn’t hit the mark. I found it took a while to get going and my interest waned really early on.

Didn’t really like the historical flashbacks but I see why they were there. Fun read following the recent conclave

I absolutely loved this book! It was quite timely reading it soon after the actual conclave was done in Rome and I enjoyed this suspenseful and intense novel!

I requested this ARC because Angels and Demons (with a similar setting a premise) is one of my favourite ever books.

This was good, well written and the pacing was good.
I think books like this are so interesting.

I really enjoyed The Last Conclave! The set-up was gripping right from the start, and the concept felt fresh and timely, especially with all the intrigue around papal succession. The mix of political drama, religious stakes, and thriller-style action kept things moving at a great pace. I loved how it balanced weighty themes with real suspense. My only minor struggle was keeping track of all the names (there were a lot) but it didn’t take away from the overall impact. A smart, fast-paced read with a unique premise. I didn’t even realize it was part of a series until I had finished, so it can function as a standalone book as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for this book. This was a very fast paced and engaging book that I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to anyone who like a bit of old religion mixed with mystery!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all.opinjons expressed are mine.

This was a timely read that tells the story of a dead pope and what happens when a new pope is. Eing selected. Mysterious ,engaging ,well written and a page turner. Absolutely enjoyed it.

So much in keeping with the present conclave conducted just weeks ago, this story sounds fantastical but very believable despite the secrecy, the hidden truths, but then that is the Vatican.

Starting with a much loved Pope who dies within two years of being elected, we then go into conclave and this is where the history starts. An entire conclave of cardinals disappears, kidnapped by a group of believers thought to have been erased from eight centuries before, the Cathars, and their demands for female representation as a pope amongst other demands.

The story is riveting, history detailed and very easily understood. The workings of the Vatican, the political wheeling and dealing, the ugly facets of the Church like the paedophile priests being swept under a rug and forgotten but at the same time what the church is trying to do, despite the obstacles it faces within its own community.

I do not know whether the book will appeal to those who do not know much about the catholic faith, but for me personally it was an excellent read.

The Last Conclave by Glenn Cooper couldn’t have arrived at a more perfect moment, with global interest in papal elections at a high following the recent selection of Pope Leo. The novel takes a bold and intriguing turn by centering on a nun, Secretary of State Elisabetta Celestino, who discovers that the conclave meant to elect a new pope has mysteriously gone silent. What follows is a tightly plotted thriller with a well-executed mystery, solid pacing, and two compelling leads. The violence caught me a bit off guard—more than I anticipated—but not enough to detract from the story. Reportedly a bestseller in Italy, this one should resonate with fans of intelligent religious thrillers, especially those intrigued by the inner workings of the Vatican.

"The Last Conclave" by Glenn Cooper is a gripping historical thriller that whisks readers away to 16th-century Rome. The story follows a conclave of cardinals tasked with electing a new Pope but the proceedings are marred by intrigue, murder, and a mysterious but interesting plot. Cooper masterfully weaves together historical facts and suspenseful fiction, creating a thrilling narrative. With its intricate plot and complex characters this book is perfect for fans of historical thrillers & mystery novels. The author's expertise in blending history and suspense makes for a compelling read that's hard to put down.

Thank you NetGalley for access to the e-book!

Wow...this was a ride and a half. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The book felt really well researched and not like it was written in 2 days (which a lot of books that come out these days feel like). Catholics, if even half of the historical references in here are historically accurate, you guys have one hell of a history...
I must admit that there were a LOT of characters so a few times I did have moment of "who's that again?" but the story was so intriguing that all of the characters had purpose to them. I am also not the best at remembering details that are connected to each character and I sometimes have to page back but the characters were all distinct enough for me to tell everyone apart. I honestly believe this book would make a great limited series!
I'm not usually one for time line changes that come out of nowhere but every past reference that was brought up held significance. I especially loved Elisabetta and how part of the story showed how emotional men can really get in the way of resolving conflicts so much faster.

One thing that did bother me a bit was the consistent emphasis on how dark skinned Gaby was and the way it was described with really dark objects. I think it only really needed to be mentioned once and also he could've just said that she was dark-skinned instead of "coal-black" :/

besides that the book was really great and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a lot of suspense, thriller and a touch of history :))

They weren't lying when they said that the book is 'gripping'!

Ps. Love that the gays were unexpectedly featured

PPS. Cal and Elisabetta <3

The Last Conclave delivers exactly what you want from a religious thriller: a compelling mystery, global intrigue, and enough historical shadow-play to keep the pages turning late into the night. The disappearance of an entire group of cardinals from the locked Sistine Chapel is a brilliantly eerie hook, and the tension never lets up from there.

Cal Donovan makes for a strong, grounded lead—equal parts scholar and reluctant hero—as he’s drawn deeper into a centuries-old conspiracy that blends faith, politics, and vengeance. The pacing is quick, the stakes are high, and the atmosphere—especially within the Vatican—is wonderfully tense and cinematic.

Some plot elements do stretch plausibility, especially in the final act, and a few supporting characters feel more like plot devices than fully fleshed-out people. But the sheer ambition of the story and the well-executed suspense more than make up for it.

If you enjoy books like The Da Vinci Code or The Rule of Four, The Last Conclave will hit all the right notes—a bold, entertaining blend of history, mystery, and modern-day reckoning.

Glenn Cooper delivers a gripping Vatican mystery in this book, where the conclave to elect the next pope goes missing, ancient secrets and nothing is quite what it seems.

As someone who has read a lot of books on the Vatican, I was hooked, the author's take was quite clever. I love the religious history in the book as I learnt about the medieval Cathars and the decree of heresy by the Church on Catharism with a full blown crusade launched, massacres and inquisitions.

I found the ending a bit predictable but still satisfying. It is a 7.5/10 for me and thank you to the publishers and @netgalley for an advanced readers' copy of this book.

If you love thrillers with robes, ancient secrets and history then this book delivers.

How opportune was this book coming at the same time as the new pope was elected, although thankfully, there was not the same level of drama as unfolds in this book. A really gripping and intriguing read of a subject I do not know much about. Definitely worth a read.

I was eager to read this book after the election of the new Pope and after having seen the movie, Conclave, and I was not disappointed! Lots of action, interesting history, amazing twists and turns, and even a bit of romance made this book almost impossible to put down. I'd highly recommend it to fans of Dan Brown and Robert Harris and those who enjoy a fast paced read without a lot of violence and gore.

Thank you to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I really enjoyed reading this book. In fact, I would give it five full stars if the typos in the e-book version didn’t grate on me so hard.
I see that this is one of a series about Cal Donovan, but I had neither heard of them nor read any previously. I received an advance copy of the book in order to review it.
The title piqued my interest as I very much enjoyed the film “Conclave”, and I wanted more of that setting. This book did not disappoint!
I have only been to Rome and the Vatican one time, but the descriptions of the places in this book were very easy to picture. The characters felt very real, and the timing of *having an actual Conclave* happen while reading this book was an unexpected coincidence.
This book did not do anything I imagined it would prior to reading. It was constantly fresh with innovative plot turns AND some history taught at the same time.
I highly suggest this book for anyone who liked the film “Conclave” or for anybody who likes a fast-read mystery!

When Pope John XXV dies just two years after becoming Pope it is a great shock to everyone. However the Church must go on and after a brief period of mourning the cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel for the Conclave to elect the next pope. News channels across the world are focused on the stove pipe chimney will announce with white smoke if they have elected the successor to St Peter or black smoke if they are still working to get a 2/3 majority vote for one of their number. But as time drags on with no smoke the rest of the Vatican begins to be worried Sr Elisabetta Celestino, the Pope's Secretary of State asks for the doors of the chapel to be forced open only to find an empty room. The search for the Cardinals and the reasons behind their kidnap become the business of Security services of many countries. When a communication from the kidnappers comes through, Cal Donovan, a religious expert, spots a tattoo of a yellow cross on the arm of the spokesperson. A yellow cross is the symbol of the Cathars, a religious group stamped out by the Church centuries ago- what is their agenda?

The timing of this book could not have been more topical, with the recent death of Pope Francis and I'm sure that is why many might be drawn to it. However once I started it I was completely captivated and read it at breakneck speed. One of my top reads so far this year. Thanks to Net galley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

I really enjoyed this book! If you’ve watched Angels and Demons and liked the movie, it’s very similar. The pace of the book was really good in my opinion, I was interested and locked in throughout. Not sure if Cathar is an actual ancient religion, but I love when historical fiction books like these make me want to research and figure out what’s true and what’s fictional throughout.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy and opportunity to read this book! Just found a new author I will be on the lookout for.

Not what I was expecting. Enjoyed the first bit of the book about the Conclave, and it seems very well researched, but then I kind of lost interest when it turned into a somewhat far-fetched political/religious thriller. I’m sure this book will work for other readers but it was not a good book fit for me.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. It was especially informative and timely with the recent death of Pope Francis. I have not read anything by Glenn Cooper before but will look out for this author in the future.