'The Last Conclave' is a fast moving read, set against the backdrop of the Vatican and a gripping historical mystery. When the Pope dies unexpectedly, the cardinals meet and lock themselves away in the Sistine Chapel to choose his successor....then they disappear without a trace. Vatican Secretary Celestino has to break centuries of tradition to investigate, and she gets some help from a savvy religion expert who gets pulled into what ends up to be a global chase.

What makes this book really tick is how Cooper blends the high-stakes drama of a papal election with a centuries-old secret. It’s a mix of modern-day thriller with deep historical roots, and it’s full of twists that keep you on your toes. Sometimes a little far-fetched...but it's a page-turner packed with suspense.

What an Amazing book this was! I loved the story it was full of fun facts, with a fast pace that kept my attention throughout the book! It was very interesting and entertaining! I would highly recommend this book to everyone!

I may have to try this one again. I love the Dan Brown novels and was hoping this would be in that realm. It was a little heavy handed.

I haven't read a thriller quite like THE LAST CONCLAVE by Glenn Cooper in the years since I read Dan Brown and other religious/political/current event thrillers. This one did not disappoint with the twists and turns, historical perspectives on the Catholic Church and secretive nature of conclaves and the election of a new Pope. The surprise of an empty room where there should have been dozens of cardinals was only the first of fascinating events in the story -- feeling eerily close to the current events in our real world in the details and issues discussed. I enjoyed it even though I am not typically a thriller reader -- enjoying the history, the different points of view that I have never considered. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. This was the first book I read from Glenn Cooper. But for sure not the last one.

I'm not going into details about the story. My only advice: a must read

As a fan of ‘Conclave’ I was excited to read another book with similar themes.
Some great excitement and unknowns, well written and historically interesting too.
Bit sluggish at times but an enjoyable read.

An intriguing concept, and the plot kept moving forward. I didn't fully buy in to the plausibility, but overall it was a decent read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

The Last Conclave opens with an irresistible hook: a pope dead, a conclave convened—and then, shockingly, the entire Sistine Chapel found empty. Glenn Cooper masterfully blends modern suspense with deep historical intrigue, drawing on the dark legacy of the Cathars and a centuries-old conspiracy.

Fast-paced and cinematic, this is a thriller in the Dan Brown vein, with sharp writing and a compelling lead in Cal Donovan. While some historical sections slow the pace and side characters lack depth, the central mystery is bold, original, and utterly addictive.

Perfect for fans of religious conspiracies, ancient secrets, and high-stakes drama.

After the unexpected death of the current pope, the conclave of cardinals meets to elect the new pope. After a few hours with no indication a vote occurred. The doors are opened, and the room is empty! Thus begins an international investigation full of politics, religious history, and a dash of romance. I enjoyed how well-researched and fast-paced this book was.

The Last Conclave was released on May 19, 2025—just weeks before the historic election of Pope Leo XIV—making its exploration of Vatican intrigue feel remarkably timely.
From the first page, Cooper’s narrative pulls you into the high-stakes world of Vatican power plays. When Pope John XXIV dies unexpectedly, 115 cardinals lock themselves in the Sistine Chapel—only to vanish without a trace. The tension never lets up, and the chase across continents had me racing toward “one more chapter” long past bedtime.
Beyond its thriller elements, the novel delivers a detailed look at how the College of Cardinals elects a pope. Through scenes of secret ballots, ritual prayers, and haggling over theology and leadership qualities, I gained new appreciation for the centuries-old procedures that govern papal elections. Cooper’s backstage access makes the process as fascinating as the mystery itself.
Kidnapping every cardinal might sound over-the-top, but Cooper meticulously maps out how such a coup could succeed. The logistics—from infiltrating the Vatican to maintaining radio silence in a locked chapel—are laid out with forensic precision. His grounded explanations stretch credulity without snapping it, turning suspension of disbelief into outright belief.
Interwoven with modern crisis is a deep dive into the medieval Cathars—a heretical sect nearly wiped out in the 14th century. I was captivated by their story of resilience and spiritual dissent, and the book inspired me to dive into Cathar history on my own. This dual timeline enriches the thriller, linking past and present in a tapestry of faith and fanaticism.
The Last Conclave is a masterclass in pacing, research, and suspense. Whether you crave edge-of-your-seat action or a behind-the-scenes look at Vatican operations, Cooper delivers on all fronts. This novel stands out not just as a timely thriller but also as an invitation to explore broader histories of faith, power, and secrecy.

A fast paced mystery which had me reading very quickly and enjoying every moment. The Last Conclave was a perfect balance for the immersed Catholic and the religious/church sceptic. Interesting characters that held my curiousity and provided a great deal of historic reference to the actual Catharsis (which I certainly wasn’t taught in the Catholic faith).
Timely in our recent happenings and a nice addition to reading/watching The Conclave. This book went to many details of how a conclave is conducted and I finished it with a more expansive understanding on the Vatican and those involved.
Thank you #NetGalley for this early copy. It was a good one!

The Last Conclave had quite a great publishing timing. I was curious to read it and overall, the writing style is pleasant. It's fast-paced and vivid, it would render well as a movie. Despite that, I wasn't completely drawn into the plot.

Interesting spin on a conclave. I’m glad I got to read this right after the IRL conclave and the storyline and twists were interesting. This would be a fun read for anyone interested in thrillers or religious/political crime dramas.

Read his full review on <a href=?https://rosepointpublishing.com/2025/06/29/the-last-conclave-by-glenn-cooper-bookreview-conspiracythrillers/"<a> Rosepoint Publishing.</a>

The recent conclave of Cardinals elected Pope Leo XIV. It was done fairly quickly after the death of John Paul II. All Roman Catholics know that the Pope is elected by a conclave of Cardinals who meet in the Sistine Chapel. This story examines that tradition from a unique perspective.

Why has there never been a female head of the church? Catholic schools teach religion and a majority of the teachers are nuns. Then why are there no female priests?

This book delves into a mythical event in which all of the Cardinals are captured and secreted away. The master minds of this undertaking are a group of very rich people who wish to “right” history.

The fascinating portion of the story to me is the discussion of the Cathars. This was a religious group in the thirteenth century that believed in everything the church in Rome believed but did not believe that the church should be so rich and powerful or that women should be excluded from the priesthood.

This is a very fascinating fiction thriller interwoven with historical events! 5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own.

The cardinals are in the Sistine during the conclave. Hours and hours pass. No smoke, black nor white. Finally the outsiders enter the Sistine to find it empty.
This was an unusual story, full of suspense .... how did they do it? What happened? I had difficulties with all the different characters and their names ... telling them apart. 4.5 stars rounded up.
This book led me to search out other Glenn Cooper books.

First, I'd like to thank NetGalley and Lascaux Media for the Advance Reader Copy of The Last Conclave. I really enjoyed this book, especially as it relates to learning about the Cathar offshoot of the Roman Catholic Church in the Languedoc region of France. I thought that the premise of the book was quite interesting - a Papal Conclave (could it be more timely?) and an intriguing mystery surrounding the Cardinal electors. For most of the book, the balance of the history of the Cathars and the mystery of the Conclave was excellent, but I did find that the book tied up loose ends rather quickly at the end. Not quite at the level of Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series, but certainly worthy of being included in that genre. This was my first book by Glenn Cooper, and I'll be looking into other books written by him.

What happens whwn a reporter opens the door to the Sistine Chapel during a Co clave to find all of the Cardinals missing? That is the ot of this novel. So utterly creative highly engaging , and well-written. This thriller is not to be missed!

When Pope John XXIV is found dead in his bed just two years after his election, the world braces for a new conclave. But as the cardinal electors are sealed inside the Sistine Chapel, something unthinkable happens. Hours pass. No smoke rises. No vote is announced. And when Vatican Secretary of State Elisabetta Celestino breaks protocol to open the doors—she finds the chapel empty. The cardinals have vanished without a trace.

CNN religion expert Cal Donovan is on-site to cover the conclave, but soon finds himself swept into a global investigation. As panic spreads and theories abound, Cal uncovers a chilling trail leading back to a centuries-old order—one that has waited in the shadows to cleanse the sins of the Church... with blood.

Considering recent history, this was a very relevant title. The author is very good at describing his characters, their surroundngs and the long lost religious sect and how it affected history over 800 years later. I sis not know this was part of a series until I looked up the author to see what else he has written. I know I will look into other books that he has written. It is obvious that he did a lot of research into the Roman church, the Conclave, the area in Rome and the Cathars in and where they lived. I was not aware that this sect even existed so it was very interesting to read what they believed. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for offering this book.

I particularly enjoyed the historical flashbacks and the political and religious overtones of the book, the period referenced was clearly well researched and it made for an immersive contribution to the overall story. But I have to admit I went into the book expecting a more tense and fast paced thriller than the actual outcome, which negatively impacted my time with it.

The ample cast gave the narration more depth and realism, but some odd elements of the plot and the clunky dialogue hindered its potential. At traits the suspension of disbelief was had to achieve and I had trouble with it from the very beginning to the end of the story, where I found the plot device that brought to the resolution of the book to be annoyingly stupid.

On the whole, the novel was predictable but engaging enough to finish it, but it definitely suffered from the middle-of-the-book slog typical of thrillers where you just wish to be able to skip to the final chapter and move onto more rewarding reads.

Rated 2.5 stars.

Genre: Contemporary Thriller
Vibes: ⛪🕵️‍♂️🕰️🔍💀⏳📜🌍😱🔥
Rating: 3.75⭐
Tropes: locked-room mystery / dual timeline / conspiracy / historical lore

Very timely with the election of the new pope, had to read !!

As a former Catholic, I have a somewhat-knowledge of how a Conclave works. I guess I went into this book thinking it would give "Angels & Demons" vibes. It did not give me the same thrill that Dan Brown does, but it was a good book nonetheless. I enjoyed learning about Catharism, which I knew nothing about.