Totally gripping
The Pope is dead and a conclave has begun to choose his successor but as the hours tick by and no smoke comes from the chimney, Vatican Secretary of State Elisabetta Celestino is pursuaded by the Vatican police to break in to the Sistine Chapel and the sight shocks everyone, all of the Cardinals are missing. One of her friends, historian Cal Donovan, is in Rome to cover the conclave for CNN and ends up embroiled in the mystery
I really enjoyed this book, it has some very unexpected twists that had me gripped and that had me reading and researching some things further in depth. This may sound a bit vague, and apologies for that, but I’m trying not to give any spoilers!
The characters, especially Cal and Elisabetta, seemed well rounded but some others were missing details that stopped them seeming as human. I think it’s mainly because the focus was on the story and not necessarily on the backgrounds of all of the characters
There has been a lot of focus over the last year or so about Conclaves, from the popular film, to the actual Conclave of 2025, and this book has a place among them. It’s a story that feels like it may happen and has enough realism in to make me as a reader wonder what if
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a mystery novel with a bit of a religious twist that is full of unexpected drama and details that will have you hooked

The Last Conclave is a fast-paced thriller that blends Vatican intrigue with historical conspiracies. Cooper's accessible writing style keeps readers engaged, though occasionally the dialogue feels stilted. The ambitious plot, showcasing extensive research into Church history, intertwines multiple timelines effectively but can sometimes feel disjointed. While the protagonist is well-developed, some supporting characters lack depth. Despite these minor flaws, Cooper successfully creates an atmosphere of tension and mystery that will appeal to fans of religious thrillers. Overall, "The Last Conclave" offers an entertaining read for those who enjoy conspiracy-laden stories with historical elements, even if it doesn't break new ground in the genre.

I chose to read this book mainly because of the recent election of Pope Leo XIV earlier this year. I was immediately gripped by this intriguing novel which refers to historical facts about the Cathers and the storyline is divided between this and the disappearance of the conclave which results in a woman, the Vatican's Secretary of State, becoming in charge of the Catholic Church. This book is a mix of history, suspense, mystery and a touch of disbelief.
If this sounds like your kind of book then I can recommend it most highly..
I would like to thank Glen Cooper, his publisher, Lascaux Media and NetGalley for this ARC.

The Last Conclave is a strange project since its origin. It has been funded by an Italian Editor before arriving in America, a thing which is unexpected for a giant of modern thriller as Glenn Cooper. However, here it has been an incredible success so no longer after the publication it has even arrived on the American Bookshelf and here I am reviewing the English version. The story starts with an incredible strength, and develops focusing on a specific theme, the one of the Cathars as their extermination, which I find optimus as a description. It is a shame it ends up being too built up around international spying, with an excessive amount of dialogues between characters organizing new operations in order to save the kidnapped Cardinals, more than on a “historical puzzle” development, and there is absolutely too much drama between the multiple figures involved. The style is simple but captivating when it needs to be, and the range of locations and moments are interesting for the way it takes his time to start with multiple details on TV Networking, politics behind the scene of the Vatican, and even vices of the vicar of God. In this way, The Last Conclave is like a strange union between Robert Harris and Dan Brown, in which the functionality of the writing introduces a vast range of characters all interacting too much and with too much drama. However, when the story focuses on unexpected elements of a real Conclave, or on the educational description of other Catholic cults as the Cathars, this is a perfect bingo for Glenn Cooper. It’s a shame this happens only a few times in the whole book.

FINAL VERDICT: ⭐⭐⭐

Following the death of Pope John XXIV, the Cardinals are sealed in the Sistine Chapel to vote on the Papal successor. However, when no smoke or sign of voting occurs, protocol is eventually broken and the doors to the chapel opened only to find it empty. The Cardinals have vanished.
Cal Donovan is swept into the global investigation which uncovers ancient secrets and a ruthless power.
I enjoyed the first half of this book better than the second was the pacing seemed slower. Despite that it was an enjoyable and engaging tale, ideal for fans of Dan Brown.

A great read and having recently seen a movie about the Conclave and also having a new Pope elected recently this book came at the right time. I love the way this book is written, the pacing is perfect and the chapters short keeping the flow of the book on point. A very interesting story that really kept my interested and intrigued.

A great read and one I do recommend. I now have some understanding of how a Conclave works and all the goings on behind closed doors.

Thank you NetGalley and Book Whisperer for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I enjoyed this story more than most like it. It was grounded in a bit more history than speculation. But while it had a bit of a unique approach to the Catholic Church thriller than others like it, it still fell in to the “Catholic Church bad, heretical persecuted alternative Christian group good.” We are spared the “Mary Magdalene and Jesus were a couple” motif, but still left with overdone tropes of pedophile priests, oppressive patriarchy and the like. The author did however, have many traditional Catholic characters who were genuinely winsome and likable, which was a change of pace. Usually the likable ones want to bring down the Church. The pacing slowed down when the historical chapters were introduced. While the connections between past and present were developed, it wasn’t difficult to guess where those developments were headed. And in the last third of the book the “ticking time bomb” device was gutted of its effects as the story had to work to weave past and present. The final three chapters wrapped up far too quickly, almost as an afterthought. What the book has going for it, in spades, is it’s timing, and how it mirrors current events quite nicely.

The Last Conclave by Glenn Cooper is a smart, fast-paced thriller that blends history, religion, and suspense into a gripping ride. Cooper’s background in archaeology and storytelling shines, grounding the high-stakes plot in rich detail and atmosphere. The mystery surrounding the Vatican and secret societies is handled with just the right mix of intrigue and tension.

The pacing is tight, with short, punchy chapters that keep the momentum strong. While some twists are familiar, the execution is confident, and the characters—particularly the flawed but determined protagonist—keep the narrative grounded. The historical threads add depth without slowing the action.

The ending delivers a satisfying payoff while leaving room for reflection. The Last Conclave is a compelling blend of fact and fiction—well-written, engaging, and perfect for fans of Dan Brown-style thrillers. A strong 4-star read.

This is a very interesting and timely story since the Catholic Church just held a conclave to elect a new Pope. I was not familiar with the workings of a conclave so enjoyed a peek behind the closed doors. Thankfully the catastrophe that happened in the book did not happen in the real conclave. But it was definitely an interesting series of events to think about.

The Last Conclave by Glenn Cooper is a story, based on historic events and current time possibilities, that will keep you turning pages well into the night. I found this book to been informative concerning the process of selecting a Pope when the current Pope dies. When the book was written, the author would not have had indication that Pope Francis would die. This made the book interesting and timely in that it explained how the Conclave works. The book also had a historical reference to a period in the 13th century in France where a group of people disagreed with that pope and the consequence they received during that time. I was so intrigued by the historical aspect, that I researched the information from the book and found that it was historically accurate - minus the "poetic license" that the author injected into the story.

It all came together with a story that will stay with you for a long time. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.com and Book Whisperer and I always review every book that I read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend. The plot and characters are well developed and the historical information is accurate. Enjoy.

Glenn Cooper is a new author for me so I wasn’t sure what to expect. At the beginning I thought it was a bit like Dan Brown and the film Conclave, however a massive bombshell turned this book on its head and took it in a direction that was new an exciting. I’ve already recommended this book to others.

Timely, exciting, very well written book. Timely because of the recent election of Pope Leo. Exciting because I couldn't put it down. Educational in it's explanation of the history of the Cathars. Well developed characters. Plot, while a bit out there, was interesting. A little research and I found that the author has used the two main characters before, in his earlier books. I will definitely be adding those to my TBR pile. Well done. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I find stories involving the Vatican fascinating. An institution shrouded in history and mystery and this fast paced thriller has everything I hoped for. Mysterious death of Pope ( rings a bell!), secrets and misdirections, it’s a glorious mix of an international thriller along with real life as the story revolves around the conclave, I loved the Robert Harris book and this is just as exciting. I haven’t read Dan Brown, but seen parts of a film which involved a lot of chasing around and there are elements of that here. But Cooper is a better writer than Brown ( I abandoned the first Brown book after very few pages because it’s so badly written). This is gripping and loosely based on known fact. Loved it.

Great mix of genres As the author weaves a great tale which includes a love story (or two), a history lesson, and lots of church politics. When the pope dies, it’s time for a conclave..when the doors close, the cardinal disappear, and the plots begins. Their kidnap was a masterful scheme, the reason is expertly revealed, and the tensions builds until a well-conceived conclusion is achieved..

This is an interesting, if unbelievable novel about the recent death of a beloved Pope and the Conclave which follows. All goes as planned after the Pope's funeral to the first day of the Conclave, except the first day produces no smoke to signal a vote for the new pontiff. After several hours, Vatican officials discover the entire College of Cardinals has been kidnapped in a bizarre, planned event.

The story takes off from there as police forces try to find who kidnapped the conclave and what they want, while at the same time internal political forces cause turmoil in the Vatican for control of the Catholic Church.

This was a free ARC offered by the publisher in return for an unbiased review. It held my interest and I give it 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks for the opportunity to review.

I was given a free copy of this book to review from NetGalley. With the papal conclave being a recent event and being a fan of last year's film, "Conclave," this book appealed to me as soon as I learned about it. I enjoyed the first half of the book the most - the historical background information, character introductions, and the set-up of what becomes the central conflict of the story. The premise is unique and not something I would have ever expected to happen. The second half of the book is a bit slower and I felt it took a long time to get to the point. I was not aware that this was a part of the Cal Donovan series. This makes me want read more in this series. Overall this is definitely a book you should check out if the subject interests you.

Fantastic! I enjoyed reading this book! The relevance of what has recently happened with the Pope passing away intrigues me. The Cathar religion is interesting too. I admire Sabine and Elisabetta equally. They are both strong women with great leadership qualities. Cal is amazing and I'm glad that he found his love. I liked the author's writing style and I'll be reading more books by him.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed diving into the world created by Glenn Cooper, all the more so because the theme of the book happened to be particularly relevant at the time I read it.

I truly appreciated the opportunity to explore the inner workings of the Vatican and the conclave, expertly explained through the eyes of our main character, Cal Donovan, a specialist in the field. The investigation is cleverly constructed, with realistic, engaging characters, and the mystery remains intact until about halfway through the novel, when the protagonists begin to piece things together.

As a French reader, I was especially intrigued by the references to the Cathars, which added an extra layer of interest for me. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about this historical movement.

Thank you to the publisher Book Whisperer who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

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