I really enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and had believable and likeable characters. I would recommend this book to my friends and read other books by this author.

Book Review: The Last Conclave by Glenn Cooper

Rating: 4 Stars

I just finished The Last Conclave by Glenn Cooper, and it was quite the thrilling ride! The premise hooked me right away: a mysterious disappearance during a papal conclave that has been shrouded in secrecy for eight centuries. The story kicks off with the sudden death of Pope John XXIV, setting the stage for what should be a routine election. But when the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel to choose the next pope, hours go by without any sign of a vote or even the usual smoke signals. Then, in a jaw-dropping moment, the chapel is found completely empty—no cardinals in sight.

The plot quickly escalates as Cal Donovan, a CNN religion correspondent covering the conclave, gets pulled into an intense investigation. What follows is a gripping chase uncovering an ancient secret society that has been lurking in the shadows, poised to "cleanse" the Church’s sins in a chilling way. The blend of Vatican intrigue, historical mystery, and conspiracy kept me turning pages faster than I expected.

One of my favorite aspects was the historical connection to the Cathars—an intriguing thread that added real depth to the story. The author’s writing style is sharp and fast-paced, which made it easy and enjoyable to read. Also, shoutout to the book’s cover—it’s striking and definitely caught my eye before I even started reading.

Overall, The Last Conclave was a fun and engaging thriller that felt especially timely given recent the real-world conclave. The characters were well-drawn and believable, and the stakes felt genuinely high throughout. If you’re into Vatican conspiracies mixed with historical secrets and a fast-moving plot, this one’s worth checking out!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

The story is an exciting thriller that is fast-paced and has two different timelines: one explaining the past and the origins of Catharism, and the other following the kidnapping of the conclave. One was easy to follow for me and one not so much. The conclave and the kidnapping of the Cardinals really kept my interest until about 60% through when it delved deeply into Catharism...and I really had to focus to understand it all. I found this topic and its historical facts dating to the 1200's to be very deep...as well as the description of a perfect (citizen who performs a rite of Consolamentum to let their people enter heaven)

Central to the story is the hunt to find the missing Cardinals. This is the part of the book I liked the most and of course the rescue was exciting. I was please with how the story ended for the Cardinals, the new pope and Cal and Eli. I am certain I will think about this book for quite some time.

A thrilling read from start to finish, a masterful journey through the history of The Conclave and plenty of twists and turns.

The Last Conclave was read off the back of the sad passing of our own Pope Francis and the Conclave to elect his successor Pope Leo XIV the first American pope.

The book bought to mind the writing of both Dan Brown and Robert Harris. This book bought its own mystery and story of intrigue and history alongside plenty of late nights gripped by the plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and BookWhisper for an opportunity to read an ARC. This is my personal review.

TY to NetGalley for a digital ARC...
Considering the events of the last several months, was hoping this would be enlightening. To a point, it was; however, I felt the need for a sharp penciled editor. Once the group responsible for the "crime" was id'd, the narrative got bogged down with over explanations and peripheral characters imo. Lots of potential just not great execution.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

A popular Pope is found dead in his bed only two years into his rule. The death is considered natural, as the man was overweight, had high blood pressure, and was repeatedly warned by his doctor to cut down on all his favorite sweet and fatty foods. But all of that comes into question when the Conclave called to elect a new Pope disappears!

Nothing is suspicious as the funeral and prescribed mourning period is observed and the Conclave solemnly is locked into the Sistine Chapel to begin their deliberations. All the world watches that famous chimney to see the smoke announce the results of the elections going on inside. But no smoke arises, and after a prolonged wait, the Chapel doors are forced to reveal an empty space. One hundred and sixteen Cardinals have disappeared, but the Chapel is still sealed. But there is a suspicious hole in the middle of the floor. Thus begins a worldwide hunt for the missing Conclave.

Why would anyone interfere with such a sacred ritual? When the abductors finally reveal their motives, it is equally startling: they want the Cardinals to allow full participation for women in the Church, and they want a nun selected as the new Pope!!

Eight hundred years ago, an obscure Christian sect, the Cathars, which was opposed to the Catholic Church, flourished in a small region in France. But the Church wiped them out completely about sever hundred years ago. Or did they? A Harvard University professor who has studied the Cathars sees parallels to the ancient religion in this case and is contacted by the Italian and French authorities to investigate the connection. What he finds astounds everyone as the book winds to its final showdown.

Thank you NetGalley and Book Whisperer for this eCopy to review

I just finished The Last Conclave, and it is a gripping thriller set in the Vatican. If you enjoy fast-paced mysteries with historical depth and religious intrigue, this one’s for you.

The story starts with the sudden death of Pope John XXIV, just two years into his papacy. As the world watches, the College of Cardinals gathers in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. But then, nothing. No smoke. No news. And when Vatican Secretary of State Elisabetta Celestino breaks protocol and opens the doors, the chapel is empty. The cardinals have vanished.

Enter Cal Donovan, a CNN religion expert who quickly finds himself pulled into a global investigation. What follows is a high-stakes chase through ancient secrets, shadowy orders, and a conspiracy that’s been buried for centuries. The pacing is relentless, and the stakes feel genuinely high. I loved how Cooper blended real Church history with speculative fiction giving the story a grounded yet mysterious feel.

The Last Conclave is full of atmosphere and high tension, and the sheer audacity of the plot created a smart, cinematic thriller that kept me turning pages late into the night.

A gripping and refreshingly different Vatican thriller.
This book weaves together history, religion, power, and fanaticism into a fast-paced and compelling story. The mysterious disappearance of the entire conclave from the Sistine Chapel is a bold and intriguing premise, and the plot only deepens from there. I especially appreciated the Cathar storyline—an ancient conflict brought into a modern setting with a fresh and thought-provoking twist. It added depth and historical weight to the narrative without slowing down the pace. A fascinating read that stands out in the religious thriller genre.

Following Pope John’s unexpected death and funeral, the conclave of Cardinals enters the Sistine Chapel to vote for the new Pope. But after several hours there is no smoke to show the result of the ballot, when the doors are opened the Chapel is empty.
A mystery of kidnapping and of the Cathars, the story slips between now and the 12th century when the Roman Catholic Church wiped out the Cathars in Southern France.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

A brilliant read.
A fast paced read that keep me hooked from the very first page I found it so hard to put down!

The Conclave is a timely story that called to me. The book alternates between the past and the present. As is typical, after the sudden death of Pope John XXIV the cardinals are brought to the Vatican to form a conclave.

When the cardinals are locked inside, they are expected to have two votes that day. But time passes and no smoke appears from the smokestack, people begin to worry. They force their way inside to find all the cardinals allowed to vote are missing.

This thriller about the inner workings of the Catholic Church. The mystery itself was interesting and well researched. But I hoped for something a little more dramatic and with less revenge minded persons.

I enjoyed and recommend this book. It held my interest, had a fast moving exciting plot, the characters were interesting and it is a timely theme considering the ascendency of a new pope. I liked the little known history of the Cathars which I had to look up, and the process around the conclave process, which I’m guessing was equally well researched.

Sometimes the narrative sounded like the Wikipedia summary of the Cathars, but it was still interesting to read and my guess is that history was the motivation to write the book.

It makes me want to look up the other books of Glenn Cooper.

This is my first read of Glenn Cooper but plan to add him to my list of preferred authors. The pope has died resulting in the cardinals gathering for the conclave. Oaths are recited and doors are locked as the sacred conclave begins their journey to select a new pope to lead the Catholic Church. Outside the Sistine Chapel the throngs await the white or black smoke relaying the result of the first vote. Two hours pass and no smoke. Then three hours and then four. No smoke. The decision is made to breach the conclave. On entering they find it empty…not a single cardinal in the Sistine Chapel. But how could over 100 cardinals disappear from a locked and heavily guarded room. So the mystery begins.

“The Last Conclave” is a thriller with a plot straight out of a Hollywood screenplay. Rodrigo De Silva, the first American pope and the first pope to appoint a woman , Elisabetta Celestino, Secretary of State, has died. The conclave to elect the next pope begins, and on the first day, only one vote is taken. Many hours pass after the time by which the voting cardinals would have been expected to vote, and the smoke—white or black—signifying whether a new pope has been elected to be issued. At length the conclave is entered, only to find that the cardinals have been kidnapped. The Swiss Guard and the Vatican carabiniari, headed by Emiliano Celestino, Elisabetta’s brother, seek the cardinal and their kidnappers across Italy and into France, Also involved in the investigation is Cal Donovan, a Harvard professor and expert on church history and who was friends with the now deceased pope. Cal is also a family friend of the Celestinos, and more than a little bit in love with Elisabetta.

Not long after the kidnapping, the kidnappers release a videotaped manifesto demanding that the cardinals agree to allow for the ordination of women and that they reopen the conclave in captivity and elect Elisabetta pope. They have five days to do so after which they will be executed. What follows is an occasionally tense thriller that examines the suspense surrounding the potential rescue of the cardinals, the ethical dilemmas presented by compliance with the kidnappers’ demands, and the risk of the kidnappers carrying out their threat.

“The Last Conclave” might be an even more engaging movie than a novel, since watching a film doesn’t give one much time to think about the plot. I was pleasantly surprised by how many times I found myself eager to see what would happen next. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy thrillers that feature a bit of an unusual or unexpected storyline that will keep you reading long into the night.

Thank you to Glen Cooper and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

"The Last Conclave" by Glenn Cooper plunges you into a gripping Vatican mystery from the very first page. When a papal conclave results in the unthinkable – an empty Sistine Chapel – religion expert Cal Donovan finds himself embroiled in a chilling investigation. Cooper masterfully weaves together ancient secrets, ruthless power struggles, and a looming threat that could shake the very foundations of the Church.

The narrative is fast-paced and filled with intrigue as Donovan uncovers a centuries-old order with a bloody agenda. If you enjoy Vatican thrillers with a historical twist and a compelling sense of urgency, "The Last Conclave" is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat until the final, shocking revelations.

The author, Glenn Cooper, masterfully introduces us to the main characters and reintroduces us to our hero, Cal Donovan professor of History of Religion at Harvard and master of all things Catholic. He also quickly lays down the rules of the conclave. Then with a starter pistol-like shot, sets the story going. The Cardinals gathered to elect a new pope have inexplicably disappeared from the Sistine chapel and from under the nose of the Swiss Guard and the Vatican police. The mystery is solved disappointingly quickly and the chase is on.

Action, mystery, intrigue. It's all in this book. It's also well-researched. You'll get a glimpse into Vatican politics and debates into modern-day church debates. But you'll also get the historical side of the church and a look into a Catholic sect that could have changed the way the modern day church looks.

The story jumps about a bit following different aspects of the search for the perpetrators, but I liked the pacing of the book and the historical sections break up the modern-day action. These sections also remind us of the history of the Catholic Church and provide the roots to the current crimes. Cooper reminds us that there are two sides to every story. And that there are also Christian jihadists.

I found the police investigation a bit lacking, but it gives our hero time to do his hero-ing. The ending was both a bit abrupt and a little predictable. Lots of lead up to the end, but the end game itself didn't have enough weight or substance.

This book is an easy read and a prime example of the genre. If you like this sort of fiction (Dan Brown, Tom Clancy) you are probably safe with this book. Cooper quickly rounds out his characters. In the end, you may not know who you're rooting for - the modern-day Catholics or the perpetrators with historical roots.

If you've not read Cooper before, this is a nice introduction to his work. If you're a fan, this novel won't disappoint.

“The Last Conclave” is an entertaining novel of mystery and suspense set in Italy and France and involving the cardinals of the Catholic Church in a papal conclave. In light of recent events at the Vatican, not to mention the approach of summer when everyone needs a good read to take on vacation, its release is extraordinarily well-timed. According to the promotional materials, it has already “topped the charts” in Italy.

The world mourns the passing of Pope John XXIV, who died unexpectedly of a heart attack only two years into his papacy. All the cardinals eligible to elect his successor are now sequestered inside the Sistine Chapel with no means of communicating with the outside world except for the smoke they send through the stovepipe by burning the ballots after each vote. Black smoke means they’ll have to vote again. White smoke heralds a new Pope.

But as the hours pass, no smoke of any kind issues from the chimney. What could the cardinals be doing? Finally, the Vatican’s first woman secretary of state breaks centuries of precedent and orders the doors unsealed. Inside, the chapel is empty. All the rest of the doors are still locked, but the entire conclave of over 100 cardinals has disappeared.

It’s an original and intriguing concept, and it makes for solid entertainment. What happened to the cardinals? How, exactly, were they made to vanish? Who’s involved, if anyone? What’s their motive? Did John XXIV really die of natural causes? And what will happen to the church, especially since, without the cardinals, there only remains a nun to guide it?

The characters aren’t very deeply drawn. And I would have liked to see more information about the Vatican, St. Peter’s, the papacy, and Catholicism. Nevertheless, author Glenn Cooper writes a taut tale full of suspense.

Fans of other popular novels about the Catholic Church—like Morris L. West’s “The Shoes of the Fisherman” and “The Clowns of God,” or Robert Harris’s “Conclave,” or Dan Brown’s “The DaVinci Code” and “Angels and Demons”—may find much to enjoy.

My thanks to NetGalley, author Glenn Cooper, and publisher Book Whisperer for providing me with a complimentary electronic ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.

“The Last Conclave” is a mystery/history book by Glenn Cooper. I have rather mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, the timing of this book was excellent - people are very interested in Conclave due to Pope Francis’s death and Pope Leo XIV’s election. It doesn’t hurt any that Pope Leo XIV is an American - like the Pope at the beginning of this book. This book has been well researched, but at times it became a bit dry for my taste - especially in the chapters that went back in time (and I’ll admit to just skipping those chapters). A lot happens in this book - sometimes a bit out of the blue. In some ways I kept getting flashes of “The da Vinci Code” with our hero giving lectures and zipping off to meet people. This book needs an editor. I found this an interesting book.

Because of everything going on currently (JD Vance killing Pope Francis....oh, sorry, the death of Pope Francis, election of Pope Leo, Concave winning the Oscar), The Last Conclave by Glenn Cooper felt like a perfect read.

That said, I DNF this one. I loved Conclave the movie, and enjoyed the book. The 'special news reports' added something new, but overall, I just didn't care. Too much real life stuff was going on involving the actual Conclave was more exciting for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

When I saw the recently released movie Conclave, this story, The Last Conclave, was more of what I was expecting. Murder, revenge, history, deep relationship, multiple perspectives from which the story is told.

The Last Conclave had it all. Captivating, edge-of-your-seat (and stay up too late) reading is on the agenda once you start Cooper's most recent release. Excellent pacing, no gratuitous violence or sex, plus history woven into a realistic, well-told tale.

I received an ARC; this is my honest review.