Although a work of fiction, The Last Conclave is based on historical facts as the Cathars did exist and they were annihilated by the Crusades and some characters in the story were real. After the Pope's sudden death, the conclave meets to elect the new Pope, however before they can do that they disappear leaving in charge of the Catholic Church, a woman, Elisabetta Celestino, who was the Vatican's Secretary of State. What will follow is a lot of intrigue, factions within the church fighting for power, and one religion expert, Cal Donovan, realizing there was a possibility of the Cathars involvement, although the religion supposedly did not exist anymore. The story is fast-paced and constructed within two different timelines, one explaining the past and the origins of Catharism, and the other following the kidnapping of the conclave. Very interesting, The Last Conclave is one of those books that you'll won't stop reading until the end is reached. Highly recommended!
I thank Mr. Cooper, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Last Conclave by Glenn Cooper in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Such a great read! Loved this book from start to the very last page.
The characters are well defined and engaging with a storyline that was gripping and well written.
Absolutely 💯 a good read. Would definitely recommend this book and author.

An exciting thriller from start to finish! I read it shortly after an actual Conclave ended and a new Pope was announced. The background information about what actually occurs during this event was told in news reports, which was a smooth way to integrate this material into what was occurring in the story. The politicking of the Cardinals and the romantic tension between Elisabetta and Cal were understated but threaded throughout the story. The Cardinals were authentic as we learn their opinions, biases and infirmities. The antiquated sect introduced some current issues. But central to the story is the hunt to find the missing Cardinals - the kidnapping was creative and complex, and the rescue was fast-paced and exciting. Thanks go to Book Whisperer for granting me an ARC of this riveting story. The story sucked me in like a riptide - I loved it and could not put it down!

The Last Conclave by Glenn Cooper has more twisty turns than a piece of fucelli or rotini. Mr. Cooper has written a thriller combined with church history. This book is nonstop action and impossible to put down. The Pope is dead and the entire group of cardinals meeting in conclave to elect a new pope has gone missing. How? Why? This reader appreciated that the author gave perspective from both sides of the main issue. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, fast-paced read that kept me turning the pages late into the night. The high-stakes plot, secretive religious orders, and coded mysteries immediately brought Dan Brown to mind—in the best way. The timing of this release couldn’t have been more perfect, especially with a real-life conclave recently taking place. It added an extra layer of intrigue and immediacy to the story.

If you enjoy thrillers that mix history, suspense, and a touch of the arcane, this one’s worth picking up!

This was an excellent story! A mix of Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series and Robert Harris' Conclave. As for the timing of this book's release considering the new Pope's just been elected, either the author writes really fast or it was a lucky coincidence! I loved this. Plenty of action and POV's, from the delay of seeing the first smoke after the start of the conclave, the disappearance of the cardinals from the locked Sistine Chapel, the various authorities trying to track where they went, through to the thrilling conclusion. I also enjoyed the bit of history about the Cathars. Well worth reading.
Thanks to Netgalley, Book Whisperer, and Glenn Cooper for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

After the sudden death of Pope John XXIV the cardinals were brought to the Vatican to form a conclave to vote for his successor.
While the cardinals were locked in the Sistine Chapel during the conclave the Vatican staff began to worry that there had been no smoke from the chimney after the vote.
When they opened the door they found that all one hundred and eighteen cardinals had vanished.
A thriller about the workings of the Catholic Church and the way it is perceived by some in this modern world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.