The Cardinal’s Sin starts off a little slow, but once it hits the 15–20% mark, it really picks up and becomes hard to put down. JD Wood delivers a gripping crime thriller that kept me hooked through to the end.

Cal Harrison is easily my favorite character, smart, grounded, and a good presence throughout the story. Even though Sofie occasionally makes frustrating decisions (especially when she ignores Cal’s advice), it felt believable within the context of the genre. Characters making risky choices is pretty standard fare in thrillers, and it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment.

I really liked how accessible the book was, even without reading the previous Cal Harrison books. I had no trouble following along, and now I’m actually looking forward to diving into the rest of the series.

The central “dark secret” in the plot was well thought out and added a strong layer of tension. It’s the kind of secret that makes you want to go back and re-read the book to catch everything you missed the first time.

As a long-time fan of crime and thriller stories, I can confidently say this is a top-tier example of the genre. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a suspenseful, well-paced read.

This is a good thriller that leaves you guessing as you work your way through the book. Sofie is an investigative journalist and Cal is a former military guy who is part detective, part operative, part the guy who can figure out how to get out of a jam.
They are investigating a sect of the Catholic religion, and the tie to a private island and connection to China.
While this is part of a series, it is stand-alone in that you do not have to have read the previous books. I did like that at the end it set the way for the next story.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

This book was such an easy read. Full of detail and suspense, it was hard to put down all the way to the end. I am definitely interested in reading other books by this author!