Conclave

By: Robert Harris

Narrated by: Roy McMillan

Brought to you by Penguin.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

***Now a Bafta and Oscar winning major motion picture starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini***

What happens behind the closed doors of the Roman Catholic Conclave? The mysterious rituals surrounding the congregation of cardinal electors responsible for electing a new pope is brilliantly researched by Robert Harris, bringing an age old tradition to life. Set against the swirling of religious theory comes an explosive political drama that will have you on the edge of your seat.

The Pope is dead.

Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, 118 cardinals from all over the globe will cast their votes in the world's most secretive election. They are holy men. But they have ambition. And they have rivals.

Over the next 72 hours, one of them will become the most powerful spiritual figure on earth.

'Unputdownable' Guardian
'Gripping' Sunday Times

©2016 Robert Harris (P)2016 Random House Audiobooks

Critic reviews

Harris’ superlative skill at depicting power politics makes this an irresistibly gripping papal page-turner.

Thriller of the year . . . with a plot so serpentine and sinuous that I could not bear to put it down. (Geoffrey Wansell)

‘I have been waiting for most of my life for Robert Harris to write a novel that is not gripping, insightful and entertaining. I am waiting still. His latest, Conclave, is superb. (Ben Macintyre)

A real page-turner, with a great twist in the final pages. (Libby Purves)

Finishing this splendid and intelligent story, as with all great fiction, brings an acute sense of loss. (Richard Susskind)

Robert Harris is incapable of writing a substandard novel. (Alan Johnson)

Each Robert Harris thriller is different but of exemplary consistency. (Ian Rankin)

Robert Harris is the master storyteller of our time . . . Beautifully constructed . . . it’s dramatically compelling, politically intelligent, beautifully paced and with a lovely twist in the tail . . . narrative doesn’t come better than this.

I am about to use a word I have never knowingly used in any review of any book ever. During my 25-odd years of writing about books I have done my best to avoid cliches, slipshod summaries, oracular pronouncements and indeed anything else that might appear emblazoned on a book jacket. Nonetheless, there is only one possible word to describe Robert Harris’s new novel, and it is this: unputdownable (Ian Sansom)

A master of producing thrillers of ever-tightening suspense, full of insider analysis of political power and the treatment of momentous events . . . gripping . . . more than a crime novel, it is also a psychological and political thriller . . . Conclave is a triumphant addition to Harris’ acclaimed output (David Grylls)

Exciting, authentic and hopeful

How difficult it is to find a pope who is a follower of Christ. The narrative has many heroes, negative and positive. Until the end of this conclave, told intimately and authentically from the point of view of the protagonist Cardinal Lomeli, it remains immensely exciting.

Great story, well written and well read

Would you listen to Conclave again? Why?

Yes, mostly cause I fell asleep during one passage, but also because the book is so good

Who was your favorite character and why?

None in particular, all were realistic and well defined

What does Roy Mcmillan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Good pace, subtle changes in accent, great pronunciation

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I did

Any additional comments?

Unusual book, well worth the credit

Compulsive read

Another fantastic, compulsive read from Robert Harris, so well researched, full of compelling characters, twists and turns, Wonderfully narrated by Roy McMillan. Highly recommended.

Good "read" (listen).. but!

Excellent book with great detail and plenty of political intrigue within the Vatican. Narrator superb. Unfortunately, the ending was too contrived and brought me down with a bump!!

Great road trip entertainment

Fascinating insight into the Conclave process - and great story. Fast pace, easy to follow, and entertaining. I plan to purchase more Robert Harris books.