The Third Secret

A Novel of Suspense

By: Steve Berry

Narrated by: Paul Michael

Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Fatima, Portugal, 1917: The Virgin Mary appears to three peasant children, sharing with them three secrets, two of which are soon revealed to the world. The third secret is sealed away in the Vatican, read only by popes, and not disclosed until the year 2000. When revealed, its quizzical tone and anticlimactic nature leave many faithful wondering if the church has truly unveiled all of the Virgin Mary's words or if a message far more important has been left in the shadows.

Vatican City, present day: Papal secretary Father Colin Michener is concerned for the Pope. Night after restless night, Pope Clement XV enters the Vatican's Riserva, the special archive open only to popes, where the church's most clandestine and controversial documents are stored. Though unsure of the details, Michener knows that the Pope's distress stems from the revelations of Fatima.

Equally concerned, but not out of any sense of compassion, is Alberto Cardinal Valendrea, the Vatican's Secretary of State. Valendrea desperately covets the papacy, having narrowly lost out to Clement at the last conclave. Now the Pope's interest in Fatima threatens to uncover a shocking ancient truth that Valendrea has kept to himself for many years.

When Pope Clement sends Michener to the Romanian highlands, then to a Bosnian holy site, in search of a priest, possibly one of the last people on Earth who knows Mary's true message, a perilous set of events unfolds. Michener finds himself embroiled in murder, suspicion, suicide, deceit, and his forbidden passion for a beloved woman. In a desperate search for answers, he travels to Pope Clement's birthplace in Germany, where he learns that the third secret of Fatima may dictate the very fate of the church, a fate now lying in Michener's own hands.

©2005 Steve Berry (P)2005 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Berry handles his thriller tradecraft skillfully: his descriptions are stellar, and of special interest, he offers a vivid re-creation of the majestic conclave, in which the College of Cardinals elects a new pope." (Booklist)

Excellent Novel

Excellent novel, well written with deep and complex characters. This is my first Steve Berry audiobook and look forward to his other novels here at Audible.

awesome

excellent listen, perfectly written and awesome reader. don't miss this one.

A good listen

Not as good as the Devinci Code, but still well worth the listen. I would recommend it.

Good stuff

This is good. Period. Worth buying and it will keep your attention. As usual Berry spins a pretty good yarn. I enjoyed it all the way through.

In a word: Compelling!

With all of the all too familiar themes of ambition, politics, and sexual intrigue interwoven with cords of theology, belief and redemption knotting into a compelling tale, this book is a winner!
The Third Secret cost me both long hours and stolen moments of time because I simply couldn't resist the mystery of age-old secrets imparted in visions impinging on an entirely modern and complex world and the Church in a time of crisis.

Well written (as one expects from Berry), very well read. I highly recommend this book !

amazing book such a great story. Steve Berry' s b

Steve Berry's best I read in one day you can not put it down you will love

the Tormentor review

great fictional story line always great to hear Steve Berry book maybe a little hard for a religious person to listen to it but good all around

Narrator

Paul was AMAZING! I’m looking at books with him! Great story; love Steve Berry. Thanks!

Stop preaching! This is fiction.

It was actually an interesting plot until it is becomes obvious towards the end that the author is using the book as a platform for his own beliefs. And not in a subtle manner either. Even though I might even agree with some of those beliefs, I don't need to have them thrown in my face while attempting to listen to what should be an entertaining novel. It is just so blatant I stopped listening and will cross Steve Berry off my list since I fear that might be the case in his other works.

Not worth your time

Such a cool premise, and the language and story are crafted well, but it would have been so much better in the hands of a devout Catholic with actual faith in Holy Mother Church. Blasphemous ideas and heresy abound, and the author worst of all blasphemes the Blessed Virgin by putting vile lies of the devil in Her mouth. Much better Catholic novels exist, and I struggled finish this one, only to be really disappointed.