The Confessions of Pope Joan

Vatican Secret Archive Thrillers, Book 7

By: Gary McAvoy

Narrated by: Will Damron

Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

In the heart of the English countryside, a discovery is made that threatens to overturn centuries of Church history. When Father Michael Dominic uncovers a cryptic diary leading to a lost 1st century Gospel, he is thrust into a labyrinth of deceit, murder, and controversy. Alongside Hana Sinclair, a savvy journalist, Michael sets out to unravel a mystery buried deep within the Church's past. The Confessions of Pope Joan is a gripping tale of courage and faith, charting their quest against a powerful adversary seeking to keep the truth hidden.

Their journey reveals the existence of Pope Joan, the first and only female Pope whose reign has been obscured by time and conspiracy. As they traverse the intricate tapestry of deceit and power, they must confront a society unwilling to relinquish its patriarchal hold. Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Grace Dempsey, assigned to a seemingly unrelated murder case in England, stumbles upon a thread that binds her to the historic revelation. Their paths converge, creating a thrilling narrative that intertwines past and present, fact and fiction.

As the Vatican's secrets unfold, Pope Ignatius, Michael's ailing father, battles his own legacy. Torn between preserving the Church's past and shaping its future, his decisions become paramount in the struggle for truth. The Pope’s radical stand for change, embodied in two Apostolic Constitutions, sets the stage for a new era in the Church while challenging long-standing beliefs and traditions.

The Confessions of Pope Joan is an intriguing blend of historical revelation, suspenseful mystery, and human resilience. It delves deep into the heart of the Catholic Church, unearthing secrets hidden for centuries. Through engaging characters, intertwined plotlines, and poignant insights, this novel offers listeners an engrossing journey through a world where the past bleeds into the present, reshaping the future. With every listen, The Confessions of Pope Joan forces listeners to question the known and grapple with the unimagined, making it a must-listen for fans of historical thrillers.

©2023 Gary McAvoy (P)2023 Gary McAvoy

a bit disappointing

Well, this was a bit disappointing. I enjoyed all of it until the end when the dying Pope all of a sudden decrees major changes to church doctrine. It was too rushed, as if McAvoy and his co-writer were past deadline and rushed to finish the book throwing in those changes to church tradition right at the end. It feels like this is the end of the series. I hope not. Listened to all 10 Father Dominic novels right through from the first Magdalene book to this one. Excellent.

I love this series!!

Father Michael is amazing and I can see him marrying in the next book! Please tell us you’ll have a next book! I love the mysteries.

Another Great Eclastical mystery

Father Michael and crew continue with their incredible adventures with a unique story about the Catholic Church in the modern era bring rocked by the past. Great listen

It was a good read!

This was different from previous books in this series. It was a bit far fetched but it would be nice to allow priests to marry and to give women a more integrated relationship in the church. The suspense and mystery were excellent as always.
It was sad to see pope Ignatius pass away at the end of the book. It would be interesting to see what happens in the next book about the selection of a new pope and what happens to Father Michael under a new regime. We’ll see.

The Vatican Secret Archives

I love the thrill of chase for the Artifacts and the history as it is from the Bible and other sources! Thank you for the pleasure from these books! I want more and soon!!!!!!!

Nope.

I loved this series until this book. The constant preachiness and syrupy language throughout was exhausting and irritating,taking me out of the story. It felt as though the author used a thesaurus to describe every thought, conversation, and perspective. The narrator's breathy reverential tone became annoying. I wanted to like the premise; sadly, the overbearing quality and virtue signaling ruined this tale.

Not my favorite in the series

I’ve been captivated by every single one of these books until this one. It felt forced. It’s like the author was forcing the story to fit the cast of characters.

Not my favorite. I couldn’t even finish it. I’m hoping the next book is better.