The Magdalene Deception

The Magdalene Chronicles, Book 1

By: Gary McAvoy

Narrated by: Will Damron

Length: 8 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

A forbidden secret....

The Church’s fate in the balance....

Will a pair of amateur sleuths expose a truth that could upend the Christian world?

Jesus’ resurrection is a cornerstone of Christian faith. But when a clue surfaces that hints at an alternate account, the ramifications stand to change Christianity forever.

Jesuit Priest Michael Dominic’s assignment to the Vatican’s legendary Secret Archives results in his discovery of a hidden papyrus: the unpublished writings of Mary Magdalene - a lost record buried in Rome’s deepest recesses. The forgotten relic’s heretical revelation threatens the Vatican’s very legitimacy and pits Michael against ruthless and powerful enemies.

Desperate, he reaches out to Hana Sinclair, an investigative reporter with a record of tackling contentious subjects. Together, they defy the Church elite and embark on a search through the shadows of history to unearth the truth. As the pressure builds to silence the pair, will the Vatican resort to the unthinkable in order to safeguard its wealth and power?

Based on historical facts, this international thriller takes listeners on a white-knuckle race through the holy sites of Europe. Get your copy of this award-winning tale and discover why Gary McAvoy’s devoted fans say, “I didn’t want this book to end!”

Editorial reviews:

"A great thriller that weaves numerous storylines together effectively. Recommended to those who love a good thriller with historical implications, as well as the reader who enjoys Vatican and Catholic politics.... McAvoy creates a wonderful story that never stops building throughout.... [He] captures the secrecy and deep-rooted history of the Vatican and its politics throughout this piece, with a strong story and plot that moves in many directions. McAvoy pulls the reader in and keeps them guessing, while also refusing to place a damper on the action. Juggling modern and ancient Church issues, McAvoy does not lose his reader at any point, as his writing is so clear that the attentive reader will likely want more." (Matt Pechey, Reedsy Discovery)

"Exquisitely written and highly entertaining, The Magdalene Deception is an investigative mystery in a very similar vein to The DaVinci Code.... The real quality to this book is the author himself - the writing is superb. There is an outstanding attention to detail in McAvoy, and the setpieces he weaves are vivid, colourful and authentic; this author treats his audience as intelligent and attentive, and this is always hugely beneficial to any writer. As well as being an evidently well-educated historian, McAvoy also knows his stuff in terms of modern-day information networking and the technology in present day use alongside ancient practices and customs...." (Matt Mcavoy, Book Reviews, UK)

©2020 Gary McAvoy (P)2020 Gary McAvoy

Very Dan Brown-esque

Convoluted story that was exciting to follow and imagine. Love the absolute escapism. Listen and enjoy.

Great story

A little long to get into but once you are there it is quite thrilling. Just the right balance of action and discovery of ancient mysteries that would shock the world… quite compelling. Highly recommend.

Fascinating tale!

What a priest finds him in a bit of a quandary as time goes by.

Good....Not Great

Poor Man's Dan Brown. I enjoyed it, but felt that Dan Brown books are the next level

Throughly entertaining

I love stories like this. Thought provoking and out there yes, but something to think on while being entertained.

An Intelligent Thriller

I enjoyed this book very much. An interesting story set in the Vatican concerning secret documents of the history of the church along with WWII intrigue make for an intelligent thriller. It is well researched with likeable and despicable characters. This book is well researched and I like how technology and history are described without being long winded or boring. It also shows the behind the scenes chess games being played among the princes of the church. Father Dominic is a wonderful lead and Hana St. Clair a wonderful leading lady. I listened to this mostly on Audible. Will Damron does a superb job narrating and pronouncing the beautiful Italian names. On to the next book in the series.

Just a little weak on the story line

Need to be fleshed out — a little more depth and details. The narration was great. The story ok.

Disappointed

The idea is good nut gar from original and the book lacks credibility in the storyline.

not as good as the da vinci code or

the expected one but comparable with mystery and intrigue and fits with my personal spiritual beliefs

lacked suspense

Narrator was good, story lacked suspense and subject matter could have been discussed in greater depth. I'm a big fan of Steve Berry so my expectations we're probably unrealistic as I was told that Mr. McAvoy's books were as in depth as Mr. Berry's. I disagree.