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)

A great Story from a great Storyteller!

The Third Secret is a wonderful mystery. A glimpse into history, suspense, conspiracies
and human frailties come out in an exquisite story. Steve Berry's story is enhanced by
Paul Michael's wonderful narration!

Engaging

The plot is rich and unpredictable. The performance is a masterpiece!
I definitely highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a story you can get lost in.

Thought Provoking

Steve Berry has a new character, Collin Mitchner, whom he involves in Catholic Church intrigue. It is a good story that keeps you listening until the end!

Not a Bully Pulpit

After listening to the other Steve Berry novels, I'd expected more of a proactive protagonist. Colin Michener is a wuss. The author uses Colin's crises of faith to proselytize endlessly and hint shamelessly towards the moral and "the Third Secret" of the book. The antagonists are more fully developed than the 2 primary whiny protagonists. Several times I was tempted to simply turn the book off during the lengthy proselytizing episodes.
The book is supposed to be plotted around the Marian apparitions, particularly those of Fatima and Međugorje, yet the manner of exposition is very clumsy, (and I am familiar with both)! Berry's use of other hooks has always been straight forward, (once one suspends disbelief), allowing the story to do the all the twists. Here the exposition is stretched out and padded with non-essential apparitions, (La Salette), that had nothing to do with the story. Then the extemporaneous proselytizing during those continuous crises of faith kept dragging the plot to a standstill.

The secret is out…it’s a great listen!

Ah yes…people are having visions of the Virgin Mary. What does this mean and how is it connected to past vision? A Pope in personal turmoil who is later found dead under mysterious circumstances and the intrigue of a papal election. Can a priest who loses his faith be the hero the world is looking for? This is the stuff of a great thriller and Steve Berry does not disappoint. His knack for blending history with fiction will take the listener on a ride of their life. Have faith (or not) this is well worth the listen!

Well written book magnificently narrated

Loved the story very well written and magnificently narrated. Good choice for readers/listeners who like thriller

Be Careful For What You Wish

Ambition, even for an honourable position, can lead people to do bad things.

Doing evil for good is always evil. This is portrayed very well in The Third Secret.

Uplifting of the Spirit

Must be listened to all the way to the end. Good will always triumph in the end. God bless us all.

Some clarification needed

liked the story but I am left wondering what was fact and what was fiction. The places are real as is church policy but what about the many references to events.....I wish the author would have left a detailed prologue or pos script descerning
what else were true.

Different - wonderful

Have to completely disagree with the majority of the reviews. Having read all Steve Berry's work, this one is different. It explores long relationships that are deep and cerebral, that surpass mere physical attraction. It probes issues many don't want discussed - and I thoroughly enjoyed this departure from the normal thriller. The scenes in the Romanian orphanage are mesmerizing. It's a novel that reaches places other thrillers never touch.
Add to this the phenomenal job that Paul Michael does with different accents, women's voices, and the narration. He is absolutely marvelous and worth listening to whatever he reads.
So no - I don't think the ending is a cop out. Rather than a summary dismissal it gives yet more to think about, another question of faith and comment on doctrine.
I loved it - and will listen again.