The Confessor

By: Daniel Silva

Narrated by: John Lee

From the author who “ranks among the best of the younger American spy novelists” (The Washington Post) comes a stunning thriller of ancient and modern betrayal.

Munich: The writer Benjamin Stern entered his flat to see a man standing there, leafing through his research, and said, “Who the hell are you?” In answer, the man shot him. As Stern lay dying, the gunman murmured a few words in Latin, then gathered the writer’s papers and left.

Venice: The art restorer Gabriel Allon applied a dab of paint carefully to the Bellini, then saw the boy approaching, a piece of paper in his hand. It would be about Stern, he knew. They would want him to leave right away. With a sigh, the Mossad agent finished his work, then began to pack his brushes.

Vatican City: The pope known as Paul VII—“Pope Accidental,” to his detractors—paced in his garden, thinking about the things he knew and the enemies he would make. He believed he understood why God had chosen him for this job, but the road in front of him was hard and exceedingly perilous. If he succeeded, he would revolutionize the Church. If not, he might very well destroy it—and himself.

In the weeks to come, the journeys of all these men will come together, following a trail of long-buried secrets and unthinkable deeds, leaving each one forever changed. Intrigue will dominate their lives and death stalk their paths, all of them in the shadow of the Confessor.

Filled with rich characters, remarkable prose, and an intricately woven plot suffused with surprise and intensity, this is an uncommonly powerful work by a new master of the art.© 2003 Daniel Silva; (P) 2003 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

Praise for Daniel Silva and The Confessor

“A shrewd, timely thriller that opens the heart of the Vatican.”—Chicago Tribune

“Daniel Silva has now indisputably joined the ranks of Graham Greene and John Le Carré.”—The Washingtonian

“Utterly compelling...uncommonly intelligent.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Accomplished…elegantly written…a compelling piece of fiction, one that manages to be both superior entertainment and a hard look at serious issues.”—The Washington Post

“Provocative historical revelations will keep readers enthralled.”—Publishers Weekly

The Confessor (Unabridged)

A truly great book with John Lee doing a fantastic job of narrating. Well written with totally unexpected twists and turns and a story that spans from 1942 to the present that brings together cultures, religions, the inner workings of the Church in Rome, politics, intrigue and mystery. Don't miss this one.

Silva's Consistant

Daniel Silva wraps action advenure, mystery and recent history into an entertaining listen. His Israeli Mossad characters expose the horror of the Holocaust using fictional modern day events. The narration is reserved and sets an excellent tone for the theme.

Excellent story

Excellent story and equally excellent performance by the narrator! Daniel Silva has the best series, do yourself a favor and read all of them!

El Papa confesses

How many have to die to make the Pope look infallible? A great storyline and narration makes Daniel Silvis answer a page turning experience.

Dracula lives

I had a difficult time getting into the book. Not because of the story as much as the reader. I’ve never meet an Italian, in or out of the church, that spoke like Dracula. After awhile it just became comical than annoying.