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Dominic’s assignment to the Vatican’s legendary Secret Archives results in his discovery of a hidden papyrus: the unpublished writings of Mary Magdalene - a lost record buried in Rome’s deepest recesses.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

Vatican Intrigue

I couldn't stop listening to the story, plowing through to the end in just a few days. Excellent author, who must go to great lengths in research or maybe he's a former priest? Either way, I would highly recommend this book to anyone as it is thoroughly entertaining.

Would make a great movie

I loved every minute. The narration was superb. Dan Brown has a formidable rival. I look forward eagerly to the next book.

Very Dan Brown-esque

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

Took awhile to get into the story

It took me awhile to get into the story, especially since I was having trouble initially keeping track of the characters but then it grabbed my attention and I wanted to follow it through till the end. The narration was fairly good not monotonous. There are many historical references that I looked up and verified but the main story line I had a problem with as a Christian. The book reads like a Dan Brown novel with conjecture thrown in with factual events and places. I really liked the main characters and some of the side characters. If I really like an audible book, I will wait awhile and listen again while I am waiting for my next credit. I will not listen to this one again. T

Fascinating tale!

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

Naive and, at times, hokey.

The premise is intriguing and interesting.......the narrator is excellent. However.......the naivety of the main characters, the sheer stupidity of the female character and the hokey semi love interest between a rich, beautiful journalist and a too handsome priest was more than I could take.

Good plot line, made sence in the end

I thought the ending would be different. It was pleasant that it wasn’t predictable and left room for sequel

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

intriguing

Great story thoroughly enjoyed the story line. The characters believable and endearing. I loved it.

No suspense

This book was a shallow story Not enough intrigue or suspense. Would not recommend it.

Slow start but well worth finishing

This is a bit of a slow burner to begin with, but well worth persevering with. Some interesting concepts dealt with that leave you thinking what would the world be like if this actually happened!!