The Mystery of Julia Episcopa

The Vatican Chronicles, Volume 1

By: John I. Rigoli, Diane Cummings

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

In ancient Rome, a woman flees for her life. Her enemies are those she once called "brother". Hidden beneath her blue cloak are secrets men will kill for - forgeries that prove the newly self-appointed bishops are not followers of the way, but pretenders who have seized power and will stop at nothing to shape this new religion to their own ends. Now, Julia - a woman who had once walked with Mary Magdalene and taught alongside Paul must preserve the legacy of the apostles in the face of terrifying danger.  

Two thousand years later, classical archaeologists Valentina Vella and Erika Simone are tasked with advising the newly-elected pope on the historical legacy of women in the early Christian period. The women stumble across an ancient parchment buried deep in the Vatican archives, a document that has clearly been altered. They find themselves on the trail of a woman who may have been the first woman bishop in the Catholic faith. To reveal Julia's legacy will put them in the crosshairs of a venomous Vatican battle for power and supremacy; to stay silent would make them complicit in an ancient heresy and would betray the teachings Julia sacrificed her life to defend.  

The Mystery of Julia Episcopa weaves seamlessly between modern-day Rome and the politics of the Catholic church and the times and life of a first-century Roman noblewoman who rose to be a dominant force in the early Christian movement.  

"Three women connected by two intertwined stories of treacherous political intrigues, ancient cover-ups, and savage vengeance."

©2018 John Rigoli (P)2018 John Rigoli

You won't want to stop listening

I love these kinds of stories. I can't wait for book two!

The reader is taken on a journey back to the first century. We take a peek into the life of a wealthy Italian girl, Julia. As this new sect, who call themselves Christians, begins to emerge.

In the present day, two archeologist/historians find themselves on a mission to discover the identity of a bishop from the first century named Julius or could it be Julia? A woman?

Authors Rigoli and Cummings have done their homework and brought forth a rich tale packed with intrigue. The main focus is on the life of Julia Episcopa and the people who come and go. I didn't want it to end.

Cassandra Campbell's performance adds to the entire experience. I enjoyed her Italian accent. Female/male characters are easily distinguished, but this particular performance wasn't about giving each character a distinct voice, but rather a particular attitude. I had no trouble following the action or dialogue. Ms Campbell has a lovely voice that is clear and I enjoyed her storytelling.

Thank you a fantastic listening experience.

Early church revisionism!

Before I started reading this book, I thought it would be like The DaVinci Code, and it both was and wasn't. A very well written story about the early church and how early Catholic leaders gathered power through control and revision of original works from the disciples. It ends with a massive cliffhanger that leaves you wishing you had the next book in your hands. A solid 4.5 star review.

Dense story

Narration is good without overdoing the accents. Large cast of characters in both past and present timelines leads to a very dense story. Unfortunately this causes the pacing to suffer and it takes a long time for the story to really get going while all the characters and the plot lines for both timelines are introduced.

This reads a lot like one of those seasons-long mini series. Feels a bit longer than it really is, which is my reason for taking away stars. Additionally, the time lines aren't entirely linear, jumping around, especially in the past. Partly, I suspect, to allow the book to open the past story line with a rather cinematic escape from Vesuvius scene. I suspect if I'd had the print book and not the audio, I would've done a fair bit of skipping ahead or skimming to get to the good bits.

If you're into epic stories, this is the book for you. I tended to forget what was happening during the present because of the lengthy forays into the past, which is why I deducted stars. It's a good book, but not one I'll want to go back and listen to again once I finally got through it. Both story lines are good, but its wandering pace is rather Downton Abbey in feel as the lives of all the characters are explored. Great if you prefer immersion into their lives, not so much if you're more interested in the premise of the plot and its resolution.

There are a few anachronisms. Female slaves/servants sending notes and their male counterparts reading them? I can suspend disbelief, but that was pushing it. Still, the plot line hangs together and is plausible overall.

Again, it's a good, solid book. Just a bit too much work to wade through for my personal taste. If you love Ben Hur or the other big epic drama books of the 1960s/1970s, this is your read. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Mixed Feelings

I ogt this ARC via audiobook boom and this is my voluntary review. This story switches between telling Julia's story and the story of two researchers who are tasked with getting information from the Vatican library. The story unfolds that although they try to hide the fact but there were women bishops at the formation of the early church. One bishop does not want the information to come out. The way the story is told switching between past and present and the way it ends generated mixed feelings for me. The narrator did a good job and there were no technical glitches.

INTRIGUING MYSTERY OF ANCIENT ROME

This is a fascinating story, told from two perspectives, about archaeologists discovering evidence of what may very well be the first female Roman Catholic Bishop (Julia Episcopa) back in the first century. This could lead to dangerous consequences if the truth his exposed. Archaeologists Valentina and Erika will take you on a wild ride between Ancient and Modern-Day Rome. Very well written, and I loved the narration also! I definitely recommend this to anyone and everyone :)
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Historical novel with small respect for history

I began this audiobook with hope that it would sweep me back into the ancient world, as well as present an interesting mystery; My experience: serious disappointment. If you care about ancient history, give this book a skip. Just one example; although partially set in the 1st century, and having several characters said to be contemporaries of Jesus or from the next generation; there is not a single mention of the Jewish insurrection of AD 70, the most tumultuous event of that era in Judea.

Going Nowhere

I had high expectations for this text. The main premise is an artifact from the first century comes to the notice of the Vatican.

Unfortunately, the premise is buried by the detailed telling of the story of the woman from the classical era to the detriment of what was promoted to be the Vatican conflict.

I was not much interested in the family life of the woman from ancient Rome. It was too detailed and tangential to hold my interest. And way too long.

The fact that all the principal characters, including the unborn ones, were female was, initially, praiseworthy; too bad they became the focus of the story. I stayed with the book as long as I could. I just gave up.

I Want More!

This wonderfully constructed fictional/factual historical mystery kept me hooked at every page! As a woman working for the Church, I found the material feasible, with a beautiful blending of historical facts with fictional could-have-happened moments. I'm looking forward to more Vatican Chronicles!

great read...until the end.

It has me captivated until the very end. It leads you to believe there is a sequel in the offing. I could not one...

Intrigue & Suspense throughout

From the time I started the audible version to its end, I was riveted. Too bad it ended because I want more. The narration was excellent including accent - gave it a true Italian flare. Outstanding!