About The Death of a Pope
Juan Uriarte, a handsome and outspoken Spanish ex-priest, seems to be the model of nonviolence and compassion for the poor and downtrodden. So why is he on trial, accused of terrorist activities? His worldwide Catholic charitable outreach program is suspected of being a front for radicals. The trial is covered by Kate Ramsay, a young British reporter, who sets out to uncover the truth about Uriarte and his work. She travels with him to Africa to see his work first hand but soon finds herself attracted to him.
Meanwhile an international conspiracy is growing, one that reaches into the Vatican itself. When the death of Pope John Paul II brings about the conclave that will elect Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI, a terrorist plot involving blackmail, subterfuge, and mass murder begins to fall into place . . . a plot that could spell disaster for the Catholic Church and the world.
Piers Paul Read's powerful tale combines vivid characters, high drama, love, betrayal, faith, and redemption in a story of intrigue, church espionage, and an attempt to destroy the longest continuous government in the world — the Papacy. The Death of a Pope races toward an unexpected and unforgettable conclusion.
Novels should be neither homilies nor apologetics: the author's faith, and the grace he has received, will become apparent in his work even if it does not have Catholic characters or a Catholic theme.
— Piers Paul Read
News & Reviews
- Catch Mr. Read on The World Over Live, with Raymond Arroyo this Friday, June 19, at 8pm Eastern! You can watch online by clicking here. This show is the last official part of the US Book tour.
- The National Catholic Register posted a two-part interview with Mr. Read: here and here (log-in required).
- An audience member has uploaded a number of clips to YouTube from the Piers Paul Read and Ron Hansen event: Poetry & Acts of Mercy, Faith-based Writing, their influences, and some general Q&A.
- The Sunday Times featured Richard Brooks' biting observation about the novel's UK fate in his Biteback arts column, which has sparked some blog commentary. Back in the U.S., the Portland Phoenix notes that Read's struggle with big questions "lends a quiet weight to the smooth, quick readability of The Death of a Pope." Meanwhile, the Catholic San Francisco calls The Death of a Pope "a spiritual thrill ride" and covers Read's take on social and theological questions (see the article here, as a PDF), and a Catholic blogger offers a thoughtful review.
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