The Third Secret

By Steve Berry

Book Overview

Explosive in both its pace and its revelations, The Third Secret is a remarkable international thriller. Bestselling author Steve Berry tackles some of the most controversial ideas of our time in a breakneck journey through the history of the Church and the future of religion. 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.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345504402
• ISBN13: 9780345504401
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.3" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

I've enjoyed his others more.

I've read four of his books and this was my least favorite. Not enough action, intrigue or history. But maybe it's because I'm comparing it to his Cotton Malone series. Not bad just not as great as others of his I've read.

The Third Secret - Steve Berry

Exceptional first novel by author Steve Berry explores various aspects of wisdom and secrets delivered by The Virgin Mary to children throughout the last 200 years, focusing on the third secret of Fatima. While I've noticed other reviewers suggesting that this novel should be offensive to Christians, I found it respectful and quite appropriate in its handling of faith, revelations and the urging by many Catholics for modernization in doctrine. I will absolutely read this author again, and enjoyed the characters, especially the naughty ones!

Loved it!

This was my third Steve Berry novel and I have to say that I loved this one by far! Very entertaining, so much so I kept thinking about getting back to reading it while at work! Having visited Bamberg before and lived in Italy I found the novel to be accurate in both the descriptions of the locations and the 'politics' at the Vatican. I find it a little eery that since the death of John Paul II, the new pope seems to have taken some steps back in time with regards to specific positions/policies of the Vatican. Certainly food for thought....

As Good as it gets for a Murder mystery about the Vatican

I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't put it down. It is a marvelous story about corruption and intrigue within the Vatican, a story so controversial that I would put it in right up there with Dan Brown's ANGELS AND DEMONS. At the same time it also educates people about the history of the Papecy and the Visions of the Holy mother appearing to people.

Behind the Vatican walls and laced with intrigue!

From the outset, Steve Berry captures your interest by pulling the curtain that shrouds the mysteries of the Vatican. It's political entanglements and characters mirrors our contemporary world. He weaves a highly interesting combination of clerical fidelity, celibacy controversy, love story,and church politics with an overarching mystery thriller. Definitely a fast read and worthwhile ride.

A great page-turner!

Steve Berry sure knows how to keep you interested ... and thinking! Short chapters, vived characterizations, tightly coiled plot. I couldn't put it down. While some Catholics might take offense at the unfavorable light shed on the denizens of the Vatican, I found my own faith reaffirmed: the Good News remains healthy and life-giving even when human society would distort it.