Yet again Robert Harris didn't disappoint. His 'Conclave' is set in the Vatican where the cardinals are electing the new pope. So far so ordinary. Don't be fooled, there is nothing ordinary about this book. One of the few books I would label as'unputdownable'. The pace is maintained all the way through the book and the end is such that I couldn't believe it. He is a master of his craft.

Yet another superb book from this author. It mixes actual processes/events and 'reality' .... with a twist. Nice ending!

I wanted to read Conclave before watching the film, and I was not disappointed. From the very first page, Robert Harris draws you into the secretive world of the Vatican, where power, ambition, and faith collide behind closed doors. The novel follows Cardinal Lomeli as he navigates the high-stakes election of a new pope, uncovering secrets and rivalries that threaten to shake the Church to its core. This was the fastest I’ve ever finished a book—I simply couldn’t put it down. The tension builds with every chapter, making it a true page-turner, packed with gripping twists and political intrigue. Harris’ writing is sharp and immersive, perfectly capturing the claustrophobic atmosphere of the Sistine Chapel as the cardinals cast their votes. If you love a novel full of drama, suspense, and unexpected revelations, Conclave is well worth a read.

The pope has died and the cardinals are gathered to choose the next one. In the 15 minutes before the door shuts them away from the outside world 2 dramatic events take place. A fascinating thriller incorporating what happens during the voting system for a new pope, with some dramatic action, twists and difficult decisions to be made by Cardinal Lomeli who must run the voting process. The voting process itself was fascinating reading (I knew nothing about it before), including the politicking of the likely candidates. Set in the current time, in Rome, the book starts quite slowly, though interestingly, with the gathering of the cardinals and the commencement of the voting process. After quite a large section of the book has passed, suddenly shocks and twists start occurring, and then I was glued to the book until the end. Half way through this book I was rating it a 3 or 4 (I found it a bit slow, but very interesting), however by the end my view is that it definitely merits a 5* rating. Overall It was exciting, informative and has given me lots to think and talk about.

Conclave means a private meeting and it is a book on the religious dealings which takes place following the death of a current catholic Pope. I found that the book is full of prayers and it goes into intimate details regarding what goes on in the process of electing a new Pope. It is a very concise book, which takes the form of human emotions and the Toll that their past experiences can take on a person, and how it can possibly come back to hinder their future life in the church. Like many other people around the world, I started reading this book when the actual Pope (Pope Francis) died. This was so I would gain a full understanding of what the process is, that the Cardinals have to go through. For example in the book, there are 118 Cardinals who were up for election and they have to keep voting until it is down to just one candidate who has 2/3 of the votes to win, the elected supreme Pontiff is asked if they wish to accept the role and what their papal name will be. I didn’t realise that there are probably so many underhanded dealings in the catholic Church in order to become the Pontiff and how the process can be, but then again this is only a book and it’s not real right?