I enjoyed and recommend this book. It held my interest, had a fast moving exciting plot, the characters were interesting and it is a timely theme considering the ascendency of a new pope. I liked the little known history of the Cathars which I had to look up, and the process around the conclave process, which I’m guessing was equally well researched.

Sometimes the narrative sounded like the Wikipedia summary of the Cathars, but it was still interesting to read and my guess is that history was the motivation to write the book.

It makes me want to look up the other books of Glenn Cooper.

This is my first read of Glenn Cooper but plan to add him to my list of preferred authors. The pope has died resulting in the cardinals gathering for the conclave. Oaths are recited and doors are locked as the sacred conclave begins their journey to select a new pope to lead the Catholic Church. Outside the Sistine Chapel the throngs await the white or black smoke relaying the result of the first vote. Two hours pass and no smoke. Then three hours and then four. No smoke. The decision is made to breach the conclave. On entering they find it empty…not a single cardinal in the Sistine Chapel. But how could over 100 cardinals disappear from a locked and heavily guarded room. So the mystery begins.

“The Last Conclave” is a thriller with a plot straight out of a Hollywood screenplay. Rodrigo De Silva, the first American pope and the first pope to appoint a woman , Elisabetta Celestino, Secretary of State, has died. The conclave to elect the next pope begins, and on the first day, only one vote is taken. Many hours pass after the time by which the voting cardinals would have been expected to vote, and the smoke—white or black—signifying whether a new pope has been elected to be issued. At length the conclave is entered, only to find that the cardinals have been kidnapped. The Swiss Guard and the Vatican carabiniari, headed by Emiliano Celestino, Elisabetta’s brother, seek the cardinal and their kidnappers across Italy and into France, Also involved in the investigation is Cal Donovan, a Harvard professor and expert on church history and who was friends with the now deceased pope. Cal is also a family friend of the Celestinos, and more than a little bit in love with Elisabetta.

Not long after the kidnapping, the kidnappers release a videotaped manifesto demanding that the cardinals agree to allow for the ordination of women and that they reopen the conclave in captivity and elect Elisabetta pope. They have five days to do so after which they will be executed. What follows is an occasionally tense thriller that examines the suspense surrounding the potential rescue of the cardinals, the ethical dilemmas presented by compliance with the kidnappers’ demands, and the risk of the kidnappers carrying out their threat.

“The Last Conclave” might be an even more engaging movie than a novel, since watching a film doesn’t give one much time to think about the plot. I was pleasantly surprised by how many times I found myself eager to see what would happen next. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy thrillers that feature a bit of an unusual or unexpected storyline that will keep you reading long into the night.

Thank you to Glen Cooper and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

"The Last Conclave" by Glenn Cooper plunges you into a gripping Vatican mystery from the very first page. When a papal conclave results in the unthinkable – an empty Sistine Chapel – religion expert Cal Donovan finds himself embroiled in a chilling investigation. Cooper masterfully weaves together ancient secrets, ruthless power struggles, and a looming threat that could shake the very foundations of the Church.

The narrative is fast-paced and filled with intrigue as Donovan uncovers a centuries-old order with a bloody agenda. If you enjoy Vatican thrillers with a historical twist and a compelling sense of urgency, "The Last Conclave" is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat until the final, shocking revelations.

The author, Glenn Cooper, masterfully introduces us to the main characters and reintroduces us to our hero, Cal Donovan professor of History of Religion at Harvard and master of all things Catholic. He also quickly lays down the rules of the conclave. Then with a starter pistol-like shot, sets the story going. The Cardinals gathered to elect a new pope have inexplicably disappeared from the Sistine chapel and from under the nose of the Swiss Guard and the Vatican police. The mystery is solved disappointingly quickly and the chase is on.

Action, mystery, intrigue. It's all in this book. It's also well-researched. You'll get a glimpse into Vatican politics and debates into modern-day church debates. But you'll also get the historical side of the church and a look into a Catholic sect that could have changed the way the modern day church looks.

The story jumps about a bit following different aspects of the search for the perpetrators, but I liked the pacing of the book and the historical sections break up the modern-day action. These sections also remind us of the history of the Catholic Church and provide the roots to the current crimes. Cooper reminds us that there are two sides to every story. And that there are also Christian jihadists.

I found the police investigation a bit lacking, but it gives our hero time to do his hero-ing. The ending was both a bit abrupt and a little predictable. Lots of lead up to the end, but the end game itself didn't have enough weight or substance.

This book is an easy read and a prime example of the genre. If you like this sort of fiction (Dan Brown, Tom Clancy) you are probably safe with this book. Cooper quickly rounds out his characters. In the end, you may not know who you're rooting for - the modern-day Catholics or the perpetrators with historical roots.

If you've not read Cooper before, this is a nice introduction to his work. If you're a fan, this novel won't disappoint.

“The Last Conclave” is an entertaining novel of mystery and suspense set in Italy and France and involving the cardinals of the Catholic Church in a papal conclave. In light of recent events at the Vatican, not to mention the approach of summer when everyone needs a good read to take on vacation, its release is extraordinarily well-timed. According to the promotional materials, it has already “topped the charts” in Italy.

The world mourns the passing of Pope John XXIV, who died unexpectedly of a heart attack only two years into his papacy. All the cardinals eligible to elect his successor are now sequestered inside the Sistine Chapel with no means of communicating with the outside world except for the smoke they send through the stovepipe by burning the ballots after each vote. Black smoke means they’ll have to vote again. White smoke heralds a new Pope.

But as the hours pass, no smoke of any kind issues from the chimney. What could the cardinals be doing? Finally, the Vatican’s first woman secretary of state breaks centuries of precedent and orders the doors unsealed. Inside, the chapel is empty. All the rest of the doors are still locked, but the entire conclave of over 100 cardinals has disappeared.

It’s an original and intriguing concept, and it makes for solid entertainment. What happened to the cardinals? How, exactly, were they made to vanish? Who’s involved, if anyone? What’s their motive? Did John XXIV really die of natural causes? And what will happen to the church, especially since, without the cardinals, there only remains a nun to guide it?

The characters aren’t very deeply drawn. And I would have liked to see more information about the Vatican, St. Peter’s, the papacy, and Catholicism. Nevertheless, author Glenn Cooper writes a taut tale full of suspense.

Fans of other popular novels about the Catholic Church—like Morris L. West’s “The Shoes of the Fisherman” and “The Clowns of God,” or Robert Harris’s “Conclave,” or Dan Brown’s “The DaVinci Code” and “Angels and Demons”—may find much to enjoy.

My thanks to NetGalley, author Glenn Cooper, and publisher Book Whisperer for providing me with a complimentary electronic ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.

“The Last Conclave” is a mystery/history book by Glenn Cooper. I have rather mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, the timing of this book was excellent - people are very interested in Conclave due to Pope Francis’s death and Pope Leo XIV’s election. It doesn’t hurt any that Pope Leo XIV is an American - like the Pope at the beginning of this book. This book has been well researched, but at times it became a bit dry for my taste - especially in the chapters that went back in time (and I’ll admit to just skipping those chapters). A lot happens in this book - sometimes a bit out of the blue. In some ways I kept getting flashes of “The da Vinci Code” with our hero giving lectures and zipping off to meet people. This book needs an editor. I found this an interesting book.

Because of everything going on currently (JD Vance killing Pope Francis....oh, sorry, the death of Pope Francis, election of Pope Leo, Concave winning the Oscar), The Last Conclave by Glenn Cooper felt like a perfect read.

That said, I DNF this one. I loved Conclave the movie, and enjoyed the book. The 'special news reports' added something new, but overall, I just didn't care. Too much real life stuff was going on involving the actual Conclave was more exciting for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

When I saw the recently released movie Conclave, this story, The Last Conclave, was more of what I was expecting. Murder, revenge, history, deep relationship, multiple perspectives from which the story is told.

The Last Conclave had it all. Captivating, edge-of-your-seat (and stay up too late) reading is on the agenda once you start Cooper's most recent release. Excellent pacing, no gratuitous violence or sex, plus history woven into a realistic, well-told tale.

I received an ARC; this is my honest review.

3.5 Stars

DNF @ 50%

I zoned in on this one because of the book title and cover, with Pope Francis having recently died and his successor Pope Leo XIV newly elected. I was so interested in the topic that I recently watched the movie "Conclave" starring Ralph Fiennes about this ancient ritual (by the way- it was excellent). The premise of this book is that the Pope died and the Conclave will be assembling to choose the new Pope. An academic expert on such matters is recruited to comment on the proceedings for a major cable news network. He is also great friends with a nun who is the Secretary of State to the Pope at the Vatican- considered an unusual hiring choice per her sex. The academic expert and the nun have a simmering but unspoken attraction to each other. When way too much time passes and there is still no smoke signal showing a first vote, the nun is called to sanction opening the door to the Conclave. Something is wrong...

At first I was riveted to learn the details regarding the Conclave process. However, the crisis that interrupted its operation branched off into such wild and occasionally violent scenarios that I became turned off. I thought it was best to DNF @ 50% as I no longer cared to be taken on this wild ride, and I do not enjoy mystery and thrillers anyway.

Thank you to the publisher Book Whisperer who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

This book is both fascinating and timely, offering a rich history of the Catholic Church and the Cathars that I found thoroughly enjoyable. The narrative is intense and action-packed, spanning two different time periods. While I occasionally found the shifts between past and present confusing, the historical context provided was invaluable. Overall, it's a compelling read that I highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the BookWhisperer for an ARC of this book for an honest review.

Although a work of fiction, The Last Conclave is based on historical facts as the Cathars did exist and they were annihilated by the Crusades and some characters in the story were real. After the Pope's sudden death, the conclave meets to elect the new Pope, however before they can do that they disappear leaving in charge of the Catholic Church, a woman, Elisabetta Celestino, who was the Vatican's Secretary of State. What will follow is a lot of intrigue, factions within the church fighting for power, and one religion expert, Cal Donovan, realizing there was a possibility of the Cathars involvement, although the religion supposedly did not exist anymore. The story is fast-paced and constructed within two different timelines, one explaining the past and the origins of Catharism, and the other following the kidnapping of the conclave. Very interesting, The Last Conclave is one of those books that you'll won't stop reading until the end is reached. Highly recommended!
I thank Mr. Cooper, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Last Conclave by Glenn Cooper in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Such a great read! Loved this book from start to the very last page.
The characters are well defined and engaging with a storyline that was gripping and well written.
Absolutely 💯 a good read. Would definitely recommend this book and author.

An exciting thriller from start to finish! I read it shortly after an actual Conclave ended and a new Pope was announced. The background information about what actually occurs during this event was told in news reports, which was a smooth way to integrate this material into what was occurring in the story. The politicking of the Cardinals and the romantic tension between Elisabetta and Cal were understated but threaded throughout the story. The Cardinals were authentic as we learn their opinions, biases and infirmities. The antiquated sect introduced some current issues. But central to the story is the hunt to find the missing Cardinals - the kidnapping was creative and complex, and the rescue was fast-paced and exciting. Thanks go to Book Whisperer for granting me an ARC of this riveting story. The story sucked me in like a riptide - I loved it and could not put it down!

The Last Conclave by Glenn Cooper has more twisty turns than a piece of fucelli or rotini. Mr. Cooper has written a thriller combined with church history. This book is nonstop action and impossible to put down. The Pope is dead and the entire group of cardinals meeting in conclave to elect a new pope has gone missing. How? Why? This reader appreciated that the author gave perspective from both sides of the main issue. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, fast-paced read that kept me turning the pages late into the night. The high-stakes plot, secretive religious orders, and coded mysteries immediately brought Dan Brown to mind—in the best way. The timing of this release couldn’t have been more perfect, especially with a real-life conclave recently taking place. It added an extra layer of intrigue and immediacy to the story.

If you enjoy thrillers that mix history, suspense, and a touch of the arcane, this one’s worth picking up!

This was an excellent story! A mix of Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series and Robert Harris' Conclave. As for the timing of this book's release considering the new Pope's just been elected, either the author writes really fast or it was a lucky coincidence! I loved this. Plenty of action and POV's, from the delay of seeing the first smoke after the start of the conclave, the disappearance of the cardinals from the locked Sistine Chapel, the various authorities trying to track where they went, through to the thrilling conclusion. I also enjoyed the bit of history about the Cathars. Well worth reading.
Thanks to Netgalley, Book Whisperer, and Glenn Cooper for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

After the sudden death of Pope John XXIV the cardinals were brought to the Vatican to form a conclave to vote for his successor.
While the cardinals were locked in the Sistine Chapel during the conclave the Vatican staff began to worry that there had been no smoke from the chimney after the vote.
When they opened the door they found that all one hundred and eighteen cardinals had vanished.
A thriller about the workings of the Catholic Church and the way it is perceived by some in this modern world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.