In "The Silence of Flesh," Glen Cooper crafts a mesmerizing and thought-provoking tale that centers around the unexpected journey of Cardinal Anthony Budd, who finds himself thrust into the papacy as Pope Innocent XIV amidst the swirling chaos of a contentious and drawn-out conclave. This intricate narrative invites readers into the labyrinthine corridors of the Vatican, where the very fabric of faith, identity, and societal norms are examined through the lens of a powerful modern saga.

Budd, an outsider with no fervent desire for the title, becomes only the second British Pope in history. His reluctant acceptance of this monumental role is fueled by a deep sense of divine calling, as he seeks to bring hope and dignity to the marginalized voices within the Church. With a heart that beats for the poor, he endeavors to elevate them both spiritually and materially, aspiring to weave compassion into the austere tapestry of ecclesiastical power. However, lurking in the shadows of his past is a closely guarded secret, one that, when unearthed, threatens to unravel the sanctity of his new position. Blackmail emerges as a formidable foe, as dark figures from his history threaten to expose him, forcing Budd to confront his core values in a moment of crisis.

The story unfolds against a backdrop of Vatican intrigue, where the stakes are perilously high, and the line between loyalty and betrayal blurs. As power struggles erupt, Budd’s moral resolve is tested, pushing him into a world where friendship can be sacrificed on the altar of ambition. The narrative gracefully navigates the complexities of love, identity, and the often harsh judgments imposed by society. Each character brought to life has their own set of biases and motivations, shaping the public perception of the Pope and challenging the audience to reflect on their own beliefs.

Cooper weaves a rich tapestry of emotions and tensions, inviting readers to ponder profound questions about authenticity and the burdens of leadership. The journey of Budd is not just a tale of ecclesiastical politics; it is a poignant exploration of what it truly means to be human in a world steeped in expectation and scrutiny. The unexpected conclusion hits with the force of revelation, leaving readers to contemplate the profound intricacies of faith, power, and internal conflict long after the final page has turned. "The Silence of Flesh" emerges as an enthralling exploration that resonates deeply, inviting a rich dialogue on the complexities of identity and spiritual truth.

“The Silence of Flesh” is a very good novel about the Vatican and a fictional papacy. It’s well-written, reads quickly, and features interesting characters confronting dilemmas of faith and morality. It also explores the church’s stances and supporting rationales on various issues. Billed as “LGBTQIAP+/ Literary Fiction,” it is also quite suspenseful and contains more than one surprise.

In papal conclave, conservative and progressive cardinals are split down the middle as to who will be their next pope. They’ve been voting for days and are no closer to selecting a pontiff than when they first started. Finally, they turn to a compromise candidate: English Cardinal Anthony Budd, a young, handsome, and mild-mannered centrist. When asked if he accepts election, Cardinal Budd hesitates, then excuses himself to engage in private reflection—leaving the cardinals mystified (since it’s never done)—then returns and accepts election. He is now Pope Innocent XIV.

Why the delay? Tony has a secret: one that, if revealed, would certainly rock the church to its core, perhaps even destroy it. But the secret is a private one that in no way affects his fitness as a priest or to be pope. At least that’s what Innocent XIV believes—until the secret becomes front page news around the globe and Tony the most controversial pope in modern history.

I liked this novel very much. Tony Budd/Innocent XIV is a well-drawn, engaging character readers can care about. The issues he confronts are modern and topical. Author Glenn Cooper does an excellent job examining those issues, the church’s stances on them, and the reasons for those stances. For example, I’ve never really known the church’s reasons for requiring its priests to be celibate. Now I do.

This the second novel by Mr. Cooper that I’ve read. Again, his fiction reminds me a lot of the works of Morris L. West (“The Shoes of the Fisherman,” “The Clowns of God.) Readers who enjoy Mr. West’s novels, or even the novels of Dan Brown, may find much to interest them in “The Silence of Flesh.”

One caveat, however: those who strongly object to calls for the church to liberalize its doctrines regarding various social issues may want to skip “The Silence of Flesh” and look elsewhere for their next read.

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

The cover and the title piqued by interest. I've always liked this painting of St. John the Baptist which unintentionally gives off eerie vibes, in my opinion.
It was a nice quick read, although I didn't care so much for the characters at all. Maybe the dog, but that's about it. The ending was disappointing and felt rushed.

Many books have been written about conclaves and the election of unexpected popes. This was well done in that regard, but the story was short on plot. Excellent character development, but not enough going on.

With the turn of every page, I enjoyed this book more and more, whilst trying to consider how the story would unfold.
The ending was totally unexpected and left me flat and disappointed. Hence the three star rating. It should have been five, but…
Not having read anything by Glenn Cooper, I will certainly give his other titles a try, as I might find the endings more acceptable than this one.

Cardinal Anthony Budd had no desire to become Pope. Also, it was unlikely since he was an outsider and would be only the second British Pope in history. When the papal conclave was hopelessly deadlocked, Budd was surprisingly chosen. This “reluctant Pope” accepted, abiding to the will of God, just like he did when he received the calling to join the priesthood.

As Pope Innocent XIV, he sought to elevate the poor both spiritually and materially. He wanted the powerless to have a voice in Rome and be given respect and dignity.

Part of that belief may have been due to a secret he was carrying. Though he didn’t think it was that significant, he still did not want to reveal it. However, when he is blackmailed by someone who is aware of his past, he must make an important decision.

Yes, you may think you’ve read this before or have watched it on the big screen, but the "The Silence of Flesh" is unique and thought-provoking. In fact, I don’t think that the title is indicative of the story. In any event, we learn about Vatican politics, and what one will do to advance and maintain their position of power. This includes betraying a close friend and throwing their principles aside for expediency. However, I think as we gradually learn about the man, Tony Budd and his past, his actions provide a more meaningful impact on the plot, than those of his detractors.

The ending was a complete surprise, but it made sense and kept me thinking for days. Two questions that still comes up in my mind are: "Is it ever worthwhile to hide your true identity and what are the consequences?" and “Can Anyone really escape their past?”

"The Silence of Flesh is a page-turner that will affect readers in different ways. A must read!

This review will be posted on UnderratedReads on June 30, 2025

Another great Glenn Cooper book. The long conclave causes ripples amongst the cardinals, allegiances are made. The new pope has a secret and someone tries to blackmail him,. How this plays out is the premise of the book.

I was not familiar with this author but given the recent demise and election of a new pope as well as the movie Conclave, I thought I would give "Silence of the Flesh" a read to see how differently it may have treated the conclave process. I was immediately drawn into the author's prose as well as the way in which the story repeatedly left the present and returned to the stories of the major players, especially that of the main character Anthony Budd. The prose is excellent and while some parts of the story echo Conclave the movie (e.g. the main character doesn't want to be pope despite several repeatedly voting for him; the clash between progressive cardinals and traditionalists, etc.) Budd's story line was a complete surprise and the stories of his conflicted childhood and those of random folks he encountered who had experienced the same conflict, was a great read. I had high hopes for an ending that echoed Budd's good will and ideas. Perhaps this was too idealistic or hopeful on my part as the ending was incredibly disappointing and dark though perhaps more realistic given our times and attitudes. So this is a hard book to recommend so I give it a partial thumbs recommendation for the great prose and character development and a thumbs down for the resolution of the story.

An interesting story about the politics of the Church. It pits traditional belief with the changes in society today. The characters are flawed but realistic.

This gripping drama focuses on the struggles of what makes us who we are. In an unexpected controversy the main character is scrutinized for his private thoughts and scandalized for things people made unjust assumptions about. This novel explores how people's perceptions and bias can influence decisions that could change the face of the Catholic faith. The Silence of Flesh is another 5 star review for Glen Cooper. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to challenge their beliefs and evaluate what it means to be a child of God. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this book to review.

In this book, we get a front row seat to a modern conclave. The 2nd longest in history. The voting is tied. With an unexpected result, our new Pope is off on an adventure in Columbia and I think I'm in for a series of adventures as in other Cooper books. But that's not to be.

Our new Pope, he has a carefully guarded secret that will push Catholic doctrine to the limits. This book is about palace intrigue in the Vatican and LGBTQ+ issues in the Catholic Church. It's about defining masculine and feminine.

There is a strong social agenda to this book creating tension in the story. It is a mental exercise. What if the Pope wasn't the man everyone thought he was.

This particular book by Glenn Cooper is short of adventure, suspense, and mystery. But it is a serious character study.

If you're new to Glenn Cooper, many of his adventures revolve around the Catholic Church. The books are well-researched with characters that are easy to understand. He easily blends social issues and religion.

I found the ending unsatisfactory. Can't say more since I don't want to add spoilers. In a way, predictable.

This is your book if you're interested in digging deep into LGBTQ+ issues.

Glenn Cooper’s The Silence of the Flesh takes us into the enter working of the Catholic Conclave as the. Cardinals gather to elect their next pope. Anthony Budd, a quiet, young, devout cardinal rises to the front when scandals and secrets eliminate the front runners. But Pope Innocent, Anthony Budd, has secrets of his own which become known and threatens his leadership as pope. Interesting read.

A very thought provoking story. Nobody is more surprised than Cardinal Anthony Budd when he's elected as Pope. After the election, his papacy takes a nasty turn and he has to deal with intolerance and back stabbing. The story's ending is very emotional. Very well written.
Thanks to Netgalley, Book Whisperer, and Glenn Cooper for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.