A gripping blend of historical mystery and modern thriller, Three Marys pulls you in with its eerie premise and relentless pace. Glenn Cooper weaves religious history, secret societies, and high-stakes suspense into a story that’s both thought-provoking and hard to put down. Dark, clever, and twisty, it’s a great pick for fans of conspiracies, ancient secrets, and smart thrillers.

A good religious conspiracy thriller with a Harvard Professor - an entertaining, fast-paced read that kept the pages turning.
The premise is great: three teenage girls named Mary, scattered across the Philippines, Peru, and Ireland, all become pregnant while still virgins. The Pope asks for an investigation and story spirals into kidnappings, political machinations, and a conspiracy that threatens to split the Catholic Church in two.
The pacing is strong with multiple plot threads moving simultaneously, and the globe-trotting investigation never drags. When the girls start disappearing, the stakes escalate quickly, and I found myself genuinely invested in their fates.
But the protagonist himself is less attractive. References to his sexual conquests and drinking felt like a throwback to a misogynistic age. The ending was satisfying, but the ultimate explanation was a bit too convenient.
Enjoyable and also great for fans of Dan Brown-style religious thrillers, and enjoyable.

This was a great mystery read I loved it very enjoyable kept me wanting to know how this Tory was going to end

Cal Donovan #2

Summary:

Three impossible births. Three incredible miracles. One deadly secret.

Three teenage girls all name Mary from different corners of the world have fallen pregnant, the three have been proven to be virgins. In view of this, Pope Celestine has summoned Harvard professor of religion and archaeology Cal Donavan to investigate. As Cal struggles to uncover the truth he soon realises that more than meet the eyes is at stake: could this apparent miracle cause the collapse of the Catholic faith.

Are the three teenagers really all bearing the son of God?

My thoughts:

This story is fun to read and is engaging. It gives us a mix of religious and adventure elements to capture our imagination till the very last page and does so very well. The author’s creativity is in over drive here, what a vivid imagine Glenn Cooper has…or maybe a twisted one 😊. The plot is not only entertaining it is also interesting. I zipped through it in no time so captivated was I. Yes, some will find the premise to be overboard and impossible: they would be definitely right in thinking so but I enjoyed every word, I was hooked from start to finish.

The cast of characters is original and I simply love Cal….is such an interesting and unusual character. We have action aplenty to keep us on our toes. This is definitely a plot driven story that moves along in a steady and moderate tempo and reveals its secrets drop by drop to keep up the suspense and us entertained till the very end.

Whether you are religious or not take this as a fun read to pass time with.

really fun mystery with some excellent plotting and a lot of drama throughout. would recommend this one. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Review of Advance Reader Copy

In Rome, Pope Celestine IV faces a possible schism in the Catholic Church while young girls in the Philippines, Ireland, and Peru all claim to be virgins . . . and all are pregnant.

Miracle or fraud?

Pope Celestine does the only thing he can . . . he calls on Harvard professor Cal Donovan, expert in both religion and archaeology, to find the answers before the developing schism irreparably divides the Church.

=========

Second in the author’s Cal Donovan series, there is sufficient backstory for readers new to the series and for the book to work as a standalone. In this captivating narrative, readers will find the Harvard professor deeply involved in the investigation into the three Virgin Marys and their claims of virginity. A strong sense of place, well-developed characters, and an enthralling plot all work together to keep the pages turning in this riveting thriller.

Intrigue weaves its way through the unfolding narrative as a conspiracy slowly reveals itself. The abductions of the three girls and the murders work together to ramp up the telling of the tale as the machinations keep the suspense building.

Readers who enjoy religious fiction, historical fiction, or who are fans of the Cal Donovan series will find much to appreciate in this unputdownable tale of intrigue.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Book Whisperer / Lascaux Media and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#Three Marys #NetGalley

Highly readable, page turner following Cal Donovan in an investigation of, not one but three, 'virgin births' to girls called Mary. Everything points to them being the real thing, but is it? Reactionary Catholics, led by a rebellious US cardinal, form a new Catholic church, but something ......... and events arouse Cal's suspicions. What that is, you must read to find out. Interesting, and somewhat believable.

With thanks to Lascaux Media and NetGalley for an ARC.

Another enjoyable thriller with Cal Donovan, “The Pope’s Pal”. When three virgin girls named Mary, from a variety of locations, are found to be with child, the adventure begins. Kidnapping, a new Catholic Church, a billionaire, a crooked President, a murder, an escape, chase and more make for an exciting story.

Three Marys is a fascinating, well-written novel with a unique plot that lured this reviewer to read the book. I'm glad I did. From the first pages to the final chapter, I wondered how the "miracle" pregnancies of three young virgins would be explained. Author Glenn Cooper's central character, investigator Cal Donovan, a consultant to the Vatican, is tasked with solving the mystery. Cal is smart, charming, and highly capable. He travels the world to either prove or disprove these modern-day virgin births. Three Marys is a religious thriller and a recommended read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for providing an advance copy of the book to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews.com at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

This was one incredible ride of a story by Glenn Cooper. I was gripped from the start and the suspense kept me not wanting to put the book down. This is basically a mixture of a thriller/suspense mixed with history and religion in an amazing way. This is my first read by this author and I will now look for more by him, especially the previous ones about Cal and his interaction with the Pope. The intrigue of three immaculate conceptions by the Mary's based in the Phillipines , Peru and Ireland. All the way through my thoughts were how did they get pregnant. The girls are kidnapped and the parents paid off and the story develops at a superb rate showing clearly the settling in together of the 3 girls. Issues with language differences and personalities. The friendship bonds that they formed showed great resilience.
This is book that I highly recommend and I woould also like to add that the cover brings so much to what the story is about.

Three Mary's is a novel full of intrigue, conspiracies, hidden agendas and a storyline that only Glenn Cooper can orchestrate.

Professor Cal Donovan is summoned by his friend Cardinal da Silva to Rome to speak with the Holy father. There is a report of three girls, all claiming to be virgins, all pregnant and all named Mary. They all live in different countries, Peru, Philly and Ireland. Donovan is tasked with finding out if it is indeed a miracle or an elaborate hoax. But before Donovan can find out the truth, the Mary's are kidnapped and the families paid off.

Another intense thriller by a favorite author of mine. Only Cooper can come up with such an intricate and holy storyline. The plot was original and I enjoyed the controversial topics that were talked about in the book. Donovan as a character is good at what he does though some of his personal choices are questionable. I enjoyed all the fascinating conspiracies and the self-serving men who have their own agenda for the Mary's. Conspiracies surrounding the Roman Catholic Church are one of my favorite topics to read about.

Thank you Netgalley and Book Whisperer for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

Book Review: Three Marys by Glenn Cooper – A Captivating Blend of Faith, Mystery, and Intrigue

Rating: 5 Stars

I just finished Three Marys by Glenn Cooper, and this book grabbed me from start to finish. The story centers around three teenage girls from Mexico, the Philippines, and Ireland who each find themselves mysteriously pregnant, despite medical proof that they’re virgins. All named Mary, all Catholics, and all having experienced a blinding light before losing consciousness, these "miracles" spark global fascination and intense controversy.

The plot thickens when Pope Celestine turns to Harvard professor Cal Donovan, an expert in religion and archaeology, to investigate what seems like a modern-day replay of the Annunciation. Cal’s journey takes him from the Vatican’s secretive halls to remote towns and coastal Ireland, uncovering not just a miracle but a tangled web of conspiracy involving powerful forces trying to control the narrative for their own ends.

What I loved most about this book is how it weaves together religious mystery with political intrigue and scientific skepticism. It’s fast-paced and thought-provoking, challenging readers to consider faith, power, and the lengths people will go to manipulate belief.

Also, I have to mention the cover—it’s beautiful and definitely caught my eye before I even opened the book. Glenn Cooper continues to deliver compelling stories with well-crafted characters and gripping plots. This installment in the Cal Donovan series is no exception. I’m thoroughly enjoying the series so far, and Three Marys is a big thumbs up from me!

If you’re into thrillers that mix history, religion, and suspense, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Who doesn't want to read about 3 virgins, present day, being pregnant and giving birth to 3 perfect babies Jesus. This book is a roller-coaster ride of kidnapping, corrupt clergy, billionaires wanting more, a president that condones deception and three innocent girls who get caught up an the plan to take over the Catholic Church. It takes a little while to kick into gear, although necessary to the story, but once it does its a great ride. I raced through the last half.

Three Marys is the utmost effort of deranged minds to have power and control of other people's minds using well known religious beliefs to make others surrender to their claims/thoughts. It also highlights the change of the Catholic church practices throughout the years, putting their efforts to help people instead of securing their power and money. Cal is a womanizer, almost a non'-believer, but he has a deep ingrained need to help others, which makes him an appealing character to his students, the Vatican, and those whose life he touches. A great thriller and highly recommended if religion dogmas being questioned do not bother you.
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Enjoyed this second book about Cal Donovan. While some of his characteristics were starting to annoy me, I enjoyed the book overall. It had good pacing and an interesting plot. I wanted to know how it all tied together. Can’t wait for the next one!

Three Marys by Glenn Cooper is another in the series of religious mysteries. Cal Donovan is a professor of religion at Harvard and has a number of books written on various historical religious people and situations. His “assistant/researcher” is a young Catholic priest from Ireland. Cal has been called upon by the Vatican to investigate a phenomena that has been reported in the press in recent days: three young women, each named Mary or Maria, in three far flung countries, are all pregnant, but examinations by doctors indicate that they are still virgins. Call goes to the Philippines and South America and sends his assistant to Ireland. He returns with no explanations to offer. Then, the girls are spirited away, bought from their parents in a way, and one knows where they are. At the same time an American Cardinal resigns. Although he has been a thorn in the side of the Vatican for years, there is some concern. All becomes clear with a major announcement online and a great schism in the Catholic Church opens. Again, Cal is investigating.

Cal is an intelligent man and a good investigator. He is trying to balance that and his love life at home, the first time he has a semi-permanent girl friend, and he is not successful. I love this religious mystery. I’t reminiscent of Dan Brown’s early works. There is some violence, but not much; it is mostly cerebral and clever. Someone dies, though, which was very sad. Cal is invited to visit the compound and the girls and surreptitiously gathers DNA which proves to be illuminating. If one is a reader that likes true mysteries with a religious component, this series should be right up your alley. In the end, the mystery is solved and everyone goes back to their lives, but the journey to that ending is filled with intrigue and deception. An excellent read.

I was invited to read Three Marys by Book Whisperer. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BookWhisperer #GlennCooper #ThreeMarys