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Conclave

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Conclave

By: Robert Harris
Narrated by: Roy Mcmillan
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

***Now a Bafta and Oscar winning major motion picture starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini***

What happens behind the closed doors of the Roman Catholic Conclave? The mysterious rituals surrounding the congregation of cardinal electors responsible for electing a new pope is brilliantly researched by Robert Harris, bringing an age old tradition to life. Set against the swirling of religious theory comes an explosive political drama that will have you on the edge of your seat.

The Pope is dead.

Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, 118 cardinals from all over the globe will cast their votes in the world's most secretive election. They are holy men. But they have ambition. And they have rivals.

Over the next 72 hours, one of them will become the most powerful spiritual figure on earth.

'Unputdownable' Guardian
'Gripping' Sunday Times

©2016 Robert Harris (P)2016 Random House Audiobooks

 Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Political Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Espionage Exciting Scary Pope

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Critic reviews

Thriller of the year . . . with a plot so serpentine and sinuous that I could not bear to put it down. (Geoffrey Wansell)
‘I have been waiting for most of my life for Robert Harris to write a novel that is not gripping, insightful and entertaining. I am waiting still. His latest, Conclave, is superb. (Ben Macintyre)
A real page-turner, with a great twist in the final pages. (Libby Purves)
Finishing this splendid and intelligent story, as with all great fiction, brings an acute sense of loss. (Richard Susskind)
Robert Harris is incapable of writing a substandard novel. (Alan Johnson)
Each Robert Harris thriller is different but of exemplary consistency. (Ian Rankin)
I am about to use a word I have never knowingly used in any review of any book ever. During my 25-odd years of writing about books I have done my best to avoid cliches, slipshod summaries, oracular pronouncements and indeed anything else that might appear emblazoned on a book jacket. Nonetheless, there is only one possible word to describe Robert Harris’s new novel, and it is this: unputdownable (Ian Sansom)
A master of producing thrillers of ever-tightening suspense, full of insider analysis of political power and the treatment of momentous events . . . gripping . . . more than a crime novel, it is also a psychological and political thriller . . . Conclave is a triumphant addition to Harris’ acclaimed output (David Grylls)
All stars
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Robert Harris delivers a very good yarn full of intrigue and ritual, making as feel as if we are part of this private club of men that are served by women they suppress, a gentlemen's club where god whispers his desires into the minds of men that have no concept of a terrestrial reality, sequestered from the world but not uninfluenced by it, in a place where greed and power are as strongly felt as in any other institution of power, except that every idea is attributed to the holy spirit and given a motivation to satisfy men,s kingdom of god's kingdom.

Well written, and entertaining while not being offencive to believers or others, delivering a good story that will work for most people no matter where they stand in the religious spectrum.


The power of illusion, is that people believe

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I too a chance on this book and am so glad I did. It was both well written and beautifully narrated. An interesting insight into the whole process of electing a new pope, with intrigue. What's not to love!

My first Robert Harris not my last

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This novel starts off slowly and you are then drawn inch by inch into the going on's of the Papal Conclave and it was done in such a way that I didn't realise I had been listening in too the wee small hours. At the beginning I got lost with the names and who came from where but after a couple of rewinds I got it.

It really is a cracking novel full of intrigue, suspense and a decent twist at the end which I didn't see coming but all the clues were laid out. You wouldn't think that the subject matter would hold your attention but it really does!

My first novel from both the author and the narrator but it won't be my last.

Conclave

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The twists and turns kept one hooked but, without giving anything away, it didn't live up to that. But I have still given it 4/5 because of the narration, otherwise it would have been 2/5.

Promising start but went downhill

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Let me begin with positives this includes the fact that Robert Harris is an excellent engaging page turning writer. A real treat. And Conclave is a true page turner. Obviously I don't want to give any spoilers. Just letting you know when I say the final one third of the book has more coincidences than even Wilkie Collins, Thomas Hardy or Dan Brown could have thought of. the character of Lomeli and the changes he goes through, from doubting organizer and manager with low self-esteem to a man who rightly believes he has shown himself to be a worthy pope, would have been more than enough for me.
So my score is based on the excellent narration and the first parts of the book.

Excellent Narration!

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Was hooked on the book, however thought the ending let it down slightly. It was quite obvious there would be a twist, but just didn't feel that the ending was a good as it could have been

90% great

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A hugely rich and fascinating read; I found it gripping throughout, although the ending felt overly dramatic; this was a concept which, although dry at first glance, didn't need a big denoument to reward its reader - their prize is the depth and detail of the telling. Recommended.

Incredibly rewarding

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Robert Harris never fails to disappoint but this, to me, is one of his best. Set in the claustrophobic world of the Vatican, it is an uplifting story of power, deceit and triumph for the long shot. Gripping.

A remarkable story gently and expertly told

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A litlle confusing early on just getting used to who was who - but worth the effort

Intriguing & an enjoyable listen

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Well written interesting story which kept me listening right to the end, the narration of the book was very well performed.

Great listen

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