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The Fifth Gospel A Novel Ian Caldwell Books

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The Fifth Gospel A Novel Ian Caldwell Books

Ian Caldwell has written my favorite novel of the year - "The Fifth Gospel" sets a high water mark for intellectual thrillers not through its ingenious mystery/solution, but also through its thorough exploration of the complex interplay between faith and truth.

"The Fifth Gospel" will surely be compared to Dan Brown's juggernaut, "The Da Vinci Code." Both novels delve into the deepest mysteries of the Catholic Church and Christian belief - Brown takes on the Holy Grail, while Caldwell focuses on the Shroud of Turin. But while Brown writes a perfect airplane book, focusing on short chapters revolving around taut action scenes seasoned with some enjoyable tidbits and arcana about the Grail, Caldwell has written a less thrilling but infinitely more emotionally powerful novel . . . which somewhat paradoxically makes it more thrilling.

Caldwell surpasses Brown in one key area - while Brown's hero, Professor Langdon, is an emotional cipher who's really there to solve clues and get into scrapes, Caldwell's protagonist is a simple man of the cloth who gets under your skin and stays there. Father Alex Andreou is an unusual man in many respects - he is a Greek Catholic priest working in the Vatican. Greek Catholic priests are allowed to marry, and Father Andreou has a young son, Peter. Yet he is working in the Vatican, where the Roman Catholic priests have slightly different obligations in the area of celibacy. So he's an outlier, but he's nevertheless a popular instructor of the Gospels. Father Andreou and Peter are struggling, as Alex's wife Mona abandoned them a few years ago in a fit of depression. Raising a son as a single parent in the Vatican is a unique experience, to say the least.

Despite these domestic struggles, in the opening chapters, he is called on a dark and stormy night by his brother, Simon, whom he finds standing over the dead body of Ugo Nogara. This is troubling, not only because Simon and Ugo were extremely close, but also because Ugo had been working like mad to open an exhibit on the Shroud of Turin that threatens to blow the socks off all those who see it.

For those who don't recall, the Shroud of Turin is the legendary funeral cloth of Jesus - it bears a likeness of a crucified man who has an uncanny resemblance to the popular understanding of what Jesus looked like. However, a few years ago, carbon dating appeared to dash any hopes that it was actually Jesus's burial shroud - the cloth was reported to be several hundred years too young. But Ugo claimed to be able to explain that problem, which was explosive enough, but he also claimed that the Shroud had other more powerful lessons to teach.

And so Father Andreou gets caught up in both a murder investigation and an exploration of what Ugo had discovered about the Shroud. What follows is a deep exploration of the meaning of the Gospels, where to look for legend and where to look for fact, and a deeper understanding of the schism between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Caldwell has done his research, but this book is never boring.

What is refreshing about "The Fifth Gospel" is the depth of the faith of all the parties involved. In our modern, cynical age, we all too often dismiss the Church and its officials as obsolete at best, power-seeking conservative hypocrites at worst. Caldwell's characters are men and women of deep faith, conviction, and intellect, and without the undying support of their faith in God and the Church none of them would make it through the novel's crisis unscathed. All the action builds to a fantastic climax of discovery, confession, and forgiveness at the very center of modern Catholicism.

I can't recommend this novel highly enough - and a perfect holiday read.


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The Fifth Gospel A Novel Ian Caldwell Books Reviews

I've read deeper books. Some have even been works of art, but I didn't expect this book to inspire me to learn more about my faith. It reads like a murder mystery, then a thrill. It is a page turner from the beginning. It's definitely a must-read. However, there is a deeper level. The characterization of the two brothers reveals the importance of two equally important vocations marriage and the priesthood. Simon has chosen the priesthood as a Roman Catholic priest. Alex has chosen both as an Eastern Catholic priest. There lives and the choices they make all hinge on the worldly cares, desires, and yes, ambitions that come with their vocations. Through the development of these two characters, the author has woven forgiveness of others and of self for healing to begin. I can't explain anymore without spoiling the story. All I can say is that this book gives the reader a more positive worldview than most modern thrillers while also giving the reader amazing plot with twists and turns that had me guessing until the very end. In fact, after studying the Faith some more, I plan to read the book again just to study the characterization of these two brothers. They seem real to me. I also want to go to Rome and the Vatican. For all of thereabouts, I give this book five(5) stars. Read the book!
This is a great book!

If you ever wanted to know about the inner workings of the Vatican and the Catholic church this book is a must-read. If you just like to while away the hours reading a very well-written piece of literature, then you can’t pass this one up.

Ian Caldwell is the real deal. For those who have never read my reviews, I have absolutely no compunction about ditching a book after a very few pages if it doesn’t do its job. And what might that be, you may ask? It has to be interesting. It has to well-written. There has to be a depth of observation that makes even the smallest details seem important. This is not something you can learn in writing class. You either have this or you don’t. I suspect there is a correlation between a writer’s depth of observation and his depth as a person. This book scores high marks on all points, and makes me glad I’ve discovered Ian Caldwell.

I’m not much of a plot guy, although I will admit there has to be one. For me, the journey is more important than the destination. This story is a fascinating journey through a world I’ve never known much about. It is what Angels and Demons wishes it were. This plot weaves its way artfully through sibling devotion, solo parenthood, lifelong friendship, marital reconciliation, and murder, with special guest appearances by The Shroud of Turin and Pope John Paul II.

The Fifth Gospel is educational, atmospheric, mysterious, and compelling. It is a religious pilgrimage with a divine destination. It almost made me want to go to church. Almost.
I enjoyed this book from beginning to the end. Ian Caldwell did an excellent job of developing a story that takes the reader into the inner workings of the Catholic Church, its politics and how it exists as a country of its own. I was fascinated how he used Bible verses in comparison one to another and to prove a point in the story. Alex and his son Peter, age 6 were two of the main characters. Alex is a member of the Priesthood as is his brother Simon. A close friend of both the brothers, Ugo, has plans to set up an exhibition on the palace grounds to include the Shroud of Turin. The story focuses on the failure of the first carbon testing of the Shroud and what Ugo believes he has discovered.at the present time. Ugo is found dead and an investigation into his death begins with Simon being put under house arrest. Then the mystery begins and there is a most surprising end to this story.

To me, the story was so intense that I had to take a break from reading at times, and to digest the remarkable writing of this author.

My apologizes to the author if my review offends.
Ian Caldwell has written my favorite novel of the year - "The Fifth Gospel" sets a high water mark for intellectual thrillers not through its ingenious mystery/solution, but also through its thorough exploration of the complex interplay between faith and truth.

"The Fifth Gospel" will surely be compared to Dan Brown's juggernaut, "The Da Vinci Code." Both novels delve into the deepest mysteries of the Catholic Church and Christian belief - Brown takes on the Holy Grail, while Caldwell focuses on the Shroud of Turin. But while Brown writes a perfect airplane book, focusing on short chapters revolving around taut action scenes seasoned with some enjoyable tidbits and arcana about the Grail, Caldwell has written a less thrilling but infinitely more emotionally powerful novel . . . which somewhat paradoxically makes it more thrilling.

Caldwell surpasses Brown in one key area - while Brown's hero, Professor Langdon, is an emotional cipher who's really there to solve clues and get into scrapes, Caldwell's protagonist is a simple man of the cloth who gets under your skin and stays there. Father Alex Andreou is an unusual man in many respects - he is a Greek Catholic priest working in the Vatican. Greek Catholic priests are allowed to marry, and Father Andreou has a young son, Peter. Yet he is working in the Vatican, where the Roman Catholic priests have slightly different obligations in the area of celibacy. So he's an outlier, but he's nevertheless a popular instructor of the Gospels. Father Andreou and Peter are struggling, as Alex's wife Mona abandoned them a few years ago in a fit of depression. Raising a son as a single parent in the Vatican is a unique experience, to say the least.

Despite these domestic struggles, in the opening chapters, he is called on a dark and stormy night by his brother, Simon, whom he finds standing over the dead body of Ugo Nogara. This is troubling, not only because Simon and Ugo were extremely close, but also because Ugo had been working like mad to open an exhibit on the Shroud of Turin that threatens to blow the socks off all those who see it.

For those who don't recall, the Shroud of Turin is the legendary funeral cloth of Jesus - it bears a likeness of a crucified man who has an uncanny resemblance to the popular understanding of what Jesus looked like. However, a few years ago, carbon dating appeared to dash any hopes that it was actually Jesus's burial shroud - the cloth was reported to be several hundred years too young. But Ugo claimed to be able to explain that problem, which was explosive enough, but he also claimed that the Shroud had other more powerful lessons to teach.

And so Father Andreou gets caught up in both a murder investigation and an exploration of what Ugo had discovered about the Shroud. What follows is a deep exploration of the meaning of the Gospels, where to look for legend and where to look for fact, and a deeper understanding of the schism between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Caldwell has done his research, but this book is never boring.

What is refreshing about "The Fifth Gospel" is the depth of the faith of all the parties involved. In our modern, cynical age, we all too often dismiss the Church and its officials as obsolete at best, power-seeking conservative hypocrites at worst. Caldwell's characters are men and women of deep faith, conviction, and intellect, and without the undying support of their faith in God and the Church none of them would make it through the novel's crisis unscathed. All the action builds to a fantastic climax of discovery, confession, and forgiveness at the very center of modern Catholicism.

I can't recommend this novel highly enough - and a perfect holiday read.