The Fifth Gospel

Starred review from January 12, 2015
Caldwell follows 2004’s The Rule of Four (cowritten with Dustin Thomason) with another superior religious thriller, notable for its existential and spiritual profundity. Set in 2004 in and around the Vatican, the story revolves around two brothers: Alex Andreou, a married Greek Catholic priest who’s estranged from his wife and lives with his five-year-old son; and Simon Andreou, a Roman Catholic priest who works as a diplomat. Both brothers are involved with a controversial museum exhibit involving the Shroud of Turin. Dr. Ugolino Nogara claims that he has proven that the carbon tests dating the shroud to the medieval period are wrong, and that it is indeed the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. When the exhibit’s curator is found murdered and Simon is arrested, Alex sets out to find the truth—and becomes entangled in a grand-scale conspiracy that could resurrect a “poisonous ancient hatred.” An intelligent and deeply contemplative writing style, along with more than a few bombshell plot twists, set this one above the pack, but it’s the insightful character development that makes this redemptive story so moving. Agent: Jennifer Joel, ICM.

Whether delivering accents or portraying characters of both genders, narrator Jack Davenport is everyone all at once in Ian Caldwell's Vatican-based thriller. Two brothers, Alex, a Greek Catholic priest, and Simon, a Roman Catholic priest-diplomat, are swept up in a maelstrom of Church politics, conspiracies, manipulation, and murder. The brothers hope to heal the schism between Eastern and Roman Catholicism, thanks to the reemergence of an ancient manuscript, the Diatessaron. However, the manuscript casts doubt upon the Church's most holy relic, the Shroud of Turin. Davenport offers a nuanced narration whether delivering Simon's secretive manner or Alex's pragmatic one. He highlights Vatican intrigue, clerical infighting, and, most appealingly, tenderness and familial love. Caldwell's uncluttered, thoughtful writing and Davenport's performance make worthwhile listening. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine