I was very impressed with amount of biblical research that went into this novel. Many fascinating facts and theories about Catholicism were brought to my attention for the first time. But sadly, the actual plot of the story left me feeling somewhat bored. And the holier than thou attitude expressed by so many of the priest really got on my nerves. ( )

Science fiction

If I could give 3.5 stars, I would have given three-and-a-half. Since I cannot, I rounded up to 4 stars.

Technically, it's a well-written and well-researched book. Honestly, it left me kind of flat. Neither Alex nor Simon are especially endearing characters, and Peter didn't come across as a real child.

I wouldn't re-read "The Fifth Gospel" or recommend it to my wife. It raises valid questions about the Gospels and the history of the Catholic Church, but doesn't really leave anything in its wake except for the unwavering faith of two brothers.

An interesting bit of "historical fiction", but without any real depth of characters to bind it. ( )

If I could give 3.5 stars, I would have given three-and-a-half. Since I cannot, I rounded up to 4 stars.

Technically, it's a well-written and well-researched book. Honestly, it left me kind of flat. Neither Alex nor Simon are especially endearing characters, and Peter didn't come across as a real child.

I wouldn't re-read "The Fifth Gospel" or recommend it to my wife. It raises valid questions about the Gospels and the history of the Catholic Church, but doesn't really leave anything in its wake except for the unwavering faith of two brothers.

An interesting bit of "historical fiction", but without any real depth of characters to bind it. ( )

Vatican intrigue that brings the DaVinci Code to mind (though haven't read it). This is a well-written, well-researched nail-biter of a story. Though it is fiction, some characters and scenarios are real, especially the sanctity and ceremony of the Vatican and its traditions and daily operations. That alone was fascinating. But the mystery centers on 2 brothers who are priests: Simon Andreou, who is a Roman Catholic priest and Alex Andreou who is Eastern rite and more closely follows the Greek Orthodox tradition. Good start to a conflict, but when a third person whom both brothers work with closely is murdered, the story is off and running. Ugolino Nogaro is a scholar and museum curator who is mounting a big exhibit at the Vatican, featuring the Shroud of Turin, and trying to prove its authenticity, not through carbon-dating, which failed 20 years earlier under the Andreou brothers' father, but through verification in Scripture, specifically the Diatesseron - the fifth Gospel written about 100 AD that tries to combine all 4 of the known Gospels into a single text. If the shroud is mentioned there, it will validate its existence and its safekeeping in the Eastern Empire city of Edessa before it appeared in Turin. The hope is that it will also help to create reconciliation between the East and West -- Orthodox and Catholic. Set in the early 2000s in the final year or so of John Paul II's papacy, the major players include the Pope himself, Cardinal Lucio, the uncle of the Andreou brothers and a host of other priests and Vatican employees (Swiss guards, nuns, gardeners, drivers) Many have some role in the murder or its investigation and add to the layers of mystery around the murder. Clearly there are competing agendas. Fr. Alex is the main view point and he does much of the investigating, trying to keep his brother's honor in tact and to protect his 8-yr-old son, Peter. It's a dangerous undertaking. The ultimate revelation is fresh and kept me guessing to the very end, which always makes for a satisfying read. Good themes of family, faith, loyalty and truth make this a worthwhile read beyond a compelling plot. I learned a ton! And want to do some research as a result. ( )