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The Fifth Gospel: A Novel Audiobook
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Publisher Description
The instant New York Times bestseller from the author of the international sensation The Rule of Four combines a lost gospel, a contentious relic, and a dying pope’s final wish into a “deliciously labyrinthine” (Providence Journal) intellectual thriller that “kicks off at ninety mph and doesn’t slow down” (Associated Press).
A mysterious exhibit is under construction at the Vatican Museums. The curator is murdered at a clandestine meeting on the outskirts of Rome a week before it opens. That same night, a violent break-in rocks the home of Greek Catholic priest Father Alex Andreou. When the papal police fail to identify a suspect in either crime, Father Alex decides that to find the killer he must reconstruct the secret of what a little-known, true-to-life fifth gospel known as the Diatessaron reveals about the church’s most controversial holy relic. But just as he begins to understand the truth about his friend’s death and its consequences for the future of the Christian church, Father Alex discovers a ruthless stalker is hunting him—an enemy with a vested stake in the exhibit that he must outwit to survive.
Rich, authentic, erudite, and emotionally searing, The Fifth Gospel is a riveting novel of suspense and a feast of biblical history that satisfies on every level.
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“Whether delivering accents or portraying characters of both genders, narrator Jack Davenport is everyone all at once in Ian Caldwell’s Vatican-based thriller…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. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile
Quotes
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“A gripping thriller rich with human drama and forbidden knowledge.”
— Lev Grossman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Magician’s Land -
“Masterful…The Fifth Gospel is that rare story: erudite and a page-turner, literary but compulsively readable. It will change the way you look at organized religion, humanity, and perhaps yourself.”
— David Baldacci, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Target -
“[A] smart, suspenseful thriller.”
— People -
“Kicks off at ninety mph and doesn’t slow down. Caldwell’s skill as a writer is evident in his ability to weave detailed descriptions of Biblical scripture, Catholic history, and Vatican geography into the story while keeping the action going…He has created memorable characters with complex relationships, deep love, and longstanding hurts.”
— Associated Press -
“[A] superior religious thriller, notable for its existential and spiritual profundity…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.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“Captivating …This thriller is, at its heart, a story of sacrifice, forgiveness, and redemption…taking the reader on an emotional journey nearly two thousand years in the making.”
— Library Journal (starred review) -
“Here motives are nuanced shadows that are as hard to grasp for Alex as they are for readers. It is this very elusiveness, juxtaposed against a strong sense of place, that intrigues, making this the best kind of page-turner, one about which you also have to think.”
— Booklist (starred review) -
“A brilliant work…Extraordinarily erudite…Caldwell makes intriguing literature from complex theology.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A Library Journal Editor’s Pick for Spring 2015
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
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A March 2015 LibraryReads Pick
The Fifth Gospel Listener Reviews
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Ann Palms, 9/18/2015
About Ian Caldwell
Ian Caldwell is a writer and coauthor of the thriller, The Rule of Four, which spent forty-nine weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and sold nearly two million copies in North America. He was raised in Virginia and graduated from Princeton University in 1998 with a degree in history.
About Jack Davenport
Jack Davenport is an English actor best known for his roles in the television series This Life, Coupling, Smash, and as James Norrington in the Pirates of the Caribbean films. In addition to film and theater, he has lent his voice to many audiobooks and voice-overs for commercials. Some of his audiobook credits include A Clockwork Orange, Black Dogs, Candide, among others, and his narrations have won two AudioFile Earphones Awards.