The Vatican Secret Joe Mason Book 1

‘This 5-star thriller is a non-stop action-packed adventure... Reads like the latest blockbuster film... I was left breathless, my heart pounding as I turned the last page’ NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ You’ve cracked the Da Vinci code, now uncover the Vatican secret...

There is a nuclear weapon in the hands of the Vatican City’s deadliest enemy. And time is running out to stop an attack… Marco Venetti, the only man the Pope trusts, is on the hunt for a traitor. He is willing to do anything to protect the church, and the man at its heart. Even if it means getting blood on his hands… But when Marco finds him, the traitor reveals terrifying new information: the name of a Russian mafioso with a grudge against the Vatican and possession of a nuclear bomb. If Marco doesn’t work with him, the consequences will be deadly. Inside the stone walls of an ancient castle in Portugal, surrounded by high mountains, Marco waits to ambush his target. But a double-cross ruins everything and he must flee, alone and without backup, leaving a trail of death and destruction behind. For the first time in his life, he doubts his calling, and fears for his faith. Yet an attack is imminent. And to prevent it, Marco must enter a deadly game of cat-and-mouse that will take him across the continent, on land and by sea. With time running out, he will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. Because the secrets inside the Vatican may be the deadliest threat of all. And only Marco can restore honor to the church, by any means necessary… The Vatican Secret is an explosive thriller full of treachery, international conspiracy and non-stop action. Fans of Joel C. Rosenberg, Tom Clancy and Steven Konkoly will be completely gripped. Praise for the Marco Venetti series: “Wow… So many twists and turns that keep you guessing… Captures your attention and doesn't let go till the end.” TB Honest, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Grabs you on the first page and is powered by non-stop action and a taut, emotional narrative… A real page turner!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A James Bond novel but with priests!… Ramps the pace up so that you don't want to put the book down to see how it ends.’ Goodreads reviewer “PURE JOY!… thrilling from the opening to the closing… just amazing.” Protagonist’s Pub, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Riveting… I was completely engrossed… A tonne of action, plenty of twists and turns, and enough drama to keep you feverishly turning the pages.” Readers Retreat “An exhilarating action thriller… Fast-paced and engaging.” DP Reads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A fast-paced action thriller with a lot of twists and turns that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end… The main character Marco is amazing!” Goodreads reviewer “How on earth did I miss book 1? What a travesty!… Mix of priest & James Bond… Fast paced, tightly crafted, great characters.” Nikki's Book Nook, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Great action-packed novel… Pulled me in from the first page. There was so much action… I highly recommend” Just Read Jess, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Wow… non-stop packed action from the very start… I just couldn't put it down” Spooky's Maze of Books “Fantastic… A blistering read that won’t disappoint.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Has you nailed to your seat. I was very happy to meet this James Bond dressed in a cassock.” B for Bookreview, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Someone needs to make this into a television series!… An enthralling page turner with so many twist and turns it is a rollercoaster ride from start to finish” Splashes into Books

The enduring heart of Roman Catholicism for over 1500 years, the Vatican is both a physical and a spiritual place. It is also the world’s smallest sovereign state–covering a mere square kilometer of land within Rome. But within that small area is a region rich in secrets, conspiracies, and intrigue. SECRETS OF THE VATICAN flings open the Vatican’s doors to reveal the hub of one of the world’s most powerful organizations. The book profiles the Vatican’s political status as Europe’s last absolute dominion and its unique independence: Vatican City boasts its own citizenship, flap, postage stamp, mercenary security force, diplomatic corps, and cash machines that offer the Vatican Bank’s services–in Latin. The book also reveals how this tiny country runs its business from year to year–and why Vatican City has the highest crime rate per capita of any nation in the world. The Vatican is the spiritual focus for the world’s one billion Catholics; it is also the focus of many less-than-spiritual conspiracy theories, ranging from allegations of press censorship, racketeering, and money-laundering to outright murder. SECRETS OF THE VATICAN examines the evidence behind these allegations and draws its own conclusions as to the Papacy’s continuing influence in the world.

A journalist's twenty-year fascination with the Manson murders leads to "gobsmacking" (The Ringer) new revelations about the FBI's involvement in this "kaleidoscopic" (The New York Times) reassessment of an infamous case in American history. Over two grim nights in Los Angeles, the young followers of Charles Manson murdered seven people, including the actress Sharon Tate, then eight months pregnant. With no mercy and seemingly no motive, the Manson Family followed their leader's every order -- their crimes lit a flame of paranoia across the nation, spelling the end of the sixties. Manson became one of history's most infamous criminals, his name forever attached to an era when charlatans mixed with prodigies, free love was as possible as brainwashing, and utopia -- or dystopia -- was just an acid trip away. Twenty years ago, when journalist Tom O'Neill was reporting a magazine piece about the murders, he worried there was nothing new to say. Then he unearthed shocking evidence of a cover-up behind the "official" story, including police carelessness, legal misconduct, and potential surveillance by intelligence agents. When a tense interview with Vincent Bugliosi -- prosecutor of the Manson Family and author of Helter Skelter -- turned a friendly source into a nemesis, O'Neill knew he was onto something. But every discovery brought more questions: Who were Manson's real friends in Hollywood, and how far would they go to hide their ties? Why didn't law enforcement, including Manson's own parole officer, act on their many chances to stop him? And how did Manson -- an illiterate ex-con -- turn a group of peaceful hippies into remorseless killers? O'Neill's quest for the truth led him from reclusive celebrities to seasoned spies, from San Francisco's summer of love to the shadowy sites of the CIA's mind-control experiments, on a trail rife with shady cover-ups and suspicious coincidences. The product of two decades of reporting, hundreds of new interviews, and dozens of never-before-seen documents from the LAPD, the FBI, and the CIA, Chaos mounts an argument that could be, according to Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Steven Kay, strong enough to overturn the verdicts on the Manson murders. This is a book that overturns our understanding of a pivotal time in American history.

Catherine Turrell, an intriguing and courageous young French woman, was drawn into the Opus Dei at a low point in her life. By the time she tries to leave, she has learned much more about its illicit Vatican Bank finances than the organization's leaders ever wanted her to find out. Catherine is desperate to move on from her past, but when the corrupt Vatican Chief Secretary unleashes a plot to make himself the next Pope using a relic linked to Jesus Christ Himself, only she can stop him. At Catherine's side is a scholarly priest and Stephen Hathaway, an American from the top level of the Opus Dei who has the knowledge to help her take on its leaders, their Mason friends and Knight bankers. With an assassin on their trail and time running out, Catherine races to find a secret which, in the wrong hands, could destroy the Catholic Church. Set against the backdrop of a 1990s Conclave in Rome, The Vatican Boys is an intricate and fast-paced thriller with seismic true events at its core.

Revised edition: This edition of The Relic Hunters includes editorial revisions.

When a little cat is taken captive by a pair of robbers it sets in motion not just a grand rescue operation but also the beginning of lasting friendships and adventures on the high seas. Join Fall Landon Sully as his journey to fulfill his destiny is begun when he crosses paths with the mysterious Pirate with a Heart of Gold!