The Fifth Gospel

A Novel

By: Ian Caldwell

Narrated by: Jack Davenport

In Ian Caldwell's masterful follow-up to his international sensation The Rule of Four, a lost Gospel, a contentious relic, and a dying pope's final wish converge to send two brothers--both Vatican priests--on an intellectual quest to untangle Christianity's greatest historical mystery.

Now, after a decade of painstaking primary research, Ian Caldwell returns with a new intellectual thriller that confirms his place among the most ambitious popular storytellers working today.

In 2004, as Pope John Paul II's reign enters its twilight, a mysterious exhibit is under construction at the Vatican Museums. A week before it is scheduled to open, its curator is murdered at a clandestine meeting on the outskirts of Rome. The same night a violent break-in rocks the home of the curator's research partner, Father Alex Andreou, a Greek Catholic priest who lives inside the Vatican with his five-year-old son. When the papal police fail to identify a suspect in either crime, Father Alex, desperate to keep his family safe, undertakes his own investigation. To find the killer he must reconstruct the dead curator's secret: what the four Christian Gospels-- and a little-known, true-to-life fifth Gospel known as the Diatessaron--reveal 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 world's two largest Christian Churches, Father Alex finds himself hunted down by someone with vested stakes in the exhibit--someone he must outwit to survive.

At once a riveting literary thriller, a feast of biblical history and scholarship, and a moving family drama, The Fifth Gospel is a novel about the depths of sacrifice and the power of forgiveness. Rich, authentic, erudite, and emotionally searing, it satisfies on every level.

©2015 Ian Caldwell. All rights reserved. (P)2015 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Davenport offers a nuanced narration whether delivering Simon's secretive manner or Alex's pragmatic one.... Caldwell's uncluttered, thoughtful writing and Davenport's performance make worthwhile listening." (AudioFile)

Yes, but, "Been There; Done That"

Ian Caldwell is definitely a better writer than Dan Brown. He creates here a Vatican that breathes reality, and a Church that is rich in its beliefs and in its complexity. The characters have sincerity and could inhabit such a rarefied atmosphere. Church officials are especially well drawn and there are moments of great feeling.

Also, this is one of those books that takes you immediately to reviews of the work, details of the author's research, and wikipedia - loved being introduced to ancient manuscripts, unfamiliar branches of the Catholic Church, and new "evidence" about controversies like that surrounding the Shroud of Turin.

But there's no denying that there is much of the "deja vu" feeling about "The Fifth Gospel." Intriguing and thoughtful it may be, but it has been done before.

So a recommendation here is tricky. If you like religious and literary mysteries (with or without the conspiracy theories), then I'm pretty sure you'll like this. I went along quite willingly with the story and with the really wonderful narration of Jack Davenport.

gives one hope of a new beguining

I'm learning all over again the simplicity and necessity of faith. OPEN your heart

Interesting plot

Needed editing.. Very stop and go story line.... Could easily have been two hours shorter.

waste of time if you are already a bible scholar

I don't use my theology degree, but this book seemed more of a new testament class than a murder mystery or mystery of the shroud. Already knew how to read the gospels in parallels thanks.

excellent

First time author. This work tells the fictional story of two brothers, both priests, exploring the Diatessaron, the "fifth" gospel, and how it might lead to reconciliation between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. A real theology aficionado would probably get more pure enjoyment out this book. But I had never listened to a book that gave me a mored detailed description of the Vatican and life there, the workings of the Catholic church at its very highest levels, and the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and a possible fifth pospel. The author spun a good work of fiction, had some good intrigue, likable characters, and I blew through it pretty quickly. I'll look forward to my next book from this author, I really enjoyed this one.

Use of the Vatican setting was well done

Good use of east/west church history as the context of the story line. The mystery was adequate, but the strength of the story is in the setting and characters.

Initially Enjoyed. Then Became Tiresome.

You may enjoy this novel if you want to learn a lot about the orthodox vs. Catholic split in the Christian church. Initially I was interested but the novel went on and on and on. Glad when it was finally over.

This was an excellent story. very well done.

An edge of your seat thriller and page turner so to speak of course. the narration was superb.

each would-be ending got more tense

There seemed to be about four different times the story could have ended... each one getting tenser! The speaker's voice was very soothing, but sometimes a little bit slow and agonizing, at least to me. But that might have been the story itself.
Intriguing premise, especially if Christian theology and the historicity of Jesus is of interest.

A beautiful story

A story that creates a need in me to know more about the scriptures and how to read them. The story of the love of family is really well done.