The Third Secret

A Novel of Suspense

By: Steve Berry

Narrated by: L.J. Ganser

Explosive in both its pace and its revelations, The Third Secret is a remarkable international thriller. Best-selling author Steve Berry tackles some of the most controversial ideas of our time in a breakneck journey through the history of the Church and the future of religion.

Fatima, Portugal, 1917: The Virgin Mary appears to three peasant children, sharing with them three secrets, two of which are soon revealed to the world. The third secret is sealed away in the Vatican, read only by popes, and not disclosed until the year 2000. When revealed, its quizzical tone and anticlimactic nature leave many faithful wondering if the Church has truly unveiled all of the Virgin Mary's words - or if a message far more important has been left in the shadows.

Vatican City, present day: Papal secretary Father Colin Michener is concerned for the Pope. Night after restless night, Pope Clement XV enters the Vatican's Riserva, the special archive open only to popes, where the Church's most clandestine and controversial documents are stored. Though unsure of the details, Michener knows that the Pope's distress stems from the revelations of Fatima.

Equally concerned, but not out of any sense of compassion, is Alberto Cardinal Valendrea, the Vatican's Secretary of State. Valendrea desperately covets the papacy, having narrowly lost out to Clement at the last conclave. Now the Pope's interest in Fatima threatens to uncover a shocking ancient truth that Valendrea has kept to himself for many years.

When Pope Clement sends Michener to the Romanian highlands, then to a Bosnian holy site, in search of a priest - possibly one of the last people on Earth who knows Mary's true message - a perilous set of events unfolds. Michener finds himself embroiled in murder, suspicion, suicide, deceit, and his forbidden passion for a beloved woman. In a desperate search for answers, he travels to Pope Clement's birthplace in Germany, where he learns that the third secret of Fatima may dictate the very fate of the Church - a fate now lying in Michener's own hands.

©2005 Steve Berry (P)2005 Random House Audio

Keep your values and belief systems to yourself !!

Would you try another book from Steve Berry and/or L.J. Ganser?

I have read more than ten books from Steve Berry and am a fervent fan of Cotton Malone, and have and will read more of his books if he keeps his moralistic pretentions to himself.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I am a dozen authors I follow closely and what will be read next depends on who produces the next book.

Have you listened to any of L.J. Ganser’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

L.J Ganser performed well with this audiobook. I am sorry, but did not find him to be extraordinary, but overall did a fine job.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Third Secret?

I think Steve Berry's craftsmanship when writing a book is overall excellent. His stories are creative and entertaining. Do I think he is John Stuart Mill or James Madison? No, but he writes a fast paced, entertaining tale and I do not have specific parts of this book I would eliminate if I had the choice. I do have a significant problem with the morals he is trying to thrust upon others.

Any additional comments?

I have never written any extended comments on the thousands of books I have read in my life; however, I feel compelled to do so in this case. Steve Berry used the mystery surrounding the third secret of Fatima to deliver his beliefs on homosexuality, gay marriage and abortion. As one might assume, I differ in opinion from him. However, I thrive in a world where others disagree with my belief system, and love open, prolonged discussions on these topics and many others. However, to couch his beliefs under the premise that the Virgin Mary speaking for the triune Godhead says that it is moral and correct to engage in homosexuality, approves of same sex marriages and that abortions are fine if the mother feels compelled to do so is beyond the pale. Steve and everyone else has a right to independently live their lives as they wish and to believe what they wish; however, there is nothing in the Bible that supports these. The book exposes how the Catholic Church and not Biblical Doctrine negate women in the role of Clergy, and this is an accurate and correct interpretation of the Holy Word and the historicity of Catholocism and I agree with him in this. It is when he takes his moral beliefs and prefaces them as Biblical and Judeo Christian truths ignored by the Papacy that Steve Berry greatly crosses the line of having personally held views and attempting to impose those cloaked as the Third secret of Fatima to others that reeks of a fatuous attempt at manipulation. Steve, I will continue to read your books if you abstain from doing this in the future. Keep doing what you do so well in spinning yarns we all enjoy. If you wish to proffer your belief system to others, do it in a venue that expressly exists to do this, do not covertly try to impose your belief system on others. Certainly do not do so under the umbrella that your morals are in line with unspoken Christian ideals, they simply are not.