Daniel Byrne, who investigates miracles for the Vatican, finds himself in a pickle when he's sent to look into his uncle Tim Trinity. Good old Tim has been selling scams for years but now something else is happening- and can he be responsible for good things? Hah. There's murder, scams, social commentary, and humor in this one. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. it's fun to have a different sort of protagonist.

I received this free from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
Daniel Byrne, a priest, who is the Devil's Advocate at the Vatican, goes out an tries to determine if reports of miracles are actual miracles. The latest case he is investigating is Tim Trinity, an evangelist, who has had a very profitable "ministry" for many years, has suddenly developed the ability to speak in tongues. The only problem is Byrne know this man, he's the uncle who raised him. He also knows hat he's a con artist. As events go along perhaps this time he's telling the truth. There is conspiracies, murder, an old romance, and questions galore. An intriguing read. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.

I was so looking forward to reading and reviewing this book. It turned out to be one of those life changing moments where you start to question your own pre-conceived ideas of what and how you think is going to happen.

The plot was reasonably good with characters that just didn't warm themselves or talk to me.

I'm sorry I wasted a good few hours trying to make sense of the story

Blackbird

Daniel Byrne is a priest attached to the Office of the Devil's Advocate at the Vatican. That's the office that argues the negative case in the process of approving a new Catholic saint. (Christopher Hitchens most famously was a Devil's Advocate in the examination of Mother Theresa.)

Father Byrne is charged with investigating reports of miracles around the globe. It is completely unclear how he came to be in this job after only four years in the priesthood, if we are to believe the math in the book, but that's the story. Father Byrne is one of the Church's best investigators, cleverly tracking down false claims wherever they arise, but he keeps an open mind, always hoping against hope that some day he will find a miracle that will prove that God acts in our world.

Well, one day he finds one. The uncle who raised him, Tim Trinity, now the leader of a Pentecostal mega church, is delivering prophesies on TV. Father Byrne is sent to investigate and is knocked for a loop by the power of memory as he is thrown back into his childhood following his con artist uncle from revival to revival extracting cash from sinners. But when he meets his uncle he finds a changed man. One who really seems to be speaking prophesies. What is going on? How is he managing the con? Why would God's chosen predict horse races?

The mob, understandably upset at the prospect of gambling losses, blows up Tim's church and Daniel hits the road with uncle Tim in tow. But the mob isn't the most dangerous foe, the church doesn't want Tim's story told either.

I think the book would have been pretty good if Mr. Chercover had left it at that but he brings in another thread, two opposing secret organizations (think Masons or Templars), one seeming good, one seeming evil, to carry us into the trilogy. I think this thread drags the book down unnecessarily.

I received a review copy of "The Trinity Game: The Daniel Byrne Trilogy, Book 1" by Sean Chercover (Thomas & Mercer) through NetGalley.com.

Super thriller with the Catholic Church to the forefront and hints of voodoo thrown in to keep the pot boiling. A typical American preacher suddenly appears to have the power of foresight predicting disasters and sport results with uncanny accuracy,his long lost nephew now a catholic priest and debunker of miracles is sent to refute his claims and so our ride begins. Cleverly told this is an entertaining yarn well worth the reading!

A mystery that didn't keep my interest although the plot is a clever idea. It will no doubt appeal to some but don't read if you don't like bad language as there really is an abundance of it! I'm not sure it's worth two more sequels as the author has planned & just hope there are fewer coincidences in the follow on books perhaps.

Daniel Byrne has spent his life searching for meaning. Feeling betrayed by his huckster, tent revivalist preacher uncle, Byrne runs away from him for the tender mercies of the Catholic Church. Nurtured through adolescence and into seminary, always encouraged and loved by his priests/ fathers/mentors, Daniel is on his way to a stellar career at the Vatican.
When this story opens he an investigator for the Office of the Devil's Advocate (doncha just love that name?), looking to either debunk or find a true miracle. He is sent to investigate his uncle who has earned great wealth for himself by becoming a T.V. preacher. But his uncle Trinity has started speaking in tongues and making predictions. Predictions which brings Trinity to the attention of the mob, the Vatican and a huge number of people looking for guidance. Daniel jumps on the chance to bring his uncle down.
But it's not so easy. Daniel rediscovers his deep denied love for his uncle and for his former girlfriend, now a reporter for the Times Picayune. Daniel also discovers he is a pawn between two opposing forces in the Vatican and the secular version of that same battle.
This books seems to not know quite what it wants to be, meditation on faith and the ways is manifested or perverted, or as a thriller. But it does fine in combining the two.
Chercover does a beautiful job in describing New Orleans, especially the Katrina nightmare and the years afterwards. I am confused about one the bridge names that he uses. Best of all-and this makes me want to dance-he talks about the Mardi Gras Indians. Look them up, worth the time. Unless of course you were a Treme fan. "Won't bow, Don't know how."
I want to slug young Daniel for his whiny feelings of betrayal by his uncle, a man who loved him above all things. I'm glad he grew up to be a much better person. I will miss some of the characters who are only for this book, others I hope return for the subsequent books. Especialy the villains. Chercover's villains are never boring.
This was exciting, well plotted and intelligent. I wish I understood the physics explanations better. I've never gotten past that damn cat.
My favorite quote "Maybe you've been touched by God, maybe you've just gone bat shit crazy."
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

4 and 1 / 2 stars

This is a fast-paced and exciting thriller. Daniel Byrne is an investigator for the Vatican’s Office of the Devil’s Advocate. This is the department of the Vatican that investigates claims of miracles. Daniel has been doing this for a decade and not one of the miracles claimed has been found to be true.

Enter Daniel’s uncle into the picture. He is a smarmy televangelist who is a classic con man. However, he has recently begun to predict events that have turned out to be true – events that really have come about. Daniel is baffled for he knows that his uncle is a con man; nothing more, nothing less. But the Vatican wants him and his predictions investigated.

His uncle is confused and baffled over his new found talent. Now it seems several people want him dead. He is chased all over and with Daniel’s help escapes to New Orleans. He plans to deliver a final earth shattering prophecy and those who oppose him will stop at nothing to prevent him from delivering it.

This is a very well written and plotted novel. Upon reading it, I discovered that I had read this several years ago when it was first published. (Oh bummer!) But I enjoyed it very much then and enjoyed it again this time. The suspense and tension is gradually ratchetted up to the brilliant conclusion. Very well done, Mr. Chercover!

I want to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for forwarding to me a copy of this very fine book to read.

Religious chicanery and conspiracy. I really didn't know where this book was going until near the end. Miracles? Faith? Kind of like a poor man's Da Vinci Code?