Fantastico! The Vatican Conspiracy is a rip roaring thriller that doesn't come up for air from beginning to end. Full of plot twists, magnificent characters and a great main theme this one meets all the standards you'd expect from a thriller.

I love reading thrillers set in the Vatican and this book is right up with the best of them. Now that Peter Hogenkamp has set his bar so highly it will definitely be a hard task to follow this conspiracy. Father Marco Venetti is a brilliant protagonist and is easily relatable. I love him and can't wait to see what he comes up with next! No ordinary priest Marco is a former Naval Officer (Italian Navy) so he definitely knows how to look after himself and those around him! He'll need everything he has to come through this one and save the day!

Can't wait for the next book now!

Excellent read and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Interesting plot and very well developed. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author, Peter Hogenkamp, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of The Vatican Conspiracy in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I was drawn to the book by the premise of the storyline. Am so glad I got a chance to read it!
The storyline was well thought out. The characters were well drawn, especially Father Marco. It keeps you on the edge of your seat until you arrive at the finish. I can't wait for more from this author.
Well worth a read.

Awesome start to (I hope) a series of intriguing European mysteries. Great characters that are likeable and relatable, while remaining full of secrets and skills. The pace is high so I found I read it very quickly, wanting to know what would happen next. I appreciated the twists and turns right until the end. More please x

Through Net Galley, I was afforded the opportunity to read a copy of The Vatican Conspiracy by Peter Hogenkamp in exchange for a review. Marco Vanetti is a priest with a past. To protect the women he once loved, he is forced to forget all of his vows and embrace his darker past. What begins as a kidnapping and possible terrorist attack, turns into much more. Gritty, action filled and fast paced, this book was a bit of a throwback novel. If you are looking for non-stop action with the fate of the world at stake, this one fits the bill.

Talk about a real gripping thriller.

The Vatican conspiracy was a nonstop read for me. From the first page I just couldn’t put it down.

I mean, spies and intricate suspenseful moments where a priest is our main hero and a heroine that keeps him on his toes, it’s more than I have expected from this story.

Full of intrigue, fast-paced moments and twists that won’t stop, kept me on the edge throughout the book with each page turned and I honestly can’t wait for the next books in the series because the author has set the bar high with this new must read series.

Marco Venetti is a priest with a past. One of passion and peril. Now he is settled into his church life until one day his former love Elena arrives to give confession. Her family are being held hostage and she wants absolution for the crimes that will result from her efforts to free them. Marco jumps into action to save Elena and becomes embroiled in a conspiracy to counter a plot to murder the pope.
It has been a while since I've read an action thriller and I really enjoyed it! The mission makes completely compelling reading and the tension built over the course of the book.
Marco's spirituality and the realism of his human nature were explored convincingly. I also loved the words of wisdom from the pope in relation to the battle against terrorism and the state of the world today. Marco feels torn between his faith and his feelings. He is a really likeable character who does what is right but not always easy, and appreciates the nuances of his actions. His awareness of the consequences for himself and the world make his decision making processes interesting.
The European settings were enjoyable and the lack of a British or American lead made this book feel quite unique. The inclusion of a black pope and the Nigerian Boko Haram added another dimension to the book which felt inspired and original. The ethical and moral dynamic resonates through the events of the book. Religion and politics are inextricably connected and explored in a sensitive way.
The Vatican Conspiracy was a tense and interesting thriller. There is plenty of scope for future books and I look forward to reading more from Peter Vogenkamp soon...

The action in this book is relentless. The main character in the book is someone you cheer for throughout the entire book. If you enjoy action thrillers with historical facts you will enjoy this book. Anyone who is a fan of Dan Brown and Steve Berry will enjoy this author. I am looking forward to the next one!

Father Marco Venetti is living a quiet life as a Roman Catholic priest after a career in the Italian Navy. Then one afternoon, Elena, the woman for whom he broke his vow of celibacy, enters his confessional. From there he’s on a thrilling conspiracy adventure to save Vatican City.

Marco is a great character and is developed quite well. The plot had many twists and turns and Marco is a very likable hero. The author was able to combine romance, action, religion, and conspiracy successfully. I think this will be an enjoyable series.

Unfortunately I was unable to gel with this book and haven’t been able to finish.
I will not be writing a negative review as that is unfair to the author and I will revisit this as I’m aware I’m a mood reader. Updated review to follow.

A fine debut in a new series!

Marco Venetti - scratch that, Father Marco Venetti - is a former sailor in the Italian Navy. Not just a sailor, though: his has the skillset of a special forces member. This skillset isn't often necessary in his current job, but when his ex shows up, carrying stories of human trafficking, it's a good thing he has them.

Venetti is a good character - he's not happy about taking lives, and he's a bit on the fence about his vows and weighing those against helping Elena. It's nice to have a main character whose flaws and hangups do not involve them being stalked by serial killers and the like. Venetti's introspection revolves around him taking proactive steps in life (before this book begins and within it) versus having the forces of life act upon him.

The action begins on the first page and doesn't let up. As with most conspiracies, there's more than just the surface level in play.

If you like Dan Brown or Gregg Hurwitz - an odd pairing, I know, but trust me on this - you'll enjoy this one.

A solid four out of five stars.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the review copy.

A brilliant plot, fantastic characters, a book full of action - this will have your heart racing!  

Marco is a brilliant character.  A Jesuit priest who is ex forces, and is a dab hand with a gun!  He's definitely like the priest version of Jame Bond!  He seems to be quite complex and constantly battles with his own feelings and actions.  But actually these things just make him come across as 'just a man' - feelings that actually are very normal....just maybe not for a Priest!  I absolutely loved the Pope and thought he was a fantastic character.  Sarah and Elena are both fantastic strong and powerful women - although they can come across as a bit cold at times, I really warmed to them both.  And there are some proper shady characters in this.....I'll leave you to read about them for yourselves!

I enjoyed the storyline, although it took me a while to settle into the book.  At first I found it quite confusing keeping up with who was who, and with what was happening.  If you're a big action fan though, this may not be a problem for you.  The action is full on from the beginning so be prepared to get sucked straight in.

The other thing I struggled with was the descriptions of streets and places.  I've never been to Vatican City and had no idea of where I was or what was going on.  But if you have been I can imagine that you could play this out in your mind superbly!  As for the descriptions of the scenery, these were well done and enjoyable to read.

Overall, a good action thriller that will keep you on your toes.  If it takes you a while to get into it it's definitely worth persevering...I was so glad I did!  If you're a fan of action then you will love this!  So if you're looking for your next action packed read with some fantastic characters then check this out.  I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for Book 2!

When it comes to Vatican it's hard to think about a conspiracy that is more complex than reality due to what happened in the recent financial scandal.
Peter Hogenkamp delivers a fast paced, action packed and highly entertaining story and imagine a very complex conspiracy that could be quasi realistic and it's a lot of fun to follow the twists and turns.
Marco Venetti in an unusual priest that mixes traits of an action hero with those of a weird parish priest. He's a likable and interesting characters and I'm very curious to know what will do in the future books.
The author is an excellent storyteller and I turned pages as fast as I could trying to keep pace with the plot.
The character and plot development are excellent and even if the plot leave no loose end it also leave enough unsolved part to be solved in a future book.
I loved the description of the places and I loved the Cinque Terre setting, a place I always considered excellent for a romance and not for a thriller. And it works well as a thriller setting.
There's a lot going on in this book and I think it's a highly entertaining story that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Might as well say it up front. If you’re a fan of Dan Brown and Steve Berry, you do not want to miss this new series. Father Marco Venetti is as unlikely a hero as Robert Langdon. But where Langdon uses his smarts, Father Marco has a different set of skills.
He’s still plenty smart and wily, but he’s also a former member of the Italian Navy (having been rewarded its highest award for valor. His military skills aren’t much needed in his small coastal parish.
But when his former lover shows up with tales of kidnapping and human trafficking, he cannot resist helping her. And it’s a good thing he does. From the very opening scenes aboard her boat this book kept me hooked; the action never completely let up. Even in between the heavy action scenes, there was still tension.
I thought that the choice of main character was interesting because he was fighting an internal war between his vows/faith, his dedication to Elena, and the task at hand. And boy, is that a good one. The title of the book pretty much tells you what it is.
In light of current world situations, and with what happened at Notre-Dame last year, this was a very timely topic. It was well-researched and detailed with enough information to make it plausible and not just “Hollywood” thriller.
Honestly, I don’t want to give anything away. I enjoyed this book because I didn’t read anything about it before – I went from the description and the title. Sometimes I think it’s better that way.
As I said at the outset, if you are a fan of Dan Brown, you definitely want to get in on the ground floor of this exciting new series.

The Vatican Conspiracy is like an fast-paced action thriller movie placed into a novel. Peter Hogenkamp’s writing takes you on an adventure with Marco Venetti, an Italian priest of a sleepy village within the country. But when he’s visited by his former temptress, Elena, he’s sucked into a world where he is forced to use his former navy training to take out terrorists who are trying to assassinate the pope and annihilate Vatican City.

I enjoyed reading about Marco’s struggle between his guilt for killing but also accepting that he has a mission sanctioned by the Church to help protect it and ridding the world of the bad guys. It was interesting to have Marco’s past kills haunt him every so often to the point that he is brought back right into those moments that his senses are overwhelmed with the sights, smells and emotions of them. It also brought the light that fact that Marco is human and has desires himself that he internally struggles against as he is a priest. But who knew a priest could have such high tactical skills to take down a group of terrorists along with a group of colleagues? It was such an interesting concept that made this an entertaining story.

It is an ordinary day in Father Marco Venetti’s quiet coastal parish but the woman who’s come to confess is not ordinary. Marco has always been drawn to beautiful Elena, and she brings news that will shatter his peace. Elena’s sister and daughter have been kidnapped, to force her to bring a gang of ruthless men into the country—if she doesn’t, her family will be brutally killed. But if she obeys, many more innocents will die… In her desperation she turns to Marco, knowing his time in the military has given him the skills she needs. A terrifying battle on a rocky island offshore leaves no survivors. But after the last man is dead, Marco finds a note on one of the men’s bodies, a map that reveals their ultimate goal: a deadly terrorist attack on the Vatican City itself.
This is a new author to me & also the first in a new series. A well written fast paced book with a Roman Catholic priest unlike no other but strangely I was drawn to Marco & really liked him. A read that often had me on the edge of my seat but also a book that I found very hard to put down. I love an action packed thriller & this didn’t disappoint it also had plenty of twists & turns that I didn’t see coming. I look forward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The Vatican Conspiracy is the first instalment in the Marco Venetti Thriller series, based in Vatican City. Former military hero turned Roman Catholic priest Father Marco Venetti is content taking the confessions of his flock and hosting mass in a small coastal parish overlooking the Ligurian sea when a woman enters the confessions box seeking absolution for her sins, but Venetti recognises her voice immediately. How could he forget Elena, the woman he broke his vow of celibacy for 4 years ago. Elena seems penitent and is in deep trouble as somehow she has gotten involved with Ndrangheta, an organised crime syndicate reminiscent of the mafia and the most powerful crime group in Italy. Elena is beside herself as they have abducted both her daughter and sister and believes Marco is the only one who can help get them back safely given his vast military experience and the award he received from the Italian Navy for Military Valour. But whilst investigating the kidnappings they stumble on a plan for a terrorist attack aimed at killing the Pope and bringing down the Catholic Church, which apparently would be happening in a few hours time.

And so begins a crazy and frantic mission. But can one man really confront and win against a ruthless mob who are renowned for their extreme violence? Can they stop a serious act of terrorism while rescuing the two hostages in the process? This was a riveting read right from the start and the plot was so well constructed that I was completely engrossed in it and my attention never wavered. The juxtaposition between the protagonist's past employment as a member of the Italian Navy and his current work as a priest added a thought-provoking element to the whole story by asking can killing ever be justified if it will save many lives in the process. Father Marco wrestles with this question throughout, which makes for interesting reading. There is a tonne of action, plenty of twists and turns, and enough drama to keep you feverishly turning the pages. I particularly enjoyed the fact that this is an original thriller and Father Venetti is an unusual central figure and is superbly wrought. I'm already looking forward to book two. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.

The Vatican Conspiracy by Peter Hogankamp is the start of the Marco Venetti Thriller series. It is a fast paced, action packed, adrenaline inducing book. Peter Hogankamp has written a book that is a cross-genre one. He has included, action, romance, religion and even a political conspiracy in this book. He has intricately weaved everything together and created almost a masterpiece within his work.

Marco Venetti is a priest in a sleepy seaside town, what we learn is that Marco is no normal priest, he was an officer in the Italian Navy and the day we meet him is no ordinary confession day. Elena, a who is very aware of Marco's military past and his ex-lover, arrives at confession and tells him her daughter and sister are being held hostage while she is forced to bring some ruthless and violent Arab men into the country. She knows either one is not the answer so turns to Marco.
Marco goes on a killing spree and releases Elena's family but also discovers a plot pinpointing The Vatican City for a terrorist attack that is planned within the next two hours.The Saudi Prince that seemingly is behind the attack is also planning to get hus hands on two nuclear weapons, but it seema that there is someone higher than the Prince in the pecking order and he is also following orders.
This thriller is set within the of the higher echelons of the Catholic Church and that of international Diplomacy where, all the dodgy deals take place and assassinations are agreed too.The ultimate power is quite clearly shown to be with the Catholic Church with it's influence it may be used to fulfil any objective it wishes even if it isn't conducive to the church's official objective. Peter Hogenkamp uses some real organisations and issues as well as fictitious alongside, I liked this touch in the book, examples are Boko Haram, Russian spies, CIA, saudi princes and more.I could imagine the fictitious ones sitting side by side with thw real problems of today.
Father Marco is now working outside of his Priesthood, how will he face these decisions he has to make with a clear conscience?Is he able to actually do what he needs to in order to get rid of the ruthless enemy he has found himself facing?
A gripping book with a main character who is outside the norm for a hero, and still comes across as relatable and I found I had empathy for him in his capacity as a priest being faced with an impossible choice.The ending of the book was open ended in readiness for the next book to come along and just smoothly carry on.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalleyfor the copy of this book for me to write this review today.

'A vatican Conspiracy', is a very engaging thriller that will keep you hooked till we come to know what happens in the end.

This is the first time that I am reading a book by this author and I really liked the way the story has been plotted and written

The story of a priest with a military background. The confession and request of Elena whom he is otherwise also intrigued by leads to his involvement in the prevention of an attack on The vatican. To his surprise he gets in roped into greater mysteries as he comes to know that the attempt does not stop at one attempted attack.
I got hooked on to the book and was really curious to know how the conspiracy ends. It was worth the excitement and time.

The characterisation is good, especially of the main character Marco and I hope to see him in future stories. The plot is interesting and it brings out many other issues to the fore.

I would recommend this book to all those who like to read conspiracy thrillers . Marco is a character who has made a place in my heart due to his abilities and also due to his vulnerabilities. Am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I thank the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for approving my request to read and review this book. The views expressed are entirely mine.

This is the start would will no doubt be a fantastic series. The main character is Father Marco Venetti. A catholic priest with a Military background.
After a confession by Elena. A woman he could not leave the church for. He finds himself on a race to save her sister and daughter who have been kidnapped by mafia. This leads to him discovering a plot to bring down the Pope and Vatician City in a terror act.
A blistering read that wont disappoint.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review