Part of Cotton Malone, book 14
First published 2019
Cotton Malone enjoys the tranquil shores of Lake Como when his vacation takes a sharp turn. The former Justice Department operative discovers that legendary correspondence between Winston Churchill and Benito Mussolini vanished in 1945, and these letters could reshape historical understanding. Malone tracks down the documents but loses them to another party, launching him into a dangerous pursuit. Meanwhile, the pope has died and cardinals gather in Rome for the conclave. One cardinal abandons the Vatican and flees to Malta, searching for an ancient document from Constantine the Great's era in the 4th century. The Knights of Malta enter the chase, a humanitarian organization descended from medieval warrior-monks. Hidden within their ranks operates the Secreti, an ancient faction plotting to influence the papal election. Magellan Billet agent Luke Daniels joins Malone as they race against the rogue cardinal, the knights, and time itself. Their quest leads them through centuries of buried secrets toward a final confrontation within Vatican walls, where the selection of the next pope hangs in the balance.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, mystery, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Lake Como, Malta, Rome, Vatican
Period: 1945, 4th Century
401 pages · Hardcover · Minotaur Books