Five years ago, when I debuted my first thriller novel, I had no idea where my protagonist Marko Zorn would take me. It’s been a wild ride — from Big Pharma boardrooms to a far-right underworld and now to a secret society, Holy Death, plotting to infiltrate the Vatican. In Day of Wrath, Marko investigates the murder of a cardinal in his own cathedral and soon finds himself navigating a world of incense and stained glass, hidden motives and a mystery steeped in history.
While writing the novel, I read widely about corruption, extremism and abuses of power connected to the Catholic church. It turns out there are many gripping books on the subject. Some examine insular religious movements and institutional wrongdoing through memoir and investigative journalism, while others use fiction to explore what can happen when faith becomes entangled with secrecy, ambition and even violence.
I’ve long believed that novels can tell the deepest truths, exposing the dangers of corruption in our world today. So, even as I am disappointed in the current political and social climate, the following books give me hope. They show that investigators, survivors, writers and whistleblowers are out there, working to expose wrongdoing and bring about justice.
Waiting for the Apocalypse: A Memoir of Faith and Family by Veronica Chater
This memoir by Veronica Chater begins in 1972 when she was a little girl. Through vivid storytelling, Chater recounts her family’s move from California to an isolated area of Portugal in response to the Vatican II liberalization of the Catholic church — an event her father fears will bring about an apocalypse. The book toggles between sad and funny, depicting the lengths people go to when their faith is shaken and the people lurking around the corner waiting to take advantage of them.
Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy Inside the Catholic Church by Gareth Gore
This deep dive into the extremist right-wing Catholic cult Opus Dei shows how corrupt things can get when no one is looking. Investigative journalist Gareth Gore was assigned to write about the collapse of a bank, and what he found was much more than that. For decades, Opus Dei was secretly controlling the Spanish “Banco Popular,” which closed down suspiciously overnight in 2017. The cult contributed to right-wing causes like the overturning of Roe v. Wade and lured unsuspecting recruits into a life of servitude. Authors like Gore are integral to keeping true democracy alive, exposing secrets to the light of day until they have no more shadows to hide in.
Masses and Motets: A Francesca Fruscella Mystery by Jeffrey DeShell
This book stands out as a story of murder and corruption in the Catholic church told through beautiful works of service music and writing by Catholic priests. What happens when religion is perverted by the intoxication of power? When “faith” becomes a cloak worn by evil to fool the masses? While many sects contribute beautiful hymns and stories to the culture at large, these, too, can become tools of manipulation in the wrong hands. When a religion gnarls into a cult, it is used as a weapon and playground for those who are nefarious, not godly.
Lost Souls by Lisa Jackson
The path one takes toward God is the most treacherous of all. And, at least in this case, not only emotionally, but physically. In Jackson’s novel, young women who are already vulnerable become targets when they wander spiritually, looking for a savior. Twenty-seven-year-old Kristi Bentz has survived more than one attempt on her life. Despite her father pleading with her to stay safe, she begins an amateur undercover investigation into a cult that may be murdering young girls at the Catholic school All Saints College. Soon she realizes she may be in over her head, and the killer’s desires are stronger and more evil than she could’ve imagined. Terrifying and intriguing, Jackson masterfully keeps the reader enthralled. Spiritual seekers, be careful what you believe in and remain vigilant for signs of exploitation.
Strange Gods: A Novel About Faith, Murder, Sin and Redemption by Peter J. Daly and John F. Myslinski
Strange Gods centers on Nate Condon, a New York attorney, investigating several violent deaths of cardinals in the Catholic church. The murders escalate throughout the investigation, and a new kind of pope — an American — is named His Holiness. This is a classic story of good versus evil. What strikes me most about this book is not just the plot, but that its authors are two Catholic priests who do not shy away from exposing the methods and motives behind Church cover-ups. While this is a work of fiction, it contains very strong suggestions of what they’ve witnessed during their years in the clergy.
