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The Order by Daniel Silva
Gabriel Allon is trying to enjoy some rest and relaxation with his family in Venice when he learns that an old friend has died. As it happens, this old friend was Pope Paul VII, and it's not long before Allon is summoned by the pontiff's personal secretary. Archbishop Luigi Donati has reason to believe that the Holy Father did not die a natural death.
For each of the past several summers, Silva has delivered a thriller that seems to be ripped from the headlines. This latest book feels, at first, like something of a throwback.
Palace intrigue at the Vatican might seem quaint compared to Islamic extremism or Russia's rise as an international influence, but Silva makes it relevant and compelling.
Allon discovers that the most likely culprits in the death of the pope are connected to far-right leaders throughout Europe, and the rediscovery of a lost Gospel sheds new light on Christian anti-Semitism. The villains here are Catholic traditionalists -- Silva's imaginary Paul VII looks a lot like the real-life Francis I -- and "populist" politicians who appeal to nativist, anti-globalist sympathies.
As Silva looks at European contempt for a new wave of immigrants from Africa, the Middle East and Asia, he finds a model for this xenophobia in ancient hatred of the Jewish people, an antipathy that has its roots in the New Testament. He interjects a few Bible studies lessons and offers a bit of history as background; these passages add depth without impeding the forward momentum of the plot.
Readers familiar with this series may notice the evolution of a motif introduced a few novels ago: In the world of Gabriel Allon, the United States has receded from relevance on the world stage. You can find this in our Adult Fiction section.
I didn't know the library did that! We now offer you access to RBdigital, an eAudio book service that is free and has NO WAIT LISTS! Yes, you really read that correctly! Start by finding the RBdigital app in your app store or visit the website: http://juniata.rbdigital.com/
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Vince Giordano has been the director of the Juniata County Library since 2015. Support the library today! Visit www.juniatalibrary.org/donate.