Una joven arqueóloga se ve envuelta en una conspiración siniestra que pretende encumbrar el Mal. Un secreto que la Iglesia ha mantenido oculto. Solo ella puede poner fin a la pesadilla antes de que esta se haga realidad.
1139. Al mirar el cielo después del eclipse, el obispo Malaquías tiene una lúcida visión de lo que va a suceder. Ciento doce estrellas brillan sobre la bóveda. Ciento doce papas desde Celestino II hasta el final de la Iglesia. Hasta que los suyos se hagan con el poder…
Roma, 2002. La joven arqueóloga Elisabetta Celestino recibe la noticia de que el Vaticano le prohíbe seguir explorando las catacumbas de San Calixto, donde se ha realizado un extraño hallazgo. Pero, años después, cuando está a punto de realizarse un nuevo cónclave para elegir el que será el papá ciento doce, unos cadáveres han aparecido en esas mismas catacumbas: hombres y mujeres que llevan siglos enterrados y que presentan una extraña anomalía genética…

Niente da fare. Glenn Cooper ha tanta fantasia, belle idee, ma una narrazione banale... a parte il primo libro, questo autore non mi ha preso molto, in questo poi quasi per niente. troppe cose che si capiscono subito, troppi accadimenti banali e troppo stupidi. Il libro si lascia leggere, anche perchè l'idea è buona. Una lettura leggera niente di più. ( )

This was a very fast exciting reading. As always plays Cooper also in this story with combinations of numbers, codes and hidden clues in old books. Also this time plays his plot in different times (from 64 AD - mid-16th century and nowadays) linked together by all the information and events. It is the story of good and evil which by a nun and her relatives and the 'lemures' that embody the diabolical since the beginning. Elisabetta, the nun was formerly archaeologist and came at that time on symbols that she tried to decipher. She bumped unknowingly on a long-kept secret. Her archaeological investigations were stopped abruptly. In this her friend was killed. She entered a convent. By the time she came for the discoveries again. A deadly rivalry began. Even at the very end is not clear whether the 'lemures' are defeated or are weakened. ( )

As a young archaeology student Elisabetta Celestino discovers an interesting array of symbols at a catacomb adjacent to the Vatican. Needing Vatican approval to go ahead with her research and reulting thesis, she is informed by her professor that no such approval will be forthcoming. Ten years later Elisabetta, now a nun, is contacted by the same professor to ask for her help with an excavation of the same catacombs. Reluctantly she agrees. What she discovers not only rocks her faith but could also be the end of all religion and most definitely the end of her beloved Catholic church.

Mr. Cooper has developed a tried and true formula for his books as he tells the story through three time periods. In this case Nero’s Rome, Marlowe’s England and current day. Rather than becoming tired and cookie cutter Mr. Cooper makes his formula work in all four of his books. Strange as it may sound, glimpses of the past to fill in the blanks moves the story along very nicely rather than causing any delay in the ongoing plot. Doing this also allows the reader to have a few secrets the characters have not yet discovered. This is an interesting “tool” in his writing style. It’s quite fun! I have thoroughly enjoyed his books from day one, starting with Library of the Dead. The Devil May Come is no exception.
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After I finished 'Near Death' (also by Glenn Cooper) I rolled right into this book. When I read multiple books by the same author I expect them to run along similar lines, but this book was totally different. This is a historical fiction/ conspiracy thriller. The only similar thing with the other book was that the author manages to create a unique story and characters that suck you in right away and don't let you put the book down. Another highly recommended read. ( )