Kindle Edition Amazon YVONNE CROWE WRITER AMAZON Category:  Mystery/Suspense Publisher: Endeavor Press ISBN-10:  B00A8OPJFE Type: Fiction Pages: 436 Copyright: November 6 2012 Price: $3.79 (eBook) A thought provoking historical thriller, evoking vast historicl questions,for fans of Daniel Silva, Kate Mosse, Dan Brown and Steve Berry. In the early history of the church, there is no more controversial figure than Mary Magdalene. What was her real place in teh life of Jesus Christ? After his death and resurrection, where did Mary Magdalene go? Was it to the South of France as some have claimed. And if so, what was she doing there. Two thousand years later, the answers are about to be revealed -  with explosive consequences. In Rome, someone has crucified an innocent woman, and hung a sign around her neck reading, The Magdalene Whore'. Soon afterwards a second murder is discovered and a child is abducted - and the crime is linked back to the secretive Knights of Malta. Nicolina, an ambitious journalist in Rome, is determined to find out what is behind these bizarre killings - and win herself a Pulitzer Prize. She is reluctantly helped in her quest by Edoardo, a Vatican Priest, from one of the Ancients of Venice families. But does he have a connection with Mary Magdalene himself? Who is the Cardinal? And what is his connection to the Knights of Malta and the Monastery of St. Gerard? If the truth is ever revealed, it will rock the foundations of the Roman Catholic Church. As Nicolina and Edoardo race against time to prevent another murder, they discover the true legacy of Mary Magdalene. And the ultimate truth about Mary and Jesus, his real mission on earth, and his death. Excerpt One – The Confession ‘Bless me Padre for I have sinned. It has been six days since my last confession.’ ‘No,’ his ragged whisper came from the other side of the confessional where the old friar sat. ‘I don’t want to hear your confession.’ His gnarled hands twisted and twisted in his lap. ‘Come now, Brother. It is your duty to God and me as your superior,’ the arrogant voice responded. ‘No. I will not hear it.’ Agitated he shook his head from side to side. ‘Bless me Padre for I have sinned,’ the voice mercilessly continued. ‘It has been three days since I last helped a sinner to their just reward on the other side of the great divide.’ ‘I will not listen,’ the elderly friar’s quavering voice sought to repudiate what he was forced to hear once again. Raising his arthritic trembling hand as he devoutly crossed himself repeatedly, he raised his eyes to heaven, seeking redemption. ‘You must Padre,’ the hated voice continued. ‘It is your duty as a friar. Remember, what is said in this confessional is sacrosanct. You cannot break your vows.’ The dreaded voice cut through the roaring in his head as the old priest tried to find an escape. ‘Then I will not hear you,’ his voice whispered so softly it could hardly be heard as he clutched his rosary to his breast so hard it tore into the thin skin of his hands weathered by age and a lifetime of hard work in the monastery’s gardens. A glacially cold smile slashed across the penitent’s face as he relaxed in the booth of the confessional. ‘Hear me you will Padre, for I have been tasked to carry out the Lord’s work again and you will not fail me, as I have not failed him,’ he hissed in a sibilant whisper. ‘No,’ wailed the listening voice, unable to comprehend that anyone could be so deluded to believe that the loving Christ he worshipped would want this monster in the confessional booth to carry out such deeds in his name. ‘Yes. I am directed to rid this world of the evil Magdalene. This is my sacred duty and my confession and penance are my release from sin.’ This was no penitent, but someone glorying in his vile act. ‘Stop, please stop,’ the voice whispered piteously. ‘The testament confirms that I am glorified in my quest and am doing the work of the Lord,’ the abhorrent voice of the psychopath in the next booth persisted. ‘There is one less evil Magdalene in this world and within the next weeks, there will be more.’ ‘No,’ whispered the old priest as he raised cupped hands to his face as though he could block out the sight and sound of his nightmare. ‘You must stop this killing. It is against God’s law.’ He shook so violently his breath came in short gasps as he hyperventilated. ‘Ah yes,’ the voice triumphantly continued. ‘It was ………………. As the old priest tried to close out the voice he sobbed and clapped his hands over his ears to block out the horrendous confession he was trying to avoid hearing. Still it seeped through and he was forced to listen as he had six days prior when the same penitent had told him of his plans to murder innocent women. ‘Then my brothers and I …………… and the Lord was pleased with my work.’ The burden was too great for him to bear, so the old friar thrust aside the curtain and staggered out of the confessional sobbing until he reached the high altar in the magnificently decorated chapel and there he prostrated himself, begging redemption from his saviour. ‘How can this be? How can you let this happen?’ His deeply reverent, simple faith was rendered asunder. ‘Do not test me so.’ As a figure joined him at the altar he shuddered. ‘Padre, you forgot to bless me and tell me to go in peace. You forgot to give me my penance,’ a figure whispered in his ear as the old man prayed and sobbed. ‘Keep this secret of the confessional. Do not be tempted to break your holy vows.’ ‘God will strike you dead if you defile his Holy Church,’ the devoted friar whispered. ‘Oh, I rather doubt that,’ was the arrogant reply. ‘I simply rise higher and higher in his eyes.’ The figure slowly rose, walked over to the side altar, chose a candle, lit it from another burning brightly in the glittering firmament of other candles offered in hope and faith on behalf of loved ones and sunk to his knees before the statue of the Virgin Mary. ‘Hail Mary, Mother of God, blessed art thou amongst women and blessed be the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Bless me Mary now and at the hour of my death.’ ‘Hail Mary, Mother of God, blessed art thou amongst women and blessed be the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Bless me Mary now and at the hour of my death.’ As the rosary beads moved between his fingers he felt the power surging through his entire body. From the corner of his eye he saw the frail old friar rise and stumble unsteadily towards the sacristy, his senses ravaged. Glancing at the walls and ceilings lovingly painted by local artisans, yet so finely wrought they could have been attributed to one of the master painters, he allowed his eyes to wander. Behind the magnificent marble altar with its relics of St Gerard, the 11th century saint who was the founder of an order created in Jerusalem to provide care for poor, sick or injured pilgrims to the Holy Land was a 3 foot high triptych, portraying the adoration of the Christ child. ‘Bless me Mary, Mother of God, for I am about thy holy son’s work as directed by my vows.’ Rising he moved to the high altar and knelt to offer the prayer of the Blessed Gerard: ‘O God who exalted blessed Gérard because of his care for the poor and the sick, and through him founded in Jerusalem, the Order of St. John the Baptist, give us the grace of seeing as he did, the image of your Son in our brothers and sisters. We ask this through our Lord Jesu Cristo your Son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen.’ Rising from his knees he genuflected then turned away, the pectoral cross suspended from a chain around his neck and the scarlet zucchetto on his head denoting him to be a cardinal of the Church of Rome. His black trimmed black cassock with its fringed sash of red watered-silk ribbon swirled around him as he followed the old friar into the sacristy of the chapel of St Gerard and thence into the monastery itself which was situated in the hills outside Italy’s capital city Eternal Rome, where he dwelled in the Vatican City, the sovereign city state beholden only to itself.

Well Researched, Well written religious fiction
A fan of the work of Kate Mosse, I came across this on the hunt for something new in the historical/religious fiction genre. This book has one of the best openings to a novel I've read in a while. The characters are well written and I particularly enjoyed the banter/relationship between Lina and Eduardo. Whilst firmly rooted in the foundation of the Roman Catholic Church (of which the author seems particularly well researched and read), this book does make some poignant comments on our time too, for example its reference to the challenges of the growing power of the internet in crime etc. The chapters jump between perspective and time, which works really well and help to keep you hooked.

Great Airport Book
Wow! The sort of book I love and can get my teeth into. Quite a bit of skullduggery, a nasty cardinal, a victim who must be saved, some historical background, an interesting heroine with guts, and her friend, the priest from the Vatican. There's an interesting twist about Jesus' and Mary Magdalene's fates; and the nice idealistic Pope. A little less historical background would have made the reading easier, but I still enjoyed every moment.

Wow! Yvonne Crowe had done a great job crafting Religious Fiction
Yvonne Crowe has done a great job crafting historical fiction. Secret societies, a woman crucified, involvement of the Vatican, and a modern day investigation all go hand-in-hand in the condemnation of Mary Magdalene. The plot is certainly intriguing, and when given a chance, you become enthralled with the characters and historical conspiracy.

A murderer sets out to rid the world of all the evil Mary Magdalene’s. An investigation ensues of murdered women in Rome and investigators question whether a murderer hides among the Catholic chain of command. How much do they know? Is the Vatican tolerant of murders in order to protect their secrets? Would they dare sacrifice lives, including their own to keep codes hidden? The book is a thriller that keeps you questioning and yet reasoning with your faith. The attention to details, such as the use of Italian language, and religious references were wisely selected.

As a fan of the Davinci Code, my thirst has deepened for religious mystery novels, and our on-going profound doubts and fascination that surround the Vatican. I will say it helps to have a natural inquisition for religion because you enjoy the storyline much more. The book contains a lot of details and I admit, if not careful you’ll need to backtrack. You know that movie you must see again because you missed a few details – same tradeoff here and you’ll fall in love with the Magdalene Conspiracy. Nonetheless, this book is a clever device that seemingly questions faith, and the aftermath of revelations. It really loosely links us to the present-day disclosures that slowly leak from the Vatican.

Learning all the "secrets" of how the Magdalene bloodline survives into Europe solidify the reason everyone should be buying this book. It's truly remarkable how the author has thoroughly done her homework and the fiction and non-fiction crosses paths in this book.

Furthermore, I appreciate is how the characters are depicted in full color with both good and bad characteristics, which lend to modern-day creditability. Yvonne Crowe has created a book that isn’t a chore, but a delight to read.