THE FIFTH GOSPEL

Whether delivering accents or portraying characters of both genders, narrator Jack Davenport is everyone all at once in Ian Caldwell’s Vatican-based thriller. Two brothers, Alex, a Greek Catholic priest, and Simon, a Roman Catholic priest-diplomat, are swept up in a maelstrom of Church politics, conspiracies, manipulation, and murder. The brothers hope to heal the schism between Eastern and Roman Catholicism, thanks to the reemergence of an ancient manuscript, the Diatessaron. However, the manuscript casts doubt upon the Church’s most holy relic, the Shroud of Turin. Davenport offers a nuanced narration whether delivering Simon’s secretive manner or Alex’s pragmatic one. He highlights Vatican intrigue, clerical infighting, and, most appealingly, tenderness and familial love. Caldwell’s uncluttered, thoughtful writing and Davenport’s performance make worthwhile listening. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2015]