"The pope is dead. Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, one hundred and eighteen cardinals gather to cast their votes in the world's most secretive election. When all is said and done, one of them will become the most powerful spiritual figure on Earth. In their cloistered debate they will uncover abuse and corruption at the very heart of the Church. It's a scandal that could destroy all they hold dear, and they must act decisively to ensure...

"The next in New York Times top 5 bestseller Steve Berrys Cotton Malone series involves the Knights of Malta, papal conclave, and lost documents that could change history. A deadly race for the Vaticans oldest secret fuels New York Times bestseller Steve Berrys latest international Cotton Malone thriller. The pope is dead. A conclave to select his replacement is about to begin. Cardinals are beginning to arrive at the Vatican, but one has fled Rome...

Mossad agent/art restorer Gabriel Allon chases his mortal enemy, the Leopard, who has been hired to permanently close the pope's mouth about Vatican complicity in the Holocaust.

The murder of a world-famous physicist raises fears that the Illuminati are operating again after centuries of silence, and religion professor Robert Langdon is called in to assist with the case.