God's Spy

infobox Book |
name = God's Spy
title_orig = Espía de Dios
translator = James Graham


image_caption = USA First edition cover
author = Juan Gómez-Jurado
cover_artist = Richard Hasselberger
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Thriller/Mystery/Detective
publisher = Dutton (a Penguin Group imprint)
release_date = 2007
media_type = Print (Hardback)
pages = 368pp
isbn = ISBN 0525949941
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"God's Spy" is a 2007 thriller novel by Juan Gómez-Jurado originally published in Spain. It has become an instant bestseller throughout Europe with a million copies sold to date and is going to be published in 39 countries. The plot is set in the Vatican, where, in the aftermath of Pope John Paul II's death, the hunt for a serial killer and sex offender — and former priest — reveals a chilling conspiracy. [ [http://www.booklistonline.com/default.aspx?page=show_product&pid=1855079 Booklist review of God's Spy] ] . It is a detective story where the psychological portrait of Victor Karosky, the serial killer (which name is known from the first line of the book) is the spine of the novel. The action also takes place in a Maryland institution called the Saint Matthew Institute, a center for the rehabilitation of priest with a history of sexual abuse, which is based in a real life place. This subject has aroused controversial issues in Catholic countries as Spain and Poland.

Plot summary

From the book cover:

In the days following the Pope's death, a cardinal is found brutally murdered in a chapel in Rome, his eyes gouged and his hands cut off. Called in for the grisly case, police inspector Paola Dicanti learns that another cardinal was recently found dead; he had also been tortured. Desperate to find the killer before another victim dies, Paola's investigation is soon joined by Father Anthony Fowler — an American priest and former Army intelligence officer examining sexual abuse in the Church, who knows far more about the killer than Paola could possibly imagine.

Characters in "God's Spy"

*Paola Dicanti — The leading character, a police inspector and profiler.
*Father Victor Karosky— A pedophile priest, now a serial killer.
*Maurizio Pontiero — Paola's partner.
*Fabio Dante — Deputy inspector at Vatican Police.
*Carlo Troi — Paola's boss.
*Father Anthony Fowler— A mysterious priest.
*Andrea Otero— A Spanish journalist.
*Angelo Biffi— forensic sculptor and digital image expert.
*Camilo Cirin— General inspector at Vatican Police.
*Canice Conroy— Former director of the Saint Matthew Institute.

There is also a number of minor, real life characters, e.g. George W. Bush, John Negroponte, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and many others.

Book information

"God's Spy" by Juan Gómez-Jurado
*Hardcover - ISBN 0-525-94994-1 (First edition, April 5, 2007) published by Dutton (a Penguin Group Imprint)

ee also

*List of books portraying paedophilia or sexual abuse of minors

External links

* [http://www.godspynovel.com Official site]
* [http://www.juangomezjurado.com Author site]

References