'Conclave' - A Novel

This book's theme is short: The Pope is dead.
The one hundred twenty members of the College of Cardinals from all over the globe will gather to elect a new pope.
Over the next seventy-two hours one of these holy men -- who also have political and other ambitions -- will become the most powerful spiritual figure on earth.

This process, held behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, is the world’s most secretive election.
Many of us of an age, Dear Reader, can recall the news coverage in 1978 of the election of Pope John Paul I, his mysterious death only a few weeks later, and the election of John Paul II.
(John Paul's death has never been solved, though many [conspiracy] theories, crime reports and even several books have been advanced.)
One of these, 'The Vatican Murders,' states the case. "The political infighting that goes on when a pope is elected is often fierce. There have been times it has turned to murder ... ."
The most recent papal election led to the global -- almost 'rock-star' -- phenomenon of Pope Francis, who continues to shake the cobwebs around the papacy and the entire Catholic Church.
I first heard about this book a couple of months ago, when reading 'The Guardian' (noted British newspaper) on my iPhone.
Book reviewer Ian Sansom began by stating that while he has rarely used this term during his career, "there is only one possible word to describe Robert Harris’s new novel, and it is this: 'unputdownable.'"
So, you can see how this novel would pique my interest.

The narrator is the Cardinal responsible for actually following the many pages of detailed rules and regulations to be followed to the letter to carry out the election.
Some mundane rules, especially those to ensure absolute secrecy:
-- All the Chapel windows are blacked out -- including those forming the ceiling (to prevent video from hovering news helicopters);
-- Cardinals must have no communication with the outside world;
-- Cardinals are forbidden to talk to one another about previous votes or numbers, during bus transport to / from their lodgings, and on lunch breaks;
-- Any paper notes are burned at once, by the support staff.
The timetable is greuling: two votes in the morning, two more in the afternoon, until one name emerges with a two-thirds majority. (After a few days, the margin is relaxed, to a simple majority.)
Harris, following exhaustive research on Church history, the site and the process, has done a masterful job; this is a book you read quickly!
My wife and were both deftly transported into the private world of the Cardinals, each bringing a sheaf of holy and political opinions to the election.
The plot moved quickly; even before the actual voting begins, the poor narrator is blind-sided by what could become a major scandal.
The previous Pope had been quite ill and prone to making 'unpredictable' and unannounced decisions.
What were they? When would they surface? How many?
As soon as that 'mess' is dealt with, here comes another ... and another.
We follow the thoughts and actions of the Cardinal through the maze of directives and intrigue, continual twists and turns.
The story moves along at breakneck speed until a decision is reached ... a new Pope is elected.
We both enjoyed reading this excellent book, and recommend it to anyone who has an interest in Church history -- then and now;
Published reviews have included the terms: "brilliant ecclesiastical thriller;" "a gripping read;" "page turner;" and "triumphiant Vatican showdown'."
The reviewer in the (London) 'Daily Mail' stated: "It is a sumptuous story. . . . Harris weaves the narrative of the rivalries among these Holy Men as intricately as in any locked-room crime mystery, without once losing his grip on the marvellous characters he has created."
But, it seems the novel has a few detractors:
One reader wrote to Amazon, "Too much prayer and not enough action. He paints a picture of a conclave as the masses think of it, rather than as it really is."
My parting questions are: Was he there? How does he know?