title: The Pope's Assassin
author: Luis Miguel Rocha
description: Only the most rabid religious conspiracy fans will be able to slog their way through Rocha's overlong, preachy third thriller involving the search for ancient religious artifacts (after The Holy Bullet). London journalist Sarah Monteiro joins her unrequited love interest, Fr. Rafael Santini, who's a Vatican secret agent, in a struggle between the Jesuits and the Vatican to control artifacts in the possession of London businessman Ben Isaac. Priests are being murdered for access to the artifacts, in this case the Gospel of Jesus and the bones of Christ. The usual crazy assassin with a serious sexual problem heads up a cast of characters so large that it's difficult to remember who's a good guy and who's evil incarnate. Endless religious historical lectures slow the action and add little to a plot that's difficult both to follow and swallow. (Apr.) <br />(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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  The Papal Decree
  
  
  
  
  
  Luis Miguel Rocha was born in Oporto, Portugal, and worked for many years in
  London as a television writer and producer. He now lives in Portugal, where he
  continues to write for television and film. His previous books, The Last Pope
  and The Holy Assassin, are also published by Penguin.
  
  
  
  
  
  # The Papal Decree
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  LUIS MIGUEL ROCHA
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Translation by Robin McAllister
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  MICHAEL JOSEPH
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  an imprint of
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  PENGUIN BOOKS
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  MICHAEL JOSEPH
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Published by the Penguin Group
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario,
  Canada M4P 2Y3 (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Penguin Ireland, 25 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of
  Penguin Books Ltd)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Cambe