I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

A Pius Man is book one of The Pius Ttrilogy. In this story, we see Giovanni Figlia, captain of the Vatican special services trying to uncover the mystery behind the murder of a couple of people using the the Vatican Achives. As the safety of Pope Pius XIII comes in to question, the group of investigators grows along with the death toll. As they begin to question what was so important to stay hidden to warrant murder, they uncover a conspiracy that spans World War II to present day, with mercenaries that will stop at nothing to keep their secrets hidden.

I must admit that this story was awesome. It's far from a very light read, but I promise that if you stick with it, you'll be quickly engrossed in the plot. There's even a couple of twists that completely caught me by surprise. There is nonstop action and the story does seem plausible and the scenes quite realistic. I hated to see this story end, but check back in the coming weeks for my review of books two and three in the series. ( )

Amazon Description:
As the head of Vatican security, Giovanni Figlia must protect a new, African Pope who courts controversy every other day. The Pope's latest project is to make Pius XII, "Hitler's Pope," a saint. Things haven't gotten better since the Pope employed American mercenary Sean Ryan.

Then a body fell onto the Vatican doorstep.

Soon, a pattern emerges-- people who go into the Pius XII historical archives are dying. Each time, a priest has been in the background-- a priest close to the Pope. One of the victims was an al-Qaeda operative, drawing Scott "Mossad" Murphy of Israeli intelligence to Rome.

Soon, Ryan, Murphy and Figlia must join forces to unravel the mystery around the Vatican, as even the man Giovanni is supposed to protect looks like a suspect. To get out of this alive, they must discover if Hitler's Pope was a Nazi collaborator, or a pious man.

Narration: Multiple

Opinions: A Pius Man is a very action-packed book. Something is always happening in the story and parts make me wonder how some characters are alive after a scene. Fighting is used throughout the novel, as well as, incorporating history. The new pope – Pius XIII – wants to canonize Pope Pius XII. However, as people gather evidence about the deceased pope, whether for the canonization or for other means, they wind up dead. Eventually the background about Pius XII and whether or not he supported the Nazis comes to light. Multiple people arrive at the Vatican – to help with the canonization, to investigate with the recent murders, to spy, etc. These characters all contribute to the multiple viewpoints – abundantly so. Furthermore, the author uses multiple names to refer to each character. This can be confusing throughout the book. I’m not good with names, so having to remember the different names/profession titles for each character slowed down my reading. Having so many people in the narrative also takes away from their own development. Yes, they all have backgrounds and characteristics, but it felt very thin or spread out rather than being in depth.

Standalone or Part of a Series: First book in a trilogy ( )

There’s a lot going on in A Pius Man: A Holy Thriller (The Pius Trilogy) (Volume 1). Finn assembles a massive cast of characters for this work reminiscent of the world of Daniel Siva crossed with that of Dan Brown. When the description says that these investigators are unlikely, they truly are. As a reader I puzzled over the idea of what each was doing in the Vatican from their respective countries but as the story unfolds, their goals become clear. Finn helpfully adds links to additional information regarding key characters that enhance their role in the plot line.

A Pius Man: A Holy Thriller (The Pius Trilogy) (Volume 1) has the feel of a well researched and plausible book. Much like Dan Brown, a lot of what is written appears to be based in fact with elements made up for enhancement in the story. A quick net search shows me that there has not been an African Pope since 198 A.D. though African archbishops have certainly been in the running. Another search shows that Catholic Archbishops in the Sudan do have cause to fear violence. The aforementioned Silva travels to varied countries and researches in those settings before writing and Finn’s work has that same feel of authenticity. This has not happened but it’s not so beyond the realm of possibility that it could.

Overall, A Pius Man: A Holy Thriller (The Pius Trilogy) (Volume 1) is a really solid work worthy of four stars. The story flows well and the action is well placed. There are times when we’re overloaded with information but the author is careful to give it to us in a way where we don’t break with the story. If you like political intrigue, A Pius Man: A Holy Thriller (The Pius Trilogy) (Volume 1) is the novel for you. ( )