THE SILENCE OF FLESH, ambitious, interesting, flawed

THE SILENCE OF FLESH
GLENN COOPER
Lascaux Media (non-affiliate Amazon.com link)
$5.99 Kindle edition or free to read with Kindle Unlimited, available now

Rating: 3.5* of five

The Publisher Says: He gave everything to God—except the one truth he could never speak.

From international bestseller Glenn Cooper, known for his Vatican thrillers and historical mysteries, comes his most intimate novel yet—a literary exploration of secrecy, conscience, and spiritual burden.

Anthony Budd is a quiet, reform-minded cardinal—young, devout, and untainted by scandal. When deadlock in the papal conclave threatens to fracture the Church, his name emerges as a compromise. He accepts the will of God with humility. But buried beneath his composure is a secret he has carried for decades—a truth that could upend everything he believes, and everything the Church demands of him.

As Pope Innocent XIV, Budd must navigate the brutal realities of Vatican politics, the weight of his vows, and the quiet threat of blackmail from a voice in the shadows. Someone knows who he is. And they intend to destroy him.

The Silence of Flesh is a novel of inner war—a man at odds with the Church he loves, the body he inhabits, and the truth that may undo both.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.

My Review: Could Author Cooper have timed this release ant better?! Even got the regnal ordinal right! One could be forgiven for thinking permaybehaps he had some inside information...or at least a discreet nod of approval from On High.

I'm a great deal lower on the cosmic food chain, but I too offer my (qualified) nod of approval. More research into the current usages of nomenclature, Author Cooper.

Cardinal Budd is a character I think we all hope will be a truthful representation of church officialdom. As the new Pope Innocent (!) XIV, he is someone who would inflame the civil war over progressivism that Western culture is having very broadly. In fact, if you'd like to see the progress of that civil war, go look at the schism in Goodreads reviewers' ratings and opinions about this read. Goodness gracious me.

So big kudos for that service to us all! Anything that gets people stirred up and talking is, in my view, a good thing. It's not going to get resolved any time soon, this book might not change a single position, but positions can never change if they're simply unchallenged.

I found the characters in the story hard to relate to, as I expected; I've known in my core there was no god since I was five. I find people who believe in one utterly perplexing. I find people who "serve" a god I do not for a second believe they believe in reprehensible. There are good people who, for some reason, believe this guff. There are not professional administrators who do, or I'll eat your hat. Executives have the inside story, so they can by definition see through the charade of their organization's public relations. It's like lawyers; they know the law, and its execution, too well to buy the tale spun to dazzle the outsiders into accepting impartiality and fairness rule the juridical roost.

I'm all the way there supporting the conversation this story should ignite. I felt, though, distant and almost cold-shouldered by the way this story does not examine the stunningly complex battle lines it could have drawn. I understand the author's choice not to do the direct confrontation of the issue raised. I can't say I agree; an earlier, and more direct presentation of the secret issue Innocent (!)XIV was carrying would, to my mind, suit Cardinal Budd's stated personality traits better. As such I questioned whether what I was told was Budd's personal behavior pattern was accurate. I'll note here that I had he same issue with the much more disappointing Conclave, film and book.

I don't wish to leave the impression that I did not enjoy this read; I did, with all the schadenfreude I was expecting to revel in. I note the areas I felt the execution of the story did not match the author's ambitious imagination to be sure you will go into the read with the most information I can reach back to you from my readerly vantage point.

But go into the read I hope you will, and soon.