The Fifth Gospel by Ian Caldwell (2015)

An interesting book written by a history major, who took 10 years to write it. One of the first things I found fascinating was that this took place in the state of Vatican. Never thought about it as a country that needs workers to keep it running, and that there would be families living there, raising kids, that run around and explore these ancient buildings and sites. One of my favorite stories was that as teens they snuck into the papal garage and drove the Popemobile.

I never thought much about the schism between the Catholics and Orthodox. Still not quite sure how that came about, but then I found out that there is another sect - Eastern or Greek Catholics, that in many ways appear more like the Orthodox, but still follow the Pope. They are allowed to marry before they take their vows, so our main character Father Alex Andreou has a five-year-old son though his wife disappeared when Peter was very young. Father Alex is so human and wonderful around his son, that this alone makes the book compelling.

The curator of an exhibit on the Shroud of Turin is murdered right before the exhibit opens, and since Father Alex and his brother both helped the murdered man, he is drawn into the investigation, but becomes a target himself. Complex, full of history, well told story.