The Bottom Line: A masterful debut political thriller that threads ancient prophecy with espionage, religion and murder. Perfect for fans of Steve Berry, Daniel Silva and Dan Brown.
The Amalfi Secret begins post-9/11 2001 as Canadian climbing guide Gabe Roslo arrives at the Amalfi Hotel, nestled in a cliffside hotel overlooking the Mediterranean. Gabe is eager for a long-overdue reunion with his grandparents, John and Francesca Roslo, but his hopes are quickly shattered by tragedy when his grandfather dies under mysterious circumstances. A cryptic diary discovered near the body, and an ominous message written in steam on a bathroom mirror, suggest something far more sinister than natural causes.
With the help of Lorenzo, the innkeeper, and Paolo, a trusted friend of the family, Gabe is drawn into a web of secrets tied to his grandfather’s past in the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA). Now, far from home and unsure whom to trust, Gabe must face the devastating possibility that his grandfather was murdered.
Authors Dean and Catherine Reineking have crafted a fast-paced international thriller that blends politics, espionage, historical mystery and spiritual intrigue into a story that is as cinematic as it is cerebral. The Amalfi Secret is the kind of book that plunges readers into a richly textured world where ancient secrets collide with modern geopolitics. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, Rome, and beyond, it combines the emotional stakes of personal loss with the high-octane momentum of a global conspiracy.
Which brings us back to the book’s preface. All too often, modern prologues and prefaces amount to little more than a cheap narrative device through which authors deliver a quick jolt of violence – usually involving a flashback, flash-forward and at least one dead body – in an attempt to hook readers. Refreshingly, that’s not the case here. Set in January 2025 at the inauguration of Donald Trump’s second presidential term, we learn that Gabe has survived the investigation into his grandfather’s death – cementing him as the book’s central player and paving the way for the forthcoming sequel. Second, we learn that Anna Castriotti – Gabe’s interpreter, driver, cultural liaison – will become a major influence on him. But more importantly, the passage acts as an essential thematic springboard for a fictional book about how leaders – religious, political, or covert – shape the destinies of nations and individuals alike. It’s worth revisiting repeatedly, as every word of Gabe’s astute observations are carefully calculated and resonate more strongly as the story progresses.
Those themes prove essential as the plot eventually moves from a suspected murder in a boutique hotel to the Vatican, where much of the story’s religious undercurrent centers around Catholic prophecy, specifically the messages received by Father Stefano Gobbi, an Italian priest who claimed to receive locutions (inner messages) from the Virgin Mary. Known as the Gobbi messages, these communications are recognized by elements of the Catholic faithful—though not officially confirmed by the Church—as warnings about spiritual warfare and future global upheaval. The connections to Gabe’s grandfather become fascinating, especially as they potentially also tie to real-world events.
Highly recommended.
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