OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Fallen Kings" by June Gillam.]

Fallen Kings: Unholy Secrets is the sixth novel in June Gillam’s Hillary Broome Crime Novel series. It is summer, 2023. Professor Hillary Broome’s teenage daughter, Claire, is looking forward to the family holiday in Rome. Claire is gay and demonstrates it in her dressing style and participates in the LGBT parades. But the rise in hate crimes and the social tensions around the LGBT community make Hillary worried about Claire’s safety—and rightfully so! Unknown to Hillary and Claire, in Rome Father Tommaso is plotting a terrifying assault on the women’s rights. And the Broome family holiday in Rome does not go as planned—a female body is found in the Trevi fountain and Claire disappears. Hillary is petrified and determined to leave no stone unturned and find Claire. But will she succeed?

I listened to the audiobook narrated by talented Jason Hammar, and the narration quality was perfect. I liked how Jason voice-acted the accents and emotions of the characters. I enjoyed revisiting Rome, but this time it felt very sinister. I liked how the story unravelled the old family skeletons in Hillary’s and Father Tommaso’s upbringing and the thought-provoking, lasting effect of the childhood traumas. In addition, I liked how the story portrayed the evolution of Hillary’s relationship with her mother and delivered the messages of forgiveness and repentance. But most of all, I liked defiant Sister Fredericka and her bold, argumentative standoff with Father Tommaso!

All in all, I liked everything and can’t fault any aspect of this praiseworthy story and flawless audio production, so I happily rate it five out of five stars.

I highly recommend this novel to crime fiction and thriller fans. In addition, readers interested in family issues and in the Catholic Church's stance on the role of women and gay rights will enjoy this story. But devout Catholics may feel offended by the portrayal of Father Tommaso’s plot.

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Fallen Kings
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I am wondering how Father Tommaso is portrayed in the book. I have read one of June Gillam's books and I really enjoyed it. It is good to see some familiar characters reappearing in this book. Thanks for the review, @Olga Markova; my curiosity is piqued, and I am also happy that the narration was topnotch.

Thanks for such a rich and insightful review! I really appreciate how you highlighted not just the crime-thriller aspects, but also the deeper themes like family dynamics, trauma, and societal issues. The setting in Rome sounds beautifully atmospheric but also eerie, especially with the twist of Claire’s disappearance. I’m also intrigued by the layered conflict between characters like Father Tommaso and Sister Fredericka—that kind of moral and ideological tension adds so much weight to a story. Your comments about the narration make me want to try the audiobook version too. Definitely adding this one to my TBR. Thanks again for the detailed thoughts!