Official Review: Vatican Protocol by Brian M Gallagher
Posted: 13 Jun 2016, 21:52
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Vatican Protocol" by Brian M Gallagher.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Vatican Protocol by Brian Gallagher is a novel about an aspiring author’s present-day investigation into two UFO crashes in 1930’s Germany and Poland. Add in the possibility of a massive cover-up by the Nazis and the Vatican and you have all the makings of an engrossing thriller.
Financially strapped due to the housing crisis, family man Sean O'Shea becomes interested in writing an investigative book about UFO’s and aliens. His friend Alan Rockenbach tells him that there were rumors of a UFO crash in the Black Forest area in Germany where he grew up, and a similar event in Poland. There were signs of a cover-up by the Nazis at the time. Sean organizes a team to investigate the decades-old incidents, including Alan, CIA contacts referred by Sean’s vacation home caretaker, and Alan’s German cousins. It quickly becomes clear that they are in danger; over the years, four people have turned up dead after asking too many questions about these UFO sightings.
I thoroughly enjoyed this plot-driven book. The author has created a set of puzzle pieces that interconnect seamlessly. There is a large cast of interesting characters. However, I found it difficult at times to keep track of the minor characters, particularly in the first half of the story.
The story moves smoothly across multiple settings, including Wisconsin, Oregon, Germany, France, Amsterdam, and the Vatican. Each setting had a distinct feel and I felt like I was right there in each place. There are many details that connect to the main plot, but I was easily able to follow along. The team frequently gets together to discuss their findings and plan their next move. This is a nice plot device that keeps the reader on track.
While the first half of the story is interesting, there is a “hurry up and wait” pacing, with different members of the group interviewing people on several fronts. The tension builds in the second half and the storyline roars full steam ahead to a dazzling ending.
One thing I found incongruous was the fact that Sean travelled to Europe and stayed in nice hotels, even though it is stated that he has serious financial problems. There are various technical errors throughout the book, including missing or extra words, incorrectly placed or missing apostrophes, separate words that should be one, and spelling errors. Also, there are two or three odd instances where the main character is referred to in the narrative as Sean and then O'Shea within the same paragraph.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I struggled with the rating due to the errors. Since the rating system doesn’t allow for half-stars, I feel the higher rating is deserved. The story was very creative and kept me guessing every step of the way. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys international thrillers with a historical angle. I look forward to reading future books by this debut author.
******
Vatican Protocol
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4 out of 4 stars
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Vatican Protocol by Brian Gallagher is a novel about an aspiring author’s present-day investigation into two UFO crashes in 1930’s Germany and Poland. Add in the possibility of a massive cover-up by the Nazis and the Vatican and you have all the makings of an engrossing thriller.
Financially strapped due to the housing crisis, family man Sean O'Shea becomes interested in writing an investigative book about UFO’s and aliens. His friend Alan Rockenbach tells him that there were rumors of a UFO crash in the Black Forest area in Germany where he grew up, and a similar event in Poland. There were signs of a cover-up by the Nazis at the time. Sean organizes a team to investigate the decades-old incidents, including Alan, CIA contacts referred by Sean’s vacation home caretaker, and Alan’s German cousins. It quickly becomes clear that they are in danger; over the years, four people have turned up dead after asking too many questions about these UFO sightings.
I thoroughly enjoyed this plot-driven book. The author has created a set of puzzle pieces that interconnect seamlessly. There is a large cast of interesting characters. However, I found it difficult at times to keep track of the minor characters, particularly in the first half of the story.
The story moves smoothly across multiple settings, including Wisconsin, Oregon, Germany, France, Amsterdam, and the Vatican. Each setting had a distinct feel and I felt like I was right there in each place. There are many details that connect to the main plot, but I was easily able to follow along. The team frequently gets together to discuss their findings and plan their next move. This is a nice plot device that keeps the reader on track.
While the first half of the story is interesting, there is a “hurry up and wait” pacing, with different members of the group interviewing people on several fronts. The tension builds in the second half and the storyline roars full steam ahead to a dazzling ending.
One thing I found incongruous was the fact that Sean travelled to Europe and stayed in nice hotels, even though it is stated that he has serious financial problems. There are various technical errors throughout the book, including missing or extra words, incorrectly placed or missing apostrophes, separate words that should be one, and spelling errors. Also, there are two or three odd instances where the main character is referred to in the narrative as Sean and then O'Shea within the same paragraph.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I struggled with the rating due to the errors. Since the rating system doesn’t allow for half-stars, I feel the higher rating is deserved. The story was very creative and kept me guessing every step of the way. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys international thrillers with a historical angle. I look forward to reading future books by this debut author.
******
Vatican Protocol
View: on Bookshelves
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