Religious Thrillers or Puzzlers

Compiled 2001

Religious thrillers or puzzlers, not necessarily pertaining to any particular religion or subject, but relating in some way to religion.

Brown, Dan.  Angels and demons.  Takes place at the time of a papal election and revolves around the murders of cardinals thought to be on the short list for the papal throne.

Case, John.  Genesis Code.  Highly suspenseful thriller centered on the Catholic church.

Cesterton, G. K.  Father Brown mysteries

Codrescu, Andrei.  Messiah.

Cosse, Laurence.  Corner of the Veil.  What would happen if irrefutable proof of God's existence were discovered?

Doctorow, E.L.   City of God.

Eco, Umberto.  Name of the Rose.

Folsom, Alan.  Day of the Confession.

Frazer, Margaret.  Sister Frevisse series

Gansky, Alton.  Ship Possessed.  Vanished.

Greeley, Andrew.  Mysteries with clergy as sleuth

Hoving, Thomas.  Discovery.  Two art historians/curators become completely obsessed with a secret Roman palace that was buried intact by Mt. Vesuvius.  They discover writings and other materials which seem to imply that Jesus didn't die on Calvary but continued to live and teach.  King of the Confessors.  Acquisition of a medieval cross for the Cloisters in Manhattan.  Lots of intrigue, and fascinating story of the background of the cross itself, and its construction.

Kellerman, Faye.  Ritual Bath and others (Orthodox Jewish background)

Kemelman, Harry.  Rabbi series

Kienzle, William.  Rosary Murders and others.

Ludlum, Robert.  Books about the Vatican.

McInerny, Ralph.  Mysteries with clergy as sleuth.

Montalbano, William.  Basilica.  Excellent thriller that takes place in Vatican City.  A South American pope and a Miami homicide cop turned cleric are the main characters.

Morrell, David.  Fraternity of the Stone.

O'Marie, Sister Carol.  Mysteries with clergy as sleuths.

Patterson, James.  Cradle and All.

Todd, Charles.  Legacy of the Dead.  A Test of Wills.  Wings of Fire.  Inspector Rutledge mysteries, not at all formulaic - a shellshocked WWI vet returns to Scotland Yard.  Fascinating depiction of postwar Britain.

Zencey, Eric.  Panama.  Henry Adams finds himself involved in a murder investigation in 1892 Paris.

08/28/2006