Nelli and her brother Anthony Andruccioli come to visit the Vatican City, hotbed of rumours and scandals over the years. They bring a carved wooden box and a family heritage of a secret message from St. Anthony. There is some hidden symbolism to guide their path but ultimately they must depend on each other and an old friend. THE SERPENT'S DISCIPLE has plans to create a New World Order, and the sinister undercurrents have already been felt.

While the story is slow to get under way as we have several different periods of time shown to us, from the twelve hundreds to the death of Pope John Paul I after a brief period in office in 1978, eventually we meet Mary Ellen O'Farrell who works in admin at the Vatican. Newly promoted, she has been able to discover documents hinting that her priest brother was falsely accused of harming children. Could someone have had reason to remove him from office? Whom can she trust, besides her friends Nelli and Anthony? Placing her faith in Cardinal McKenna, Mary Ellen confides in him but learns that they have both received a card with a strange serpent design.

The exciting story reveals a wide conspiracy which is linked to the Vatican Bank and to a few secretive sects which include only men. The three friends investigate these powerful, murderous people and come close to tragedy themselves as they try to track down the meaning of St. Anthony's message and avert a catastrophe. The religious characters are larger than life, apt to quote a centuries- old prophecy as proof of modern matters or carrying a poisoned pen. Good men like Father Cossa balance out the extremists, aiding the friends by putting themselves at considerable risk. Food and drink, and local limestone passages, are just part of the location details shown. Settings are well described by author Deborah Stevens, who studied interior design, and the twists and turns will keep you guessing until the end. THE SERPENT'S DISCIPLE is the first book by this author who has a follow-up in production.

Book Summary

In The Serpent’s Disciple, a conspiracy thriller, an ancient evil threatens to take over the Catholic Church and use it to create a New World Order. Peter Romanus, the Grand Master of the secret masonic order known as Propaganda Due, sets in motion the plot to kill the pope and control major world governments through the Church. A family secret and an ancient artifact could save humankind from this diabolical leader many fear is the Antichrist. While visiting their father’s birthplace of Pesaro, Italy, the lives of Anthony and Nelli Andruccioli become entwined with the Grand Master’s plot. They learn of their family’s deep and ancient connection to Saint Anthony and that they are called to protect the Church: Nelli as the Chosen One and Anthony as one of the Guardians sworn to protect her from the false prophet. Together they must navigate the labyrinth of ancient prophecy and Vatican politics to expose the truth before it is too late.

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