10 Atmospheric Books Like Conclave

This book is centered around the construction of a cathedral in the fictional town of Hagenburg, Germany in the 13th and 14th centuries. The soaring Gothic architecture of the cathedral as it's being built casts an imposing physical and metaphorical shadow over the town. In this book, fans who enjoyed the large ensemble cast of Conclave will find many unique characters from every walk of life converging. Ben Hopkins has created a deeply atmospheric novel where an array of townspeople clash along economic, religious, political, and personal lines. 

As the 16th century begins in Rome, Nicholas Dawson is working as the secretary to Rodrigo Borgia, Pope Alexander VI. The Pope rules Rome ruthlessly and amorally, and under him both poverty and indulgence abound. A power-hungry man, Dawson has no problem dealing in the dirty deeds of the Pope. Dawson handles the murders and the indiscretions of the Pope and his bastard children with an eye out for his own personal gain, but his lack of loyalty and sensitivity could be uncovered when a dangerous man comes onto the scene. 

This book follows the eventful life of an Englishman named Malory. After he falls for a woman named Louiza in 1978 Cambridge, Malory follows her to Rome, where he learns he is actually the heir to the secret kingdom of Septimania. Over the next 50 years, as his obsessive search for Louiza continues, Malory is lifted up to the most powerful positions, moving through time and space to meet remarkable people and witness historic events. Mixing elements of a winding thriller with romance, myth, and physics, Jonathan Levi has crafted a suspenseful and exciting epic tale. 

At the core of The Pope’s Rhinoceros is a strange, real historical event: an attempt by Portugal to win the favor of Pope Leo X over Spain by gifting him a live rhinoceros from India. From that point extends a global adventure tale, spanning from the Baltics to West Africa, and featuring monks, cardinals, and noble people. This far-reaching depiction of the world in the 16th century is full of rich sensory details, both enchanting and disturbing, and unforgettable characters, including the story’s hero. 

An American reporter attending the funeral of a distant relative in a small Irish town stumbles upon a story that could make for an interesting article. He learns that many years earlier, four teenagers claimed to have been visited by the Virgin Mary herself. As the narrator tries to tease out the stories from the townspeople and the girls who made the claim, now grown women, he soon finds himself in a web of secrets and lies, unsure of what to believe and who to trust. Ultimately, this is a mystery of loss, faith, and the search for truth. 

Lawyer-turned-monk Father Anselm is assigned to track down Father Livermore, an American priest who has fled and disappeared after being accused of sexually abusing a child. As Father Anselm begins his search, he learns that Livermore might be innocent and that there is more to the case than meets the eye. As he gets deeper into a conspiracy, the plot gets more layered and twisted, addressing the importance of listening to victims and the role of justice in the Church. 

Another novel that was turned into an award-winning movie, The Statement is the story of a Nazi war criminal who has spent decades on the run, evading responsibility and punishment for his crimes. The man is aided by right-wing factions of the Catholic Church and finds refuge in a French monastery. As he tries to get away with his past murders, a hitman and a reformist within the Church are hot on his trail. 

From a renowned mystery author comes this suspenseful tale of murder and lies set in a British convent. When a nun’s body is found at the bottom of a flight of stairs, it’s suspected that it was more than just a fall. Detective Inspector C.D. Sloan is called in to investigate and finds himself amid a culture of silence and averted eyes, searching for clues in a sea full of motives. Could a nun really kill, or did the murderer come from outside the abbey’s walls?

In the year 1483, Father Felix Fabri sets out on a pilgrimage from Germany through Greece and Palestine to pay regards to the relics of Saint Katherine of Alexandria. Along the journey, Felix finds that the relics are being stolen from their holy sites, including the saint's tongue. As Felix commits himself to finding the thief and solving the mystery, he crosses paths with many fellow travelers and their widely varying views on faith and religion. 

Korean War hero and former POW Michael Maguire decides to become a Catholic priest with the goal of improving the world. When the Vietnam War breaks out, Maguire finds himself at odds with the members of his congregation and the broader American culture. Maguire experiences firsthand the schisms that form in the country and within the Catholic Church as he fights a lonely battle against the atrocities the US is committing.