Dear Mr. McAvoy,
I recently finished The Pompeian Betrayal and wanted to share a few thoughts with you.
When I first began reading your books, I assumed that someone who wrote so extensively and knowledgeably about the Vatican must have a strong religious background. I was therefore surprised to discover that you are agnostic. That struck a chord with me. I was raised Protestant and went to Sunday school when I was young, but as the years passed, my own experiences led me away from religious belief. I have great respect for those who find meaning and comfort in faith, but it has never played that role in my own life.
Perhaps that is one reason I have been so surprised by how interested I have become in the history of the Vatican through your novels. It is a world I never expected to find particularly compelling, yet I now find myself wanting to know more about it. Just as importantly, Father Michael Dominic and the people around him have become familiar companions. Following their lives from book to book is now part of the pleasure of reading the series.
The Pompeian Betrayal gave me plenty to think about. Beneath the suspense and intrigue are some genuinely philosophical questions about human nature, power, morality, and the choices people make when their principles are tested. I particularly enjoyed the fact that these larger ideas were incorporated into the story without allowing them to overwhelm the plot.
I was also pleased that, despite the scars left by everything the characters endure, good ultimately prevails. I think there is something valuable in that. A good thriller can take us into some very dark places, but I still want to finish a story with a sense that courage, decency, and hope matter.
One theme that stayed with me afterward was the danger of condemning an entire institution because of the actions of individuals within it. Whether we are talking about a church, a bank, a government, or any other powerful organization, institutions are ultimately made up of people. Some use their positions honorably; others abuse them. There is an old observation that if you really want to discover someone’s character, give that person power. The Pompeian Betrayal illustrates that idea particularly well.
Another pleasure was seeing the continuing development of Michael, Hana, and the other recurring characters. After spending several books with them, their personal journeys have become nearly as important to me as the historical mysteries themselves.
One thing does puzzle me: I see many readers awarding the book high star ratings without actually writing anything about why they enjoyed it. That’s unfortunate, because I find it interesting to hear what other readers noticed in a story and whether they came away thinking about the same things I did.
Once again, you have managed to combine history, intrigue, ideas, and suspense into a story that entertained me while also giving me something to consider after I finished the final page.
I am very much looking forward to the next German edition in the series. The Pompeian Betrayal certainly earns five stars from me.
