When the pope dies suddenly of a heart attack, the Vatican must work fast to ensure an orderly transition. As the cardinals gather from around the world to vote, factions quickly develop around the leading contenders, among them Joshua Adeyemi of Nigeria, who’s seeking to become the first black pope, and Vatican insider Aldo Bellini. Presiding over the conclave is Cardinal Jacopo Lomeli, who a month earlier had sought permission to retire to a religious order. So begins Conclave, a smart thriller by Robert Harris, which the times described as an“ecclesiastical version of House of Cards” (Times).
