The novel's structure is more that of a crime/mystery novel. Like Harris' earlier An Officer and a Spy, the main protagonist is faced with a mystery (several interconnected mysteries, actually) whose successive solutions build to a dramatic climax, followed by the denouement. Agatha Christie would be proud.
The investigator is the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Vatican official charged with running the papal election. No spoilers here, so suffice it to say that the mysteries involve the various leading papal candidates, and the writing is so skillful that it's unlikely readers will see the surprise ending coming.
The five criteria:
- Did the novel inspire me to further historical research?
Yes. No matter how you feel about the Church, its byzantine history makes for great storytelling. More than historical events, however, Conclave made me want to visit Rome again.
Score = 4
Score = 4
- Did the novel include enough history to make it an interesting historical story?
Yes. Harris provides a wealth of historical background that makes the fictional characters and conclave events seem entirely plausible.
Score = 5
Score = 5
- Was the depiction of historical events accurate?
Yes. Harris was granted extensive access to the people and places inside the Vatican, which he turned into accurate detailed descriptions of papal elections past and (fictional) present.
Score = 5
Score = 5
- Was the depiction of historical characters accurate?
Yes. None of them were more than background, however, so not much detail was required. Many readers will prefer this approach to the type of historical novel where the writer has to invent fictional dialog for historical characters.
Score = 4
Score = 4
- Were the fictional or fictionalized plot and characters plausible?
Yes, very plausible, although becoming progressively more unlikely as the drama builds toward its climax.
Score = 5
Score = 5
