Conclave by Robert Harris – A Thrilling Vatican Drama with a Questionable Twist
(Spoiler Warning – Major plot points, including the ending, are discussed below!)
If you’ve ever been curious about what happens behind the closed doors of the Vatican when a Pope dies, Conclave by Robert Harris is the political thriller for you. Well—mostly.
This novel had me totally hooked for about 90% of the way. I was flying through the pages, completely invested in the secretive, high-stakes process of electing a new pope. And then... came the final twist. One that, in my opinion, nearly derailed the whole thing.
Let’s break it down.
What Is Conclave About?
Conclave follows Cardinal Jacopo Lomeli, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, as he oversees the election of a new pope after the unexpected death of the current one. Set entirely within the walls of the Vatican over a few tense days, the novel dives deep into the backroom politics, moral calculations, and secret ambitions of the Catholic Church’s most powerful men.
And yes, it’s fictional—but Harris’s attention to historical detail makes the whole thing feel unnervingly plausible.
The frontrunners for the papacy include:
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Cardinal Adeyemi – A charismatic African cardinal and crowd favorite
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Cardinal Tremblay – A savvy, conservative Canadian who pulls a lot of strings
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Cardinal Bellini – A respected Italian who’s not as squeaky-clean as he seems
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Cardinal Tedesco – A brilliant theologian with a sharp temper
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Cardinal Benítez – A quiet, unassuming figure from Baghdad who keeps surprising everyone
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…And of course, Lomeli himself, though he repeatedly claims he doesn’t want the job
The process is slow, secretive, and filled with tension. As each ballot fails to produce a clear winner, old secrets start to leak, alliances shift, and reputations are quietly destroyed.
The Big Twist (And Why It Didn’t Work for Me)
Eventually, Benítez is elected pope—a surprise win after Lomeli nearly gets the job himself, despite not wanting it. But the real twist comes at the end, when Lomeli uncovers a private file that reveals Benítez is intersex.
This is framed as a huge, game-changing revelation. But… why?
It’s not treated with nuance, doesn’t seem to carry real weight within the Church’s decisions, and doesn’t affect Benítez’s qualifications or spirituality in any meaningful way. Instead, it’s presented like a mic-drop moment, as if the book is saying, “Bet you didn’t see that coming!”
Except we kind of did. The hints were there, and more importantly, it just didn’t feel earned. The reveal isn’t integrated meaningfully into the story or themes. Instead, it feels like a plot device meant to shock—and using someone’s gender identity or biological makeup as a “twist” just doesn’t sit right with me.
Compare that to (Name of book withheld due to the spoiling nature, click link for title), which also ends with an intersex twist—but there, it serves a narrative purpose, changes the meaning of the sacrifice, and resolves a thematic thread about gender and power. Conclave doesn’t quite do that. It just... drops it and ends.
Final Thoughts
To be clear: I have nothing against stories involving intersex characters. In fact, I’d love to see more representation in fiction that doesn’t hinge on “shock value.” But in this case, the twist felt unnecessary, tacked on, and disconnected from the actual heart of the story, which was otherwise a gripping, suspenseful look at how power, politics, and faith collide.
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3 out of 5)
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✝️ Great for fans of: Religious thrillers, political dramas, Vatican intrigue, Robert Harris’s signature suspense style
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📖 If you liked: The Name of the Rose, The Fifth Gospel, or I Am Pilgrim
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⚠️ Trigger Warnings: Religious manipulation, power dynamics, implied gender identity prejudice
This is a book that could have easily been a 4.5-star read for me, if not for the final 10%. The first 90%? Absolutely worth reading. The last chapter? Your mileage may vary.
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