I just finished reading Steve Berry's "The Third Secret." We all know what the third secret is and I'm not sure if people are interested in it anyway. Emails about it have circulated so I'm pretty sure we're well informed. Anyway, he wrote there that he wrote "The Third Secret" in 1998, before Pope John Paul II revealed its contents in June 2000. Another thing... he wrote it in 1998, in this novel, as most of his characters are from the Vatican, one of them is the pope. The pope after Pope John Paul II died. A German Pope who took the name of Clement XV.

In reality, John Paul II was replaced by Benedict XVI, who is a German pope.

Well, in some ways, I'm skeptic and sometimes I'm too gullible. When it's too interesting or controversial, I'll investigate about it. So his claim about writing it in 1998... I dont know if I'm going to believe it or not. Anyway...

Over all... I'll give it a...6.5/10

I like suspense, excitement and mystery, controversy...

There weren't that much suspense and excitement. The Amber Room was much more exciting, then again, he was writing about cardinals and priests, maybe he was thinking that he might be offending the Princes of the Church, if he wrote something too graphic concerning them. Well, he did... but not so much. It actually made me wonder if men of the church actually used the word of God as an excuse for doing something really unforgiveable if done by an ordinary man. I'm not saying I believe it but I got curious if that does happen. dont you?

The mystery was really there. he didn't reveal the third secret until the very end of the book, and I was just dying to know what it was.

Controversy... hmmm... very vague. It was like "The Da Vinci Code." the third secret was about women being equal with man. and that God thought highly of women. That women should be a part of the church, meaning women priests. And why priests were not allowed to have the joy of having a family?... etc.

We've heard it all before... but he added more, like abortion and homosexuality were supposed to be alright with the church because God accepted them..

Allowing something like abortion is so unlike the church, so it's very unlikely. That's murder however you look at it. Also, he said something about how we should not disregard those who love differently from us.. or something like that. meaning homosexuals... there really is nothing wrong with them. Why?

if there was, why do they even exist to begin with? if it was so forbidden, so wrong, people like them should not have been born... but they are. So that means there is reason for their existence and whatever it is, it is because of what they are and they were made that way, they didn't have the choice, why persecute them for that?

Anyway... that's just me and my opinions.

So... yeah, I cant say it was boring because I wasnt. but it wasnt all that exciting either. It was interesting enough for me to read the whole thing without skipping the walls of text. I read every damn word. So all in all, it was good.

Berry's like a safe Brown.

Okay, so maybe it isn't fair of me to compare these two since, well, they're different. In a way, I like how these two handle the topics their novels revolve around in.

Brown looks like a person who likes to gossip. I like his dedication to his novels because it's obvious that he researches about them. To know every detail of every setting and the history behind it. It's amazing.

And because  of his extensive research he turns this facts into rumors by adding fictional evidence. You want to believe it because he states to much fact in it that it looks/ sounds as though it was real. He's like reviving old ancient issues... and he does a marvelous job of doing so.

Then again, i'm only referring to "The da Vinci code" and "Angels and Demons." the other two... eerr, I like "Digital Fortress"... it was interesting and I learned a few tricks from there about codes. [have used it once or twice] but the "Deception Point" was kinda... disappointing. It was too... corny. for me.

As for Berry, I like the topics he chooses.

The Romanov Prophecy

The Amber Room

The Templar Legacy

The Third Secret

The Alexandria Link

So far, I've read 3.

I'd rate the "Romanov Prophecy" a 5/10.

Sure it was exciting, but I know all the facts about the Romanov family. It just doesn't come close to convincing me that it's a possibility. So no controversy for me. and controversy is a big factor for me.

the "Amber Room" I'd rate a 8/10. Because it's the first time I've heard about it. The history lesson was good as far as it goes... because, up until now, it hasn't been found. But! but the idea of it falling into the hands of an ordinary civilian, a collector, sure... but a treasure as valuable as that and as huge... falling into an unknown person's hands was just too... unbelievable. Not possible. Not happening. How lucky can one person get.

What? What the world considers as "the eight wonder of the world" just falls on your lap? I don't think so.

and I just talked about "the Third Secret"

He's issues are too safe. Not enough controversy to create a stir with people supposedly involved. The situations he creates are too impossible, at least for me. But if he really wanted it to be like that... It would be fantastic!

Next on my reading list is "The Alexandria Link"

Another mystery. A library containing some of the oldest manuscripts as old as the 3rd century. Nobody really knows how it was destroyed... there were too many incidences that may have caused its destruction, or maybe all of it have played a part in it.

So, Berry, give me a good one!