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Janet M. Tavakoli
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Archangels: Rise of the Jesuits Kindle Edition

by Janet M. Tavakoli (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 618 ratings
When Control of the Vatican Is at Stake, Money Talks and Nobody Plays Fair

The brutal murder of a young Jesuit and church financier thrusts investigator Michael Visconte into a web of Vatican conspiracy and intrigue—with deadly consequences.

Visconte discovers the crime is tied to his personal complicated past and to his ongoing investigation into the money laundering operations of the Archangeli, a secret society inside the Vatican.

His lucky break—one that should provide critical evidence—blurs the line between good and evil. A criminal cabal not only endangers the lives of Michael and the Jesuits, but also imperils his wife and children.

A murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the end.

Praise for Archangels: Rise of the Jesuits

"Conspiracies within conspiracies. A fast-paced thriller."
—Publisher's Weekly

"Murder at the Vatican, hackers, financial wizards, tax evasion, and political intrigue...we also encounter memory arts, hypnotism, embezzlement, double agents, and psychological manipulation...a good page turner."
Opalesque

"As a financial murder mystery it is very good. [Narrator] Paul Heitsch does an excellent job with all of the characters."
Audible Book Monthly
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  1. Print length
    354 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    January 11, 2014
  4. File size
    2.2 MB
  5. Page Flip
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  6. Word Wise
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Archangels: Rise of the Jesuits

"Conspiracies within conspiracies. This fast-paced thriller doesn't stint on intrigue...enough authenticity and adventure to ensure readers will keep turning the pages."
Publisher's Weekly

"Murder at the Vatican, hackers, financial wizards, tax evasion, and political intrigue...we also encounter memory arts, hypnotism, embezzlement, double agents, and psychological manipulation...a good page turner."
Opalesque

"As a financial murder mystery it is very good. [Narrator] Paul Heitsch does an excellent job with all of the characters."
Audible Book Monthly

From the Author

The print edition of Archangels: Rise of the Jesuits was published January 22, 2013. On February 28, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI shocked the Catholic Church when he suddenly resigned. Pope Francis, his successor, is the first Jesuit to lead the Catholic Church.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00A2V7QZY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lyons McNamara (January 11, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 11, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 354 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 618 ratings

About the author

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Janet M. Tavakoli

Janet M. Tavakoli

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Janet Tavakoli is the president of Tavakoli Structured Finance, a derivatives risk consulting firm for financial institutions. She has worked as a chemical engineer, earned her MBA from the University of Chicago, taught derivatives as an adjunct associate professor of finance at the University of Chicago's Booth Business School (Graduate School of Business), and worked for Wall Street firms in New York, Tokyo, and London. She was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, lived in Iran during the Islamic revolution, lived in New York for a decade, lived in London for several years, and has traveled extensively for business and pleasure in Europe and Japan.

She is the author of Credit Derivatives (Three editions; Wiley 1998, 2001, and Lyons McNamara 2022), Risk (2016), Decisions: Life and Death on Wall Street (2015), , Structured Finance & Collateralized Debt Obligations (Wiley 2003, 2008), and Dear Mr. Buffett: What an Investor Learns 1,269 Miles from Wall Street, (Wiley 2009).

The New Robber Barons (Lyons McNamara, 2013), is a compilation of her web-based commentaries since the September 2008 financial crisis through February 2012.

Archangels: Rise of the Jesuits (Lyons McNamara, 2013) is her financial-fiction debut thriller.

Unveiled Threat: A Personal Experience of Fundamentalist Islam and the Roots of Terrorism (Lyons McNamara, 2014) is a non-fiction thriller and commentary.

Ms. Tavakoli is frequently quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, New York Times, Business Week, Bloomberg News. Television appearances include CBS's 60 Minutes, CNN, C-Span, CNBC, BNN, CBS Evening News, Bloomberg TV, Fox, ABC, and BBC.

Trade books: www dot tavakolistructuredfinance dot com

Novels: www dot janettavakoli dot com

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
618 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book keeps them enthralled until the very end, with a well-developed plot that moves quickly and is based on real events. The writing quality is praised, with one customer noting how the author explains things in a very understandable way. They appreciate the revealing account of the Jesuit community and find it easy to follow. While the blending of fact and fiction receives mixed reactions, customers generally enjoy the content.

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165 customers mention "Readability"159 positive6 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as an interesting and educational read that kept them enthralled until the very end.

"...What a great first novel. I have read all of Paul Erdman's finance inspired novels and this book definitely falls in this genre...." Read more

"...Her characters are believable and engaging, even if most are given backgrounds of wealth and privilege that few readers are likely to be able to..." Read more

"...overwhelming situations with the last couple of Popes... wow... great and timely read... Tom Peashey (Author - I Am Woman - The Dani Affair)" Read more

"...Besides those 3 things, I found this book enjoyable to read and look forward to reading any other fictional books Janet may release...." Read more

159 customers mention "Plot"138 positive21 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, finding it both interesting and suspenseful, with the story moving along well.

"...The Da Vinci code, and Ms. Tavakoli has certainly captured that style of intrigue and suspense...." Read more

"...I enjoyed this book simply as a tautly plotted and fast-moving work of fiction, although I occasionally wondered if the author was skating on legal..." Read more

"...Additionally, the sex scenes seemed a bit gratuitous. Overall, a good plot that could've been developed more." Read more

"...The mystery holds its own but believe me... the final conclusion where the author claims to separate truth from fiction is pretty scary stuff......" Read more

102 customers mention "Insight"92 positive10 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insights into the Jesuit community and Vatican life, noting that it is based on real events and combines truth with fiction.

"...The work is of course fiction but Tavakoli cleverly weaves historical episodes that are factual...." Read more

"...Her story of deep-seated corruption in the Vatican, with tentacles in financial markets, links to the Mafia and criminal enterprises globally is..." Read more

"Clearly this author has done lots of research on the subject and I found it very believable in most respects...." Read more

"...This story is fiction based on facts and that makes it much more interesting...." Read more

71 customers mention "Writing quality"63 positive8 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as a page-turner and noting that the author is knowledgeable about the subject matter.

"...Mafia and criminal enterprises globally is given depth by her easy explanations of how both financial frauds and legitimate trading strategies work...." Read more

"...Archangels was well written and thought out, and I enjoyed reading it. Why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5:..." Read more

"I really like the book. The author obviously knows her financial information and manages it very well, although there were times I was a bit..." Read more

"...I'm only giving it a second star because its grammar is okay, which isn't always the case with books I download at Amazon...." Read more

36 customers mention "Character development"29 positive7 negative

Customers appreciate the well-developed characters in the book.

"...Her characters are believable and engaging, even if most are given backgrounds of wealth and privilege that few readers are likely to be able to..." Read more

"...I really liked the characters particularly the main character Michael and his wife. They were very well drawn and well developed...." Read more

"...The characters were described and "fleshed" out very well. She made them come to life and the local descriptions were outstanding...." Read more

"...The characters are believable. The story and plot are well written and follow the timeline of the real events well...." Read more

32 customers mention "Pacing"30 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the book's pacing, describing it as a fast read that moves quickly and is very timely.

"...I enjoyed this book simply as a tautly plotted and fast-moving work of fiction, although I occasionally wondered if the author was skating on legal..." Read more

"...situations with the last couple of Popes... wow... great and timely read... Tom Peashey (Author - I Am Woman - The Dani Affair)" Read more

"...The plotting is dense, although very fast moving. This is one book I will enjoy reading again to get what I missed the first time." Read more

"...A charming tale, quick read that makes the reader feel as if they too have been to the Vatican and have come to better understand the banking..." Read more

16 customers mention "Ease of follow"13 positive3 negative

Customers find the book easy to follow, with one mentioning that the transitions within the book are expertly done, and another noting it's a page-turner from beginning to end.

"...The transitions within the book were expertly done and make the novel difficult to put down. I read the book in 2 sittings...." Read more

"...Great job Miss Tavakoli. The suspense is good, the thread of the story easy to follow...." Read more

"...This is a page turner from beginning to end!..." Read more

"I found this book very interesting and hard to put down. It's an educational (Jesuits),thought provoking, murder mystery...." Read more

20 customers mention "Content"10 positive10 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's content, with some appreciating the blending of fact and fiction, while others find it bogged down with too many names and information.

"...This is an excellent story which has taken actual facts and mixed them ever so well with fiction to make a great story...." Read more

"...Ain't reading it again!!!! - The computer info was wholly unbelievable as well. Jesuit hackers. Hilarious. -..." Read more

"...Interesting plots and partially supported by current news sensationalism but not factual. It will entertain." Read more

"...read that began with what promised 5-star action then settled into a bit too much detail about financial transactions and less action...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • E.S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Warning! Highly addictive novel. Difficult to put down...
    Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    First, a disclosure. I met the author at a business related event in Chicago and that is how I found out about this book.

    I have read all of Ms Tavakoli's books related to derivatives but had no idea she also wrote fiction. What a great first novel. I have read all of Paul Erdman's finance inspired novels and this book definitely falls in this genre. One of my favorite movies is The Da Vinci code, and Ms. Tavakoli has certainly captured that style of intrigue and suspense. In the same way you find yourself asking which parts are fiction, fact, hidden truthsor conspiracy conspiracy theory. Yes, you read correctly: Ms Tavakoli is "channelling" both Pail Erdman and Dan Brown through her writing. For me at least it was an infectious combination.

    She does a wonderful job of describing the scenes in and around the Vatican. She almost transports you there and her descriptions of the meals in the restaurants were enough to send me to my favorite trattoria the following day.

    The work is of course fiction but Tavakoli cleverly weaves historical episodes that are factual. The transitions within the book were expertly done and make the novel difficult to put down. I read the book in 2 sittings.

    Just a couple of minor disappointments -the book was too short and I felt some of the characters could have been developed a little deeper.

    Nevertheless, a great first novel -looking forward to the next one.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Marcia Proba
    4.0 out of 5 stars Gripping
    Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Janet Tavakoli is a finance expert and experienced writer of non-fiction, and it shows in this first novel. Her story of deep-seated corruption in the Vatican, with tentacles in financial markets, links to the Mafia and criminal enterprises globally is given depth by her easy explanations of how both financial frauds and legitimate trading strategies work. Unlike authors who have researched a subject in the library or Internet, and proceed in clumsy detail to explain technicalities they barely understand themselves, Ms Tavakoli's casual confidence with the subject matter teaches the reader enough to understand without stilted exposition. Her characters are believable and engaging, even if most are given backgrounds of wealth and privilege that few readers are likely to be able to identify with.

    I enjoyed this book simply as a tautly plotted and fast-moving work of fiction, although I occasionally wondered if the author was skating on legal thin ice with some of the references to people and corporations. I was stunned in reading the Afterword to find how many of what I had assumed were contrivances to support the plot were real events. Stunned and a little dismayed, actually: my beliefs (illusions?) about worthy institutions can survive fictional attacks unscathed, but in the face of demonstrated fact, they take a big hit.

    There are a couple of occasions where the reader is asked to believe in some rather improbable coincidences, but while they might raise the skepticism dial a little, they are not overly jarring and contribute to moving the story along. Events at the Vatican since the book was published have, ironically, perhaps given the ending more credibility than it may originally have had when written (and any more detail on that would be a spoiler!).

    This novel is complete in itself, and doesn't leave any obvious hooks for a sequel. However, I hope Ms Tavakoli writes more financial crime fiction - I'll certainly be looking out for it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Catsmeow
    3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable but....
    Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Clearly this author has done lots of research on the subject and I found it very believable in most respects. However, I would've liked a little less financial information and a little more action. The suspense was built quite well but the ending had some "happily ever after" feel to it. Additionally, the sex scenes seemed a bit gratuitous. Overall, a good plot that could've been developed more.
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  • Tom Peashey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow - complicated and thought provoking premis
    Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Wow... as a catholic who just visited the Vatican for the first time a few months ago, I was able to relate to this story and its settings - all very accurate. A complex murder mystery that is VERY timely in light of the recent resignation of the Pope and the current turmoil in the church. The mystery holds its own but believe me... the final conclusion where the author claims to separate truth from fiction is pretty scary stuff... if 10% of what she claims to be factual is indeed truth - one can not help but wonder just what the leaders of the Vatican are thinking and.... is there a connection to the seemingly overwhelming situations with the last couple of Popes... wow... great and timely read... Tom Peashey (Author - I Am Woman - The Dani Affair)
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Shopper
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Read
    Reviewed in Canada on July 8, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Great story, plot and characters. Research and church history was phenomenal. I had to read in one sitting as I couldn't put it down.
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  • Judi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thriller qui fait reflechir
    Reviewed in France on August 30, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    J'adore son style. Une livre qui m'intriguée de début au fin. Intéressant commentaire sur l'église catholique d'aujourd'hui. Bravo Janet j'attend votre prochaine livre!
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  • Ivan Cotter
    3.0 out of 5 stars Dodgy dealings in the Vatican
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 30, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Being so secretive, especially in response to any criticisms of or alleged scandals concerning itself, the Vatican has become one of the big go-to choices for the setting of a novel of the murder-mystery genre. It is therefore a brave author who risks making that choice. The present author has in my view successfully made that choice. In spite of the somewhat hackneyed early 20th century paradigm of a rich, upper-class policeman being the hero, the novel is very readable and holds the interest well: a sort of "thinking man's Dan Brown". A major contributory factor to enjoyment of the book is the author's evident thorough and extensive knowledge of both the financial world and past events involving believed dodgy dealings of the Vatican in that world. As might be expected, the novel relates fictional such dealings of an extremely dodgy nature, and clergy of a grossly unholy nature, possibly so extremely that a gullible or biased reader might see a picture of the Vatican and its denizens that is unfairly black. In any event, I can recommend this novel, although particularly devout catholics with high blood pressure might be wise to give it a miss!
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  • Finnian Fitzpatrick
    4.0 out of 5 stars Well-written and gripping.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is a suspenseful novel that starts with a murder and grips the reader; the main characters are finely drawn and believable, I did not want it to end!
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  • Ed Curley
    2.0 out of 5 stars The church mystery thing is a bit overdone
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I read it on the train going to work, I cant say I really enjoyed it, just OK, one of many in this genre.
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