If action-packed heist stories are your jam, Rob The Vatican by Robert Gallant is for you. Craig Reynolds is an American maverick jewel thief who has made quite a reputation for himself in Europe. Now, however, he has to deal with the ingenious Inspector Martin Von Meier, who is doggedly following his trail. After successfully robbing the Ducote Chateau, Craig stumbles into a young and beautiful gymnastics coach named Darlena Aldonzo. Despite himself, he lets go of her and searches for a way to sell off his loot. But soon, Craig and Darlena unwittingly entangle themselves in a dangerous conspiracy inside the Vatican to dispose of the Pope. With two dead priests and a powerful cardinal as their enemy, will Craig and Darlena find a way to escape their pursuers and make a life for themselves?

Filled to the brim with romance, suspense, and action, Rob The Vatican is a heist thriller that entertains you every step of the way. Robert Gallant provides thrills galore with his fast-paced plot full of surprising twists and turns that hold your attention until the last page. There is a certain charismatic quality to the lead characters that draws your attention and makes you root for them as they navigate their way through trouble. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Craig, Romano, and Darlena, and Craig and Darlena's relationship is one of the strongest aspects of the story. Recommended for those who love heist thrillers with plenty of action.

Craig Reynolds's reputation as a thief with an interest in items of high value has attracted the attention of security agents but none of them is more determined to bring this criminal to book than Inspector Von Meier. Their cat-and-mouse chase has led both of them to the center of the Catholic church where Craig has set his eyes on a treasure trove that would make any respectable criminal drool. Before he can complete his latest assignment, he must first get around the distraction that is Darlena Aldonzo, a witness to one of his escapades who Craig cannot seem to avoid. With so many things happening behind the scenes, only time will tell who will come out of this game victorious in Robert Gallant’s Rob The Vatican.

I am impressed with the way the storyline reads like the combination of a mystery story and a history lesson. The characters in the story are simple in their construction. Robert Gallant uses a style of graphic storytelling that immerses you in the plot so subtly that you are sucked into Craig's adventure almost seamlessly. The political manipulation in the Vatican creates an entertaining subplot that will need an astute reader to accurately decipher. The more you read the more you get the impression that you are following the adventures of a modern-day Robin Hood despite the romantic subplot feeling a tad convenient but then, what good is a Robin Hood without his lady Marian to spice up his activities? Rob The Vatican ticks all the boxes for the kind of engaging adventure that followers of this genre can't get enough of. Gallant deserves applause for this entertaining story.

In Rob the Vatican, Robert Gallant sets the scene for his anti-hero Craig Reynolds, a successful jewel thief, who is bent on stealing treasures from the smallest state in the world, the Vatican. After a narrow escape from Inspector Von Meier, Craig meets Darlena Aldonzo, the daughter of a rich Italian landowner, after robbing her family estate. They go their separate ways, she as a gymnast instructor and he continuing his unlawful profession until they unexpectedly meet again. But Craig, while planning the most audacious heist in history, has many good qualities. His ethics are to be admired and as the law closes in on him, his one aim is to protect the girl he loves. There are murders, betrayals, and lies in this blockbuster, which is fast-moving, well-researched, and keeps up the pace from the first page to the last. Gallant highlights the corruption, ego, and power play at the highest levels of the Catholic Church, when the life of the Pope himself hangs in the balance.

Rob the Vatican by Robert Gallant is a story that will see you leaving the bed unmade and the dishes in the sink; I simply could not put it down once I started. Gallant's scope of research is breathtaking, and the descriptions of the Vatican, the treasures, and the planning entailed in removing precious artifacts sound plausible. One event follows another, leaving you without a spare moment to breathe. With so many twists and turns, it is easy to catch you unawares. Craig Reynolds may be a jewel thief but you have to love him. He cares for Joan who is mentally challenged, his love for Darlena Aldonzo is intense and pure, and you just can’t fault him. Who wouldn’t love a world-renowned jewel thief who speaks several languages, has brains and charisma, and is respected even by his opponents? I am thrilled I have found a new author whose books I look forward to reading. Highly recommended.

Rob the Vatican opens with Craig Reynolds in Paris. He has the opportunity to shoot his sworn enemy, Inspector Von Meier, and chooses not to. A man who considers himself too clever for the police to catch, Craig is no ordinary thief. He targets only treasures so well-guarded that stealing them is considered impossible, and there is nowhere so impregnable as the Vatican City or is it? At its heart is a sick pope controlled by powerful Cardinal Lastavis, who has an unholy, egotistical agenda. But he puts the little trust he has entirely in technical security although the Catholic Church may decide to make changes. Robert Gallant's crime adventure is a story to make you think that not everyone is as honest as you or me!

Remember the lifelong battle between John Valjean and Inspector Javert in Les Misérables? Multiply their contest by ten and you get an indication of the drama that lasts throughout Rob the Vatican. Craig Reynolds is an accomplished thief and a man in love, but he also takes notice of feisty Darlena’s father: "Do not count on divine intervention. God is too patient, too willing to allow evil to fester in this world.” He may as well have said the Vatican treasures are there for the taking. To Craig, it is an irresistible challenge. Robert Gallant's story, and the incredible detail of a closed world, are utterly captivating. This one is a must-have and I challenge anyone not to finish it in one sitting.