The Vatican hides more than faith. It hides the truth.When investigative journalist Max Thal arrives in Rome, he expects a story.What he finds is a labyrinth of secrets buried beneath the walls of the Vatican-archives never meant to be opened, symbols never meant to be understood, and a silence enforced for centuries.Together with historian Lucia Donati, Max follows the traces left behind by a priest who vanished while searching for something the Church fears above all else: truth without control. Their path leads through hidden chambers, forbidden manuscripts, and the shadow of an ancient order sworn to protect a secret powerful enough to shake faith itself.As the line between belief and knowledge begins to blur, Max and Lucia realize that they are no longer searching for answers-they are being hunted.In the Grip of the Vatican is a gripping thriller about power, secrecy, and the dangerous cost of asking the wrong questions in the wrong place.A novel for readers who enjoy: Vatican and religious conspiracy thrillerssecret archives and ancient orderssuspense driven by atmosphere rather than brute actionstories where faith, history, and mystery collide