Review of The Reikel Conspiracy

Josephe-Anne · Post by **Josephe-Anne** » 13 Dec 2022, 23:56

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Reikel Conspiracy" by Richard Rees.]

4 out of 5 stars

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One of the world’s greatest unsolved mysteries serves as the inspiration for this thrilling novel. The Reikel Conspiracy by Richard Rees is a work of historical fiction based on the unexplained disappearance of the crew of a ship named the Mary Celeste. Set in 1872, the story follows the adventures of Michael Callaghan, a New York city cop and former U.S. Civil War soldier. Michael wants to bring Peter Sweeny to justice after the crook absconded with millions in public funds and caused Michael’s parents to lose everything. Sweeny also happens to be the uncle of Michael’s estranged wife, Colleen. As a member of the infamous Tweed Ring, Sweeny flees the country and makes some powerful new friends, thus introducing America to the Sicilian Mafia. As Michael chases Sweeny across the Atlantic Ocean, he learns that there is trouble brewing in Europe. The Roman Catholic Church is facing persecution from King Victor Emmanuel in Italy and Otto von Bismarck in Germany, but the Vatican plans on striking back. Little by little, Michael realizes that all these situations are linked in ways he never imagined.

On the cover, a blood-red background features a ship sailing through stormy seas with the hilt of a silver sword plunging into the water in the forefront. The text is divided into seventy-three brief chapters. The themes of this novel include secret societies, mystery, history, religion, corruption, action, and a bit of romance. There are violent scenes and intimate moments in this book, but they are not too explicit. Only mild profanity is used. Roman Catholic doctrines are discussed throughout the text. The religion is portrayed in an unflattering light, but readers are left to draw their own conclusions.

In terms of the characters, Michael is a daring and determined police officer. His wife, Colleen, is also headstrong in her convictions, so it’s only natural for them to have disagreements. The title character, Reikel, is a rather unusual priest. As a Jesuit, his goal is to restore the Church to its former glory. Sweeny is a stereotypical gangster with money as his primary motive. He even smokes cigars to complete the look. Don Cottone is a Mafia kingpin. His classy and calm demeanor belie his more violent proclivities. There were many other people involved in the plot, but these were the most prominent. Each character had depth to their personality, and their backstories revealed why they behaved they way they did.

I really enjoyed the many elements that were intertwined in this complex mystery. Religious fanaticism and corruption were combined with an insatiable lust for power, control, and wealth to create despicable villains. The reader is privy to information that the characters are not aware of. I also appreciated the realistic relationship dynamics between Michael and Colleen because their marriage had its ups and downs. Michael’s loss of faith was also relatable. Additionally, I liked the inclusion of historical facts regarding the Mary Celeste and the subsequent inquiry into the crew’s disappearance.

There was nothing I disliked about this publication. The only issue was the number of errors I found in the text. There were more than ten errors, consisting mainly of missing words, missing punctuation marks, and the omission of italic typeface where it was required. The book needs another round of editing to correct these unfortunate mistakes.

Therefore, I give The Reikel Conspiracy by Richard Rees a rating of four out of five stars. If it weren’t for the numerous errors, I would have given it a perfect score. This intriguing tale exemplifies the fact that, throughout history, people have always been divided based on religion, race, and politics. In times of great turmoil, we are reminded that, despite our differences, we are all human. Because of the similarities between the two books, fans of The Da Vinci Code will enjoy this tale.

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The Reikel Conspiracy
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CrossK · Post by **CrossK** » 23 Dec 2022, 04:46

I really enjoyed the many elements that were intertwined in this complex mystery. Religious fanaticism and corruption were combined with an insatiable lust for power, control, and wealth to create despicable villains Great book.

Neora Wish · Post by **Neora Wish** » 28 Dec 2022, 14:46

It sounds like a great book which is advocating humanity despite our differences. I like how you summarized it. Thank you for your great review.

Faruqinspired · Post by **Faruqinspired** » 30 Dec 2022, 13:36

The various components of this intricate puzzle that were connected were truly enjoyable. Despicable characters were produced when religious fanaticism, corruption, and an unquenchable thirst for wealth, power, and control were united.

Annas Felix · Post by **Annas Felix** » 02 Jan 2023, 03:16

Some of the banes of society today can be attributed to extreme religious fanaticism and institutional corruption. It's great to see that the author brought these things to light.