As usual West writes with authority about the inner workings of the Catholic Church. Church politics and tradition are the backdrop for a story about a fictional Cardinal of the Church who struggles with his traumatic and dramatic early years as he searches for personal faith and truth in the Church he is an integral part of. A bit difficult to read but I found it hard to put aside until I came to the unexpected conclusion. This is a book that stays in your mind as you want to know more about the character and his final resolution.