Upon This Rock

“This fast-moving thriller spans several centuries of papal history, Vatican politics, black market smugglers, human trafficking, terrorism, the secretive organization Opus Dei, prostitution and the everyday life in a small northern Italian village. David Perry weaves a suspenseful story that is a real page-turner and a fascinating tale . . . a great read.”

—Robert Walker, Frank and Eva Buck Foundation “Perry’s novel sparkles with campy wit, but it is also written with serious clues that keep you reading.”

—Will Snyder, former editor of The Bay Area Reporter “David Perry’s tale brings to life a cast of characters and settings that powerfully dramatize the plot and draw the reader toward each new page-turning twist.”

—Linda Frank, author of the Lily Kovner “Jewish Miss Marple” novels After the Auction, The Lost Torah of Shanghai, and The Nice Little Blonde Girl “After reading Upon This Rock I want to dance the tarantella. What a read! I learned more Latin than I remembered Hebrew from my six years of Hebrew School. Who knew Popes had so much fun. Lee’s love of his friend and mentor Brian comes through so strong. And the little niceties of Lee’s love for Adriano are so warm and real. I would love to meet these men and you will too. From the Castro in San Francisco to the underbelly of Umbria’s ancient Orvieto, and from the 16th century to the 21st, you are in for quite a ride. And with all the twists and turns, be happy that you’re not in the driver’s seat.”

—Darryl A. Forman, author of The Unleavened Truth “Come for esoterically fascinating Vatican history and centuries-spanning ecclesiastical skulduggery, stay for a delectably rewarding, genre-spanning tapestry of romance, mystery, and literary tourism. Perry is no armchair explorer: this inventive debut blends evocative travel journalism with engrossing story-telling.”

—Richard Labonte, general manager, A Different Light Bookstores