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The Magdalene Chronicles Series

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The International Bestselling Thriller

Book 1 in The Magdalene Chronicles series

The very foundations of Christianity are at stake in this intelligent thriller set in the Vatican Secret Archives. Join Father Michael Dominic and investigative reporter Hana Sinclair, along with a trio of valiant Swiss Guards, as they try to prevent an explosive manuscript written by Mary Magdalene from falling into the wrong hands—including those in the highest ranks of the Vatican.

Tens of thousands of readers have made The Magdalene Deception one of the bestselling suspense thrillers on Amazon, earning it thousands of top-rated reviews. Read it and see why for yourself—then join Michael and Hana on other roads to adventure in the following books of this highly-rated series.

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Book 2 in The Magdalene Chronicles series

Prepare to embark on a heart-pumping adventure through the Vatican Secret Archives, where Father Michael Dominic uncovers a centuries-old puzzle crafted by the renowned cartographer, Pietro Vesconte, for the fabled Cathars. The mystery deepens as investigative journalist Hana Sinclair takes on the challenge of cracking the code, ultimately revealing a cryptic map that leads to a hidden cave in the legendary Languedoc region of France.

As Father Dominic and his courageous comrades embark on their perilous quest, they soon discover a sacred reliquary of unimaginable value—and a grave danger to the Church. But their journey is fraught with peril, as they must fend off ruthless Ustasha agents and a powerful Russian oligarch who will stop at nothing to get their hands on the priceless artifact.

With the odds stacked against them, Father Dominic and his friends must team up with a group of intrepid Roma gypsies and the staunch Italian Art Squad to prevent the relic from falling into the wrong hands. Will they be able to save this holy treasure from the clutches of the black market antiquities trade? Only time will tell in this heart-stopping adventure of mystery, danger, and intrigue.

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Book 3 in The Magdalene Chronicles series

From Jerusalem to Rennes-le-ChĂąteau, France, and from Rome to Buenos Aires, Father Michael Dominic and his friends take on a new adventure as they discover clues in old Nazi diaries that lead them to the most sacred artifact imaginable: the legendary Veil of Veronica, the cloth on which Christ cleansed his face on the road to Crucifixion, and which imparted his holy visage, showing what many believe to be the face of the Son of God.

Michael and Hana must track down clues in the form of three fragments of a mystifying puzzle in order to find the veil. The sacred artifact has been secretly locked away for 75 years in the famed Wewelsburg Castle, where SS ReichsfĂŒhrer Heinrich Himmler held occult ceremonies and led a mysterious organization known as the Ahnenerbe, whose mission it was to produce a line of Aryan children. Mossad, Interpol, and elite Israeli Shayetet 13 forces come into play to bring down the long-hunted Nazi in charge of it all, one of the few remaining prizes on Israel’s most-wanted list.

The Magdalene Chronicles eBook Collection

All 3 of Gary McAvoy’s bestselling thrillers from The Magdalene Chronicles series in one convenient ebook collection. If you love fast-paced novels grounded in history, grab this non-stop action-packed thriller set! Join the many thousands of readers who say McAvoy’s “attention to detail makes the stories utterly believable, leaving the reader wondering what is real and what is fiction.”

Available and specially priced as an ebook Collection only on Amazon Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.

Vatican Secret Archives Thriller Series

(Though each book can be read as a standalone, it is best to start with The Magdalene Chronicles for fuller character development)

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1st Place Winner
(Religious Fiction)
Next Generation Indie Books Awards 2022

A Vatican Secret Archives Thriller – Book 1

During the Vatican’s papal conclave of 1740, violinist Antonio Vivaldi is given a devastating secret by his dying mentor, Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni, the man favored to be elected Pope before he was poisoned. Fearful of the Italian Camorra, Vivaldi hides the secret in a special cipher in his music—a cipher revealing a breathtaking centuries-long operation of art theft from the Vatican Museum and forgery of its priceless paintings.

Almost three hundred years later, the encoded music is discovered by Father Michael Dominic, Prefect of the Vatican Secret Archive, who tries decoding the cipher with the help of journalist Hana Sinclair and her former teacher, music cryptologist Dr. Livia Gallo. Dominic, Hana, and their Swiss Guard companions Karl Dengler and Lukas Bischoff, meet up in the enchanted city of Venice during Carnivale celebrations to further investigate Vivaldi’s coded music with the help of the maestro’s descendant, Contessa Donatella Vivaldi—whose palazzo on the Grand Canal holds many secrets of its own.

The notorious Italian Mafia organization known as the Camorra tries everything in its power to stop Dominic and his friends from digging deeper into their secret forgery operation. But now Dominic and his team are joined by former French commando Marco Picard, whose tactics are a stubborn match for the brutal ways of the Camorra.

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A Vatican Secret Archives Thriller – Book 2

In 1982, Roberto Calvi, known as “God’s Banker,” was discovered hanging under London’s Blackfriars Bridge. What wasn’t found was the briefcase he was known to have had with him the night before, reportedly stuffed with explosive documents blackmailing some of the most powerful people in Italy, and perhaps more.

When the briefcase mysteriously reappears in the Vatican Archives, Father Michael Dominic and his team—Hana, Marco, Karl, Lukas, the feisty Pauline nun Sister Teri, and Dominic’s new assistant, Ian—are up against two powerful and enigmatic organizations, Opus Deus and the secret, outlawed Masonic Lodge P2, who savagely fight for control of the briefcase and its secrets. Their goal? To carry out one of the most dangerous conspiracies the Church has ever faced—all happening during an unexpected conclave to elect a new pope.

From Rome, Italy, to Geneva, Switzerland, join Dominic and friends as they fend off plotters, kidnappers, and blackmailers who have threaded their way into Vatican politics for decades, in a conspiracy known as The Opus Dictum.

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The Petrus Prophecy

A Vatican Secret Archives Thriller – Book 3

Father Jonah Barlow is dead. The respected Jesuit scholar of apocalyptic studies might have died from a fall in his apartment . . . or was he pushed? All that is known for sure is that the provocative manuscript he was working on—a book that promised to reveal the upcoming fulfillment of ancient and recent prophecies, including the ghastly and shocking Third Secret of Fátima—is missing.

Two female detectives—one from Chicago, the other from Rome—take on the investigation as a possible homicide, turning to Vatican archivist Father Michael Dominic for his help, since Barlow sent the young priest the only other copy of the manuscript.

Meanwhile, a sinister ancient order known as the Knights of the Apocalypse seem to be using the predictions of the manuscript to create fear and chaos as the prophecies appear to be coming fulfilled. Is the end of the world imminent?

From Chicago to Jerusalem to Scotland, from Rome to the ancient island nation of Malta, join Father Dominic, journalist Hana Sinclair, their trusted team of Swiss Guards, a French commando, and the two detectives as they solve the bewildering puzzles of the Petrus Prophecy.

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A Vatican Secret Archives Thriller – Book 4

A 700-year-old body is discovered in a hidden crypt buried deep beneath the burnt embers of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris during reconstruction after its disastrous fire. Presumed to be that of a bishop from the fourteenth century, two parchment scrolls had been secretly sewn into the man’s preserved garments—documents that could spell a royal upheaval for modern-day France.

While the country is in great political turmoil—with rival factions laying claim not only to the presidency, but to the republic’s royal heritage—the French government calls on the Vatican’s own Father Michael Dominic to extract and learn what secrets the parchments may hold. But when they lead him to the tomb of Pope Clement V, the priest discovers yet another set of shocking documents with hints of a vast treasure the pope had buried before he died in 1314. When a prominent figure seizes the seat of government by force, it’s now up to Michael, Hana, and Marco—along with their trusted Swiss Guards—to act.

A Vatican Secret Archives Thriller – Book 5

In an epic struggle of faith, knowledge and power, the discovery of a mysterious silver scroll in the Judean Desert pits rival factions against one another in a thrilling race to uncover the secrets it holds.

Two young Israeli boys discover an ancient red clay jar in a hidden cave tucked away in the Judean Desert near Qumran. Inside the jar are several scrolls written by the Essenes two thousand years earlier, before the Great Jewish Revolt, including one legendary scroll engraved on silver that speaks of what may be the great Lost Treasures of Solomon buried around Jerusalem—consistent with the predictions of the fabled Copper Scroll discovered in 1947 near the Dead Sea. But one of the overlooked parchments turns out to be far more pivotal to Christianity than anything ever before discovered—a startling manuscript written by St. Paul himself that could rewrite religious history.

Father Michael Dominic and his friends are called to Jerusalem to inspect the silver scroll, but others are trying to get to the precious manuscripts first—members of a little known sect called the Mithraists, the chief rival to Christianity up to the fourth century . . . a wealthy Texas televangelist . . . an Egyptian antiquities broker . . . Israeli Mossad agents . . . and a cast of rogues each out for themselves.

Follow the adventures of Father Dominic and his loyal team from Rome to the Holy Land—through the colorful bazaars of Cairo to the ancient holy sites of Jerusalem and Jordan—in this engaging, historical international thriller.

The Galileo Gambit

A Vatican Secret Archives Thriller – Book 6

Father Michael Dominic, the esteemed prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives in Rome, is entrusted with the mission of transporting the original 17th-century trial documents of Galileo to Loyola Law School in Chicago. The stage is set for a modern historical mock trial of Galileo’s original heresy charges, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the legendary event.

In this riveting reenactment, Galileo’s fate lies in the hands of the Vatican’s current chief prosecutor—a cunning bishop from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and his defense, a distinguished law professor harboring a mysterious past. All the while, the Pope’s deteriorating health has the Roman Curia on edge, as ambitious contenders jockey for position in the anticipated papal election.

But the plot thickens when priceless historical exhibits vanish the night before the trial! With no time to lose, Father Michael’s team is forced to divide and conquer, pursuing every lead to recover the stolen treasures. As they face perilous twists and turns, they must also contend with shadowy plots from rival factions.

The stakes are high as Father Michael and his team race against time to uncover the truth behind this pulse-pounding mystery. With hidden agendas emerging from the shadows and help materializing from the most unexpected sources, loyalties are put to the ultimate test. Hold onto your seats and prepare for a tense ride as Father Michael courageously battles to unravel the enigmatic conspiracy known as The Galileo Gambit.

September 2023

The Confessions of Pope Joan

A Vatican Secret Archives Thriller – Book 7

In the heart of the English countryside, a discovery is made that threatens to overturn centuries of Church history. When Father Michael Dominic uncovers a cryptic diary leading to a lost 1st century Gospel, he is thrust into a labyrinth of deceit, murder, and controversy. Alongside Hana Sinclair, a savvy journalist, Michael sets out to unravel a mystery buried deep within the Church’s past. The Confessions of Pope Joan is a gripping tale of courage and faith, charting their quest against a powerful adversary seeking to keep the truth hidden.
 
Their journey reveals the existence of Pope Joan, the first and only female Pope whose reign has been obscured by time and conspiracy. As they traverse the intricate tapestry of deceit and power, they must confront a society unwilling to relinquish its patriarchal hold. Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Grace Dempsey, assigned to a seemingly unrelated murder case in England, stumbles upon a thread that binds her to the historic revelation. Their paths converge, creating a thrilling narrative that intertwines past and present, fact and fiction.
 
As the Vatican’s secrets unfold, Pope Ignatius, Michael’s ailing father, battles his own legacy. Torn between preserving the Church’s past and shaping its future, his decisions become paramount in the struggle for truth. The Pope’s radical stand for change, embodied in two Apostolic Constitutions, sets the stage for a new era in the Church while challenging long-standing beliefs and traditions.
 
The Confessions of Pope Joan is an intriguing blend of historical revelation, suspenseful mystery, and human resilience. It delves deep into the heart of the Catholic Church, unearthing secrets hidden for centuries. Through engaging characters, intertwined plotlines, and poignant insights, this novel offers readers an engrossing journey through a world where the past bleeds into the present, reshaping the future. With every turn of the page, The Confessions of Pope Joan forces readers to question the known and grapple with the unimagined, making it a must-read for fans of historical thrillers.

Non-Fiction Works

Based on stunning new details discovered in the personal journals and archives of former Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director Harold R. Nye—and corroborated by letters written by Richard Hickock, one of the killers on Death Row—And Every Word Is True lays out a fresh, meticulously researched perspective on the 1959 Kansas Clutter family murder case made famous by Truman Capote in his bestselling masterwork In Cold Blood.

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

And if you have yet to read In Cold Blood, I highly recommend it as a companion to And Every Word Is True:

On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Clutter family were savagely murdered by blasts from a shotgun held a few inches from their faces. There was no apparent motive for the crime, and there were almost no clues.

In one of the first non-fiction novels ever written, Truman Capote reconstructs the murder and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of the killers, generating both mesmerizing suspense and astonishing empathy. In Cold Blood is a work that transcends its moment, yielding poignant insights into the nature of American violence.

by Jane Goodall (co-authored with Gary McAvoy and Gail Hudson)

For anyone who’s ever wanted to know how to take a stand for a more sustainable world, renowned scientist and bestselling author Jane Goodall delivers an eye-opening call to arms that explores the social and personal significance of what we eat.

In Harvest for Hope, Goodall presents an empowering and far-reaching vision for social and environmental transformation through the way we produce and consume food. With practical, user-friendly chapters—such as “Doing Our Part: Help Farm Animals Live Better Lives,” “An Organic Wave Worldwide,” and “Eat Local, Eat Seasonal”—and a comprehensive resource guide, readers will discover the dangers behind many of today’s foods, along with the extraordinary individual and worldwide benefits of eating mindfully. Harvest for Hope uncovers the choices that support the greater good and will preserve our own health and that of future generations.

Cracking the New E-conomy: Business Tools for the Entrepreneur

Edited by Gary McAvoy
Advice from some of the most knowledgeable marketing, financial, legal, human resources, and sales people in the Pacific Northwest, not only in software but in high-tech as well, providing basic business information at all stages of a company from start-ups to mature companies. Published in 2000 by Washington Software Alliance.

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