Vatican Waltz

"Merullo's latest is a page-turning novel of religious ideas written with love and imagination. ...With fillips of The Da Vinci Code conspiracy and Eat Pray Love gourmandism ...It also sings with finely observed details of family relationships, ethnic neighborhood life, and the life of prayer. The shoulda-seen-it-coming ending is a miracle. Merullo's prior novels about faith have sold well; here's praying for a similar outcome for this fresh take on institutional religion and what it means to hear God's voice."— Publisher's Weekly [starred review]

"In Merullo's warmhearted addition to his series of unusual religious novels a young Massachusetts woman is prompted to share her messages from God with the Catholic Church hierarchy...Cynthia grows to believe that God is calling her to be a priest. ...Cynthia is impelled by the increasing force of her visions (beautifully depicted by Merullo as experiences of the world's divine harmony and unity) to press her case all the way to the Vatican in Rome. ...thriller elements provide additional narrative energy as Cynthia goes from Rome to Genoa to meet with a reform-minded cardinal, and the denouement is decidedly dramatic. But the real drama here is in the heroine's relationship with God—and secular-minded readers who think such matters don't interest them will think again if they give half a chance to Merullo's loving portrait of a quiet, unassuming woman impelled by faith into deeper engagement with sorrowful, suffering humanity. ...A fresh, moving portrait of religion as it could and should be. The cliffhanging finale offers hope that we will see more of Cynthia's odyssey in future books." — Kirkus [starred review]

"Roland Merullo manages to create a surprisingly absorbing portrayal...Cynthia Piantedosi is unerringly likable and honorable...The novel becomes not just a portrait of a quiet woman, but of a troubled institution at a historical crossroads. Cynthia's awakening aspirations coincide with the closing of churches and the waning of trust in the wake of the priest child-abuse scandals. ...Along the way, Merullo skillfully turns her into a mirror of the complex and arrested world of church traditionalists, literalists, and self-preservationists." — Boston Globe

"Vatican Waltz is a welcoming place for parishioners and interlopers alike. . . . Catholics will identify with its plaintive call for the kind of renewal . . . that for many has been embodied in the inspiring figure of Pope Francis. But others, too, if they have kept their minds open, will be surprised at how uplifted they are by its story of individual courage and conviction."— Wall Street Journal

"While the novel refrains from proselytizing, Merullo's explanations of relevant church doctrines allow non-Catholics to understand Cynthia's journey. His love for the subject matter is evident on every page, and his lush prose is particularly impressive when he describes Cynthia's travels through Rome and Genoa, allowing the reader a glance inside some very sacred places. Fans of Alice McDermott and Merullo's earlier work will appreciate the heart, soul, and sheer joy found in Vatican Waltz and one woman's commitment to a life far more miraculous than she ever imagined." —Booklist