The Devil's Advocate Paperback – April 1, 2018

This story touched my heart and helped me see the depths of God’s mercy in our everyday lives. This “saint” did what any of us could do—care for one another. The true saint was the Devil’s Advocate.

It is a fascinating tale of suffering, human failings, redemption and above all faith, set in Southern Italy during World War II. Monsignor Blaise Meredith, who is dying of cancer, has been assigned the most important task of his life to be a Devil's Advocate for beautification of Giacomo Nerone. He is sent to a small town in Calabria to investigate the life and death of this martyr. The story unfolds as the Monsignor interviews Nerone's widow, Nina Sanduzzi, Nerone's friend, Dr. Aldo Myers, a Jew among the Catholics, a wealthy Contessa, who was in love with Nerone and Contessa's guest, Nicholas Black, an English painter. Nerone's character comes alive through Dr. Myers and his widow's narration of events leading to his death by firing squad by the partisan mob. Nerone's life in the small town is revealed gradually like clouds parting to reveal the sun. He is a British officer who disserts his post after a horrifying accident where he kills an infant and the parents. With a bullet in his shoulder he runs away to find love, peace and God. He eventually finds all three.It is beautifully written with characters full of human follies, sacrifices and dichotomy of good and evil. Meredith, who had spent his entire life in Rome, closeted in the ridged environs of the Church, is suddenly immersed among ordinary folks with human failings, some with unbound love and devotion, and some who possess qualities of equal measure.Why do we act the way we do? What makes us believe in God and yet commit horrible acts? When Meredith unveils Contessa's evil plan of seducing Paolo, Nerone's young son, he admonishes her and bares her soul. Contessa then blithely asks him to be her confessor. Monsignor replies people go to confessions as if visiting their psychiatrist, not to repent and ask for forgiveness, but to unburden themselves of their shameful act, so that they can go on to their next folly.The human riddle has no answer. Even the good hearted dying Monsignor fails in his bid to save Nicholas Black. Meredith, a cold hearted bookworm from Rome, discovers for the first time true love, hatred, jealousy, revenge, the essence of human heart. He is so moved by the events in the small town, which tugged at his heart for the very first time, that he requests the Church in Rome to be buried there.A MUST read in any body's list.

I mainly tried this book because I love Graham Greene and have read everything he wrote. I thought that perhaps Morris West could be another Greene. Although he doesn't handle moral conflict or the absurdities of life with as much talent as Greene, West is definitely a good writer who should be read more. The writing moved along nicely and the plot was interesting. I learned a few things about how the Catholic Church once approached the sainthood process. Of course, as a Protestant, I occasionally found myself asking, "What's the point?" I will read other books by West and authors in the Loyola Classics series.

A very interesting read with wonderful character development.The plot unfolds with suspense. It’s like a murder mystery but it’s actually a faith mystery.

Great storytelling and thoughtfully presented characters. Take your time getting to know them and their lives and circumstances. Then enjoy the way their stories evolve along with the main character. Real beauty in the conclusion.

I honestly don’t know how many times I have read this book. Yet I learn something new at each sitting. The people become so real, so urgent. You find yourself part of their community with their fears and hungers, their seeking of life in a hard place. And finally they find out who they are and where they are meant to be. The priest finally becomes a man of the people forty years too late. A complex book written so well with so much that makes you question what life is really about.

Few modern novels have the emotional nor spiritual depth to delve so profoundly into the truth of the human person as this West classic. Rooted very much into the "Catholic" experience, yet going beyond just religious tradition, Morris West reaches into the struggle of being a whole person in a world that so seeks to fragment and manipulate us. From Msgr. Meredith, the priest in crisis, to the assorted characters that inhabit the impoverished Italian village where this story takes it's shape, "The Devil's Advocate" is a profoundly sympathetic and honest examination of what we all are born to seek: integrity, wisdom, compassion and the humilty to be open to the promptings of Divine grace. God loves His people, His beloved. This would be easier to believe if we could come to love ourselves more truly. This is a marvelously told parable for today. For all days!

I read this book decades ago and thought it an appropriate gift for a friend who is into morality with a religious flare. I wanted to download it for myself also to re-read, but unfortunately it is not available in kindle format. I haven't been able to read normal books in 8 or 9 years as the print is too small for me. I have read about 12 of Morris West's books and this is one of his outstanding works in my opinion.

This book was more than just about the Catholic Church and proving a saint, it was more about personal relationships and the close knit community in a small Italian village. Even the two mountains as you approached the village the one rich and prosperous in the sun – Gemello Maggiore and the other poor and in the shadow – Gemello Minore the latter leading to the barren village of Calabria.It is a tale of suffering, human failings, redemption and above all faith, set in Southern Italy during World War II. The main character - Monsignor Blaise Meredith, has been assigned to be a Devil's Advocate for beautification of Giacomo Nerone a British officer who disserts his post after a horrifying accident where he kills an infant and the parents. With a bullet in his shoulder he runs away to find love, peace and God. He eventually finds all three, only to be shot by a Partisan Firing Squad. Nerone fathered a child with Nina Sanduzzi, they did not marry and the child was born blind (punishment?) – 3 weeks later after numerous prayers the child could see – a miracle some would say. (I have tried to find out if there are any records of baby’s regaining sight naturally at 3 weeks and cannot find any records).It is beautifully written with characters full of human follies, sacrifices and dichotomy of good and evil. Meredith, who had spent his entire life in Rome, is amongst ordinary people with human failings.Meredith suggests ‘people go to confessions as if visiting their psychiatrist, not to repent and ask for forgiveness, but to unburden themselves of their shameful act, so that they can go on to their next folly’.The human riddle has no answer. Even the good hearted dying Monsignor fails in his bid to save Nicholas Black. Meredith, a cold hearted bookworm from Rome, discovers for the first time true love, hatred, jealousy, revenge, the essence of human heart. He is so moved by the events in the small town, which tugged at his heart for the very first time, that he requests the Church in Rome to be buried there.I enjoyed reading the book and it reminded me of the John Mills film released in 1997.

It was well told with interesting characters and quite plausible. The ending was really the only one possible but this in no way detracts from the story and our interest in the fates of all the main characters. Strongly recommended, don't let the religious setting put you off.

Neiderman's "The Devil's Advocate" is one of those rare books that I read cover-to-cover in a single 8hr sitting.The film (starring Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino) is in my top ten all time greatest movies, and so I wanted to read the book.It is fair to say that the film does not follow the book exactly. The themes are the same, but key sections vary, and ending is VERY different.In the book, Kevin Taylor knowingly defends the guilty whilst his wife embraces their new cosmopolitan lifestyle with the wives of the other associates of John Milton Associates - attorneys at law. And yet Kevin feels that something is wrong as he wins every case and criminals are returned to the streets of New York.The pace is good and the writing style... it is highly unique. One the one hand it is quite plain, almost sparse, but at the same time it is so eloquent as to inspire the readers imagination. This may sound like a criticism, but it is meant as a compliment. Sure, this is not Fitzergerald or Hemmingway, but then I'm not reading it for that.That said it is not a perfect book. The first two-thirds of the book are faultless, but it is in the final third that a few cracks begin to show.In the first instance, Kevin senses that there is something unworldly about John Milton. However, when he discovers the "futures file" (a file detailing future crimes to come), he jumps to the conclusion that Milton is the Devil. He does not consider that he might be a psychic or a timetraveller. Given the secular age we live in, this seemed somewhat contrived because he did nto consider any alternative.Secondly, there is the pregnancy subplot. I struggle to tell you exactly why I had a problem with this, other than it seemed to remind me too much of "Rosemary's Baby"... but it felt underdeveloped. Given the questions of parentage that surround the other associates, nothing was made of Kevin's and this jarred somewhat with me.Finally, there is the ending. It felt rushed. The final confrontation with Milton barely lasted a page, the plot devices of the secretary's was ultimately unused, and the conclusion seemed to see the hero resigned to his fate and not considering the option of his predecessor.However, none of this should detract from what is ultimately a very good book. The characters are well developed, and each has an interesting back story. The descriptions of Milton are beautiful, and the party scene and its suggestions of heddonism was wonderful.The character arc - particularly of Kevin's wife - was so well done that it left me in awe, and the way all the themes were fleshed out was highly satisfying.Is this book going to change your life? Probably not.Are you going to enjoy reading it? Absolutely.

I was unable to put this down so it was a good job I was on holiday or may have been very late for work! It is a fascinating and moving read and I would not be surprised if it has changed every one of its reader's for the better. Its the kind of book you want to talk about and share with all your friends as you wont want them to miss out on the adventure and moving experience that it has to offer.

Brilliant story, beautifully written.