No one could claim that today's book, “Conclave” by Robert Harris, is the next Tolstoy or Melville masterpiece. Nonetheless, it is one of the best books of the year and keeps you interested from beginning to end. It is plain fun to read.

No one could claim that today's book, “Conclave” by Robert Harris, is the next Tolstoy or Melville masterpiece. Nonetheless, it is one of the best books of the year and keeps you interested from beginning to end. It is plain fun to read.