Son of Assisi
About
On October 4, 2026, the world will celebrate the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. Could that be ruined by a finding that he fathered a child … who was given to Richard the Lionhearted?
Son of Assisi examines that blasphemy, but the real story involves a madman - driven by obsessive love into a sophisticated scheme that could shake the future of the Catholic Church. A young innocent monk stands in his way, seduced into a mind-boggling mystery. Truth finally emerges in a dramatic trial before the Pope and the College of Cardinals.
Fans of Pride and Prejudice and a Tale of Two Cities will relish an ending full of surprise revelations that seem sure to shock, and inspire, the most discerning reader.
Praise for this book
The title of this book immediately caught my attention. I’ve always loved Italy, but I knew nothing about Assisi. I’m not Catholic, so I found myself learning a lot along the way. Once I settled into the story, I was completely drawn in.
The storyline is easy to follow, and the characters are very likable. You don’t have to be Catholic to be intrigued by the central question: Did St. Francis father a child? If so, who was the mother, and what became of the child? Those questions propelled me forward. Soon, however, I realized the real story involved present day mysteries. The journal of Brother Tobias became a real page-turner—I simply couldn’t put it down.
The twists and turns, the shocking moments of “I can’t believe he did that,” and the shifts in my own attitude toward the characters kept me engaged. What begins as a story about St. Francis evolves into something far more intriguing (and challenging!).
Son of Assisi is a riveting account, well-researched and skillfully written by an author clearly knowledgeable about the Catholic Church. More importantly to me, the novel provokes thoughts about love, longing, evil, and forgiveness. There is much wisdom, which makes for a compelling read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, moral dilemmas, or intricate mysteries.
In this saucy novel Mark Poerio has given us a good story with suspense and surprise, well-realized characters we feel we know and want to know better, and fascinating insights into the culture of a monastery rooted in Medieval times. What a great read!