“THE PRIEST OF SANTA MARIA simply is an amazing debut novel. The story itself is fascinating. Christiano is a freshly minted priest assigned to an Italian convent. Just days in, the young priest gets involved in protecting the mysterious & beautiful Angelica from evil elements of the Vatican hierarchy working in tandem with Italian mafioso. What follows is so edge-of-your-seat exciting. Kleanthous is a marvelous writer. Her storytelling will take your breath away. Apparently, she has a film background; it shows in how she sets up scenes. Just a suggestion: fix a big bowl of buttery popcorn before settling in to read THE PRIEST OF SANTA MARIA.”—George Fleming (Author of Bad Habits & Don Coyote)
“A thoroughly interesting and entertaining novel. Being Italian I was easily able to picture in my mind the scenery so excellently and accurately described. In fact, the author has done such a great job at capturing the roots of my ancestors that I felt a genuine desire and wish to visit Santa Maria which of course is fictional (or maybe not!?). ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars from me and very much looking forward to the next installment.”—Franco Anacreonte
A Catholic priest fresh out of the seminary. A mysterious young woman running from a dangerous past. A secret that could destroy the Church.
Christiano finds himself obliged to act as the temporary minister of a small town convent. There he meets the captivating Angelica who, unknown to him, has been seeking refuge at the convent under the supervision of the abbess. Within a month, sparks ignite between them, but the abbess intervenes demanding that Christiano leave the convent before she reports his conduct to the Monsignor. Little do they know his timely arrival is about to clash with Angelica’s dangerous past. This leads to catastrophic events that shatter the very foundations of the convent and change the lives of all involved.
Forced to flee the abbey, Christiano reluctantly takes on the role of Angelica’s companion as destiny throws them together on a journey he cannot refuse. Pursued by a malevolent alliance intent on capturing Angelica, dead or alive, they face insurmountable danger as they race across Italy to keep her and the secret safe.
The Priest of Santa Maria is the first in the religious thriller trilogy by Alexandra Kleanthous. If you like fast-paced action and a gripping tale, then you’ll love this original and exciting debut novel that’s filled with page-turning suspense, plus a little romance thrown in for good measure.
About the Author
Alexandra Kleanthous was born and raised in Greater London. She attended Film School in Sheffield where she explored the world of story-writing in fine detail. After writing and directing a few short films, her graduate film was screened internationally, including The Edinburgh International Film Festival. She has worked as a feature writer and even an artisan chocolatier.
Alex’s stories always carry an element of the mystical with many of her works featuring biblical and religious themes, mythology, esoteric teachings and the occult. These subjects hold a particular fascination for her.
Her love of Italy: old churches, timeless architecture, and the culture, food and people were the inspiration for her debut novel, 'The Priest of Santa Maria'. Also, her travels to Jerusalem where she walked the ancient streets and Egypt where she climbed Mount Sinai by the light of the moon. Although most of the places in 'The Priest of Santa Maria' are fictional, elements of where she has been and the places she admires are featured throughout the book.
Follow Alexandra Kleanthous on Instagram
@alexandra_kleanthous
The Priest of Santa Maria
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