It’s 1517, and in Rome progress on St Peter’s Basilica has been slow, but stone by stone the walls are rising.
The stress has taken its toll on Cristina Falchoni, who is struggling with failing health. She keeps it a secret from everyone, especially her brother, but deep down she fears it is more serious than just exhaustion.
A new Pope is in the Vatican: Leo X, a Medici. He brings a fresh burst of energy with him and understands that the new Basilica is a chance to immortalise the Medici dynasty.
Determined to accelerate the building works, he initiates the selling of Indulgences, whereby the rich can buy forgiveness for their sins.
But it causes dangerous backlash, with reformers demanding change.
When Cristina encounters the charismatic monk Martin Luther, she starts to realise that her zeal to build St Peter’s has inadvertently helped bring about the very collapse in Church authority she was trying to avoid.
And as the gold being sent to the Vatican is intercepted, it seems there are many willing to murder for the riches…
Has Cristina’s entire life been misguided? Is her faith in Rome misplaced?
Or have God’s plans for St Peter’s been far more complicated than Cristina could ever have imagined?
Tyranny of Indulgence by Richard Kurti is published on 6 March, 2026. It’s the last book in his Basilica Diaries mysteries.
Read Richard’s feature about the historical background to these books, Rebuilding St Peter’s in Renaissance Rome
If you enjoy historical fiction, there’s plenty more in Historia’s round-up of over 120 books coming out in 2026.
