Cradle and All by James Patterson

Cradle and All, reminiscent of Rosemary’s Baby, is a reworking of James Patterson’s 1980 apocalyptic thriller, Virgin that manages to pit the intensity of faith against the certainties of science.  As the action progresses the reader is speedily drawn between the hallowed halls of the Vatican to America where a media frenzy is under way and then on to a small-town in Ireland, as Patterson takes the novel’s central premise and uses it to tackle issues of faith with admirable aplomb.  

Beginning with the Vatican’s Pope Pius revealing the secret of Fatima to Father Nicholas Rosetti, the storyline continues with, ex-nun turned private investigator, Anne Fitzgerald, being hired by Boston Archbishop, Cardinal Rooney, to investigate the case of a rich, sixteen-year-old Newport, Rhode Island, girl who is eight months pregnant and according to reports still a virgin. The Catholic Church is particularly anxious about the girl’s condition because the real-life secret guarded by the Church since Fatima, in 1917, prophesied that there would be two pregnant virgins: one that would bear the Savior, the other the spawn of Satan. During the course of her investigation, Anne is unaware of the secret only learning later that there is indeed a second girl, from Ireland, that is also pregnant and is reportedly a virgin. To assist Anne with investigating the two pregnancies Father Justin O’Carroll, a priest, who fell in love with Anne while she was a nun, is called in to help observe and protect both of the girls. As the children grow in their mothers’ wombs, a faith-testing struggle between good and evil unfolds. The novel’s considerable suspense arises from Patterson’s treatment of the central question regarding the possibility of modern day miracles actually occurring and then sharpening the tale with the inclusion of supernatural events and a truly twisted ending. 

While not subtle, this novel tackles issues of faith with great aplomb, as it also tells a spooky tale of a world plagued with polio epidemics, famines, and floods, forcing the reader to root for the faithful few. Anyone who finds mature themes objectionable should probably stay far away from Cradle and All since sexuality in general, and rape in particular, are graphically depicted, as well as, the subplot of emotional involvement between an ex-nun and a dashing priest. Their involvement underlines the intensity of the emotional tangle felt by those who were not meant to be in the religious life.  Overall, the book has a semi-believable preface with the only thing that might cause a bit of disbelief being created with how the clergy in the book deal with the two girls, especially since the main priest assigned to handle the whole situation repeatedly shows that he is not above violence if he perceives he is fighting evil. Cradle and All is definitely a solid story that will keep you up at night wanting to read until you finish the roller coaster ride of suspense that the book offers. [tags]Cradle and All, James Patterson, Virgin births, spawn of satan, son of God, Catholic Church, Fatima,[/tags]