Welcome to The Vatican Deal! This award-winning international crime thriller takes Marty and Bo from Portland, Oregon, to the heart of Italy, where art, money, and power collide behind the walls of the Vatican.
Many readers have told us they love the twists, the atmosphere, and the intrigue—but with so many Italian names and international players, it can be hard to keep everyone straight. This character guide is here to help you navigate who’s who without giving away any spoilers.
Returning Characters
Marty Schott
Clever, impulsive, and quick with a sarcastic remark, Marty once again finds himself in deep trouble—this time on foreign soil.
Bo Bishop
Marty’s business partner and steady counterpart. Reliable, practical, and quietly brave, Bo’s loyalty grounds the chaos around him.
Natalya Danilenko
Elegant and composed, the Russian art dealer returns with her trademark confidence and mystery. We also see new dimensions of warmth and vulnerability.
Dante Scava
The sharp-tongued artist and forger, still burdened by guilt over the death of his brother Nico, Marty and Bo’s former business partner. His humor offers relief when situations go awry.
Inside the Vatican
Leo Giacobbe
An American working for the Vatican, smooth-talking and ambitious, Leo knows how to get what he wants—until the game turns against him.
Cardinal Bartalemo Bertolini
Soft-spoken head of Vatican Economic Affairs. A gentle, wise man who listens more than he speaks—but never without purpose.
Cardinal Claude Rautan
The intellectual head of the Vatican Library. Scholarly and weary, he has seen more secrets than he’ll ever reveal.
Angelo Caloia
President of the Vatican Bank. Educated in the United States, he is formal yet approachable, navigating the delicate intersection of faith and finance.
The Italians
Alessio Rosa
Gruff manager of the Chiurazzi Foundry, with the blue-collar edge of a man who’s spent his life around heat and metal. Squat and sturdy, his face bears the marks of too many fights, and his communication style leans more toward grunts than words.
Lamberto Liuzzo
A charming yet prickly lawyer with connections on both sides of the Atlantic. His sharp blond hair, pointed Vandyke, and narrow, assessing eyes give him the look of a man made entirely of edges—refined but thorny.
Gabriele Liuzzo
Lamberto’s father, a seasoned Italian lawyer whose calm demeanor conceals decades of experience navigating the gray zones of finance and law.
Vincenzo Vincenzi
The calm, collected night manager at the 5-star Michelangelo hotel, he quietly looks after Bo when he gets beaten, asking no questions and involving no one else. His discreet efficiency hints at connections that run far beyond the hotel’s polished corridors.
Porn Guy
A large, overweight enforcer for the Italian mafia, with a shaved head, five-day stubble, and a scarred nose. Dressed in a black leather jacket and T-shirt with a crucifix tattoo and gold chain, he gives the impression of someone who aspires to make porn movies.
Tadpole
Porn Guy’s lean, sinister partner in the Di Lupo family’s criminal network. Greasy hair slicked back reveals a scar from temple to jawline. His bulging eyes give him a startled look that inspires his nickname.
Spina Paulo
Tall and well-groomed, with red lipstick that catches Marty’s eye. Attractive but not as striking as Natalya or Marty’s wife, she exudes confidence and allure. Educated in England, she sounds almost American—but her loyalties remain entirely her own.
Cosimo Di Lupo
The elder Di Lupo brother, with an actor’s good looks and the swagger of a street prince. A heartthrob among working-class girls who admire his aggression and style, he inherited his family’s criminal empire and centralized its power—alienating many of his father’s former allies.
Gemma Di Lupo
Daughter of a powerful Naples Mafia boss, ambitious and mercurial. She wants to buy the Chiurazzi Foundry and is her father’s angel—dangerous, unpredictable, and deadly to anyone who crosses her.
Franco “Cicciotto” Di Lupo
The younger Di Lupo brother, nicknamed Cicciotto for his chubby frame. A large man with a bloated, menacing face, he carries an over-under shotgun—and isn’t afraid to use it. He lives away from Naples on a small farm near Lago Albano.
Raffaele Casertani
Known as Il Secessionista (the Secessionist), he once led a major faction of the Di Lupo gang and now wages war against them. Highly capable and ruthless, he seeks to destroy Cosimo and reclaim power lost when the Di Lupos consolidated the organization
The Russians and Other Threats
Dmitry Chernyshevsky
Russia’s sixth-richest oligarch, a billionaire whose wealth hides a cold menace. An intimate of Vladimir Putin’s, he is polished, powerful, and calculating—he commands every room he enters.
Valentin “Valya” Kovalev
Dmitry’s interpreter, bodyguard, and trusted right-hand man. Sharp, precise, and well-educated, he has a quiet, soothing presence that allows him to establish a subtle rapport with those around him— speaking for his boss with calm authority.
Sergei Sidorovov
Dmitry’s head of security. Hard, loyal, and lethal—a soldier turned enforcer. Tattoos creep above his collar and across his hands, his close-shorn head and massive frame giving him the look of a man built for intimidation, with the battered face of a seasoned fighter.
Brody Lynch
An Irish mercenary with a bad attitude and a dangerous charm. Once an enemy, now something more complicated—Brody’s the villain readers can’t help but like.
Printable Character Guide
To help you keep track of all the twists, turns, and international players in The Vatican Deal, we’ve created a one-page printable character guide. It’s perfect for readers who want a quick reference while reading—or for audiobook listeners who want to follow along more easily.
You can also pick up the book here:
Audible Audiobook: Listen on Audible
Amazon Paperback & Kindle: Purchase The Vatican Deal