Cradle and All

Patterson's religious thriller follows two teenage girls claiming virgin pregnancies — one carrying a divine child, one a demonic one — while former nun Anne Fitzgerald and a Vatican priest race to uncover the truth against a backdrop of apocalyptic plagues. The dual-narrative structure clicks along at a genuinely propulsive pace, and the prophetic premise builds real dread. Where it stumbles is the climax, which tries to do too much too fast. Readers should know upfront: this is sensationalistic horror territory, not devotional fiction. The occult content, references to sexual abuse, and graphic supernatural elements make it adults-only reading. If you want a fast-burning thriller with a religious skeleton, it delivers — just go in clear-eyed about what it is.