The instant "New York Times "bestseller from the author of the international sensation "The Rule of Four "combines a lost gospel, a contentious relic, and a dying pope s final wish into a deliciously labyrinthine ("Providence Journal") intellectual thriller that kicks off at ninety mph and doesn t slow down (Associated Press).
A mysterious exhibit is under construction at the Vatican Museums. The curator is murdered at a clandestine meeting on the outskirts of Rome a week before it opens. That same night, a violent break-in rocks the home of Greek Catholic priest Father Alex Andreou. When the papal police fail to identify a suspect in either crime, Father Alex decides that to find the killer he must reconstruct the secret of what a little-known, true-to-life fifth gospel known as the Diatessaron reveals about the church s most controversial holy relic. But just as he begins to understand the truth about his friend s death and its consequences for the future of the Christian church, Father Alex discovers a ruthless stalker is hunting him an enemy with a vested stake in the exhibit that he must outwit to survive.
Rich, authentic, erudite, and emotionally searing, "The Fifth Gospel "is a riveting novel of suspense and a feast of biblical history that satisfies on every level."