This thriller novel follows symbologist Robert Langdon and cryptographer Sophie Neveu as they investigate a murder in the Louvre Museum in Paris. The murder leads them to a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci, revealing a religious mystery protected by a secret society for two thousand years. The mystery involves a conspiracy within the Catholic Church and threatens to overturn the foundations of Christianity.

In this fast-paced thriller, a renowned symbologist is called to the Swiss research facility CERN to investigate a mysterious symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. His investigation leads him to the Vatican City, where he uncovers the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati. As a conclave is underway to elect a new Pope, the symbologist and a gifted Italian scientist race against time to prevent a powerful time bomb from destroying the Vatican. They embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, and deserted cathedrals, following a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that snake across Rome to the long-forgotten Illuminati lair.

The novel unfolds as a satirical adventure, delving into the complexities of faith, deception, and the human quest for meaning. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Europe, it follows the journey of Lafcadio, a young man whose paths cross with an eclectic mix of characters, including anarchists, aristocrats, and religious figures, each embroiled in their own pursuits of ideology, power, and salvation. Central to the plot is a meticulously planned hoax involving the Pope, which spirals into a series of events that challenge the characters' beliefs and intentions. Through its intricate narrative and sharp critique of societal norms, the book explores themes of morality, authenticity, and the absurdity of human endeavors.