Michael Romano, a Catholic priest, paleographer, and archivist, learns that various people or groups are intensely interested in a medieval Psalter -- a book of psalms and prayers. In fact, someone is so interested that they killed the Pope's secretary to get it.
After some study, Michael discovers the Psalter is not what it appears to be. An original Aramaic text had been erased in the ninth century and the parchment was used for a Psalter. But, of course, it is the original, erased text, that is of interest.
Is it the Vatican that is trying to prevent Michael from finding and revealing apocryphal accounts of Jesus' life written by 1st century disciples? Perhaps, but there is another group who is willing to murder in order to get their hands on these parchments.
An interesting aspect of the novel is that the author switches back and forth between the present and ninth century Rome at the time the documents were being erased and used for Psalters. Galen Watson's account of medieval history may be questioned by some, but his version makes for interesting reading. And, one must remember this is a novel.
Many may want to compare The Psalter to Dan Brown's novels; and although it may have the same tension between fact and fiction, it lacks the polish of a DaVinci Code. It will, however, appeal to Brown's readers.
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