An ancient secret brotherhood 
A devastating new weapon 
An unthinkable target 
CERN Institute. Switzerland: a world-renowned scientist is found brutally murdered with a mysterious symbol seared onto his chest. 
The Vatican. Rome: the College of Cardinals assembles to elect a new pope. Somewhere beneath them, an unstoppable bomb of terrifying power relentlessly counts down to oblivion. 
In a breathtaking race against time. Harvard professor Robert Langdon must decipher a labyrinthine trail of ancient symbols if he is to defeat those responsible - the Illuminati. a secret brotherhood presumed extinct for nearly four hundred years, reborn to continue their deadly vendetta against their most hated enemy. the Catholic Church.
--back cover