The Prophetess - by Barbara Wood (Paperback)

About the Book

It is December 1999. In the Sinai Desert, archaeologist Catherine Alexander has unearthed six ancient papyrus scrolls that reveal vital secrets--secrets that the world's governments would give anything to possess. But even more important, the seventh scroll is missing--and it contains a secret of unfathomable power. In a race against Armageddon, Catherine must outwit the FBI, Vatican operatives, and a sinister millionaire--to find that parchment.

Book Synopsis

The time is December 1999. Millennial fever holds the world in its grip--stirring ancient and terrible fears that the apocalypse is at hand.

In the Sinai desert, archeologist Catherine Alexander just unearthed a cache of six ancient papyrus scrolls that point to the millennium's most transforming secret. Discovered inside the legendary Well of Miriam, a site named after the ancient prophetess who was the sister of Moses, the scrolls reveal a hidden history of the world and its religions--a series of shattering revelations that governments will do anything to suppress, and that an enigmatic billionaire named Miles Havers will do anything to possess.

But there is more: a seventh scroll that contains a secret of almost unimaginable power. It is a secret that may cost Catherine her life as she dodges government agents, Vatican operatives, and cyberspace perils in her race to translate the scrolls and release their powers to the world.

Aided by two very different and compelling men, Dr. Julius Voss and Father Michael Garibaldi, Catherine finds herself caught up in the adventure of a lifetime and a struggle that she must win.

Review Quotes

From Library Journal

Here is yet another winner by Wood (e.g., Virgins of Paradise, LJ 5/1/93), who also writes as Kathryn Harvey. "Millennium madness meets Internet mania" describes this exciting novel in a nutshell. In December 1999, archaeologist Catherine Alexander unearths clues to scrolls that could rock the foundations of Christianity, especially the Catholic Church. Her quest for the truth takes her globe-hopping, with an unlikely combination of villains in hot pursuit. There is action without excessive violence, love without unnecessary vulgarity, intriguing themes of women's roles in early Christianity, and interesting views on the replication of religious messages/messengers. Additionally, Wood successfully exploits the current rage for the Internet, which here both helps Alexander and hurts her by allowing the villains to track her. To Wood's credit, she handles a priest as a love interest in a very skillful manner (although some readers may still be offended). A fun, exciting novel timed for super summer reading in public libraries. Rebecca Sturm Kelm, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib, Highland Heights Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Feminist spirituality gets its own Celestine Prophecies, and the Vatican gets bashed, in Wood's new novel (after Virgins of Paradise, 1993). In December 1999, archeologist Catherine Alexander discovers in the Sinai desert six papyrus scrolls written in ancient Greek by a female leader of the early Christian church. The scrolls' reference to a Seventh Scroll, in which the secret to eternal life is supposedly revealed, convinces Alexander that her findings could revolutionize Christianity and undermine what she sees as the male-oriented authority of the Church. Determined to prevent suppression of the controversial writings, Alexander smuggles them back to California, where she is pursued by the Vatican, the Egyptian and U.S. governments, the media and Miles Havers, a ruthless computer software mogul who collects religious artifacts. When the handsome Father Michael Garibaldi saves Alexander from an assassin's bullet, and joins in her dangerous mission to find the ancient epistle, a romance blossoms, underscoring both parties' religious dilemmas. The action, bolstered by a clever if trendy use of the Internet, comes fast; but so does the preaching, which will alienate some readers with its anti-Church stance (if the scrolls predate St. Paul's writings, "the entire authority-base of the Catholic Church and the papacy would be blown out of the water!") and others with its undiscriminating theology ("As you believe, so shall it be"). Still others, however, will relish Wood's passionate New Age message, as well its Redfield-inspired packaging. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

"You can't put down Barbara Wood's The Prophetess. It is a riveting, exciting novel that speaks to our time--and all time. Not to be missed!" --James Patterson "Superb storytelling." --San Francisco Chronicle