Hanna Heath, an expert book conservator, is summoned to Sarajevo to repair an ancient Jewish text. A few microscopic samples she has extracted from within the book’s binding lead her on an amazing journey to uncover the book’s colorful history since its creation over 500 years ago. On the way, Hanna also learns something about her own family secrets.

Brooks presents an intriguing historical mystery, but without the overt sensationalism of a book like The Da Vinci Code. PotB reminded me a little of Vreeland’s Girl in Hyacinth Blue, which is a story of the “life” of a painting, rather than a book.