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Light Upon You: The Incredible True Story of the Two Thousand Year Old Secret Buried Beneath the Vatican, As Recounted by the Most Diminutive of Observers
Not yet published
Expected 23 Aug 26For nearly two thousand years, one question has endured beneath the heart of Is this where Peter rests?
Under the soaring dome of St. Peter's Basilica, beneath marble floors and layers of sacred history, lies a tomb that has drawn emperors, popes, pilgrims, archaeologists, and skeptics across the centuries.
And the tiniest observer watched it all.
Light Upon You is a sweeping narrative history of the tomb of the apostle Peter, told from the unexpected and unforgettable perspective of a church mouse. From its humble first-century beginnings to the secretive twentieth-century excavations beneath the Vatican, this meticulously researched story brings to life the people, legends, doubts, discoveries, and devotions that gathered around one of Christianity's most mysterious sites.
Drawing on ancient inscriptions, the Liber Pontificalis, medieval accounts, papal correspondence, Vatican archaeological reports, and modern scholarship, Light Upon You transforms centuries of historical record into a vivid, lyrical story of memory, faith, and human longing.
This is not only a story about the bones of a fisherman. It is a story about what we preserve, what we believe, and what endures when empires, buildings, and even certainty begin to crack.
Perfect for readers of Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose, Walter M. Miller Jr.'s A Canticle for Leibowitz, and Carlos Ruiz Zafón's The Shadow of the Wind, Light Upon You is a luminous work of sacred history and literary imagination.
Under the soaring dome of St. Peter's Basilica, beneath marble floors and layers of sacred history, lies a tomb that has drawn emperors, popes, pilgrims, archaeologists, and skeptics across the centuries.
And the tiniest observer watched it all.
Light Upon You is a sweeping narrative history of the tomb of the apostle Peter, told from the unexpected and unforgettable perspective of a church mouse. From its humble first-century beginnings to the secretive twentieth-century excavations beneath the Vatican, this meticulously researched story brings to life the people, legends, doubts, discoveries, and devotions that gathered around one of Christianity's most mysterious sites.
Drawing on ancient inscriptions, the Liber Pontificalis, medieval accounts, papal correspondence, Vatican archaeological reports, and modern scholarship, Light Upon You transforms centuries of historical record into a vivid, lyrical story of memory, faith, and human longing.
This is not only a story about the bones of a fisherman. It is a story about what we preserve, what we believe, and what endures when empires, buildings, and even certainty begin to crack.
Perfect for readers of Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose, Walter M. Miller Jr.'s A Canticle for Leibowitz, and Carlos Ruiz Zafón's The Shadow of the Wind, Light Upon You is a luminous work of sacred history and literary imagination.
148 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Whilst I may not be religious, I'm fascinated by the history of the Church. And I'm particularly fascinated with the tomb of St. Peter. I wrote a piece on it a while back but sadly can't find the old link for it - it's probably on an old blog that was deleted years ago, so maybe I should rewrite a little something. And I'll admit, after reading this book, I'm very tempted to.
Light Upon You tells the story of the tomb of St. Peter, the search for it beneath the floor of St. Peter's Basilica, and the discovery of what is believed to be the tomb of the Apostle in 1939 during archaeological investigations. During these excavations a number of burials were found and no one was really sure if the tomb they wanted was actually there - until Marguerita Guarducci deciphered a wall of graffiti that stated 'Peter is near'. Bones were found close by, tucked into a tiny little alcove along with the complete skeleton of a tiny little mouse. Of course there were controversies around the discovery with many refusing to believe that these were actually the bones of St. Peter. But the Pope confirmed these were actually the bones of the Apostle and they were reburied in the tomb with ceremony. Whether or not these are truly the bones of St Peter is something I don't suppose anyone will ever know, but let's be honest...the evidence points to it.
Interestingly, Light Upon You, tells the story from the point of view of the mouse that was found by the bones. This little thing crawls into the burial chamber and cannot get out, so ends up keeping the apparent bones of St Peter company for decades. The mouse becomes a guardian of Peter, and is able to See the events that surround the search to discover the tomb. It reads like a conversation between friends, albeit one sided, and the mouse talks to Peter as if he is actually there - which I suppose he is. Our narrator tells Peter how he was worshipped and protected throughout the years, how the great basilica was built around him and just how special Peter was to the Roman Catholic religion and how the interest built around finding the actual tomb and proving to the world that the Vatican really was the place that St. Peter was buried. I loved how it felt like a conversation, and I loved how the mouse tried his best to get his head around human humour. It is such a novel way of story telling, and I wish that more books told their stories from such different perspectives.
I trained in archaeology for years, and worked in the field for a short time, so reading about these excavations (albeit in a fictional manner) really gripped me. I also got a tad angry when the excavation team treated the site poorly - it's no wonder that the bones were stored away for safety!
I loved seeing how the story unfolded throughout history, with chapters jumping between the time of Peter's execution and just after, to the 1940s. Whilst many would expect such time jumps to be off putting, these flowed particularly well and of course made sense to the story. It makes for an easy read, and a quick one - I finished it within just a couple of days, wanting to know how the tale ended and wanting to get to know the mouse a little better.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was different, and different can be good. Light Upon You does different very well with its tiny little narrator, whose bones still rest with those of St. Peter. A different perspective on historical fiction that is very welcome indeed.
4/5
Light Upon You tells the story of the tomb of St. Peter, the search for it beneath the floor of St. Peter's Basilica, and the discovery of what is believed to be the tomb of the Apostle in 1939 during archaeological investigations. During these excavations a number of burials were found and no one was really sure if the tomb they wanted was actually there - until Marguerita Guarducci deciphered a wall of graffiti that stated 'Peter is near'. Bones were found close by, tucked into a tiny little alcove along with the complete skeleton of a tiny little mouse. Of course there were controversies around the discovery with many refusing to believe that these were actually the bones of St. Peter. But the Pope confirmed these were actually the bones of the Apostle and they were reburied in the tomb with ceremony. Whether or not these are truly the bones of St Peter is something I don't suppose anyone will ever know, but let's be honest...the evidence points to it.
Interestingly, Light Upon You, tells the story from the point of view of the mouse that was found by the bones. This little thing crawls into the burial chamber and cannot get out, so ends up keeping the apparent bones of St Peter company for decades. The mouse becomes a guardian of Peter, and is able to See the events that surround the search to discover the tomb. It reads like a conversation between friends, albeit one sided, and the mouse talks to Peter as if he is actually there - which I suppose he is. Our narrator tells Peter how he was worshipped and protected throughout the years, how the great basilica was built around him and just how special Peter was to the Roman Catholic religion and how the interest built around finding the actual tomb and proving to the world that the Vatican really was the place that St. Peter was buried. I loved how it felt like a conversation, and I loved how the mouse tried his best to get his head around human humour. It is such a novel way of story telling, and I wish that more books told their stories from such different perspectives.
I trained in archaeology for years, and worked in the field for a short time, so reading about these excavations (albeit in a fictional manner) really gripped me. I also got a tad angry when the excavation team treated the site poorly - it's no wonder that the bones were stored away for safety!
I loved seeing how the story unfolded throughout history, with chapters jumping between the time of Peter's execution and just after, to the 1940s. Whilst many would expect such time jumps to be off putting, these flowed particularly well and of course made sense to the story. It makes for an easy read, and a quick one - I finished it within just a couple of days, wanting to know how the tale ended and wanting to get to know the mouse a little better.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was different, and different can be good. Light Upon You does different very well with its tiny little narrator, whose bones still rest with those of St. Peter. A different perspective on historical fiction that is very welcome indeed.
4/5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This charming and original short volume makes history come to life. Saint Peter’s gruesome martyrdom is just the beginning, and this is the story of how his remains were the foundation of the largest Catholic church in the world. Our narrator is a mouse, which is funny and sweet (read the book to find out why). In the afterword, the author goes over his sources, and explains which parts he got from history books, which were more of an educated guess; and which he made up based on legends. The book is more spiritual than religious, and my favorite parts were those that dwelled into the art. It’s fascinating to get to know some of the people who built, explored and maintain Saint Peter, from the Popes to everyday men and women who devote their lives to this monument. I also enjoyed tracing Peter’s remains, the fascinating investigations that spanned years and almost didn’t come to fruition. The writing is beautiful and descriptive. A few of the chapters were very poetic and lyrical. Those were my least favorite parts, only because I’m a straight-forward reader. This is highly recommended for art lovers, history buffs and religious readers, even if you don’t need to be Catholic, or even a believer, to enjoy.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Book Whisperer.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Book Whisperer.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Light Upon You
By E.M. Jensen
This is the story of the search for the final resting place of St. Peter, long considered the first Pope by the Catholic Church. It is a true story based on many historical accounts, documents, archeological reports, and papal correspondence – amazingly told by the spirit of the church mouse whose bones were discovered together with those supposedly of the apostle Peter under the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome.
While the church mouse as narrator is fanciful, the concept works very well to pull together all the known facts as well as the myths and legends surrounding the burial place sought for many centuries. The mouse at times seems to carry on a one-sided conversation with St. Peter. His "first-hand account" brings to life the early Christians going to great lengths to hide and protect Peter's bones from destruction at the hands of marauding infidels and others who wanted to wipe out the fledgling church.
When the excavations in the 1940s under the basilica found the bones, they were declared by the Pope to be those of Peter. While there is really no way to confirm this, the Catholic world believes – based on faith – that Peter is indeed buried in his Church.
Whether or not you are a person of faith, this book has a fascinating story to tell.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
By E.M. Jensen
This is the story of the search for the final resting place of St. Peter, long considered the first Pope by the Catholic Church. It is a true story based on many historical accounts, documents, archeological reports, and papal correspondence – amazingly told by the spirit of the church mouse whose bones were discovered together with those supposedly of the apostle Peter under the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome.
While the church mouse as narrator is fanciful, the concept works very well to pull together all the known facts as well as the myths and legends surrounding the burial place sought for many centuries. The mouse at times seems to carry on a one-sided conversation with St. Peter. His "first-hand account" brings to life the early Christians going to great lengths to hide and protect Peter's bones from destruction at the hands of marauding infidels and others who wanted to wipe out the fledgling church.
When the excavations in the 1940s under the basilica found the bones, they were declared by the Pope to be those of Peter. While there is really no way to confirm this, the Catholic world believes – based on faith – that Peter is indeed buried in his Church.
Whether or not you are a person of faith, this book has a fascinating story to tell.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is so much more than archaeology or history, it’s a thought provoking look at the history surrounding St. Peter’s tomb through the eyes of a church mouse. This lends a new perspective to the stories concerning the location of St. Peter’s burial.
With research dating back hundreds of years, from his burial through architectural digs, decades of devotion and denial, the intriguing way this book is written sets it apart. The mouse kept things moving forward at a palatable pace and kept my interest.
Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, you will walk away still thinking about this book.
I received a copy courtesy of the Book Whisperer through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of the book.
With research dating back hundreds of years, from his burial through architectural digs, decades of devotion and denial, the intriguing way this book is written sets it apart. The mouse kept things moving forward at a palatable pace and kept my interest.
Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, you will walk away still thinking about this book.
I received a copy courtesy of the Book Whisperer through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Light Upon You” is a short, quick read detailing the Catholic Church’s efforts to authenticate that St. Peter, the church’s first patron saint, is, in fact, interred beneath the Vatican in Rome. Author
E.M. Jensen tells the fact-based story from the viewpoint of a dead mouse, whose bones were recovered along with those of St. Peter, as the mouse, in the form of a Lar, an ancient Roman guardian deity, relays to the spirit of St. Peter. The beginning passages wherein the mouse begins talking to St. Peter are a bit strange, but once the factual story gets rolling, it becomes interesting. It’s an interesting conceit, and it works here, but it’s useful to understand what a Lars is before beginning to read.
E.M. Jensen tells the fact-based story from the viewpoint of a dead mouse, whose bones were recovered along with those of St. Peter, as the mouse, in the form of a Lar, an ancient Roman guardian deity, relays to the spirit of St. Peter. The beginning passages wherein the mouse begins talking to St. Peter are a bit strange, but once the factual story gets rolling, it becomes interesting. It’s an interesting conceit, and it works here, but it’s useful to understand what a Lars is before beginning to read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Read through NetGalley. Overall this was a really interesting book. It took quite a while to get into the story and early on I debated about finishing it but I'm really glad I stuck with it. It took a while to realize that in places it was being narrated by a "mouse spirit". The story and the journey to authenticate the bones was fascinating. And one has to wonder how much easier it would have been today with all the new technology we have available. Interesting read but you have to determine to stick with it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the first time I've read anything written by this author and I found this very interesting and I am really liking the little church mouse. History can sometimes be a little bit dry but the little mouse kept it fun. I would recommend this book to everyone and anyone who likes history because I am sure you will find it as interesting as I did. Thank you for writing such a great book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Kinda of interesting but not my cup of tea.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dank aan Netgalley voor deze ARC.
.
Het was niet als ik verwachtte een verhaal over een of ander geheim diep verborgen onder het Vaticaan, maar eerder een soort verslag van de speurtocht naar het graf van Petrus, als gezien door de ogen van een muis..
Niet mijn 'cup of tea' zeggen we maar
.
Het was niet als ik verwachtte een verhaal over een of ander geheim diep verborgen onder het Vaticaan, maar eerder een soort verslag van de speurtocht naar het graf van Petrus, als gezien door de ogen van een muis..
Niet mijn 'cup of tea' zeggen we maar
August 19, 2026
Perspective can change how you think about a situation. How about the actions underneath the Vatican by a little church mouse? We can read about the search for the real tomb of St. Peter, but to see it from the perspective of a mouse is refreshing.
This is a book based on the actual search for the tomb of St. Peter. Yes, tradition had it located under the altar in the building named after the famous follower of Jesus. But no one knew for sure exactly where. A church mouse describes what he sees as people search for the tomb and others stumble across clues as to where it really was.
Part fiction. Part history. I will admit that the overall writing was confusing to me at first. The mouse seemed to be something other than a mouse but never was quite sure. The narrative would at times become highly philosophical when my mind wasn't ready for such discourse.
I will say that the book got me asking questions which got me to digging online and noting books to buy to educate myself further. In that, I give the book high ratings as it pushed me to ask more questions and learn more. That is one of the best things a book can do for one.
This is a book based on the actual search for the tomb of St. Peter. Yes, tradition had it located under the altar in the building named after the famous follower of Jesus. But no one knew for sure exactly where. A church mouse describes what he sees as people search for the tomb and others stumble across clues as to where it really was.
Part fiction. Part history. I will admit that the overall writing was confusing to me at first. The mouse seemed to be something other than a mouse but never was quite sure. The narrative would at times become highly philosophical when my mind wasn't ready for such discourse.
I will say that the book got me asking questions which got me to digging online and noting books to buy to educate myself further. In that, I give the book high ratings as it pushed me to ask more questions and learn more. That is one of the best things a book can do for one.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews