The Secret of Secrets

A Novel

By: Dan Brown

Narrated by: Paul Michael

INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • THE NEW ROBERT LANGDON THRILLER FROM THE ICONIC AUTHOR OF THE DA VINCI CODE

“A master of the brainy, twisty thriller. . . . The Secret of Secrets is perhaps his most ambitious undertaking yet: a dense thriller that is also a meditation on the nature, and the possible future, of human consciousness.”—Los Angeles Times

“So riveting you’ll want to clear your calendar.”—USA Today

Robert Langdon, esteemed professor of symbology, has traveled to Prague to attend a groundbreaking lecture by Katherine Solomon—a prominent noetic scientist with whom he has recently begun a romantic relationship. Katherine is on the verge of publishing a breakthrough book that contains explosive scientific discoveries about the nature of human consciousness . . . revelations that threaten to disrupt centuries of established belief.

When a brutal murder catapults the trip into chaos, Katherine suddenly goes missing—and her manuscript disappears. Desperate to find the woman he loves, Langdon embarks on a thrilling race through the mystical landscape of Prague, ruthlessly hunted by a powerful organization and a chilling assailant sprung from the city’s ancient mythology.

As the action expands to London and New York, Langdon plunges into the dual worlds of futuristic science and historical lore—navigating a labyrinth of codes and symbols . . . and finally uncovering a shocking truth about a secret project that will forever change the way we think about the human mind.

Look for more Robert Langdon novels:
The Da Vinci Code
The Lost Symbol
Inferno
Origin

Critic reviews

“Intellectual fuel. . . . [The Secret of Secrets is] a wistful testament to the power of the printed word.”—The New York Times

“Like so many things that are insanely popular. . . . Brown’s thrillers look easy to imitate but aren’t. He shatters dramatic moments into shiny, irresistible shards. . . . Dan Brown clearly had fun writing his new book. It’s contagious.”—The Washington Post

“A master of the brainy, twisty thriller. . . . [Dan Brown's] novels move with kinetic energy, his plots are intricate puzzles shrouded in religious iconography [and] ancient cryptography. The Secret of Secrets is perhaps his most ambitious undertaking yet: a dense thriller that is also a meditation on the nature, and the possible future, of human consciousness.”—Los Angeles Times

“A new Dan Brown book has the ability to make you happy about inclement fall weather so you have an excuse to just stay home and read. . . . The story is so riveting you’ll want to clear your calendar.”—USA Today

“Brown’s talent for assembling research is also evident in this novel’s alter ego as a guidebook to Prague, whose history and attractions are described in great and glowing detail. . . . There’s no shortage of action, derring-do, explosions, high-tech torture machines, attempted and successful murders, and opportunities for split-second, last-minute escapes. . . . A standout in the series.”—Kirkus Reviews


Praise for Dan Brown

“Dan Brown is the master of the intellectual cliffhanger.”—Wall Street Journal

“Brown is a master of the breathless, puzzle-driven thriller.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch

Another Masterpiece of Mr. Dan Brown

I enjoyed again Mr. D. brown exquisite imagination, highly researched historical information provided in this book. The many plots developed in this novel are familiar. The novel's central theme marks a notable evolution for the series. Instead of relying on art history or religious symbology as its sole foundation, The Secret of Secrets pivots to mental activity science and the nature of human consciousness. Langdon’s new love interest and scientific foil, Katherine Solomon, represents this shift, offering a more cerebral, futurist-oriented puzzle to be solved. This move into brain science and a "cloud of global consciousness" could be interpreted as an attempt to introduce fresh, contemporary intellectual fodder into a well-established framework.
The narrator execution is excellent. Every chapter ends on a cliffhanger, a technique that demonstrates Brown’s mastery of generating reader engagement. When my listening was interrupted by home's requirements, I could not wait to get back the book. The antagonist, while perhaps less theatrically villainous than previous models (such as the albino monk from The Da Vinci Code), serves its function effectively by stalking the protagonists and raising the threat level.
Robert Langdon’s character, while central, appears to have shifted in his function. In previous iterations, he was the primary driver of the intellectual puzzle-solving. Here, with Katherine Solomon taking the lead on the cutting-edge scientific concepts, Langdon sometimes functions more as a historical interpreter and a classic action hero, suggesting a possible rebalancing of the protagonist's role within the series.
I may have to wait years to read the next Mr. Dan Brown masterpiece but, I'll be patient.

Extremely Interesting

A great story by Dan Brown Excellent narration extremely interesting a great story makes you wonder

An interesting take

Dan Brown has given one of the most intriguing characters on the written page. Robert Langdon and his knowledge of symbolism has romped across the globe yet again
A rather startling proposition in the book and it makes you wonder because of how much he researches if this is actually closer to truth than we know or is it out there science fiction

Kept me listening!

Another great story blending historical details within a captivating tale. This is a long book! Nowhere did I find myself getting bored - instead, I was listening whenever opportunity permitted. Continual twists and details in the plot - a pleasantly long book!

The details are amazing

I've long been a fan of Dan Brown. waiting 8 years for this book was worth it!