Assassins, ancient history, and a Roman emperor with a grudge... what’s not to love?
Lang Reilly is back! Still a lawyer. Still not practicing law. Still finding ways to dodge bullets, crack ancient mysteries, and look good doing it without ever once saying “I’m getting too old for this shit.” He’s basically what you’d get if Robert Langdon had a Glock and better instincts.
Also returning is Gurt Fuchs, the gloriously blunt German intelligence contact who is Lang’s unofficial guardian angel, if your guardian angel carried a SIG Sauer and believed feelings were for civilians. Gurt is a one-woman backup team, equal parts dry wit, exasperation, and efficiency. She’s not here for your emotional arcs. She’s here to help Lang not die, again.
The MacGuffin:
This time around, the danger centers on a long-lost document tied to Julian the Apostate, the Roman emperor who famously tried to drag the Empire back to paganism — because apparently Zeus was trending again. Naturally, if this secret comes to light, it could trigger mass chaos, philosophical debates, and probably a History Channel special. It's juicy, heretical, and mysterious, just the way we like our MacGuffins.
The Plot
When Lang’s journalist friend, former CIA agent Don Huff (because, of course, he has a friend who pokes around dangerous secrets), turns up dead, Lang gets pulled into yet another globe-hopping thriller that begins in Washington, spins through Europe, and dives headlong into ancient Roman philosophy. The trail leads him to Julian the Apostate, a Roman emperor, philosopher, and general buzzkill to early Christian expansion. A manuscript connected to Julian’s suppressed ideas is at the heart of the chaos, and as usual, it’s not just about history; it’s about power. These ideas could rock religious foundations and upset several powerful organizations that prefer their ancient truths well-buried.
Writing Style:
Gregg Loomis keeps it tight and fast, no fluff, no slowdowns. The prose is clean, the pacing brisk, and the action tight. He sprinkles just enough historical context to make you feel smart, without bogging you down in ten pages of Julian trivia (though honestly, you’ll want to look him up later because the guy was unique). The conversations between Lang and Gurt are especially enjoyable, like Holmes and Watson, if Watson was ex-German Intelligence and had no time for your nonsense.
Final Thoughts:
The Julian Secret is an engaging, globe-trotting thriller that keeps the tension high and the stakes higher. It builds on The Pegasus Secret with returning characters, deeper historical stakes, and a slightly darker tone. Gurt Fuchs is the MVP, providing tactical support and dry one-liners in equal measure. Loomis strikes a great balance between historical curiosity and action-fueled storytelling.
Read it if:
🔴 You think Roman emperors deserve more airtime in fiction
🔴 You believe any manuscript sealed for 2,000 years must contain explosive truths
🔴 You liked The Da Vinci Code but wished it had more Romans and fewer lectures
Avoid it if:
❌ You expect Lang to go back to being a full-time lawyer (he’s not... just let it go)
❌ You get nervous when thrillers mention real history and your brain goes “uh-oh, time for Wikipedia”