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Jack Rogan Mysteries #1
The Empress Holds the Key
If you enjoy current best-selling thriller novels by authors such as Clive Cussler, James Rollins, Steve Berry and Brad Thor, if you like high adventure, exotic locations and action thrillers with a historical twist, then this is the page-turner for you!
THE EMPRESS HOLDS THE KEY is a mystery action thriller for the thinking reader who has an open mind and likes to be challenged.
In THE EMPRESS HOLDS THE KEY, author Gabriel Farago takes you on an exciting journey of discovery where the stakes are high, the rewards great, but where the price of failure is oblivion.
This fast-paced international thriller weaves fact and fiction into an adventure of epic proportions as it follows the lives of a handful of diverse individuals tied together by destiny and fate.
Journalist Jack Rogan knows a great story when he finds one. A charred old photograph found in the ruins of a burnt-out Blue Mountains cottage hints at dark secrets and unwittingly reignites an ancient and deadly quest for a holy relic mysteriously erased from the pages of history.
Federal Police officer Jana Gonski in pursuit of a suspected Nazi war criminal joins forces with Rogan, barrister and amateur archaeologist Marcus Carrington QC, and celebrated composer Benjamin Krakowski. Together they uncover a murky web of intrigue and greed, hoards of Nazi gold and hidden Swiss bank accounts. All implicate wealthy banker Sir Eric Newman. When Newman goes on trial, unexpected clues are discovered pointing the way to a mystery that has haunted the Catholic Church for centuries.
On a dangerous journey to find the relic, Rogan and his companions trace links back as far as the reign of Akhenaten, the heretic pharaoh of ancient Egypt, and King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. What is this dark secret guarded by the Knights Templar, and so feared by the Vatican? Will religious fanatics foil the quest which could destroy the very foundations of their Church and challenge Christianity itself?
To preview the opening chapters, please click on the Look Inside Feature.
THE EMPRESS HOLDS THE KEY is a mystery action thriller for the thinking reader who has an open mind and likes to be challenged.
In THE EMPRESS HOLDS THE KEY, author Gabriel Farago takes you on an exciting journey of discovery where the stakes are high, the rewards great, but where the price of failure is oblivion.
This fast-paced international thriller weaves fact and fiction into an adventure of epic proportions as it follows the lives of a handful of diverse individuals tied together by destiny and fate.
Journalist Jack Rogan knows a great story when he finds one. A charred old photograph found in the ruins of a burnt-out Blue Mountains cottage hints at dark secrets and unwittingly reignites an ancient and deadly quest for a holy relic mysteriously erased from the pages of history.
Federal Police officer Jana Gonski in pursuit of a suspected Nazi war criminal joins forces with Rogan, barrister and amateur archaeologist Marcus Carrington QC, and celebrated composer Benjamin Krakowski. Together they uncover a murky web of intrigue and greed, hoards of Nazi gold and hidden Swiss bank accounts. All implicate wealthy banker Sir Eric Newman. When Newman goes on trial, unexpected clues are discovered pointing the way to a mystery that has haunted the Catholic Church for centuries.
On a dangerous journey to find the relic, Rogan and his companions trace links back as far as the reign of Akhenaten, the heretic pharaoh of ancient Egypt, and King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. What is this dark secret guarded by the Knights Templar, and so feared by the Vatican? Will religious fanatics foil the quest which could destroy the very foundations of their Church and challenge Christianity itself?
To preview the opening chapters, please click on the Look Inside Feature.
611 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 22, 2013
874 people are currently reading
860 people want to read
About the author
Gabriel Farago
25 books141 followersGabriel Farago is the USA TODAY Bestselling and Multi-Award-Winning Australian Author of the Jack Rogan Mysteries Series for the thinking reader and culturally curious.
As a lawyer with a passion for history and archaeology, Gabriel had to wait for many years before being able to pursue another passion—writing—in earnest. However, his love of books and storytelling started long before that.
Born in Budapest, Gabriel grew up in post-War Europe, and after fleeing Hungary with his parents during the Revolution in 56, he went to school in Austria before arriving in Australia as a teenager. This allowed him to become multi-lingual and feel ‘at home’ in different countries and diverse cultures. Shaped by a long legal career and experiences spanning several decades and continents, his is a mature voice that speaks in many tongues.
Gabriel holds degrees in literature and law, speaks several languages and takes research and authenticity very seriously. Inquisitive by nature, he studied Egyptology and learned to read the hieroglyphs. He travels extensively and visits all of the locations mentioned in his books.
‘I try to weave fact and fiction into a seamless storyline,’ he explains. ‘By blurring the boundaries between the two, the reader is never quite sure where one ends, and the other begins. This is of course quite deliberate as it creates the illusion of authenticity and reality in a work that is pure fiction. A successful work of fiction is a balancing act: reality must rub shoulders with imagination in a way that is both entertaining and plausible.’
Gabriel lives in the Blue Mountains in Australia just outside Sydney, surrounded by a World Heritage National Park.
If you like historical thrillers, excitement, mystery and suspense, if you enjoy exotic settings, colourful characters and fast-paced action, if you like to learn about interesting, well-researched subjects that tease your intellect and imagination, then once your step inside, Gabriel will show you his world; the world of the storyteller.
Shaped by a long legal career and experiences spanning several decades and continents, his is a mature voice that speaks in many tongues.
His first book – The Empress Holds the Key – will take you on an exciting quest for a holy relic mysteriously erased from the pages of history. You will be transported far back in time to the reign of Akhenaten, the heretic pharaoh of ancient Egypt, and King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. You will discover a dark secret guarded by the Knights Templar and feared by the Vatican, a mystery that has haunted the Catholic Church for centuries, and can challenge the very foundations of Christianity.
His second book – The Disappearance of Anna Popov – will thrill you in a different way. You will enter the dangerous world of an outlaw bikie gang. You will travel to the remote dreamtime wilderness of outback Australia where the ruler is an evil master, outcasts are heroes, and cruelty and violence are admired and rewarded. You will meet Cassandra, an enigmatic psychic. Using her occult powers to avenge an old, deep wrong, she sets the scene for an epic showdown where the stakes are high and the loser faces death and oblivion.
His third book –The Hidden Genes of Professor K – a medical thriller, was released in July 2016. Cutting-edge medical research meets the ruthless, dangerous world of pharmaceutical empire billionaires, where unbridled ambition and greed threaten to destroy the dreams of a visionary scientist with the power to change the future of medicine, and the journey of man.
A writer like Gabriel, sees the world through a different lens. Using creativity and imagination, He endeavours to weave fact and fiction into seamless stories that have only one aim: to entertain you.
As a lawyer with a passion for history and archaeology, Gabriel had to wait for many years before being able to pursue another passion—writing—in earnest. However, his love of books and storytelling started long before that.
Born in Budapest, Gabriel grew up in post-War Europe, and after fleeing Hungary with his parents during the Revolution in 56, he went to school in Austria before arriving in Australia as a teenager. This allowed him to become multi-lingual and feel ‘at home’ in different countries and diverse cultures. Shaped by a long legal career and experiences spanning several decades and continents, his is a mature voice that speaks in many tongues.
Gabriel holds degrees in literature and law, speaks several languages and takes research and authenticity very seriously. Inquisitive by nature, he studied Egyptology and learned to read the hieroglyphs. He travels extensively and visits all of the locations mentioned in his books.
‘I try to weave fact and fiction into a seamless storyline,’ he explains. ‘By blurring the boundaries between the two, the reader is never quite sure where one ends, and the other begins. This is of course quite deliberate as it creates the illusion of authenticity and reality in a work that is pure fiction. A successful work of fiction is a balancing act: reality must rub shoulders with imagination in a way that is both entertaining and plausible.’
Gabriel lives in the Blue Mountains in Australia just outside Sydney, surrounded by a World Heritage National Park.
If you like historical thrillers, excitement, mystery and suspense, if you enjoy exotic settings, colourful characters and fast-paced action, if you like to learn about interesting, well-researched subjects that tease your intellect and imagination, then once your step inside, Gabriel will show you his world; the world of the storyteller.
Shaped by a long legal career and experiences spanning several decades and continents, his is a mature voice that speaks in many tongues.
His first book – The Empress Holds the Key – will take you on an exciting quest for a holy relic mysteriously erased from the pages of history. You will be transported far back in time to the reign of Akhenaten, the heretic pharaoh of ancient Egypt, and King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. You will discover a dark secret guarded by the Knights Templar and feared by the Vatican, a mystery that has haunted the Catholic Church for centuries, and can challenge the very foundations of Christianity.
His second book – The Disappearance of Anna Popov – will thrill you in a different way. You will enter the dangerous world of an outlaw bikie gang. You will travel to the remote dreamtime wilderness of outback Australia where the ruler is an evil master, outcasts are heroes, and cruelty and violence are admired and rewarded. You will meet Cassandra, an enigmatic psychic. Using her occult powers to avenge an old, deep wrong, she sets the scene for an epic showdown where the stakes are high and the loser faces death and oblivion.
His third book –The Hidden Genes of Professor K – a medical thriller, was released in July 2016. Cutting-edge medical research meets the ruthless, dangerous world of pharmaceutical empire billionaires, where unbridled ambition and greed threaten to destroy the dreams of a visionary scientist with the power to change the future of medicine, and the journey of man.
A writer like Gabriel, sees the world through a different lens. Using creativity and imagination, He endeavours to weave fact and fiction into seamless stories that have only one aim: to entertain you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
October 14, 2017
I’m fascinated with Mr. Farago’s books! This is a masterpiece in its genre. The historical research behind is very well reflected in all the author’s books, so well described, it captures you from the beginning. So many turns in the plot, twisted ventures, action a must, trips to many cities,keeps you on your toes throughout the book. The background of the characters is superb, giving you an insight worth the read. The prose sometimes is so poetic, it transports you to the time and place realistically. I’ll defin read all his books!
March 30, 2017
The Empress Holds the Key is a very faced paced suspense-thriller that keeps the reader intrigued from start to finish. The amount of research that must have gone into the writing of this novel is quite impressive. To be able to tie in so many different time periods (from biblical times, ancient Egypt, to the Knights of the Templar, World War II and finally present day) shows the true dedication and knowledge of the author.
Even though this is said to be the second book in the Jack Rogan Mysteries, it can be read as a standalone novel. In fact the plot follows other characters more than it does investigative journalist Jack Rogan. Most specifically Officer Jana Gonski and lawyer Marcus Carrington. However Jack does play an important role in uncovering the mystery.
Apart from the World War II era storyline, I must admit that the other time periods aren’t something I would generally read about. However I became so drawn into this story and the suspense of it all, that I often had a hard time putting it down.
I would recommend Gabriel Farago’s The Empress Holds the Key to fans of Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series and those who enjoy suspense novels.
Even though this is said to be the second book in the Jack Rogan Mysteries, it can be read as a standalone novel. In fact the plot follows other characters more than it does investigative journalist Jack Rogan. Most specifically Officer Jana Gonski and lawyer Marcus Carrington. However Jack does play an important role in uncovering the mystery.
Apart from the World War II era storyline, I must admit that the other time periods aren’t something I would generally read about. However I became so drawn into this story and the suspense of it all, that I often had a hard time putting it down.
I would recommend Gabriel Farago’s The Empress Holds the Key to fans of Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series and those who enjoy suspense novels.
May 23, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. But it moved from past to present, from country to country so often that I got a bit confused at times. Still, it was a good read.
February 24, 2018
Thrillers tend to be plot heavy and character thin. Usually, however, the primary protagonist is more complex by necessity since he must drive the plot like a race driver behind a Peugot.
Gabriel Farago’s history based thriller, The Empress Holds the Key, is unusual in that instead of a single protagonist, he gives us half a dozen main characters. As a result, each character of necessity is secondary to the underlying story, which is not always a blessing.
In several instances Farago’s plot moves past a character so fast loose ends are left behind. Jack Rogan, an investigative reporter, seems to be the primary protagonist early on along with Jana, a woman he dated in the past and who comes back in his life with a case that interests both. Someone is out to hurt Jack for a reason he either doesn’t know or refuses to share with Jana. His car is scratched and side-swipped, and when that doesn’t scare him off, he’s beaten up so badly he’s hospitalized. Then two inexplicable things happen: Jack submits an investigative piece from his hospital bed despite suffering from a concussion and broken bones and Farago never explains who did it or why.
With Jack out of the way (for the moment), we think Jana is the novel’s protagonist, but her turn passes to an attorney who is an amateur Egyptologist, who then shares the stage with a violinist composer who is a Holocaust survivor. Additional point-of-view characters include a Egyptian police detective and several of the antagonists.
In addition to Nazis, Holocaust victims, Vatican officials, Islamic terrorists, and Knights of the Templar, there are plenty of minor characters who come and go––sometimes quite violently.
As for the plot, which begins with the discovery of artifacts that link a prominent Australian banker to Nazi Germany, the story’s complexity often gets in the way of logic.
What makes the story even more complex is that we’re several hundred pages in before we discover that the plot revolves around a search for the tablets on which Moses wrote the ten commandments.
Needless to say, Farago strains logic from time to time in order to make it all hang from the same hook. The most extreme example is the violinist/composer’s origins and connection to the underlying mystery. It seems he’s not really Jewish after all since his father was a Catholic priest who sent his son to be raised by a Jewish family with a secret that he didn’t know he was carrying.
Here’s how the author explained the connection to me in a private email: “The Abbé Berenger Diderot is a central character. He is a French priest who discovered the famous Templar archives hidden in his church in the 1890's. . . Diderot had an affair with a famous French opera singer, Francine Bijoux, and they had a son - also called Berenger after his father. The boy was put up for adoption and ended up with a Russian Jewish couple, the Krakowskis. . . Berenger Krakowski is the father of another one of the central characters, Benjamin Krakowski, the famous violin virtuoso and composer, who escaped from the German concentration camp with his brother.”
After you’ve memorized the above, you still may get hung up on Farago’s method of disposing of characters. Jewish characters in particular are vulnerable to quick demise. There’s the Holocaust survivor who falls asleep while Jack and Jana interview her, the Jewish husband of the Nazi’s daughter who disappeared, and the Jewish clock repairman who is executed by the Austrian police for reasons it’s hard to fathom.
Now for the good news. Farago has put a lot of research into this story in order to create an aura of plausibility; he also writes well. I didn’t encounter any typos or grammatical errors. So, if you aren’t bothered by twists that occasionally miss their turn, you probably enjoy the ride. Thrillers after all are supposed to take you to another reality. To that extent, Farago succeeds.
Gabriel Farago’s history based thriller, The Empress Holds the Key, is unusual in that instead of a single protagonist, he gives us half a dozen main characters. As a result, each character of necessity is secondary to the underlying story, which is not always a blessing.
In several instances Farago’s plot moves past a character so fast loose ends are left behind. Jack Rogan, an investigative reporter, seems to be the primary protagonist early on along with Jana, a woman he dated in the past and who comes back in his life with a case that interests both. Someone is out to hurt Jack for a reason he either doesn’t know or refuses to share with Jana. His car is scratched and side-swipped, and when that doesn’t scare him off, he’s beaten up so badly he’s hospitalized. Then two inexplicable things happen: Jack submits an investigative piece from his hospital bed despite suffering from a concussion and broken bones and Farago never explains who did it or why.
With Jack out of the way (for the moment), we think Jana is the novel’s protagonist, but her turn passes to an attorney who is an amateur Egyptologist, who then shares the stage with a violinist composer who is a Holocaust survivor. Additional point-of-view characters include a Egyptian police detective and several of the antagonists.
In addition to Nazis, Holocaust victims, Vatican officials, Islamic terrorists, and Knights of the Templar, there are plenty of minor characters who come and go––sometimes quite violently.
As for the plot, which begins with the discovery of artifacts that link a prominent Australian banker to Nazi Germany, the story’s complexity often gets in the way of logic.
What makes the story even more complex is that we’re several hundred pages in before we discover that the plot revolves around a search for the tablets on which Moses wrote the ten commandments.
Needless to say, Farago strains logic from time to time in order to make it all hang from the same hook. The most extreme example is the violinist/composer’s origins and connection to the underlying mystery. It seems he’s not really Jewish after all since his father was a Catholic priest who sent his son to be raised by a Jewish family with a secret that he didn’t know he was carrying.
Here’s how the author explained the connection to me in a private email: “The Abbé Berenger Diderot is a central character. He is a French priest who discovered the famous Templar archives hidden in his church in the 1890's. . . Diderot had an affair with a famous French opera singer, Francine Bijoux, and they had a son - also called Berenger after his father. The boy was put up for adoption and ended up with a Russian Jewish couple, the Krakowskis. . . Berenger Krakowski is the father of another one of the central characters, Benjamin Krakowski, the famous violin virtuoso and composer, who escaped from the German concentration camp with his brother.”
After you’ve memorized the above, you still may get hung up on Farago’s method of disposing of characters. Jewish characters in particular are vulnerable to quick demise. There’s the Holocaust survivor who falls asleep while Jack and Jana interview her, the Jewish husband of the Nazi’s daughter who disappeared, and the Jewish clock repairman who is executed by the Austrian police for reasons it’s hard to fathom.
Now for the good news. Farago has put a lot of research into this story in order to create an aura of plausibility; he also writes well. I didn’t encounter any typos or grammatical errors. So, if you aren’t bothered by twists that occasionally miss their turn, you probably enjoy the ride. Thrillers after all are supposed to take you to another reality. To that extent, Farago succeeds.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2018
This was my second book by the author and I can just say that it is another great read!
It kept me hooked with the story. It is so intriguing and interesting that in some moments I think I read about Langdon not Jack Rogan- journalist that takes us on different places and search for clues. Perfectly spent time while reading it. Can't wait to read the next instalment
It kept me hooked with the story. It is so intriguing and interesting that in some moments I think I read about Langdon not Jack Rogan- journalist that takes us on different places and search for clues. Perfectly spent time while reading it. Can't wait to read the next instalment
September 29, 2020
I’m not sure what book others who wrote a review for this read, but this is NOT fast paced and actually not all that interesting. None of the characters are like able or even 3 dimensional. In fact, sometimes it’s impossible to figure out who’s talking bc towards the end of this book they are virtually indistinguishable. Everyone sounds the same. Someone once said that women can write men better than men can write women and I think that definitely holds true with this author. Add into all of this how very loooong this book is and it became a chore for me to finish. Some quality editing, and less characters (or at least a better way to differentiate between them or maybe a cast list at the front) would greatly improved this. I’m actually really annoyed that I spent any time at all on this book and I LOVE books!
November 17, 2020
I know this was probably a very well researched and well written book but I just could not keep up with it! The subject matter was so interesting but just too deep for me!
May 18, 2025
As far as Holy Grail/Templar mysteries go (and I've read a few in my time), this story wasn't actually too bad. The story had lots of action, it was clearly well-researched, and there were a some nice twists and turns along the way. My biggest gripe with The Empress Holds the Key was the almost complete lack of consideration toward character. Four main issues in particular I noticed:
Too many characters: This story had WAY too many characters, and none of them could be called the main character, as far as I could tell. The characters basically felt like a chorus of narrators whose only purpose was to provide exposition. Because there were so many subplots going on at the same time, it was like each needed a designated expositor assigned to it. This then led to the problem of all these characters having to share notes with each other, meaning characters were going back and forth from country to country so often, both you the reader (and sometimes the author) loses track of where everybody is. Interesting side note, the character of Jack Rogan, who the book series is named for and whose name features on the cover, is hardly even in this story.
Lack of character development: With maybe the exception of the character Benjamin Krakowski, the characters in the story have zero development. We don't see anyone grow, change, or go on any personal journey where they learn more about themselves. As such, when someone finds themselves in mortal danger, there is little to no emotional investment on the part of the reader. I simply did not care about anyone.
Strange or forced character behavior: Maybe it's some Australian cultural thing I don't understand, but everyone in this story seemed to get really chummy with each other REALLY fast. Characters who literally just met are immediately holding each other's arms for comfort and calling each other by their first name. This happened so frequently that it drove me nuts. It was as if the author wanted to have emotional connections between his characters but didn't want to do the work of developing those connections naturally throughout the narrative. To take another example of odd behavior, one character loses his family in a horrible tragedy, but as soon as that family is in the ground they are almost never mentioned again--and that character moments later begins flirting with another character.
Terrible Dialogue: This goes back to my issue with characters only existing for the purpose of plot exposition. Everything that comes out of any character's mouth is some monologue about history, or some awkward, forced quip directed at another character. Nothing I would consider natural or authentic is uttered by anyone. As such, many if not most of the characters felt completely interchangeable.
That all said, I think Farago is a good author with a great story to tell. He just needs to learn that plot shouldn't come at the expense of character--or else even the best woven yarn of a mystery just becomes a distracting mess with not enough stakes to keep the reader invested.
Too many characters: This story had WAY too many characters, and none of them could be called the main character, as far as I could tell. The characters basically felt like a chorus of narrators whose only purpose was to provide exposition. Because there were so many subplots going on at the same time, it was like each needed a designated expositor assigned to it. This then led to the problem of all these characters having to share notes with each other, meaning characters were going back and forth from country to country so often, both you the reader (and sometimes the author) loses track of where everybody is. Interesting side note, the character of Jack Rogan, who the book series is named for and whose name features on the cover, is hardly even in this story.
Lack of character development: With maybe the exception of the character Benjamin Krakowski, the characters in the story have zero development. We don't see anyone grow, change, or go on any personal journey where they learn more about themselves. As such, when someone finds themselves in mortal danger, there is little to no emotional investment on the part of the reader. I simply did not care about anyone.
Strange or forced character behavior: Maybe it's some Australian cultural thing I don't understand, but everyone in this story seemed to get really chummy with each other REALLY fast. Characters who literally just met are immediately holding each other's arms for comfort and calling each other by their first name. This happened so frequently that it drove me nuts. It was as if the author wanted to have emotional connections between his characters but didn't want to do the work of developing those connections naturally throughout the narrative. To take another example of odd behavior, one character loses his family in a horrible tragedy, but as soon as that family is in the ground they are almost never mentioned again--and that character moments later begins flirting with another character.
Terrible Dialogue: This goes back to my issue with characters only existing for the purpose of plot exposition. Everything that comes out of any character's mouth is some monologue about history, or some awkward, forced quip directed at another character. Nothing I would consider natural or authentic is uttered by anyone. As such, many if not most of the characters felt completely interchangeable.
That all said, I think Farago is a good author with a great story to tell. He just needs to learn that plot shouldn't come at the expense of character--or else even the best woven yarn of a mystery just becomes a distracting mess with not enough stakes to keep the reader invested.
August 28, 2023
On an expedition to Egypt author Gabriel Farago read a hieroglyphic inscription on a burial tomb that belonged to a pharaoh which was the inspiration for him to write this book. Jack Rogan is a journalist who finds an old photograph dated in 1944 in an Australian cottage. Which sends Rogan to question a wealthy banker Sir Eric Newman who immigrated to Australia from Germany after the war. Inspector Jana Gonski is a police officer with the Special Projects to investigate the whereabouts of a Nazi war criminal. Rogan and Jana work together to uncover clues to a Swiss Bank that concealed stolen gold from Jewish immigrants which was divided into a Nazi bank account. There are many secrets in this book that will keep you wanting to find out what happens in the end. I really enjoyed this wonderful religious historical fiction novel. I received this free e-book an am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
January 2, 2025
Get out your passports because we’re on a journey to Rome, London, France, Switzerland, Poland, Argentina, Egypt, and Ethiopia. How do the following contribute to the Empress holding a key: a Vatican Cardinal, the Knights Templers, Nazis, Auschwitz, dental gold, a violinist, a physician, an archaeologist, a solicitor, Amenhotep IV, a pope, a king, a sheikh, a statue, Ethiopian Christian Orthodoxy, and a horologist? Farago beautifully merges all of these to create a masterpiece of historical fiction. This novel will keep you up at night to read just one more chapter. Even if you have read the 2013 publication of The Empress Holds the Key, you must read this edition because there are so many new details; more in depth spirituality, possibilities, etc. Of course, I can’t leave out the incorrigible rascal and the Threads of Destiny. Enjoy the ride!
September 1, 2018
A fire in a cabin in Australia and a small metal box leads reporter Jack Rogan around the globe to England, Egypt, Ethiopia, Argentina and around the globe. What’s in the box a photo and Nazi memorabilia! The story has many plot lines that all come together. The author is a genius tying an elite Nazi officer to a current famous Dr who does charity work, a violin virtuoso, a crown lawyer and Vatican cardinal and priest. This book cover the globe and several decades of time. I really enjoyed this book! It was action packed, mysterious and a lot of history! It was so expansive it would take volumes to tell everything this book was about! I highly recommend this book and this author! I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review!
September 4, 2018
The plot and sub~plots of this work are so intricately woven into a beautiful work of art in such a smooth and clever way as to appear effortless that I marvel at the idea of such a concept; and that I also want to visit Roha not just the usual (vicarious) wanderlust to go to Egypt and other ancient cradle of civilization for a glimpse of awesome history (if not personally but through literature such as this book). P. S. ~ I can not help but wonder about this: What is it with all these main characters called Jack? There's Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, Lee Child's jack Reacher, 24's Jack Bauer, Pirates of the Caribbean's Jack Sparrow, and now Jack Rogan. Not complaining, I am truly glad to know and meet another Jack as long as it is not Jack the Ripper.
September 15, 2018
"The Empress Holds the Key" has all the elements of a great historical thriller: a scheming Nazi war criminal, a Holocaust survivor who became a world-renown musician, a vengeful terrorist, shady Vatican officials, the Knights Templar, a noble quest and several different storylines that eventually converge into a nail-biting finale. Although there were many characters instead of focusing on just one, I did feel they were well-written and given enough background to be able to know them quite well by the end of the book. It was obvious that Mr. Farago did extensive research for the historical portions of the story. I enjoyed this book very much and was captivated throughout. I'm eager to read the next installment in the series!
May 22, 2022
The Empress Holds the Key is the first Gabriel Farago thriller I read, and I was hooked from the start. It’s masterfully written and researched. The various storylines flow back and forth through time, traverse continents, and reveal the extent of human capacity for cruelty and depravity, as well as for survival. One doesn’t realise the extent to which these storylines are interwoven until the intriguing and exciting conclusion that will keep you guessing right till the very end. Jack Rogan is an intrepid and likeable Aussie character. He also has a keen nose for a story and an admirable quest to see truth and justice prevail. Once you’ve read Empress, you will also be hooked and want to read the whole Jack Rogan Mysteries Series!
July 5, 2022
If you found Indiana Jones and The DaVinci Code fascinating, you should read this. It does include a heavy dose of torture and violence. Oh, and there’s quite a bit of heresy.
A wealthy banker in Australia seems to have a questionable past involving Nazis. A Jewish man who is now a renowned violinist has a Stradivarius violin, and recognizes the powerful banker from WWII. An incorrigible reporter starts poking around, checking on ancient mythology involving the Knight’s Templar. Then there’s the entire Egyptian mythology and the radical psychopath who wants ALL Westerners out of Arabia or dead.
A complex tale.
A wealthy banker in Australia seems to have a questionable past involving Nazis. A Jewish man who is now a renowned violinist has a Stradivarius violin, and recognizes the powerful banker from WWII. An incorrigible reporter starts poking around, checking on ancient mythology involving the Knight’s Templar. Then there’s the entire Egyptian mythology and the radical psychopath who wants ALL Westerners out of Arabia or dead.
A complex tale.
April 21, 2023
The Empress Holds The Key: A historical mystery action thriller (The Jack Rogan Mysteries Book 1), my third read from author Gabriel Farago, an author I’d wanted to read for some time since I got Professor K: The Final Quest: A medical mystery (Jack Rogan Mysteries Book 4) back in October of 2018 and hadn't got around to reading it so I've gone back to the beginning and reading book #1 since I've already read books #6 & #7.. 581 pages. but reads longer due to the detail & historical content written in it. I was given the Kindle copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing. I look forward to more from this author and more in this series. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
May 19, 2019
This is a very clever start to a series of modern adventure books. This one has numerous threads that are cleverly worked together into the plot which spans biblical times, Egypt and the second world war. I like the writing and the characters are engaging. You can feel you are actually there. This author is a new discovery for me after reading the last in this series but already a firm favourite! If you like the blend of adventure, action and history then you will like this. Fantastic research Mr Farago!
January 7, 2024
This book is very interesting, exciting and an excellent reading experience! Truthfully, I was quite unbalanced at the beginning!! It took my reading the first 1/3 of the book to begin to believe in the hunt for something more important! I don't generally read full books anymore! I find it is hard to give up my reading the shorter stories such as Cozy Mystery! However, once I begin a book I find it compelling to finish it! Therefore, today I finally finished reading the book about the Empress! It left me wanting more!
April 21, 2024
Although this mystery was good, it was very long and somewhat boring. A fire uncovers Nazi era insignias and medals as well as a gold ingot and five bodies as well as pictures of the execution. The key to finding out what happened lies in a Stradivarius violin that one of the Nazis is holding (actually stealing). The search for answers takes the team from Austria to England to the United States, Egypt, and Ethopia and Egypt both in the present and in the past. What in the world is so important to involve a world-wide hunt over centuries?
December 17, 2024
The history, he details, the reserh, the characters and so much more. Gabriel can keep a reader caught up in a realistc story. Jack, the main thread in this story, gets caught up in a story of a lifetime. He bounces around the world putting threads together and starts creating a blanket of a story. It wraps you and Gabriel's characters into mysteries that you need to find answers to.
The craftman of a great author is in giving you a story that has enough depth that you do not want to put it down.
The craftman of a great author is in giving you a story that has enough depth that you do not want to put it down.
April 2, 2025
Are you looking for a book that is hard to put down? Nazi WWII smuggling, researching the Templar Knights, digging for Egyptian tomb treasures, a Vatican conspiracy, and a performance of the opera Aida on the Nile are all included. The book begins with a violent scene involving Nazi officers that is unforgettable. The plot takes off at a fast speed and never slows down. The plot switches mainly between 1943 and 2007. This book is not my usual reading taste. But once I started it, I had to find out what happened! Clear a large block time before you start this one!
July 27, 2019
I really tried to enjoy this book. But than again, if you have to try to enjoy a book is it really worth it? Everything in this book felt forced. The dialog, the interactions, the action scenes, everything! It was so all over the place. It's not that I couldn't keep up, it just wasn't gripping enough to try. There were some good parts, but for the most part, it was an all over the place a hot mess. Go for it if you want, it may be your style, it just wasn't mine.
December 11, 2019
The plot sounded interesting but moved along slowly. I read this over a period of three months. Its obvious a lot of research went into writing this book. Too much history aspect bogged down the overall story IMO. At times I felt like I was reading a textbook and not a work of fiction. I found it hard to get invested in the characters. The complexity of the story would throw logic out the window throughout the book. Never was able to get invested in the story.
August 3, 2021
Intricately detailed historical fiction
Well written and entertaining. Characters were well developed.
My only criticism is that the main character, Jack Rogan, did not play a significantly large part in THE story. I was expecting a lot more action from his character considering the book series is named after him.
Besides that, it was still an engaging read & worth the time spent reading it.
Well written and entertaining. Characters were well developed.
My only criticism is that the main character, Jack Rogan, did not play a significantly large part in THE story. I was expecting a lot more action from his character considering the book series is named after him.
Besides that, it was still an engaging read & worth the time spent reading it.
June 24, 2025
Wow. This is a LONG book with a LOT going on! There are multiple characters, plot lines, settings and time periods. It goes from ancient Egypt/Ethiopia to the crusades, to WWII to current time, and back again. If you can keep up, it’s a great ride through history with lots of twists and turns and none of them are eye-rolling. My only slight disappointment was that the very end felt a little flat. I would definitely try another book in this series, though.
May 9, 2019
I got to somewhere around 15-20% and realized I just did't care that much. I'm not sure exactly what didn't appeal. There were certainly multiple strands which, I assume, were supposed to eventually come together. But it was doing so Very Slowly. Anyway, I read several books concurrently and I realized this was always my last choice. So DNF for me.
January 28, 2020
Nazi gold, Jews in captivity, and Ancient Egyptian mysteries.
Extremely intricate storytelling with fascinating characters. I got somewhat lost occasionally, but found the story thrilling to the end. In a story reminiscent of Indiana Jones, this book is full of compelling mystery and exciting adventure. I loved it.
Extremely intricate storytelling with fascinating characters. I got somewhat lost occasionally, but found the story thrilling to the end. In a story reminiscent of Indiana Jones, this book is full of compelling mystery and exciting adventure. I loved it.
May 8, 2020
An action packed, history filled adventure in the style of a Dan Brown novel. What I liked: the characters; the action; the comeuppance of the bad guys; the writing (mostly). What I didn’t like: some of it was really quite unbelievable; the violence. Overall a good read and a good beginning to a series.
April 23, 2021
This is a good book, but the Kindle version contains typos that make reading the book very annoying. “Grizzly” instead of “grisly” several times, and several other different typos lost one star from me. It was incredibly difficult to stay in the different time periods of the book when you are thinking about grizzly bears.
July 3, 2021
Empress Holds the Key
Good story. Interesting mix of fact and fiction, I think. Lots of action, couple of good twists. Couple of times it felt like it was dragging. About the only quibble I have is that the story was supposed to be a Jack Rogan thriller but he was off stage for more than half the book. Not sure if I will read any more of the series.
Good story. Interesting mix of fact and fiction, I think. Lots of action, couple of good twists. Couple of times it felt like it was dragging. About the only quibble I have is that the story was supposed to be a Jack Rogan thriller but he was off stage for more than half the book. Not sure if I will read any more of the series.
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