Running with the Gods

by Andoni Iapetus

Will they uncover the truth before a hidden enemy silences them-and their mission-forever?

An assassination during the annual Mount Olympus Marathon shatters the political landscape when US Senator and independent presidential candidate Joel Cameron is fatally shot on Greece's most legendary mountain. With tensions running high at the upper echelons of the US government and suspicions of conspiracy swirling, counterterrorism firm head Kostas Papadopoulos reluctantly agrees to lead the investigation. Teaming up with his chief operating officer, Jessica Sparrow, Kostas must navigate ancient trails and treacherous alliances to expose a plot that stretches far beyond Greece's borders.

Every step draws them deeper into a dangerous game of political betrayal. With only their hard-earned experience and strategic acumen, they must stay ahead of shadowy forces determined to cover their tracks before time runs out. Kostas and Jessica find themselves in a deadly race where one misstep could be their last.

258 pages, Hardcover

Published October 14, 2025

Reviews

[Jessica (Odd and Bookish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for free from the author for promotional purposes.

What an exciting political thriller!

This book is technically a sequel to another book but can be read as a standalone. I didn’t read the first book and was able to follow this book easily. Anything important from the first book was appropriately summarized in this one.

The best part of the book were the characters. I loved the two main characters, Kostas and Jessica. Sometimes in thrillers characters can take a backseat to the action of the story, but not here. They were well developed and I loved their bond.

The story was well crafted. It was fast paced and had short chapters, making it a real page turner.

I also enjoyed the author’s writing style. His prose flows effortlessly and is descriptive without being wordy.

It was incredibly evident that the author was a veteran. The military parts were very detailed; I could tell someone with firsthand experience wrote them. Also the post-military life struggles that the characters faced felt very real and nuanced. I also loved the author’s note and how he described writing as therapeutic and a way to process trauma.

Overall, if you enjoy thrillers that combine politics and military operations, then you’ll love this one!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

When a hitman murders a presidential candidate, a private counterterrorism agency called 'Meraki Government Solutions, Inc.' (MGSI) is called in to track down the assassin.



*****

U.S. Senator Joel Cameron, a political independent from Maine, is a viable third-party presidential candidate. Senator Cameron - a Marine combat veteran with multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan - has a socially liberal but fiscally conservative platform. Cameron is pro-choice and supports LGBTQ rights, racial equality, veteran's causes, reasonable gun laws, universal healthcare, and a living wage.



Cameron opposes both the Democratic and Republican parties because they're controlled by lobbyists and corporations, especially the healthcare industry and the military-industrial complex. During campaign speeches, Cameron notes, 'The truth is the system is broken because they want it to stay broken. The RNC and DNC are corporations and they've weaponized funding to control policy, to maintain their grip on power. The rich get richer while the other people struggle to survive.'



A cadre of conspirators from the DNC, RNC, and defense industry are VERY disturbed by Cameron's increasing popularity.....and the senator's promises to shake up Washington. So the self-serving schemers, who are determined to maintain their power and wealth, hire an assassin named Steve Walker - a former U.S. Army sniper who's now a killer for hire. Walker's brief: Murder Senator Joel Cameron.





Senator Cameron, who has an active and adventurous lifestyle, is signed up for Greece's 44-kilometer 'Olympus Marathon' - a grueling race up and down Mount Olympus. The assassin makes careful plans, and when Cameron is descending Mount Olympus, the killer shoots him and escapes in the subsequent chaos.



The ensuing investigation, in Greece and the United States, pulls in multiple law enforcement agencies. However, FBI Director Jackson Dilbert and U.S. President LeAntha Adams suspect an inside job, and they bring in MGSI - which has previously exposed government wrongdoing - to conduct an independent inquiry.







The top operatives at MGSI are CEO Konstantinos (Kostas) Papadopoulos - a decorated Air Force veteran with expertise in weapons of mass destruction, security, and counterterrorism; and COO Jessica Sparrow - a decorated Army veteran, sniper, cryptologic linguist, and intelligence professional.





The two investigative partners can speak Greek, and they begin their inquiries in Greece, then return to the states.





The sniper tried to make Cameron's assassination look like a Russian plot, but Kostas and Jess immediately realize it was a home-grown crime. The partners suspect the conspirators have people inside the FBI and on Cameron's campaign staff, and the MGSI investigation is locked down tight with no leaks.



The conspirators get nervous and fear exposure, so they dispatch Walker to kill Kostas and Jess.



This leads to a cat and mouse game between the conspiracy 'bad guys' and the MSGI 'good guys'.







Luckily, the MGSI team, and their friends in high places, are clever and have skills.



In their personal lives, Kostas is married to retired Air Force lawyer Marika, and Jess is married to real estate attorney Tess, and both spouses worry about the dangerous MGSI work. Personality-wise, Kostas is a jokester, and Jess is often the (good-natured) target of his wisecracks.





The story is compelling and exciting, with enough suspense to keep the reader turning the pages. The ambiance of Greece is an added bonus, with snippets about Greek history, scenery, atmosphere, and food. I was envious of Kostas and Jess when they had Mythos, gyros, and fries.



Andoni Iapetus is the pen name of a retired United States Air Force Major and defense executive who served across the globe in high-stakes national security roles. The author draws on his knowledge and experience to write realistically about weapons, military details, and political intrigue.

I'd recommend the book to fans of thrillers and espionage novels.

Thanks to Netgalley, Andoni Iapetus, and Köehler Books for a copy of the manuscript.

You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

[Quan West · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say it was a gripping, fast-paced political thriller from start to finish. The story kicks off with a shocking assassination during the Mount Olympus Marathon, and from that moment on, the tension never lets up. Iapetus does a fantastic job blending political intrigue with action and suspense, creating a plot that feels both timely and believable.

What I loved most were the main characters, Kostas Papadopoulos and Jessica Sparrow. They’re smart, capable, and surprisingly human, their dynamic gives the story real depth. As they dig deeper into the conspiracy, the twists and betrayals keep coming, and I found myself constantly guessing who could be trusted. The setting in Greece also added a unique layer to the story; the mix of ancient landscapes and modern espionage was a refreshing backdrop for a thriller.

If I had one small critique, it’s that a few sections got heavy with political detail, which slowed the pace slightly. But overall, it didn’t take away from how engaging the story was.

If you enjoy political thrillers with high stakes, complex conspiracies, and well-drawn characters, Running with the Gods is definitely worth the read. It’s smart, intense, and full of surprises, the kind of book that keeps you turning pages late into the night.

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and connected with Jessica. The battle between being a mom and having a high-powered job is a delicate balance and Jessica worked hard to figure it out. She’s given everything to get to where she is, but now it is placing her family at risk. It was so relatable for me and I was so invested in the story trying to figure where things were going to go. The big reveal at the end is leaving me wanting the next book in a passionate way. I can’t wait to find out more about Jessica and her battles. The rest of the book was fire. I loved the high stakes, political drama that unfolded. It is fast paced and kept me invested the whole time. Highly recommend.

[Natalia Rakocy · Rating 5 out of 5]

6/5 Stars — Absolutely Gripping

Running With the Gods is a high-voltage thriller from page one. The assassination on Mount Olympus hooks you instantly, and the tension never lets up. Kostas and Jessica make a razor-sharp investigative duo, navigating political betrayal, shadowy enemies, and international intrigue with pure precision. Fast, smart, cinematic, simply this is the kind of book you stay up all night for. A must-read for anyone who loves adrenaline with brains.

[Casey King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Running with the Gods had me wondering so many things as I questioned who Sen. Cameron was. Was he someone who seemed good but had something dark and shady going on or was he truly a good person wanting to help create good things in the political world which someone(s) saw as threatening? This book had me turning the page as the different pieces were revealed as Kostas and Jess try to figure out who had the hit put out and why.

I loved how this was mostly taken place in Greece, I feel like I don't read enough books that touch on Greece unless its ancient greece!

Over all, this book had me from the beginning with it throwing you right into the action. Andoni descriptions of military, the finer details of weapons, ballistics and Military jargon let me know that he knew his stuff as would most ex military would know but I loved how he shared his knowledge in this book. I also like how there are characters from all walks of life in this story and how open minded Kostas, Jess and even Sen. Cameron were to all people