The Secret of Secrets (novel)

The Secret of Secrets

Author	Dan Brown
Audio read by	Paul Michael
Language	English
Series	Robert Langdon
Release number	6
Genre	Crime, mystery, thriller
Publisher	Doubleday
Publication date	September 9, 2025 (2025-09-09)
Publication place	United States
Pages	688
ISBN	9780385546898
Preceded by	Origin

The Secret of Secrets is a mystery thriller novel by American author Dan Brown and the sixth installment in his Robert Langdon series, ^[1] following Origin . The book was released on September 9, 2025. ^{[2] [3]}

Characters

• Robert Langdon: A U.S. professor of symbology at Harvard University, Cambridge and protagonist of the novel.
• Katherine Solomon: a noetic scientist who is targeted by an international organization. Solomon and Langdon have been friends for decades and in this novel she becomes his "love interest". ^[4]
• The Golem: An assailant who dresses up as an ancient creature from Jewish lore. Thick layer of clay covering his face and head. His aim is to revenge the wrongdoing done at the "Threshold"
• Sasha Vesna: a Lab Assistant to Dr. Brigita Gessner working in Prague who suffers from epilepsy. Originally from Russia
• Oldřich Janáček: a captain with the Czech Úřad pro zahraniční styky a informace (ÚZSI), or Office for Foreign Relations and Information.
• Pavel: a lieutenant with ÚZSI. Captain Janáček's nephew and right-hand man.
• Michael Harris: the legal attaché of US Embassy in Prague.
• Brigita Gessner: a neuro scientist working in Prague. She is working secretly for Everett Finch.
• Jonas Faukman: an editor at Penguin Random House who has worked on Langdon's books and is currently working on Katherine Solomon's manuscript.
• Heide Nagel: the US Ambassador to the Czech Republic.
• Everett Finch: director of In-Q-Tel, the mastermind behind the top secret facility, "Threshold", in Prague.
• Susan Housemore: the CIA field agent in Prague

Reception

The New York Times called it a "wistful testament to the power of the printed word". ^[5] The review highlighted Brown's intricate plot, fast-paced suspenseful narrative, and frequent twists, all characteristic of his style. However, it noted that the book does not quite match the cultural impact of The Da Vinci Code , which sold millions and shaped public debate. Instead, the reviewer suggested The Secret of Secrets should be viewed as a relic from a bygone era of literature, evoking nostalgia for Brown's earlier successes. ^[5]

The Associated Press review described the novel as a 650-page thriller featuring Langdon on a dangerous quest through Prague, where he is caught up in an international race to unlock the mystery of what happens after death. Brown once again blends suspense, philosophical themes, travelogues, codes, puzzles, and secret societies, continuing the style that has defined his previous million-selling novels. ^[4]

Slate said that the book was rooted not in the quality of its characters or thriller elements, but in the illusion of nonfiction, giving readers access to secrets hidden within familiar symbols like The Last Supper. ^[6]

References

1. "'The Secret of Secrets': Dan Brown's 'most ambitious novel' to hit stands in September". The Print. February 3, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
2. "Dan Brown's next thriller, 'The Secret of Secrets,' to be published September 9". India Today. January 30, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
3. "Noční chlad i kriminální zápletka s policií. Jak lidé na Staromáku čekali na Browna" [The cold of the night and a criminal plot with the police. How people in Staromák waited for Brown]. iDNES.cz (in Czech). September 9, 2025. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
4. Italie, Hillel (September 10, 2025). "Dan Brown on his new book, 'The Secret of Secrets,' and how he manages the writing process". AP News. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
5. Scott, A.O. (September 9, 2025). "Book Review: 'The Secret of Secrets,' by Dan Brown". The New York Times. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
6. Miller, Laura (September 10, 2025). "He Gave Us The Da Vinci Code. Then Came QAnon. Now His New Book Is Here—Only Everything's Changed". Slate Magazine. Retrieved September 10, 2025.

External links

• Official website
• The Secret of Secrets title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database