I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

When a series of murders within a German family leads to an investigation into a WWII raid a century earlier, the head of the family hires a university professor to help investigate a conspiracy that leads back to ancient Judea in author Les Jauron’s “The Galilean Codex”. 

The Synopsis

The von Wittelslebens are one of the wealthiest and influential families in Germany. But the men in the family are being murdered because of an artifact one of their distant ancestors uncovered a century earlier in Mesopotamia.

Wilhelm Graf von Wittelsleben, the leader of the family, recruits Chris Cadwalader to investigate an unknown World War II German raid on an Egyptian monastery.

Von Wittelsleben believes the raid is connected to the murders. The raid was ordered by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, at the personal direction of Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler. It was led by a notorious SS Gruppenfuehrer and war criminal named Franz Frink. Himmler believed that if the raid was successful, Germany would win the war.

Chris Cadwalader, West Point graduate, retired Army officer, and university professor, recruits a team to conduct his investigation. But powerful forces oppose his every move. These mysterious forces are willing to do anything to prevent Chris from discovering the object of Franz Frink’s raid.

But Chris perseveres. Following clues laid out by a distant von Wittelsleben ancestor, Chris’ search takes him through the forests of central Germany to the deserts of Egypt.

Along the way, Chris discovers a conspiracy that began in first century Judea and lasted for centuries. This conspiracy involved the most powerful people in Judea and several Roman emperors, including the infamous Nero, Constantine the Great, and Julian the Apostate.

And the Catholic Church is committed to preventing Chris from learning the truth. Despite the opposition from the church, Chris persists and his quest uncovers a secret that could rewrite history and upend the faith of billions of people …..

The Review

This was a thrilling historical fiction meets suspense thriller. The exploration of ancient cultures and the obsession that the Nazi regime had with appropriating relics and findings from those cultures was expressed perfectly throughout this novel. The balance between the history being explored and the personal family mystery that protagonist Chris is hired to investigate for this German family was so engaging and allowed the reader to feel transported to the globe-trotting adventures this protagonist would end up on.

The intersection of faith, politics, and power was a monumental theme to dive head-first into, and the author showcased that perfectly here with a mystery that brought the Catholic Church, world governments, and big businesses all converging into one investigation. The conspiracy angle and the heavy atmosphere this mystery brought to the novel allowed the reader to get lost in this drama, unraveling each clue that the protagonist uncovered with intrigue and fascination.

The Verdict

Author Les Jauron’s “The Galilean Codex” is a fantastic mystery meets historical fiction novel that is memorable, remarkable, and entertaining. The twists and turns of the story and the exploration of what would happen if new information contradicted centuries of long-held beliefs made this a compelling novel that is impossible to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Les Jauron is a retired military officer and college administrator. After graduating from West Point, where he was number one in his class in military history, Les served in a variety of assignments in the United States Army. These included five assignments as the commander of artillery batteries and battalions as well as a number of staff positions. Les is a graduate of the School for Advanced Military Studies, which focuses on planning military operations and campaigns. After retiring from the Army, Les became a community college administrator where he was, at times, responsible for planning, facilities, technology, accreditation, public relations and marketing, and overseeing state technology projects. Les is fascinated by how the Romans managed an empire the size of the United States in an era when communications moved at the speed of a horse or a ship. Les and his wife, Zoela, live in their motor home and travel extensively. They have three children and nine grandchildren.