The Lost Symphony

Jack Rogan Mysteries Book 6

Fiction - Mystery - Historical
525 Pages
Reviewed on 03/23/2021
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Author Biography

Gabriel Farago is the USA Today Bestselling and Multi-Award-Winning Australian Author of the Jack Rogan Mysteries Series for the thinking reader.

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.

‘I remember as a young boy reading biographies and history books with a torch under the bed covers,’ he recalls, ‘and then writing stories about archaeologists and explorers the next day, instead of doing homework. Whilst I regularly got into trouble for this, I believe we can only do well in our endeavours if we are passionate about the things we love; for me, writing has become a passion.’

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.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

The Lost Symphony: A Historical Mystery Thriller is the sixth book in the Jack Rogan Mysteries by Gabriel Farago, and you don’t need to have read the previous books in the series to enjoy this spellbinding story. Jack Rogan is an Australian journalist who inherits an old music box. A letter is hidden inside the box. When he decides to find out more about the music box, he quickly becomes entangled with powerful people who are after what he has — an art dealer, Frieda Malenkova, will kill for it and a billionaire, Victor Sokolov, will stop at nothing to have it. Jack knows very little and that alone is frustrating and dangerous. As he digs deeper, with the help of Mademoiselle Darrieux and Claude Dupree, a retired French police officer, he realizes that he is in very dangerous waters. His journey unearths deep truths about a murdered tsarina and a relic that belongs to the heart of a revered tradition. Can he do what is right before someone else takes his life?

If you love stories that are well-plotted and characters that are unforgettable, then The Lost Symphony: A Historical Mystery Thriller is a must-read for you. Gabriel Farago is a terrific writer with a unique gift for plot and character. The author picks a seemingly insignificant relic and transforms it into an element that takes center-stage in a mysterious tale. Jack is a character that I adored and his curiosity, coupled with a hunger for truth, places him in an enviable, yet dangerous path where betrayal and greed are commonplace. The author weaves strong elements of history into the story, bringing to life rich Russian culture, creating characters with solid backgrounds, and skillfully developing a setting that feels both real and frightening. The narrative is filled with mystery, overflowing with action, and leads readers on a ride that is bursting with uncertainty. I enjoyed everything about this book, and the authorial prowess glows in this tale.

V. John Palicka

Breathtaking adventure
First book I read from author and it was a breathtaking adventure of history, missing art, murder, romance. You go up and down and around and around major historical events of the Romanovs, churches, Nazis, hired assassins, Faberge Eggs, and a secret symphony by Tsaichovsky.

I can see the author deducting his road trip expenses as he visits many historic cities. What no RIO? If you are a history buff, this book will excite you with all the details. Murder mystery fan needing clues? Yes, the same.

My complaints are not major. Rogan, who must carry out an important task is rather a bland central character, kinda boring professor. Still gets sex. And the top police ace detective already looks at someone and smells a rat. But then we do that when we look at engaged couples and say.. I don’t see what they see in each other.

This book stands on its own but refers to prior books in the series for some general background and continuity. After reading this exciting book, I need some wine and just relax reading the good old mystery books on the kidnapping of some president, or a countdown clock on warfare activations. Which book should I read next by the author? Need more wine to relax.

Kenneth Lingenfelter

A very good historical fiction. Jack Regan inherits an old music box with a letter hidden inside. The letter directs him to a lost Fabege egg that belonged to Tsarina Alexandra. Jack also discovers that there is a lost symphony. Jack encounters danger from people that do not want him to solve the mystery.

Phil Davis

Compelling Historical Mystery Thriller

In the The Lost Symphony (Jack Rogan Mysteries Book 6), Gabriel Farago weaves together an intriguing historical novel about a dangerous, fateful quest to recover both a long lost religious icon and unknown musical masterpiece that winds its way from the last throes of the Russian Empire through WWII Europe to present day France, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Russia. Scotland and the Vatican. The action moves quickly and for the most part seamlessly between the different locales and eras pitting likable protagonists and dedicated police detectives against ruthless foes to a satisfying and unexpected conclusion. The Lost Symphony rates among the best mysteries and police procedurals I’ve read during the last year. I highly recommend this historical thriller and already have purchased the preceding books in the author’s Jack Rogan Mysteries Series.

Charla White

Creme de la Creme Thriller!

Jack Rogan doesn’t look for mysteries, they find him! The Lost Symphony is a mystery involving an unknown musical masterpiece, the death of a Tsarina, and a missing holy icon. Besieged by those with nefarious intentions, betrayal, and greed Jack travels deep into Russia to discover the truth behind this mystery.

This is a stand-alone novel but reading the previous ones gives the reader insight into Jack Rogan and what motivates him to solve mysteries. I have read each Jack Rogan novel and this one is the best of the six! Gabriel Farago improves with each novel on the intensity of the plot and intricate weaving of the mystery with historical facts. Rich in detail and vivid imagery, one becomes lost in the novel from beginning to end.

Each character is well developed and for those that return time and again, we witness their growth and value to the storyline. The main character, Jack Rogan, is down to earth and personable. This is one of those rare created characters that I would love to meet. The dialog between characters is genuine and meticulous. Each storyline within the book moves forward at a steady pace.

The amount of research that went into this book is staggering. Farago is extremely gifted at blending historical fact with fiction in a captivating manner. Reading his books is a pleasure and an experience of intense excitement. One cannot help but become immersed in the storyline. This book is not just a thriller, but an action-packed adventure!

The Lost Symphony and author Gabriel Farago are the crème de la crème.

David Morgan

Thrilling from start to finish!

Wow, what a stunning and vibrant story that blends fact and fiction into a novel that's not to be missed.
Although this is the sixth book in the Jack Rogan Mystery series, it's my introduction to the magic of Gabriel Farago's master storytelling. Filled with history, the search for mysterious artifacts, murder, betrayal and intrigue this amazing story had me completely enthralled from the beginning, Jack conversing with his mother, right through to the completely satisfying globe trotting conclusion. From Paris, France to historic Russia and back again, the adventure builds in suspense and tightens its grip right through to the end.
The characters are so well fleshed out and alive they feel real. The writing so descriptive it's as if you're right there with them. The plot is so well paced it's hard to put down and I can't sing this books praises loud enough. Although this is the sixth in the series it does very well as a stand-alone but I look forward to going back to the beginning of Jack's adventures. I've read a lot of really good books this year and this one's one of the best.

Kim Schup

Following breadcrumbs of destiny…

What if Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, his final work and greatest achievement, had not been performed mere days prior to his death in 1893? What if, on his deathbed, it had been entrusted to someone? What if it had not met with its intended fate as Tchaikovsky had hoped?

In what is Jack Rogan’s most epic adventure to date, this book follows my favorite incorrigible rascal on an action-filled transcontinental quest to solve a multi-faceted mystery spanning decades. Jack inherits a music box which sets into motion a cavalcade of events that will capture and hold the reader’s attention to the very last sentence. Unfortunately, Jack’s inherited music box does not operate properly. A skilled watchmaker is tasked with its repair and he finds something astonishing hidden within the box. Jack, always one to trust his instincts and follow “breadcrumbs of destiny” from one adventure to the next, is inexorably drawn into a mystery which includes the tragic events of famous historical figures including Tchaikovsky’s deathbed bequest to his nephew, the final days of Rasputin, and the fall of the Romanov’s. To unravel this mystery, Jack must travel across several countries. Each exotic locale is described with such exquisite detail that I could almost feel the bite of the bitter Russian wind and taste the decadent rich chocolate Rigó Jancsi (a Hungarian delicacy). This story has it all. There is travel, adventure, mystery, intrigue, murder, torture, Nazis, ill-fated romance, extortion, incredible loyalty, heartbreaking betrayal, and a lost symphony. It is a complex tale that, in the hands of a less accomplished storyteller, could have easily devolved into a convoluted, incomprehensible mess. Instead, Gabriel Farago shines as he skillfully guides the reader across countries and through decades with ease while carefully nurturing the unfolding of this unforgettable story. I think this book brilliantly showcases Mr. Farago’s signature style of deftly blending fact and fiction into a thrilling adventure. I believe the reader will be left questioning which parts reflect reality and which are solely the product of his gifted imagination. If you enjoy the works of Dan Brown, David Baldacci, or Greg Iles, you will want to read Gabriel Farago. You can read and fully enjoy this book without having read the previous books in the series, but I suspect you will want to go back and get them all. I always look forward to the next adventure with Jack and his friends and the wait is unfailingly rewarded with another exceptional story.