Trust No One: A Thriller

by James Rollins

From the #1 New York Times bestselling master of international intrigue comes a shocking new stand-alone thriller that thrusts a group of university students, falsely accused of murder, into a treacherous hunt across Europe, all to unlock the secrets buried within a centuries-old book that could change humankind forever.

Knowledge can be magic—until it falls into the wrong hands.

The ritualistic murder of a British professor at the University of Exeter points to a startling cast of his own students. All are enrolled in a postgraduate program covering the history of witchcraft, folklore, and spiritualism.

All evidence points to Sharyn Karr—an American student. Prior to the professor’s death, he had thrust a centuries-old book upon her. It appears to be the handwritten and encrypted diary of an eighteenth-century mystic and occultist, the Comte de Saint-Germain. The professor begged her to keep the text safe, ending with a warning.

Trust no one.

Such a responsibility forces her into cooperation with Duncan Maxwell, a fellow postgrad and the sixteenth in line to the British Crown. Already, Duncan has proven himself a savant with encryptions. Unfortunately, the pair clash at every level, but they both need one another. Especially when they discover the book’s opening Herein lies the secret to my immortality. Come find me, if you dare.

As dark forces close upon the pair, she and her friends are forced to flee, pursued by law enforcement and hunted by a powerful cabal. In an explosive chase across Europe—from the Tower of London to Parisian chateaus to a fortress in the Italian Alps—Sharyn must learn the true secret hidden in Saint-Germain’s text. It will send her and the others across history and deep into the heart of one of the world’s greatest mysteries, a secret buried at the roots of Western Civilization, a discovery that could topple empires and change humanity forever.

For what lies at the end of Saint-Germain’s diary is as shocking as its opening words.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Adventure, Suspense, Action

1 pages, Audio CD

First published February 24, 2026

About the author

James Rollins is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers. His writing has been translated into more than forty languages and has sold more than 20 million books. The New York Times says, “Rollins is what you might wind up with if you tossed Michael Crichton and Dan Brown into a particle accelerator together.” NPR calls his work, “Adventurous and enormously engrossing.” Rollins unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets matched with stunning suspense. As a veterinarian, he had a practice in Sacramento for over a decade and still volunteers at local shelters. Nowadays, Rollins shares his home up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with two furry companions, Echo and Charlie. He also enjoys scuba diving, spelunking, kayaking, and hiking. Of course, he loves to travel and experience new places around the world, which often inspire his next globe-trotting adventure.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you like an author, and in particular one of their bigger series runs, you might click to buy or download their latest without reading the description, right? I'm usually good about checking first, only because I'm up to over 100 series I read, and between that and new authors, or authors who don't write a series, I have more than I can actually read in a given year. This time, I didn't check and assumed this book was Rollins' latest Sigma Force book. But it wasn't. I have enjoyed his other work, so I dove in. Great new characters. Loved the historical connections. Sad at the death and injuries. Everything I love about Sigma but with new characters. So it worked out. Take a chance sometimes; that's my new year lesson.

[Bill Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is some adrenaline packed page turning fun. A break from his usual Sigma Force series - it’s refreshing to see a new cast of characters.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for the advance copy of Trust No One by James Rollins. Here's my honest review.

What a rollercoaster! It's been a while since we've had a James Rollins standalone. He's got Sigma Force, going on forever now. He's got fantasy stuff. He's got some side stories about Tucker and Kane, but it's been since what, Altar of Eden, that we've gotten a new standalone? And it was worth the wait.

This one does not disappoint. A small group of college students is thrust into a very dangerous power struggle between two factions that have been warring for generations - the Brotherhood and the Guardians. What are they fighting over, you ask? The treasures of a historical figure, the last of which supposedly includes the secret to extending life far past the normal limits.

Alas, the evil Brotherhood didn't foresee this group of meddling kids getting in their way.

Trust No One was a LOT of fun, and I highly recommend it to thriller fans, Dan Brown fans, fans of Rollins' other work, Steve Berry fans, etc.

Five stars.

[Kat (Ginger Bibliophile on YouTube) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fricking loved it! It was everything I enjoy about his Sigma Force series, but with fresh young characters in a stand alone. The witch side felt a little tenuous aside from a setting to get everyone together, but the mystery, the action, the various locations…so good!!

[Tanja Berg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every time I read this author, I hope for an experience like «Amazonia», which is one of the best modern adventure books out there. Every time I’m disappointed.

It’s not a bad book, the writing and plotting is sufficient, I just didn’t care very much what happened. There was no character development and too little backstory.

A student is entrusted a book people get killed for, not that she knows this. The book is a map to archaeological treasures and maybe even immortality. This the student and her friends are thrust into a roller coaster of trying to keep the book and their own lives safe.

If you’re into superficial thrillers that unfold at a breakneck pace, this is the book for you. Just don’t expect any depth or insight whatsoever.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Rollins is back and showing the world why he is my favorite author. An absolute edge of your seat thriller. As usual, Rollins combines history and adventure in a way only he can. Starting with a ritualistic murder, in the most haunted place in England, on Halloween? Quintessential Rollins. Sharyn is thrust into a centuries old mystery when she is entrusted to be the keeper of an artifact of unimaginable promise and mystery with a simple instruction….trust no one.

You’ve got it all here. History, cryptic texts to solve, mysteries to unravel, danger, betrayal, twists and turns galore. The writing is perfectly paced, the characters are fantastic. Hugh is by far my favorite. The group dynamics are amazing, with each character adding weight and expertise to the task. As the characters race across Europe, the imagery and detail are fantastic. As much as I love my Sigma family (of which I have read them all!), this standalone by Rollins may be one of my favorite stories by him.

5 stars. Perfect. A huge thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review!

[MM Suarez · Rating 2 out of 5]

"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. So is a lot."

Guided by how much I loved Rollins "Amazonia" I didn't read the blurb or any reviews on this one before I selected it, but I knew I was in trouble when I repeatedly saw words like "alchemy", " transmutation", "magic", and "witches". Now if those words excite you and those topics interest you then you will enjoy this book, I did not, and it is a purely personal preference, Rollins is a good writer but I never connected with the story or care for any of the characters, with the exception of Katch the Carpathian lynx he was way cool, I'm a cat person!

The novel gave me The Da Vinci Code and Indiana Jones vibes, neither of which I loved. Plenty of readers will enjoy this one, it's just wrong for me.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by thanking Netgalley for extending this advanced copy to me for this review in return. James Rollins is still at the top of his game, as you can not help but learn something while enjoying the tale he spins. A true historical fiction master. Imagine that you could trust no one, but were thrust into the biggest burden of your life. Sharyn, a student of the occult at Exeter University has this very dilemma. No knowing where else to turn, she shares her secret with her closest friends and then a couple more to make five altogether. Can five University students outwit the powerful groups of people targeting them to get the secrets that they currently hold? And along they way, who can they trust? Humanity's future depends on their decoding the past first.

[LerThriller.Andreia · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Um thriller histórico empolgante e desafiador. A mistura perfeita entre a ficção e a realidade. Ler um livro de thriller histórico, é como estar a ver um filme, o enredo raramente está estagnado, há sempre ação.
✨Este livro foi uma viagem por vários locais e sempre com descrições a acompanhar. Adorei a Nota do Autor. Um thriller histórico entretém mas também nos proporciona momentos culturais.

[Marianne Fuller Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!! This book is Amazing!! The book is full of adventure, and factual history about a very famous character that goes beyond time! Saint-Germain is as relevant today as he was centuries ago. The Saint-Germain trust is very real and active along with his treasures!! It is about to help mankind! The characters in this book flowed together with fun, amusement, and loyalty! Do not miss out on this jewel!! 🎉🎊📚🔦🔍🐦‍⬛🐾

[Ranjini Shankar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. It had mediocre Da Vinci Code vibes and didn’t work for me. We are given a macguffin at the start - a secret treasure - and then the characters run from clue to clue to find the treasure. There are some interesting characters but not enough to save a tired plot.

[Matthew Ousley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to see a talk given by James Rollins on his release tour for this book and have my copy signed. (I also got the Moonfall books signed - and he draws a different picture with his signature for each series!). If he is ever near you doing an event, definitely go. He had a lot of interesting things to say and took loads of questions from the audience.

Anyway, not surpringly, I did love this book. It was his first standalone in a really long time, and he came up with a great cast of characters who felt like people we all knew or encountered in college too. And then took the story and myth of the Count of Saint Germaine and turned it into his usual blend of history and action that we all know and love. I actually wish it had been longer just because I love the historical info dumps in his books, but that probably would have bored most readers, so that's OK.

[Katherine Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fast-paced mystery adventure story that reminded me of Indiana Jones. This is great if you’re looking for a fun diversion from the dumpster fire of reality.

[Wendi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a very disappointing book. I love him as an author, but I couldn’t even finish this book. It was mundane at best. I hope that this is a one of a kind failure for him.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Trust No One” by James Rollins is a fun edge of your seat historical mystery.
A book that holds that holds the secrets of the world and has been guarded for centuries by a series of keepers is given to an American student studying abroad to guard after her professors violent death. A vicious clandestine group will stop at nothing including murder to get hold of the book. Determined to find the secrets held within the book, our heroine and a group of her close friends journey their way across Europe hunted by this network of men & women.
This book is a gripping adventure filled with mystery and myth.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Sarah Musgrave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Não confies em ninguém — James Rollins

O assassínio ritualista de um professor da Universidade de Exeter desencadeia uma investigação sombria e cheia de mistério.

Antes de morrer, o professor confia a Sharyn Karr um diário manuscrito e codificado pertencente ao conde de Saint-Germain, um místico do século XVIII.

O pedido é claro… e inquietante: não confies em ninguém.

✨ O que mais gostei:
• ritmo intenso e viciante
• escrita simples e fluida
• enredo envolvente
• suspense sempre a crescer
• temática intrigante
• vibes de Dan Brown

⚠️ Pontos menos positivos:
• nada a apontar

Foi uma leitura que me agarrou desde as primeiras páginas. Cheia de ação, mistério e aquela clássica luta entre o bem e o mal. Gostei muito das personagens e do ritmo constante da narrativa.

⭐ Classificação: 4 estrelas

[Nuno Ribeiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Li com muito agrado esta nova incursão de James Rollins pelo thriller histórico. A evolução da narrativa por vários locais geográficos à medida que se vai desvendando um mistério secular que se baseia num livro antigo e repleto de enigmas é uma fórmula que desperta o interesse do leitor quando é bem escrita e fundamentada. Para mim a fórmula funcionou razoavelmente bem, sobretudo porque o autor recorre a capítulos curtos que misturam factos interessantes com ação, pelo que conseguem cativar e manter o interesse na leitura. Ao longo da narrativa o autor consegue transmitir a sensação única de viajar por locais históricos da Europa ao mesmo tempo que desvenda o grande segredo da Imortalidade, legado and do Conde de Saint-Germain. Trata-se de uma leitura leve, divertida e, a espaços, emocionante e o desfecho com a grande revelação é muito satisfatório, sobretudo para quem o valoriza!

[Tracy Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced historical action book.

Think DaVinci code-esque with clues, old books and libraries with real-life places where it could have happened;

love all his books as it’s well written and the story just flows

[Nora Maya M Kachaturoff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plot weak, characters not well developed, except how they muddled on with multiple injuries sustained by each, lots of loose ends at the conclusion…Although one kept reading hoping for it to improve…it didn’t.

[dessertcomes1st · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this isn’t really my genre - suspense/adventure seem to fly over my head - but this one had me going til the end. Well-threshed out story.

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of James Rollins’ Sigma Force novels I expected strong characters and non-stop action and Rollins has once again delivered. Sharyn Karr, an American graduate student at the University of Exeter, is made the thirteenth caretaker of the diary of Comte de Saint-Germaine, an occultist of the 1700s. She is entrusted with the diary by her professor, who warns her to hide it and not to trust anyone. By that night her professor is dead and she is on the run, suspected of his murder. Sharyn is not alone. She revealed the secret to her two roommates as well as Duncan Maxwell and his friend Archie, fellow grad students. They are directed by Laurent, a fellow caretaker, to take refuge at the Tower of London with an official and his daughter. They soon come under attack by a cabal seeking possession of the diary. Their escape takes them to a French chateau and ultimately to a cave high in the Italian Alps, the scene of their final battle. The diary is encoded. Duncan and Sharyn work to discover its’ secrets as they run from the authorities and their enemies. There are deadly traps along the way and a steadily increasing body count. Trust No One has all of the action and suspense that Rollins’ fans have come to expect. I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for providing this book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new book from James Rollins that I hope becomes a series or at least another sequel. Great characters, lots of action and adventure, code breaking, and historical legends brought to life set in England, France, Italy and Malta.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I preordered this one without even reading the blurb. At this point I know that James Rollins never disappoints, and this one--wow!--this one was a fun ride.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another mystery/adventure/thriller that James Rollins is famous for and it did not disappoint.

Sharyn Karr, is an American student enrolled as a post grad at Exeter. Sharyn was the last student in the library and was returning a book to its vault when she and the librarian discover a professor opening and going through crates that had been delivered, looking for something. The librarian left and next thing Sharyn knows the professor is giving her a centuries old book and telling her to take it and keep it safe and to trust no one.
The professor ends up murdered and Sharyn is considered the murderer.
Sharyn and her friends enlist two other students to help them as they are in flight to hide this book or at least evade the police and what appears to be people far worse than the police could ever be.

This starts a non stop thrill ride that does not stop until the last page. The book is a mystery and it is dangerous and its contents will reveal great treasure. The group of five students find someone to help them and they are off and running. But, is the person helping them or hindering them? This is a hard book to put down, but it is worth every minute of reading. The ending was great!

I would like to thank William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC. It is greatly appreciated.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride. Action-packed and just the right suspense for me. Started slow and then I ended up pulling an all-nighter to finish it.

[Kimberly Routh Albertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Rollins has done it again - another banger to add to his ever growing list of great action novels.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, this was a fun adventure. I love the youthful characters in this story. I love the "truth or fiction" aspect. James Rollins is one of my favorite authors.

[Brian Sewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A treasure in its self. Rollins has produced another masterpiece that transcends through the ages as does the story in the writing. Guilt, surprise, shock, terror, near death experience is found throughout the pages. Rollins has crafted a tale that could be true, or is it. Trust No One is page turner.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was phenomenal. James Rollins is an automatic buy author and I know his books will get me out of a reading slump. This is one of my favorites he’s written. I want so much more in this story and these characters.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Painfully trite. Dan Brown and Raiders of the lost arc and not well done. Only finished it due to lack of another book.