Book: The Lost Symbol

Dan Brown
Fiction
Double Day / 2009
Hard Back / 509 Pages
Series: Robert Langdon #3

In this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he is the world's most popular thriller writer. The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of storytelling -- a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths . . . all under the watchful eye of Brown's most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, D.C., The Lost Symbol accelerates through a startling landscape toward an unthinkable finale.

As the story opens, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned unexpectedly to deliver an evening lecture in the U.S. Capitol Building. Within minutes of his arrival, however, the night takes a bizarre turn. A disturbing object -- artfully encoded with five symbols -- is discovered in the Capitol Building. Langdon recognizes the object as an ancient invitation . . . one meant to usher its recipient into a long-lost world of esoteric wisdom.

When Langdon's beloved mentor, Peter Solomon -- a prominent Mason and philanthropist -- is brutally kidnapped, Langdon realizes his only hope of saving Peter is to accept this mystical invitation and follow wherever it leads him. Langdon is instantly plunged into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets, hidden history, and never-before-seen locations -- all of which seem to be dragging him toward a single, inconceivable truth.

As the world discovered in The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, Dan Brown's novels are brilliant tapestries of veiled histories, arcane symbols, and enigmatic codes. In this new novel, he again challenges readers with an intelligent, lightning-paced story that offers surprises at every turn. The Lost Symbol is exactly what Brown's fans have been waiting for . . . his most thrilling novel yet.

I picked this book up because I've been crazy to read the next saga.

What I liked the Most? WOW - I can't pick one thing

What I liked the Least? The mystery part was a little weak - I figured it out before the book even got started.

Review:This is the latest book in the series and it has been hyped up for months if not years but once the hype dies down get ready to enjoy one of the best books of 2009. I just finished it and will be reading it again this year.

This time the setting is local - the good old Washington DC to be precise - where the good professor is on a flight for his life through the sub-basement of the Capitol to some very esteemed Washington addresses to the top of the Washington Monument. Dan gives us some great new adversaries and supporters with his characters whom he is intimately acquainted with make the novel exciting and impossible to put down. The plot is original and like that other lesser know novel that he wrote is full of ciphers, codes, science and great mysteries, he draws the reader into his story by filling it full of fact along with the fiction.

There's yet another shot at romance - this time with the enigmatic Dr. Katherine Solomon, does it succeed, well you'll just have to wait for the next book to find out. After all, Mr Brown is terrible about keeping a female lead.

The dialogue is fast paced and does not disappoint flying by with nail biting, heart thumping excitement. To all the so called "experts" who have bad mouthed this novel from even before publication I say to you "I don't know what book you read, because this book was a fun & thought provoking read". But find out for yourselves, don't let anyone tell you what to read and what to like - make your own choice.

Recommended to: Anyone

Best Quote: "Laus Deo"

Challenges: 100+