Book Review: The Lost Symbol

Title: The Lost Symbol

Author: Dan Brown

ISBN: 0385504225

Pages: 508

Release Date: September 15, 2009

Publisher: Doubleday Books

Genre: Fiction

Source: Personal Copy

Rating: 4 out of 5 Bookworms

From Goodreads.com:

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.

Review:

I was a bit nervous to read Dan Brown's new novel because I thoroughly enjoyed his last two so much and it would not have surprised me if this one was not as good. But to my delight, The Lost Symbol began with typical fast-paced mystery and intrigue which did not stop until the very end. I tore through this book at lightening speed.

The Lost Symbol is different from The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons in that it follows Robert Langdon as he scurries across Washington D.C. as opposed to countries in Europe. But it is the same in that symbology, mysticism and secret societies abound. There is a crazy evil genius as in the last two books and I will be interested to see who plays his part in the movie adaptation (because we all know a movie will be forthcoming). Essentially, The Lost Symbol has pretty much the same plot as Brown's other two books but I still couldn't put it down.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this book a lot, but I am pretty sure this is the last time Dan Brown can write the same book with different characters and slightly different story lines and get away with it. I enjoy Brown's style of writing and the fast-paced excitement of the plots he creates, but I hope he can come up with something new next time.