The Lost Symbol

Dan Brown has become a bit of a franchise author of late. His latest release The Lost Symbol, continues the story of famed symbologist, Robert Langdon. The lovable protagonist is called in again, shrouded in mystery, to help solve one of the longest running myths in American history, and come to the rescue of his long-time mentor. It would make one wonder, why he would even answer his phone! Steeped in “suspense,” the reader is lead from the improbable to the impossible, and back again.

This journey starts like many of the Robert Langdon novels. He is swimming. He is contacted by a strange man, with a crazy mission. He joins the crazy mission. He almost dies, somehow doesn’t, and finally becomes a hero. Purely . With that critique out of the way, we can look at the positives. This book is addictive. Once you get into the story it’s really hard to put it down. Brown continues to write in an authoritative manner, which makes you believe he honestly knows what he’s talking about. That, I think, is the secret for his success, and is his biggest weakness.

The only other complaint I have about this book, is the ending. It goes on 40 pages longer than it should. By the time he reaches page 509, you wish you had something better to occupy your time. It’s not his endless psycho-babble that ruins it, but it’s the fact that Dan Brown has a serious case of diarrhea of the keys. He has a tendency to use 100 words when 10 would suffice.

I know I’ve been hard on this book; however, it was an immensely enjoyable read. The story itself is very good, and has enough twists to keep you on the edge of your seat. If you can get past the inaccuracies, and the tedious descriptions you could enjoy this read.

7/10