Better than the Da Vinci code!
920703
Only the Da Vinci Code is a faster page turner than this ripping yarn of danger, intrigue, and sexual misadventure.  A Summer beach reading must!
295857
Dan Brown, author of the humongously successful "Da Vinci Code," scores well with this story written before his international best seller
Incredibly, the entire 500+ pages of action occurs over a six-hour period.  As in "Da Vinci," the action takes place in and around the Catholic Church -- literally.  The bulk of the book involves Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon and his attractive Italian co-sleuth Vittoria Vetra racing between the Pope's office, the Vatican's secret archives, hidden Middle Age passageways, the crypt holding St. Peter's remains and various churches in Rome in an attempt beat a midnight calamity that threatens to destroy the Catholic Church at its very foundations.
The nutshell:  CERN, the world's most formidable collection of physicists, has produced and contained anti-matter, that theoretical substance present at the Big Bang.  Despite elaborate security, a vial of the anti-matter has been stolen by a resurgent Illuminati -- that cryptic group dating from the Middle Ages that purported to represent and defend scientific inquiry against the forces of a Church desperate to stamp out anything even remotely calling into question Rome's vision of the earth, man and their divine creation.
After waiting four centuries, the Illuminati have a chance to extract their revenge upon the Catholic Church.  The vial of anti-matter will escape containment when a battery mechanism allowing its suspension turns off at midnight on the day bereaved cardinals are gathered to select a new pope.  Anti-matter, when coming into contact with any matter (even air, or the sides of a container) produces an explosion so great that a pea-sized drop of the stuff could wipe out a mile square area.  And, the vial has been hidden someplace in the recesses of Vatican City.
Langdon appears because his specialty -- symbology -- makes him the foremost expert in possible clues to the Illuminati plot and the hiding place of the vial.  The beautiful Vetra appears because she was teamed with her father in the production of  anti-matter at CERN -- her father being a catholic priest/physicist who was attempting to prove the existence of Genesis with his work (he adopted her when she was an orphan).
Breathless describes this novel.  The entire story, except for Langdon's educational lectures on the Illuminati, various aspects of Vatican lore, and Middle Age Italian artists and architecture, takes place between the time most allow for dinner to follow lunch.  The action never stops -- it is ceaseless.
It is also very entertaining.  Anyone attracted to history, secret societies, church politics past and present and a whiff of physics as backdrop to a ripping good yarn will appreciate this book.
3917515
I just finished reading this remarkable book!  I was spellbound and held captive by every page!  I loved the "treasure hunt" through some of the most beautiful landmarks in Europe.  The plot twists are so unexpected!  You'll love how Robert Langdon pieces together the clues.  I hope an illustrated version of this book is due out (like "DaVinci Code" has done).  So I went on the internet and looked up the places and paintings that were referenced.  Outstanding!  Be sure to look closely at the "Map of Hell" by Sandro Botticelli that figures prominently in the book.

Dan Brown's book make me think and wonder.  They inspire research and learning.  AND they are great story-telling!  Wonderful!
2340479
A possible precursor for the Da Vinci Code ideas about Jesus and Mary Magdalene, though better presented, this author astounds with his crisp writing style and realization of character.  This was a great story that brought one into these interesting characters lives in the exotic locale of modern and ancient Jerusalem.  I was only slightly disappointed with the ending, and so the 4 star rating (actually 4 1/2).  Certainly, I will read more by this author.
2193767
Dan Brown got his magic back! I admit I enjoyed Da Vinci's Code tremendously and found Lost Symbol a huge letdown. There was a period I was wondering if Dan Brown still got it. With Inferno, it is a Yes.

Europe and its rich culture are Dan Brown's comfort zone. The author was able to take the readers into a fascinating ride. The book got sloppy a little bit toward the end with too much narrative. And the ending is anything but conventional.

I think Inferno is a worthy sequel to Da Vinci's Code, which still ranks no. 1 among Dan Brown's books.
871494
I have been a big fan of Dan Brown since The Da Vinci Code.  I made a point of reading his earlier works, all of which I found interesting and thought provoking.
I have awaited release of The Lost Symbol, since hearing that it was forthcoming.  I pre-ordered the book for my Kindle and after receiving it, I really hated putting it down.  Unfortunately for me, my days are fairly busy and my reading is relegated to late evening just before retiring for the night.  I usually read for about one hour, but I had difficulty keeping to that schedule, since I didn't want to stop.  The story grabbed me right from the start and didn't want to let go.  I have read some of the other reviews that were critical of what the reviewers referred to as slow or unnecessary portions of the book.  Perhaps those reviews have some merit, but overall, I found the book to be well written and spellbinding.  Perhaps the best thing about the book is that it is set here in familiar surroundings.  I have been in or around many of the buildings described in the book, and I can't wait to get back to Washington D.C., to explore these locations again
3829848
Dan Brown's latest book has come out and sold a lot of copies and I went out and got mine. I read annoyingly fast, so I finished it in four or five hours total (I would love to know what reading level this is supposed to be, Harry Potters book 4-7 all took longer than this). It made me decide that I don't need to read any more Dan Brown books.

I loved Angels & Demons, I thought it was a great story and had some great controversies that really made me think. I thought Da Vinci Code was okay. I thought Deception Point was somewhere in between the two Langdon books, and this one would go below that.

His books are incredibly formulaic. This one contains someone Langdon knows getting into trouble, him working with a woman to solve the mystery and save the other person, a security officer with authority that Langdon does not trust, and a bad guy who hurts himself and does it all for a higher power. Do any of those sound familiar? Also, his watch is referenced several times, he gets trapped or has to travel through many small spaces, and at one point, it looks like he is dead! There are even more similarities including God vs science, what religion is, and many more.

Please Dan Brown, think of something new! These books all seem to be the same!

I was looking forward to this book quite a lot for one reason - the setting. Washington DC is one of my favorite cities and I was looking forward to knowing a lot about the locations that were in the book (plus, Langdon traveling from Harvard to DC made a lot of sense). In that, I was not disappointed. I learned more about two famous DC landmarks and when they traveled on The Metro, I knew exactly where they were at all times.

I also am interested in Freemasons. I knew someone in college that was one 9only the 5th or 6th level) and while he couldn't tell us most things, what he told me about his beliefs was very interested, so I was excited that they would be a central part of this story. That also was not a disappointment. I did learn quite a bit about the beliefs.

Those two things could not save the book. Dan Brown just needs to write better (and his editors need do more). If a better writer had written this book, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. If you liked his first Langdon books, you may be disappointed because it is so similar, which really, in the end, was my main disappointment. I think Robert Langdon has a lot of potential as an interesting character to build a series on, but there needs to be more differences.

Don't necessarily take my word for it. Go form an opinion of your own!
1937982
Swords at Sunset and The Da Vinci Code are two very good books, non-fiction and fiction that should be read as a set for a meaningful appreciation of the Holy Grail story. I thoroughly enjoyed the fictional Da Vinci Code but was left needing more information on research into the Holy Grail. I filled that need by turning to something of a non-fiction companion book, Swords at Sunset by Michael Bradley, who also employs thorough research and archeological evidence to contend that the Knights Templar spirited descendents of Jesus to North America centuries ago. The Holy Grail became particularly established in what is today Ontario and Quebec, Canada, and Vermont and New York State. Bradley also draws on The Book of Mormon to piece together an absolutely enthralling and "true" story of Grail knights at conflict with Indian tribes. It may seem too fantastic to be taken seriously, but the book is rich with supportive evidence, including photos of ancient European weaponry found at Niagara and remnants of centuries-old millworks in eastern Canada, plus evidence of "white" people on the Atlantic coast of both countries - centuries before Columbus. I highly recommend both of these well written and engaging books. Well done Dan Brown and Michael Bradley!
2215361
A year before his recent escapade in "The Da Vinci Code", mild-mannered Harvard professor Robert Langdon squared off against the sinister Illuminati cult in "Angels and Demons". In this "prequel", Langdon leaves behind his quiet campus life only to be thrust into a chain of events in which he and an Italian scientist (Vittoria Vetra) try to save the Vatican from destruction by antimatter. In the process, Langdon becomes part-Indiana Jones, part-James Bond. Although some of the narrow scrapes that he, Vetra, and others survive are rather far-fetched, this novel lives up to its reputation as an entertaining page-turner. Brown adds suspense throughout, making it all believable in a fantastic sort of way. Even his surreal messianic character (Carlo Ventresca) engages the reader and delivers a one-two punch at the end.

Infused in the pages of "Angels and Demons" are several fascinating intuitions. Near the end of his tale, Brown envisions a large, mesmerized crowd in St. Peter's Square: "Like synapses of a giant heart all firing in tandem, the people reached for God, in dozens of languages, in hundreds of countries. The words they whispered were newborn and yet as familiar to them as their own voices ... ancient truths ... imprinted on the soul." Although unfocused or morally confused at times, this novel does offer a fair amount of spiritual depth. Brown even guesstimates a few of the details about the recent papal succession: the choice of an older pope and the spirited movement of the crowd waiting in St. Peter's Square.

For me, "Angels and Demons" was a positive experience. I liked Brown's association of the "Big Bang" phenomenon with the creation of the universe by a Supreme Being. He did this through his characters Leonardo and Vittoria Vetra, the latter referring to her father's antimatter research as "uniting science and religion". Science and religion do not have to be at odds and Brown recognized this through his characters. "Angels and Demons" may not rank with the great spiritual classics, but I am surprised that it did not sell very well until after the success of "The Da Vinci Code". For me, "Angels and Demons" is the better of the two and far less controversial. Also, in the Special Illustrated Collector's edition, high quality photographs of Rome, the Vatican, and Bernini's art enhance and enliven the story. Rev. Dennis J. Mercieri, alumnus of Holy Apostles Seminary, Cromwell, CT, USA
585145
For at least thirty years I have been reading books that attempt to tell me something that deep down I sense but have never known how to activate. This is a power within ourselves that we have forgotten how to use.  Jesus said it Himself when he told the Apostles that what He did they could do and more.  You must read this book.  I never thought that The Da Vinci Code could be matched but I was wrong.  After you read Grail Conspiracies you will be as ready as I am for Michael's next book which is due out soon. I have been checking the book stores for months in great anticipation.
3774588
Debates on historical inaccuracies aside (after all, this is a work of FICTION), Da Vinci Code is a thrilling page turner, packed with tidbits and esotheric facts. You'll enjoy it you're a fan of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Umberto Eco's works.  That is, if you haven't read Dan Brown's earlier Angels & Demons. The problem with Da Vinci Code is it's almost a rewrite of the earlier novel, it's as if Brown has a template for Langdon's adventures. The plot devices are the same: Both have a mysterious assassin tasked by a faceless villain to carry out a mission based on a historical secret. And both books feature the revelation of the villain as the least person you'd suspect (although he doesn't do a good job of throwing readers off, you'll know pages before the revelation).  Another problem is Robert Langdon's involvement in the Da Vinci Code chase. It's so forced/contrived, you can have Da Vinci Code without Langdon!  Sophie Neveu is supposed to be a crack cryptologist and she could've solved the riddles without Langdon's help, sooner or later.
Again, I'll say it's an enjoyable book IF YOU HAVEN'T READ Angels & Demons. If you have, it's like watching a rerun.
4141423
For lovers of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code this book is a must read. A well written page turner, looking forward to the next one!
4332627
Excellent book. The characters are SOOO well developed and the insight into the human mind so profound that I will have a hard time picking up a typical murder mystery again.  I spent much time pondering some of the magical paragraphs and exhalting in the fantastic ending.  It is great after reading the "Da Vinci Code" since it also considers the true origins of parts of the Bible.  This is a great read and a great book club selection.
3093996
Lets face it, this movie was written to quickly capitolize on the "Da Vinci Code" phenominon.  This movie is not nearly as good as "Da Vinci Code" was, but if you go for that sort of mystery/treasure hunt/conspiricy theory type of thing, you'll enjoy watching this movie.

The main character learns a family legend from his grandfather--there is an unbelievably hugh treasure which was hidden by the founding fathers!  They left us clues on various documents and in various famous buildings.  An adventure-filled tromp through historic sites ensues.

Not exactly Oscar material, but good clean fun for the whole family.
2351490
I first ignored da Vinci Code because of all the marketing hype surrounding it. When I finally did buy it, I found it highly absorbing and good fun. As a result, I bought Angels and Demons, thinking it would be almost as good.

It is certainly written well, with a surprise ending, which appears to be a little contrived. It also includes a lot of background information about the Catholic Church and its turbulent history (though some of it may not be true).

However, this book does not read as well as da Vinci Code for two reasons: one is that the time frame appears simply fantastic. The Hero wakes up early one morning to a telephone call, is whisked by a jet to a far-away place, goes through several meetings, searches, narrow escapes, lectures you on medieval art, solves the problem, saves the Vatican and ends up in bed with a beautiful scientist (female) exactly 24 hours later! Talk about being fast!! If this pace was introduced to make it a racy thriller, then I think it was not a good idea, you merely end up disoriented, jet-lagged.

The second problem is the repeat formula. The elements of both da Vinci Code and this one are:

- 1 smart male professor

- 1 sexy female investigator, connected to the person who died

- 1 Conspiring Catholic Church

- A lot of background information about art

- A lot of running around solving clues hidden in the art

A third flaw is some of the unbelievable scenarios, like the fight between a trained assassin and an academician from a University. Any guesses who would win? Another is the fantastic series of public murders. The book at times reads like a cross among science-fiction, a historical novel, an art catalogue, and a fantasy from Arabian nights.

So while the book is enjoyable, it suffers from some flaws. If you liked da Vinci very much, and would like to read it again, you must buy this book. However, if you are looking for something different, try one of his other books (which I haven't read yet).
2135637
Great story. Much more realistic than Davinci Code. Had a wonderful time reading it--thanks NYT.
136670
JoeDanDonigi

Why do I say better than Dan Brown?  Well, I read Angels & Demons and the Da Vinci Code and two things irritated me.  One, I'm not sure what was fact and what was fiction about the religious history he was presenting-and I don't want to spend my time thinking when I'm reading a fiction book for enjoyment.  They were obviously wildly popular so maybe he struck the right chord with his audience.  The second thing that annoyed me is the main protagonist acts seemingly without thinking as he's having constant epiphanies throughout the book.  The Shekinah Legacy is fiction but the characters are all reacting to outside events and the constant epiphanies are more explained by having an autistic boy as one of the main characters.  Gary Lindberg surely did make the book fast-paced, moving as well as exciting.  I definitely recommend it.  I said in another review Tom Clancy good and that's high compliments coming from me.

Photoman35mm