27 May 2014

An ingenious code hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci. A desperate race through the cathedrals and castles of Europe. An astonishing truth concealed for centuries . . . unveiled at last.

While in Paris, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in the dead of the night. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, his body covered in baffling symbols. As Langdon and gifted French cryptologist Sophie Neveu sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci—clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.

Even more startling, the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion—a secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci—and he guarded a breathtaking historical secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle—while avoiding the faceless adversary who shadows their every move—the explosive, ancient truth will be lost forever.

Published: 1st March 2004
Publisher: Corgi Books
Goodreads : Click here
Series: Book 2, Robert Langdon
Source: Bought

MY REVIEW (5 out of 5)

What I loved about this story...

I had watched the movie of this story, with Tom Hanks in it, so many times I thought it was about time I read the book and I was glad that I did. It definitely did not disappoint both in respect of being better than the movie and in respect of giving me newly found respect for the movie now that I had read the book.

The story in the books is virtually the same as the story in the movie so there were no hidden surprises, what I had expected to happen did and the 'grand reveal' at the end was just as good in both the movie and the book.

By far the best aspect of this book is the suspense and build up. You have this scene at the beginning where the curator has been murdered and the way that he chose to deliver his final message before death, which starts the book off with a piece of a massive puzzle that gradually comes together, piece after piece, as the story goes on.

What I was not fond of this story...

I have to be honest and say that there is absolutely nothing I could say under this heading, I loved this book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dan Brown is the author of numerous #1 bestselling novels, including The Da Vinci Code, which has become one of the best selling novels of all time as well as the subject of intellectual debate among readers and scholars. Brown’s novels are published in 52 languages around the world with 200 million copies in print.

In 2005, Brown was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by TIME Magazine, whose editors credited him with “keeping the publishing industry afloat; renewed interest in Leonardo da Vinci and early Christian history; spiking tourism to Paris and Rome; a growing membership in secret societies; the ire of Cardinals in Rome; eight books denying the claims of the novel and seven guides to read along with it; a flood of historical thrillers; and a major motion picture franchise.”

The son of a mathematics teacher and a church organist, Brown was raised on a prep school campus where he developed a fascination with the paradoxical interplay between science and religion. These themes eventually formed the backdrop for his books. He is a graduate of Amherst College and Phillips Exeter Academy, where he later returned to teach English before focusing his attention full time to writing.
Brown is currently at work on a new book as well as the Columbia Pictures film version of his most recent novel.

Author Website: http://www.danbrown.com/