Angels and Demons

Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown, is about Robert Langdon the professor that was the main character of the novel The Da Vinci Code. Angels and Demons was actually written before The Da Vinci Code, but it did not become very popular until after The Da Vinci Code came out. Robert Langdon is the protagonist who is trying to stop a time bomb in Rome from going off. The book is characteristic of Dan Brown novels, with characters with hidden motives, a suspenseful plot line, and a beautiful female heroine. Robert Langdon goes from place to place following clues in hopes that they will lead him to the bomb which he can disarm and save the Vatican from destruction.

Though the plot was rather less than believable, I enjoyed Angels and Demons for the same basic reasons that I enjoyed the Da Vinci Code. Angels and Demons had a strong but unsure protagonist who gains confidence and ultimately gets the girl. It also featured ancient cults and true historical references which gave the story a life that is hard to find in other suspense novels. But the most important reason is that the twist at the end is incredibly shocking. For those who read the Da Vinci code, or saw the movie, you know how unpredictable the real villain was in the story. I will tell you that in Angels and Demons, the villain is even less predictable. You think you know who it is, but you really do not have a clue. Leaving you with that cliff-hanger, I would recommend Angels and Demons to those who liked the DaVinci code or those who like suspenseful novels. If you did not like the Da Vinci code then you might want to steer away from Angels and Demons as well.