The Da Vinci Code

The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown, is the sequel to Angels and Demons, which I reviewed for you yesterday. It does not really matter which book you read first, I read them out of order, and reading one before the other will not ruin the story for you. Once again Robert Langdon is the protagonist, and once again he is joined by a dashing female. However, in Da Vinci code, Langdon is trying to help solve a murder, one in which he is the prime suspect. Langdon is called in to help solve the murder of a Louvre curator who is much more connected than anyone really knows. He is part of a secret organization that is made up of numerous intellectuals around the country. The church is trying to do away with this organization and Langdon is drawn in to help solve the murder.

As I discussed in my review of Angels and Demons, there were three main points that sold the Da Vinci code to me. First, there was a strong protagonist who was somewhat of a geek, but still managed to get the girl at the end. Second, the book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it. It was incredibly suspenseful, and I had to stop myself really late at night or else I was going to pull an all-nighter just to finish. Lastly, the book contained true references to ancient cults and rituals which meant that you were learning about history without even realizing it. If you like suspenseful novels that also have a hint of puzzle solving in them, then The Da Vinci Code is good for you.

One quick note as well, I would recommend reading the book before the movie just so the suspense in the book is not ruined. It is just not the same if you know what is going to happen, and the book builds to the climax much better than the movie.