Obviously Dan Brown made his legendary splash with The Da Vinci Code while Angels and Demons (though chronologically first) wasn't huge until it's successor became huge. While many people may not consider Dan Brown's work to be "Pulitzer-worthy" it's easy to agree that his work is unarguably page-turning entertainment. Which is why I deeply regret that I found this book to be the weakest of the three Robert Langdon novels.
The story takes place in Washington D.C. (The only Langdon novel to take place in the U.S. as opposed to Western Europe). Angels and Demons focused on the Illuminati, The Da Vinci Code delved into The Priory of Sion and Opus Dei, The Lost Symbol focuses it's lens on the Freemasons.
I'm happy to report that I found this book to be the least formulaic of the three, but perhaps there is something to be said for his previous formula. In each of his previous books there is a gradual unveiling to the truth with a twist-ending. And while The Lost Symbol has what is probably my favorite villain of the three, the explanation of what is at stake comes far too late in the novel so that by the time the reader understands the full danger he/she has already spent a hundred pages too many in the dark; yet, on the other side of the coin I found Symbol's twist-ending to be the most shocking of all of Dan Brown's books.
While there were a few aspects of the book that I felt truly excelled, overall I found The Lost Symbol to be a disappointment- especially considering the six-years fans have had to wait after The Da Vinci Code.
C
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