Tag Archives: Dan Brown

Book Review – Origin

Origin book coverOrigin by Dan Brown

Robert Langdon, Harvard professor of symbology, returns in this mystery. Langdon travels to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain to attend a major announcement by one of his former students, tech billionaire Edmond Kirsch. Kirsch promises the discovery “will change the face of science forever.” But when the event goes terribly wrong, Langdon and the museum’s director, Ambra Vidal, must flee for their lives and rush to make Kirsch’s discovery public before they are caught. Dan Brown’s fifth Robert Langdon novel again deals with the intersection and conflict between science and religion. Having read all of Dan Brown’s previous novels, I can say that this is one of his best. While there is less emphasis on symbology and codes, Origin is entertaining and bold. The simple but compelling prose builds to a provocative climax making the book hard to put down.  

Book Review – The Copernicus Legacy: The Forbidden Stone

The Copernicus Legacy - The Forbidden StoneThe Copernicus Legacy: The Forbidden Stone by Tony Abbott

Review: A fast-paced, adventurous romp. Mr. Abbott’s first entry into a new YA series reminded me of Dan Brown’s historical mysteries. It has evil secret societies, historical treasures, guardians of secret codes and European settings. I was really pleased with this little gem that I might never have found without Amazon Books of the Month.

Mystery, Intrigue, Suspense

15 Great Murder Mysteries (that I’ve read)
  1. Murder on the Orient Express
  2. The Da Vinci Code
  3. The Flanders Panel
  4. Homicide in Hardcover
  5. The Eight
  6. The Daughter of Time
  7. The Big Over Easy
  8. The Dante Club
  9. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
  10. The Malice of Fortune
  11. The A.B.C. Murders
  12. The Rossetti Letter
  13. The Egyptologist
  14. The Club Dumas
  15. The Sherlockian

Side question: Why do you think so many mystery title start with “The”?

Book Review – Inferno

InfernoInferno by Dan Brown

Review: Dante’s “Divine Comedy” is a much better topic for a Robert Langdon novel than Mr. Brown’s previous entry “The Lost Symbol.” As always, Mr. Brown completely immerses his readers into the symbolism, history and ambiance of the cities, architecture and art that he places into his lively stories. I sometimes think I should go back and read the illustrated versions of his novels so that I can see exactly what Langdon sees. That notwithstanding, “Inferno” was a tour of the old and beautiful mixed with modern themes just like I have come to expect from a Robert Langdon novel. Overall, a good edition to the series.