- Fiction
- Murder Mystery
- Symbology
After re-watching the Tom Hanks film series, I decided it was time to delve into the books they were based on. To my surprise, I realised I hadn’t read all of them, even though this type of story—a blend of murder mystery and historical treasure hunt—is exactly what I enjoy. Naturally, I purchased the entire Robert Langdon series.
The book revolves around Harvard professor Robert Langdon, a symbologist called in to assist with the investigation of a well-known religious scientist’s murder. What begins as a simple case soon escalates, pulling Langdon into a complex web of intrigue that goes far deeper than he initially anticipated. This fast-paced novel follows Langdon as he races to protect the Vatican and save four cardinals from being murdered on the night of the Papal Conclave.
One of the things I found particularly impressive about Dan Brown’s writing is his ability to defy expectations with numerous twists and surprises. Just when you think you’ve figured out where the story is going, Brown takes you in an unexpected direction, keeping you on your toes throughout. However, having seen the films first, I found that some of these twists were already familiar to me. I wish I had read the books before watching the movies, as experiencing these surprises for the first time on the page would have made the story even more thrilling.
Robert Langdon is portrayed as a brilliant problem-solver, donning a Harris Tweed jacket, a turtleneck sweater, and a pair of chinos. He’s a professor who still enjoys swimming and feels more reminiscent of the character from the TV series based on The Lost Symbol than the film version. Langdon is a delightful character throughout, one you can’t help but admire.
His companion in this story is Vittoria Vetra, the adopted daughter of the first murder victim. A scientist in her own right, she teams up with Langdon to find her father’s killer and stop his reign of terror. Vittoria is a strong female character, driven by a passion for serving the greater good, and I found myself equally captivated by her.
Dan Brown’s writing is engaging and vivid, clearly grounded in extensive research into his themes, locations, historical events, symbology, and secret societies. This attention to detail makes it easy to visualise the settings and follow along with the clues as they unfold. Though the story is fictional, the real-world locations add an extra layer of realism.
I had high hopes for this book, and I wasn’t disappointed. The chapters are short and easy to follow, making it incredibly hard to put down. Each one leaves you eager to find out what happens next, pulling you into a “just one more chapter” mentality. I’m excited to continue the series and hope the subsequent books live up to the high expectations set by this one.
Brown’s exploration of the battle between science and religion is a challenging theme to tackle, yet I think he balanced it well. While reading, I couldn’t help but compare the book to its film adaptation. Despite some creative liberties, I was pleasantly surprised at how faithful the movie remained to the original story. The book kept me engaged from start to finish and really got me thinking.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery or a thrilling treasure hunt in the vein of National Treasure or Indiana Jones. Although I can’t easily compare it to other books I’ve read, as it stands out on its own, I’m curious to see how the rest of the series unfolds.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am eager to move on to the next one, arguably the most famous in the series, The Da Vinci Code. I find myself appreciating Brown’s writing more than I expected, but what truly draws me in is the main protagonist, Robert Langdon. It’s like reconnecting with an old friend who has the wildest stories to tell. I can’t wait to see where Langdon takes me next.
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