The Lost Symbol

I read the first two Robert Langdon novels, Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code. After these books, you develop an expectation for a story involving the tweed-clad symbologist. You have a treasure hunt through an significant city (or cities) filled with secrets, an intelligent woman that is emotionally tied to the plot, and a game-changing plot twist.

The Lost Symbol delivers on these three expectations, but does not live up to the other two books in other ways. First of all, Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code, while somewhat controversial, still seem somewhat grounded in comparison to The Lost Symbol. Without giving anything away, The Lost Symbol is extremely mystical in tone, from the exploration of the “science” of Noetics to the conclusions reached during the conclusion of the story.

Also, the two main plot twists were pretty clear to me from about halfway through the story. I'm not sure if I have just adjusted to Dan Brown's writing style after reading two of his other books, or whether he just dropped way too many hints in this story. Obviously you don't want plot twists to come out of thin air, but at the same time if they are totally transparent there is no point in presenting them as shocking plot twists.

In conclusion, this book wasn't terrible, but it doesn't live up to the former two books. If you really enjoyed those two books, then this book will not waste your time. I enjoyed the ride while it lasted, but it definitely left a sour taste in my mouth at the end.