Book Review: The Lost Symbol

Media Type: Print Book
Title: The Lost Symbol
Author: Dan Brown
Publisher: Doubleday Books
Pages: Hardcover; 509
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Source: Purchased
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Genre: Historical Fiction / Mystery

HDB Rating: 3 Keys to My Heart

Recommended to: Readers of the series, who are looking to finish it up.

Add it on: Goodreads / Shelfari / Amazon / B&N

Everyone off the bus, and welcome to a Washington, D.C., they never told you about on your school trip when you were a kid, a place steeped in Masonic history that, once revealed, points to a dark, ancient conspiracy that threatens not only America but the world itself. Returning hero Robert Langdon comes to Washington to give a lecture at the behest of his old mentor, Peter Solomon. When he arrives at the U.S. Capitol for his lecture, he finds, instead of an audience, Peter’s severed hand mounted on a wooden base, fingers pointing skyward to the Rotunda ceiling fresco of George Washington dressed in white robes, ascending to heaven. Langdon teases out a plethora of clues from the tattooed hand that point toward a secret portal through which an intrepid seeker will find the wisdom known as the Ancient Mysteries, or the lost wisdom of the ages.

As a long time follower of Dan Brown and all of his books, I was extremely excited when I found out that this book was coming out! I pre-ordered it, and waited anxiously for it to arrive so that I could open it to the first page and find myself sucked into another amazing mystery. After opening the first page and actually diving in, I wasn’t disappointed. A mystery ensues, stemming from a severed hand, and Robert Langdon is once off and running on a harrowing mystery.

One problem I did have with this novel was that it is very slow at points. Careening along at breakneck speed at one moment, then slogging through descriptions of scientific theory at another. It is evident that this was important to the overall story, especially as there is a lot of theory that this book is ultimately based on. Still, it kind of slows down the progression. I found myself wanting to actually close the book at some points, which did not happen with the first two. The end of the book lagged especially, trying hurridly to tie up loose ends that weren’t addressed earlier in the story.

Although this definitely wasn’t my favorite novel by Dan Brown, I was happy with it overall. Robert Langdon’s journey was intriguing as always, with it’s own special blend of mystery and history. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, and of course, to those who are following Robert Langdon on his epic journey.

FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.