The Da Vinci Code

by Dan Brown

      In the late hours of the night a ghastly murder has taken place in the famous Louvre Museum in Paris, France.  The victim is the Louvre's chief curator whose body was found in an odd pose by the famous Mona Lisa painting.  Robert Langdon is called to the scene by police as a person of interest because he was scheduled to meet with the curator the night he was murdered.  Langdon is a Harvard symbologist and works together with the curator's granddaughter, Sophie, who is also a French cryptographer in order to try to solve this murder.  The two follow clues left by the curator that lead them to a trail of secrets that date back to the time of Leonardo Da Vinci.  It turns out the curator was a member of the secret society, The Priory of Sion.  In fact, the curator died trying to protect the most sacred of the Priory's religious artifacts: the Holy Grail.  Sophie and Robert find help in one of Langdon's old friends who happens to be a member of Opus Dei - a Catholic group determined to snatch the Priory's secret.  As they search for clues that will lead to the identity of the murderer and the answers the secret the curator was supposed to protect, they are challenged physically and mentally to uncover the truth so that the secret is not lost forever.

      This adventure takes readers through the streets of France and England which I absolutely loved having been to both of these places in my own travels.  If you have not seen these beautiful cities, this book describes them wonderfully.  This book is rich with art history, religious history, and intricate puzzles.  If you can get your hands on the special illustrated edition, it allows you to see the pieces of art discussed and some inside to the puzzles he is describing.  The plot is complex and full of new terms and historical information that require an attentive reader.

      The main character is definitely not your average knight in shining armor meets modern day action superhero.  He is the exact opposite, which in a sense is a refreshing change.  I love his intelligence, ability to decipher puzzles, and his quick thinking.  I even enjoy the fact that he is an unassuming hero majority of the time.  Brown has an ability to take otherwise monotonous facts in history and weave them into a deliciously fabulous tale.  Another great read for me, and a fantastic recommendation for you!  This book is part of a series.  Brown just released the 4th book with Robert Langdon as the main character.  Needless to say I will be picking that up soon.    

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Up Next: Angels and Demons by Dan Brown