As for this particular novel, it follows Robert Langdon as he is swept up in a tale surrounding the Ancient Mysteries when his close friend and leader of the Freemasons is captured by a madman. The story takes place almost entirely in Washington D.C., which was also interesting. As Sadie pointed out in her review, we traveled to D.C. a few years ago, so it was fun to picture some of the scenes.

So how does this novel compare with Brown’s other novels? I thought it was pretty good. I still think The Da Vinci Code is my favorite, but maybe that’s because it was also the first Dan Brown I’d ever read. I think I liked Angels & Demons a little bit more than The Lost Symbol, simply because I found the background of the Catholic Church a little bit more interesting than the Freemasons. I think I liked it as much as Digital Fortress and more than Deception Point. So, how’s that for a breakdown? My only real complaint about The Lost Symbol is that I guessed a few of the plot twists too early. It’s probably just because I’ve read too many of Brown’s stories before, though. Don’t forget to go vote for your favorite Brown novel over at Sadie’s blog if you haven’t already.

Overall, it’s not the best Langdon book, but definitely a must-read for any fans of Brown’s work. If you’ve never read a Langdon book before, you may be better off starting with The Da Vinci Code or Angels & Demons. And if there is anyone out there who has only seen the movies and not read the books, please do yourself a favor and read the books. You won’t be disappointed!

4/5