Book Review: Angels and Demons

I’ve been finished with “Angels and Demons” by Dan Brown for quite some time, but haven’t found time to put together my review.

This is a predecessor to the “The Da Vinci Code” book that made Brown a big time author. The Angels and Demons book introduces us to Robert Langdon, a Harvard Symbologist who’s knowledge of an old secret organization drags him headlong into a clue finding mission in order to save four kidnapped Cardinals, and save the Vatican from destruction. The flow of the book is pretty close to The Da Vinci Code, and to be honest also is along the same vein as the “National Treasure” movie (of course, this book was out way before that movie). Basically a series of lost clues lead to the next clue, and eventually lead to the show down between the hero and the villain. What’s interesting in his book is who the villain actually turns out to be.

The book had some great twists to it. I thought the character building of the Pope’s assistant was especially good, but the same attention didn’t seem to be given to the hero Robert Langdon. I’m not sure, but I think I got more of Langdon’s character from reading the Da Vinci Code. 

The mix of true history and supporting fiction is carefully constructed until a believable story comes to life.  You can tell that Brown did a decent amount of research on the Catholic church as well as the Illuminati, which is the secret organization that is threatening to destroy the Vatican by means of a high-tech bomb.  The emergence of this old nemesis of the church comes just a few days after the death of the Pope.  As the Cardinals are to be locked into the St. Peters to vote on the next Pope the Illuminati announce they have planted the bomb and kidnapped the most prospective Cardinals.  What follows is a romp around Rome, tying ancient artwork and symbols to a series of steps along a hidden path.  At each step in the path runs the possibility of saving one of the kidnapped Cardinals, and at the end of the path lies the hope of discovering where the bomb is hidden.

Rating: 3 out of 5
Recommendation: If you enjoyed the National Treasure movie or Da Vinci Code, then you probably like this book as well. It was a pretty quick read for me.