Copyright 2009 by Dan Brown. Published by Anchor Books, a division of Random House, New York.
I hadn’t thought of this as one of a series, but it is. It is #3 of 5, according to Amazon.com. The series features world-renowned symbologist Robert Langdon. The second in the series was the wildly popular The Da Vinci Code, published in 2003. So 6 years between installments. Brown is not Agatha Christie. But he is a damn fine writer. This book is 640 pages long and it never got boring. Brown knows how to keep the reader on the edge of his seat.
The “lost symbol” is a fabled word or possibly cache of books that contains the ancient Masonic secrets that purportedly would give the person possessing them unfathomable power and wisdom. They are buried, so the story goes, somewhere in Washington DC. Does this treasure exist at all? Landon is skeptical. But many years ago a 33-degree Mason friend entrusted him with a small, sealed package and told him to keep it safe. He did so. But when his friend – the director of the Smithsonian Institution – called him to request that he give a lecture in the rotunda of the US Capitol and requested that he bring the package with him, he did so willingly. But there was no lecture. Instead, he found his friend’s severed right hand, mounted on a spike and pointing to the ceiling. He then got a phone call from a man who said he was holding Langdon’s friend hostage and would kill him unless he was given the small package.
What is a guy to do? Save his friend or be true to his promise and keep the package safe? Before he could decide the CIA gets involved and threatens to arrest him. Soon Langdon is running for his life, his freedom and to find a way to save his friend.
It is a non-stop chase through the streets and buildings of DC. The entire story – all 640 pages – occurs in the span of about 12 hours. A lot happens in a short period of time. Never a dull moment.
The secret is revealed, though it turns out to be somewhat different than what the madman was seeking. The package that Langdon had was the key to unlocking the secret.
8 out of 10.