The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown is Brown’s third Robert Langdon thriller. In Brown’s first two Langdon books—Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code—Langdon uncovered conspiracies within the Catholic church that involved art and science. The Lost Symbol takes place in Washington D.C. and explores the secrets of Freemasonry.
Like the other novels the novel starts with Robert Langdon being summoned. In Angels & Demons, it was to Switzerland; in Da Vinci Code it was Paris. Here Langdon is summoned to Washington D.C. to deliver a lecture in the Capitol Building. Within moments of his arrival, a severed human hand with symbols on each finger is discovered at the Rotunda. Langdon identifies it as the hand of his friend and mentor Peter Solomon.
In order to rescue his mentor-friend, Langdon should solve the puzzle and give the solution to Mr. Solomon’s kidnapper. The rest of the story is how Langdon goes on solving the puzzle with the help of many people including many prominent masons, Solomon’s sister, etc. To add the excitement the Director, CIA’s Office of Security is also thrown in.
If you are a die-hard Dan Brown fan then read it; otherwise you can safely avoid it. But if you want a tour of Washington D.C., with some excitement, then this book is a candidate. If you have not read any of the Dan Brown’s books then start with Angels & Demons, as that is the best of lot.
Book Details:
- Author: Dan Brown
- Publisher: Doubleday Books
- Year: 2009
- ISBN: 9780385504225
- Cover & Page Count: Hardcover, 528 pages