Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "robert-langdon"

Origin by Dan Brown

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Origin is another brilliant thriller featuring Dan Brown's Harvard professor, Robert Langdon.

The plot centres around the work of atheist and futurist Edmond Kirsch, a once student of Langdon's, who is hosting a presentation in which he promises to review the answers to two of humanity's most enduring questions: "Where do we come from?" and "Where are we going?" But, just as he is about to announce his discovery, Kirsch is murdered by an assassin who believes himself to be doing God's work. Devastated by his friend's death and fearful his discovery will be lost, Langdon vows to do all he can to reveal Kirsch's discovery, taking him, along with museum curator Ambra Vidal, on a perilous journey across Spain in search of the truth.

'Origin' includes a bounty of Dan Brown's trademark themes: religion; science; art; architecture; codes; symbology; and conspiracies - all based on copiously detailed research. These themes, explored in intricate detail, along with the relentlessly executed twists and turns of the plot, result in a gripping narrative that keeps you up into the night. The final revelation is a chilling conclusion to the subject matter. casting the nature of Kirsch's discoveries in an uneasy light.

Having enjoyed all of Dan Brown's previous novels, I found 'Origin' to be a strong addition to the Robert Langdon series, particularly when following the superb 'Inferno'. I am already greatly anticipating Book 6, even if that may be several years from release.



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The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Robert Langdon returns to explore the secrets of the heart and the soul in this spellbinding thriller.

Attending a lecture in Prague with his partner Dr. Katherine Solomon, Professor Robert Langdon finds himself thrown into another dangerous adventure.

Following a chilling premonition and finding Katherine missing, Langdon fears for her life and goes in search of her in a trail across Prague.

But adversaries lurk around every corner. Someone does not want Katherine’s research to be shared with the world, and they’ll prevent it by any means necessary.

'The Secret of Secrets' is the sixth novel in Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series, another fast-paced, labyrinthine thriller, taking Langdon to the heart of the city of Prague and into the depths of human consciousness. It's been eight years since we last met the symbologist in the fifth novel, 'Origin', and this story was worth the wait – gripping and relentlessly paced, this is an intellectual and emotional journey; intricate plotting and meticulous research woven into a speculative conspiracy thriller bursting with suspense, twists and revelations.

Returning from the third novel, 'The Lost Symbol', is Katherine Solomon, a noetic scientist and an old friend of Langdon's, with whom he has recently developed a romantic relationship. For years, the suggestion of something bubbled beneath their friendship forged in intellectual frisson and deep affection, though neither explored the depths of their connection until now. Katherine has been writing a book based on her research and experiments concerning human consciousness, and she believes her breakthroughs will prove a major leap forward in scientific understanding.

The morning following a lecture Katherine delivers at Prague Castle, Langdon is confronted by a chilling premonition of doom, racing back to their hotel to raise the alarm of what he is certain is an impending disaster. Amidst the ensuing confusion, Langdon realises Katherine is missing and is desperate to find her, pursued in his quest by law enforcement, government agents, and nefarious foes. The mysterious character The Golem, a figure resurrected from ancient folklore, stalks the streets and alleyways, always watching, carefully putting his scheme of destruction in place.

Meanwhile, Katherine having delivered her manuscript to her editor the night before, her publishing house in New York comes under attack – their server hacked and her manuscript deleted, and her editor kidnapped en route to making a copy of the single copy he printed. It is clear that someone does not want Katherine’s book to be published and will seemingly go to any lengths to achieve that aim. Under the gaze of powerful agencies and Machiavellian figures with hidden agendas circling in the shadows, a frantic Langdon follows every avenue in search of the woman he loves.

I absolutely loved this book; Brown has once again delivered an engrossing narrative built upon the foundation of his signature themes of history, symbology, spirituality and science. As in all the previous books, we are gifted an immersive sense of place, immediately transporting us this time to Prague in the Czech Republic, taking us on a tour of the city’s past and present through artefacts, art and architecture, exploring religion, folklore, mythology, and mysticism, perfectly evoking an eerie, almost ethereal, atmosphere, and described in such rich, fascinating detail that one cannot help but want to travel there and follow in Langdon's footsteps. In addition to the themes, the plotting and the setting, I adored the relationship between Langdon and Katherine, heightening the emotional stakes of the series, while The Golem proves to be one of the more complex of the murderous and mysterious figures that haunt the pages of Brown’s novels.

Through Katherine’s research, Brown builds on concepts explored in ‘The Lost Symbol’ regarding the nature of the soul, while also building on the themes of advances in science and technology and its future relationship with humankind explored in the previous novel, 'Origin'. Each element researched in forensic detail, grounding the speculative elements in both a sense of realism and mystery, and with flourishes of psychology and sociology, this is far deeper than the high-octane adventure that keeps us rivetted through the pages; delving into the philosophy of life and of death, seeking hidden truths and suggesting that, perhaps, when science leads us full circle back towards spirituality and faith, there is hope for the future salvation of humanity.

Captivating and electrifying, ‘The Secret of Secrets’ is an incredible sixth volume in a superlative thriller series. I cannot wait to discover where Langdon’s adventures may take him next.



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