Dan Brown hits reverse

Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol --- did not even come remotely close to what it claims to be.

'... his most thrilling novel yet.'

Granted it was quite an experiential, absorbing read and a plausibly well researched creation, as every turn of the page left an imprint of new information that, had I not read the book I would not have given access to know. There's this wracking thought that the book is going the exact polar direction in which his two earlier Robert Langdon books were headed is just not as easy to brush off. What happened? Did he grow tired of being placed in hot water by religious critics who chose to impose their dogma? Or did he just come to a full philosophical transformation? That would have been news-worthy.

While the pilot books pummeled unforgivingly and unabashedly to what the Church continue to veil under their Espicopal tunics, The Lost Symbol thrived on Laus Deo. A latin phrase directly translated to 'Praise God.' Then to make it more saucy, intertwining it with the most enduring band of brothers most known for their fascination to ancient secrets, the Freemasons. Regrettably, The Lost Symbol seemed a half-baked or half-made creme brulee. Well burnt from the outside, but still raw from the inside.

Though he came giving away ideas which then seemed impossible to mankind, the likes of Noetic Science, the Sensory Depravation casket and the breathable water, the story remains less as thrilling as his other works. Yes he knows how to make one helluva spider-web of a story dotted with facts which by the way could be corroborated, he disappointingly lost the underhand attack to the entire story.

Of course I loved the idea that he was able to do what he does best. Riddling a story with cryptic text, arcane symbol and esoteric knowledge, I give him that. Add the fact that this guy really knows how to develop a character he used to be second to none when it comes to the general plot of the story. But with this one, there were so many puzzles within already mystifying puzzles that I started to lose track of what really is the essence of the story.

As I came to the last three chapters, apparently the denoument to this novel, he kept on pushing further for another semi-climax. Sort of a last minute beg to stay put, keep reading and finish the book effort. For lack of better word I would say he stalled.

Dude! The conflict was over when Peter Solomon learned that Mal-akh was his believed-to-be dead son. Hence everything should have unfolded slowly, but no! There was another secret, the bible hidden at the lowest portion of the obelisk and then another secret after that. It was dragging than enthralling.

I'm sorry to be saying these things.

I love this writer and I consider him one of the best thriller authors of the decade, but boldly speaking and contrary to what the outside cover flashes, The Lost Symbol is the least thrilling novel he made so far.

PS. If you must leave your readers hanging and craving for an unforeseen sequel, then by all means do so. But never, ever drag a story on especially if there really is nothing more to show. Just sayin'