Rating:  Summary: Good thriller, mediocre literature, forget the facts Review: It's a good thriller and good entertainment. You'll enjoy reading it. Anything else might disappoint you. The literature value of it is doubtful (who cares anyway in these type of books). And the "facts" have no evidence supporting them and may not be true but it's just a novel, a good novel.
Rating:  Summary: Good read. Review: It's a great book to read. You have to take it with a grain of salt. Many of the things in the book might not be true, but at the end you just want them to be.
Rating:  Summary: JUST READ IT! Review: IT'S A MARVELOUS BOOK THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT DOWN. FACT? FICTON? A COMBINATION OF EACH? THEREIN LIES THE RUB AND ONE OF THE MAJESTIES OF THIS BOOK. THE FACT THAT IT HASN'T BEEN "BANNED IN BOSTON," CHASTISED BY THE CHURCH, BEEN BURNED IN EFFIGY (AT LEAST NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE)I FIND MORE THAN INTERESTING - NOT THAT I THINK ANY SUCH THINGS SHOULD TAKE PLACE. I FOUND IT AN EXTREMELY INTERESRTING BOOK ON A NUMBER ON LEVELS, NONE HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH RELIGION (OF WHICH I'M AN UNKNOWLEDGABLE SCHOLAR). FIVE OR SIX STORIES ARE GOING ON AT ONCE, INNUMERABLE CHARACTERS (ALL FASCINATING & COMPLEX), SCHOLARLY INFO, MICKY SPILLANE MYSTERY PLOTS ALL OVER THE PLACE, SHORT CHAPTERS THAT CONSTANTLY SWITCH THEME, ETC. -- YET, THE ABILITY OF THE AUTHOR TO KEEP THE READER INVOLVED, EASILY ABLE TO STAY ON TRACK OF THE ENTIRE PLOT AND VOLUMINOUS FACTS, AND EAGERLY LOOK FOWARD TO WHAT FOLLOWS IS FANTASTIC. AND I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE THE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH HE HAD TO DO - OVERWHELMING. ONLY ONE BRIEF CRITICISM. I THINK MR. BROWN COULD HAVE, AND SHOULD HAVE SHORTENED THE BOOK BY 50-100 PAGES.
Rating:  Summary: Great Book !!!!! Review: It's a thought provoking book with a great plot. I would highly recommend it to everybody.
Rating:  Summary: Good fun Review: It's amazing how much stuff you can do in just one night in Europe. Assassination, secret societies, car chases, airplanes hijacked and flying all over the place, great misteries. After all, this book is good fun. There is nothing really serious about it, although every little element of the plot refers to specific legends or conspiration theories. The fact is that they are nicely tied together and, for the reader, enjoyment is guaranteed.
Rating:  Summary: A book that Hooks you from the first Line Review: It's an enticing mystery with strong historical and factual roots. Consider it the new version of based on a true story. Like a history lesson that you wish you had in school. I must warn allot a good weekend to this book because unlike the cliche that once you pick it up you won't put it down, this book actually does just so.
Rating:  Summary: Spare me the pompous nitpicking; this is a good yarn. Review: It's been awhile since I wrote an Amazon review, but after reading some of the hundreds of reviews of this book I'm compelled to respond on behalf of the vast unwashed masses to which I belong. First, this book is found in the "fiction" section. If you don't want challenges to documented historical fact, Amazon sells thousands of books on art and religious history. Knock yourself out. At its essence, this book is a better-than-average mystery thriller, with all of the typical plot devices you'd expect from the Grishams, Kings, and Pattersons of the world. It's not particularly well-written, but that doesn't mean it's not fun to read, if you're just an average schmoe like myself who likes a deft plot twist. To be sure, some of the developments in the book are far-fetched. For example, I have no problem with one or two scenarios in which the protagonists face certain capture by the bad guys, only to escape by some implausible development. After this happens a half-dozen times or so, you feel like Clark Griswold staring at the Grand Canyon. Yep; been there, done that; let's move on. So, what is it about this unremarkable book that seems to have inspired so many remarks? That's easy. It's about art, which brings all sorts of snooty bookish types out of the woodwork to nitpick; and it also delves into Christian conspiracy theories. It doesn't flatter the church, especially the Catholic church, but that's nothing new in modern fiction. But Brown's characters challenge the biblical accountings of Christ's life. They also "uncover" thousand-year old religious conspiracies which changed the way people think about physical relationships. These are sensitive issues, and a lot of linear thinkers don't like to have their fundamental beliefs challenged, even in fiction. So no one should be surprised that so many of them have shown up to point fingers at this book because they spot a historical inconsistency or implausible conclusion about religion or art. You're messing with some of the most pompous and arrogant people in the world, Mr. Brown. The lightning bolt is surely on its way. But from down here, among the vast majority of people who just want to sit down in a comfortable chair with a cool drink and escape into an interesting book for awhile, this one is pretty good. If you have any interest at all in art history, or cryptology, or the early years of Christian religion, this one should hold your interest, but be warned. If even a fictional challenge to your beliefs about Christianity or art history is going to offend you, move along.
Rating:  Summary: Love it or Hate it.. Review: It's been several years since I really sat down to read a book that wasn't strictly educational. I've never had the urge or time to read pure fiction. The DaVinci Code combines the best of both worlds. I was absolutely fascinated by the facts uncovered in this book and it has made me a born-again reader. I have since spent countless hours on the internet researching facts from Dan's book and according to others, they are right on the money. I will say this, the book is not for devoted (or closed-minded) Christians. Simply because many people refuse to believe anything besides what they have been told their entire life. I was shocked and amazed...
Rating:  Summary: Impossible-to-put-down thriller!!! Review: It's been years since I encounter a book which I simply can't put down... until my father in law surprised me with this gem. I won't talk about the story's plot or even try to go into wether I believe there might be some truth to it.... all I can say is that in a world where nothing is what it seems, you can never dismiss theories, no matter how far fetched they might seem. This is definately a book for the open minded... religious fanatics, stay away or your sensitivity will be hurt.
Rating:  Summary: I don't like this book Review: It's Chris**ly boring. The historical detail is fascinating to a point. This is hardly a thriller though, the character development is thin and so is the plot. Lousy foreshadowing, highly improbable and utterly predictable. I'm more than half done, but I don't feel obligated to finish. I'm glad I borrowed this and didn't buy. (I've found a much better book Taking Lives by Michael Pye.
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