The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2)

Title: The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2)

Author: Dan Brown

Published in: 2003

Date read: 5th October 2010

Score: 5/5

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown, published in 2003, is a best-selling thriller that intricately weaves together art history, religious controversy, secret societies, and ancient conspiracies into a fast-paced hunt for a hidden truth.

The story begins dramatically at the Louvre Museum in Paris, where its elderly curator, Jacques Saunière, is murdered. Before he dies, Saunière leaves behind a series of cryptic symbols and a bizarre tableau, which draw in Robert Langdon, an American symbologist from Harvard University, who is in Paris to lecture.

Langdon is soon joined by Sophie Neveu, a gifted French police cryptographer and Saunière's granddaughter. Sophie quickly realizes that the police suspect Langdon, and that her grandfather's dying message was meant for her, implicating a secret he wanted her to uncover.

Together, Langdon and Sophie embark on a perilous quest, following a trail of clues hidden within Leonardo da Vinci's artworks, Saunière's personal effects, and historical documents. Their journey takes them through famous landmarks in Paris and London, including the Louvre, Saint-Sulpice, the Temple Church, and Westminster Abbey.

They quickly discover that Saunière was a high-ranking member of the Priory of Sion, a real-life (though fictionalized) secret society rumored to have protected an explosive secret for centuries. This secret revolves around the true identity of the Holy Grail – not a chalice, but a person, specifically Mary Magdalene, who, according to the Priory's beliefs, was not merely a prostitute but the wife of Jesus Christ and the mother of his child. This bloodline, the "sangreal," is alleged to have been protected by the Priory through the ages.

Their pursuit is relentlessly countered by Opus Dei, a powerful and conservative Catholic organization determined to suppress this controversial truth. Working for Opus Dei is a fanatical albino monk named Silas, who brutally murders anyone standing in his way, believing he is carrying out God's will under the command of "The Teacher."

Langdon and Sophie must decipher complex riddles, escape assassination attempts, and confront shocking betrayals, all while piecing together a hidden history that challenges fundamental tenets of Christianity. The climax reveals the true identity of "The Teacher" and the ultimate location of the secret, forcing Langdon and Sophie to confront the profound implications of their discoveries. "The Da Vinci Code" is a thrilling intellectual puzzle box that captivated millions with its blend of historical speculation and relentless suspense.

Comments:
There was so much negativity in the press after this book and the subsequent film hit the height of their fame, including academics saying questioning the intelligence of people who enjoyed this. I, however, am proud to admit that this is one of the most gripping and thrilling books that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It is so well researched and it ticked all of the boxes of topics that made me fall for the story and read up on the mythology and legends that the author touched on. Bravo Dan Brown, an absolute classic!

Books that we've read by Dan Brown (7):
Digital Fortress (1998), Angels & Demons (Robert Langdon, #1) (2000), Deception Point (2001), The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2) (2003), The Lost Symbol (Robert Langdon, #3) (2009), Inferno (Robert Langdon, #4) (2013), Origin (Robert Langdon #5) (2017)