Continuing the saga of protagonist Robert Langdon, Dan Brown’s new novel, The Lost Symbol, is very similar to its two counterparts, The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. In The Lost Symbol, Robert Langdon, a Harvard professor and symbolist, encounters a secret society — in this case, the Masons — and discovers a secret that is capable of dealing irrevocable damage to the world. Dan Brown continues to question the stability of the modern world with secrets from the past in this novel.

This epic however has a new twist. Its setting is our very own hometown, Washington, D.C. I personally found that this background made it easier to get involved in the story, and I noticed myself visualizing the different locations across D.C. Mentioning several famous sites, such as the Washington Monument and the Library of Congress, The Lost Symbol is very relatable to Georgetown students. Even his mention of underground tunnels in Washington draws Georgetown students to the covert underground network below our very feet.

The Lost Symbol is an attractive read for anyone who is familiar with Dan Brown’s other works or anyone who is just looking for a page-turning fictional read, even if it has met mixed reviews. Some herald it as the epitome of Dan Brown, while other sources claim this novel is Dan Brown’s failed attempt to create another best seller. Janet Maslin, a literarly critic for The New York Times, stated, “Dan Brown brings sexy back to a genre that had been left for dead … His code and clue-filled book is dense with exotica … amazing imagery … and the nonstop momentum that makes The Lost Symbol impossible to put down.”

The Lost Symbol is undoubtedly another inspiring feat by Dan Brown, topping The New York Times Best Seller List and selling over one million copies on the first day, but it has faced criticism for its unimaginative and formulaic plot. Many readers feel that The Lost Symbol failed to meet the caliber of The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. Often reviewers commented that the storyline was obvious to the point that the ending could be predicted with more than 100 pages left to read.

“Dan Brown writes another page-turning suspense novel, albeit without any creativity with regard to his characters,” Jack Emerson (SFS ‘13) said. “Outside of Robert Langdon, Brown recycles the same types of characters from his previous works: An intelligent female counterpart, a solitary villain with a penchant for altering his body and an authority figure such as a government official whose true intentions never seem to be what the reader initially thinks. Fans of Brown should definitely read the novel, but should not expect anything of The Da Vinci Code magnitude.”

Nevertheless, Dan Brown works his magic in The Lost Symbol; his ability to leave the reader in suspense at the end of every chapter makes this novel a very rewarding read. I found myself sitting down to read a chapter or two just as a quick study break and would discover myself an hour later flying through the novel. The Lost Symbol has everything a great fictional thriller should have including a mysterious plot, odious villain and amiable protagonists. Perhaps this novel would have met better reviews if it had been published before the earth shaking The Da Vinci Code. Additionally, perhaps if simply the name of the protagonist was changed, the audience would have been more receptive to this new novel.

Although this novel has met mixed reviews, I would definitely recommend this novel as an enjoyable, recreational read. If you ever catch yourself in a literary rut and looking for a pleasurable read on a breezy afternoon, The Lost Symbol is the way to go. It will not question your religious heritage like The Da Vinci Code, but you will enjoy it nonetheless, so go out and enjoy another epic tale by famed author Dan Brown.