Seen, Heard and Read

The lost Symbol by Dan Brown

I bought the book a while back, and eventually got around to reading it.

This time professor Langdon is asked to come to Washington to hold a lecture at the United States Capitol, supposedly by his old friend Peter Solomon. When Langdon calls Peter to confirm the details, he can only reach Peters assistance who says that a private plane will pick him up, and that Peter asked him to tell Langdon to bring the small package he is safe keeping for Peter.

Langdon arrives at the Capitol in the last minute, but finds only an empty hall without audience where he was told the lecture would be held. Soon after the severed right hand of Peter Solomon is discovered in the Capitols dome, pointing upwards to the fresco The Apotheosis of Washington. Upon closer examination Langdon discovers that Peters hand has been tattooed, with symbols that holds an ancient meaning.

This story focuses on Freemasonry, where Peter is a member of the 33rd degree. Peter has been kidnapped by the villain Mal’akh, who demands that Langdon unlock the Ancient Mysteries in return for Solomon’s life.

This is the start of a wild goose chase through out Washington. At his side Langdon have Peters sister, Katherine, a scientist and researcher in the area of noetic science.

To rescue Peter they need to decipher a cryptic message on a pyramid, to which the small golden capstone that was in the small packet Langdon had held onto for Peter fit. A puzzle to which there’s several pieces, even the box the capstone was placed in holds a secret that proves to be a part of the puzzle.

On their journey, Langdon and Katherine is not only chased by Mal’akh, they are chased by the CIA as well, especially Inoue Sato, the head of the CIA’s Office of Security. Inoue claims that it’s a matter of national security that the Ancient Mysteries remain hidden, and does not want Langdon and Katherine to solve the puzzle and reveal the secret to Mal’akh. Katherine and Langdons first concern is to get Peter safely back home.

This book has all the elements that The Da Vinci Code had. In both books Langdon have a beautiful and smart woman at his side while chasing the villain and solving the puzzles. The villain, is a somewhat insane mad man. They are chased by not only the villain, but also the goods guys, which held back on some parts of the information leading Langdon to think they are not on the same side until the very end, where it is all revealed.

The book has its surprise moments as well, and although the main story does seem rather alike, they are in many ways different.

Over all I’d say it’s a good book, not one of the best I’ve read though.