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ISBN-13: 9780671027360 - ISBN-10: 0671027360 Publication Date: 7/1/2001 Pages: 608 |
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Book Reviews of Angels and Demons
495 Book Reviews submitted by our Members
sorted by voted most helpful
23 member(s) found this review helpful.
Ready for an adventure? This book will take you on one! It certainly did me. Angels & Demons was the first Dan Brown novel that I read and I was captivated from the first sentence to the last word. This is a riveting thriller that is action-packed with suspense, murder, and mayhem that threatens to erupt on the eve of the new pope's coronation. Plus, it is filled with factual information regarding historical landmarks and the Catholic Church, while intertwining science and religion. I highly recommend putting this book on your "must-read" list!
10 member(s) found this review helpful.
Really well-written. The historical facts are very accurate but it does not have to shake anyone's religious convictions.... it is just an excellent read.
Nancy
8 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is a thrill a minute book but what I liked about it was the solid historical background, which emphasizes the repression of scientific discovery by the Church.
7 member(s) found this review helpful.
an excellent thriller more than enough twist and surpries to keep you guessing.
7 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is an EXCELLENT book! I liked it even more than the DaVinci Code, and the 2 books are my favorites!
6 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is probably the best book that I have read to date. If you read and like The Da Vinci Code, you will definately enjoy this book. I actually liked Angels and Demons better than Da Vinci Code.
6 member(s) found this review helpful.
Great storytelling by Dan Brown. A must read if you were spellbound by the DaVinci Code. One of my all time favorites. Can't wait for more Dan Brown works in the future.
6 member(s) found this review helpful.
Better than the Da Vinci Code, I thought, and the inside look at the workings of the Vatican was fascinating.
5 member(s) found this review helpful.
As with The Da Vinci Code, too short and not enough original research.
4 member(s) found this review helpful.
I had a love/hate relationship with this book. It is fast paced and interesting and kept me going. Brown's style is easy to read and kept my attention from wandering. On the negative side, I found some of the 'twists' to be a little simple, despite insistence from the author that they were important. These moments, while not incredibly numerous, still had me groaning from time to time. Overall, I would still say it's a good read for a rainy day
Sharona W. (
3 member(s) found this review helpful.
This book is great if you love a good suspense book, this book is hard to put down at least it was for me. Better then the movie. Murder, good story telling, Dan brown is great at twisting the facts and making them work for his book, there is just enough truth in this book to be dangerous, (Ok I didn't say that but it is the truth.)
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is a fantastic story of mystery and adventure for people who usually don't like those genres. Though the romantic subplot is a little cheesy and unimportant, the rest of this book glistens with interesting 'maybes' from Catholocism's past.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I really enjoyed this book for many reasons:
* References to symbology, art and architecture are very informative and interesting - and because I love all three, this made it even more enjoyable for me. I'm sure I am not the first nor last person who, after reading about the main character, Robert Langdon, thinks a degree in symbology would be THE most interesting thing ever! I wish I could just take a class on the topic. If you are a lover of art history, architecture and/or find the history of symbology interesting - that alone will sustain your interest throughout the book.
* I will admit that at times the reader is required to suspend disbelief, however, I feel Dan Brown incorporates an astounding level of factual information in his books and really does his reasearch. I came away feeling as though I accomplished two things 1) enjoyed a great book and 2)learned something new and interesting;
* Being Catholic, I gave into my need/desire to research information in both this and the DaVinci Code. While the book had no effect on my faith either way, I will admit I do feel I learned a lot about the Catholic Church and other organizations after reading Brown's books. It really goes the extra mile and prompts the reader to think and possibly, like myself, research information for themselves. I also feel that the fact that I am Catholic made the book a lot easier for me to understand as I know many of my friends who are non-Catholic are mystified by the Church at times. It was very easy for me to relate to the characters and plot in the book because of my knowledge and experience.
* The book is a real page-turner. I had a hard time putting it down and lost serious sleep while reading this book. I have read most, if not all, of Brown's books and cannot wait for the next!
* The book was made into a movie and because I usually always read the books first, knew where inconsistencies popped up in the movie. While unavoidable I will admit I was just a little disappointed in some of the deviations the movie made from the book. I enjoyed the book a lot more than the movie.
If you liked DaVinci Code and/or Dan Brown, you will most likely enjoy this book. I highly recommend it and personally have added it to my list of books I am planning to re-read at some point in time.
Angela F. (
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
What a great book! An intricate plot, stuffed with art references, biblical references, architecture and papal inside information, you really can't go wrong here. Intelligently written and super fast paced, I couldn't put this one down until I was finished with because I had to know how it all turned out. Enjoyable book for anyone about 16 years and up.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I am a fan of Illuminati references, so when I saw coming attractions for "Angels & Demons", the movie, I couldn't wait to watch it. But the release date seemed too far off.
Instead, I popped down to my local Goodwill and, as if by divine decree, this book was sitting there just waiting to be taken home and read. Who was I not to oblige?
The book was fantastic. Whoever was commissioned to do the artwork inside the book was inspired. And the ending? The surprises just keep coming. Robert Langdon's character is quirky, nuanced, and well developed, as is that of his female scientist sidekick.
If you have the credit, do not pass up the opportunity to read this book!
ANNA S. (
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Written well, but full of questionable research about Rome and the Catholic Church, this fictional thriller is a captivating non-stop adventure. The ending is a total surprise! Read this book before you see the movie. This is a much better story than Dan Brown's THE DA VINCI CODE!
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is one of the few books that I will re-read. Extremely well written - a real page turner. Don't start reading on a work night - it will be an all nighter!
Donna S. (
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
From the first sentence this book draws you in, and keeps you there until you put it down. The mystery is well written and keeps you guessing until the end!
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I read Angels and Demons because I liked The DaVinci Code. I wasn't expecting it to be better! To me Angels and Demons was much more plausible than The DaVinci Code. For fans of conspiracy theories and religious scandal/history, Angels and Demons is a must read. It moves very quickly. You can feel the frenzy and frustration. It really makes you think about what you know about organized religion and science.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I've read all four Dan Brown books, and this was my favorite. If you liked "The Da Vinci Code", this book, the prequel, was a hundred times better.
Fast-paced and set in Rome, you get a lesson in Roman and Vatican history - I'm sure I'm not the only one who wished she had a pass into the Vatican library after reading this - and you'll be kept on the edge of your seat to boot. The secret society featured in this novel is The Illuminati - an ancient society dedicated to taking down the Catholic Church. High-ranking Catholic priests being publicly murdered in increasingly horrific ways, all branded with mysterious symbols. Can Langdon stop the Illuminati and save the Vatican?
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
excellent! Fast paced, and packed with details and adventure! I couldnt put it down
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I love Dan Brown books. This book was as good as The Da Vinci Code.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Very intense - great suspense. I really enjoyed this one - I can't seem to get into the Code - but I have read all the others. Wonderful - you are so involved you don't want it to stop.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
One of my all time favorite books - twice as good as the Da Vinci Code. I highly recommend it.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I loved this book and thought it was much better than the Da Vinci code. I was one of the few people out there that was not all that thrilled with the Da Vinci Code, so I was really surpised at how great this one was!
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Not the most complex writing, but it is still an entertaining quick read that is easy to get into and not put down.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I thought this was pretty good, and fast paced. I just always have a hard time with things that sare soooo hyped up. I do find al the religious connections and how they all come together in the end fascinating.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I really liked this book. I liked it better than the DaVinci Code. It's got a great ending you would never expect!
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I've read all his books and enjoyed every one! Look forward to more!!
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Loved this book. Appreciated this book more than The Da Vinci Code.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
If you liked The Da Vinci Code, you'll like this book. They are very similar. An easy read.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Loved it! Kept me going page after page.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
A gift. I promised to read it. Shouldn't have. Ho Hum
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
I stayed up till 1 am this morning to finish this. It was so good! I really, really enjoyed reading this.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
First Dan Brown book I've read. Thoroughly enjoyed it
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This bbok was a very enjoyable read with a lot of twist and turns. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys religious mysteries, such as The DaVinci Code.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Talk about a page turner and a book you just can't put down once you start, although it is a little long. Brown continually gives you cliff hangers and leaves you constantly wondering what will be the next dramatic episode?
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Very Fast paced book from the very beginning. It kept me turing the pages. My suspension of disbelief struggled near the end with the hero's death defying feat. I won't give it away, but you will know what I mean.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I really enjoyed this one -- much better than DaVinci Code!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Dan Brown does it again. His knowledge of art and architecture amazes me. He incorporates it into his stories very well. I enjoyed this story, imagining Langdon running around Rome. He is an unique character. I hope to see him again in more books.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Read the book first!... but if you didn't this is so much better than the movie!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Fast-paced and exciting thriller set in Vatican City. It is somewhat different from the movie, so I suggest you read the book first. If you liked Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, you will probably like Angels & Demons. It is hard to put down!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Loved, loved, loved this book! Exciting fast paced adventure that makes you really wonder about the power of the CHURCH & conspiracies. Never a dull moment, I read it after DaVinci, & it really is the prequel but it made no matter. It was great from beginning to end. Highly recommend.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is an excellent book, a read for anyone!! Well written and keeps you going.
Julie R. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is a great book. It's the prequel to the much more widely known "Davinci Code". This book explores, science, the Illuminati, and the Vatican.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Loved the book; easy read; perfect bedtime or beach book
Kathy G. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Loved this book! It was exciting from start to finish. I read it because I wanted to make sure I got through it before the movie came out. Great Book!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I know there has been much hoopla about others he has written but actually I think this book is Dan Brown's best.....
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I was looking forward to getting this book for almost two weeks. Then it arrived day before yesterday!!! I literally stood up ALL night reading this book. I read the entire book for the exception of 34 pages in one sitting!!! Great storyline!! Would definately recommend!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This book was much better than the Da Vinci Code. Great read!
Dave M. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
One of the best books I've ever read -- couldn't put it down!
(
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Just as good as The DaVinci Code, I think. Same kind of idea in the plot development... mystery, searching for clues, religion, murder, etc., etc. Very entertaining. Doesn't bring up the controversial topics like the Code did, but still very engaging. I recommend it!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Although many parts are unbelieveable, Brown produces another great adventure full of twists and turns. Even better than the Da Vinci Code
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Nothing like a good book to keep you company all night. What a suspenseful thriller!!
Althea M. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
OK, the story, if not even a little bit believable, was reasonably entertaining. I don't demand believability!
However, the way this book is written is just unbelievably condescending. Brown feels the need to explain what the BBC is, what a particle accelerator is, insists on translating VERY basic foreign phrases, and gets basic word definitions in repeatedly under the guise of not having his characters know what things are. This wouldn't be so bad if the characters weren't supposed to be a physicist/biologist and a professor/symbologist. (A college professor has never HEARD of CERN?) The 'obscure' tidbits of knowledge that supposedly prove Langdon is brilliant in his field are most often common, pop-culture kinda stuff. He also divides "Christian vs. Pagan" symbology up in a way that people of centuries past did not. (It really would not have been considered shocking for a religious sculptor to also carve pyramids and obelisks, for example. And as of when is a dove a solely 'pagan' symbol?)
Luckily, most of the really irritating bits are in the beginning of the book - once people start dying, things get moving and the definitions fall by the wayside.
Still, I was hoping for a bit more... I didn't find the descriptions of life either at CERN or in the Vatican to be realistic AT ALL. (Oh, and as a library person, the bits dealing with when Langdon is allowed into the archives alone, without the help/supervision of a professional - sorry, but no way. They couldn't go wake up an archivist/librarian? And I don't believe that there is ANY evidence that the Vatican denies access to the materials in its catalog to non-Catholic researchers on the basis of their religion. From what I've read, it operates much like any other restricted archive - you have to have credentials as a qualified researcher, you need to request an appointment and the specific articles you want to see in advance, etc. Standard practice. And I really don't know about suffocating to death in an archival vault in 20 minutes. Unlikely. At least it's not something they ever warned us about in library school.)
I've been to Rome, and the book didn't succeed in bringing me back to the aura or feel of that beautiful and ancient yet modern city.
The religion vs. science debates brought up in the book are certainly timely, but fairly basic - they never really delve that deeply into the issues. Still, there are some really amusing bits, and some unexpected twists and turns in the plot.
Still, I should probably mention that it follows a very similar formula as the Da Vinci Code - if you've read one recently, the other may seem sneakingly familiar....
Charity reviewed on 9/8/2008...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
A really GREAT read! I couldnt put this book down at all !!! It moved at a good fast pace and kept you moving and hopping til the very end. Awesome!!!
Kerry M. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
"Angels and Demons" is Dan Brown at his very best!
This book is everything a good book should be; great characters, a well paced and thought out storyline combined with spot on writing. I loved everything about it and it was a welcome surprise after reading his (Browns) more shallow novels.
I highly reccommend this title, you won't regret it.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I like Dan Brown, and Angels & Demons didn't disappoint, the story is immersible and entertaining. I really didn't want to put it down. I don't want to spoil anything, so no comment about the ending, you just have to read it to believe it. Even so, I couldn't put this book down. Da Vinci Code is better but these two books are in the same league as they are highly entertaining. I can see past the religion and see the book for what it is - entertainment. It isn't a personal vendetta against the Roman Catholic church, nor is it blasphemous or trying to change the history of mankind. It's just an adrenaline-pumping, page-turning suspence novel. A work of fiction.
Bryan T. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
You need to suspend your belief system a bit for this book. It holds your attention and is a quick read for a commitment of almost 600 pages. I did not see the plot twists coming until the very end for this book. The "villain" or hassassin (as Mr Brown calls him) has no character development. He just likes to kill people but the basis of that nasty personality trait is not explored. As long as people realize that this is a fictional work, it is entertaining. I'm uncertain why the Vatican is so polarized by this work other than the fact that Dan Brown wrote it.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
If you enjoyed the Divinci Code by the same author, you will love this!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
A good mystery about a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church. Keeps you wanting to know what's next, good mystery by a good author
Mandy P. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I enjoyed this book so much more than the DaVinci Code. Better story, better suspense. One of my favorites!
Judy B. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Really enjoyed it! Better than Da Vinci Code.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Loved this book. Even better than The DaVinci Code!
Glenda W. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Excellent read! Grabs you fast and is one of those you don't want to put down. Offers a perspective that most people would find surprising. The historical setting and facts interwoven with this work of fiction are what made it come together for me. Dan Brown is a masterful author. Highly recommended.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Excellant dan brown
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization - the illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth... the long-forgotten Illuminati lair.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
excellent make sure you read this before the da vinci code.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is a fun book. On all the best seller lists.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
One of the best books I've ever read. Waaay better than the DaVinci Code. I couldn't put it down. It is definitely Dan Brown's best.
Brandy S. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Liked Da Vinci Code better, though very similar in style. Felt that the story could have ended much sooner than it did, but still a quick read.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
My son loved this book and highly recommends it!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
after the DaVinci code, i decided to try this one. was surprised at how well written and interesting it was
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
If you liked "The Da Vinci Code", you will like "Angels and Demons" even more.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
[From the back cover] An ancient secret brotherhood. A devastating new weapon of destruction. An unthinkable target. World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization---the Illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth...the long-forgotten Illuminati lair.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
A centuries-old underground organization - the Illuminati - are linked to recent murders. It's up to Robert Langdon, a renowned Harvard symbologist to solve the mysteries and save the Vatican. It's a wild ride with many twists and turns. You'll never get bored and you won't want it to end!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I loved it! I'd say this book was even better than the DaVinci Code (similar plot characteristics, but a fantastic read, nontheless.)
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Very fast paced. I could not put this book down once I started reading.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
The precurser to The DaVinci Code. A bit more gore but still excellent.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This book is written by the New York Bestselling Author Dan Brown who also wrote the Da Vinci Code - the same main character is in this book Robert Langdon - there is lots of suspense and mayhem around every chapter - great book that will keep you reading to the end. Love the book!!!!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I actually like Da Vinci Code a bit better, so I would recommend reading this one first (and plus, it is the prequel) but they are both AMAZING books, even in light of all the disproof about them that has surfaced.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I didn't try this book as I thought The Da Vinci Code wasn't worth the time it took to read it.
D. O. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
better than the da vinci code
Leslie H. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
My first Dan Brown novel and my favorite. I love the attention to detail, the action and the intelligence of the writing. The subject material was interesting and the plot sincere. I had a hard time putting this one down.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I am really having a hard time deciding which one I liked better....Angels & Demons or The Davinci Code. Very much like the Davinci Code with conspiracies, spell binding twists and turns...VERY FAST PACED! I couldn't put it down! If you liked Davinci you will like Angels.
Cheryl V. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
In many ways better than Da Vinci Code. Caused a research frenzy in our household. Most of the science is fact and will blow your mind when considered possible.
Michele S. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is Robert Langdon's first adventure. It is set in Rome and the Vatican. Exciting and fast-paced. When you read this, you'll think, "Why did they cast Tom Hanks as Langdon? What were they thinking?"
Gaylene G. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Fast-paced thriller that educates you at the same time!
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
A top notch thriller by the author of the Da Vinci Code. Set in Rome, involving secret societies thought to be historical, which threatens the Pope, and the Catholic Church.but now appears to be revived as a threat. I had trouble putting it down. It has so many secrets, & new twists.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
World renowed Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research faciley to analze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. He discovers a headly vendetta against the Catholic Chruch by a centuries old underground organization called the Illuminati.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
A page turner
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
From the cover:
World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization--the Illuminati. Desparate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth. . . the long-forgotten Illuminati lair.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I had trouble understanding all the plots
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Great ideas but this book was 150 pages too long. If you can get past the first 120 pages after that the action will sail you along. But the end tends to meander.
Diane C. (
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable" a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization - the Illuminati.
A fun, fast-paced read.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
From Publishers Weekly
Pitting scientific terrorists against the cardinals of Vatican City, this well-plotted if over-the-top thriller is crammed with Vatican intrigue and high-tech drama. Robert Langdon, a Harvard specialist on religious symbolism, is called in by a Swiss research lab when Dr. Vetra, the scientist who discovered antimatter, is found murdered with the cryptic word "Illuminati" branded on his chest. These Iluminati were a group of Renaissance scientists, including Galileo, who met secretly in Rome to discuss new ideas in safety from papal threat; what the long-defunct association has to do with Dr. Vetra's death is far from clear. Vetra's daughter, Vittoria, makes a frightening discovery: a lethal amount of antimatter, sealed in a vacuum flask that will explode in six hours unless its batteries are recharged, is missing. Almost immediately, the Swiss Guard discover that the flask is hidden beneath Vatican City, where the conclave to elect a new pope has just begun. Vittoria and Langdon rush to recover the canister, but they aren't allowed into the Vatican until it is discovered that the four principal papal candidates are missing. The terrorists who are holding the cardinals call in regarding their pending murders, offering clues tied to ancient Illuminati meeting sites and runes. Meanwhile, it becomes clear that a sinister Vatican entity with messianic delusions is in league with the terrorists. Packing the novel with sinister figures worthy of a Medici, Brown (Digital Fortress) sets an explosive pace as Langdon and Vittoria race through a Michelin-perfect Rome to try to save the cardinals and find the antimatter before it explodes. Though its premises strain credulity, Brown's tale is laced with twists and shocks that keep the reader wired right up to the last revelation.
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Better than the DaVinci Code! Reader is introduced to Robert Langdon whose adventures take him to Rome and inside Vatican City and the brotherhood of the Illuminati. A real page turner!
I loved this book!! I couldn't put down! It kept me guessing and running along with the characters and OH what a ride. A good "who done it" is always my choice of reading and even better when your guess of "who done it" is way off. As you turn the pages your mind is discovering who is the real villain. I love a good twist. GREAT READ!!
Loved this book even more than The DiVinci Code. Fast-paced action, interesting factual information, likeable, complex characters. A book you can immerse yourself in.
This in even better than The Divinci Code.
Plausible..thought provoking...exciting
Stacie Lynn N. (This book is the most awesome book Dan Brown has written so far. He really outdid himself on this one.
This story is no where near as good as the Davinci Code. Infact if I had read this book first I probably wouldn't have bothered with the Code. I found this story to be to farfetched to make sense.
Linda M. (This was a great read. I like the way that Dan Brown writes. Anyone with the appetite for a good mystery and action packed novel will love this one.
April K. (Read this book after I read the Davinci Code a few years ago, it was a very good book. I hear now that it is going to be a movie. I will definalty go see it
Cary L. (Awesome! I want to go to Rome!! And... I want Dan Brown to write more novels!
Liane M. (I loved this book from start to finish. Great job by Dan Brown.
Amy I. (My favorite Dan Brown book. Yes, even better than DaVinci Code, in my opinion. Very suspenseful read.
I liked this book a lot better than the DaVinci Code. It just moved at a faster pace.
riveting! It precedes Da Vinci code, but of course can be read in any order. Very fun!
This was another good read from Mr. Brown. Not quite the Da Vinci Code but almost!
This book was the source of extensive controversy over the past few years. If you take on and of Dan Brown's writing, be prepared, it contains some content which may be offensive to Christian, specifically Catholics. I (a Catholic) enjoyed this book tremendously for it's fast-paced, culturally rich plotline. Just when you think you've figured out Dan Brown he throws in another twist, and I can't resist buying his books. If you're afraid the content might offend you, just remember it's fiction, and keep turning the pages for a fascinating mystery you won't soon forget.
A 'prequel' to the DaVanci Code- a little over the top, but an interesting read, I read it on the beach. I think a movie is being made based on the book, maybe with Tom Hanks?
Great book, couldn't put it down. Better than DaVinci Code. great read.
Christy C. (A fast paced, excellent read. Dan Brown rarely fails to please.
One of the best books I've ever read; better than Da Vinci Code!
Never finished reading it. started too many books at once. but it was good.
Personally, I liked this even better than Da Vinci Code. I would definitely read Angels & Demons first, as it is the first introduction of the main character, Robert Langdon. It is packed with action and info, and never seems to stop until the very end. A great book!
A fun romp through the Vatican; almost reads like a tour guide, except for the bits about murder and mayhem. All around a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I liked this book better than the DA Vinci Code. Strong female character, religion examination, and science weaved together to form a book you won't be able to put down!
I am a new reader of Dan Brown but truely enjoyed this story.
Excellant book - enjoyed it more than Divinci Code -
Symbologist Robert Langdon in a fast paced story. Interesting twists. A quick read.
Very interesting story. Many twists and turns. Keeps your interest till the end.
Great book even great author. Get a blanket and curl up for a nice long read and have food and drink within reach.
Kirsten R. (I liked this book even more than I did The Da Vinci Code!
Another great Dan Brown book. Keeps you hooked the whole time.
This book was awesome! Very interesting, and impossible to put down! I would highly recommend it!
Fun, fast read that rivals the Da Vinci Code. Want to escape? Tired of reading non-fiction? Try this one!
Maura S. (Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is shocked to find proof that the legendary secret society, the Illuminati--dedicated since the time of Galileo to promoting the interests of science and condemning the blind faith of Catholicism--is alive, well, and murderously active. Brilliant physicist Leonardo Vetra has been murdered, his eyes plucked out, and the society's ancient symbol branded upon his chest. His final discovery, antimatter, the most powerful and dangerous energy source known to man, has disappeared--only to be hidden somewhere beneath Vatican City on the eve of the election of a new pope. Langdon and Vittoria, Vetra's daughter and colleague, embark on a frantic hunt through the streets, churches, and catacombs of Rome, following a 400-year-old trail to the lair of the Illuminati, to prevent the incineration of civilization.
Great book!! Better than the Davinci Code. A must read.
Excellent story featuring Roberg Langdon. Keeps you guessing til the very end. Answers some questions you might have come up with if you read Da Vinci Code first, because the events of Angels and Demons actually take place before the events of Da Vinci Code.
Thought it was less historically intriguing and more violent, too violent for my taste.
Kelly S. (Better than the first one and having it set in Rome is fabulous!
This book was a little trite. Not a big Dan Brown fan. No real character development...entirely plot driven.
Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is shocked to find proof that the legendary secret society, the Illuminati--dedicated since the time of Galileo to promoting the interests of science and condemning the blind faith of Catholicism--is alive, well, and murderously active. Brilliant physicist Leonardo Vetra has been murdered, his eyes plucked out, and the society's ancient symbol branded upon his chest. His final discovery, antimatter, the most powerful and dangerous energy source known to man, has disappeared--only to be hidden somewhere beneath Vatican City on the eve of the election of a new pope. Langdon and Vittoria, Vetra's daughter and colleague, embark on a frantic hunt through the streets, churches, and catacombs of Rome, following a 400-year-old trail to the lair of the Illuminati, to prevent the incineration of civilization.
Fantastic! I would also recommend reading this book before reading Da Vinci Code, because you get a great back story on the main character from this book.
I really liked this book! I had read "The Da Vinci Code" first and like it slightly better, but this book, Robert Langdon's first adventure, is still worth the time it took to read it! I LOVED THIS BOOK.
This book is also about Robert Langdon (of DaVinci Code fame). This time people are killing the cardinals in line for the position of Pope. Fast paced and fun
Haven't read a Dan Brown book I didn't like. This is no exception.
By the author of the Da Vinci code, a suspense filled story with a countdown to disaster. Our unlikley hero must prevent the destruction of our oldest and largest religious dyansty, with the help of a talented and beatiful herione. Many twists and turns in this story.
"Before the DA VINCI CODE was broken, the world lay at the mercy of ANGELS AND DEMONS." If you liked THE DA VINCI CODE, this is a must read. It is Robert Langdon's first adventure, and just as excitingly unbelievable as THE DAVINCI CODE. Unbelievable or not, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Similar to the Da Vinci Code, but a little more over the top. Much more violent and a little more twisted. Interesting symbology, not as well presented as DVC.
I would pick this book up every chance I could, even if I could only read for 10 or 15 minutes. Plenty of action; kept my attention. I recommend it!
This is a very good book that was hard to put down including life and death cliffhangers, religion, murder, architecture, keeping you guessing until the very end.
I enjoyed it immensely, although there are some similarities to Dan Browns OTHER book.
I loved this book. Perfect for a plane ride or a quiet Saturday afternoon. Better than Di Vinci Code!
Brian B. (My favorite of Dan Brown's books. Much better than DaVinci Code!
Very fast paced, can't put it down type of book. BUT it drove me NUTS that everything in this book was supposed to have taken place over a few hours and in "real" time 99% of the events in the book that took seconds or minutes, would have taken 10 to a thousand times longer! This guy could race across the entire crowded city of Rome fater than I could get from one end of my own home to the other!!
If you've read the DaVinci Code by Dan Brown and loved it you'll love this one too! Fast paced action and plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Highly recommended!
Similar to DaVinci Code. Good fast paced book. Harvard symbologist summoned to research facility fo analyze cryptic symbal seared into chest of murdered physicist. Becomes a race to save Vatican from a time bomb.
Jessica L. (This was a good book, well written & fast paced. However it is very similar to Da Vinci code & I did actually enjoy it more then this one. But worth the read if you enjoy his writing.
Wonderful "follow the clues" story. Especially if you have been to Rome.
Exciting Dan Brown thriller involving the pope and catholic church. Better than DaVinci Code!
Angels and Demons was the thriller that I expected from Dan Brown. I also enjoyed the brief historical moments, whether they were true or not. However, it was not the amazing page turner I had grown accustomed to from Dan Brown's other books.
Another great book by Dan Brown. I couldn't put this book down. A great and easy read.
This is the prequel to The Da Vinci Code and establishes the character of Robert Langdon. It has an interesting story and is a quick read. There are a couple of unexpected plot twists. I had not read The Da Vinci Code before reading this so I had no expectation. I enjoyed the book very much.
DA VINCE CODE fans...this book is for you! Great companion book to go with it. This is actually "prequel" to the code.
Great book, I thought it was better than DaVinci. I couldn't get in to DaVinci at all.
Diana R. (a fun read. even better than Da Vinci Code, I thought!
This is the pre-quel to The Davinci Code. "World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization - the Illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth - the long-forgotten Illuminati Lair."
By the author of the DaVinci Code, this book is a kind of prequel to that best-seller, and provides the same kind of page-turning suspense as DaVinci.
Nymphadora T. (Truly better than The DaVinci Code. Dan Brown is a great writer who knows how to mingle historical fact with plenty of intrigue. This will make you wonder about the death of our previous Pope!
This was a good read. Believable and engaging plot, and not too easy to figure out. A little more violence than I like. Still kept me up late into the night reading the next few pages...
A Prequel to The Da Vinci Code that is even better. Fast Paced and interesting.
This is the prequel to "The Da Vinci Code." If you were a little put off by the subject matter of "Code" but were entertained by Dan Brown's style, you'll probably like this better. Plus, Robert Langdon gets a little romance!
You've often heard the recommendation that if you liked one certain thing then you'll like another thing? I've found that statement is seldom true and usually only means that the speaker liked both. But in this case I feel I feel confident in saying "If you liked 'The DaVinci Code' you'll like 'Angels and Demons'.
A ancient secerst brotherhood,a devastating new weapon,an unthinkable target make for an interesting read.
Dan Brown is thorough,spell-binding and amazingly gifted. I enjoyed this book as much as The DaVinci Code.
Angels and Demons is the prequel to Da Vinci Code...interesting to follow on Robert Langdon's adventure in Rome as he tries to uncover a mystery surrounding the Catholic Church...highly recommend it.
Dan Brown totally captivated me. He is a brilliant thinker.
Excellent book...the prequel (if you will) to the DaVinci Code, and a similar super-fast paced plot, but still very different, with a different set of "secret codes" and a completely different cast of characters (except Robert Langdon and the Catholic Church, which is at the center of this one too). The good thing is that you don't have to read the two books in order. There are a few references to people from Angels & Demons in the DaVinci Code, but they're minor and won't confuse people who read the two out of order.
World-renowned Harvard Symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization--the Illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted catherdrals, and the most secretive vault on earth...the long-forgotten Illuminati lair.
I loved this book and thought it was much better paced than the Da Vinci Code.
Janette E. (This is Dan Brown's best work. So exciting. Kept me on my toes the whole time. So much better than DeVinci Code.
LOVED IT! I read The DiVinci Code first. I liked that book, but I think I liked this one even better.
by the author of the da vinci code. its the first book beofre the da vinci code. VERY well written, thought provoking and a definite thriller. its about the age old vendetta the illuminati has had against the catholic church and how they have to use historic clues to save cardinals from murder as well as everyone in vatican city.
From Publishers Weekly: "Pitting scientific terrorists against the cardinals of Vatican City, this well-plotted if over-the-top thriller is crammed with Vatican intrigue and high-tech drama. Robert Langdon, a Harvard specialist on religious symbolism, is called in by a Swiss research lab when Dr. Vetra, the scientist who discovered antimatter, is found murdered with the cryptic word "Illuminati" branded on his chest. These Iluminati were a group of Renaissance scientists, including Galileo, who met secretly in Rome to discuss new ideas in safety from papal threat; what the long-defunct association has to do with Dr. Vetra's death is far from clear. Vetra's daughter, Vittoria, makes a frightening discovery: a lethal amount of antimatter, sealed in a vacuum flask that will explode in six hours unless its batteries are recharged, is missing. Almost immediately, the Swiss Guard discover that the flask is hidden beneath Vatican City, where the conclave to elect a new pope has just begun. Vittoria and Langdon rush to recover the canister, but they aren't allowed into the Vatican until it is discovered that the four principal papal candidates are missing. The terrorists who are holding the cardinals call in regarding their pending murders, offering clues tied to ancient Illuminati meeting sites and runes. Meanwhile, it becomes clear that a sinister Vatican entity with messianic delusions is in league with the terrorists. Packing the novel with sinister figures worthy of a Medici, Brown (Digital Fortress) sets an explosive pace as Langdon and Vittoria race through a Michelin-perfect Rome to try to save the cardinals and find the antimatter before it explodes..." Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
An ancient secret brotherhood.
A devastating new weapon of destruction.
An unthinkable target.
World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization -- the Illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth...the long-forgotten Illuminati lair.
A great novel by Dan Brown, I actually preferred this book over the DaVinci Code!
This book sends you on a wild ride of danger and adventure. Well written and impossible to put down once you open the cover. Great story.
If you want to see why Dan Brown writes for the masses this is your chance.
Before the Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown was a great writer. I liked this one better, actually. A lot of intrigue and a very good plot.
Robert Langdon's first adventure. As usual, it takes place in 24 hours.
I found the book an easy read, action packed and typical of Dan Brown style as seen with The Da Vinci Code.
I found myself lost in thought a great deal while reading this book.
Its symbology and intensity were top notch.
Robert Langdon book which precedes _The_DaVinci_Code_ but didn't catch on until the later book became a hit. Really similar plot to Code. Langdon chases around Rome (instead of Paris) with a beautiful woman, seeking clues in Roman sculpture (instead of daVinci paintings) while people try to kill them. Fast-moving plot.
This precursor to The Da Vinci Code was an enjoyable, fast read.
Not as good as The Da Vinci Code, but still a provocative novel. Did keep me awake late to read.
Worth reading but it was so similar to da vinci code that I was a bit bored. Christine
The novel Dan Brown wrote prior to The Da Vinci Code, introducing the "hero", Robert Langdon for the first time.
no way would i be posting this book if i didn't have a second copy. It was truly a great book, page turner.
I have not read the DaVinci Code, but I liked this book a lot. It is not the quickest read, but it's worth it!
This book is a page turner inspite of its rediculous story.
Very interesting and fun ride of a book! Reads fast, keeps your attention, and makes you want to learn more about certain aspects of history.
I loved this book! Lots of action - I really great read.
This one was even harder to put down than The DaVinci Code.
More twists than an Auntie Anne's pretzel--and you won't see 'em coming!
Kymberli G. (A fun read, entertaining plot, fairly transparent characters. Much the same essential plot structure as The DaVinci Code but for my money more entertaining and better written.
A vendetta against the Catholic church by a centuries old underground organization. A great vehicle for Harrison Ford. Intense.
If you have to read a Dan Brown book, read this one. Better written than The DaVinci Code, with tighter pacing and more compelling plot twists. Not going to change your life, but okay for beside the pool.
Dan Brown books are good for readers who like trying to figure out the mystery before the protagonist does.
I really liked this faced paced story. It was very much like DaVinci Code with the same main character.
I really enjoyed this book, one of the better reads I have ever had!
Great book by a great author. I wish I had read this book before The DaVinci Code. It's fast-paced and full of great historical and architectural references. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
They should have made THIS book into the movie instead of "Da Vinci Code".
Jan R. (This book was GOOD. Main character, Robert Langdon, of the da Vinci Code is in this book. Dan Brown says is the 'prequel' to the da Vinci Code and tells the story of symbologist Robert Landon's adventure in THE Vatican City one year before his fateful visit to the Louvre. Gives you a great picture of the Roman Vatican City, which is AWESOME.
The action starts in the first paragraph and never stops until the last paragraph. Makes you want to jump on a plane to Rome to see all the works of art and famous buildings Mr. Brown bases the story on. Loved this book!
This is a great read. It's Dan Brown's novel after "The Da Vinci Code". I enjoyed it tremendously.
World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization-the ILLUMINATI. Desperate to save the vatican from a powerful time bomb. Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth,...the long-forgotten Illuminati lair.....
Author of Da Vinci Code. World renowed Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he descovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization - the Illuminati. Desparate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crpts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive valult on earth... the long-forgotten Illuminati lair.
Will the murderer be caught in time to prevent more murders? One of the best books I have read in a lonnng time. Better than the Da Vinci Code.
I liked this book better than Da Vinci Code. A little slow at the beginning, but surprisingly ended up being a great book.
About an ancient secret brotherhood trying to destroy the world. Loved it. Goes great with the davinci code
World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable; a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground orgnization--the Illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Betra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth...the long-forgotten Illuminati lair.
Larry G. (Entertaining read. I found it more enjoyable than THE DA VINCI CODE -- doesn't run off on so many tangents to teach me the history of everything.
Dan Brown has to be one of the best, smartest, & most accomplished writers in the country...GREAT BOOK TO READ & have to keep
Jennie B. (This book is a prequel to The DaVinci Code and is superior to that book in its plot and style. An exciting original story that held me in suspense throughout.
Wonderful read, Dan Brown is a genius! One of my favorite novels, hands down. Much better than The Da Vinci Code!
Brown's best work, Far superior to the da vinci code.
In many ways I enjoyed this book even more than the DaVinci Code. My only criticism is that the ending seemed over-written to me. Otherwise, the book was fascinating, quick-paced, and a fun read!
An awesome Robert Langdon mystery - even better than DaVinci Code.
An excellent book that keeps you on your toes the whole time!
Great book; I couldn't put it down. Even better than the DaVinci Code - if you liked that you'll love this!
Very interesting story, rivals the Da Vinci Code. Cover a bit worn but still readable.
Great book. I honestly could not say if I liked it more than The Da Vinci Code - both were great. This one kept me on the edge of my seat. I am not Catholic but I did learn alot about the language and how beautiful the Vatacin is and how much history is really there. Would love to go there some day
Krista m M. (A real page turner - Dan Brown's done it again...I couldn't put it down!
I love Dan Brown, I think this one is even better than the Da Vinci Code.
I liked this one even better than DaVinci Code, but the ending is a little far-fetched.
The first book detailing the adventures of Robert Langdon, I thought it to be a more entrancing mystery thriller than the more popular Da Vinci Code. More suspense and better plot line.
Good mystery/thriller, prequel to The Davinci Code. A nail-biter that keeps you turning pages to see what will happen. Scary.
An ancient secret brotherhood. A devastating new weapon of destruction. An unthinkable target. This has far more adventure and excitement than The Da Vinci Code.
Very enjoyable book, I liked this more than The Da Vinci Code.
robert langdon is summoned to a swiss research facilityto analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murded physicist. what he discovers is unimaginable;a deadky vendetta aganst the catholic church by a century oldunderground organization
I thought this was too much like The DaVinci Code and it seemed a little slow.
I liked this book much more than I liked Dan Browns much more popular DaVinci Code. This story is very similar. It's a page turning light read, the first time that Robrt Langdon finds himself caught up in mistery. There are detailed descriptions of death and deals with an underground Catholic Church group, which may turn off some readers.
Lisa E. (
I have to admit this was violent. Good characters but too much going on in this story.
***** A must read if you have read or plan to read "The Da Vinci Code"
Melissa E. (The Da Vinci Code was made into a movie that received a lot of hype because of the controvery it stirred. But Angels & Demons was Browns real jewel. The Brown's first book with college professor Robert Langdon. It's a fast read with plenty of twists and turns and surprises that kept me turning the pages.
a good thriller - good airport reading. Great female lead character.
Before The Da Vinci Code, Robert Langdon was called to Rome to help solve a centuries-old vendetta against the Catholic Church. An underground organization - the Illuminati - that all scholars had thought was dead has resurfaced and is killing off scientists and priests. A fast-paced book that is a good read - just remember that it's fiction, not fact.
Before The Da Vinci Code was broken, the world lay at the mercy of Angels & Demons. Robert Langdon's first adventure. It is a breathless, real-time adventure....Exciting, fast-paced, with an unusually high IQ"
Rich W. (This was a thrilling book. Many twists and turns. A real page turner
This is the book before the Da Vinci Code and is very similiar to the Da Vinci code in the beginning chapter. If you didn't like the Da Vinci Code, don't read this. I thought it was a very enjoyable book.
I loved this book. I think Dan Brown can keep a reader moving through the pages of his books with spell binding ease. I particularly liked looking up the details of his "settings" on his web site. It helped to sort of, follow along.
Rebecca B. (The completely thrilling and excellent prequel to Brown's infamous The Da Vinci Code. Follow Robert Langdon's journey across Rome as he seeks to stop a killer and save the heart of Catholicism. Written in the same style as TDVC, A&D is extremely accessible, highly entertaining, and an all-night page-turner.
I thought this was a great book, although not as good as Brown's "The Davinci Code." An entirely captivating novel, this book will hold you until the final page.
this is an excellent book! Much better than The DaVinci Code in my opinion!
R. E. (GREAT BOOK...really moves fast and I honestly had a very difficult time putting it down. Supposedly this is the book that precedes "The Da Vinci Code", also written by Dan Brown which I am listening to on cd presently.
Christine E. (I actually thought this was a better written book than "The Da Vinci Code". I was completely surprised by the ending!
Great book! Very interesting twist on statues and churches in Rome.
Dan Brown's book prior to The DaVinci Code. World renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, the hero in DaVinici Code, is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable, a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries old underground organization -- the Illuminati.
Another great book by Brown.
Preposterous! Only read because I had just returned from a trip to Rome. Others may like this sort of adventure.
Reagan H. (This was a great book. He really does his homework and uses things in modern life to prove his plot! Very enjoyable-definitely a page turner.
Valerie S. (I liked the Da Vinci Code better, but this one was definitely a page turner, too. Suspenseful and fun. Made me interested in reading all the rest of Brown's books.
Excellent! After reading DaVinci Code, I just had to get this one...and it didn't disappoint.
From back cover:
Long before he cracked The Da Vinci Code, world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Landon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization--the Illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth...the long-forgotten Illuminati lair.
Indiana Jones meets James Bond. Great intellecual/historical thriller.
What Dan Brown lacks in literary talent, he makes up in story telling. He goes a bit over the top in the end, however, if you love stories intertwined with theology, and are able to look past Browns choppy style into the tale, you should enjoy!
WOW, this book was awesome! I can't wait for his next novel!!
Melissa G. (Symbologist Robert Langdon is called in to analyze a cryptic symbol. Its been branded onto someones chest. Joined by a beautiful physicist, Robert frantically hunts thru various famous landmarks in Rome, Italy and the Vatican holds a secret.
Before the Da Vinci Code... This is an equally engaging prequel. His writing is hard to put down as the pace just pulls you into every page. A great story without the controversy of the current book.
Awesome book!! Couldn't turn the pages fast enough, and wow, what twists!
If you liked the DaVinci Code, you should like this one.(same author)
World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a crytic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization - the Illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth...the long-forgotten Illuminati lair.
I enjoyed this book of Dan Brown's, maybe more than the DiVinci Code. He keeps the story moving and uses such neat "landmarks" of art, architechture and history.
World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss reasearch facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable:a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization -the llluminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious sceintist Vittoria Vetra. Togather they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth... the long-forgotten llluminati lair.
Having read this after "The DaVinci Code", I was impressed my Mr. Brown's growth into this genre. His historical facts are dead-on and his writing just gets better and better with each book. I look forward to reading his next novel.
Excellent! I actually liked this book even more than The Da Vinci Code. Enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge and unable to put the book down until the end.
Diane R. (Better than The Davinci Code! Excellent (though sometimes far-out!) story line.
I liked this book even better than The Da Vinci code! Dan Brown does his research and he does it well !!
This is a good adventure story. It is similar to the DaVinci code but a little more greusome. It made me want to follow their trail through Rome and see all the art and churches for myself.
Before THE DE VINCI CODE was broken, the world lay at the mercy of ANGELS AND DEMONS.
An ancient secret brother hood.
A devestation new weapon of destruction.
An unthinkable target.
World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoed to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization--the Illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful and mysterious scientists Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth...the long-forgotten Illuminati lair.
Dan Brown's first book with Robert Langdon. A little hard to get into, but then it becomes a page turner. Recommend reading this book prior to reading The Da Vinci Code.
Illuminati attack the Vatican from within....had to stay up until
2am to finish the book...lots of twists/turns
Unfortunately, I just could not get into this book. Not because it wasn't written well, it just did not interest me. I thought the Da Vinci Code was good, but it wasn't the best read for me. I will probably get more out of the movie.
I absolutely loved this book! I look forward to reading more Dan Brown!
I really didn't like it I just couldn't get into it
I guess it isn't my type of book it may be for someone else.
Mysteries of the world past,present and future.Exciting, heart warming and makes you wonder what is real.
great book. i couldn't read it fast enough.everytime i thought it was finished, a new twist appeared.
World-renowned Harvard symbologist, Robert Langdon, is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the catholic Church by the centuries-old underground organization--the Illuminati!
Jenny (If you enjoyed Da Vinci Code, you should check out this one too. As a physicist, I found its premise to be completely ridiculous, but it's a fun read if you can put credulity aside.
It kept my interest throughout. I could not put the book down. If you are interested in secret societies and conspiracy theories this book is for you! It was a fun read!
Linda M. (Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facilty to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. He discovers a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries old underground organization--the Illuminati. I liked this book as much or more than "The DaVinci Code."
If you loved "The DaVinci Code", this is the prequel with the character Robert Langdon. It is full of suspense and action.
from Amazon.com's review:
"It takes guts to write a novel that combines an ancient secret brotherhood, the Swiss Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire, a papal conclave, mysterious ambigrams, a plot against the Vatican, a mad scientist in a wheelchair, particles of antimatter, jets that can travel 15,000 miles per hour, crafty assassins, a beautiful Italian physicist, and a Harvard professor of religious iconology. It takes talent to make that novel anything but ridiculous. Kudos to Dan Brown (Digital Fortress) for achieving the nearly impossible. Angels & Demons is a no-holds-barred, pull-out-all-the-stops, breathless tangle of a thriller"
Great book! Very suspenseful! I love Dan Brown's books, and have read them all.
Joan K. (An ancient secret brotherhood. A devastating new weapon of destruction. An unthinkable target.
The art aspects are great fun... though he quickly loses focus via one absurd event after another.
Read this BEFORE Davinci Code.
Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol that has been seared into the chest of a murdered physicist, and to his surprise and horror he discovers that an ancient secret brotherhood has resurfaced.
An amazing ride! Just when you think you've got it figured out, he takes another turn on you! Very well written and very addicting!
Disappointing. Same plot as da Vinci Code and poorly editted, however descriptions of Rome are interesting.
Dan Brown BEFORE the DaVinci Code. It is Robert Langdon't first adventure, and an exciting read if you can get past the gruesome murder at the beginning.
A real page turner! Very entertaining, with interesting historical tidbits.
Very Very good until the last couple chapters. I sure was wishing for a different ending. Other than that I liked it better than the DaVinci Code
Dan Brown's first book about Robert Langdon is as thrilling as the DaVinci Code. Secret tunnels through the Vatican, CERN exploits and secrets keep me on the edge of my seat (or do I mean was a page turner).
While this was a an exciting book that kept you guessing it had the same flaw as Dan Brown's better known book, "The DaVinci Code" -- it unravels at the end. In trying to provide a "happy" ending where everything works out well, Brown loses the reader as he seems to try to hard to make the edge-of-your-seat feel of the rest of the book carry through.
Judy H. (A page-turner featuring the same protagonist you met in The Da Vinci Code. Great story about a fast-paced hunt through crypts, catacombs, and cathedrals. Great fun.
Clifford S. (I really liked this book! It's the first I have read by this author and I am anxious to read another.
Suzi H. (Slow beginning; the first 100 pages made me seriously consider putting the book down and turning away. Brown's overuse of blatant foreshadowing ("Langley did not know that he would need this information three hours later to survive the night" etc.) is distracting and a terrible way to close each chapter. As the book progresses, the history and descriptions of different art works prove to be quite interesting, but the plot's rather predictable.
I really enjoyed this book. I'm not sure that I liked it better than The Da Vinci Code, but it is writen with the same theme.
I really liked this book! Another person told me that they wrote down all the sites listed in this book as part of a group assignment, and then she/they went to see them when she/they went to Italy. I'm going to re-read the book again one day, and do the same thing.
However, the book tells about an organization, CERN, in which, one of the scientists ventures upon a revealing fact, antimatter. Unfortunately, the antimatter is stolen and they think hidden somewhere in the Vatican. So the search is on to find the antimatter before it explodes.
I was really enjoying the plot twists in this book until the end. I am sorry, but the idea that Langdon could survive that fall was silly.
Holly K. (This book, the prelude to the DaVinci Code, was so good that I read it twice! Murder, mystery, what more could you want?
The "prequel" to _The DaVinci Code_ is also a really good read. Totally worth it.
Rose B. (World renowned Harvard sybologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against th Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization - the Illuminati.
From the back cover:
An ancient secret brotherhood. A devastating new weapon of destruction. An unthinkable target.
World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization-the illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth...the long-forgotten illuminati lair.
I doubt that this book is quite as good as "The Da Vinci File" but I enjoyed it!
Erina J. (A very likable character is Mr. Langdon! Truly enjoyed this book!
Fast paced, interesting, a page turner worthey of The DaVinci Code. Wonderful authur.
Similar to DaVinci Code. It's about the "symbologist" in a story that predates DVCode.
I couldn't put this down. I had to hide the book so that my research thesis for college would get done. I beleive this is the first ins type of series by the writer of the Davinci Code. One of the best books I have read in a long time.
World renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared intot he chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta agaisnt the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization--the Illuminati. Desperat to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth...the Illuminati lair.
When world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol -- seared into the chest of a murdered physicist -- he discovers evidence of the unimaginable: the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati... the most powerful underground organization ever to walk the earth.
The Illuminati has surfaced from the shadows to carry out the final phase of its legendary vendetta against its most hated enemy... the Catholic Church.
Langdon's worst fears are confirmed on the eve of the Vatican's holy conclave, when a messenger of the Illuminati announces he has hidden an unstoppable time bomb at the very heart of Vatican City. With the countdown under way, Langdon jets to Rome to join forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and mysterious Italian scientist, to assist the Vatican in a desperate bid for survival.
Embarking on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra follow a 400-year old trail of ancient symbols that snakes across Rome toward the long-forgotten Illuminati lair... a secret location that contains the only hope for Vatican salvation.
An explosive international thriller, ANGELS & DEMONS careens from enlightening epiphanies to dark truths as the battle between science and religion turns to war...
A prequel of sorts to the DaVinci Code, simpler but still interesting.
Rae S. - CA reviewed on 11/29/2005...Extremely good book
This book is right over the top with codes, mysterious clues and of course, religious symbolism. Just like DaVinci Code, it does make one wonder about the secret organizations embedded in accepted institutions. A good read but seemingly far fetched.
I loved this book. I think it was even better than Da Vinci Code!
Another best selling author, Nelson DeMille, wrote that Dan Brown has to be one of the best, smartest, and most accomplished writers in the country.
If you enjoy reading philosophical conflicts between science and religion along with a good story, you need to read this book.
I haven't read the DaVinci Code yet, and when I saw this was the book before that one, I decided to go ahead and give it a try. What an interesting, fast paced book! I can't wait to read more of his books.
Review from back cover: World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable:a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization-the Illuminati.Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb,Langdon joins forces in Rome with a beautiful&mysterious scientist.Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts,deserted catherdrals and the most secretive vault on earth...the long-forgotten Illuminati lair.
I liked it better than Davinci, probably because I read it first. I like all his books
World renowned Havard symbologist Robert Landon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta againist the Catholic Church by a centuries old underground organization- the Illuminati. A very good story and is a prequel to the Davinci Code.
Not quite as good as the DaVinci Code but a very worthwhile read.
It was just as captivating for me as The DaVinci Code. I could not put it down!
Erin B. (Good book - Da Vinci Code is better, but this really gives the main character's background.
Mary J. (Excellent prequel to "The DaVinci Code". I personally think it's better than TDVC, but that may be just me.
NOT as good as Da Vinci Code, or The Rule of Four. Probably better if read before Da Vinci (as written)
Another fabulous book by Dan Brown. I loved it and didn't feel that you would have already had to have read DaVinci Code to enjoy this book.
A wonderful intelligent read!!! It has the predictible Dan Brown formula but is enjoyable anyway!!!!
Intriguing, intellectual read - can science and religion truly (and peacefully) co-exist? Plenty of action and thought-provoking material - I could hardly put it down.
Carla H. (The first Robert Langdon adventure. This one takes you on a tour of Rome and Vatican City. A fast-paced read.
A page-turner, no doubt, but I could see the twist a mile away...
Same sort of book as the DaVinci Code. I really love the style of Dan Brown's writing. Very hard to put down!
Great book. Well written, with good use of language and plot. This book is the first in the Robert Langdon series that includes The Da Vinci Code.
Nancy M. (excellent mystery keept me turning pages by far one of dan browns best books
Awsome book,read in 2 days could not put it down!!!!!
Great prequel to the best selling Da Vinci code, this book is also a New York times best seller. It will really get you to thinking!
Does Dan Brown need introducting? Despite the high acclaim for this and other books, I found it lacking. The ending does not fit the rest of the book - as though he wrote the first 4/5, left it for some time, and then finished the book, giving some key actors different personalities, making the ending all but impossible.
Rest of the book is great - he's a pretty good fiction writer.
In my opinion Angels and Demons is better than the highly rated Da Vinci Code.
Not as finely tweaked as Da Vinci Code, but very engrossing with lots of heretical innuendo.
Not as good as the Da Vinci Code but keeps you guessing. Gives you some thought about the Catholic Church.
Absolutely awesome! The twists and turns will keep you on the edge until the very end.
Maura C. (Great suspensful novel. Loved it even more than the DaVinci Code!
Fast-paced adventure dealing with a secret organization within the Catholic Church.
Great! fast pqaced narritive. Wild ride for sure. Buckle upo!
By the author of The DaVinci Code. This is another adventure trail through the catacombs of Rome, deciphering codes to surface an ancient vendetta.
This is the first adventure of Dan Brown's character ROBERT LANGDON from "The DaVinci Code". This story takes place before the DaVinci Code. Langdon takes on the secretive ILLUMINATI and the equally secretive Vatican. Very well done in my opinion. I can't wait for him to release another story with Robert Langdon.
A thriller that keeps you up at night turning the pages.
If you liked The Davinci Code you will love Angels and Demons! I thought it was better. It is about Robert Langdon's first adventure.
After all the hoopla surrounding Dan Brown's book "The DaVinci Code", I just had to get in on it. Everyone said to read "Angels and Demons" first and I'm happy that I did. I thought this was an interesting fast-paced thriller with frequent twists. I highly recommend it.
Thoroughly enjoyed it. Right up there with his "DaVinci Code"
This is the prequel to "The DaVinci Code" and it is every bit a page turner as it's more popular companion. This novel focus on conspiracies within the Catholic Church and the grab for power that can occur after the death of a pope. A very good beach read!
Wendell W. (A novel preceeding "The Davinci Code" by the same author. Very similar in style and a good detective story.
A great book. Would most probably read again. A good suspense book
WOW! This isn't the type of book I normally read, but I wanted to read "The DaVinci Code" and a fellow PBS member recommended I read this first! I couldn't put it down! I'm glad I have "The DaVinci Code" already, because I can't wait to read it now!
If you liked "The Da Vinci Code" you will love this prequel by the same author.
I was really disapointed that Dan Brown has not written more than three books. It was one of those good reads where it is very hard to put down.
I didnt read this, my mom did. Here is the summary from the back of the book:
World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries old underground organization, the Illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth, the long forgotten Illuminati lair.
EXCELLENT! Lots of plot twists and nothing but action, the book never slows down!
You need to read this one in order to better understand the quality of The DaVinci Code.
I couldn\'t put this one down! I look forward to getting my hands on the Da Vinci Code
A fun read. Written by the same guy as Da Vinci Code. Not nearly as good but still enjoyable.
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