Inferno

This is my first Dan Brown book. When I read the synopsis, I thought the book would be about the conundrums concealed within Dante Alighieri's Inferno, but I it isn't.

However, my disappointment didn't last long because the story grabbed me from the beginning. I loved the elegance with which Dan Brown writes, employing few bad words and makes no reference to sex scenes, which (I think) makes the book not vulgar. The characters were well written and defined, and it goes without saying about the intrigue and suspense. For a moment, I thought the book would be predictable, but I was surprised when I realized that it wasn't.

Otherwise, I loved the end and the lack of romance. However, I left with a feeling of want to read more ... So for now, this writer has earned my respect, well done Mr. Brown!

Dan Brown revolutionised the writing world with The Da Vinci Code, his clever use of the hidden meanings behind old works of art was inspired, and a professor trying to work out the hidden codes was exciting. Now 4 books in and the magic is beginning to lose its sparkle.

The joy of reading Da Vinci Code was that the works of art referenced were renowned and well known - instantly you could recall them and see what Langdon was seeing. In Inferno the references are more obscure and unless you are intimately acquainted with Florence you may find yourself - as I did - googling your way through the book looking for pictures just so you can visualise what is happening and get the mood of the book. Now this is all very well if you had to do it say once a chapter but it was literally every few pages, sometimes more than once a page. That lost it's appeal quickly.

If this were Inferno's only flaw it could be forgiven but it's just so darn confusing. By the time of the big climax I literally was lost in who was who, who chased who when and what for, what was real and what was smoke and mirrors and i really didn't care.

And the ending - I don't want to give anything away but how does Brown move on from it. To say in a later book it was all put right and everything is now okay is to trivialise the message but to not do so would mean writing in a world which is not real.

it's not worth it's hardback price, paperback maybe. It did have a few gripping moments but overall it was very very tedious and was only worthy of being thrown on an Inferno.