Rating: 
Summary: A Spiritual Must Read
Review: This book is incredibly well researched and is filled with fascinating theories and facts. In the genre of "Gulliver's Travels," The DaVinci Code raises issues that have been ignored by mainstream Christianity for centuries. If you have any interest the true relationship between Mary Magdalene and Jesus, you're going to love this book.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic, gripping mystery
Review: I am not a huge reader of fiction and tend to read far more non-fiction, but I simply could not put this book down. I found the story fascinating from the first page to the last. There are lots of surprises along the way, and the pace of the story is breathtaking. What made the novel so appealing to me is that it is chock-full of true facts about all sorts of places and things, and the author weaves this information into the story in a very naturalistic way. Thus, to a non-fiction reader, this was the best of both worlds: a fictional story grounded in reality. Don't pass this one up; it's like nothing else I've ever read.
Rating:
Summary: masterpiece myster
Review: This is a great book. Along with the great mystery that the story focuses on, you get a lot of additional information on the history of religion in western europe without the author taking painful asides to explain things. This is definitely a page-turner, it managed to keep me awake until I finished it. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a solid book to read.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining tale; inaccurate background research
Review: This is an entertaining tale, but to call it a historical novel is an egregious misnomer. His representation of historical "facts" pertaining to the Knights Templar and the allusions to the Rosecrucians are inaccurate at best, and irresponsible in any event. Cutting to the chase, everything else not withstanding, even if Jesus and Mary Magdalene had married and produced a "royal bloodlike," the Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection still stand on their own right. In other words, "What difference does could of this make in relation to one's faith and one's perception of Christianity?" The only difference is much padding to Mr. Brown's bank account. Greed, irresponsibility, and poor research in the guise of "Controversial Best Seller."
Rating: 
Summary: A Refrigerator Book
Review: From time to time Alfred Hitchcock made what he liked to call "refrigerator movies". These were films heavy on plot and rather quick moving that took the viewer a long for a ride so thrilling and intense that he or she wouldn't pick up on the gaping plot holes until later that night, getting their midnight snack in front of the fridge. The Da Vinci Code is a lot like that. While some little things don't make sense right off the bat, most of the story holds up well until you've read the whole thing and can look back at how it's all put together.The characters, as many hear have said, were thin and never did anything surprising. The plot moved very rapidly, though, and manages to keep you engaged until nearly the end. However, the last three chapters or so are complete head scratchers, and not the good kind. I picked this up on a recommendation at a time when I was just looking for some light, fun reading. The Da Vinci Code certainly provides that. I think with summer right around the corner this will be a popular "beach book" and you could do a whole lot worse than this. Just don't look for any deep meaning and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Fast-paced and fun
Review: A great pell-mell thriller with intriguing bits of history and and art and religioso speculation thrown in. Surprisingly well-written for its genre (and far, far more readable than the turgid Umberto Eco). Brown orchestrates the plot and juggles his clues beautifully. I have to wonder at the agenda of the naysayers on this forum--it's a slick thriller with a great hook, so why all the puffery about the accuracy of its historical speculations? (As for those who claim that's it's too predictable and they figured everything out--don't believe 'em.)
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating plot, pedestrian writing
Review: I wanted to love this book, because the plot, the ideas, and the themes of ancient spirituality sounded so promising. For the most part, you do get a bit of factual information that's intriguing enough to get you thinking. But the breathless pace of the plot is simply made-for-TV. There's not a moment to pause and really see into the characters. Each chapter is about three pages long and ends with some tantalizing little bit that reminds me of a blackout before a commercial. The code itself is sometimes dazzling and sometimes impossibly obvious. There were times I had to snap the book shut in disgust because the supposedly brilliant protagonist couldn't solve a basic riddle or recognize Da Vinci's famous mirror writing. And frankly, Da Vinci really has not much at all to do with the plot. One would think that a thriller directed at an educated audience would be written with a little more care, more realistic dialogue and a hint of verisimilitude. I really couldn't believe any of the bold escape plans. Plus, for a book so focused on female spirituality, why is the Sophie character so distant and never allowed to show her own sexual side? It's not a total disappointment, but I found myself let down by the final pages. This book could have been brilliant. It's just average.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: Too often things in the popular media get passed off as "genious". This book isn't genious. It won't revolutionize the world and probably won't be talked about for year's to come. But it is a great book. It is both intelligent and interesting. Whether or not you agree with the views presented in the book, it's always great to see another perspective. And instead of just being a boring essay about one person's theory of the Holy Grail, it is a murder mystery as well. I heartily recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: What A Great Read!
Review: This book rips the mask off the church and the blinders off the congregation. It's the adult version of telling the children there is no Santa. It's provocative, it makes the reader think beyond the book for a change, as evidenced in some of the reviews here. It motivates them to question and conduct their own research, whether to prove or disprove. It is entertaining, it evokes excitment and holds the attention. Yes, it's fiction but, the sources it pulls much of its information from are not. If it moved you to active research, you may want to consider, "The Jesus Mysteries" and "Jesus & the Lost Goddess" both by Frenke & Gandy.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites!
Review: This book is such an amazing, page-turning thriller that I read it only in two days! It reminded me a lot of "Conquest of Paradise", another religious thriller I couldn't put down. Both books kept me up late at night reading, unable to stop! This is definitely one of my favorite books, along with "Digital Fortress" (another Dan Brown). As with all of Brown's novels, as soon as you think you have the book all figured out, keep reading and he throws a curveball at you. Not only was the book exciting and excellent, but it was also intellectually engaging. Definitely recommended - a perfect book with the exception of the irrelevant title.
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