Rating: 
Summary: Another Dan Brown Breathless Adventure
Review: Dan Brown, author of the humongously successful "Da Vinci Code," scores well with this story written before his international best sellerIncredibly, the entire 500+ pages of action occurs over a six-hour period. As in "Da Vinci," the action takes place in and around the Catholic Church -- literally. The bulk of the book involves Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon and his attractive Italian co-sleuth Vittoria Vetra racing between the Pope's office, the Vatican's secret archives, hidden Middle Age passageways, the crypt holding St. Peter's remains and various churches in Rome in an attempt beat a midnight calamity that threatens to destroy the Catholic Church at its very foundations. The nutshell: CERN, the world's most formidable collection of physicists, has produced and contained anti-matter, that theoretical substance present at the Big Bang. Despite elaborate security, a vial of the anti-matter has been stolen by a resurgent Illuminati -- that cryptic group dating from the Middle Ages that purported to represent and defend scientific inquiry against the forces of a Church desperate to stamp out anything even remotely calling into question Rome's vision of the earth, man and their divine creation. After waiting four centuries, the Illuminati have a chance to extract their revenge upon the Catholic Church. The vial of anti-matter will escape containment when a battery mechanism allowing its suspension turns off at midnight on the day bereaved cardinals are gathered to select a new pope. Anti-matter, when coming into contact with any matter (even air, or the sides of a container) produces an explosion so great that a pea-sized drop of the stuff could wipe out a mile square area. And, the vial has been hidden someplace in the recesses of Vatican City. Langdon appears because his specialty -- symbology -- makes him the foremost expert in possible clues to the Illuminati plot and the hiding place of the vial. The beautiful Vetra appears because she was teamed with her father in the production of anti-matter at CERN -- her father being a catholic priest/physicist who was attempting to prove the existence of Genesis with his work (he adopted her when she was an orphan). Breathless describes this novel. The entire story, except for Langdon's educational lectures on the Illuminati, various aspects of Vatican lore, and Middle Age Italian artists and architecture, takes place between the time most allow for dinner to follow lunch. The action never stops -- it is ceaseless. It is also very entertaining. Anyone attracted to history, secret societies, church politics past and present and a whiff of physics as backdrop to a ripping good yarn will appreciate this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant
Review: I read this book after I had finished the Da Vinci code. I am a true critic and I have almost never given a rating above Four Stars. This one got my vote! From the very first page you are drawn in to the wonderfully written and amazingly accurate story. Not to mention how much research Dan Brown must have put into this master-peice. In my opinion this book is just as good or even better than the Da Vinci code. And though the huge amount of suspence ends at the climax of the story, the entire book is truly enjoyable. Possibly one of the best books I have ever read!
Rating:
Summary: An Absolutely Addictive Thrill
Review: I just finished this novel and it completely shocked me. It went from being a time consumer to a rollercoaster ride that thrust me through so many emotions, so many obstacles, and compelling puzzles.
A church conspiracy, a silent battle that has raged between science and theology...it was amazing. It isn't for the weak of faith because if you are easily influenced this novel could sway your opinion of either science or church. If you are open minded and looking for one of those novels begging for it's pages to be turned...look no further.
Rating: 
Summary: trash to the trash
Review: Interesting premise but poorly written. You can see the formula writing especially after the DaVinci Code. Don't understand what all the raves are about.
Rating:
Summary: More exciting than the Da Vinci Code
Review: This book is fast paced and is extremely well written in my opinion. It's a real page turner, I read it in three days. The plot is awesome and pretty much everything just works. I can only see two drawbacks to this book. 1.) There's no place to stop, you just want to keep reading. Hence my title, "More exciting than the Da Vinci Code". Everything keeps moving and it stays exciting throughout. 2.) I don't mean to be literary critic because I'm not but if I had the clout to stop the book on exactly page 500 of the paperback version I would've. Once you read the whole book, just imagine the book ends on the bottom of page 500. The first 500 pages were simply incredible but I just think a writer of Brown's caliber could've done a little better on the ending, that's all. I hope my OPINION doesn't stop anyone from reading the book because every minute spent reading this book is time well spent. Just look at what I'm saying and when you finish reading see if you agree or disagree with me. Hey, if you disagree...chances are you'll like the book even more!! I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: Good....but not up to par with Da Vinci Code
Review: I read Angels and Demons AFTER I read The Da Vinci Code. I would say that I am glad I read the Da Vinci Code first, because it is almost the same premise as Angels. Waking up at a ridiculous hour by a mysterious phone call. Beautiful, intelligent woman...trip that leads to only God knows where. Same. Personally, I felt that the Da Vinci Code's overall topic was more interesting, but Dan Brown uses the same intriguing histroical facts here too. I want to caution readers about some reviews that call this book religious. It may take place in something religious, namely the Vatican...but it is by no means preachy or biblical. Like I said...good...but not great
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Summary: Another interesting, thought-provoking thriller from Dan B.
Review: Like many others, I came to "Angels and Demons" via "DaVinci Code". I was interested to see something of the past of both the character of Robert Langdon and of the author's work. I wasn't disappointed. Like "DaVinci", this book is a fast-paced thriller that combines typical thriller plot (ticking time-bomb, here literally!) with art history and religious themes. Since those were things I liked about "DaVinci", I was glad to see more of those elements again. The differences between the two works, though, are what make this book worth picking up. The main fascination for me with "Angels and Demons" was the way in which Brown explored the conflict between science and religion. Using CERN (a private, high-level scientific facility) and its creation of anti-matter and the very foundation of Catholicism, Brown deftly explores many angles of the creationism-vs.-Darwinism debate, the secularization of modern society, and what it means to have faith. Most fascinating to me was the ways in which characters appear 'good' or 'bad' or 'naive' to challenge the reader to really think about all sides presented and to perhaps define what is 'right' for themselves. Dan Brown is rapidly becoming a favorite with me. While his books, as other reviewers have noted, seem to be falling into rather a formula in format, the ideas which underlie the thrillers are well-thought out and articulated - and are different, so far, with each new book. I look forward to seeing where Langdon goes next! Even without the heady themes, the simple thrill ride of the story's enough to make reading this worthwile.
Rating: 
Summary: A&D is good, though not DaVinci Code good
Review: Like other reviewers I sought this book out soon after reading DaVinci Code. I was a little disappointed because the format of events is irritatingly similar and he gets several facts wrong. Specifically he has not researched his aviation facts well; distrating to me, as I am a professional pilot. For instance, he claims the hypersonic plane in A&D has a thrust-to-weight ratio of 25 to 1 and that normal jets have a TTW of 7 to 1. This is totally false--modern jets are lucky to have a 1 to 3 ratio! For instance, the Citation II I fly is a 14,500lb airplane fully loaded, with engines that produce 5,000 lb of combined thrust. He also talks of Robert Langdon getting altitude sickness while flying on the jet at 60,000 ft. This is ridiculous since he'd be in a pressurized plane where the cabin altitude is significantly less, maybe 10,000ft! If these were the only errors I might forgive them, but they are not. I have since found out that the Italian phrases are inaccurate at best, and it makes me wonder what else he got wrong. My advice: Read DaVinci Code, then move on to other books.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the Da Vinci Code
Review: Prequel to The Da Vinci Code. Symbologist Robert Langdon is chasing a satanic cult who has a time bomb planted in Rome trying to establish a new world order. With new friends and help from the Roman police they could have a chance. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown is the best mystery I have read. It has twists, unexpected changes. Highly detailed and captivating, you never want to put it down.
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Summary: Good thriller, bad bad quotes!
Review: The vast majority of the quotes in Italian are just wrong!
If you know the Italian language it's very difficult not too lough when you read one. If and when quotes are used (to add a feeling of localization and credibility) they have to be right!
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