Rating: 
Summary: Stunningly Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: Angels and Demons was one of the most interesting thrillers that I have ever read. Being in Rome as I was a few years ago made the book even better. I recommend it to anyone who loves history and thriller novels. There are so many interesting facts in here, like the origin of the weird pyramid eye on the dollar bill, the space plane, the Vatican conclave ceremony, etc.
Rating: 
Summary: So Cliched it Gives Cliches a Bad Name!
Review: I was thrilled to finally get my hands on a copy of this much-praised thriller, but after the first couple pages I was reading just for laughs---and there were many. The cliches of character, description, action, plot, and just about everything else are a hoot! The characters are so comical, the writing so hackneyed, and the love affair so predictable that this book gives cliches a bad name. If you ever read Alastair Maclean, seen Raiders of the Lost Ark, or most other thrillers of this ilk, you'll groan over this book---my wife and I had a great time on vacation reading passages out loud and laughing aloud.
Rating:
Summary: Too over the top
Review: Much preferred Da Vinci Code. The scenarios in A&D are outrageous and the motives, reactions and responses of characters are too often unrealistic. The last few chapters are laughable with unsatisfying twists, coming off as twists for the sake of twists. Made-for-TV thriller material here with awkward commentary on the so-called spiritual state of the modern world. Da Vinci Code is somewhat better researched, a better paced thriller and its weaknesses are generally forgivable.
Rating:
Summary: A WONDERFUL ROMP THRU TERROR AND HISTORY
Review: This story pulls you in, especially if you love exotic settings and occult intrigue, as I do. The story's hero thinks that he, as a Harvard professor, knows all about the mysterious Illuminati, and he believes they are extinct. But he learns he may be mistaken when a distinguished scientist and priest at CERN turns up dead with the word "Illuminati" branded on his chest. But this is no ordinary brand; it is an "ambigram" -- a word scripted to look the same upside down as right side up. This is the first of six amazing ambigrams we see illustrated in this book. The Illuminati, it seems, are out to get revenge against the Vatican for its past sins, which are many. The illusive Illuminati have hired a "hassassin" (a more ancient form of "assassin") to kill the four cardinals who are candidates to replace the pope, who has recently died.The story takes Robert Langdon, the Harvard professor, and Vittoria Vetra, the sexy (adopted) daughter of the dead scientist-priest on an incredible day-long adventure in a mostly futile attempt to stop the murders, along with a deadly jar of anti-matter hidden somewhere in the labyrinth of Vatican City. The anti-matter is counting down to midnight when it will work the final revenge on the church: the complete destruction of the Vatican complex with its priceless treasures. What makes the book special is the historic clues that Langdon pursues, as he tries to find the markers left by the Illuminati at the time of Michelangelo and Bernini, whose work is resplendent in the numerous churches and monuments of Rome and Vatican City. I loved the details woven into the story, especially the descriptions of secret places within the Vatican. The characters in this story are Vatican Swiss Guards, Cardinals of the Church, the camerlengo who is left in charge at the pope's death, and the bitter, wheelchair-bound Director of CERN in Geneva. I can't help but wonder how much of the descriptions and characterizations (certainly not the actual characters) are real. Emotions build as the characters realize the unfolding events transcend their own situation and I actually found myself crying at one point in the book. But I experienced a kind of let-down near the end. The final twist of the plot was one I did not anticipate and it left me without the kind of wrap-up that I had expected. I thought everything would end tidy and sure, with the good guys and bad guys clearly identified. Maybe the final ambiguity was by design; maybe the author wanted us to think about who was more correct: the Illuminati point of view that the Church had committed too many atrocities and outlived its usefulness, or the Church's point of view that science can never give us all the answers. A really great book delivers not only adventure and thrills, but also provocative ideas. This book seesaws between the opposites that are implied by its title. We move from scene to scene, character to character in a dance of intrigue. Dan Brown is one helluva story-teller and this book left me always wanting to know what was on the next page.
Rating:
Summary: It Illuminates
Review: For anyone with a love for art and thrillers, this is the deffinite book. Dan Brown is amazing! This book keeps you chasing page after page along with the characters to see how it unfolds. Robert Langdon is quick and intelligent. The plot is unique and breathtaking. The Illuminati is a brotherhood you'll never forget.
Rating: 
Summary: Still not DaVinci Code... but worth the read
Review: I guess I had higher expectations for this book since I read The DaVinci Code first... nonetheless it was a good story that brought in elements of physics and antimatter technology, a Satanic cult, and Italian art... Dan Brown has an interesting way of doing that! Robert Langdon is a great character--sometimes his feats seem a little too extraordinary, but they are still fun to read about. I found the Illuminati history interesting, as well as the discussions about the art and symbology. Overall a pretty good book, but DaVinci Code still is my favorite!
Rating: 
Summary: A Fun Ride, But It's Still Pulp
Review: Make no mistake, this is a fun summer read. But that's all it is. There's a review on the cover of the book that says that it's a thriller with an "unusually high IQ." That's a bit of a stretch. Dan Brown combines an impressive knowledge of science, architecture, and art with a shallow understanding of (and apparent bias against) Christianity to produce a fun book that shouldn't be taken seriously. And there are parts where the author says things like "if he'd only known what would happen later that day, he would have stayed in bed." This is unspeakably awful and gives the feel that you're reading a Hardy Boys novel instead of a "high IQ" thriller. I also had a hard time routing for the main character because he was such a weenie. This made the more suspenseful parts less exciting because I was secretly hoping the guy would get killed. Still, the idea for the plot is great and there are parts of the book that are pure pulp euphoria. But I don't think holding a tarp over your head would help much when you're falling from a helicopter far up in the sky. Maybe that's just me.
Rating:
Summary: A terrific and informative book
Review: This book makes you think....a fine thriller loaded with interesting facts and theories. The style is a bit trite but this is a book well worth reading...then grab the Da Vinci Code
Rating:
Summary: Angelic Plot, Demonic End
Review: This is a wonderful thriller, full of twists, turns and mysteries galore. The story centers on the Catholic church, conspiracies, and the art world. It's a very enjoyable read but I couldn't give it a 5 because this author suffers from, what I affectionately call, Crichton Syndrome. This simply means that the book builds to amazing heights but the end is less than satisfying...in most cases, downright dumb. You'll love the book, just turn your "suspension of disbelief" button to high for the ending. You'll need it to believe parts of the climax.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely fabulous!
Review: I've been hungry for a book like this for years. Ever since being disappointed by other vatican thrillers titled BASILICA and REQUIEM (ugh). I would highly recommend ANGELS AND DEMONS, as well as THE DAVINCI CODE to anyone who enjoys mysteries, thrillers, or just a darn good read. Just delicious. Could have done without the little romance, but hey what the heck. I enjoyed the puzzle, the history, the scientific aspect, etc. What fun!
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