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Summary: Interesting historical mix!
Review: Great infusion of actual history and story telling. I learned a lot from this book, which suprised me. I kept thinking that it was all fluff that the author created, then when I did some research, it was all based on reality. This book does take a decidedly negative position on the catholic church. I wouldn't recommend this book to religious zealots. They will likely spend the whole time getting mad at the authors attacks on Catholicism, rather than looking at his research objectively, and enjoying the story. This is one of the best books I have ever read.
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Summary: A detective story for the TV viewer mentality
Review: Great opening chapter, and downhill from there. I was suspicious when so many articles and websites and reviews commented that "they never knew such and such" or that their "eyes were opened" about church- and art-history. Was this written-for-screenplay-use book being taken seriously? Apparently so.Beyond the wooden characters, and predictable plot - the guy was seemingly trying to teach or inform the readers about "great mysteries." My frustration hit its peak in the first few chapters. He has his art-scholar quoting experts talking about "Wicca" as an "ancient religion." Anyone with three minutes on the internet can discover that Wicca was made up whole-cloth in the past 50 years from the writings of A. Crowley. The positive reviews seem to have a common thread: they are gleeful. They are enjoying what they perceive as "those Catholics/Christian getting theirs, hee-heehumor. Likewise, liking a book because it proves a point is not the same as the enjoyment of a good beach-book. Thumbs down. For those who were concerned or "never knew..." some of the "facts" presented - a little research will do the trick. This pulp-fiction bodice-ripper of a detective story has not undone 2000 years of history and understanding. This conclusion can be made on a critique of the "sources" cited in the book - without recourse to point/counterpoint on his conclusions. For an article on that, see Crisis Magazine: http://www.crisismagazine.com/september2003/feature1.htm
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Summary: you mean reading can be fun AND educational?!?
Review: Great read, factual, entertaining... what more do you need?
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Summary: Informative
Review: Great research: way out. For a very similar book, check out "MEET MARK TWAIN."
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Summary: Open Your Eyes
Review: Growing up in a strict Catholic household, I was taught never to question, but to accept what I was taught in school and in church. My older relatives believe that to be accepted into heaven, you must suffer in the present. In fact, my mother and her school friends used to put rocks in their shoes as they walked to school. I recognize that this novel is fiction, what I took from this book was simply the possibility of an alternative to what I was brought up to believe (see 1st paragraph). History itself is really the perceptions of those who wrote the books, why not the bible as well? As a born catholic, I feel blasphemous for that comment, but why can't worship grant free thinking without fear of condemnation?
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Summary: Even Christians won't be able to put this book down
Review: Growing up in church you are taught one story of Jesus. Reading this book challenges that story and stretches your mind. Even if you disagree with the premise, you have to admire the writing style and genius of the plot. I would hope that Christians can not be threatened by the premise (see "Subliterate heresy"), but rather enjoy Mr. Brown's exceptional story telling ability and leave the religious aspects of the book for lively discussions with friends and family - of which their should be many!
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Summary: absolutely the best
Review: had given up hope. thought all mysteries had turned into "cozies". Great research, good characters and takes more than an hour to read. Also recommend "Shutter Island". Two in one week, incredible!!
Rating: 
Summary: Good, if you aren't familiar with theme
Review: Had I read this book before Holy Blood Holy Grail, I might have enjoyed it more. The basic premise is that Jesus had descendents, and that knowledge is protected by the Templars and their descendents. The author has crafted a mystery crime novel with this premise at its heart. As other reviewers have pointed out there are weaknesses here or there. One I spotted was the incorrect use of GPS within a building. Only under rare circumstances which I am sure don't exist within the Louvre in Paris would GPS function within a building. In all novels one must suspend some disbelief, though there are too many of the circumstances within this book to feel really comfortable. Overall, I beleive those unfamiliar with the 'alternative' Holy Grail histories will find this book fascinating, unpredictable, and enjoyable. Those familiar will be impatient and frustrated with the inconsistencies, occaissonal weak prose, and unnecessarily complex plot; they already kind of know where this book will end up, and there are few surprises.
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Summary: This book was over sold
Review: Had it not been for all the hype I might have expected less and not been disappointed by this book. Nelson DeMille calls Dan Brown "one of the smartest writers in the country". Maybe so but if so, I don't see that demonstrated in this book. The book is loaded to the gills with what I assume are historical facts but so what? Thhe characters are unreal. They are so ingenious that the reader can't keep up with their thinking at one point and morons at other points.For example, the symbolism of Sauniere's death message (the Vitruvian Man) becomes clear to the reader long before it does to the expert, Langdon. Another: The brilliant detective Fache doesn't know that in order to know what number Langdon dialed from his phone all he has to do is look in his "recently dialed calls" file? (pg 117). Another: (pg 299) when the three are trying to figure out what language the message in the cryptex was written by Leonardo in, the reader finds his brain screaming at their stuppidiity. It's freakin' mirror writing in English! Everyone knows this is the writing Leonardo used. There are more examples of poor character development. But, maybe it's a four start boook that was oversold. What's left is three stars.
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Summary: Fascinatingly Intriging, Leaves you thinking
Review: Hardcore closed minded Christians stay away, or be prepared with an open mind to the alternate perspectives of Jesus. From the minute I picked up this book I never wanted to put it down. I have never been so enthralled in the a book. The way the author keeps the reader suspended in unending mystery, and by the end manages to answer all your questions will have you spending every spare minute reading. I plan to read this book yet again in order to spend more time researching the topics discussed, and to spend more time understanding and analysing the code. I would suggest that anyone research these facts before taking them to heart, however if they should hold true, I would hope that the world has the chance to read this book, and others like it.
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