Description (from cover):
‘In his international blockbusters The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown masterfully fused history, art, codes, and symbols. In this riveting new thriller, Brown returns to his element and has crafted his highest-stakes novel to date.
In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology, Robert Langdon, is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces…Dante’s Inferno.
Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find the answers and decide whom to trust…before the world is irrevocably altered.’
My thoughts:
After reading The Lost Symbol, I was skeptical about whether this book would love up to the Dan Brown hype. He is one of those authors who whenever they generate a book, it seems to hit the bestseller lists hard. The Lost Symbol was one of the most disappointing books ever. It was horrible and I was hoping that Dan Brown brought his A-game to Inferno. I will say that this was a million times better than The Lost Symbol but for me it doesn’t come close to the brilliance of Angels & Demons and then The Da Vinci Code. Angels & Demons is my all time favorite Robert Langdon novel, followed closely by The Da Vinci Code, this book, and then The Lost Symbol.
If you are looking for a thriller, well you will get that with this book, but its predecessors seemed to have so much more of a chase to figure something out that was important. While the general formula in this one is nearly the same, it lacks the elements of surprise and of figuring out a puzzle, which made these books so famous to begin with. There is somewhat a twist on who Langdon can trust and amnesia which makes learning all the facts necessary a little bit of challenge. I will say that I enjoyed this book to an extent, but I miss the essence that Angels & Demons had.
No one can dispute that Dan Brown is a writer that has talent. Every single one of his books have hit the bestseller lists and are famous in their own ways. A great read for fans of the Robert Langdon series. A little bit of a disappointment in the thrill department, but much much better than The Lost Symbol. Hope Dan Brown writes his next Robert Langdon installment like the first two novels in this series. Most definitely not Brown’s best work, but a good read nonetheless.
Overall Rating: 3
Title: Inferno
Author: Dan Brown
Series: Robert Langdon #4
Publisher: Doubleday
Publication Date: May 14, 2013
Pages: 480
Genre: Thriller
Get It: Amazon; Barnes & Noble
Disclaimer: This book was selected from the library by myself and I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.
Girl Lost In a Book 
I don't read this series, but the Lost Symbol is one of the FEW that my husband has read, and he loved it, so if this one is better, I expect he will love it also.
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I agree completely with your assessments of “The Lost Symbol”, “The Da Vinci Code” and “Angels and Demons”. What I often find missing in thrillers is solid character development. Thrillers are great reads for historical facts and puzzles, tons of action and settings that are to die for. But they frequently lack characters that I care about. Langdon comes close to being a developed character, but even he could use a bit more work. I always read Dan Brown's books though and this one will not be the exception.
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I also think Angels & Demons is Brown's best novel, but I don't agree on your opinions about The Lost Symbol which I highly enjoyed. Just as much – or more than The Da Vinci Code in fact. I also enjoyed his none-Langdon novels. I have enjoyed everything he has written, except for Inferno.This book is – like you said – seriously lacking in the thrill department, it has an all around dull cast and focuses so much time on the various arts, symbols, locations, etc. that it feels more like a tour guide than a thriller novel.My review: http://kenikkiscorner.blogspot.se/2013/06/book-review-inferno.html
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