Angels and Demons. Book Review.

Angels and Demons is the first Robert Langdon book, and he wastes no time getting into the thick of it.

Langdon, a Harvard professor and symbologist (because what other professions can a symbologist have?), is called upon to help solve cryptic messages that are left around the city of Rome shortly before the election of a new pope. The lives of many depend on quick deduction, and there’s lots of running around a beautiful, entrancing city.

The brilliance of Brown’s books is his ability to explain the complex symbols and historical context of what’s in plain sight. The reader comes along for the adventure and feels like they’re maybe even one step ahead, because Brown educates the reader just enough to stay interested, but also doesn’t get into long and irrelevant historical tangents.

Brown boils down what must have been years of research into fast-paced intrigue, and takes the reader on a tour of Rome and the Vatican.

Would we recommend it?

Yes. It’s a fun and easy read, and it leaves the reader feeling just a little more knowledgeable than when they started. It’s lesser-known than The DaVinci Code (it’s still a movie, so it’s not obscure by any means), but I actually liked it a little more. For me, it’s everything that makes The DaVinci Code a delightful read, plus an even faster and twistier plotline.