The Lost Symbol

by Dan Brown

Synopsis

In the third book of the Robert Langdon series, the Harvard Professor of Symbology is summoned to Washington, D.C. to help his friend Peter Solomon, the head of the Smithsonian Institute and a prominent Mason. However, we quickly learn that Peter has been kidnapped and his captor has summoned Robert to the U.S. Capitol to help him unlock the secret path to uncovering the Ancient Mysteries. Robert has help from Solomon’s sister Katherine, a researcher in the field of Noetic Science, as they race across D.C. to save Peter and solve the mystery that is a core principle of Masonic Legend.   As Robert and Katherine race to save Peter, they consult a series of secondary characters, many of whom are faced with the dilemma of whether to save Peter or protect the secrets of the Masonic Lodge.

Elements of Suspense

-          Pacing: The story unfolds at a rapid pace with a narrow time frame. Early in this story, the villain gives a deadline, less than five hours away, for his demands to be met.  The majority of the story takes place in less than 12 hours, and there are some chapter that are flashbacks to previous events which is also a characteristic of suspense novels. Chapters are short and many end with mini-cliffhangers, adding to the drama.  As the deadline grows closer, the tension grows and the reader becomes more uneasy about how the story will end.  There is a final showdown between good and evil. 

-          Story Line: This story is defined by action and conflict, with many characters facing perilous situations throughout the story. There is a lot of violence and at least a handful of characters don’t survive.  

-          Tone: A dark and menacing atmosphere sets the tone for most suspense novels.  We learn early on that the villain in this story is a twisted soul and the book mentions an encounter with a stranger who calls him a “demon.”  It is a dark story, filled with gritty violence and a villain who is out for revenge.

-          Characterization: Professor Robert Langdon is a smart and skilled protagonist, a professor of symbology.  He is an everyman in many ways but also has a vast knowledge of secret societies and the use of symbols that make him a target for the villain.  Langdon’s character is not flushed out much, aside from a few details from his past that add to the suspense (being trapped in a well as a child that contributes to claustrophobia).  The villain fills a typical role of the evil counterpart to the hero.  Secondary characters are stereotypes.

-          Frame/Setting: The majority of the story takes place in Washington, D.C. and the descriptions and histories of the buildings in the story create a sense of another world than the one most visitors experience.  The story tells of secret rooms, passages, and underground levels that are not open to the public.

-          Language/Style: The use of symbology and the history of the city are used to ramp up the drama in the story.

Read-a-likes

The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry

The Atlantis Code by Charles Brokaw

The Plantation by Chris Kuzneski