I read the Baigent book a decade before I read this novel.

Somehow, Brown managed to "dumbify" everything.

Afterwards I read Eco to wash the taste out of my brain.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown is the second book under the Robert Langdon series. As usual, the protagonist, who is a symbologist, is summoned to solve a mystery that involves historical symbols. Given the character's deep knowledge of the field, coupled with a gripping story involving Christian history, makes for an unputdownable read.

As always, Dan's attention to detail mesmerizes the keen reader in me. It is delightful to be able to picture all those historical museums and monuments just by reading his descriptions of the same.

The clever use of cryptography is awe-inspiring.

The ending was predictable. That is the only downside of this otherwise great piece of prose.

Warning: The books takes a jab at the truthfulness of the New Testament. So if you are someone who gets offended when someone questions your religious beliefs, you might want to skip this one.

Verdict: A must read.