Deception Point by Dan BrownMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Although I find Dan Brown’s books, and the films of the books, quite formulaic I always wind up reading them because the first few pages grip my attention and the plot is cleverly intriguing. I do think that the books are much better than the films – but that’s a different conversation. His ability to combine science, history, myth and politics into a fast-moving dramatic tale that has twists and turns, and cunning chicanery leaves the reader breathless right up to the last chapter. Unfortunately, the pages of the last chapter often include an inevitable piece of corny romance like the script of a Hollywood film, and this is the case with Deception Point.
There are two main protagonists in the book, Rachel and Danielle, each fighting their corner in very different parts of the globe: Rachel in the frozen wastes of the Arctic and Danielle in Washington. Dan Brown skilfully allows them to emerge into the centre of their unchosen arena and I wound up rooting for them both. There is a male character, Michael, who is equally good-looking, professional and intelligent but who seemed to me to be less central to the plot – until the chips were down! And when the baddies get their just desserts what a way to serve them up! No spoilers here but Wow! and Yuk! seem to reflect the justification I felt.
Despite the general disapproval, I often see in reviews, about too much technical information – info-dumping? – in his books I have to say that I enjoy it. Mainly because it often has me reaching for a reference book/source to check it out, and subsequently discovering how accurate or thought provoking the author has been. So I say more power to your arm Mr Brown. I have just one more of Dan Brown’s books to go, Inferno, and I look forward to reading it since Deception Point has reminded me of what a good writer he is. This novel is gripping, interesting, and very satisfying in (almost) all departments.
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