The Lost Symbol begins with an ancient ritual, a shadowy enclave, and of course, a secret.Readers know they are in Dan Brown territory when, by the end of the first chapter, a secret within a secret is revealed.To tell too much would ruin the fun of reading this delicious thriller, so you will find no spoilers here. Suffice it to say that as with many series featuring a recurring character, there is a bit of a formula at work. Again, brilliant Harvard professor Robert Langdon finds himself in a predicament that requires his vast knowledge of symbology and superior problem-solving skills to save the day. The setting, unlike other Robert Langdon novels, is stateside, and in Brown's hands Washington D.C.is as fascinating as Paris or Vatican City.

The Capitol Building Washington DC:Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon believes he is here to give a lecture. He is wrong. Within minutes of his arrival, a shocking object is discovered. It is a gruesome invitation into an ancient world of hidden wisdom.

When Langdon's mentor, Peter Solomon - prominent mason and philanthropist-is kidnapped, Langdon realizes that his only hope of saving his friend's life is to accept this mysterious summons.

It is to take him on a breathtess chase through Washington's dark history. Art that was familiar is changed into a shadowy, mythicat wortd in which- Masonic secrets and never-before-seen revelations seem to be leading him to a single impossibte and inconceivabte truth...