The Da Vinci Code is a simplistic 'who done it'. It does start with a realistic
night visit to a famous French art gallery.
Dan Brown has succeeded in painting a an image that leaps into the reader's imagination. He describes the
night lit gallery and murder scene well, leading the reader into the supposition that the story will unfold with the same level of drama. His characterization of the French police is demeaning at best. His characters' conversational style is awkward and forces. The scene in the Swiss Bank branch is convoluted but intriguing.Although Dan Brown has engaged moral indignation over his usage of an age-old controversy in Christian Catholicism, his story lacks depth. Dan Brown feeds his readers small segments of information based on real
religious groups, research and happenings. He has sensationalized an ongoing Christian schism into a trite, one level, ham handed, action paced 'story'. If the elders, preachers, and ministers of so many Christian sects had not become fanatical about his subject matter and publicly denouncing his book; Dan Brown's book would have been vanquished to dwell with dust bunnies on library's bottom shelves. One could suppose that Mr. Brown's intention of becoming a best selling author was the real reason he opted for a Salmon Rushdie style expose. Death threats, newspaper headlines and papal condemnation can do wonders for book sales.Admittedly, Dan Brown's story will intrigue anyone interested into researching/reading the religious texts, tracts and orders he has named.