Chain Reading

Deception Point by Dan Brown

Maybe Dan Brown has a computer program that helps draft his novels for him. If he doesn't, one could be forgiven for thinking that this might be the case because of the similarities between the characters and plotlines of his major novels. 'Deception Point' follows the extremely successful formula that is also seen in 'daVinci Code' and 'Saints and Sinners'.

Start with the heroine who is beautiful, brave, and very, very smart. In this novel she is a first-rate NSA analyst who prepares briefings for the White House. Her father, a powerful senator with designs on the Presidency, is a manipulator without a conscience who embodies all the worst aspects of the species 'politician'.

Add in one hero who is handsome, brave and very, very smart. In this case a world-renowned oceanographer with his own television series a la Jacques Cousteau. He is drawn into the maelstrom plot line and we immediately know that hero and heroine are destined for intimate things.

Mix in a setting and subject matter that is global in reach, affecting millions around the world and eliciting deep feelings. In this story it is not religion or religious artifacts but nothing less than proof of life elsewhere in the universe – extraterrestrials. While this subject seemed initially to lack the power at the center of his other two major novels, Brown manages to bolster this story line with the political intrigue surrounding a battle for the White House and the possibility of replacing NASA with a collection of companies from the private sector.

Blend these components at high speed for several hundred pages. As with the other novels this one proceeds at a staggeringly frenetic pace and all of the actions and resolutions are stuffed into a more-or-less twenty-four hour period. Dan Brown does not believe in providing any downtime for a reader to collect a breath or to reflect on what they've read.

Liberally season the mixture with high technology toys. Brown especially likes quasi-secret high speed aircraft which he uses to maximize the geographic boundaries available to his characters. His use of technology is reminiscent of some of Tom Clancy's works although Brown manages to keep the high-tech toys as tools to move the plot along instead of making them the point of the entire novel.

Bake until perfectly done. There are multiple story lines developed and carried forward by the non-stop action and they all have perfect endings. The good guys and gals always triumph – completely, grandly and very publicly – and all the bad guys are vanquished – effectively, publicly and, in many cases, permanently.

In short this is a Dan Brown formula book. But the good news is that it, like his other novels, is a quick and very engaging read. If you are looking for great literature with timeless themes and the development of deep and complex characters you will have to look elsewhere. If you are looking for a page-turner with aspects that could have been extracted from the morning paper and which just might keep you up late reading, then this is a book for you.

I recommend this book with caveats. If you liked 'daVinci Code' or 'Saints and Sinners' read this one, too. If you didn't like them you most likely won't like this one either.

My first Dan Brown read after Da Vinci Code - convinced me to buy yet another one.