I’m writing this review with a slight grin. Intentions matter when approaching a book like The Da Vinci Code.
If you’re Catholic and the word “heresy” gets your blood pressure up, you might want to skip this one. If you're looking for a serious, educational deep dive into Church history—also not the book for you. But if you're in the mood for a fast-paced adventure that tosses out some wildly speculative (and baseless) ideas about the Catholic Church with dramatic flair—well, have I got a book for you.
Dan Brown has many critics, and often he’s called clunky or overly dramatic in his writing. While that may be true, he’s undeniably effective at keeping readers turning pages. The pacing is relentless, and while some dialogue is groan-worthy, you’ll likely keep going anyway.
I’d stress again: with a book like this, the appeal isn’t accuracy; it’s audacity. Brown throws art, religion, secret societies, ancient texts, and modern scandals into a blender and serves up a conspiracy smoothie that’s tough to put down—even if most of it is nonsense.
If you read this book, just know you're signing up not for a theological treatise, but a popcorn thriller dressed in Vatican robes.
This may kill my career as a film critic before it has even begun, but I am partial to the movies.