Inferno

A Novel

By: Dan Brown

Narrated by: Paul Michael

Length: 17 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 WORLDWIDE BESTSELLER • Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon awakens in an Italian hospital, disoriented and with no recollection of the past thirty-six hours, including the origin of the macabre object hidden in his belongings.

“One hell of a good read.... As close as a book can come to a summertime cinematic blockbuster.” —USA Today

“A diverting thriller.” —Entertainment Weekly

With a relentless female assassin trailing them through Florence, he and his resourceful doctor, Sienna Brooks, are forced to flee.

Embarking on a harrowing journey, they must unravel a series of codes, which are the work of a brilliant scientist whose obsession with the end of the world is matched only by his passion for one of the most influential masterpieces ever written, Dante Alighieri's The Inferno.

Dan Brown has raised the bar yet again, combining classical Italian art, history, and literature with cutting-edge science in this captivating thriller.

©2013 Dan Brown (P)2013 Random House Audio

If you've read one Dan Brown book...

I can't be the only one here that has noticed that the plot of every Robert Langdon novel is pretty much the same. Have Robert meet up with a stranger right in the beginning who will be an important sidekick throughout the novel. This character will likely be a woman who can be a potential but reluctant love interest, since there is a history of failed relationships (especially in the novels). Then, you find some way to take the novel it Italy or make many references to the country throughout the novel. Then you bring in a good guy who has been working with the bad guy. Have a few mistakes and misinterpretations of symbols as you chase around physical locations and then tie it all together. Also, don't forget to mention a Mickey Mouse watch, a Harris Tweed jacket and other wardrobe effects, because just those two specifics are worth mentioning over and over and over again when you cant figure out how to fill the pages with an actual relevant plot.

Good Story, Excellent Narration, Predictable

Would you try another book from Dan Brown and/or Paul Michael?

Possibly, after reading two others the writer has become predictable.

Would you be willing to try another book from Dan Brown? Why or why not?

Possibly, after reading two others the writer has become predictable.

Which scene was your favorite?

The location information and historical information is always a plus.

Any additional comments?

This series seems to be the same basic premise over and over again. They're not a bad read at all, but if you've read one you will quickly predict what will happen in the next.

Not up to expectations

Would you try another book from Dan Brown and/or Paul Michael?

Probably, but I'd read the reviews first.

What could Dan Brown have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

A better plot. It seemed to be a stretch in all ways

What about Paul Michael’s performance did you like?

He made the listen much more enjoyable. A real professional

Do you think Inferno needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No.

Same Ol' Dan Brown (in a good way)

While Angels & Demons still is my favorite of the Robert Langdon books, I enjoyed Inferno. It's a good story, and offers up lots of both historical and modern points of discussion. I know Brown likes to muddle history a bit, but you have to give it to him - he knows how to get your mind going. I spent half a semester in college discussing the Knights Templar and their role in The Da Vinci Code. This book will get you thinking.

Under-developed Villainy

I gotta admit -- I was rooting a bit for the "bad" guy here...in other words, he's no so bad. Dan Brown takes on over-population crisis in Inferno, and interestingly tackles Dante (perhaps to one-up Dante's Club...not sure that either author truly succeeds though) . As always the scholarship and art/symbology detail is compellingly rendered to the lay reader.

BUT the story's got a problem in that the villain isn't really....a villain, and the novel's contrivances are, well...contrived. There's a new TV show on that I don't really much care for called "Motive," and the show doesn't in my mind succeed because it sacrifices character and believability and story telling to....Motive alone-- the moving force. Well, the villain's motives here are not as misguided as they need to be in a thriller. In the back half of the book I was thinking...okay...is this really so bad? The book's faults seem to be to echo the television show's faults --that motive is important but just one dimension of a superb story.

So the arc of the book falters. What to do? There's a good message there, but the book as a thriller falls flat in the back half. I'd tell people to listen if they like Dan Brown, the wonderful info he unearths about art history is valuable...but Inferno just doesn't reach the level of his previous works in terms of REAL drama and villainy! There are a few quips in the book about the author not getting books out quickly enough for publisher/contracts and I kind of have a feeling that Brown could have spent few more years shaping this one, and that the pressure was on to shove it into print.

Mixed feelings

If you could sum up Inferno in three words, what would they be?

Fast and furious

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

1. Too many details and descriptions of touristic places, some parts seem a travel guide. 2. It is ok to misguide readers, but suddenly changing everything in 2 pages seems odd and a bit of cheating. 3. The big question remains: what's the point of all that treasure hunting and clues? The second part of the book dismisses the need of the first part.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

Great for fast readers, but if you take your time and question why and what for....you realize Brown's craft at writing best-seller formats is unquestionable, the mix of interesting data as a way to lead the treasure hunting is very interesting, but it seems like he had all this information well organized and prepared to guide from one point to another and then he had to add a context and hurriedly made something up while looking for effect, but it really doesn't blend in well.

Intelligent idea, frantic reading, great material for a special effects movie, but disappointing plot coherence.

Great Thriller!

Any additional comments?

This was a great summer read and a wonderful performance by the reader. This book kept me interested until the very end!

Another great Thriller by Dan Brown!!!

The latest installment takes Robert Langdon on another non-stop roller coaster ride. Entertaining and thought provoking from beginning to end.

Great Read!

What made the experience of listening to Inferno the most enjoyable?

Story kept me listening intently. This is another Dan Brown success. The performance was very good, but there were parts that were slurred, requiring a second listen. Overall, recommend this highly.

Last Langdon

Not as good as The Lost Symbol. There is less suspense and not enough thrill.