Characters

• Rachel Sexton: A White House intelligence analyst and the daughter of Senator Sexton. She is sent to verify NASA's meteorite discovery.
• Michael Tolland: A charismatic oceanographer and TV personality who assists Rachel in her mission and develops romantic feelings for her.
• President Zachary Herney: The incumbent US President, who supports NASA and hopes the meteorite discovery will aid his re-election campaign.
• Senator Sedgewick Sexton: Rachel's estranged father and presidential candidate who opposes NASA funding.
• William Pickering: Director of the National Reconnaissance Office and secret mastermind behind the meteorite hoax.
• Marjorie Tench: Senior adviser to President Herney, who attempts to sabotage Sexton's campaign.
• Gabrielle Ashe: Senator Sexton's aide and former mistress, who uncovers NASA's deception.
• Corky Marlinson: Astrophysicist on the authentication team who strongly believes in the meteorite's authenticity.
• Norah Mangor: Tough glaciologist on the authentication team who is killed early in the story.
• Wailee Ming: Paleontologist on the authentication team who is also killed early on.
• Delta Force team: The three-man squad under Pickering's command tasked with eliminating threats to the meteorite hoax.

Quick facts

• Deception Point was Dan Brown's third novel, published in 2001 before The Da Vinci Code made him famous.
• Brown wrote much of the book while teaching English at Phillips Exeter Academy.
• Deception Point features a female protagonist, Rachel Sexton, which was unusual for Brown's early works.
• Many of the scientific concepts in the novel, including the meteorite discovery, are based on real scientific possibilities and theories.
• The book's plot involves NASA, which Brown thoroughly researched to make the details as accurate as possible.
• Unlike most of Brown's works, Deception Point is a standalone novel and does not feature recurring characters like Robert Langdon.
• Deception Point explores themes of political corruption and the ethics of scientific research.
• The book's title refers to the act of deception at the heart of the plot, involving the discovery of a fake meteorite.
The novel’s Arctic setting was inspired by Brown's fascination with extreme environments.
• Deception Point became a New York Times bestseller.

About the author

Dan Brown is a bestselling American author known for his thrillers, particularly the Robert Langdon series. His breakthrough came with his fourth novel, The Da Vinci Code, published in 2003. The book became an international phenomenon, selling more than 80 million copies worldwide and inspiring a successful film adaptation. His other popular works include Angels & Demons, The Lost Symbol, Inferno, and Origin—all part of the Robert Langdon series featuring the Harvard symbologist solving complex mysteries often involving history, art, religious icons, and conspiracy theories. His books have been translated into 57 languages and sold more than 200 million copies.

Born in 1964 in New Hampshire, Brown grew up on the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy where his father taught mathematics. After graduating from Amherst College, he initially pursued a career in music before turning to writing full-time in 1996.

Beyond his literary success, Brown has engaged in philanthropic efforts, including donations to his alma maters Phillips Exeter Academy and Amherst College. He has also faced legal challenges, successfully defending against multiple copyright infringement claims related to The Da Vinci Code. He continues to write and remains one of the world's most commercially successful authors.