Thriller Review: Angels and Demons (Robert Langdon #1) by Dan Brown

- September 14, 2025

Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,

Secret of Secrets had its official release last Tuesday. To celebrate, let's visit books one through five.

Angels and Demons is the first novel chronologically in the Robert Langdon series of adventure novels written by Dan Brown. The edition that I read was published by Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. In it, we are introduced to Professor Robert Langdon. A famous symbologist, his work researching the Illuminati in the past drew him into the academic spotlight. Comfortable in his position as a Harvard professor, Langdon has led a quiet life; this changes when Langdon travels to Geneva, Switzerland. There, he meets with Maximillian Kohler at his CERN research facility. A fellow scientist named Leonardo Vetra has been murdered. On the dead man's chest is branded the name Illuminati.

Upon inspecting the lab, it is discovered that a large sample of the dangerous experiment was stolen from CERN. As the story unfolds, all evidence leads to the assumption that the Vatican may have been infiltrated by the Illuminati. Robert heads to Vatican City to meet with the recently deceased Pope's camerlengo, Carlo Ventresca, who is dealing with the added disappearance of four Cardinals. Can Robert help find the missing holy men and stolen experiment before Vatican City becomes a crater in the Earth?

Angels and Demons is a tale of espionage and adventure. Brown's richly researched narrative is filled with real locations. I loved how interactive this novel was, as I researched the places mentioned. The story was fast-paced and filled with suspects. Dan Brown's ability to trick the reader was devilish. Even when I believed that I had figured out who was behind the entire plot, I was proven wrong. And the twist at the end was so incredible, I was left breathless.

I read this book in part with the narration of actor Richard Poe. His smooth voice and grasp of accents drove this book along quickly, accentuating the adventure. A narrator of hundreds of audio works, his skill has earned him many accolades. Excellent work!

Angels and Demons is the definition of an adventure novel. It is filled with daring escapes, evil villains, and a rich tapestry that presents the story. I loved this novel and gave it five stars. If you love grand adventure and great mystery, Angels and Demons is the perfect novel for you.

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