So Dan Brown is finally back after a gap of 4 years with his latest book titled 'Inferno'. The book is loosely based on Dante's 'Divine comedy' which includes a part known as inferno. Inferno literally means 'hell' in Italian and this book aims to show us a future where earth in itself has become a 'living hell'. The antagonist of the book , a lunatic scientist (a standard combination) wants to unleash the next 'plague' for he fears that overpopulation is finally going to engulf the planet and wipe out mankind all together.
The story is set against the backdrop of Florence, Venice and finally Istanbul. Robert langdon the 'symbology' professor from Harvard is back in the thick of things and the story kicks off in an unusual fashion from a hospital in Florence. The plot is full of twists , naturally brown but sometimes the reader is made to feel as if there was a twist just for the sake of one.This is where the book is big let-down. Also, it's the same old story of langdon trying to evade authorities with the help of someone, albeit this time his female companion is a child prodigy and is described as being much smarter than the professor. There is a sense of deja vu to the whole mix. The detailing as usual is top notch and the locations are described very vividly with a sense of flawless perfection. The author has visited all the locations described in the book personally, so expect nothing less.
So where does the book strike the right notes? Well the characterization of the megalomaniac villain is quite good, though for most parts of the book he is dead. Langdon's female companion Dr. Sienna Brooks too comes across a whiff of fresh air, but she too has an agenda of her own as one soon finds out. The depictions of all paintings and references to Dante's works are quite good as well. Also, the problem of overpopulation which forms the crux of the story is quite relevant in today's world. Having said that the ending is rather tame and unconvincing and might even seem ambiguous. This is certainly not brown's best work to date and falls short of his usually high standards.
Verdict : If you haven't read many books involving langdon, then this book might be highly appealing and great. If you have read most of the langdon series then don't expect too much as this is only 'old wine in a new bottle'. Give it a read nonetheless