The verdict from the literary establishment is in, and for Dan Brown's latest offering, 'The Secret of Secrets', it is utterly damning. The newest Robert Langdon adventure has been met with a critical mauling of spectacular proportions, being labelled as "weapons-grade nonsense from beginning to end".
Fans hoping for a return to the cryptic form of 'The Da Vinci Code' may be sorely disappointed. Critics argue that Brown's signature formula of art-history-meets-conspiracy-theory has not so much evolved as it has decayed into self-parody. The novel's plot, which once again sees symbologist Langdon racing against time to solve a world-threatening mystery, is described as a convoluted and utterly implausible affair.
A Symphony of Clichés and Absurdity
The review pulls no punches, highlighting the author's reliance on well-worn tropes and excruciating prose. The dialogue is reportedly peppered with exposition so clunky it threatens to derail any semblance of narrative momentum. Characters, it seems, exist not as believable people but as mere vessels for delivering increasingly absurd plot points and historical factoids.
Rather than building genuine suspense, the novel is accused of relying on a relentless barrage of cheap cliffhangers and short chapters designed to simulate pace where none truly exists. The central 'secrets' themselves are reportedly so anticlimactic and poorly conceived that they fail to justify the labyrinthine and often ridiculous journey to uncover them.
More Fizzle Than Pop
In the end, 'The Secret of Secrets' is painted as a spectacular misfire. It appears to be a novel that takes itself incredibly seriously while simultaneously offering a plot and prose so outlandish that it becomes impossible to do the same as a reader. For critics, this isn't just a bad book; it's a fascinating case study in how a bestselling formula can collapse under the weight of its own absurdity.
While Brown's legions of fans will undoubtedly still flock to this latest release, the critical consensus suggests that 'The Secret of Secrets' is less a thrilling puzzle and more a jumble of nonsense pieces that never form a coherent or satisfying picture.
