The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, 2009, * *

This book's narrative takes place over a twelve-hour period and is set within the hidden chambers, tunnels and temples of the Freemasons. Freemasonry is a fraternal organization that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century and now exists in various forms all over the world.  The various forms all share moral and metaphysical ideals, which include, in most cases, a constitutional declaration of belief in a Supreme Being. As the story opens, Harvard symbologist Dr. Robert Langdon is summoned unexpectedly to deliver an evening lecture in the U.S. Capitol Building. Within minutes of his arrival, however, the night takes a bizarre turn and a disturbing object--artfully encoded with five symbols--is discovered in the Capitol Building. Langdon recognizes the object as an ancient invitation to usher its recipient into a long-lost world of esoteric wisdom. While this all sounds fascinating, The book follows  similar patterns in plot as Brown's previous books, which is wont to happen when the the same main charater is utilized. However, I was never convinced that Dan Brown could surpass the success of The DaVinci Code or Angels and Demons, and was disappointed in the writing inThe Lost Symbol.  Yet again, Dr. Robert Langdon is called upon to save the world from some menacing threat that only he can uncover but the mysteries and secrets of the Freemasons  didn't engage me as the other books had.