The Da Vinci Code

Unabridged
Author: Dan Brown
Narrator: Paul Michael
Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
Publisher: Random House (Audio)
Date: October 2003
Length: 16 hours
Ratings:
Formats:
  • CD
Abridged
Author: Dan Brown
Narrator: Colin Stinton
Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
Publisher: Random House (Audio)
Date: March 2003
Length: 6 hours
Ratings:
  • Book Rating: 4/5
Formats:
  • CD
  • iPod

Overview

With The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown masterfully concocts an intelligent and lucid thriller that marries the gusto of an international murder mystery with a collection of fascinating esoteria culled from 2,000 years of Western history.
A murder in the silent after-hour halls of the Louvre museum reveals a sinister plot to uncover a secret that has been protected by a clandestine society since the days of Christ. The victim is a high-ranking agent of this ancient society who, in the moments before his death, manages to leave gruesome clues at the scene that only his granddaughter, noted cryptographer Sophie Neveu, and Robert Langdon, a famed symbologist, can untangle. The duo become both suspects and detectives searching for not only Neveu's father's murderer but also the stunning secret of the ages he was charged to protect. Mere steps ahead of the authorities and the deadly competition, the mystery leads Neveu and Langdon on a breathless flight through France, England, and history itself.

Brown (Angels and Demons) has created a page-turning thriller that also provides an amazing interpretation of Western history. Brown's hero and heroine embark on a lofty and intriguing exploration of some of Western culture's greatest mysteries--from the nature of the Mona Lisa's smile to the secret of the Holy Grail. Though some will quibble with the veracity of Brown's conjectures, therein lies the fun. The Da Vinci Code is an enthralling read that provides rich food for thought.

Reviews (114)

Listen to Angels and Demons First

Written by Mark on August 5th, 2008

  • Book Rating: 4/5

I am happy I listened to Angels and Demons first. This book makes references to that and it was good as not to be lost. A good book that once it got started did not have many stopping points so it went very quickly.

Da Vinci Code

Written by Peggy Stortz on May 19th, 2008

  • Book Rating: 2/5

This one did not live up to the hype. Lots of "thrilling near deaths" loosely linked together by a complicated plot and medieval clues and everyone not who they appeared to be - very predictable. I also did not like the narrator, his really extreme fake accents, especially when he was supposed to be a woman, were very off-putting. I wanted to like this one, but didn't.

Da Vinci Code

Written by Anonymous on April 28th, 2008

  • Book Rating: 2/5

This Story is sadly lacking. It was a mediocre murder mystery dressed up in a controversial conspiracy that is 1700 years old ad done with. Though I do have to give him credit for the clues they were well thought out and intriguing.

Da Vinci Code

Written by Anonymous on January 23rd, 2008

  • Book Rating: 5/5

This was a great book! It held my interest the entire time.

The Da Vinci Code

Written by Anonymous on January 10th, 2008

  • Book Rating: 5/5

I really enjoyed this book. I was hesitant on renting it because I had seen the movie several times, but I am glad that I did. The book has a lot more details than the movie.

DaVinci

Written by Anonymous on January 8th, 2008

  • Book Rating: 4/5

This was a good one to keep your attention. Disc trouble on several of the later disks.

Da Vinci Code

Written by Anonymous on January 1st, 2008

  • Book Rating: 2/5

Overall, it's an OK book. I had a problem with the CD skipping a couple of chapters but I'm not sure if that would have made a difference in my review. The narrator wasn't that great, but I'm new to audio books. I'm sure I'll get used to it.

Da Vinci Code

Written by Anonymous on December 10th, 2007

  • Book Rating: 4/5

Excellent book. Kept me very interest the whole time.

Da Vinci Code

Written by Danayi on November 5th, 2007

  • Book Rating: 4/5

I felt this audio book was great. Towards the ends I was beginning to get a bit impatient and was wanting it to end. Overall though I really enjoyed listening to this book. It was easy to understand and kept me on the edge of my seat.

the da vinci code

Written by Shirley Haney on September 24th, 2007

  • Book Rating: 5/5

this was a great book, cant wait to see the movie.

Author Details

Author Details

Brown, Dan

"Dan Brown is the author of numerous bestselling novels, including the #1 New York Times bestseller, The Da Vinci Code. He is a graduate of Amherst College and Phillips Exeter Academy, where he spent time as an English teacher before turning his efforts fully to writing.

In 1996, Dan?s interest in code-breaking and covert government agencies led him to write his first novel, Digital Fortress, which quickly became a #1 national bestselling eBook. Set within the clandestine National Security Agency, the novel explores the fine line between civilian privacy and national security. Brown?s follow-up techno-thriller, Deception Point, centered on similar issues of morality in politics, national security, and classified technology.

The son of a Presidential Award winning math professor and of a professional sacred musician, Dan grew up surrounded by the paradoxical philosophies of science and religion. These complementary perspectives served as inspiration for his acclaimed novel Angels & Demons?a science vs. religion thriller set within a Swiss physics lab and Vatican City. Recently, he has begun work on a series of symbology thrillers featuring his popular protagonist Robert Langdon, a Harvard professor of iconography and religious art. The upcoming series will include books set in Paris, London, and Washington D.C.

Dan?s wife Blythe?an art historian and painter?collaborates on his research and accompanies him on his frequent research trips, their latest to Paris, where they spent time in the Louvre for his new thriller, The Da Vinci Code.

In its first week on sale, The Da Vinci Code achieved unprecedented success when it debuted at #1 on The New York Times Bestseller list, simultaneously topping bestseller lists at The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and San Francisco Chronicle. Later, the book went on to hit #1 on virtually every major national bestseller list. Dan Brown's novels have been translated and published around the world. He is currently at work on another book."