Inferno

Overview and Pacing

This is the fourth book in the series, and wow—it pains me to say this, but it was a very frustrating read compared to the others. The first ten pages moved quickly, and I thought, great, we’re back to the familiar pace of book one. But then it slipped into a slow slog. For about half the book, I found the pacing tedious, dull, and honestly a bit boring. The good news is that the last 50% was fantastic and completely redeemed the experience.

Character Depth and Narrative Focus

Multiple characters are introduced in this book, and they actually have depth and meaningful roles throughout the entire story. This was refreshing, since earlier books in the series sometimes introduced characters who barely contributed or disappeared quickly. In this installment, many of them play active roles from beginning to end.

One major difference—without giving away too much—is that the initial antagonist is really only there to set up the story and is killed off early. That alone makes the book feel very different from the others in the series.

Interestingly, Robert Langdon is also portrayed a bit differently this time. He still serves as the central figure, but he’s cast almost as a villain at first and begins the story as the hunted rather than the expert being called in to solve the mystery. It’s a clever twist and a refreshing setup, making him more entangled in the drama instead of simply analyzing it from the outside.

Plot, Setting, and Historical Integration

The plot here was, of course, familiar, but this time it included small touches of religious context mixed with the opposite—an anti‑divine, almost hellish theme—which was actually a cool twist. The religious artifacts were sprinkled in, the art was sprinkled in, but the real focus shifted toward the underworld, which flipped the script a bit.

The book also introduced newer technologies and explored current dilemmas—not just religious ones, but medical and philosophical questions about human existence.

That’s part of what made this a frustrating read for me. The second half of the book was fantastic, but I think my frustration came from not expecting the story to start the way it did. It had a very different vibe. Still, in true Dan Brown fashion, all the elements he introduced—even the ones that seemed unimportant—were eventually woven back into the narrative and tied together tightly. It just took a lot of setup in the first half to get to the payoff in the second.

If you want, I can help you combine all your revised sections into a single, cohesive review.

Series Connections and Thematic Analysis

This book was a bit longer than the others, and I suspect that’s because the first part required a much larger setup. It also had more flashbacks—or should I say, more moments where the main character drifted off into deep thought or reflection—which slowed things down. Personally, I would’ve preferred fewer introspective detours and a bit more straightforward storytelling.

As always, though, the art and locations are real, and if you take the time to look them up, it becomes a fantastic learning experience. Dan Brown practically doubles as your travel agent and art history professor.

At the end of the day, I couldn’t give this one the same five stars I gave the others. I didn’t love the start, and it felt like it strayed from the usual rhythm of the series. That said, the second half was excellent—I genuinely couldn’t put it down. It took me five days to finish this book, one day longer than the others, mainly because the first half nearly put me to sleep while the second half kept me wide awake and glued to the pages.

Onto Book 5 “Origin”