A book review from that Guy Named David:

The DaVinci Code, by Dan Brown (A-)

This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I was impressed with his ability to keep the story moving (despite the exhaustive historical references) and constantly provide new twists that made the book a real page turner. The story centers around the murder of the curator at the Louvre. As the book progresses, the main characters begin to link the curator's murder to an ancient society descended from the Knights of Templar that included such historic figures as Leonardo Da Vinci, Isaac Newton, and Victor Hugo. The characters find one puzzle after another that begins to show that the murder was part of a massive plan to ensure that the secrets regarding this society and its ties to the Holy Grail will never be made public. I know that the book has taken some heat for its portrayal of the Catholic Church (and the assertions that Brown lifted from Holy Blood, Holy Grail regarding Jesus's relationship with Mary Magdalene); however, if you keep in mind that this a piece of fiction and not view the religious storyline as Gospel (no pun intended), it makes for a fun read. Good book to read on a weekend when it's nasty outside and you have nothing better to do for the entire day.