Book Review | Deception Point | Dan Brown

Bad Luck And Trouble: (Jack Reacher 11)

From a helicopter high above the empty California desert, a man is sent free-falling into the night…. In Chicago, a woman learns that an elite team of ex–army investigators is being hunted down one by one…. And on the streets of Portland, Jack Reacher—soldier, cop, hero—is pulled out of his wandering life by a code that few other people could understand. From the first shocking scenes in Lee Child’s explosive new novel, Jack Reacher is plunged like a knife into the heart of a conspiracy that is killing old friends…and is on its way to something even worse.

A decade postmilitary, Reacher has an ATM card and the clothes on his back—no phone, no ties, and no address. But now a woman from his old unit has done the impossible. From Chicago, Frances Neagley finds Reacher, using a signal only the eight members of their elite team of army investigators would know. She tells him a terrifying story—about the brutal death of a man they both served with. Soon Reacher is reuniting with the survivors of his old team, scrambling to raise the living, bury the dead, and connect the dots in a mystery that is growing darker by the day. The deeper they dig, the more they don’ t know: about two other comrades who have suddenly gone missing—and a trail that leads into the neon of Vegas and the darkness of international terrorism.

For now, Reacher can only react. To every sound. Every suspicion. Every scent and every moment. Then Reacher will trust the people he once trusted with his life—and take this thing all the way to the end. Because in a world of bad luck and trouble, when someone targets Jack Reacher and his team, they’d better be ready for what comes right back at them…

About Author

Lee Child is one of the world’s leading thriller writers. He was born in Coventry, raised in Birmingham, and now lives in New York. It is said one of his novels featuring his hero Jack Reacher is sold somewhere in the world every nine seconds. His books consistently achieve the number-one slot on bestseller lists around the world and have sold over one hundred million copies. Two blockbusting Jack Reacher movies have been made so far. He is the recipient of many awards, most recently Author of the Year at the 2019 British Book Awards. He was appointed CBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

I was a little apprehensive and far too excited for this one. I have heard good things about Dan Brown, and this was going to be my first. You know the excitment and the thrill of it, don’t you?

Review

First thing first, a confession. For a reader who’s reading Dan Brown the first time, it was a bit too much to handle. The premise was intriguing, the characters engaging, but the plot was overwhelming.

I read the prologue, and my first reaction was like: What’s with crime thriller novels and people being thrown out of the helicopter? The last book I read, throwing people out of the helicopter in the middle of California desert was “the thing” that bad guys did. This one started exactly on the same note and I was like… Is this a coincidence? Then I shrugged. I was thinking like Jack Reacher, and you can’t blame me.

The Intriguing Premise

The story kicks off with the discovery of a meteorite in the Arctic ice, potentially containing evidence of extraterrestrial life. This throws NASA into a frenzy, as the implications are monumental. But things get complicated when Rachel Sexton, a gister, stumbles upon inconsistencies in the data surrounding the discovery. Enter Michael Tolland, a maverick oceanographer, who joins Rachel on a mission to uncover the truth.

Engaging Characters, Complex Plot

The characters are a highlight. Rachel is a sharp and resourceful protagonist, while Tolland provides a healthy dose of humor and scientific expertise. However, the plot can be quite complex. Brown throws in a lot of scientific and political jargon, alongside secret societies, hidden agendas, and government conspiracies. This can be overwhelming for a first-time reader. I was so overwhelmed by Rachel’s journey. I mean, the woman could not catch a break. A break could not be caught. From three Milne Ice Shelf adventures to several on Goya, it became almost suffocating at one point.

Also, the first page of the books claimed that all the technologies mentioned are real. I was like, what technologies? Then I found out. The book was littered with so much technical explanation that after a while you’ve no option except to skip it. Which brings me to the next section–how to survive this book.

Navigating the Complexity

Focus on the Central Mystery: I tried not to get bogged down in every scientific detail. The core of the story is about the truth behind the meteorite and the motivations of the characters.
Embrace the Ride: Brown’s novels are thrillers, meant to be fast-paced and exciting. Don’t get hung up on every plot twist, just enjoy the ride. Skip a few pages.
Look Up the Lingo: If you encounter a scientific term you don’t understand, a quick internet search can help clarify things without taking away from the story.

The coded note at the last page, for instance, piqued my interest and I looked up. Nicely done.

The Verdict

A good story, but maybe should not have been my introduction to DB.

“Deception Point” seemingly has all the hallmarks of a classic Dan Brown novel – a thrilling plot, interesting characters, and a dash of controversy. However, its complexity might not be ideal for first-time readers like me. What I have in mind now is to first read “a little bit” about other books, look for reviews that mention the complexity of the plot before diving into another Brown novel.
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You can buy Bad Luck and Trouble

Stay tuned for more book reviews.

Until next time, happy reading!

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Shabana Mukhtar

The Other Me Unfolded