Deception Point
Overview: When a new NASA satellite spots evidence of an astonishingly rare object buried deep in the Arctic ice, the floundering space agency proclaims a much-needed victory…a victory that has profound implications for U.S. space policy and the impending presidential election. With the Oval Office in the balance, the President dispatches White House Intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton to the Milne Ice Shelf to verify the authenticity of the find. Accompanied by a team of experts, including the charismatic academic Michael Tolland, Rachel uncovers the unthinkable: evidence of scientific trickery — a bold deception that threatens to plunge the world into controversy. But before Rachel can contact the President, she and Michael are attacked by a deadly team of assassins controlled by a mysterious power broker who will stop at nothing to hide the truth. Fleeing for their lives in an environment as desolate as it is lethal, their only hope for survival is to find out who is behind this masterful ploy.
Pages: 384 Pages
Writer: Dan Brown
Recommendations: A Time to Kill By John Grisham – Bourne Identity, The By Robert Ludlum
Review By: Jason Schulte
Rating: 
I made a valiant effort to refrain from judging this book solely based on the author. In my humble opinion, this is Dan Brown’s weakest literary creation. Does that automatically make it a literary disaster? Not necessarily. It simply means it didn’t quite meet the sky-high expectations we typically associate with Dan Brown. The narrative primarily revolves around Rachel Sexton, whose father is vying for the presidency at a hefty cost. Rachel, not exactly a cheerleader for her father, agrees that he would make a disastrous leader. However, when the current President summons her to confirm a groundbreaking NASA discovery, Rachel reluctantly agrees. Little does she know, this decision plunges her into a labyrinth of deceit. Will she and her comrades emerge unscathed from this web of lies?
The storyline has its peaks and valleys. It’s evident that this was one of Dan Brown’s earlier works, lacking the finesse of his more renowned pieces. Despite its flaws, it’s a decent read that zips by swiftly. I do take issue with the staggering body count. I mean, come on, with that many casualties, someone’s bound to start asking questions, right? No amount of deception can completely mask such a massacre. While the plot does throw in a surprising twist, the overall outcome is somewhat predictable. I also find it hard to believe how effortlessly the main characters evade highly trained pursuers. These may seem like minor gripes, but they’re worth mentioning nonetheless. Nevertheless, it’s an enjoyable read that won’t eat up too much of your time.