Bush v Kerry this ain't (Deception Point - Dan Brown)

Member Name: grahamt

Product:	Deception Point - Dan Brown
Date:	11/10/04 (226 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast paced, Well written

Disadvantages: Credible story line???

I have now read all four of Dan Brown's novels. I started with The Da Vinci Code and have just finished Deception Point. So, I suppose it's about time to cast a judgement and give you a review of Deception Point. I'll try to get around to the others later.

Deception Point is the third of Brown's novels. Like the others the plot does stretch the credulity to the limit. The story line is centred around a Presidential election where the incumbent (Zack Herney), all round nice guy, is coming under heavy criticism by his shady opponent (Senator Sedgewick Sexton) for his support of NASA.

NASA is being portrayed as a bottomless money pit, producing nothing of real value to the American Nation. Sexton supports the privitisation of space and wants to see NASA “privitised”. Who is funding his campaign? Could it be those commercial organisations most likely to benefit from his stance?

What Herney needs is a coup, to prove that NASA is an organisation that needs to be preserved. This would pull the rug from under Sexton and hand the election on a plate to Herney. It seems that just such an discovery is going to fall in his lap.

Complicating the whole situation though is Sexton's daughter, Rachel. Rachel is not close to her father, indeed, she barely conceals her dislike of him. Senator Sexton is a womaniser and a power-hungry politician who gives the appearance that he would stop at nothing to achieve the ultimate prize, the Presidency of the United States.

Rachel is a scentific analyst working for the National Reconnaisance Office. Her job is to reduce mountains of technical data into brief, accurate, comprehensible information. Herney will ask her to use her skills to authenticate NASA's discovery.

The other major player is Michael Tolland, presenter of a TV scientific documentary series and described as “...a cross between Jacques Cousteau and Carl Sagan, an all round hunk. He is also called upon to validate the discovery. Between them, Rachel and Michael will find themselves in very hot, or should that be, very cold water.

The story opens with a murder, aparticularly gruesome one and one that has no immediately apparent connection to the story, but all becomes clear later. It takes place on the Arctic ice sheet, as does much of the action. The murder is carried out by a Delta Force team (popularised by Chuck Norris movies) so it's clear that somewhere there is some official involvement, the question is, whose pulling the strings.

The NASA discovery, when revealed, does immediately cast doubts. What is really happening here? Is this genuine? Is this fake? Who's behind it? Who will get killed because of it and why?

As with all of Brown's stories, the pace is relentless. So long as you find the storyline plausible then the you will enjoy the ride. I have to say that the easy with which some of the characters come to conclusions based on very sketchy data does stretch the credibility. However, there are many other authors who successfully tread the same path so I suppose Brown is in a select band.

Can I recommend Deception Point? Well, it is an enjoyable read. I have to say that Frederick Forsyth and Wilbur Smith do do this sort of thing better. I suggest you read one for yourself, perhaps Deception Point and judge whether he's for you.

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