The Lost Symbol follows Robert Langdon on yet another journey of murder, mysticism, and mayhem. The Harvard professor of religious symbology, who previously found himself among strangers in Switzerland, Italy, and France, is now working with old friends in his nation’s capital.

The story begins when Langdon receives a phone call from the assistant of an old friend, Peter Solomon. The man explains that Solomon is hosting a gala and would like Langdon to read his lecture on the Freemasons. Langdon heads off to Washington, D.C., only to discover an empty reception hall, save for the severed hand of Peter Solomon.

Langdon works closely with FBI instructor, Inoue Sato, Warren Bellamy (architect of the Capitol), and Solomon’s sister Katherine to find the man responsible for Solomon’s kidnapping, who goes by the name Mal’akh.

As with The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, Brown’s latest story takes place during one 24-hour period. Langdon and Katherine travel across Washington deciphering ancient clues left by the founding fathers (most of whom were Masons) so they can find the “lost symbol” and use it as a bartering chip to get back their dear friend.

Brown has been attacked by critics for providing false information in his books. However, like many authors, he merely contorts minor details of the truth to fit his story. Just because some of the ideas are farfetched and contrary to popular belief does not mean they are incorrect. Readers need to open their minds to the possibility.

With surprising twists and tricks around every corner, blood-pumping suspense, and a few truths that may cause your head to whirl, The Lost Symbol is a book none should miss.

According to Nielsen BookScan, book sales in September were down 3.2% year-on-year in value terms, according to industry statisticians Nielsen BookScan. In BookScan’s Total Consumer Market panel of some 6,500 book retail outlets, spending at UK booksellers totalled £132.2m during the four weeks to 2nd October, while volume sales were down 2.5% to 16.5m. Average selling prices were down 0.7% (six pence) to £8.03.

Despite till takings in the month of September being the highest of the year so far, sales were down on a strong 2009 when Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol (Bantam Press) hit the shelves in hardback and sold a massive 805,000 copies (taking £6.9m through the tills) in under three weeks. Strip that unique title out of the data and sales in September 2010 would be up 2% year-on-year in value terms.
Bestsellers in the month of September this year include Lee Child’s 61 Hours (119,608 copies sold), Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy (269,000 combined), Jilly Cooper’s Jump! (49,500), Tony Blair’s A Journey (110,000), Stephen Fry’s The Fry Chronicles (84,700) and Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love (93,900).

Due to the success of Rhonda Byrne’s The Power, the follow-up to her bestselling The Secret, sales through BookScan’s “mind, body, spirit” category were up year on year, while the politics sector’s sales were boosted by the release of Keith Jeffery’s MI6 (Bloomsbury).

Meanwhile, thanks to new titles from Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson, food and drink sales were also ahead of last year. Children’s and young adult fiction sales were also strong thanks to bestsellers from the likes of Terry Pratchett, Stephenie Meyer, Derek Landy, Jeff Kinney and Robert Muchamore.

Conversely, and according to a similar analysis of BookScan’s Top 5,000 bestseller list over the four-week period, crime sales were well down on last year (due to Brown), as was spending within the reference, self-improvement, travel and school textbooks/study guides sectors.

September’s slump comes after two consecutive months of positive growth as sales were up marginally in both July (up 0.1% to £121.2m) and August (up 0.4% to £117.1m). Total spending in 2010 thus far now stands at £1.129bn — down 3.6% (£42.1m) year on year.

“The Lost Symbol broke every record when it was published – biggest and fastest-selling adult hardback fiction title, biggest-selling eBook, biggest print run from publisher Transworld,” said Waterstone’s fiction buyer Janine Cook.
‘Phenomenal’
“It’s not been far from the top of the charts since publication, and it’s a great gift, which is why it’s back on top.”
Brown last topped the Christmas book chart in 2004 with the paperback version of The Da Vinci Code.
The book was later made into a film, starring Tom Hanks, followed by one of his earlier books, Angels and Demons.
Alison Barrow, of Transworld Publishers, said Brown’s continuing popularity was “truly phenomenal”.
“It has been a most uplifting experience for everyone involved in the publication of The Lost Symbol and we feel very privileged to have been a part of its success,” she said.
“To be Christmas number one is very exciting indeed.”