I borrowed this from my father-in-law; like nearly everyone else, I'd read The Da Vinci Code earlier this year & was interested in seeing what else Brown had done.

Rachel Sexton, a data analyst/gister for the National Reconnaissance Office, is asked by the President of the United States to go on a rather unusual (and very secret) mission. She finds this odd, as her estranged father is currently running against the current President. This mission takes her to Antarctica, where she is asked to evaluate the veracity of a meteorite that contains fossils. Other experts, including the dashing oceanographer Michael Tolland (who oh-so-conveniently is recently widowed) are onsite as well, providing their input. However, as confusing evidence starts coming to light, people associated with the project start disappearing. Who has something to hide, and how far are they willing to go to save it?

This book reads like a combination of Michael Crichton & Tom Clancy; whether that's a good thing or not depends on your tastes. It starts out a bit slow, but the action is soon non-stop, with the intrigue, heavy-handed foreshadowing and hairs'-breadth escapes from certain death fitting the stereotypical thriller mold. There's a couple of interesting notions in the book; but nothing nearly as intellectual-appearing as the DVC.

I'd classify it as a beach read - the equivalent of summer blockbuster movies. IMHO, it was written with an eye to becoming a Major Motion Picture; so if you go in expecting to roll your eyes occasionally at the coincidences, and are willing to expend some literary adrenaline, you'll probably be mildly entertained.