Author guide

Dan Brown Books in Order

Dan Brown is an American author best known for internationally bestselling thrillers combining historical research, religious symbolism, science, cryptography, and suspense. His Robert Langdon novels include Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol, Inferno, Origin, and The Secret of Secrets. He has also written the standalone thrillers Digital Fortress and Deception Point, the children's picture book Wild Symphony, and early humorous books co-created with Blythe Brown.

thrillermysteryhistorical fictionchildren's literaturehumor

Catalog record updated August 25, 2026.

Dan Brown's Newest Book

The Secret of Secrets

novel · First published 2025

Robert Langdon, esteemed professor of symbology, travels to Prague to attend a groundbreaking lecture by Katherine Solomon—a prominent noetic scientist with whom he has recently begun a relationship. Katherine is on the verge of publishing an explosive book that contains startling discoveries about the nature of human consciousness and threatens to disrupt centuries of established belief. But a brutal murder catapults the trip into chaos, and Katherine suddenly disappears along with her manuscript. Langdon finds himself targeted by a powerful organization and hunted by a chilling assailant sprung from Prague’s most ancient mythology. As the plot expands into London and New York, Langdon desperately searches for Katherine... and for answers. In a thrilling race through the dual worlds of futuristic science and mystical lore, he uncovers a shocking truth about a secret project that will forever change the way we think about the human mind.

Not sure where to begin?

Start with one of these

Angels & Demons

The first published Robert Langdon novel and the natural entry point to the series.

Digital Fortress

Brown's first published thriller and a standalone novel outside the Langdon series.

Read in order

Books by series

novel series · ongoing

Robert Langdon

A series following Harvard professor of religious symbology Robert Langdon as he deciphers ancient codes and symbols to uncover world-changing secrets.

Series guide →

1
Angels & Demons
Book 1 · novel · 2000

World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the…
2
The Da Vinci Code
Book 2 · novel · 2003

The Da Vinci Code is a 2003 mystery thriller novel by Dan Brown. It is Brown's second novel to include the character Robert Langdon: the first was his 2000 novel Angels & Demons. The Da Vinci Code follows "symbologist" Robert Langdon and…
3
The Lost Symbol
Book 3 · novel · 2009

What was lost will be found... Washington DC: Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned at the last minute to deliver an evening lecture in the Capitol Building. Within moments of his arrival, however, a disturbing object -…
4
Inferno
Book 4 · novel · 2013

In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history's most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces--Dante's "Inferno"--as he battles a chilling adversary…
5
Origin
Book 5 · novel · 2017

Robert Langdon, Harvard professor of symbology, arrives at the ultramodern Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to attend the unveiling of a discovery that “will change the face of science forever.” The evening’s host is Edmond Kirsch, a…
6
The Secret of Secrets
Book 6 · novel · 2025

Robert Langdon, esteemed professor of symbology, travels to Prague to attend a groundbreaking lecture by Katherine Solomon—a prominent noetic scientist with whom he has recently begun a relationship. Katherine is on the verge of…

Outside the series

Bibliography by category

Sort works

Novels (2)

Digital Fortress
novel · 1998

When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, a brilliant and beautiful mathematician. What she uncovers sends shock waves through…
Deception Point
novel · 2001

Deception Point is a 2001 mystery-thriller novel by American author Dan Brown. It is Brown's third novel. It was published by Simon & Schuster. The novel follows White House intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton's involvement in…

Children's books (1)

Wild Symphony
picture_book · 2020

"Travel through the trees and across the seas with Maestro Mouse and his musical friends! Young readers will meet a big blue whale and speedy cheetahs, tiny beetles and graceful swans. Each has a special secret to share"--Provided by…

Other (2)

187 Men to Avoid: A Survival Guide for the Romantically Frustrated Woman
humor_book · 1995
The Bald Book
illustrated_humor_book · 1998

Frequently asked questions about Dan Brown

Who is Dan Brown?

Dan Brown is an American novelist best known for internationally bestselling thrillers. His books are published in dozens of languages, with more than 250 million copies in print worldwide.

Sources: danbrown.com (opens in a new tab)us.macmillan.com (opens in a new tab)

Where did Dan Brown grow up and go to school?

Brown grew up on the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and Amherst College.

Sources: danbrown.com (opens in a new tab)exeter.edu (opens in a new tab)

What did Dan Brown do before becoming a full-time novelist?

Before focusing fully on writing, Brown returned to Phillips Exeter Academy to teach English. He also studied music composition and pursued music as a singer-songwriter and pianist.

Sources: danbrown.com (opens in a new tab)apnews.com (opens in a new tab)

What influenced Dan Brown’s interest in science, religion, and puzzles?

Brown says his fascination grew from being raised by a mathematics-teacher father and a church-organist mother on a prep-school campus. That environment encouraged his interest in the tension between scientific inquiry and religious belief.

Sources: danbrown.com (opens in a new tab)exeter.edu (opens in a new tab)

What honors has Dan Brown received, and what is his legacy?

In 2026, Brown was named a Global Icon by Esquire Magazine in Spain and received the French title of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. TIME has also cited him among the world’s 100 most influential people, noting his impact on interest in Leonardo da Vinci, early Christian history, tourism, and historical thrillers.

Source: danbrown.com (opens in a new tab)