With many people exiting traditional careers in this changing economy, writing might be a profession to consider. Apparently you get paid by the word, not necessarily telling a good story. As an example of how easy it seems to be a top writer, Dan Brown's Deception Point is 557 pages, 133 chapters, of how to take the long way to tell a short story. No kidding, he takes 450 pages to get around to the point of what happened in the very beginning of the book!The whole premise is too far fetched. The characters mindlessly put themselves back in danger after failed attempts to kill them. Then there's a host of predictability which is insufferably drawn out. Mr. Brown does seem to do his homework, but almost to the point of impressing himself and feign complexity. It is Dan Brown's forgettable equivalent to Grisham's The Bleachers. Only Grisham uses far less filler. I am stunned to see Deception Point rated so favorably. Apparently there quality starvation which should open the door for new talent. It's only an okay thriller that takes too long to tell a very simple story.