The Marketing Code

AS THE RED CARPET ROLLS OUT for the premiere of The Da Vinci Code, and as green ink fills the fountain pens of conspiracy cranks (and Catholic cardinals) worldwide, the secret of Dan Brown's staggering success has finally been revealed. In a new book, aptly titled The Marketing Code, Stephen Brown exposes the commercial conspiracy behind Dan Brown's mega-selling theological thriller. It' s shocking; it's scandalous; it's sacrilegious; it's almost as scary as Tom Hanks' hairdo.

The twist, however, is that The Marketing Code is written in the style of Dan Brown. It's a novel; the world's first management thriller. It describes a conspiracy at the heart of marketing - a heinous conspiracy that not only persuades consumers to spend money like holy water but also involves the Knights Templar, the Holy Grail and the nefarious marketing campaign behind The Da Vinci Code. "SOMETIMES," as the book's tagline suggests, "YOU HAVE TO KILL TO MAKE A KILLING."

When asked about the rationale behind his management thriller, Stephen Brown replied, "Think of the typical marketing manager wandering round an airport bookshop, in search of something to read on his flight to Edinburgh, or wherever. He can either buy one of those hackneyed how-to books (Close That Sale!, Make More Money!, The Leadership Secrets of Homer Simpson!) or make do with a seen-one-seen-'em-all blockbuster by Grisham, King or Brown. The Marketing Code combines how-to and thrill-a-minute into the perfect page-turning, time-saving package. What more could a modern manager want?"