The da Vinci portrayed in the book was head and shoulders above mere vindaloo, a sort of trashy slop of meat and curry sauce, yes? No, the Mona Lisa, according to the author, was a central mystic icon in a cosmic tease which has fooled humankind for two thousand years. WOnderful thesis, well supported.
I agree completely that his informrational basis is far more satisfying than his depth of characters and the strength of his plots and dialogues. He really should have turned the whole thing over to Peter T and had him do the writing.