Dan Brown Comes Back Home to Exeter

Best-selling author Dan Brown, a Phillips Exeter Academy graduate whose early books were sold at Exeter's Water Street Bookstore, came back home Friday night.

Brown appeared at Water Street Bookstore to sign books for hundreds of fans—many of whom were using the opportunity to get a Father's Day gift.

Fans waited in line for as long as five hours to see him.

"It's a testament to how much people love Dan here in Exeter," said Water Street Bookstore owner Dan Chartrand. "It's great that he's doing this for his fans."

Brown just released "Inferno," the latest in his wildly popular Robert Langdon series.

Brown's new novel is set in Italy and focuses on the "Inferno," the first part of Dante Alighieri's 14th-century "Divine Comedy" poem.

One of Brown's first books, "Digital Fortress," was sold at Water Street Bookstore, which is owned by Exeter Selectman Dan Chartrand.

In 2011, Brown visited Water Street Bookstore to help celebrate its 20th anniversary.