Aye Frui, I was focusing more on your "harder to put down" part than the "like Dan Brown" part
I don't hold the complexity up as a virtue, just commenting that it is characteristic of Dunnett's writing as compared to others.
Simple or complex, I find them both just characteristic of the plot or writing, not so much a measure of quality or "good" writing, one of those things that makes for our individual preferences. I just didn't want you to miss it if you were interested. She's not well known in the US except among her historical fiction fans. Oddly to me, she has a very strong following among romance fiction fans - me, I don't see it exactly. The story is only about 10% romance to me, granted I think it's exceptional - but apparently the 10% romance transcends.
Anyway, they are very hard to put down once the hook has set. Thanks for the thoughtful response!