The Lightning Rod
Zig and Nola are back--in the hugely entertaining, highly anticipated follow-up to Brad Meltzer's #1 New York Times bestselling thriller The Escape Artist.
Archie
Mint has led a charmed life--he's got a beautiful wife, two impressive
kids, and a successful military career. When he's killed while trying to
stop a robbery in his own home, his family is shattered--and then
shocked when the other shoe drops. Mint's charmed life, so perfect on
the surface, held criminal secrets none of them could have imagined.
While
working on Mint's body before his funeral, mortician "Zig" Zigarowski
discovers something he was never meant to see. That telling detail leads
him to Dover Air Force Base, where he uncovers Mint's involvement in a
top-secret military unit and his connection to military artist and
Sergeant First Class Nola Brown. Two years ago, Nola saved Zig's
life--so he knows better than most that she's as volatile and dangerous
as a bolt of lightning.
Everyone wants to talk to Nola, but she's
not cooperating--and indeed doesn't want to be found. In order to track
her down, Zig teams with Nola's long missing brother, who's just as
combustible as she is. As they follow Nola's trail, they discover one of
the U.S. government's most intensely guarded secrets--an undisclosed
military facility that dates back to the Cold War and holds the key to
something far more sinister: a hidden group willing to compromise the
very safety and security of America itself.
Trouble always finds her...
She's the lightning rod.
Reviews
“The Lightning Rod is my favorite Brad Meltzer novel—so
far—and that’s high, high praise. The book is a one-of-a-kind thrill
ride with half a dozen memorable characters. My personal favorite is
Zig, but Waggs, Roddy and Nola aren’t far behind.” -- James Patterson
“Enigmatic and mysterious, Nola is a force. Great plotting. Great characters. The Lightning Rod is Meltzer at his finest.” -- Karin Slaughter
"Nola
Brown is one of recent fiction's all-time great characters, and
Meltzer's subtle pacing and narrative charm mean we can't take our eyes
off her for a single moment—trust me, this is a terrific, compelling,
unputdownable thriller." -- Lee Child
“There are few authors who do dialogue that is as sharp and witty as Brad Meltzer does in The Lightning Rod...
The characters, plot, pace, and premise work together like a
well-rehearsed orchestra. Meltzer is a master storyteller and a superb
wordsmith.” -- Nelson DeMille
“No other A+
author whips up better dialogue... But it’s his characters who most
excite and engage. Nola and Zig will pull you into a story as
entertaining as any by David Baldacci. And Nola is the most accomplished
kicker of ass since The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” -- A. J. Finn
“Meltzer
likes his conspiracy stories, and he puts a lot of work into them, but
he seems to love his characters just as much. Zig and Nola are two of
his strongest characters, and it feels like there are plenty more
stories to be told about them.” -- Booklist
"Meltzer is a master and this is his best. Not since The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo have you seen a character like this. Get ready to meet Nola. If you've never tried Meltzer, this is the one." -- Harlan Coben on The Escape Artist
"This
novel is like a launched torpedo slashing through 400 pages of deep
water before reaching impact. Enjoy one of the best thriller rides
ever." -- David Baldacci on The Escape Artist
"The Escape Artist has a magic trick up its sleeve. Part Lisbeth Salander, part Homeland's
Carrie Mathison. One of the most memorable characters I've read in
years. Look out—Nola's coming. This is Meltzer in peak form." -- Lisa Scottoline
"Highly entertaining... Meltzer keeps the action crackling... There's no escaping the solid storytelling of The Escape Artist." -- Oline Cogdill, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The Escape Artist
Nola Brown, the U.S. Army's artist-in-residence--a painter and
trained soldier--sees something nobody was supposed to see and earns a
dangerous enemy in this novel as powerful as "a launched torpedo
slashing through 400 pages of deep water before reaching impact...one of
the best thrill rides ever" (David Baldacci).
Who is Nola Brown?
Nola is a mystery
Nola is trouble.
And Nola is supposed to be dead.
Her body was found on a plane that mysteriously fell from the sky as it
left a secret military base in the Alaskan wilderness. Her commanding
officer verifies she's dead. The US government confirms it. But Jim
"Zig" Zigarowski has just found out the truth: Nola is still alive. And
on the run.
Zig works at Dover Air Force Base, helping put to
rest the bodies of those who die on top-secret missions. Nola was a
childhood friend of Zig's daughter and someone who once saved his
daughter's life. So when Zig realizes Nola is still alive, he's
determined to find her. Yet as Zig digs into Nola's past, he learns that
trouble follows Nola everywhere she goes.
Together, Nola and
Zig will either reveal a sleight of hand being played at the highest
levels of power or die trying to uncover the US Army's most mysterious
secret--a centuries-old conspiracy that traces back through history to
the greatest escape artist of all: Harry Houdini.
"Meltzer is a master and this is his best. Not since The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo have you seen a character like this. Get ready to meet Nola. If you've never tried Meltzer, this is the one." -- Harlan Coben
Reviews
"This novel is like a launched torpedo slashing through 400 pages
of deep water before reaching impact. Enjoy one of the best thriller
rides ever."―David Baldacci
"THE ESCAPE ARTIST has a magic trick up its sleeve. Part Lisbeth Salander, part Homeland's
Carrie Mathison. One of the most memorable characters I've read in
years. Look out--Nola's coming. This is Meltzer in peak form."―Lisa Scottoline
"Highly entertaining... Meltzer keeps the action crackling... There's no escaping the solid storytelling of THE ESCAPE ARTIST."―Oline Cogdill, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
"THE
ESCAPE ARTIST is Brad Meltzer's best book in years... Meltzer weaves a
stellar tale of history, government-insider knowledge, and thrills...
the rare novel that one wants to read fast while also needing to go slow
to savor every word."―Jeff Ayers, Associated Press
"Brad
Meltzer has done it again! THE ESCAPE ARTIST is an exciting,
cutting-edge thriller you will not be able to put down. If you love
twists, tension, and tons of amazing characters, treat yourself to this
gripping tale by one of the absolute best in the business."―Brad Thor
"Meltzer
is a master and this is his best. Not since The Girl with the Dragon
Tattoo have you seen a character like this. Get ready to meet Nola. If
you've never tried Meltzer, this is the one."―Harlan Coben
"THE
ESCAPE ARTIST is a slingshot of a novel. Brad Meltzer expertly pulls it
back and lets it go, propelling the unlikeliest of heroes forward in a
high stakes, high tension thriller that never lets you catch your
breath. My advice: Buckle up!"―Michael Connelly
"A throat-clenching masterpiece of suspense-and damned ingenious to boot. My jaw dropped once more--and so will yours."―James Rollins
"Stellar...With
its remarkable plot and complex characters, this page-turner not only
entertains but also provides a fascinating glimpse into American
history."―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Gripping... a true page-turner."―Library Journal (starred review)
"Meltzer
has based his literary career on conspiracy-themed stories, and he's
very good at them. In Nola and Zig, too, he's created two of his most
compellingly fresh characters. Nola, in particular, represents a high
point in the author's career: a strong, resourceful, mysterious female
lead who could go toe-to-toe with Jack Reacher, Bob Lee Swagger, and the
other guys. First of a new series, according to the publisher, and
that's just fine."―Booklist
Brad Meltzer
Brad Meltzer is the #1 New York
Times bestselling author of The Inner Circle, The Book of Fate, and nine
other bestselling thrillers including The Tenth Justice, The First
Counsel, The Millionaires, and The President’s Shadow. His
book, The Escape Artist, debuted at #1 on the bestseller list.
In
addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have
books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (History Decoded), Advice
(Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am
Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice
League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award.
His thriller, The Escape Artist, introduces Nola and Zig, brand new
characters in a setting that will blow your mind (you won't believe
where the government let Brad go). For now, we'll say this: Nola is
dead. Everyone says she's dead. But Jim "Zig" Zigarowski just found out
the truth: Nola is alive. And on the run. Together, Nola and Zig will
reveal a centuries old secret that traces back the greatest escape
artist of all: Harry Houdini.
Raised in Brooklyn and Miami, Brad is a
graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School. The
Tenth Justice was his first published work and became an instant New
York Times bestseller. Dead Even followed a year later and also hit the
New York Times bestseller list, as have all eight of his novels. The
First Counsel came next, which was about a White House lawyer dating the
President’s daughter, then The Millionaires, which was about two
brothers who steal money and go on the run. The Zero Game is about two
Congressional staffers who are – literally – gambling on Congress. The
Book of Fate, is about a young presidential aide, a crazed assassin, and
the 200 year-old code created by Thomas Jefferson that ties them
together. For authenticity, The Book of Fate, was researched with the
help of former Presidents Clinton and Bush. The Book of Lies, is about
the missing murder weapon that Cain used to kill Abel, as well as the
unsolved murder of Superman creator Jerry Siegel’s father. Brad is one
of the only people to interview Jerry Siegel’s family about the murder
and, with his charitable site www.OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com, has been the driving force behind the movement to repair the house where Superman was created.
His
book The Inner Circle (and its sequels, The Fifth Assassin and The
President’s Shadow) is based the idea that George Washington’s personal
spy ring still exists today. A young archivist in the National Archives
finds out the spy ring is still around. He doesn’t know who they work
for — but the greatest secret of the Presidency is about to be revealed.
While researching the book, former President George HW Bush also gave
Brad, for the very first time, the secret letter he left for Bill
Clinton in the Oval Office desk. Oh, and yes, Brad was recruited by the
Department of Homeland Security to brainstorm different ways that
terrorists might attack the US.
His books have spent over a year on
the bestseller lists, and have been translated into over 25 languages,
from Hebrew to Bulgarian.
Brad has played himself as an extra in
Woody Allen’s Celebrity, co-wrote the swearing in oath for AmeriCorps,
the national service program, and earned credit from Columbia Law School
for writing his first book, which became The Tenth Justice. Before all
of that, he got 24 rejection letters for his true first novel, which
still sits on his shelf, published by Kinko’s.
Brad currently lives in Florida with his wife, who’s also an attorney.
