Action & Adventure
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The Lightning Rod: A Zig & Nola Novel (Escape Artist, 2)
New York Times Bestseller
"Nola is the most accomplished kicker of ass since The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." -A. J. Finn
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.
What's the one secret no one knows about you?
Archie Mint has a secret. He's led a charmed life-he's got a beautiful wife, two impressive kids, and a successful military career. But 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 been hiding 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 Mint's former top secret military unit and his connection to artist 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.
Following Nola's trail, he uncovers 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.
"Nola is the most accomplished kicker of ass since The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." -A. J. Finn
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.
What's the one secret no one knows about you?
Archie Mint has a secret. He's led a charmed life-he's got a beautiful wife, two impressive kids, and a successful military career. But 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 been hiding 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 Mint's former top secret military unit and his connection to artist 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.
Following Nola's trail, he uncovers 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.
Editorial Reviews
"Government secrets fuel Meltzer's exciting Lightning Rod...a rip-roaring, energetic thriller that begins on a high note and only accelerates….Meltzer… strikes gold again." - Sun Sentinel (Florida)
"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
"[A] character-rich adventure… With entangled family tragedies that go back several years and childhood traumas that extend into the present, the plot of The Lightning Rod overflows-and thrills." - Wall Street Journal
"Zig and Nola are back in this fast-moving thriller laced with blood and wit… The characters are delightful… There's plenty of clever dialogue and details... A smart crime package, both funny and serious." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"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
"Meltzer is back with another twisting, suspense-filled story, and so too is his prized protagonist, Nola, who remains as fascinating as ever…[Meltzer's plot] moves at breakneck speed…Bottom line: this is Meltzer's best work to date, and the sky is the limit for this series moving forward." - Real Book Spy
"[An] exciting sequel. . . . Meltzer makes his leads emotionally plausible. One hopes Zig and Nola will be back soon." - Publishers Weekly
"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." -
"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
"[A] character-rich adventure… With entangled family tragedies that go back several years and childhood traumas that extend into the present, the plot of The Lightning Rod overflows-and thrills." - Wall Street Journal
"Zig and Nola are back in this fast-moving thriller laced with blood and wit… The characters are delightful… There's plenty of clever dialogue and details... A smart crime package, both funny and serious." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"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
"Meltzer is back with another twisting, suspense-filled story, and so too is his prized protagonist, Nola, who remains as fascinating as ever…[Meltzer's plot] moves at breakneck speed…Bottom line: this is Meltzer's best work to date, and the sky is the limit for this series moving forward." - Real Book Spy
"[An] exciting sequel. . . . Meltzer makes his leads emotionally plausible. One hopes Zig and Nola will be back soon." - Publishers Weekly
"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." -
Readers Top Reviews
Alice Parker1genx
This book is one of Brad Meltzer's best books - if that is even possible. Once you start reading do not put it down until you are finished. I teach American Literature and read all the time, Meltzer's books are my great get-away adventure books. This is the best edge-of-your-seat book ever!
K. SAlice Parker1
I love Brad Meltzer books! Very entertaining, easy to read. I have all his novels, haven't found one that I didn't like. I'm sure this one will be just as exciting , enjoyable and entertaining as all the others. #lightningrod #readmoremeltzer
TerriK. SAlice Pa
This is book 2 in the Zig & Nola series. Zig is a mortician, Nola is an artist. You wouldn’t think their paths would cross, but they do, and when they do, danger always follows. They have known each other for a long time and she always reminds him of his dead daughter. They always face danger and sometimes, it’s not just danger, but their lives are in danger and they must solve the mystery of why they are thrown together in order to stay alive. This is definitely a book to pick up and enjoy!
Michael BrownTerr
Meltzer's been writing for 25 years but his books keep getting better and better. Some writers get pretty stale and predictable at this point BUT NOT BRAD MELTZER!! More plot twists that you didn't see coming. Characters that seem more real and relatable but yet thrilling at the same time. This is Meltzer's secret ingredient. The plot twists, the conspiracies are great stuff but you learn to care about these characters on a deeper level. Hopefully Hollywood will pick some of these books up and do a good job of turning them out onto the big screen or small screen. Zig and Nola or the Beecher series.
Ray HastieMichael
To be completely transparent, I am only about 1/2 through the book. (I will update when I finish it.) I received my copy upon release and made the mistake of glancing inside at about 2am, when I noticed it on my kindle. Big mistake - I was up for the next 2 hours reading. Brad brings us back to the relationship between Zig and Nola - it is like we never left. The characters were like friends I had not seen in a while. The plot immediately starts off - building suspense from page 1 and I expect that there will be many twists and turns, in typical Meltzer fashion, before it is all resolved. This is the type of book that tempted me to take a day off work to read and enjoy. It is that good.
