This is my first introduction to “Zig" Zigarowski, private sector mortician and former mortician for Dover AFB. The first thing that struck me was the humanity with which he treats his “clients" and it’s no surprise when the higher-ups at Dover ask Zig to take care of one of their fallen. A special case, they said, and Zig's involvement with Archie Mint's murder sets off a whole chain of events Zig never sees coming.

There’s an entire cast of characters, laid out in an easy to follow manner, but imbued with quirks and peculiarities that make them unforgettable. Most notable are Nola Brown and her twin brother. Both Nola and her brother are fatally damaged from childhood, yet Nola saved Zig’s daughter’s life back when they were in Girl Scouts together, and she saved Zig's life a couple years ago. Nola and Roddy manage to find a degree of redemption by the end of this story, although it doesn’t seem to do much to improve their view of themselves or each other. Still, there’s the hope that Nola, should she and Zig appear in a subsequent book, may gain a greater degree of humanity from her experiences here.

This adrenaline-fueled story kept me on the edge of my seat and I read it through in one sitting. The short chapters keep things moving, the unique characters keep things interesting, and the twists, turns, and shocking surprises left me thunderstruck. Hands down, this brilliantly written, action-packed suspense thriller is one of the best I’ve read to date, and it’s one you won’t want to miss!

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow/Custom House for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by one of my favorite authors, Brad Meltzer, which means it's a shining 5 star review from me! This is the second in the Zig & Nola series but there's enough detail that it could be read as a stand alone. However, go back and read The Escape Artist because it's equally wonderful!

Archie Mint seems to have the perfect life until he's killed when he tries to stop a robbery in his home. But there were many secrets he took to his grave. "Zig" Zigarowski, former mortician at Dover Air Force Base, is called in to prepare the body. He soon discovers there is a connection between Mint and military artist, Nola Brown, who saved his life two years ago and who has a connection to Zig's daughter. Nola's brother joins Zig in trying to find Nola before anyone else - because there some secrets people will kill to protect.

I absolutely loved falling back into Zig and Nola's world and the writing perfection of Brad Meltzer. This was a tense thriller that kept me flipping the pages as fast as I could. You'll learn lots about some of the inner workings of the government as well and I continue to be humbled by the care and love shown to fallen soldiers and their families, as portrayed in this series. I loved the writing style used too - some paragraphs would open with sentences such as, "This is Nola at thirteen." And then go on. So there was a narrator guiding the reader with hints of both past and future. This is a highly recommended series - don't miss it! Fingers crossed that there is book #3 quickly in the works!

Zig is called back to the mortuary on Dover Air Force base to prepare a high-ranking military man's body for his funeral. While working, though, he discovers something that sends him on a search that will uncover dangerous information. When Nola gets involved, more secrets are revealed, and the situation gets even more perilous.

This is the second book in the Escape Artist series, and I got as wrapped up in this story as I did in the first book. The characters are an interesting and eclectic group of people, and it seemed that the introduction of each new character threw the plot in an entirely new direction. There were so many story lines at the beginning of the book, it was hard to keep them all straight, and I came close to giving up on the book. I knew it would all make sense by the end of the book, so I kept reading. Once things started to come together, I couldn't put the book down.

Some of the situations seemed a little too convenient, and at times I wondered by Zig was so determined to keep digging, but sometimes a reader just has to stop wondering and continue reading :) I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I loved reading this book. This is an author that I have enjoyed reading from the first book I picked up. This author's writing style is such that he pulls you into the story from the first word. His attention to details make his stories easy and realistic to read. This book is no different. This is a story that has twists and turns like no other and leave you sitting on the edge of your seat. The characters pulled me in from the beginning. I enjoyed how they are connectable and made the story entertaining to read. I enjoyed their growth throughout the story. This is a fast paced story that is full of action and engaging. A story that will keep you guessing what will happen next and certainly keep you coming back for more. This is a really great story that I loved and it is a must read. I highly recommend this book and this author.

This is the 2nd installment of Brad Meltzer’s Zig and Nola series. Archie Mint has been hiding military secrets. When he is killed, his family is shattered. Zig, a military mortician, works on his body and discovers something he was not suppose to see. Nola and Zig uncover a guarded secret that holds the key to a hidden group that could compromise safety and security of America. Zig and Nola are flawed characters that you can’t help but love. We get more interesting background information on their lives. The plot is well-paced and kept the pages turning until the very end. Plenty of twists and turns add to the enjoyment. If you enjoy mystery thrillers, then I believe you will enjoy this series. I would like to thank NetGalley and Willam Morrow Custom House for the opportunity of reading this book for an honest review.

Zig is a good guy trying to do right by fallen servicemen and women. He gives us plenty of interesting information on the various specialized procedures at Dover and protocols for dealing with military families. When he gets a phone call asking for his help at a military funeral, he quickly realizes that he is being used and he begins to investigate what’s really going on. The novel's compelling action and suspense held my attention from beginning to end, even when the violence started to become a bit much. There are plenty of suspects here, and a bunch of possible motives to go with with the multiple victims. The biggest problem for me was the disproportionate number of total sociopaths (or is it psychopaths?) among the supporting characters. Granted, anyone can have a dark side, but it seemed like more than half the people in the book (including some of the ostensibly good guys) had a mean streak, a disregard for the suffering of others, and/or a significant tendency towards violence. That’s a lot of creeps for one novel.

The conclusion is satisfyingly twisty and complex—and also optimistic about the human relationships and the possibility for redemption.

Thanks to Netgalley and Willam Morrow for a digital advance review copy.

Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily. When a valet/thief steals a car at a local restaurant so he can break into the owner's home, he gets a little more than he bargained for. When funeral mortician Zig is called into prepare the body of Archie Mint, he realizes there are more secrets. The characters in this book are very complex and intriguing. Most of the characters have a military background and some of their secrets will chill your blood. You know it is a fictional book, but it will still make you stop and think. The gritty, high-octane plot had me flying through the pages. Meltzer provides a lot of complex situations but even as complex as they may be, you still can keep up with the plot and the background of the characters. The unlimited suspense will leave you breathless. I felt like I had run a marathon! The explosive ending will catapult you into insanity because it will go to place that you never dreamed it would go! I was shaking my head! Nola is a highly emotional renegade who brings a lot of action to the story. You will be rooting for her after you learn more about her background. Zig is just a likeable guy all around, especially considering he is a mortician! Take a seat and enter into the world of government secrets, personal secrets and lies and betrayal of the very soul.

I loved the first book in this series and couldn't wait to get my hands on this follow-up. Maybe it was just me, but it took a long time to warm up to the story and the characters. Perhaps I had been spoiled by the first book, which had the added revelations about the military mortuary at Dover Air Force Base and the U.S. Army's artist-in-residence. This one didn't grab my attention as quickly or firmly.

Eventually, I did get into the story and warmed to the characters again. And the mysteries are so abundant, the reader does not dare look away for fear of missing some important detail. A conspiracy thriller like this can feel familiar and risks falling into cliché and cardboard characters. Somehow, Meltzer manages to walk that tightrope and not fall off, keeping the reader guessing right up until the end. I gave The Escape Artist five stars and this one four. I look forward to where the author takes these characters next.

Death always sees you for who you really are.

First chapter - the very first lines, big explosion of this fast paced thriller. Perp happy go lucky hoodlum doesn't know that he is going to get wacked when he robs his victim in his own house.
Brad Meltzer expertly plays the reader like a fiddle. "In a few minutes this guy's blood will be every where". Of course, I could never watch a scene like this play out. I don't like the sight of blood but reading keeps me turning the page. There were several victims in that house and one of them was known by Nola. Archie Mint who served with Nola. The plot is pivoted on what type of relationship they had. Why Mint was so important to Nola. Nola is an artist that captures details that may be missed at military scenes. Being an artist keeps her balanced. She is one of those deep characters that has more to them that they make known. She is one of those contrasting characters that I find fascinating.

Zig and Nola have a history as well which is in the first book. They have connection to Zig's daughter that tragically died young. Zig works for the military in giving the men and women a proper burial for the family and for their honor. He is asked to fix Archie Mint for burial. When he sees Nola at the funeral, the questions cannot be ignored. Especially when Nola's long lost twin brother Roddy comes into the picture. A policeman who is searching for his sister, a sister who doesn't want to be found. The narration goes from the twin's past to the current case. Who killed Mint and why. Zig and Roddy work together and just like his sister, there is something deep. A battle within.

I found the plot easy to follow along and it was riveting. It took you down one road with a cat and mouse and not enough time. The road only leads you somewhere unexpected. Nola is the Lighting Rod. You never know what is going to happen and how she will surprise you next. Nola and her brother will meet again in book 3. I cannot wait!

A special thank you to William and Morrow and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

Archie Mint has led a charmed life—he’s got a beautiful wife, two impressive kids, and a successful military career, but he is also hiding something. 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. Zig follows Nola’s trail until 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.
This book was so good. It was non-stop action from start to finish. There was a lot about the military in there, but there was also a lot of suspense and humor, This is perfect for fans of David Baldacci & Lee Child. If you love a good thriller, then you should check this out.

The Lightning Rod by Brad Meltzer

What’s the one secret no one knows about you?

This book was complicated. It has many secrets, espionage, and many characters, mostly unfriendly. It’s was a hard book to stay interested in, although the story was a decent one.

The Lightning Rod is the second book to bring together Zig and Nola in the Escape Artist series. I did not read the first book and was confused about some things early on in the story. I would recommend reading the first book so that you aren’t lost. Having said that, this was a fast paced thriller and I picked up on what I had missed by not reading the first book. Zig Zigarowski is a former military mortician, who is called back into service after Archie Mint, a career military man, is murdered. Zig notices things that don’t add up and the story moves forward from there. Nola is a loner who worked as an artist-in-residence for the military. Zig and Nola have a prior connection, which was more detailed in the first book. The use of flashbacks really helped me understand everything that happened prior to this story. The storyline is original and the action builds as Zig moves closer to what really happened. He’s also trying to connect with Nola, who does not want to show her hand. Tension builds between Zig and Nola and between Zig and the military as he uncovers more of the mystery. I would definitely recommend reading this book but I do suggest that you read The Escape Artist first.

Brad Meltzer has been busy over the last decade, writing fiction and non-fiction and hosting multiple different television shows. His devotion to providing incredible content is second to none and his writing is always outperforming the field. In this latest Zig and Nola adventure, The Lightning Rod, Meltzer leaves no twist or turn behind and creates one of the most satisfying reads I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
Archie Mint is a former military investigator with personal flaws that are known by a select few. Mint is brutally murdered in one of the best opening scenes I have enjoyed. After the actions of a struggling steakhouse valet turns Mint’s world upside down, we start the journey of finding out what lead to his demise. Insert Jim ‘Zig’ Zigarowski, a long tenured mortician who used to work at Dover Air Force base, ensuring fallen heroes of Americas military are peacefully and delicately prepared for burial. Zig is mysteriously asked for an encore to help prepare Archie Mint for his funeral when he sees unfriendly faces and one important person he hasn’t seen in quite some time. Nola brown, an amazing artist, and former Air Force artist-in-residence with a torturous background, shows her face briefly at Mint’s funeral and starts the march for truth and justice.
What transpires is a race to find the group that once was on the scene of one of the United States most secretive and valuable collections. While Zig attempts to figure out why Nola was at the funeral, a whole host of bad actors come into play. The trail follows Nola’s family’s past, an uneasy finding for Zig about his daughter, the Mint family’s unstable atmosphere, and the actions of the team that found the smoking gun at Grandma’s Pantry years ago. Not only do things not come easily for Zig and Nola, but a deadly kill team known simply as ‘The Reds’ are on the hunt for answers but more importantly, blood. When the dust settles and the story ends, no one is left unscathed.
The cast list is long but easily managed through Meltzer’s detailed storytelling. There is no shortage of intrigue as the plot follows many angles and provides readers many suspects to consider. You’ll be absolutely stunned by the amazing substory that follows Zig and his family, as well as the bomb shell that has followed Nola to this day. Meltzer writes the perfect story about imperfect people and will test the limits of your imagination.

Good guys, bad guys- you'll find yourself trying to figure out which is which in this action filled thriller centering around deep USG secrets. The murder of mild manner Archie Mint opens a can of worms that sends Zig and Nola off onto a quest of sorts. Nola's twin Roddy also turns up; can she trust him? I didn't read the first book but this was fine as a standalone. Zig's a unique character- a mortician! So is Nola, an artist for the US Army. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Melzer's fans will like this one.

Such a complex and intertwined story that picks up on two of the characters from the first novel, Nola and Zig, while digging deeper into the back story of each, also giving us a new mystery to ponder. We also meet Nola’s brother, who appears to be explosive and we are not sure where his loyalties fall. Is he trying to find Nola to reestablish a sibling relationship or is it for nefarious reasons? A beloved military figure, Archie Mint, has been killed in his own home leaving behind a wife, two kids and dark secrets. Zig wonders how Nola could be connected to the case and there is so much to uncover while avoiding getting on the wrong side of the barrel for those that might have killed Mint. It’s fast paced and got harder to put down the further along it went. Great story and I think the author has done a great job keeping up the characters own backstories. It’s a complicated tangling of several characters stories, but well done.

I liked this book and the two main characters, Nola and Zig and even Nola's . The plot was good and it moved right along. But it seemed like it didn't know how to end. Maybe because I was reading on my iPad and it was very late, but I kept thinking it was done and the next page had another chapter. And another. And another.

I am not sure if I read the earlier book in the series, "The Escape Artist". but I will pick it up. Meltzer's writing is good and the characters are interesting. I just have to remember not to try to finish it when it is close to bedtime.

This book pulled me in from the first page. I could not put it down. The second of a series I hope will be continued! The Escape Artist was wonderful and The Lightening Rod did not disappoint. Zig Zigarowski a renowned mortician is back and called back to Dover to handle the body of Archie Mint a well decorated military official. Zig finds something he is not suppose to see, no one is suppose to see, which brings in Nora, the military artist Zig met before. He soon finds that there is a very dark side to Archie Mint and Nola Brown is connected! The journey to discover the truth begins! Nola is on the run, Zig is following close behind to find the truth! A very compelling read!
Thanks to Harper Collins, Net Galley, and scene of the Crime for the early read!

Zig and Nola are back and the second book in the Escape Artist series is even better than the first. Meltzer delivers a masterful plot and unexpected twists that I didn’t see coming. Strap yourself in and get ready for a wild ride! Fans of adrenaline-fueled suspense thrillers should add this to their 2022 reading list.

Special thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow and Custom House Books, and Brad Meltzer for the advanced copy of The Lightning Rod. Release date is 03/08/22. #NetGalley #WmMorrowBooks #customhousebks #TheLightningRod

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Archie is a family man who just lost his life. Archie had many secrets that he did not want anyone to know about his military career. When those secrets come out it opens a can of worms where life may never be the same again.

I received an ARC of, The Lightning Rod, by Brad Metlzer. People have different name sin this book: Salty, Zig, Nola, Bull, and Mint among others. This book was good, I just did not like the language. It had a lot of suspense in it.