THE VIPER

4 stars out of 5

I read the first two books in this series, but No. 2 was about three years ago so I really don’t recall much about it. That’s no one’s fault but mine, BTW – at my age, I’m likely to forget why I walked from the kitchen to the living room. Still, given the number of characters in this one and the constant jumping around in time, it took close to a third of the book before I really “got” who was who, what was happening and was able to say, “Hey, this is a good story.”

And honestly, a good story it is. The “stars” of the series, mortician Jim “Zig” Zigarowski and former U.S. Army artist-in-residence turned recluse Nola Brown, haven’t seen each other for a while. Neither has she seen her twin brother, policeman Roddy LaPointe, who now needs help with the murder of Andrew Fechmeier, a man who’s been in hiding for many years. For that, he turns to his friend Zig.

Not long ago, the now terminally ill "Fetch" turned up at a local funeral home – in theory, at least, to leave a suit in which he wants to be buried. For many reasons, his murder is both surprising and complicated; but not long after Zig agrees to help, it becomes clear that Roddy is far more interested in learning more about the long-ago murder of his and Nora’s mother, Daniella Brown – killed while driving a car with her young twins in the back seat.

Back in college, Daniella “hung” with a group known as “The Breakfast Club” (yes, like the movie). As Zig and Roddy’s investigation reveals, all but one of those club members - including Fetch - have turned up dead. Also turning up are ties to what’s known as “Heavenly Meadows,” a place thought to be some kind of cult. But is it? And what, if any, is the connection between the secretive property and Fetch's murder?

It is at this point that more details from me will not be forthcoming – other readers will just have to read the book to find out what happens. Bottom line? Another excellent series entry (not that I expected anything else). Now I’m waiting for the next one, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get in on the action with this one by way of a pre-release copy. Good job once again!

The Viper by Brad Meltzer (William Morrow, January 2026); 400 pp.

THE LIGHTNING ROD

5 stars out of 5

Mix together brilliant writing, unique characters (some likable, some not) and a complex but easy-to-follow plot and you've got the recipe for a book you won't want to put down. And oh, did I mention brilliant writing?

It didn't come as a surprise; I read the first book in this series, The Escape Artist, for which a 5-star review was a no-brainer. Still, while I started this one with high expectations, I always keep an open mind; just because a couple of books in a series are stellar doesn't mean all of them will shine (trust me on this; I've been there, done that, many times). But I'm delighted to say this one was as much a joy to read as the first one was.

The primary characters are government mortician and beekeeper Jim "Zig" Zigarowski and Sgt. Nola Brown, a.k.a. the lightening rod, who was artist-in-residence for the U.S. Army and who at best can be called antisocial. She was as good a friend as she's capable of being with co-worker and mentor Archie Mint, a career military guy who gets killed during an apparent robbery at his home. To his surprise, Zig, who no longer works at the Dover Air Force Base mortuary, is called in to prep the body for viewing - no one can touch his professional skill in that department. But at the viewing, things happen that make him suspect that not everything is as it should be, prompting him to set out to track down the ever-elusive and usually reclusive Nola. Yet another surprise comes in the form of Roddy, Nola's long-lost twin brother who's known for his sinister ways; he's desperately trying to locate her while claiming he's a changed man (Zig isn't so sure about that, but he agrees to team up with Roddy anyway).

As the chase progresses, the danger builds; chapters shift from current happenings to Nola and Roddy's traumatic childhood years to perspectives of other characters, thus giving readers interesting and important background information that, of course, comes together at the end. The trail leads to a top secret military facility (reminiscent of the 112,544-square-foot underground bunker at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia that was built to protect all members of Congress during the Eisenhower administration). Bad things happened at at the facility long ago, and it looks as if what's about to happen now may be even worse. The only other thing I can say without giving away too much is the whole adventure has many twists, turns and surprises - plus some intriguing fodder for the next installment. Bring it on! 

Meantime, many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

The Lightning Rod by Brad Meltzer (William Morrow, March 2022); 432 pp.