The Lightning Rod
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-04-07 06:51:43
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Brad Meltzer
- ISBN：0062892401
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
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。
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
Beverly
，
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway。 The story kept me interested。 There were fun plot twists and amazing reveals。 I enjoyed getting to spend more time with Waggs！
Kathie Price
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3。5。 Got better as it went along。 Will read first book in series to see if that helps。
Marge Taylor
，
very hard to follow
Tom Carter
，
Great reader。 Story seems a long long short story。
Megan Seely
，
4。5 starsI love how the story just seemed to go on seamlessly from the first book。 It was really well written with an interesting twist at the end that will have me waiting for the next book。
Keller Hackbusch
，
Typical Meltzer。 I do really like Nola and Zig。 I think Escape Artist was better， but this book is great。 The plot is mysterious and more details being revealed about Nola’s life was pretty awesome。
SS
，
This was a fabulous read， an absolute page turner。 I’d never read Brad Meltzer before， but I will seek out his books from now on。 The characters were remarkably realistic and the plot believable。 It’s one of the best mystery/thrillers that I’ve read in a while。Jim Zigarowski， Zig， is a phenomenal character。 He’s kind， caring， funny， and strives to always do the right thing。 He’s smart and compassionate。 He’s also a mortician， having been the chief mortician at Dover Air Force Base for many years This was a fabulous read， an absolute page turner。 I’d never read Brad Meltzer before， but I will seek out his books from now on。 The characters were remarkably realistic and the plot believable。 It’s one of the best mystery/thrillers that I’ve read in a while。Jim Zigarowski， Zig， is a phenomenal character。 He’s kind， caring， funny， and strives to always do the right thing。 He’s smart and compassionate。 He’s also a mortician， having been the chief mortician at Dover Air Force Base for many years。 He’s now separated from the service， and he’s working at Carlta’s Funeral Home in Pennsylvania。 He’s had his own share of loss in his life， but he pushes on。 Zig is called back in by the military to handle the final funeral preparations for a Lieutenant Colonel。 Zig can’t/won’t say no。 That， however， winds him up in the middle of more than he’d counted on。Back into his life steps Nola Brown， the woman who as a child saved his daughter from injury at a Girl Scout cookout， and then， later， Zig’s life。 Nola is Army， Sergeant First Class， and she’s the service’s Artist-in-Residence。 On one of her missions， something unknowingly happens that comes back to involve her years later。Nola’s brother， Roddy LaPointe， a trouble maker as a child in foster care， is now a police officer。 He and Nola had been separated from each other as young children。 He inserts himself into Zig’s life as the two of them find themselves in all sorts of danger。 Can Zig trust this man？This book is intricately plotted， with great characters， and events woven together in a web that will draw you in。 It is sooooooo good。 I highly recommend it。I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley。 I thank all involved for their generosity， but it had no effect on this review。 All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book。 。。。more
Jon Klopfenstein
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While I loved the first book， and the characters， the plot was slow and not as exciting in my opinion。 Making a mountain out of a mole hill for the plot and still doesn’t quite explain some characters involvement in the story。 Plus some minor story lines that were set up to be a big integral part of the story turned out to be “meh， no big deal， it was actually no big deal” and left it at that。 That being said I still have to reiterate my love for the characters and am still looking forward to th While I loved the first book， and the characters， the plot was slow and not as exciting in my opinion。 Making a mountain out of a mole hill for the plot and still doesn’t quite explain some characters involvement in the story。 Plus some minor story lines that were set up to be a big integral part of the story turned out to be “meh， no big deal， it was actually no big deal” and left it at that。 That being said I still have to reiterate my love for the characters and am still looking forward to the next one set up in the epilogue。 。。。more
Scott
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An exciting story。 We bring our characters together plus introduce a twin to NOLA。 Something going on with some military people from years back。 It's kind of fun to make it through the process and see what it actually is。 We have warehouses of strategic materials and we have two security guards only that protect the place？ And all doors are open？ I don't think so An exciting story。 We bring our characters together plus introduce a twin to NOLA。 Something going on with some military people from years back。 It's kind of fun to make it through the process and see what it actually is。 We have warehouses of strategic materials and we have two security guards only that protect the place？ And all doors are open？ I don't think so 。。。more
Jon Nielson
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Good writing， but the story has holes， large unbelievable holes。
John
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OK， not up to Brad’s usual excitement level。
Lori
，
Two of my favorite characters， Ziggy and Nola are so broken but resilient and want their worlds to be a better place for them and those they care about。 This was such a mystery all the way through， I always knew what was going on。 I love this book and I am waiting for the mystery that finds them。
Dana
，
The Lightening Rod was an okay follow up to a better first novel in this mystery series。 Here， so much was happening， and yet， the characters seemed to just spin in circles。 Not much information was revealed to the reader about why things were happening。 Also， the premise was just odd。 Several people who had once investigated a drug warehouse were now turning up dead。The main reason I liked the first book in the series was because Nola， an artist in residence for the military， was a compelling c The Lightening Rod was an okay follow up to a better first novel in this mystery series。 Here， so much was happening， and yet， the characters seemed to just spin in circles。 Not much information was revealed to the reader about why things were happening。 Also， the premise was just odd。 Several people who had once investigated a drug warehouse were now turning up dead。The main reason I liked the first book in the series was because Nola， an artist in residence for the military， was a compelling character。 Here， she played less of a role， and I wished she would have been featured more。 Her complicated past was also revealed， which was a sad component to this story。 This was very action driven， with a lot of violence and brutality。 That focus made me like this less。 I still liked the main character Zig， who was a man devoted to finding the truth。 But， this didn’t have a lot of substance for me， and the underlying mystery was weird。 。。。more
Ann
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Loved the first book。 I felt this one had too many characters and story lines for me。
Holly Mcclain
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DNF。 Advice if you're planning on the audiobook。。。the narrator is RIDICULOUSLY DRAMATIC。 And I don't mean when he is reading dramatic scenes， I mean （example not from book） when a character peels an orange or something。 Just couldn't take it anymore。 DNF。 Advice if you're planning on the audiobook。。。the narrator is RIDICULOUSLY DRAMATIC。 And I don't mean when he is reading dramatic scenes， I mean （example not from book） when a character peels an orange or something。 Just couldn't take it anymore。 。。。more
Suzanne Rogers
，
Really enjoyable characters and complex mystery。 I did not like the flashbacks to two of the characters' childhood。 The author was trying to explain why the brother/sister duo had a complicated relationship but I found it distracting to the central mystery and flow of the book。 I finally totally skipped reading any chapters in the past tense and I don't think it affected my enjoyment of this thriller。 I won't read #1 in series （based on reviews） but I will read #3。 Really enjoyable characters and complex mystery。 I did not like the flashbacks to two of the characters' childhood。 The author was trying to explain why the brother/sister duo had a complicated relationship but I found it distracting to the central mystery and flow of the book。 I finally totally skipped reading any chapters in the past tense and I don't think it affected my enjoyment of this thriller。 I won't read #1 in series （based on reviews） but I will read #3。 。。。more
Nancy NH
，
Interesting - not one of my favorites。
Lisette Ortiz
，
Another great Zig and Nola novel！ I truly enjoy Brad Meltzer’s writing style。 The pacing is wonderful and I enjoy how grounded his novels are。
Paul Parkinson
，
I must have liked the first， but this one just didn't work。 1/3 into the book and didn't feel a thing。 I must have liked the first， but this one just didn't work。 1/3 into the book and didn't feel a thing。 。。。more
Larry
，
The second book in an interesting series， "The Lightning Rod" zips right along in its slightly off kilter way。 After all， how many books that you know of feature a team made up of an embalmer and a disturbed Army NCO？ The second book in an interesting series， "The Lightning Rod" zips right along in its slightly off kilter way。 After all， how many books that you know of feature a team made up of an embalmer and a disturbed Army NCO？ 。。。more
Ken
，
As always Brad Meltzer shines in thrillers and suspense。 The book had many twists and turns， I didn’t want to put the book down I think it took me about 10 days to read it。 Don’t walk run to your bookstore and pick up a copy of The Lightning Rod and all the other Brad Meltzer books
Heather L Baldoni
，
Easy and fast read that keeps you interested in all the players。 I enjoyed it。
Leslie
，
Having not read the first installment "The Escape Artist" I felt I was missing some important pieces to the puzzle。 However， after reading this one， I am not going to read the first one or any that comes after。 There were some interesting aspects to this story like the main character， Zig，is a mortician having left the military services at Dover to go into private life。 Zig does his best and puts his all into helping the families and those who are left in his care at death。 That's a different vi Having not read the first installment "The Escape Artist" I felt I was missing some important pieces to the puzzle。 However， after reading this one， I am not going to read the first one or any that comes after。 There were some interesting aspects to this story like the main character， Zig，is a mortician having left the military services at Dover to go into private life。 Zig does his best and puts his all into helping the families and those who are left in his care at death。 That's a different viewpoint。Then there's Nola。 I'm still not clear on her place， other than she was friend's with Zig's deceased daughter when they were kids together， in all the events that were going on。 Maybe because I didn't read the first book in this series。 Maybe， because I skipped through many pages and chapters when I started feeling bogged down。 Really hate it when an author spends waayyy too much time on gory details of torture and killing。 Also hate it when the author feels it necessary to constantly repeat character and plot facts from early in the story。 Seriously。 That's why readers read books。 We follow the flow of the story。 Personally don't like to be reminded of inconsequential details from earlier since in my view that only stunts the flow。 When I closed this one my thought was "this story could have been so much better。。。。" Oh well， I'm not a bestselling author so my opinion is only as a lifelong reader。 I did enjoy the various military， intel， IT and historical facts that were weaved into the story。 。。。more
Jesse Jackson
，
Brad Meltzer knows how to weave a good story。 In this sequel to the Escape Artist， we get to spend more time with Nola and Zig。 We get a good mystery， with several twists & turns and we learn more about Nola's childhood。 My hope is that we get a follow up to make it a nice trilogy but even if Brad leaves this world to explore other stories， it's a nice two book series。 Brad Meltzer knows how to weave a good story。 In this sequel to the Escape Artist， we get to spend more time with Nola and Zig。 We get a good mystery， with several twists & turns and we learn more about Nola's childhood。 My hope is that we get a follow up to make it a nice trilogy but even if Brad leaves this world to explore other stories， it's a nice two book series。 。。。more
Dwight Simmons
，
The origin story always sets up the reader to buy into the main character， Meltzer did an outstanding job of giving us Nola's story。 She's complicated and now we know why， we alway know why she's deployed herself as an operator。 The origin story always sets up the reader to buy into the main character， Meltzer did an outstanding job of giving us Nola's story。 She's complicated and now we know why， we alway know why she's deployed herself as an operator。 。。。more
Melissa Vineyard
，
Edge-of-the-seat thriller！ Just when you think you have it figured out， Brad Meltzer throws a curve ball。
Linda
，
I don’t know if this book was actually better than the first on in the series or if I am now used to the characters and know what to expect of them。 While I gave it three rather than two stars， it is a low three。 My main issue with the books in this series （or far） is that while they end， things are left kind of murky。
Sandra Garben
，
Did not enjoy this as much as book one。I like that this plot is very complex， several of the best twists being revealed late in the book。 The way it comes together is satisfying。 Here's what I don't like: 1） The many pages throughout the book explaining what happened in volume one （I did read volume one of this series）。 I recently read a volume two by another author （having not read that volume one） and it was able to stand on its own， which I appreciated， because the main subject of that volume Did not enjoy this as much as book one。I like that this plot is very complex， several of the best twists being revealed late in the book。 The way it comes together is satisfying。 Here's what I don't like: 1） The many pages throughout the book explaining what happened in volume one （I did read volume one of this series）。 I recently read a volume two by another author （having not read that volume one） and it was able to stand on its own， which I appreciated， because the main subject of that volume one did not interest me。 2） I think the flashback descriptions were far too long。 I did not need so much extraraneous information， and I skim-read through some of these pages。 3） Frequently stating the obvious， and restating what has been explained earlier。 The middle just kept getting bogged down。 I kept wanting to get back to the unfolding mystery。 。。。more
Halifax
，
DNF Audiobook。
Mary Peaks
，
Brad Meltzer has given us a second book with Zig and Nola。 Zig is a mortician and Nola is an artist in residence for the army。 When a military man is murdered the army calls in Zig。 As Zig preforms the autopsy things just don’t add up。 As he begins nosing around Nola makes appearance and it is evident that she knows things others would like to keep quiet。 Zip’s friend Waggs is also back in the story。 She is doing her on investigation into the strangeness of the case。 A new character is introduce Brad Meltzer has given us a second book with Zig and Nola。 Zig is a mortician and Nola is an artist in residence for the army。 When a military man is murdered the army calls in Zig。 As Zig preforms the autopsy things just don’t add up。 As he begins nosing around Nola makes appearance and it is evident that she knows things others would like to keep quiet。 Zip’s friend Waggs is also back in the story。 She is doing her on investigation into the strangeness of the case。 A new character is introduced， Nola’s twin brother， Roddy。 Is he a good or bad is left for you to decide。 We also are given more background on Nola and Roddy’s early lives。 The reading is easy and the pace fast。 The conclusion surprised me on several fronts。 Looking forward to more books with Zig and Nola。 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Lightning Rod
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Lightning Rod&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Lightning Rod&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0