The Lightning Rule: A Gripping Historical Crime Thriller About a Hunt for a Serial Killer in 1967 Newark

by Brett Ellen Block

They say lightning never strikes the same spot twice. Detective Martin Emmett is about to prove the exception to the rule. It is the summer of 1967 and a heat wave is bringing Newark, New Jersey's simmering racial tensions to a boiling point. Banished to desk duty, his career on the line, Emmett is offered a chance at professional redemption if he can quickly and quietly solve the murder of a black teenage boy whose mutilated body has been found in a subway tunnel. But Emmett discovers that the teen is a victim of a sadistic predator who abducts boys to use as prey in a twisted game of cat and mouse. While the riots engulf Newark, crippling the city with chaos, Emmett must track down the killer before the next hunt begins.

Genres: Mystery, Police

306 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Brett Ellen Block was born and raised in Summit, New Jersey. She received her undergraduate degree in Fine Arts from the University of Michigan, where she was awarded the Hopwood and Haugh prizes for fiction writing. She went on to earn graduate degrees at the Iowa Writers' Workshop and the University of East Anglia's Fiction Writing Program in England.

Writing under her full name, Brett Ellen Block, she won the Drue Heinz Literary Prize for her debut collection of short stories, Destination Known, and is a recipient of the Michener-Copernicus Fellowship. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed novel, The Grave of God’s Daughter, as well as the Macavity Award-nominated thriller, The Lightning Rule.

Reviews

[Barbara Herbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellently written. The thriller will keep you turning the pages. Couldn’t wait to finish, then wanted more. Definitely worth your time, you will enjoy.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Using riots in Newark, NJ during the '60s as a back drop a story about a serial killer, families and racial relations is told. The protagonist is a former seminarian living in his childhood home with his war injured brother. A family of a sorts is created when the riots traps people in his house, and the story of discovering the murder is engaging, while at some points telegraphed.

At some points it felt like the book was the setup for a series. The characters are there, and I could see them being reused. Overall, it wasn't a bad book at all. Some cliches, but the neat characters and intriguing story made up for it.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was OK. The dynamic of the riot was interesting, as was the relationship between Emmett and his brother. However, the serial killer aspect was a bit contrived and the portions told from the killer's perspective didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the novel. I'd compare this book to a made-for-TV movie; entertaining to pass the time but definitely not mind-stimulating.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn't do it; I get more out of reading the nutritional value on a cereal box. No lie.

[Candice · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't evern finish the book. It was too cliche and was trying to be LA Confidential in a really bad way.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good mix of mystery, history and family. You could relate to the characters and the ending was good.

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding combination of true history and compelling fiction.

[Jaime Navarro · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't read...the end!