Brad Meltzer is back on track

The Inner Circle
by Brad Meltzer

When Brad Meltzer is at his best, there are few better. His novel, The Zero Game, blew me away. Blew. Me. Away. Unfortunately, subsequent novels have been increasingly weak. I’m happy to report that that trend stops here. It’s not a perfect novel, but with The Inner Circle, Brad is moving back in the right direction. It has flaws, but the one undeniable fact is that I had an absolute blast reading it.

In the past, Meltzer has placed his political thrillers in every corner of government. This time the focus is, surprisingly enough, on the National Archives. After a brief, tense scene between the President of the United States and an unnamed archivist, Chapter 1 introduces us to our protagonist. Beecher White is a 30-year-old archivist who loves his work. He’s likeable, but a bit dull. A colleague jokes, “You’re like Indiana Jones, but just the professor part.” His personal life hasn’t been great of late, but perhaps things are about to turn around because this is the day he reunites with his high school crush, Clementine Kaye. She’s visiting the archives in hopes of learning something important about her own history.

Before addressing her question, however, Beecher is trying to impress with a behind-the-scenes tour. In an attempt to help, a friend in security lets them into the President’s secure reading room less than an hour before he’s due to arrive. While there, a minor mishap causes the discovery of a secret hiding place and a very old book that appears to have belonged to George Washington. There’s no time to consider the ramifications before they have to hustle out prior to the President’s arrival, concealed book in hand. And they’re off to the races from there, because moments later the President is sent back to the White House early and the helpful security guard is wheeled out on a stretcher with a sheet over his face. How did he die? And is it because someone knew he’d been in that reading room?

In true Meltzer fashion, the plot is convoluted. I was loving the story, but as I read, certain details began to sound familiar. A quick check confirmed my suspicion. This book links tangentially to another in the Meltzerverse. He has brought back Nico Hadrian, first introduced in The Book of Fate. Don’t worry if you haven’t read it. This is not a sequel, and everything you need to know is exposited gracefully. I don’t really want to get much more into the plot, because the pleasure of a book like this is in the twists, turns, and surprises along the way. All of the above were plentiful, and I found this to be a fun, fast-paced read.

That doesn’t mean I turned off my inner critic entirely, however, and as much as I enjoyed this novel, I think there was a little sloppiness to the storytelling. There were a couple of instances where someone knew something they really shouldn’t have. Nothing too important, but it was sloppy. Additionally, three-quarters of the way through the novel, Meltzer suddenly starts giving readers answers to question by introducing flashback chapters with headings like “Twenty-six years ago Journey, Ohio” or “Four months ago St. Elizabeths Hospital.” It simply isn’t elegant storytelling. I still feel there must have been a more graceful way to tell the tale without those late-in-the-game flashbacks, but regardless, they got the job done.

The story comes to a satisfying conclusion, but it’s clearly also the opening for a sequel, or even a series. Despite my minor complaints, I will be looking forward happily to the continued exploits of Beecher White. In fact, I think I’ll drop by the National Archives the next time I fly home. I never before realized what a hotbed of excitement it is!

Mailbox Monday: Hachette and I kiss and make up edition

So, just between you and me, the only publisher I've ever had a hard time getting galleys from is Hachette.  I went whining to a major best-selling author on their list, "Hachette hates me."  He brought his full 800-pound gorilla-ness down on Publicity's head, and it took a while, but it seems to have worked.  It's so good to be friendly with 800-pound gorillas!  So, for starters, I finally have access to several Hachette titles this week.

The Sixth Man
by David Baldacci
Release date: 4/12/2011
Source:  Electronic galley from publisher

I haven't read every book in this series, but I know the main characters.  And I know Baldacci's writing.  It'll be a fast, light read, and I doubt I'll have trouble catching up to speed.

Rules of Civility
by Amor Towles
Release date: 7/21/2011
Source:  Electronic galley from publisher

A debut novel set in NY in 1938.  I'm curious, and I love the mystery of a debut.  You never know what you'll get.

The Inner Circle
by Brad Meltzer
Release date: 1/11/2011
Source:  Electronic galley from publisher

I love Brad Meltzer.  I love his excellent, page-turning thrillers, and the fact that he writes so knowledgeably about my hometown.  Brad is also a fantastic public speaker and story-teller.  He's super-friendly every time I meet him.  And, he married his high-school sweetheart.  He is awesome.  I can't wait to read this.

In Office Hours
by Lucy Kellaway
Release date: 2/7/2011
Source:  Electronic galley from Publisher

I don't even remember why I wanted to read this anymore, but at one point I was enthused.  Has anyone read it?

The Girl in the Garden
by Kamala Nair
Release date: 6/15/2011
Source:  Electronic galley from publisher

Something about "...an Indian village untouched by time, where she discovers in the jungle behind her ancestral house a spellbinding garden that harbors a terrifying secret."  Sounds good to me.

The Twisted Thread
by Charlotte Bacon
Release date:  6/14/2011
Source:  Electronic galley from the publisher

A haunting, literary thriller set within the walls of a private New England boarding school, where youth, money, and morals collide.  Every year leading up to Thrillerfest, I find myself reading more and more thrillers--not to mention right after.  It's that time of year again.

The Profession
by Steven Pressfield
Release date: 6/14/2011
Source:  Paper galley from publisher

Another thriller, but this one sounds a little too masculine for my liking.  Maybe someone in my book group will like it.

Even
by Andrew Grant
Release date: 5/12/2009
Source:  Purchased on my Kindle

Andrew is a friend whom I've never read.  I noticed that his debut thriller was on sale for $2.99 on Kindle, so I grabbed it.  Hopefully I can get around to reading it some day.

Law of Attraction
by Allison Leotta
Release date: 10/12/2010
Source:  Purchased at Borders

So, I haven't once visited Borders to pick over the remains, but my local mall store is closing in days, so while I was at the mall this weekend I finally poked my head in.  So depressing!  I used to love shopping for DVDs there.  Anyway, the one item I couldn't resist for 70% off was a nice hardback copy of my friend Ali Leotta's debut novel, Law of Attraction.  I originally read it on my Kindle, and I've really wanted a hardback copy for my shelf.  Incidentally, I just checked, and the paperback release isn't for a year yet.  It's a great debut (If you think I'm biased, check her other reviews.), so maybe you should look for a bargain hardback in your own Borders?


Books finished this week:

The Devil's Plaything by Matt Richtel

The Ninth Wife by Amy Stolls

A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine

The Sixth Man by David Baldacci

The Inner Circle by Brad Metzer

(Note:  A couple of months ago, I basically stopped watching television.  Even though I still have a really busy, active lifestyle, it has dramatically increased the number of books I've been reading lately.)

Currently reading:

The Tragedy of Arthur by Arthur Phillips

The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair

So, what books have you acquired this week?  What are you reading?  Let us know in the comments!  Oh, and if April sees this...  Jane McGonical was on NPR this morning, sharing the ideas she espouses in Reality is Broken, the book you told us about.  Read/listen to the story here:

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/11/135248010/how-to-save-the-world-one-video-game-at-a-time