Black Lightning: A Novel

John Saul's knack for making you feel as if you're right in Seattle, without ever being to the west coast myself, is remarkable. His twists and turns make for excellent page-turning. I found the ending to be - not a disappointment - but, rather an exquisite trademark of Saul's work.

For diehard fans of Saul's prior bestsellers, this thriller will not let you down. Instead it will take your breath away as it takes you at breakneck speed through the execution of Richard Kraven, a serial murderer, and the psychological terror he placed on and continues to place on Anne Jeffers and the residents of Seattle, Washington. Begin reading this book early in the day. Trust me - you won't be able to put this novel down until its last electrifying page leaves you breathless and spent.

This is one of John Saul's best novels yet! Anne Jeffers, a Seattle journalist, has finally tracked down the serial killer she has been writing about to the world. The execution of this poor man has finally come. Richard Kraven's famous last word's refore he is executed are, "Today won't end it. How will you feel, Anne? When I'm dead, and it all starts again, how will you feel?" Yes, how will Anne Jeffers feel when Richard Kraven's sadistic thoughts are put into another's mind so that his mission can be completed? Read this excellent book to find out!

Saul's writing produces explicit graphics in the imaginations of all the followers of this horrific writing. I recommend Black Lightning to anyone who loves a fast page turner, but if you are offended by blood and guts, you're in the wrong section of the library.

This was the first book I have read by this author and I was pleasantly surprised. The storyline kept me on my "toes" throughout. I enjoy a book that is well written and one which does not "jump" all over the place. The author kept the meaning of the title a secret until you were ~3/4 of the way through the book, but this did not, in any way, affect the reader's enjoyment of the plot. In fact, the discovery of the significance of the title only increased my enjoyment of the story. I let my daughter read this book after me and she enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed it, including the "discovery" of the meaning of the title. Excellent!