“The Viper”
If you had to, yeah, well, OK. You’ll admit, the scales are pretty, lined up so precisely in a way that makes you marvel at nature. It’s what those scales are on that makes you gulp: a snake, and that’s a big nope. About a third of the world’s humans are scared of snakes, but here’s something to think about: as in the new novel, “The Viper” by Brad Meltzer, even a reptile changes its skin now and then.
Jim “Zig” Zigarowski didn’t really want to deal with Roddy LaPointe.
Roddy was kind of an oddball — nice, just a little off — but when Roddy called with the news that he thought he’d found his mother’s killer, Zig had no choice. He’d always felt protective about Roddy and, by extension, Roddy’s twin sister, Nola. Years ago, Nola had saved Zig’s daughter’s life, and Zig never forgot it.
Nola, too, was different, the result of years of abuse by an adoptive father; even higher-ups in the military recognized the psychological scars she’d suffered. They said it was common for kids in bad situations to become highly observant and her superiors used it, and Nola’s drawing skills, to their advantage.
She was fine with that, and her solitary life after her military discharge. She really didn’t want anything to do with Roddy or Zig – until Roddy called to say that he knew who’d killed their mother. A mother Nola barely remembered, so she barely cared — except that Roddy was up to something, and she didn’t like it.
For most of his working life, Zig had dealt with the dead, reconstructing soldiers’ bodies for the government, for their families. He really didn’t have time for Roddy’s nonsense, but he couldn’t step aside, either. Roddy claimed that a man who’d been stabbed and shot in a seedy Maryland motel knew his mother and her killer. He just needed someone to help prove it.
Problem was, as Zig knew, solving a murder could lead to murder. … So you’re ready for a good, multi-layered thriller. You won’t be sorry if you catch “The Viper.”
Set in a relatively small area and touching upon years of backstory, author Brad Meltzer takes readers through what seems like several mysteries at once, which means there’s a lot going on here. You may, in fact, become somewhat befuddled sometimes because of a multitude of characters and threads, so you’ll want to relax into the story. Chill. Let yourself get acquainted with two of Meltzer’s best recurring characters, becoming privy to the deepest parts of their pasts. Doing so serves two purposes: to keep you guessing about the security of the edge of your seat now, and to make you eager for the next wild thrill ride.
This is a great read for your book club; there’s lots of violence here, but no profanity or bedroom scenes. It’s just one thrill after another, so grab “The Viper and let the shivers slither down your spine.
— The Bookworm Sez
