Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book.
Wow, a dilemma! I got caught up in this book and, though it was too long, it kept me reading with anticipation to the end. And yet, all of my usual complaints are still my complaints: too much blood and gore, too many details. My dilemma comes from the way in which this author treats women. On the one hand, there are many strong women characters in positions of authority who are, for the most part likable. On the other hand, Meltzer doesn't really get into the minds of his strong women characters. Still an interesting read with a pretty interesting plot.
3.5 stars rounded to 3 because I just cannot give it 4.

Major Note Here: This book features flashbacks of childhood neglect and abuse. It was hard to read, personally and not helped by the other title that I was reading at the same time that featured Domestic Violence. (The Wife Between Us) Talk about double whammy, yet I pushed through both. You may not be able to and that is totally okay. I would never say, go see either title as a film, reading gave me some...okay a little distance from the violence and comparisons if my own story. It might not for you.

No matter, distance or not, it still wasn't easy for me and it did cause one major screaming nightmare.

Now, you're probably wondering why in the hello did I keep reading? I did it because the woman is an adult know, I wanted to see how she handled it, and it was one heck of a thriller, like who do you trust and what's everyone's real motive or roll in this? There is also this connection between the two main characters, Zig and Nola that I wanted to continue exploring. They both need each other in a way and not to survive, but to move forward and help each other repair old wounds. It's an interesting relationship of trust/no trust.

I could reiterate the blurb but that isn't what I walked away with. This was two wounded people fighting to uncover a huge secret as well as lick their old wounds. It's that last bit that kept me reading. Our childhood and even the major experiences we have as adults are what define us going forward and each and every person walks that path in a different way. That to me is the power of even a fast-reading fiction thriller like this to me, seeing how all of our paths twist and turn to deal with tragedy and abuse.

Alright, and I'm also a fan of Meltzer, he's never steered me wrong yet.

So, if my warning has nothing to do with your past, grab it, put your seatbelt on and be ready for a ride where you also might learn something about human nature. If the warning does apply to you, proceed with caution and the strength of knowing that you are not alone or skip it and leave it for another time. We all have times when we're ready or stronger than others, it's about doing a gut check and making choices. Life is pretty amazing with the choices and path thing. No one controls us once we are adults and certainly, no one controls this main character, Nola Brown.

This is the second book I've tried by this author, so now I've confirmed that I cannot read him. I don't care for the clunky writing or contrived government conspiracies. This one had the added pleasure of mortuary details. I did not finish it. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Less a thriller, more a general spy mystery but good nonetheless. Meltzer's book is well researched and carefully constructed with no plot clues left behind.

I have been searching for a truly "thrilling" thriller. I was hoping to find it in The Escape Artist, but sadly, I am still searching after finishing it. For the most part, I did enjoy the book, but I would classify it as more of a mystery than a thriller.

I did like Nola's character. In flashbacks, we get to see her formative years and it's not a big surprise she ended up like she did. I found myself applauding her in the end. I didn't care too much for Zig though. He kept making dumb decisions for the wrong reasons. I'm not too sure he is someone I would want to read about in a future book. But give me some more Nola in a book and I'd pick it up.

The big twist was predicable about half way though the book. For me, it wasn't very shocking. Overall, it's a fairly straight forward mystery. But, it does suffer from too many convenient coincidences. This is the first book that I have read by this author, so I have nothing else to compare it to. I'll probably give him a try again in the future.

Loved the book. Meltzer always has a refreshing approach to a mystery with a great touch of history thrown in.

“The Escape Artist” by Brad Meltzer is about the fight for life. It grabs readers from the start.

“These were the last thirty-two seconds of her life. She knew why this plane was going down.
This wasn’t an accident.”

This is the personal story of Jim “Zig” Zigarowski, a mortician at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, tending to the bodies service members. He prides himself on the care and dignity that he shows “clients” and families. One case is especially real and gut wrenching for him; Nola, a friend of his deceased daughter, died in a tragic airplane crash in Alaska. It becomes clear that there is more to this crash than meets the eye when Zig finds a note with the dying words of the female stranger lying on the table in front of him: “Nola, you were right. Keep running.”

The descriptions have an incredible sense of pageantry, precision, tradition, and honor. “The six-man carry team in camouflage fatigues and bright white gloves, marching in perfect precision, two by two, with their team leader behind them. Hup-hup-hup-hup.”

There are also some lighter, even humorous, moments among the tragedy. “You think I’m joking? This is that moment where they tell the babysitter the call’s coming from inside the house —and you’re the babysitter,”

The story is not written sequentially; chapters go back and forth in time, and move from one character to another. Main characters have significant backstories that come out a little at a time to give depth and to help readers connect with them on multiple levels. Readers learn how the characters got to where they are in the present part of the story.

There are many unusual alliances throughout the book, making readers question the part each character plays. The bad guys look so much like good guys, that it is impossible to tell them apart. There might not even be any good guys except Zig, and readers cannot even be sure about him.

Pages are filled with tension, thrills, and emotions that pull readers into every aspect of the action and characters. The clues are everywhere, but they seem to conflict with other clues. Gradually a picture develops, but is the picture clear or clouded by conspiracy?
This makes for a book that keeps readers eagerly turning each page to see what changes come along next

I received a copy of “The Escape Artist” from Brad Meltzer, Grand Central Publishing, and
NetGalley. It is a compelling book that keeps readers guessing page after page.
The characters are complex; the action is non-stop, and the ending unexpected. It was interesting to find out just who the escape artist in the title really is. I am still trying to recover.

I really enjoyed this book. The premise was interesting and kept me guessing until almost the end. Definitely would recommend this to readers who like thrillers.

12/90: The Escape Artist by Brad Meltzer 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Digital copy via Net Galley (and read on my Kindle)
As a long time reader and fan of Meltzer's novels, I was especially excited to read this one. The premise was just so different than all the other novels he's done before, and the synopsis definitely piqued my interest. I would say that this book is driven by the characters, who in my opinion, are unlike any of the others in Meltzer's previous novels.

Jim "Zig" Zigarowski is a mortician at Dover Air Force Base, and a genius at reconstructing the faces & bodies of fallen military personnel. He works his incredible magic so their burials can be dignified and help family and friends know that their loved ones were well taken care of. Nola is a Sergeant First Class in Army. She is tough, incredibly anti-social, and a talented artist. And so her current post is as the Artist In Residence for the US Army.

As the story progresses, we get to learn about our two main characters through flashbacks. We catch glimpses of why they are who they are, and how they've ended up on a collision course towards each other. Zig is a father, who is still dealing with the grief of losing his daughter many years earlier. Nola, now a grown up, is dealing with a childhood void of love and full of abuse. And while we are learning more about each character, chaos erupts, placing both characters in danger, without them knowing who.

I raced through this book so I could see how the mystery would be solved. I wanted to see the bad guy getting his just deserts, and see both main characters come to a tentative peace about their respective pasts. And when the book was finished, I was sad it was over! I want more Nola and Zig! And I hope that's a possibility in the future.

. .

Not sure I have read any Brad Melzer books before, but the marketing, which includes a comparison to Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and high praise from Harlan Coben (one of my favorites) made me want to read The Escape Artist (Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NeGalley, whp provided a copy in exchange for my honest review)

The comparison of Melzer’s Nola to Lizbeth Salander seems like a stretch. They have some things in common: both are wounded due to childhood trauma; both are lacking in social skills. But Nola, who is supposedly the protagonist in this book, is someone whose story is told in relation to Jim “Zig” Zigarowski, who is the real focus of the story.

Zig (an interesting character who could carry a book by himself without relying on the Dragon Tattoo comparison re Nola) works at Dover Air Force Base, where the bodies of Americans who are killed on active duty. He is also wounded, and much time is spent on his angst over the loss of his daughter. When she was a child, his daughter was saved from a tragic accident by the actions of another girl named Nola, and Zig realizes when Nola’s body arrives at Dover that it isn’t really Nola, and that Nola is alive and on the run.

There is also lots of stuff about another “escape artist,” Harry Houdini, which frankly left me yawning a few times. The plot moves quickly once Zig and Nola begin to investigate what turns out to be a plot involving a conspiracy that dates back to Houdini but involves the US Army (I think). TBH, this just wasn’t my thing. It had some good characters (although the marketing re Nola seems deceptive) and lots of action, but it did require a bit more suspension of disbelief than I am fond of. I’m sure Melzer’s fans will love it. For me, it was only 3 stars, but the writing was good enough that I will likely try another of Melzer’s books.

Based on an advance review of this book, I was eager to read this book. Regrettably, the reality didn't meet the expectations. It's poorly contrived and ultimately boring. I quit about half-way through as I just didn't care any more about the outcome.

Meltzer writes great characters, great stories, and great twists. This is one everyone will be talking about. Sure to be on every beach this summer.

Jim “Zig” is the newest star for author Brad Meltzer. How he wraps the real with the fiction in every nook is amazing and here the overriding question will be "Who is Nola Brown"?

This was a fast read and was certainly serviceable enough. But there were a few awkward plot blips (like a character was supposed to be one place but showed up somewhere else only to have it conveniently explained away later) that took my attention away, and some coincidental happenings that also distracted me.

I considered myself extremely lucky to receive an advance e-copy of THE ESCAPE ARTIST by Brad Meltzer. I have loved so many of his books through the years, and I heard that his latest is a special one. I couldn't agree more! I devoured this novel in a little over a day... which is really saying something because I never have the time (or desire) to read a book straight through!

THE ESCAPE ARTIST is Brad Meltzer at his best. In this novel, two unlikely people work together (sometimes!) to get to the bottom of a major government cover-up. Nola Brown is an artist-in-residence with the U.S. Army. When an airplane crashes in Alaska, her body is found and delivered to "Zig" Zigarowski, a military mortician who has major skills at making dead soldiers presentable to their families. Zig recognizes the woman as the young girl who once saved his daughter's life when they were twelve. He is determined to do right by her... and then he realizes that the body he is working on isn't Nola's!

Zig is extremely dedicated to his job, but when he learns that Nola might still be alive, he's determined to find her. He quickly realizes that Nola has grown into a woman who can't stay out of trouble. She has an uncanny ability to see things other soldiers can't; and while it often times saves the lives of others, this past time has put her own life at risk!

Nola and Zig team up (well kind of/sort of -- it's complicated) to uncover secrets at the top levels of the U.S. military and government. And as strange as this sounds, these secrets include a conspiracy that goes the whole way back to Harry Houdini and his assistants.

I adored THE ESCAPE ARTIST! This novel was exactly what I love about thrillers -- a fast-paced story, interesting characters, and a complicated mystery. It was extremely well-written (and well researched), and I loved the blend of history and fiction. Furthermore, I was kept on the edge-of-my-seat with trying to determine who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. It was such a fun read!

There were quite a few things that I appreciated about this novel, but I think one of the true strengths was in the character development. I loved Zig and the way he had so much respect for soldiers and military families. In addition, I ended up really liking how he was so persistent in his attempts to help Nola and to get to the bottom of what the government was hiding -- he was a mortician for goodness sakes -- not exactly a typical hero in a thriller.

However, it was Nola's character that really captured my interest. The book included flashbacks into Nola's childhood to help explain her present state of mind, and what a tragic childhood it was. As an adult, Nola is one tough cookie, and it's no surprise that she is considering what she endured as a child. There were many times that I wasn't quite sure what to make of her, and I think she's one of the most damaged female characters I've ever encountered in this genre.

I didn't spend a lot of time trying to figure things out in this novel -- mainly because I knew I'd be wrong. There was a point when some things started to click, but I definitely didn't have a good grasp of the entire mystery. I loved how everything came together at the end of the novel, and I did end up being quite surprised.

In summary, THE ESCAPE ARTIST was a fantastic novel. I highly recommend it to fans of Brad Meltzer's as well as readers who like a good thriller!

“You make something appear. You make something disappear. You make two things change place. Or, the one Zig liked most: You change one thing into something else.”

Two lives digging for truths, two lives twain in battlement with death, one literary starting her teen life out digging a grave, to becoming one wanting to be dead, the other with a job, maybe in part due to kin lost to terrible circumstances, that maybe serves as a second chance for the fallen by fixing them up to a presentable state.
These two characters man and woman pulling the reader on with mystery and intrigue.
Plane down, why ? Who did it ? Some of the driving questions, but ultimately these two memorable characters either up against loss, or racism, and terrible circumstances and how death pulls their hearts strings and the readers once immersed in the tale.
One part of the tale rides along building momentum in the present and another part in various chapters with some great characterisation in the building of the woman Nola Brown who had plenty pains and obstacles but became tougher and tougher.
Pre-warning to the reader of being succumbed by thrill of clear and present danger and conspiratorial manoeuvrings that will in rapid fire succession insidiously try to alter the characters lives.

Brad Meltzer's THE ESCAPE ARTIST is promoted as an action thriller and, though that's true, the success of this book lies in its characters of Zig and Nola. Two damaged souls, briefly connected by the past, who reluctantly come together to uncover and protect a secret national program.

Although the title was likely meant to pique a reader's interest in what Houdini would have to do with the country's national security, I believe it actually refers to Zig -- a mortician -- and Nola -- an artist in residence for the military. Both escape their scarred lives by using their talents to create beauty in death.

Sound morbid? It's not! On occasion, the description of violence may be a bit too much yet that doesn't matter. Instead, the focus remains on the characters' storylines. I dare you not to care and root for these two memorable individuals.

I love a great suspense novel and am a huge history buff, so I have been eagerly anticipating Brad Meltzer’s newest political thriller, THE ESCAPE ARTIST. Full of plot twists and the arcane historical knowledge he is known for, Meltzer introduces two new characters in his new novel. Jim “Zig” Zigarowski is a mortician working at Dover Air Force Base. Nola Brown, a trained soldier and the US Army’s artist-in-residence, is presumed dead in a plane crash in Alaska. Among the victims of the downed plane is the Librarian of Congress, leading Zig to question the motives of those on board, especially when he realizes that the body identified as Nola Brown can’t be her. As the plot advances, Zig and his colleagues at Dover discover connections to famed magician, Harry Houdini and his associates.

Meltzer has created two of his most unique and enjoyable characters to date. Zig, divorced and mourning the loss of his young daughter, loses himself in his work of preparing and caring for the bodies of our soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Nola Brown’s story slowly unfolds through the course of the novel and something in her past connects her to the mystery at the center of the book. Zig and Nola work together, at times grudgingly, to put the pieces of the puzzle together and put themselves in the line of fire.
I loved the fast paced plotting of the novel and really enjoyed getting to know these two new characters. I hope that this is the start of a new series and would really like to see where Zig and Nola go from here. Perfect for fans of Dan Brown or Stieg Larsson, this book was a very entertaining read and doesn’t disappoint. I give THE ESCAPE ARTIST a solid 4 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it.

I was given an advance copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

We all know that feeling when one of your favorite authors has a new book coming out and you can't wait to get your hands on it and dive right in. But the best feeling is when it just keeps getting better and better with each page and at the end, you are already thinking about how long it will be before the sequel is out. The Escape Artist is all those feels!

The Escape Artists introduces Jim "Zig" Zigarowski, who works as a mortician at Dover Air Force Base. Zig learns that Nola Brown, a childhood friend of his daughter, is among the fallen but he uncovers the truth that Nola Brown might still be very much alive. Zig follows the spiderweb of truths and lies as he traces Nola's path and uncovers much more than he anticipated.

Both the main characters of Zig and Nola are so well written. Most thrillers have a death defying lead character with a larger than life personality, but Brad Meltzer's characters have something extra. In Zig, there is this flawed person with a real heart of gold. He remembers each fallen soldier and takes hours preparing them so their families can say a final goodbye. He stands by Nola's side throughout the novel, even when that is sometimes a difficult position. In Nola, there is this rough hardened exterior but you can also see glimpses of a certain goodness inside.

I also love the portions of the book that give you insight to little known facts about our government and history. Without giving too much away, the Harry Houdini tie-ins are so interesting and add to the plot line.

I truly cannot wait to read what I hope will be other books in this series. If you haven't read Brad Meltzer's books before, I highly recommend The Escape Artist. This was a Five Star read for me!

I received this book courtesy of Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.