Unfortunately this was my first read of a Meltzer novel and will likely be my last. Title might also describe the rave reviews plastered on the book jacket which snared me as I passed through the airport book store...

"Brilliant", "A fast, exciting ride", "...Meltzer strikes gold".... huh. I can only conclude that the publishing industry has a cadre of go-to guys and gals at various publications who will dish up a good quote whenever one is needed. As I eluded to, this was and impulse buy. For $28 I wanted to like it, but there just isn't much to like.

None of the characters are well developed. Even our protagonist Cal, thought his story (what little we know of it) is certainly sympathetic, is hard to empathize with. The story opens with a terrible early childhood trauma, then leaps 19 years into the present with this lame paragraph:

"Most lives crumble over time. Cal Harper's crumbled in one crashing fall. But nineteen years later, thanks to a single call on his radio, he'd begin his quest through history and finally have a chance to put his life together".

For the next 300+ pages we are taken on one long chase. Our protagonist Cal ex-ICE agent and homeless advocate. His ex-con estranged father Lloyd, and Lloyd's friend Serena are pursued by murderous zealot ex-cop Ellis, and separately by tenacious ICE agent Naomi. Aided by Roosevelt a defrocked preacher, college and friend of Cal's, they follow clues leading to the "Book of Lies" the Gift/Punishment handed down by God to Cain after the murder of Abel. Add to the mix, a secret society, someone called the Prophet, and the true-life 1932 murder of Mitchell Siegel, the father of Jerry Siegel creator of the comic book character Superman, and some missing comic pages which are the key to finding the "book". As plots go, quite a rats nest...tied together with our protagonist's internal conversation and lots of unrealistically professorial dialogue designed to educate us so that we might buy into the story. Sorry, despite lots of excitement, I never did.

I wonder why Meltzer decide to go Da Vinci Code on us as there was probably a good story in the Siegel murder mystery without going off into religious mysticism. This story falls far short of the intricately crafted and coherent plot and masterful mixing of fact and fiction that makes the Da Vinci Code such a good read.

Pick it up at the library if you are a Meltzer fan. Otherwise, spend your time and money more wisely...

In BOOK OF LIES, Cal Harper is a former government agent who was forced to leave his position and now works as an advocate for the homeless, living with them at a residency shelter and helping them out of tough situations. While on "patrol" Cal picks up a homeless man who turns out to be his father, a man he hasn't seen in years. His father, Lloyd, was sent to prison for the accidental manslaughter of his wife, Cal's mother. Their reunion is the catalyst that sends Cal and Lloyd on a journey that is connected to Jerry Siegel, the creator of Superman, and Cain, Adam's eldest son who killed his brother Abel.

I picked up BOOK OF LIES because of the connection to the creation of Superman. Until recently, I was completely unaware that Jerry Siegel's father, Mitchell was shot in an alley at gunpoint when Jerry was a boy. When I learned of that and how BOOK OF LIES connected that event to the story of Cain from the Bible, I became very interested in reading the book.

I was quite disappointed. The book is a decent mystery-suspense story and has some real page-turning moments. However, as the story builds up and builds up to the climatic final confrontation and reveal, it's a huge let down. I was able to figure out the identity of the mastermind villain about halfway through the book. Despite this, I thought the payoff at the end of the book was going to be amazing. It's not. It's pretty unexciting and the last few chapters of the novel read as though they were thrown together in wrap the story up quickly. Also, the secret that's revealed inside the Book of Lies is even a bigger let down than the anti-climatic final confrontation.

Recommended if you enjoy reading suspense stories such as ANGELS AND DEMONS and THE DA VINCI CODE and if you have an interest in Superman and comics, you also might get something out of reading this book (some of the research about Jerry Siegel is very interesting).

This book is what I would consider a beach/travel read. It was quick, it was fun, and did not require much thinking. I enjoyed the story, it was fairly interesting, but it was hardly engaging. It is another one of those scavenger hunt books, tracing around lore and religion looking for long lost clues that could revitalize the way we see the world.

However, the format of the book is just that, and nothing more. It is no "Angels and Demons" or other well researched, almost believable works of fiction.

I've enjoyed most of Meltzer's books, and I'm sure I will continue to do so. I just think that this book latched on to what is a popular storytelling format these days. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book; but it was not as deep as I was hoping. It was, however, a fast paced and enjoyable story, and for that reason alone, it was worth reading.

J.Stoner

This suspense novel has a well-written fascinating premise that involves the teenaged creator of Superman comics, a back story of a Nazi quest during World War II for a book of power, mysterious people seeking the book today, and Cal Harper who is searching for this book.

The Prophet and The Leadership loom menacingly in the background, desperate to recover the book, which was stolen from them in 1900. Cal gets clues about where the book is and is tracked by an assassin, and meanwhile Cal is reunited with his dad under strange circumstances. Father and son were separated for 19 years while Cal's dad was in prison.

The Book of Lies may offer clues to the world's first murder weapon, used by Cain to kill Abel. I won't reveal any plot details since you will want to read this book if you enjoy a creative story in the form of a suspense tale.

I listened to this via audiobook. It had great potential and it kept me with one hand on the wheel and one hand gripping my head for most of the way. Then...............IT ENDED STUPIDLY, UNSATIFACTORILY, TIED UP NOTHING - AND MADE NO SENSE!!!
I might try another of Mr. Meltzer's books - but I doubt it!

A quick read that got rave reviews, but in the end, did not really like the book - empty calories. Set up as a thriller - but the story does not really hold together well. Maybe good for middle school readers.

I have not finished this book yet - I'm about 32 chapters in and, already, I hate this book.
I read about it in Wizard magazine; I'm a big comic geek. It sounded interesting.

It's not.

I hated the DaVinci Code and this is worse than that; rather its a bad knock-off. The metaphors are weak or reaching or both. The symbolic imagery is over-played. The dialog is preachy & monology; very unnatural. It is not unlike some of the denser over-explaining dialog in comic books; but comics have the excuse of needing to tell the entire story with pictures and dialog (many modern comics don't use much narration). This book has no such excuse.
Also, comics often avoid using swear words - which is fine - but they generally don't put in juvenile substitutions like "effing". Swear or don't, but don't use elementary euphemisms.

In Genesis, Cain commits fratricide when he murders his brother, Abel. This is the first and most famous murder in the history of the world, yet the murder weapon itself has been lost to time. The Bible mentions nothing about it. Was it a rock? A sharpened stick? Or perhaps Cain's bare hands? According to Brad Meltzer's theories, it was something else entirely, and in his thrilling book, The Book of Lies, Cal Harper finds himself on a breathless search for the world's first murder weapon, eager to find it before time runs out and the hunter suddenly becomes the hunted. But on every step of the way he has to watch out for Ellis-a ruthless murderer with a tattoo of the ancient markings of Cain.

Cal's quest takes him to Cleveland, to the home of Jerry Siegel, the creator of Superman. Jerry's father was killed by a shot from a gun, thus inspiring Jerry to invent the bullet-proof man. Someone had attempted to murder Cal's own father by that same weapon, but where is the connection? What links the world's first murder to Superman and to Cal's father?

In this mixture of folklore and mystery, Brad Meltzer once again proves that he is the master of suspense. As always he manages to capture his audience from the very first word, because he dares to throw the reader out into the middle of the action, rather than slowly ease them in thorough introductions. His writing skills are so undeniable that one easily forgives him small inconsistencies and plot holes, because he has the ability to make the reader believe in him completely while reading. It wasn't until after I had finished the book that I sat back and thought, "Hey, but what about...."

The Book of Lies has been recorded for Hachette Audio by Scott Brick, who does full justice to Brad Meltzer's writings. His voice is easy to understand and expressive, and he knows how to take himself out of the equation, so that my attention was focused on the plot, and not on his interpretation of it.

I found myself taking bike detours to work and even offering to do the dishes after dinner- anything to have time for "just one more chapter."

Armchair Interviews says: Brad Meltzer does NOT disappoint!

I became a Meltzer fan after reading his book Millionaires. It was a fantastic read, but this is only so-so. I found it difficult to get into and fairly ridiculous as plots go. It was more like a comic book than a novel. I've read all his books so far, but don't think I'll buy the next one.

I've enjoyed past books by this author, but this one is a tad weird in my opinion and definitely not a favorite. Tying the Cain-killed-Abel story with the death of the father of Superman's creator (in the 1930's) and a secret society that wants the weapon Cain used (present day) is a big stretch and a big mess of characters. Somehow the author tries to tie these events together...and left this reader wondering why he bothered.

Reviewed by Narayan Radhakrishnan for RebeccasReads (10/08)


What do the Bible and Superman have in common? Well, before you rake your minds to list the highly improbable and farfetched common grounds, please read "The Book of Lies." I have long been a fan of legal thrillers written by this author, but of late I find that Mr. Meltzer is carving a neat niche in the biblical-historical mystery genre, a territory of which Dan Brown (seems) to be the undisputed Emperor. A couple of years back Meltzer enthralled us with "The Book of Fate," and no, "Book of Lies" is not a sequel of any sort, save for the fact that both are mysteries laced with a flavour of history.

The first murder recorded in biblical history is that of Abel by his brother Cain. But what happened to the weapon that was used for the murder? History proclaims it lost, but was it? The novel starts with the story of Cal Harper. As a boy he had a difficult childhood (the details of which, my friend, you have to find out by reading the book), and on one fine day, he comes across his father in somewhat dubious circumstances. Lloyd, his father, seems to have a story to tell. Lloyd tells a story of.... well..."biblical proportions," both literarily and figuratively. It seems that the murder weapon had reached the hands of one Mitchell Siegel. Siegel was murdered by a gunshot in 1932. Even his son, Jerry, thought it to be a robbery related murder. But the murder provoked Jerry to think, what if there existed a man on whom bullets would do no harm; a man with the strength of a train; a man with laser vision; a man who could fly...up...up.... and away.... Thus was born Superman. And do you know what the first Superman adventure was? It was of him preventing a robbery by gun wielding hoodlums.

But unknown to Jerry Siegel, it seems Mitchell was in possession of the world's first murder weapon. And the deeper Cal and Lloyd Harper investigate, battling a host of evil men (and women), the closer they come to the truth behind a mystery that's just going to rock the world.

What follows is pulsating action at its best. I was glued to the pages.... and one thing I can say, I am will treat my collection of Superman comics with newfound respect. A highly, highly recommended read.

Good story, but a little confusing as to the biblical references. Had to reread several parts to "get it." However, 'twas a good tale and kept me reading sometimes late into the night.

It is a very short read. The font is large, the spacing generous, and it is still only 352 pages. I did not enjoy this as much as "The Book of Fate". I never got into the characters or story, and was unimpressed by the plot. I finished it more to just finish it, not because I was enjoying it.

I hadn't heard much about this book except that it incorporated the origins of Superman, and, being a super hero fan, I felt compelled to check it out. I could always do without gore, but there was enough suspense and guessing who the good and bad guys were that it balanced out. The way fact was woven in with fiction was clever and imaginative, and made this a book that I read well into the wee hours. Enjoy!

At first I was hesitant about the topic, even though it intrigued me. The idea of a link, in history (death of the dad of superman's creator and Cain and Able) sparked my curiosity. I loved the parallel that Brad used in his writing and even though this is my first novel, from Brad Meltzer, I found his use of music (which I also purchased) as a mood altering device to enhance the books energy was fantastic, but I would have liked more of a structured use of the music. Anyway, I look toward to more soundtracks in the future of novels. I recommend this book to other readers, who are searching something different, but at the same time don't expect a Dan Brown type of novel. I don't think Brad Meltzer ever tried to sell the novel as an eye opening "Da Vinci Code". I read some reviews saying they were disappointed in "Lies" not being the new "Code". However, I think Brad explains that the book was an opportunity to look at two stories that have historically been a mystery. He tries to take the mysteries and write a good story behind what if there was something more to than meets the eye. Book of Lies ?????? Greg

I've been reading Brad Meltzer's books since the beginning and this was my least favorite by far. I'm not sure how he decided to combine the murder of the father of Superman's creator with the Biblical account of Cain and Abel, much less toss in a secret society that believes God gave Cain a powerful "book" that still exists. But he apparently got so excited he forgot to write a story that makes sense.

The characters are so busy running after each other, the clues and the Book that they don't stop to wonder if what they are doing makes sense. I think the author hoped his readers would do the same. But the more I read, the more things didn't make sense to me. Why would someone who should know better and has access to other guns shoot someone with a gun from a previous murder? And why did Ellis and his secret society need the clues they were chasing when they led to places they should have searched long before. There are more irritating things that didn't make sense but I don't want to give away the plot for those readers who are more willing to suspend skepticism to enjoy the book.

I enjoyed the book until it veered too far into woo-woo land and then I just wanted it to be done. Ultimately, it didn't work for me. At least the ending wasn't as ridiculous as I thought it might be. That's why I gave it 3 stars rather than 2.

I hope the author will go back to writing thrillers about "normal" things like greed, lust for power, corruption, revenge, etc. and forget the mystical stuff.

I recommend that fans of Brad Meltzer skip this book and re-read one of his earlier books.

The premise of best-selling author Brad Meltzer's latest release, "Book of Lies" sounds promising. Readers are supposed to find out how the story of Cain and Able and a 1932 murder of someone close to Superman are interwoven.

Calvin Harper, former customs agent-turned homeless shelter volunteer, still suffers from the trauma of seeing his father kill his mother when he was only a child. His father was sent to prison, disappearing from his son's life forever, or until he's needed to flesh out a plotline.

On one of his midnight rounds through the mean streets of Fort Lauderdale, Harper saves the life of a shooting victim, who, as it turns out, is his long-lost dad.

The improbable coincidences mount, utlimately revealing the involvement of a secret sect, some high-powered officals and the weapon used when Cain murdered his brother in history's first crime. I was forced to turn to the back of the bok to find out how it ended because I grew weary of trying to weave a whole cloth out of such slender threads. I think the author tried to cash in on the success of Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code." Brad Meltzer is no Dan Brown.

This is a good solid book. It wasn't exactly what I thought it would be-more of the Bible story- but it was better. I loved the mystery of it and trying to guess what would happen next. I normally don't read a mystery type book but this was a great one for me.

Loved this book as I said I like how Brad Meltzer draws you into the storyline. By the way did anyone else's book have a corner torn out on pages 151 and 152? Just curious, mine was, but didn't miss too much text.

I purchased this book after hearing an interview with the author on our local radio station. I was skeptical, but the general plot intrigued me. I'm not particularly fond of fiction and mystery type novels are a genera that I have mixed feelings about.

However, I was completely immersed in The Book of Lies from start to finish. Every waking moment I had that wasn't devoted to something else my nose was buried deep in this book. I commend the author for such an amazingly well told story, well developed characters, and a very entertaining ride.

Probably his worst book to date. Slow tedious reading. Definitely not a page turner. Both my wife and I had difficulty in getting into this novel.

Read and heard on TV interview his reasons and desires to write this book.
AFTER READING, CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY.

Marshall Walter

Meltzer has a bad habit of giving his characters ungainly speeches and diatribes when they're in situations that would normally require immediacy. A parade of shallow, trite persons amble through the narrative: the estranged father, the angry abandoned son, the spunky single-mom cop, the emotionless assassin, etc., etc. The central plot concept could have been interesting, but here it's executed more like the novelization of a mediocre summer movie screenplay. Verdict - meh. Didn't throw it against the wall in frustration.

Good plot, fine mystery, but the shallowness of the characters made me want it to be over with.

This was my first Meltzer novel, and frankly, it was because of an ad in the NYTimes Book Review section that I read it. It was one of the fastest reads I've done in a while (very short chapters help). I enjoyed the varieties of locales and quick dialog. Meltzer creates clear pictures (Alligator Alley at night; Cleveland in the snow) and gave us some fun characters. I was disappointed in the coincidences (people showing up basically out of nowhere) and found the chapters in prison stretching believability, to say the least. However; the ending was satisfying.

Maui H.S.
I didn't think Brad Meltzer could top my favorite novel of his, "The Zero Game". Brad Meltzer did. The Book of Lies kept me attached to the story, the plot, trying to figure out who is who, and the characters became real to me. I still think I will meet Cal on the street.
You will be hooked on the story from the beginning. Who is Ellis? What is Thule? Don't forget the Jewish hating Russians and Nazis. Figure out who is the Prophet. On your seat and trying to figure out the plot right to the end.
The Finish is EXCELLENT. It is the best ending any author could achieve. The treasure is treasure, but not what you believe it to be. It is the greatest prize and the greatest power on earth, but I doubt anyone could guess it. Way to go, Brad. You beat my favorite Zero Game down to second place. The Book of Lies is now my favorite Brad Meltzer novel.
If I could give this a six star instead of the limit five star, I would.

I loved THE BOOK OF LIES and found it a great read, terrific entertainment and well worth the time spent. Meltzer is a talented storyteller.

Brad Meltzer's The Book of Lies is a Dan Brown-esque religion-based mystery but with a pop culture twist. How he ever came up with the pairing of Superman and Cain, I'll never understand...but it works. While only loosely based in reality, Meltzer manages to weave a believable narrative from these two disparate stories. At the same time, the reader grows fond of the main character, Cal Harper, as he embarks on this odyssey with his long-lost father. This brings an emotional element to the story that only enhances their quest to discover the truth.

I am typically able to develop a pretty strong idea of how a mystery will end, but The Book of Lies kept me guessing to the very end. I rarely read an entire book in one day anymore, but this is an engaging novel that kept me going until I finished. I'm loathe to say more for fear of ruining it for you, so just go get this book and read it for yourself.

Brad Meltzer
Grand Central Publishing, 2008
ISBN: 9780446577885
4 Stars
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com, 09/08
Thriller...
Brad Meltzer takes two real murders and entwines their story with that of a fictional murder.
Mitchell Siegel (father of the creator of Superman) was shot in 1932. Present day, Cal Harper's father has been shot. The gun is the same as the one that was used in the Siegel murder. Meltzer ties these two murders to the first murder, Cain and Abel. So begins the quest to find the original murder weapon, the one Cain used to kill Abel. Secret Societies, Superman, murder, intrigue, deceit, and non-stop action make this book a must read. Brad Meltzer has a talent for capturing the attention of his readers and keeping them eagerly turning pages. Wisely, he keeps the number of characters at a minimum. Too often, authors overload their books with characters and lose the attention of the reader in the process. This book will particularly appeal to adult males.

Meltzer tries his best to weave these seemingly different topics together in "The Book of Lies". This is my first Meltzer book, and I can't say honestly that I would've bought it if the Superman Mythos wasn't included. (It's no mystery that I have an avid fondness for Superman).

Calling the plot of this book a stretch is an understatement. However, I've read worse. The stregths of "The Book" is its lively and almost real dialogues, which almost characterizes the protagonist and antagonists for the reader. The action is fast-pace. Chapters are quick to read through. In no time you will be finished reading.

Stamp of approval.

I am a HUGE fan of Brad Meltzer !! That being said I thought this book was OK at best. I did like the simple message at the end and the story line was original.
Read The 10th Justice or Dead Even (my FAVORITE) both by Mr. Meltzer and then you will truly appreciate his writing talents !
PS I still miss the show Jack and Bobby !

Very good read, alot of plot twists and surprises. Meltzer ties in Superman comic books with the Bible, Nazis, CIA and several others.

The dialogue is very well written, but its written to sound "real", which does sort of throw you for a loop at first. But it seemed to me that the author just wanted it to be very realistic. The characters talk like people do when their comfortable with each other.

The story is set in 2008. Alot of current references throughout the book, like the mention of (King James), but not the actual King, King James as in Lebron James!

The story is alot like "The Da Vinci Code" and "National Treasure". But what can you expect, once an idea has been done, anything similiar gets compared to it.

The ending is very surprising and definitely unusual, but very good!!!

Not the best book of the year, definitely a good, good book!!

The History of Science Fiction is strewn with heroic failures. Brad Meltzer considers the heroic failure no less heroic than the heroic success. I heard him say so at the San Diego Comic-Con, and this kind of encouragement gained particular resonance floated upon the sea of aspiring creators in the audience. The sometimes adversarial relationship between an artist and his father (although this dynamic may also play out between mothers and daughters) often corresponds with the acrimonious relationship between certain creators and editors in the Golden and Silver Age of comics. Meltzer presaged the dissolution of this potent theme by supporting all aspirants to contribute as ordinary people.

In Meltzer's latest novel, "The Book of Lies," Freud's "family romance" reverberates throughout history from Adam and Cain to the protagonist Calvin Harper and his father, Lloyd. The nexus of this romance pivots on the creation of Superman by Jerry Siegel after his father Mitchell's death in an armed robbery. While the Biblical story underpins the power of myth, playing out in endless analogues through time, the comic book legend becomes humanized in a manner not yet conceived despite 70+ years of retelling.

As I write in "Shooter's Marvelesque,"Teenagers from the Future: Essays on the Legion of Super-Heroes Jim Shooter exemplified a portion of my generations' desire to transition from fan to professional in the creative arts. Few media afforded the opportunity to break in like comics did (and hopefully still does), yet Shooter's story also echoes a key element of Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. This element incorporates wannabes, also-rans and heroic failures as much as it does the irony of loss in the face of ultimate wish-fulfillment.

This element also resolves the family romance in favor of the son versus the patriarchal barriers to freedom and creativity self-imposed by the fantasy of adoption. Meltzer plays with multiple permutations of this fantasy, which should put his novel in good standing with most of the fanboy community. Whether the general audience responds to this element, or the Homeland Security and proto-Nazi occult references, remains to be seen.

Bittersweet, Siegel and Shuster's success also resulted in the oft-told tale of corporate greed and ignominious obscurity these boys experienced until DC Comics and Warner Brothers were shamed into acknowledging them in the late 1970s. Though it would be naïve to believe that modern corporate interests are less ruthless than those of bygone eras, Meltzer steers charitable energy toward helping the homeless as well as contributing to the restoration and maintenance of the dilapidated Siegel family home in Cleveland, Ohio. If nothing else, if Meltzer's tale becomes a kind of patchwork cento and rallying sigil to the lover's of comics, a great deed will have been done.

Personally, I enjoyed the quilting pastiche of "The Book of Lies," although its originality of voice suffered in the preponderance of plot. By honoring the young creators of our arguably most cherished pop cultural icon of salvation, the author seeks to redeem some part of our commercial sensibilities and put his readership back on track to healing the corporate estrangement between robber barons and consumers. Not all of the characters in the novel benefit from the fleshly gravitas Meltzer hopes to achieve; still, the father and son reunion (however standoffishly unconsummated) puts the audience on the road to recovery.

Even if complete reconciliation between Cal and Lloyd Harper remains potentially evanescent, the desire to illuminate this key family issue must at least constitute the greatest of heroic failures.

Sometimes, you've got to just tumble along with the story, which is the best way I know to enjoy the Book of Lies. It's an intriguing take on the most famous murder in history (when Cain smacked Abel) tied to the death of Superman creator Jerry Siegel's father. Is there a connection? Who cares? Searching for one makes for an entertaining read.

Dave Donelson, author of Heart of Diamonds: A Novel of Scandal, Love and Death in the Congo

Cal Harper works for a shelter, picking up the homeless around Fort Lauderdale. During his rounds one night, he finds his estranged father with a gunshot wound. It turns out that his father was shot with the same gun that was used in the murder of Mitchell Siegel, the father of Superman's creator. Cal and his father find themselves racing against time and a murderer to find the world's first murder weapon - the one Cain used to kill Abel. You're probably wondering what that has to do with Mitchell Siegel's murder, but Brad Meltzer does an incredible job tying the two together.

The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer is a non-stop action thriller. While I was reading this book, I had to remind myself that it is a work of fiction with some facts thrown in. Meltzer grabbed my attention from the very beginning and kept it throughout the book. This book has lots of twists and turns with some Biblical references, a secret society and Superman thrown in for good measure. Anyone who enjoys thrillers will enjoy this book.

I picked this book up on a whim on a Saturday and next thing I know I am done. Mowing the lawn...forgotten, cooking dinner...delegated, and I have to say it was a great fast paced read all the way through. Excellent characters that you actually care about and a decent twist that allows you to come to the conclusion at the same time as the main character. So you are not sitting there saying, "Don't trust him!" I'm an athieist and not a huge Superman fan. But, this book was enjoyable on all levels! If you are looking for a book to read, schedule some personal time, because you will not want to put it down!

Fast paced is slow compared to how quickly this murder mystery unwraps in an intrigue involving Cain and Abel, an 80 year old murder, the missing murder weapon, and the creator of Superman."

Well, oh my. You'd think by some of the "professional" reviews of this book that American readers must have lost their inner child. Not so; at least not for all of us. Meltzer's book delievers for anyone who's gotten out of the chair to knock the crust off in the last couple of decades.

The book starts quick and only rarely looses it steam. Meltzer explores the themes of abandonment, survivor's guilt, and parenthood in this book that builds its way into a real page turner of cat and mouse suspense. There's a tightly wound beauty to its simplicity that I wonder if you don't have to be a parent to fully awaken it in the deepest places of memory and magic.

Comic fans won't be disappointed. Not only does Meltzer honor the Siegel family, he honors the medium itself by demonstrating that great complexities of life are often revealed in the most seemingly mundane release of our super-heroic mythologies.

All in all, this book doesn't disappoint, but grown-ups beware! You might actually have to find that rusty spinner rack hidden in your heart to truly appreciate its splendor.

Brad Meltzer's latest novel interests itself in the most famous murder in human history- Cain killing his brother Abel- and how it may be connected to the 1932 death of Mitchell Siegel (the father of Superman creator Jerry Siegel.) The plot moves along at a breakneck pace slowing down only occassionally for personal moments between lead character Cal Harper and his father Lloyd. The Cain mythologies and the pop culture of Superman may be what brings readers to this book , but underneath the surface this book is about the relationship between fathers and sons. What does a father's love mean? What happens to a child that loses that love and is there anything in the world that can bring it back? As a man who lost his father at a young age, these are the moments that kept me turning the pages.
There are only a handful of characters in the story which allows the reader time to feel that he knows at least something about all of them. Meltzer does a good job of giving enough information about a character to give his or her motivations without bogging down the plot in details that will ultimately prove useless.
As for all the coincidences that occur in the book- I don't believe that there are any more in Book of Lies than in any other thriller of the past five years. Very nearly all thrillers rely on at least one stupendous coincidence to move the plot forward. It could be as simple as when a character is chasing someone and just happens to see a glimpse of the person rounding a corner. While not all that likely of a scenario it is necessary so that the plot doesn't fall down because the bad guy got away. As another example, it always seems that in murder mysteries or thrillers the main character just so happens to have done something in his childhood that makes him ideally suited to tackle the problem at hand. Does Book of Lies rely on coincidences? Yes it does, but not so much that the reader starts to groan when they happen. They seem natural to the story which is a sign of a good fiction writer.
Overall I found this book incredibly enjoyable. I read it in one day. It had me guessing as to the indentities of some of the villains, and most importantly, Meltzer didn't get in his own way. The Cain and Superman elements of the plot weren't discussed to the point of exhaustion. As a self-proclaimed fanboy Meltzer could easily have fallen in a rut of discussing comic books and their history to the point of boring his readers. The same could be said of the biblical information. Meltzer gives just enough information to keep the plot moving forward without feeling like we've stumbled into Sunday school.
This was a fantastic book and I highly suggest it to any fans of thrillers and mysteries.

Unexpectedly meeting his long-lost father at the moment of a brutal attack by a would-be killer bearing the ancient mark of the biblical Cain, Cal Harper is unwittingly thrust into a high-stakes pursuit of a fortuitous enigmatic weapon that links him to the Bible's first killing as well as the murder that inspired the creation of the comic-book hero Superman. BT.
While I found the story of the creator of Superman interesting, I also found it a bit of a stretch to try to make a novel that would tie this in with the murder of Abel by Cain. That is where the creative juices of the author come in. It took quite an imagination to bring these totally unrelated events together but Brad Meltzer did it. An enjoyable thriller that seems to try a little to hard to be DaVinci code material.
Still worth your time and recommended for all fans of Brad Meltzer.

'Look it's a bird; no, it's a plane; no, it's Superman!' Yes, old time radio and comic book fans, he is back! As an underlying hero in the new book by the New York Times # 1 best selling author Brad Metzler (Book of Fate). Superman is cast in the role of 2nd banana, the one who really is not the star, but plays an important role. The real hero of this book is Cal Harper, a disgraced government agent, who now aids the homeless in South Florida as his self inflicted penitence. He tries to rescue them from the perils of the streets and themselves by working in a homeless shelter.

Cal moves quickly into heinous plots which connect him with his father (Lloyd) who has been away from him for 19 years. There are many villains in this mystery who search out a totem which dates back to the Nazi era of 1932 and Siegel family secrets of an even earlier time. We learn from this book some of the underlying motivation which helped Jerry Siegel in his creation of Superman, part of which was the bizarre death of his father and the need to have a man of steel who could have lived beyond a heart attack or being shot.

Cain killing Abel is wrapped up as a central theme which ties all of the players together. Each is seeking how Cain slew his brother. Was this the first murder weapon ever used? A religious sect believes that this totem may be the secret to immortality. Cal and Lloyd travel from the warmth of South Florida to the Siegel home in Cleveland, Ohio seeking clues to resolve the mystery where this deadly weapon might be hidden. Facing the shivering cold, they trudge through snow, visit library archives, climb into concealed attic spaces, and are hounded by a relentless Federal Agent who believes the father and son are the bad guys.

Books which finish without tying all the loose ends together really annoy me, but 'Lies' binds together all of these events extremely well and you do not feel let down. The important thing to remember when reading Meltzer's novel is that it is a combination of fact and fiction! A must read and highly recommended.

Clark Isaacs
Reviewer

Great book. I loved every page. If the guy who brought up Seigel's heart attack had actually read the book he would have known that it's mentioned in the book.

I saw the author's interview on TV and, by the way he was talking about his book, I thought I was going to learn things on old legends, myths, and others coming from the beginning of time.
Instead I discovered an incredible boring book, a sort of series B Da Vinci Code.
The only good part is when I finally finished it, as I have a habit of always getting to the end of a book thinking there might be a final twist that would reward me. Not this time!

Unfortunately, the book's marketing contention that Mitchell Siegel was murdered by bullets and that this tragic event was a direct inspiration for his son's creation of the man of steel, is false. The senior Siegel died of a heart attack resulting from the stress of the robbery of his secondhand clothing store. "Book of Lies", indeed.

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Having read all of Mr. Meltzer's other novels and most of his comic books, I was thoroughly looking forward to his new book, which aims to connect Cain's murder of Abel with the creation of Superman by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster. I wasn't disappointed at all. If you're a fan of Superman, if you're a fan of a good mystery/thriller, if you're a biblical scholar, then you'll likely enjoy this book. And then, hopefully, you'll want to get involved in the action and help save the house where Superman was created.

Meltzer's feel for character and emotion are what make this nail biting thrill-ride worth every moment. Once you pick it up you won't want to put it down. Great concept and story made all the better by a tight plot, human characters and overall great writing.

Brad Meltzer deftly weaves a story of suspense and intrigue as he connects the dots between the Biblical murder of Abel by Cain and the unsolved homicide of Mitchell Siegel, father of the creator of Superman. Meltzer never lets his audience down in this clever, intriguing new thriller, The Book of Lies. . .or should it be called The Book of Truth?