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 are sent. He is also a wounded soul, 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.