The Lightning Stones

A prologue set in 1937 in bestseller Du Brul’s fast-paced eighth Philip Mercer thriller (after 2006’s Havoc) offers a new explanation for the disappearance of aviatrix Amelia Earhart—some rock samples she was asked to transport emitted electromagnetic forces that skewed her navigator’s readings. In the present, Mercer, a geological consultant, has come to Minnesota’s Leister Deep Mine to teach mine rescue techniques. In another part of the mine, gunmen slaughter a team of scientists—headed by Mercer’s role model and surrogate father, retired professor Abraham Jacobs—who are studying climate change and cosmic rays. Vowing revenge, Mercer dedicates himself to tracking down the killers and their paymaster. There are some nice touches (e.g., a villain takes advantage of cap-and-trade limits on carbon emissions to make millions), but not every reader will be able to relate to an action hero who takes time during a gun battle to notice a woman’s “jeans stretched tight across her backside.” [em]Agent: Robert DiForio, DiForio Agency. (Aug.) [/em]