Black Lightning: A Novel

By John Saul

John Saul knows how to make the blood run cold and the heart race wild with fear. Now the author of the New York Times bestsellers Creature and The Homing delivers a chilling novel of a convicted serial killer sentenced to death—and hell-bent on revenge.

For five years Seattle journalist Anne Jeffers has pursued the horrifying story of a sadistic serial killer’s bloody reign, capture, trial, and appeal—crusading to keep the wheels of justice churning toward the electric chair. Now the day of execution has come. A convicted killer will meet his end. Anne believes her long nightmare is over. But she’s dead wrong. . . . 

Within days, a similar murder stuns the city. As the butcher stalks his next victims, creeping ever closer to her, Anne is seized by an icy unease, a haunting sense of connection to these unspeakable crimes. And, relentlessly, she hears the eerie echo of the dead man’s last words to her: “Today won’t end it. How will you feel, Anne? When I’m dead, and it all starts again, how will you feel?”

In Black Lightning, John Saul strikes with a novel as electrifying as a jagged bolt from a pitch-dark sky, proving once again his inimitable genius for suspense.

Praise for Black Lightning

“His most effective thriller to date . . . [a] compelling read.”—The Seattle Times

“Electrifyingly scary.”—San Jose Mercury News

“One of Saul’s best.”—Publishers Weekly

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Nov 17, 2010
• ISBN: 9780307775061

John Saul

John Saul’s first novel Suffer the Children became an instant bestseller, as have many of the thirty-three novels of dark suspense he has published since. Amidst this busy writing schedule, he divides his time between Seattle, Washington and Hawaii.

Reviews for Black Lightning

[carol420 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Anne Jeffers, ace reporter, watches serial killer Richard Kraven, whom she helped convict, die in the electric chair. At almost the same time, thousands of miles away, Anne's husband suffers a massive heart attack. Dead for over two minutes, Glen Jeffers recovers, but his personality is just never the same. The gruesome murders attributed to Richard Kraven start all over again - four years after his incarceration. Who can be the killer? Is there an accomplice? Are these copy cat murders? Who can say?

John Saul's writing produces explicit graphics in the imaginations of all the followers of this horrific writing. I recommend "Black Lightning" to anyone who loves a fast page turner, but if you are offended by blood and guts and gore, you're in the wrong section of the library or book store.

[barb_h_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have the paperback version of this book, however I read the Ebook version from the library on my Nook for convenience sake. I thought it was fairly predictable, but I still enjoyed the book and found it exciting enough to hold my attention.

[whisperingfen · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I generally like serial killer, mystery cop type books, this was not a book that I enjoyed. I know that there has to be someone out there who might. I have used bookcrossing to release this book into the wild. It's number is BCID:998-6281718