Publisher's Weekly Review
A grandiose conspiracy linking four previous presidential assassinations threatens current U.S. president Orson Wallace in bestseller Meltzer's convoluted second entry in his Culper Ring trilogy (after 2011's The Inner Circle). Archivist Beecher White, a member of the small, secretive group known as the Culper Ring, created by George Washington and charged with protecting the presidency rather than the president, goes into action after someone known as the Knight begins re-enacting previous presidential assassinations with church figures as victims. Several people from Beecher's past play key roles, including disfigured Marshall Lusk, who may or may not be the assassin, and Clementine Hadrian, who shot and killed Dr. Stewart Palmiotti, the president's close friend and adviser. Beecher tries desperately to discover the Knight's identity and thwart him before he reaches his final target. The cumbersome plot, with its frequent flashbacks to Beecher's childhood, overwhelms Meltzer's impressive grasp of historical details. 10-city author tour. Agent: Jill Kneerim, Kneerim, Williams & Bloom. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal Review
When pastors of Washington, DC, churches attended by presidents are murdered, archivist Beecher White discovers that the crimes parallel four presidential assassinations. Were those killings connected, and does the current string foreshadow a fifth assassination? This sequel to political thriller The Inner Circle picks up shortly after the end of the previous novel but stands alone. Well researched and filled with historical tidbits, Meltzer's latest work satisfies listeners who want a solid story to accompany the action. Frequent viewpoint changes and plot twists create a breakneck pace. With mellow tones and perfect pacing, Scott Brick delivers one of his best performances. VERDICT This thriller will appeal to fans of action fiction by authors such as David Baldacci, John Grisham, and James Rollins. [The Grand Central hc was a New York Times best seller.-Ed.]-Janet Martin, Southern Pines P.L., NC (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.