The Lightning Stones

A Novel

By: Jack Du Brul

Narrated by: Scott Brick

What was Amelia Earhart carrying on her final flight? The adventure begins 2,000 feet beneath the surface of the Earth.

Philip Mercer, a preeminent geologist with a taste for international intrigue and danger, rides an elevator 2,000 into the Earth at the Leister Deep Mine in Minnesota. Mercer is there to visit his old friend and mentor, Abraham Jacobs, who is leading a research team to the deepest section of the mine for a groundbreaking study on climate change. But as Mercer approaches, he is stunned to hear automatic gunfire in the massive underground chambers. By the time he finds his way to them, Abe Jacobs and the entire research team have been brutally attacked - and Mercer is left seeking not only answers but revenge.

Mercer immediately retraces Jacobs’ tracks, searching for clues to the secret project on which the distinguished scientist was working. Staying one step ahead of a highly trained team of assassins, Mercer follows a trail that leads from a harrowing close call in the Midwest to a nail-biting showdown in the rugged mountains of Afghanistan to a remote island in the middle of the Pacific. At stake is an extraordinary scientific discovery that could irrevocably alter the planet, centered on a cache of rare crystals called lightning stones - rumored to have been aboard Amelia Earhart’s plane when it vanished on July 2, 1937.

With his trademark combination of intellectual swagger, riveting action, and cutting-edge science, internationally best-selling author Jack Du Brul has crafted a superbly entertaining novel that will thrill his fans.

©2015 Jack Du Brul (P)2015 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Fresh, original, and incredibly ingenious, The Lightning Stone is one of the best thrillers I have read in years. This is wall-to-wall excitement! Nobody writes like Du Brul." (Brad Thor, number-one New York Times best-selling author of Code of Conduct)

"Wow! The Lightning Stones is a labyrinth of science, history, action, and adventure, featuring the wary geologist/spy Philip Mercer. A perfect blend of menace with normality." (Steve Berry, number-one internationally best-selling author of The Patriot Threat)

Cussler Chose Wisely

After listening to this book it becomes obvious that Clive Cussler chooses his co-authors wisely. Jack Du Brul is one of them. Between the story, the background research and Scott Brick- this sounded very much like an Oregon Files novel, just with different characters.

Now, I need to find Du Brul’s next Mercer adventure - along with Cussler/Du Brul Oregon Files tales.

Lightning Stones

Excellent story really keeps you in the action.Great charities very well written I didn't want to put it down, thank you for it.

Finally the next book comes to light.

Hopefully we don't have to wait another decade for the next one. Bring on the next one!

Must Have! ACTION PACKED!!

Jack DuBrul does it again. Mercer at his best. What happened to J. Charles?

Phillip Mercer rocks!

It wasn't the best Mercer book, but darn good and well worth the listen! Love the Mercer series!

Good to see Mercer back

I forgot how much I enjoyed these books, and 'The Lightning Stones' was a nice reintroduction to a fun series and character. i wouldn't rate it as my favorite book in the series (that one might have been River of Ruin or Pandora's Curse), but it was a fun time all the same. Scott Brick did a fine job with the narration.

Good not Great

Decent adventure w/ passable intrigue... Some interesting science, but only scratched surface... The plot was a lil bit loose and lazy, but was a good enough page turner... Only character really fleshed out was Mercer... To a lesser degree Harry and Drag - bit more of them would not have been amiss;) Narration might have made this one better than it actually was... Story had good flow and pace... Although at times was a tad cliche... Some good zingers... Ending was somewhat contrived... All in all an Ok read, but not exceptional...

Glad Mercer is back!

Please keep them coming. Phillip Mercer is a great character and the plots are always intriguing.

Just had to drag in climate change politics

Story was pretty good. Always like Scott Brick's narration.

Enjoy Jack Du Brul more when he teams up with Clive Cussler.

Only drawback to the book is when Jack sees fit to politicize climate change. Would have been better if he had left that subject "at the door". His slant is clear and unnecessary.

good not great

The story was good not great. I think I expected a bit more intrigue. That being said it was still a great ride, action happening all the time. I look forward to the next book.