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The House of Secrets
A priceless book, hidden in a corpse.
A family secret, handed down through generations.
And a woman with no memory of her past.
When Hazel Nash was six years old, her father taught her: Mysteries need to be solved. He should know. Hazel's father is Jack Nash, the host of America's favorite conspiracy TV show, The House of Secrets.
Even as a child, she loved hearing her dad's tall tales, especially the one about a leather book belonging to Benedict Arnold that was hidden in a corpse.
Now, years later, Hazel wakes up in the hospital and remembers nothing, not even her own name. She's told she's been in a car accident that killed her father and injured her brother. But she can't remember any of it because of her own traumatic brain injury. Then a man from the FBI shows up, asking questions about her dad - and about his connection to the corpse of a man found with an object stuffed into his chest: a priceless book that belonged to Benedict Arnold.
Back at her house, Hazel finds guns that she doesn't remember owning. On her forehead she sees scars from fights she can't recall. Most important, the more Hazel digs, the less she likes the person she seems to have been.
Trying to put together the puzzle pieces of her past and present, Hazel Nash needs to figure out who killed this man - and how the book wound up in his chest. The answer will tell her the truth about her father, what he was really doing for the government - and who Hazel really is.
Mysteries need to be solved. Especially the ones about yourself.
A family secret, handed down through generations.
And a woman with no memory of her past.
When Hazel Nash was six years old, her father taught her: Mysteries need to be solved. He should know. Hazel's father is Jack Nash, the host of America's favorite conspiracy TV show, The House of Secrets.
Even as a child, she loved hearing her dad's tall tales, especially the one about a leather book belonging to Benedict Arnold that was hidden in a corpse.
Now, years later, Hazel wakes up in the hospital and remembers nothing, not even her own name. She's told she's been in a car accident that killed her father and injured her brother. But she can't remember any of it because of her own traumatic brain injury. Then a man from the FBI shows up, asking questions about her dad - and about his connection to the corpse of a man found with an object stuffed into his chest: a priceless book that belonged to Benedict Arnold.
Back at her house, Hazel finds guns that she doesn't remember owning. On her forehead she sees scars from fights she can't recall. Most important, the more Hazel digs, the less she likes the person she seems to have been.
Trying to put together the puzzle pieces of her past and present, Hazel Nash needs to figure out who killed this man - and how the book wound up in his chest. The answer will tell her the truth about her father, what he was really doing for the government - and who Hazel really is.
Mysteries need to be solved. Especially the ones about yourself.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 7, 2016
About the author
Brad Meltzer
314 books6,850 followersBrad Meltzer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Inner Circle, The Book of Fate, and nine other bestselling thrillers including The Tenth Justice, The First Counsel, The Millionaires, and The President’s Shadow. His newest book, The Escape Artist, debuted at #1 on the bestseller list.
In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (History Decoded), Advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award.
His newest thriller, The Escape Artist, introduces Nola and Zig, brand new characters in a setting that will blow your mind (you won't believe where the government let Brad go). For now, we'll say this: Nola is dead. Everyone says she's dead. But Jim "Zig" Zigarowski just found out the truth: Nola is alive. And on the run. Together, Nola and Zig will reveal a centuries old secret that traces back the greatest escape artist of all: Harry Houdini.
Raised in Brooklyn and Miami, Brad is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School. The Tenth Justice was his first published work and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Dead Even followed a year later and also hit the New York Times bestseller list, as have all eight of his novels. The First Counsel came next, which was about a White House lawyer dating the President’s daughter, then The Millionaires, which was about two brothers who steal money and go on the run. The Zero Game is about two Congressional staffers who are – literally – gambling on Congress. The Book of Fate, is about a young presidential aide, a crazed assassin, and the 200 year-old code created by Thomas Jefferson that ties them together. For authenticity, The Book of Fate, was researched with the help of former Presidents Clinton and Bush. The Book of Lies, is about the missing murder weapon that Cain used to kill Abel, as well as the unsolved murder of Superman creator Jerry Siegel’s father. Brad is one of the only people to interview Jerry Siegel’s family about the murder and, with his charitable site www.OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com, has been the driving force behind the movement to repair the house where Superman was created.
His book The Inner Circle (and its sequels, The Fifth Assassin and The President’s Shadow) is based the idea that George Washington’s personal spy ring still exists today. A young archivist in the National Archives finds out the spy ring is still around. He doesn’t know who they work for — but the greatest secret of the Presidency is about to be revealed. While researching the book, former President George HW Bush also gave Brad, for the very first time, the secret letter he left for Bill Clinton in the Oval Office desk. Oh, and yes, Brad was recruited by the Department of Homeland Security to brainstorm different ways that terrorists might attack the US.
His books have spent over a year on the bestseller lists, and have been translated into over 25 languages, from Hebrew to Bulgarian.
Brad has played himself as an extra in Woody Allen’s Celebrity, co-wrote the swearing in oath for AmeriCorps, the national service program, and earned credit from Columbia Law School for writing his first book, which became The Tenth Justice. Before all of that, he got 24 rejection letters for his true first novel, which still sits on his shelf, published by Kinko’s.
Brad currently lives in Florida with his wife, who’s also an attorney.
In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (History Decoded), Advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award.
His newest thriller, The Escape Artist, introduces Nola and Zig, brand new characters in a setting that will blow your mind (you won't believe where the government let Brad go). For now, we'll say this: Nola is dead. Everyone says she's dead. But Jim "Zig" Zigarowski just found out the truth: Nola is alive. And on the run. Together, Nola and Zig will reveal a centuries old secret that traces back the greatest escape artist of all: Harry Houdini.
Raised in Brooklyn and Miami, Brad is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School. The Tenth Justice was his first published work and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Dead Even followed a year later and also hit the New York Times bestseller list, as have all eight of his novels. The First Counsel came next, which was about a White House lawyer dating the President’s daughter, then The Millionaires, which was about two brothers who steal money and go on the run. The Zero Game is about two Congressional staffers who are – literally – gambling on Congress. The Book of Fate, is about a young presidential aide, a crazed assassin, and the 200 year-old code created by Thomas Jefferson that ties them together. For authenticity, The Book of Fate, was researched with the help of former Presidents Clinton and Bush. The Book of Lies, is about the missing murder weapon that Cain used to kill Abel, as well as the unsolved murder of Superman creator Jerry Siegel’s father. Brad is one of the only people to interview Jerry Siegel’s family about the murder and, with his charitable site www.OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com, has been the driving force behind the movement to repair the house where Superman was created.
His book The Inner Circle (and its sequels, The Fifth Assassin and The President’s Shadow) is based the idea that George Washington’s personal spy ring still exists today. A young archivist in the National Archives finds out the spy ring is still around. He doesn’t know who they work for — but the greatest secret of the Presidency is about to be revealed. While researching the book, former President George HW Bush also gave Brad, for the very first time, the secret letter he left for Bill Clinton in the Oval Office desk. Oh, and yes, Brad was recruited by the Department of Homeland Security to brainstorm different ways that terrorists might attack the US.
His books have spent over a year on the bestseller lists, and have been translated into over 25 languages, from Hebrew to Bulgarian.
Brad has played himself as an extra in Woody Allen’s Celebrity, co-wrote the swearing in oath for AmeriCorps, the national service program, and earned credit from Columbia Law School for writing his first book, which became The Tenth Justice. Before all of that, he got 24 rejection letters for his true first novel, which still sits on his shelf, published by Kinko’s.
Brad currently lives in Florida with his wife, who’s also an attorney.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 889 reviews
August 30, 2016
When Hazel Nash is a young girl her father tells her a riddle. About a man found murdered, his body had been frozen and in his chest is a Bible. Not just any Bible -this Bible belonged to Benedict Arnold.
She gets three questions a day to try and solve it.
Fast forward to present day, Hazel, her older brother Skip and her dad are all in the car together. Her dad is telling the kids that he is thinking about ending his long running show House of Secrets. The show is one of those reality type shows that globe trots on the premise of finding "Untold Secrets"...like Bigfoot, Nessie, Conspiracy theories. You know..that stuff that I watch until I stick to my sofa covered in a layer of Cheeto dust.
Cue the suspence now. Dad ends up wrecking the car (NOT A SPOILER WHINY ASSES) and Hazel is in the hospital. She wakes up with the old memory loss thing going. Not all her life is gone..just the memories with any feelings attached.
She realizes that she has a weird guy lurking around who just happens to be an FBI guy. Guess what? Old dad was in some stuff. He has been chasing stories around hunting down that very same Bible that Benedict Arnold had.
Now folks are dying in that same way, Bible in the chest thing for those with a short attention span. *raises hand*
I'm not going to lie. This kinda reads like a Dan Brown adventure, but with a female main character. There is even the creepy guy lurking around the world.
Sometimes in the right company I admit that I like Dan Brown books.
Quit judging...Jesus ain't hiring. (I read that somewhere and was dying to use it.)
This one was kind of jerky though. I never really got close enough to Hazel's character enough to decide if I truly liked her or not. She might have been bad assed..but who knows? Sometimes she was and then sometimes I wanted someone to hurry up and plunge that knife into her back. She maybe should have left them feelings in the dumpster.
Then the whole Benedict Arnold thing. boooorring. It finally did try and come together but I had kinda lost interest by then.
The book is fast moving in some spots...and then in some spots paint dried faster.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
She gets three questions a day to try and solve it.
Fast forward to present day, Hazel, her older brother Skip and her dad are all in the car together. Her dad is telling the kids that he is thinking about ending his long running show House of Secrets. The show is one of those reality type shows that globe trots on the premise of finding "Untold Secrets"...like Bigfoot, Nessie, Conspiracy theories. You know..that stuff that I watch until I stick to my sofa covered in a layer of Cheeto dust.
Cue the suspence now. Dad ends up wrecking the car (NOT A SPOILER WHINY ASSES) and Hazel is in the hospital. She wakes up with the old memory loss thing going. Not all her life is gone..just the memories with any feelings attached.
She realizes that she has a weird guy lurking around who just happens to be an FBI guy. Guess what? Old dad was in some stuff. He has been chasing stories around hunting down that very same Bible that Benedict Arnold had.
Now folks are dying in that same way, Bible in the chest thing for those with a short attention span. *raises hand*
I'm not going to lie. This kinda reads like a Dan Brown adventure, but with a female main character. There is even the creepy guy lurking around the world.
Sometimes in the right company I admit that I like Dan Brown books.
Quit judging...Jesus ain't hiring. (I read that somewhere and was dying to use it.)
This one was kind of jerky though. I never really got close enough to Hazel's character enough to decide if I truly liked her or not. She might have been bad assed..but who knows? Sometimes she was and then sometimes I wanted someone to hurry up and plunge that knife into her back. She maybe should have left them feelings in the dumpster.
Then the whole Benedict Arnold thing. boooorring. It finally did try and come together but I had kinda lost interest by then.
The book is fast moving in some spots...and then in some spots paint dried faster.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
June 2, 2016
This is an extraordinarily brilliant thriller that is a compulsive page turner. Where to start? As a young child, Hazel was told a odd story by her father, Jack Nash, where inside the body of a dead man, a small bible that was the property of Benedict Arnold is found. Jack has just died in a car crash, in which Hazel has been injured. She is suffering from amnesia, always an excellent condition for a good story, and there is a man from the FBI who has questions which she is in no position to answer. Apparently there is a dead man found in strange circumstances and inside him is a bible that belongs to Benedict Arnold, and her father had recently met him. And now her father is dead, is this a coincidence?
Jack Nash is famous as someone who chases down conspiracy theories and was joined by his son, Skip, in the business. Hazel intensively questions Skip in her search to find out exactly who she is and know more about the family. Although she has had nothing to do with the family business, Hazel is determined to find out what is going on. After all, isn't it time she joined the family business? The trail is packed full of mystery, intrigue, suspense, red herrings and twists galore.
This is one hell of a thrill ride. It has a fast paced narrative with great characters. As for the story, there were times when I felt my head spin. Fantastic read that comes highly recommended. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for an ARC.
Jack Nash is famous as someone who chases down conspiracy theories and was joined by his son, Skip, in the business. Hazel intensively questions Skip in her search to find out exactly who she is and know more about the family. Although she has had nothing to do with the family business, Hazel is determined to find out what is going on. After all, isn't it time she joined the family business? The trail is packed full of mystery, intrigue, suspense, red herrings and twists galore.
This is one hell of a thrill ride. It has a fast paced narrative with great characters. As for the story, there were times when I felt my head spin. Fantastic read that comes highly recommended. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for an ARC.
August 9, 2016
3.5 stars
There is a lot to like about this book, but for some reason I just couldn't get invested into it like others seem to have. To summarize the story, just read the synopsis provided-it does a good job of providing the highlights.
What I didn't like:
-The Benedict Arnold Bible plot was confusing to me (which is the main focal point of the story unfortunately)
-At times the author allowed the reader to get closer to the main character Hazel, only to be snatched back and left wondering...who is she? I found it to be a bit jarring.
-I felt a lot of the shenanigans that Hazel got herself into were a bit far fetched for someone with a brain injury and only bits and pieces of her life making sense.
What I did like:
-Hazel! Or I did like the parts that I was able to get to know. She is a strong protag.
-Once the 'Bible" twist is revealed, things did fall into place nicely. Would have liked more chapters on the 'missions' though.
-While some of the plot did come across a bit unrealistic, I have to credit the author with his creativeness as it's nothing that I've ever read before. I enjoyed being surprised.
All in all it was a good read that I do recommend. As you will see from other reviews, there are many glowing 5 star reviews, so I am in the minority with my rating.
My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There is a lot to like about this book, but for some reason I just couldn't get invested into it like others seem to have. To summarize the story, just read the synopsis provided-it does a good job of providing the highlights.
What I didn't like:
-The Benedict Arnold Bible plot was confusing to me (which is the main focal point of the story unfortunately)
-At times the author allowed the reader to get closer to the main character Hazel, only to be snatched back and left wondering...who is she? I found it to be a bit jarring.
-I felt a lot of the shenanigans that Hazel got herself into were a bit far fetched for someone with a brain injury and only bits and pieces of her life making sense.
What I did like:
-Hazel! Or I did like the parts that I was able to get to know. She is a strong protag.
-Once the 'Bible" twist is revealed, things did fall into place nicely. Would have liked more chapters on the 'missions' though.
-While some of the plot did come across a bit unrealistic, I have to credit the author with his creativeness as it's nothing that I've ever read before. I enjoyed being surprised.
All in all it was a good read that I do recommend. As you will see from other reviews, there are many glowing 5 star reviews, so I am in the minority with my rating.
My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2016
4.5 stars
The House of Secrets is a fast-paced thriller that kept me on my toes!
It's hard to describe the plot without giving too much away: While on vacation with his daughter, Hazel, and son, Skip, Jack Nash, host of a conspiracy investigation show called "The House of Secrets" is killed in a car crash. Post-accident, Hazel wakes up to discover her memories are scrambled. As Hazel works to remember who she was prior to the accident, she also begins investigating her father's death. All is related to Benedict Arnold's bible. As Hazel unravels the mystery of her father, she learns that there were there were greater conspiracies at work than those her father investigated on his show.
The House of Secrets is so much fun to read. Just when I thought I had a grasp on what was really going on, another "secret" would emerge, throwing everything I thought I knew was happening out the window. I highly recommend!
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2024
I picked up The House of Secrets by Brad Meltzer and Tod Goldberg at my local Library for a weekend read…mostly because I have read many of Brad Meltzer’s Beecher White historical thriller series – which I have enjoyed.
It was...Fast paced, interesting, great characters.
When the novel focuses on the mystery involving Benedict Arnold, “The House of Secrets” is classic Meltzer.
What doesn’t work for me are the characters. Hazel, her brother and even Jack aren’t remotely likable, and readers will have difficulty sympathizing with them.
Since this is the beginning of a series, the likability factor needs to be amped up for readers to really connect.
Could this be because he has a co-writer? Sometimes I have found this to be disconcerting with two styles of writing not quite editing well.
Anyway, it is not a series I am interested in pursuing.
It was...Fast paced, interesting, great characters.
When the novel focuses on the mystery involving Benedict Arnold, “The House of Secrets” is classic Meltzer.
What doesn’t work for me are the characters. Hazel, her brother and even Jack aren’t remotely likable, and readers will have difficulty sympathizing with them.
Since this is the beginning of a series, the likability factor needs to be amped up for readers to really connect.
Could this be because he has a co-writer? Sometimes I have found this to be disconcerting with two styles of writing not quite editing well.
Anyway, it is not a series I am interested in pursuing.
August 18, 2016
Thank goddd that's over. The only thing that motivated me to finish this book was my distaste for abandoning books after starting them. I think the problem is this isn't my type of story; I just couldn't make myself care. I could tell there were supposed to be lots of "AHA! So it was HIM all along!" moments, but every time that happened I would turn the page and see the book wasn't over yet and go "oh... there's more. Sigh, ok..." Two stars because it was a cool concept, but if someone had just described the plot to me and told me all the secrets and plot twists of how it ends, I would have just said "huh. cool." and could have saved myself a bunch of time. If you like lots of action and secrets and gov't conspiracies, then this is definitely for you. If you like good writing and complex characters and relationships, probably skip it.
October 15, 2017
7/10/16 Kindle version is on sale today for $3.99. I read it and thought it was pretty good.
* Review copy provided by NetGalley *
A host of a popular TV show about conspiracies and famous mysteries is perhaps mixed up in a conspiracy himself.
When Hazel is six years old her father Jack Nash tells her a story. It’s a riddle really, or is it? About a frozen dead man and a bible originally belonging to Benedict Arnold.
Hazel wakes up in a hospital with injuries from a car accident. She has issues with her memory, including those about people.
She notices there's a man with a gun who stands outside her room. She doesn't know who he is or why he is there.
Her brother Skip asks her if she remembers Darren Nixon. She doesn't, and her brother then refuses to enlighten her.
"You brought him up for a reason, Skip. Tell me who Darren Nixon is."
"Skip, there's a computer in the waiting room. Plus every nurse on the floor has a phone with a Web browser on it. You can tell me now or I can go out there and look him up myself."
Then she proceeds to yell at the guy with the gun, who clearly is trying to remain aloof, at least from her.
'"I know you heard me!" she added, louder than ever. "I'll keep yelling until someone puts it into Google! Darren Nixon! Darren Nixon! Spelled D-A-R-R-E-N-!"
This is where I found I already liked Hazel.
Hazel is an interesting character, and I did really like her. There are big gaps in her memory, which is part of her own personal mystery to solve. She's complex, and not all sunshine and roses.
But after coming to in the hospital she realizes there are things going on, mysteries to solve, that have a lot to do with her father. How much does her brother Skip know? She can’t even remember if she trusts Skip, or how she felt about him.
The blurb explains the basic plot, so I won’t rehash that. What I will say is I stayed up way too late reading this book because I really wanted to know the answers to the mysteries. It kept me engrossed and interested. It’s a twisty story with some surprises, and people aren’t always what they appear at first.
It’s well written and well-paced. I never felt it was dragging.
Political thrillers really aren’t my cup of tea, but this book isn’t really a political thriller. It’s definitely in the Suspense/Mystery/Thriller category, but it’s more about a family, a daughter learning her father may have been mixed up in something mysterious and needing to find out what it was and what is going on. A brother who may have secrets of his own.
I really enjoyed this one.
“Just because something seemed implausible didn’t mean it wasn’t true.”
Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
* Review copy provided by NetGalley *
A host of a popular TV show about conspiracies and famous mysteries is perhaps mixed up in a conspiracy himself.
When Hazel is six years old her father Jack Nash tells her a story. It’s a riddle really, or is it? About a frozen dead man and a bible originally belonging to Benedict Arnold.
Hazel wakes up in a hospital with injuries from a car accident. She has issues with her memory, including those about people.
She notices there's a man with a gun who stands outside her room. She doesn't know who he is or why he is there.
Her brother Skip asks her if she remembers Darren Nixon. She doesn't, and her brother then refuses to enlighten her.
"You brought him up for a reason, Skip. Tell me who Darren Nixon is."
"Skip, there's a computer in the waiting room. Plus every nurse on the floor has a phone with a Web browser on it. You can tell me now or I can go out there and look him up myself."
Then she proceeds to yell at the guy with the gun, who clearly is trying to remain aloof, at least from her.
'"I know you heard me!" she added, louder than ever. "I'll keep yelling until someone puts it into Google! Darren Nixon! Darren Nixon! Spelled D-A-R-R-E-N-!"
This is where I found I already liked Hazel.
Hazel is an interesting character, and I did really like her. There are big gaps in her memory, which is part of her own personal mystery to solve. She's complex, and not all sunshine and roses.
But after coming to in the hospital she realizes there are things going on, mysteries to solve, that have a lot to do with her father. How much does her brother Skip know? She can’t even remember if she trusts Skip, or how she felt about him.
The blurb explains the basic plot, so I won’t rehash that. What I will say is I stayed up way too late reading this book because I really wanted to know the answers to the mysteries. It kept me engrossed and interested. It’s a twisty story with some surprises, and people aren’t always what they appear at first.
It’s well written and well-paced. I never felt it was dragging.
Political thrillers really aren’t my cup of tea, but this book isn’t really a political thriller. It’s definitely in the Suspense/Mystery/Thriller category, but it’s more about a family, a daughter learning her father may have been mixed up in something mysterious and needing to find out what it was and what is going on. A brother who may have secrets of his own.
I really enjoyed this one.
“Just because something seemed implausible didn’t mean it wasn’t true.”
Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2016
Hazel's father, Jack, is an international star with a very popular mystery show. However, when Hazel lands up in a car accident, she loses parts of who she was and needs to make those connections again, as well as find out who or what killed her father. Doing so leads her to an underworld of secrets, lies and deception as everything she thought she knew about her family and her life may be wrong.
The book starts very well, until the accident and Hazel's subsequent loss of identity. It's not amnesia, but a loss of personal connections to her memories, which first off, was difficult to swallow and understand. It also makes it incredibly hard to really connect with Hazel, which means that the reader really isn't very emotionally invested in the whole story. When things start happening and the mystery starts spinning out, I was kind of going "meh", because the "new" Hazel wasn't interesting enough to really care about and the traces of the "old" Hazel just seemed like a thug with a degree.
The mystery itself was fun intellectually, although I wasn't buying the suspense. It basically becomes a follow-the-breadcrumbs-and-get-the-answers plot with very little urgency or threat, and pure curiosity keeping me reading until I finished the book. Which is something, I suppose, since finish it I did.
All in all, a pretty mediocre book. Didn't grab me, the characters were very hard to care about and the intrigue is barely enough to make you slog through the rest to solve the mystery of Benedict Arnold's bible. Unsatisfying read, all in all.
The book starts very well, until the accident and Hazel's subsequent loss of identity. It's not amnesia, but a loss of personal connections to her memories, which first off, was difficult to swallow and understand. It also makes it incredibly hard to really connect with Hazel, which means that the reader really isn't very emotionally invested in the whole story. When things start happening and the mystery starts spinning out, I was kind of going "meh", because the "new" Hazel wasn't interesting enough to really care about and the traces of the "old" Hazel just seemed like a thug with a degree.
The mystery itself was fun intellectually, although I wasn't buying the suspense. It basically becomes a follow-the-breadcrumbs-and-get-the-answers plot with very little urgency or threat, and pure curiosity keeping me reading until I finished the book. Which is something, I suppose, since finish it I did.
All in all, a pretty mediocre book. Didn't grab me, the characters were very hard to care about and the intrigue is barely enough to make you slog through the rest to solve the mystery of Benedict Arnold's bible. Unsatisfying read, all in all.
June 9, 2016
(1 1/2). I think I have read most of Brad Meltzer's books. I usually find them to be A-interesting, B-informative, C-exciting, D-fun. I found this one to be E-none of the above. It was mostly kind of stupid, a tired, slightly complicated plot that really didn't keep you interested with so-so characters. As you can tell, I really did not care for this book. I think Meltzer and Goldberg (the co-author) were trying to write something that would compare to Coben or Crais or one of those writers. They didn't get it done.
June 11, 2016
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Brad Meltzer, Tod Goldberg, and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book, which allows me to provide you with this review.
Returning to the world of writing for adults, Meltzer brings Goldberg along on the journey in another thriller with historical implications. Jack Nash is the star of The House of Secrets, a long-running television program that has him searching for the deepest mysteries from around the world. Nash recounts the most curious of mysteries to Hazel, his six year-old daughter; a dead man who turns up with Benedict Arnold's Bible hidden inside his sternum, sealed with a wax covering. Thirty years later, Jack and Hazel are in a serious automobile accident, leaving him dead and Hazel with severe amnesia. As she tries to piece her life back together, Hazel uses her father's popular television show to bring some sense as to what her father sought to do for so many years and some of the mysteries he uncovered. She finds it more daunting than she thought at first, forcing her into a larger state of confusion than she could have fathomed. When an FBI agent shows up at her hospital bed, Hazel can only wonder if she, or her father, had a major secret that intrigued the government and seeks to spin through her memory to determine what might lie on the other side of the murky shards of her past. As things become a little clearer, Hazel begins to realise that her father was not the man she once thought and the story of the Arnold Bible may have more significance than a fable told at her father's knee. As bodies begin to pile up, with hints that Jack Nash might have had dealings with them, Hazel works to uncover the largest mystery of all; that of her father's life and this television program that brought him such notoriety. What do the pages of this Benedict Arnold Bible mean and how can she keep herself safe as people lurk in the shadows? An interesting turn on Meltzer's conspiracy novels which has the potential of interest to his fans, though at times not as recognizable as his stellar work from the past.
While the premise for a strong novel can be found throughout the story, Meltzer's sharp edge seems to have dulled. It is unclear whether Goldberg's addition is the reason or that Meltzer has spent too much time trying to reveal heroes of the world to the next generation. With a cast of interesting characters and a strong female protagonist, Meltzer and Goldberg build much potential for the narrative, though it seems to limp along at places, even in the most riveting historical revelations. The Benedict Arnold idea is brilliant, as is The House of Secrets angle, though I could not find myself as excited or curious as I have been with many of Meltzer's previous novels. One can hope that Meltzer will decide which path he wishes to take, as some adult novelists have been able to juggle writing in both worlds while others dwindle as they try to attract fans across too many genres. Time will tell, though one can hope he need not use co-authors to keep an annual (or bi-annual) release to appease those wanting stimulating literature.
Kudos, Messrs. Meltzer and Goldberg for this interesting piece. While I am a harsh critic at times, I know there is much potential with some time and polish. Let's hope readers embrace these historical novels and keep coming back.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Returning to the world of writing for adults, Meltzer brings Goldberg along on the journey in another thriller with historical implications. Jack Nash is the star of The House of Secrets, a long-running television program that has him searching for the deepest mysteries from around the world. Nash recounts the most curious of mysteries to Hazel, his six year-old daughter; a dead man who turns up with Benedict Arnold's Bible hidden inside his sternum, sealed with a wax covering. Thirty years later, Jack and Hazel are in a serious automobile accident, leaving him dead and Hazel with severe amnesia. As she tries to piece her life back together, Hazel uses her father's popular television show to bring some sense as to what her father sought to do for so many years and some of the mysteries he uncovered. She finds it more daunting than she thought at first, forcing her into a larger state of confusion than she could have fathomed. When an FBI agent shows up at her hospital bed, Hazel can only wonder if she, or her father, had a major secret that intrigued the government and seeks to spin through her memory to determine what might lie on the other side of the murky shards of her past. As things become a little clearer, Hazel begins to realise that her father was not the man she once thought and the story of the Arnold Bible may have more significance than a fable told at her father's knee. As bodies begin to pile up, with hints that Jack Nash might have had dealings with them, Hazel works to uncover the largest mystery of all; that of her father's life and this television program that brought him such notoriety. What do the pages of this Benedict Arnold Bible mean and how can she keep herself safe as people lurk in the shadows? An interesting turn on Meltzer's conspiracy novels which has the potential of interest to his fans, though at times not as recognizable as his stellar work from the past.
While the premise for a strong novel can be found throughout the story, Meltzer's sharp edge seems to have dulled. It is unclear whether Goldberg's addition is the reason or that Meltzer has spent too much time trying to reveal heroes of the world to the next generation. With a cast of interesting characters and a strong female protagonist, Meltzer and Goldberg build much potential for the narrative, though it seems to limp along at places, even in the most riveting historical revelations. The Benedict Arnold idea is brilliant, as is The House of Secrets angle, though I could not find myself as excited or curious as I have been with many of Meltzer's previous novels. One can hope that Meltzer will decide which path he wishes to take, as some adult novelists have been able to juggle writing in both worlds while others dwindle as they try to attract fans across too many genres. Time will tell, though one can hope he need not use co-authors to keep an annual (or bi-annual) release to appease those wanting stimulating literature.
Kudos, Messrs. Meltzer and Goldberg for this interesting piece. While I am a harsh critic at times, I know there is much potential with some time and polish. Let's hope readers embrace these historical novels and keep coming back.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 29, 2016
The House of Secrets by Brad Metzler and Tod Goldman is a 2016 Grand Central Publication.
“Honor the people who love you.”
Jack Nash is a wildly popular television star, hosting a show centered around conspiracy theories.
He even got his son, Skip, in on the act. But, his daughter, Hazel, never much cared for that life, and is now a professor.
Just as Jack decides he is ready to retire, he and his two adult children are involved in a terrible car accident. Jack dies, while Hazel suffers a peculiar type of memory loss. But, when the FBI shows up asking questions about a dead man with a priceless book, once belonging to the infamous Benedict Arnold, in his chest, wearing a coat belonging to Jack Nash, Hazel knows something is horribly amiss, and begins to believe her father may have been murdered. Hazel sets out to solve the mystery of her father’s death and of her own identity. Who was Jack Nash, really? What secrets did he carry to his grave?
I love all the small, intimate details in this story, and the wild, unpredictable characters, set in the shadowy world of government conspiracies. There are so many layers to this story, all them compelling, many of them shocking and horrifying, and thought provoking. The suspense will sneak up behind you, tapping you on the shoulder, and make you squeal out loud.
“It was the people who lived absurdly happy lives, the eternal optimists, who never saw the monster waiting for them under the bed, whereas those with at least a tad of healthy fear admitted the possibility existed.”
The pacing is spot on, as secrets are revealed little by little, always squeezing an audible gasp of shock from me. The plot is intricate, and utterly absorbing, mingled with adventure, action, and drama. Conspiracy theories abound, with diabolical twists, and evil characters, and even a few moral dilemmas, to give you something to chew on. On all fronts this is a spectacular, top notch thriller, and is thoroughly entertaining.
But, for me the real zinger, are the characterizations. I loved Hazel. She is one the best female characters to show up within this genre in a long while. She has a dark side to her personality, one that haunts her, while she attempts to squelch those impulses. I loved that inner tug of war, and the psychology behind it. She’s darkly humorous, with sparkling wit, and pitch perfect timing, and had me cheering her on the whole way! She kicks butt without all the clichés.
Overall, this set up will segue nicely into the sequel, I am sure is coming, hopefully sooner, rather than later. There are still plenty of secrets to uncover and Hazel’s past still has a few locked doors we could explore, so suffice it to say, I will be looking forward to the next book with bated breath.
4.5 stars
“Honor the people who love you.”
Jack Nash is a wildly popular television star, hosting a show centered around conspiracy theories.
He even got his son, Skip, in on the act. But, his daughter, Hazel, never much cared for that life, and is now a professor.
Just as Jack decides he is ready to retire, he and his two adult children are involved in a terrible car accident. Jack dies, while Hazel suffers a peculiar type of memory loss. But, when the FBI shows up asking questions about a dead man with a priceless book, once belonging to the infamous Benedict Arnold, in his chest, wearing a coat belonging to Jack Nash, Hazel knows something is horribly amiss, and begins to believe her father may have been murdered. Hazel sets out to solve the mystery of her father’s death and of her own identity. Who was Jack Nash, really? What secrets did he carry to his grave?
I love all the small, intimate details in this story, and the wild, unpredictable characters, set in the shadowy world of government conspiracies. There are so many layers to this story, all them compelling, many of them shocking and horrifying, and thought provoking. The suspense will sneak up behind you, tapping you on the shoulder, and make you squeal out loud.
“It was the people who lived absurdly happy lives, the eternal optimists, who never saw the monster waiting for them under the bed, whereas those with at least a tad of healthy fear admitted the possibility existed.”
The pacing is spot on, as secrets are revealed little by little, always squeezing an audible gasp of shock from me. The plot is intricate, and utterly absorbing, mingled with adventure, action, and drama. Conspiracy theories abound, with diabolical twists, and evil characters, and even a few moral dilemmas, to give you something to chew on. On all fronts this is a spectacular, top notch thriller, and is thoroughly entertaining.
But, for me the real zinger, are the characterizations. I loved Hazel. She is one the best female characters to show up within this genre in a long while. She has a dark side to her personality, one that haunts her, while she attempts to squelch those impulses. I loved that inner tug of war, and the psychology behind it. She’s darkly humorous, with sparkling wit, and pitch perfect timing, and had me cheering her on the whole way! She kicks butt without all the clichés.
Overall, this set up will segue nicely into the sequel, I am sure is coming, hopefully sooner, rather than later. There are still plenty of secrets to uncover and Hazel’s past still has a few locked doors we could explore, so suffice it to say, I will be looking forward to the next book with bated breath.
4.5 stars
August 11, 2016
There are several things that I like about this book. First, the story is great and thrilling to read. Second, the main characters Hazel is a strong competent woman with an interesting past and third, this seems like it will be the first book in a new series and that makes me really happy. Of, course, there are several more things I like about this book, but I really wanted to point out just those three things since a good thriller, with a strong main character and the promise of sequels is perhaps something that will appeal not just to me, but to others.
I have only read one book by Brad Meltzer before I read this book and that was The President's Shadow. But, I liked that book very much and getting an opportunity to rad this book made my day. The story sounded intriguing and I loved the cover. I like the twists and turns of the story and I liked that I couldn't figure it all out and the last part of the book was marvelous. Hazel is a wonderful character, and reading about her trying to figure out her past and at the same time figure out what the death of her father has with the death of a man with an object stuffed into his chest was fascinating.
The House of Secrets was a great read, it was well-written and thrilling to read and hopefully, will it be the first book in a series (with many books)!
I want to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
I have only read one book by Brad Meltzer before I read this book and that was The President's Shadow. But, I liked that book very much and getting an opportunity to rad this book made my day. The story sounded intriguing and I loved the cover. I like the twists and turns of the story and I liked that I couldn't figure it all out and the last part of the book was marvelous. Hazel is a wonderful character, and reading about her trying to figure out her past and at the same time figure out what the death of her father has with the death of a man with an object stuffed into his chest was fascinating.
The House of Secrets was a great read, it was well-written and thrilling to read and hopefully, will it be the first book in a series (with many books)!
I want to thank Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
May 28, 2016
Thrillers this good don't come along every day, so don't miss this fresh take on post-traumatic memory loss.
Jack Nash, world famous investigator of the strange and mysterious, is dead. When Hazel Nash wakes up eight days later in the UCLA Medical Center, the last thing she remembers is cruising through the Utah desert with her brother in the back seat and her dad behind the wheel of his '77 sky blue Cadillac Eldorado. Then nothing.
But her brother Skip, and FBI Agent Trevor Rabkin, want to know how much of her memory has been wiped. Does she know anything about a bible? Benedict Arnold's bible, in particular? Well, she does and she doesn't. Fast-paced, this thriller takes you around the world and into dark corners, uncovering the most baffling mystery of Jack Nash's career. Don't settle for red, a whole palette of herrings await you in The House of Secrets.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Jack Nash, world famous investigator of the strange and mysterious, is dead. When Hazel Nash wakes up eight days later in the UCLA Medical Center, the last thing she remembers is cruising through the Utah desert with her brother in the back seat and her dad behind the wheel of his '77 sky blue Cadillac Eldorado. Then nothing.
But her brother Skip, and FBI Agent Trevor Rabkin, want to know how much of her memory has been wiped. Does she know anything about a bible? Benedict Arnold's bible, in particular? Well, she does and she doesn't. Fast-paced, this thriller takes you around the world and into dark corners, uncovering the most baffling mystery of Jack Nash's career. Don't settle for red, a whole palette of herrings await you in The House of Secrets.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2016
Not what I expected at all and quite frankly I found it to be disappointing. It did not flow well and seemed to leave me wondering "what the hell did I just read?" I would not recommend, but unfortunately I fell for the hype and own the book (courtesy of Walmart who put it out for sale a week early).
June 4, 2016
Thanks to Goodreads for this giveaway.....
The reviews for this "thriller" were almost all very favorable, so I was really looking forward to a great read., Maybe it's just me, but I hated it. I thought Meltzer was a better writer, but this book is really bad. Maybe the co-writer actually wrote it. Who knows anymore. Anyway, I'm sorry I wasted my time on it, I suggest that you stay far away from this loser.
The reviews for this "thriller" were almost all very favorable, so I was really looking forward to a great read., Maybe it's just me, but I hated it. I thought Meltzer was a better writer, but this book is really bad. Maybe the co-writer actually wrote it. Who knows anymore. Anyway, I'm sorry I wasted my time on it, I suggest that you stay far away from this loser.
June 7, 2016
A special thank you to Grand Central and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
TV host and bestselling author, Brad Meltzer (The Fifth Assassin) and Tod Goldberg (Gangsterland) launch a new exciting conspiracy/spy series THE HOUSE OF SECRETS—a modern day thriller mixed with history, for a nonstop fast-paced mystery suspense. Highly entertaining!
"The House of Secrets," the story of a fictional TV host secretly working for the U.S. government, and a daughter's search to find the truth.
As the novel opens it is LA, thirty years prior. Jack Nash decides it is time for his daughter, Hazel to be told “The Story.” He was told “The Story” at age six, and Hazel, is now the same. He feels it is the appropriate time. His son, Skip was five. The Story had not stuck. Jack wonders how old you have to be to retain an event for the rest of your life.
He begins The Story, slipping into The Voice. The same one his dad used, and the one Jack now uses on his TV show, (host of The House of Secrets), where every week he explores the world’s most famous conspiracies. Of course, Hazel is not allowed to watch. His wife thinks it will give her bad dreams.
The story begins a hundred and fifty years ago. The farmer finds a young man on the ground frozen to death. When the doctor arrives he takes him back to his office and performs an autopsy. Inside the chest, he finds a small object the size of a deck of cards. Encased in sealing wax. Inside he finds a miniature book. A Bible. Inside the Bible he sees four handwritten words: “Property of Benedict Arnold.”
The only thing is that there was no scar on his chest or his body, so how did it get there?
Of course Hazel does not know the name. He explains he was a complicated solider during the Revolutionary War. How did it get there? A mystery. A mystery to be solved. She receives three guesses per night. Magic? Impossible? Or Someone trying to fool you?
Fast forward 200 years from the original farmer story and you have the family of Jack Nash, the host of a TV Show "The House of Secrets". Jack and his son Skip travel the world trying to solve mysteries and uncovering secrets.
Jack has three rules.
1) There was a rub in every deal—a snag or drawback; always a catch. Once you understood that, there were no bad deals 2) Nothing goes missing. Everything is somewhere. 3) Honor the people who love you.
Years later, Jack’s wife, Claire has been gone for ten years. Brain cancer. He is ending his TV show, to enjoy his time left. Hazel had the same temper as Claire—and the same reckless attraction to destruction.
People weren’t happy unless they believed at least part of the world was some grand hoax. It’s what made Watergate so compelling. Everything everyone suspected was true. Government was corrupt, the world was being manipulated, nothing was on the level.
Jack knows most times mysteries did not have satisfying endings. Like the death of JFK. No one wanted to believe Oswald acted alone, because then that story was done.
The world was different now. He cannot be happy until he finds the book. The Bible. The last mystery.
Traveling through Utah, Jack suffers a heart attack. A car crash. Skip will be OK, Hazel injured. Eight days later in LA, Hazel wakes up from a coma. Jack is gone; however, Hazel cannot remember the details. She has severe brain injuries, leaving her without memories from the past.
An FBI shows up, asking questions about her dad and the corpse of a man found with the object in his chest. Did her father kill this man named Nixon? Hazel remembers The Bible. She recalls hearing the story. Mysteries need to be solved. A dead body and something hidden. Some details were clear and others lost. She thinks her dad told her. The last mystery.
Skip is confused, not knowing about the Bible. He often helped his dad chase leads, while investigating conspiracies.
Hazel begins trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Who killed this man and how in the heck did he get the book in his chest? She could not believe anything she was hearing. How could she have woken up from a coma to find herself in this life? She had tried to remember any hint of a secret life of her father. Was she a part of this too?
The FBI says her father made a personal visit to this guy the week before the accident. The guys loved Jack’s show. A secret obsession he hid from his family? The guy died and Jack died three days later. Poison was found. Meanwhile, we hear from a mysterious man known as the Bear travels to Dubai to kill a man named Kennedy, and the body of another man named Nixon is found in Canada.
In Canada a man in a revolutionary war style jacket has been found dead and inside his chest is a small Bible. In Dubai a man is found dead wearing a red revolutionary war jacket also with a Bible in his chest.
Why would a father train his six-year-old daughter. He wanted her to stay away from silly tricks, leave the family business behind. Give her a chance a freedom, not to be trapped.
Whoever killed Arthur Kennedy and Darren Nixon wanted her to know. Where they looking for the Bible, or something else? What were Jack, Kennedy, and Nixon looking for? Was Jack working for the government? What was behind his conspiracy show?
As Hazel, an anthropology professor tries to recover her memory and find out why she, has a lot of guns, and scars---she continues to try and solve the mystery of her father. Hazel is full of secrets! What is the truth? Who can be trusted? She has to solve the mystery in order to find herself.
A secret worth killing for. Every turn of events is really a conspiracy in disguise with a bit of truthiness. Truth often is stranger than fiction. George Washington and Benedict Arnold (Chapter 85 A Theory) Betrayal? or Not? Awesome research . . . .
What a wild ride! Hazel’s journey is intriguing, mysterious, and suspenseful. Edge of your seat --From twists, turns, no one does conspiracy better than Brad Meltzer.
Shocking modern conspiracy theories often turn out true after thorough investigation by our society. To many, conspiracy theories are just human nature. Not all people in this world are honest, hard-working and forthcoming about their intentions.
THE HOUSE OF SECRETS is an ideal gift choice for Father’s Day!
JDCMustReadBooks
TV host and bestselling author, Brad Meltzer (The Fifth Assassin) and Tod Goldberg (Gangsterland) launch a new exciting conspiracy/spy series THE HOUSE OF SECRETS—a modern day thriller mixed with history, for a nonstop fast-paced mystery suspense. Highly entertaining!
"The House of Secrets," the story of a fictional TV host secretly working for the U.S. government, and a daughter's search to find the truth.
As the novel opens it is LA, thirty years prior. Jack Nash decides it is time for his daughter, Hazel to be told “The Story.” He was told “The Story” at age six, and Hazel, is now the same. He feels it is the appropriate time. His son, Skip was five. The Story had not stuck. Jack wonders how old you have to be to retain an event for the rest of your life.
He begins The Story, slipping into The Voice. The same one his dad used, and the one Jack now uses on his TV show, (host of The House of Secrets), where every week he explores the world’s most famous conspiracies. Of course, Hazel is not allowed to watch. His wife thinks it will give her bad dreams.
The story begins a hundred and fifty years ago. The farmer finds a young man on the ground frozen to death. When the doctor arrives he takes him back to his office and performs an autopsy. Inside the chest, he finds a small object the size of a deck of cards. Encased in sealing wax. Inside he finds a miniature book. A Bible. Inside the Bible he sees four handwritten words: “Property of Benedict Arnold.”
The only thing is that there was no scar on his chest or his body, so how did it get there?
Of course Hazel does not know the name. He explains he was a complicated solider during the Revolutionary War. How did it get there? A mystery. A mystery to be solved. She receives three guesses per night. Magic? Impossible? Or Someone trying to fool you?
Fast forward 200 years from the original farmer story and you have the family of Jack Nash, the host of a TV Show "The House of Secrets". Jack and his son Skip travel the world trying to solve mysteries and uncovering secrets.
Jack has three rules.
1) There was a rub in every deal—a snag or drawback; always a catch. Once you understood that, there were no bad deals 2) Nothing goes missing. Everything is somewhere. 3) Honor the people who love you.
Years later, Jack’s wife, Claire has been gone for ten years. Brain cancer. He is ending his TV show, to enjoy his time left. Hazel had the same temper as Claire—and the same reckless attraction to destruction.
People weren’t happy unless they believed at least part of the world was some grand hoax. It’s what made Watergate so compelling. Everything everyone suspected was true. Government was corrupt, the world was being manipulated, nothing was on the level.
Jack knows most times mysteries did not have satisfying endings. Like the death of JFK. No one wanted to believe Oswald acted alone, because then that story was done.
The world was different now. He cannot be happy until he finds the book. The Bible. The last mystery.
Traveling through Utah, Jack suffers a heart attack. A car crash. Skip will be OK, Hazel injured. Eight days later in LA, Hazel wakes up from a coma. Jack is gone; however, Hazel cannot remember the details. She has severe brain injuries, leaving her without memories from the past.
An FBI shows up, asking questions about her dad and the corpse of a man found with the object in his chest. Did her father kill this man named Nixon? Hazel remembers The Bible. She recalls hearing the story. Mysteries need to be solved. A dead body and something hidden. Some details were clear and others lost. She thinks her dad told her. The last mystery.
Skip is confused, not knowing about the Bible. He often helped his dad chase leads, while investigating conspiracies.
Hazel begins trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Who killed this man and how in the heck did he get the book in his chest? She could not believe anything she was hearing. How could she have woken up from a coma to find herself in this life? She had tried to remember any hint of a secret life of her father. Was she a part of this too?
The FBI says her father made a personal visit to this guy the week before the accident. The guys loved Jack’s show. A secret obsession he hid from his family? The guy died and Jack died three days later. Poison was found. Meanwhile, we hear from a mysterious man known as the Bear travels to Dubai to kill a man named Kennedy, and the body of another man named Nixon is found in Canada.
In Canada a man in a revolutionary war style jacket has been found dead and inside his chest is a small Bible. In Dubai a man is found dead wearing a red revolutionary war jacket also with a Bible in his chest.
Why would a father train his six-year-old daughter. He wanted her to stay away from silly tricks, leave the family business behind. Give her a chance a freedom, not to be trapped.
Whoever killed Arthur Kennedy and Darren Nixon wanted her to know. Where they looking for the Bible, or something else? What were Jack, Kennedy, and Nixon looking for? Was Jack working for the government? What was behind his conspiracy show?
As Hazel, an anthropology professor tries to recover her memory and find out why she, has a lot of guns, and scars---she continues to try and solve the mystery of her father. Hazel is full of secrets! What is the truth? Who can be trusted? She has to solve the mystery in order to find herself.
A secret worth killing for. Every turn of events is really a conspiracy in disguise with a bit of truthiness. Truth often is stranger than fiction. George Washington and Benedict Arnold (Chapter 85 A Theory) Betrayal? or Not? Awesome research . . . .
What a wild ride! Hazel’s journey is intriguing, mysterious, and suspenseful. Edge of your seat --From twists, turns, no one does conspiracy better than Brad Meltzer.
Shocking modern conspiracy theories often turn out true after thorough investigation by our society. To many, conspiracy theories are just human nature. Not all people in this world are honest, hard-working and forthcoming about their intentions.
THE HOUSE OF SECRETS is an ideal gift choice for Father’s Day!
JDCMustReadBooks
May 21, 2016
See this review and more at www.TheRealBookSpy.com
Question: What do you call a conspiracy wrapped in another conspiracy about the host of a long-running television show that investigates conspiracies?
The Answer: Brad Meltzer’s new novel, The House of Secrets!
Brad Meltzer’s latest novel takes a break from the author’s bestselling Beecher White series and introduces readers to a new character named Hazel Nash.
Hazel is a brilliant young woman who chose to become a professor rather than following her father and brother’s footsteps by joining the family business. At least, until the family business chose her…
While speeding through Utah, Jack Nash, Hazel’s father, suffers a heart attack. Falling unconscious, he loses control and the car crashes. Hazel, who was riding shotgun next to her dad, was seriously injured. Her brother, Skip, was in the backseat and walked away mostly okay.
Eight days later, Hazel woke up in the hospital after being in a coma. Confused and groggy, she found her brother at her side. Their father was dead and Hazel, who can’t remember certain details or feel much emotion, is told that she suffered a serious head injury.
Her memory may return over time, but there’s no guarantee. It’s not full amnesia, though, as she does have certain memories like, for instance, being told as a young child that “nothing is ever lost…everything is always somewhere.” It was her father who told her that, and he also taught her to question things and search for answers. In fact, that’s how Jack Nash made a living.
Having spent four decades on television as host of The House of Secrets, a popular conspiracy show, Jack Nash was a famous man. So too is Skip, his son, who eventually started co-hosting the show. Together they traveled the world, chasing leads and investigating crazy conspiracies. Hazel, though, lived her life away from the limelight.
That’s not to say that she didn’t enjoy a good mystery, though. In fact, one of her most vivid memories, even after the car accident, is a story her father told her when she was just a young child. It was about a man being found dead with Benedict Arnold’s bible in his chest. The object, no bigger than a deck of cards, was found during the man’s autopsy. The question is, how did the bible get there?
Hazel never did figure it out.
While still in the hospital peppering her brother with questions about who she is, who he is, who their father was (their mother died many years before) and what their life is like, she spotted a suspicious-looking man in the hallway. It turns out that the man is an agent with the FBI, and he was there to speak with Hazel.
Though her memory is spotty, Hazel answers the FBI man’s questions as best as she can. Skip is there too, and together they listen as they’re told about a body that was recently found. The dead man was cold like he’d been in a freezer, but that wasn’t even the strangest thing about it. Upon further inspection, medical examiners found a copy of Benedict Arnold’s bible in his chest cavity.
Then came another bombshell…
The last known person the dead man had been in contact with was Jack Nash. The two had met in person just a few days prior. Now both men are dead. Is the mystery man’s death a coincidence, or is it somehow linked to Jack? Something stinks, and it ain’t just the nasty hospital gowns.
Hazel goes looking for answers but the more she learns about herself, the less she likes who she used to be. Plus, there’s another blistering conspiracy lurking behind the scenes, and it’s up to Hazel Nash to expose the truth. To do that she has to find out who she is, and who her father really was.
The House of Secrets packs a brilliant mystery into a hair-raising conspiracy that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Fast pacing, nonstop suspense, and a climactic final act make this one of the summer’s best novels.
WHY I LOVED IT
I’m just going to admit it, I love a good conspiracy. Did we really land on the moon? Did the government recover an alien spaceship in Roswell, New Mexico? And what about the Georgia Guide Stones–who built them and what’s their intended purpose?
As humans, we’re drawn to conspiracies because many times, well, they’re more exciting than the truth. We like to be entertained, it’s just a fact. Meltzer understands this better than most and knows just how to hold a reader’s attention as he lays the story’s foundation. He also knows how to keep readers off-balance and guessing, incorporating twists and turns as the story unfolds.
We don’t know Hazel before the car accident that left her brain scrambled, which means we’re getting to know her at the same time she’s getting to know herself. The suspense mixed with historical fiction really works, and makes for a compelling plot that’s unique and exactly what fans of Meltzer’s books have come to expect.
Bonus: If you’ve read Meltzer’s Beecher White series, you’ll recognize a character who makes a small cameo in The Hosue of Secrets. It’s pretty awesome!
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT
Nobody writes quite like Brad Meltzer. His style is sort of like if Harlan Coben’s books had a love child with one of Steve Berry’s novels. Informative, yet full of twists and things you never saw coming. Oh, and nearly impossible to put down!
If you’re a fan of Meltzer’s television show Brad Meltzer’s Decoded which in many ways is the real-life version of the fictitious “The House of Secrets” that Hazel’s father hosted, then you have to read this book.
If there’s anything negative to say, my only gripe is that Meltzer goes through stretches of writing in very short sentences, which at times made me feel like I was living inside of Aaron Sorkin’s brain. There’s lots of ping-pong dialogue, and while it reads fast, it also feels a little choppy at times. Not a huge problem, but it does take a little getting used to.
All in all, The House of Secrets is a fun, solid thriller that is sure to leave you questioning everything–including the history books!
BOOK DETAILS
Author: Brad Meltzer
Pages: 352 (Hardcover)
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: June 7, 2016 (Order Now!)
Question: What do you call a conspiracy wrapped in another conspiracy about the host of a long-running television show that investigates conspiracies?
The Answer: Brad Meltzer’s new novel, The House of Secrets!
Brad Meltzer’s latest novel takes a break from the author’s bestselling Beecher White series and introduces readers to a new character named Hazel Nash.
Hazel is a brilliant young woman who chose to become a professor rather than following her father and brother’s footsteps by joining the family business. At least, until the family business chose her…
While speeding through Utah, Jack Nash, Hazel’s father, suffers a heart attack. Falling unconscious, he loses control and the car crashes. Hazel, who was riding shotgun next to her dad, was seriously injured. Her brother, Skip, was in the backseat and walked away mostly okay.
Eight days later, Hazel woke up in the hospital after being in a coma. Confused and groggy, she found her brother at her side. Their father was dead and Hazel, who can’t remember certain details or feel much emotion, is told that she suffered a serious head injury.
Her memory may return over time, but there’s no guarantee. It’s not full amnesia, though, as she does have certain memories like, for instance, being told as a young child that “nothing is ever lost…everything is always somewhere.” It was her father who told her that, and he also taught her to question things and search for answers. In fact, that’s how Jack Nash made a living.
Having spent four decades on television as host of The House of Secrets, a popular conspiracy show, Jack Nash was a famous man. So too is Skip, his son, who eventually started co-hosting the show. Together they traveled the world, chasing leads and investigating crazy conspiracies. Hazel, though, lived her life away from the limelight.
That’s not to say that she didn’t enjoy a good mystery, though. In fact, one of her most vivid memories, even after the car accident, is a story her father told her when she was just a young child. It was about a man being found dead with Benedict Arnold’s bible in his chest. The object, no bigger than a deck of cards, was found during the man’s autopsy. The question is, how did the bible get there?
Hazel never did figure it out.
While still in the hospital peppering her brother with questions about who she is, who he is, who their father was (their mother died many years before) and what their life is like, she spotted a suspicious-looking man in the hallway. It turns out that the man is an agent with the FBI, and he was there to speak with Hazel.
Though her memory is spotty, Hazel answers the FBI man’s questions as best as she can. Skip is there too, and together they listen as they’re told about a body that was recently found. The dead man was cold like he’d been in a freezer, but that wasn’t even the strangest thing about it. Upon further inspection, medical examiners found a copy of Benedict Arnold’s bible in his chest cavity.
Then came another bombshell…
The last known person the dead man had been in contact with was Jack Nash. The two had met in person just a few days prior. Now both men are dead. Is the mystery man’s death a coincidence, or is it somehow linked to Jack? Something stinks, and it ain’t just the nasty hospital gowns.
Hazel goes looking for answers but the more she learns about herself, the less she likes who she used to be. Plus, there’s another blistering conspiracy lurking behind the scenes, and it’s up to Hazel Nash to expose the truth. To do that she has to find out who she is, and who her father really was.
The House of Secrets packs a brilliant mystery into a hair-raising conspiracy that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Fast pacing, nonstop suspense, and a climactic final act make this one of the summer’s best novels.
WHY I LOVED IT
I’m just going to admit it, I love a good conspiracy. Did we really land on the moon? Did the government recover an alien spaceship in Roswell, New Mexico? And what about the Georgia Guide Stones–who built them and what’s their intended purpose?
As humans, we’re drawn to conspiracies because many times, well, they’re more exciting than the truth. We like to be entertained, it’s just a fact. Meltzer understands this better than most and knows just how to hold a reader’s attention as he lays the story’s foundation. He also knows how to keep readers off-balance and guessing, incorporating twists and turns as the story unfolds.
We don’t know Hazel before the car accident that left her brain scrambled, which means we’re getting to know her at the same time she’s getting to know herself. The suspense mixed with historical fiction really works, and makes for a compelling plot that’s unique and exactly what fans of Meltzer’s books have come to expect.
Bonus: If you’ve read Meltzer’s Beecher White series, you’ll recognize a character who makes a small cameo in The Hosue of Secrets. It’s pretty awesome!
WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT
Nobody writes quite like Brad Meltzer. His style is sort of like if Harlan Coben’s books had a love child with one of Steve Berry’s novels. Informative, yet full of twists and things you never saw coming. Oh, and nearly impossible to put down!
If you’re a fan of Meltzer’s television show Brad Meltzer’s Decoded which in many ways is the real-life version of the fictitious “The House of Secrets” that Hazel’s father hosted, then you have to read this book.
If there’s anything negative to say, my only gripe is that Meltzer goes through stretches of writing in very short sentences, which at times made me feel like I was living inside of Aaron Sorkin’s brain. There’s lots of ping-pong dialogue, and while it reads fast, it also feels a little choppy at times. Not a huge problem, but it does take a little getting used to.
All in all, The House of Secrets is a fun, solid thriller that is sure to leave you questioning everything–including the history books!
BOOK DETAILS
Author: Brad Meltzer
Pages: 352 (Hardcover)
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: June 7, 2016 (Order Now!)
June 12, 2016
I wanted to love this book as much as I loved all the books in Meltzer's Culper Ring series and yet, I just couldn't. The House of Secrets didn't work for me on a bunch of different levels. For one thing, Hazel's injury added to the plot's complexity but I found it pretty difficult to understand or believe. While he's clear that she's not suffering from amnesia, it sure functions that way in the book a lot of the time. Second, I felt like the characters weren't nearly as developed as they were in his other books. Third, the characterization of Hazel's friend Butchie bordered on the stereotypical (a whole lot of his sentences started with "girl, blah blah blah"). Finally, after a ton of build-up, the plot is resolved so quickly that the whole thing just feels unbelievable.
The parts of the book I enjoyed most were when Meltzer was on familiar ground. When the FBI agent in the book heads to the National Archives (and Beecher White shows up) it felt like the plot both got going and felt more coherent. It's clear Meltzer knows how to write those scenes whereas the others didn't work nearly as well.
I will probably not keep reading the books in this series.
The parts of the book I enjoyed most were when Meltzer was on familiar ground. When the FBI agent in the book heads to the National Archives (and Beecher White shows up) it felt like the plot both got going and felt more coherent. It's clear Meltzer knows how to write those scenes whereas the others didn't work nearly as well.
I will probably not keep reading the books in this series.
May 6, 2016
I received an ARC copy of this book free through Goodread's Giveaways.
I'm always up for a good murder mystery/psychological thriller and this one did not disappoint. I was hooked from the first chapter. The idea of being in an accident that causes amnesia due to a brain injury that causes you to lose emotion is such a scary idea. That combined with your father's death and a string of strange murders and having no idea who you were in the past would be more than enough to push someone over the edge of sanity. Instead the main character, Hazel becomes determined to dig into her past and put all the pieces together.
This is the first of Brad Meltzer's books that I have read and I'm pleased I gave it a try. I always try to solve the mystery but this one kept me guessing until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I'm always up for a good murder mystery/psychological thriller and this one did not disappoint. I was hooked from the first chapter. The idea of being in an accident that causes amnesia due to a brain injury that causes you to lose emotion is such a scary idea. That combined with your father's death and a string of strange murders and having no idea who you were in the past would be more than enough to push someone over the edge of sanity. Instead the main character, Hazel becomes determined to dig into her past and put all the pieces together.
This is the first of Brad Meltzer's books that I have read and I'm pleased I gave it a try. I always try to solve the mystery but this one kept me guessing until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
April 4, 2018
I expected a little more "suspense" from Brad Metzler....but I have to say that I enjoyed the plot and characters. The biggest drawback for me was that I felt left with way too many unanswered questions. I also liked the history about Benedict Arnold and the "tongue in cheek" description of Jack's TV show. I've seen some recently much like "The House of Secrets"...which was Jack & Skip Nash's TV show where they try to prove or debunk historical myths/legends. Overall it was a good read. The story meshed well and was easy to follow. The book will not only appeal to mystery fans but history buffs as well.
April 6, 2016
Thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for a free copy!
This book, okay? This book has the absolute greatest first chapter that I have ever read. I made an audible gasp and forced everyone around me to read it as well. It is amazing, and I'm currently torn between gushing about it and a general feeling that maybe I shouldn't spoil anything.
The rest of the book is a fantastic, gripping read as well. It gets into amnesia (always a fun thing to explore), TV shows about historical artifacts and conspiracies (where the author's expertise shines through), and good old espionage and government corruption. I loved the characters, I loved the ethical issues that they raised, and I loved the twists and turns the plot took. Highly recommended.
This book, okay? This book has the absolute greatest first chapter that I have ever read. I made an audible gasp and forced everyone around me to read it as well. It is amazing, and I'm currently torn between gushing about it and a general feeling that maybe I shouldn't spoil anything.
The rest of the book is a fantastic, gripping read as well. It gets into amnesia (always a fun thing to explore), TV shows about historical artifacts and conspiracies (where the author's expertise shines through), and good old espionage and government corruption. I loved the characters, I loved the ethical issues that they raised, and I loved the twists and turns the plot took. Highly recommended.
June 21, 2016
I won this Free book from Goodreads First-Reads. Thank you Goodreads.
When Hazel Nash was a little girl her father, who had his own TV show ( The House of Secrets) told her about finding a small leather book in Benedict Arnolds chest.
Now the search was on. Across one continent, then back to the United States. This went on many times for his TV show.
The story took on a new meaning, maybe this was just a code for something else.
When Hazel Nash was a little girl her father, who had his own TV show ( The House of Secrets) told her about finding a small leather book in Benedict Arnolds chest.
Now the search was on. Across one continent, then back to the United States. This went on many times for his TV show.
The story took on a new meaning, maybe this was just a code for something else.
June 19, 2016
A beguiling story with a first-rate premise that yields a slippery story that won't be pinned down until the last page. It's got hidden history, amnesia angst, super-spies and sleeper agents, and a villain who will stop at nothing. I've never read Meltzer before but am a big fan of Goldberg's literary fiction so I'll go on a limb and say it's a great pairing that has produced a firecracker story that's immensely readable.
July 1, 2016
Fast paced mystrry
Entertaining page turner. Plot twists kept me reading and the characters were well developed. Meltzer is an excellent storyteller. I enjoyed it
Entertaining page turner. Plot twists kept me reading and the characters were well developed. Meltzer is an excellent storyteller. I enjoyed it
October 11, 2022
Many readers mock The Da Vinci Code, but it's not easy to craft a good thriller. If it was, we'd all write them.
The House of Secrets is no Da Vinci Code. No Lost Symbol, even. I would compare Mr. Meltzer's work to the books of James Patterson, perhaps, what with the brief chapters and the constant attempts at suspense - except the writing is worse...
* "Dad's library was filled with books."
* He was a boyish thirty-nine, but time wasn't always going to be his friend. There were deep
lines around his eyes. Worry lines. It was almost midnight."
* When you opened the package, you sent half the pics to the chiropractor's wife, the other half
to the police. Then you did the same to the recipients." (???)
Too many sentences like those above. So much repetition of information. Needless tense changes. I think the author is pumping out too much too fast. (Eye-catching title...mysterious cover image...fit to print.)
Two stars for providing a few facts about Benedict Arnold and anthropology.
The House of Secrets is no Da Vinci Code. No Lost Symbol, even. I would compare Mr. Meltzer's work to the books of James Patterson, perhaps, what with the brief chapters and the constant attempts at suspense - except the writing is worse...
* "Dad's library was filled with books."
* He was a boyish thirty-nine, but time wasn't always going to be his friend. There were deep
lines around his eyes. Worry lines. It was almost midnight."
* When you opened the package, you sent half the pics to the chiropractor's wife, the other half
to the police. Then you did the same to the recipients." (???)
Too many sentences like those above. So much repetition of information. Needless tense changes. I think the author is pumping out too much too fast. (Eye-catching title...mysterious cover image...fit to print.)
Two stars for providing a few facts about Benedict Arnold and anthropology.
October 26, 2016
I have read all of Brad Meltzer's books. This book is a little different from the others. It is more of a psychological thriller with a woman, Hazel Nash, as the main character. She is no Beecher White, one of my favorite characters, but she has her own unique personality. A personality she has to dig out from within herself ever since the accident when her brain was injured. Is it true that the size of our amygdala can determine our personalities or predict certain behaviors? Do creased ear lobes lead to over-sized hearts that could explode in our bodies? Scientific anomalies such as these are included in the story. They make me wonder and think. And that's what a book is supposed to do.
The action in the first half of the book is a little slow. We learn the back story of Hazel and her brother. Her father's visits to volatile countries confuse Hazel. She sees that she has traveled to similar countries. While Hazel is a professor, her brother, Skip, follows in his father's footsteps on TV. He loves the attention and announces everything he does on social media. But is he so silly?
Soon we learn that everyone has ulterior motives. And whomever I suspect becomes a suspect at one time in the story until the facts bring Hazel her answers. She is able to remember people and events but not her feelings relating to them. She is on a journey to find herself and who killed her father. A conspiracy theory comes into play with Benedict Arnold and George Washington. It wouldn't be a Brad Meltzer book without it.
The book is fun to read. It plays out nicely.
Did Brad Meltzer need a co-author? James Patterson might but not Brad Meltzer. But his work always comes out gold in the end.
The action in the first half of the book is a little slow. We learn the back story of Hazel and her brother. Her father's visits to volatile countries confuse Hazel. She sees that she has traveled to similar countries. While Hazel is a professor, her brother, Skip, follows in his father's footsteps on TV. He loves the attention and announces everything he does on social media. But is he so silly?
Soon we learn that everyone has ulterior motives. And whomever I suspect becomes a suspect at one time in the story until the facts bring Hazel her answers. She is able to remember people and events but not her feelings relating to them. She is on a journey to find herself and who killed her father. A conspiracy theory comes into play with Benedict Arnold and George Washington. It wouldn't be a Brad Meltzer book without it.
The book is fun to read. It plays out nicely.
Did Brad Meltzer need a co-author? James Patterson might but not Brad Meltzer. But his work always comes out gold in the end.
May 29, 2016
Brad Meltzer’s latest thriller, “The House of Secrets,” explores a long-ago mystery involving a leather book belonging to Benedict Arnold.
Hazel enters into an all too real nightmare when, at the age of 6, she hears a tall tale from her father, Jack Nash, the host of America’s favorite conspiracy TV show, "The House of Secrets," about the mystery of a bible hidden in a corpse.
Years later, Hazel wakes up in a hospital bed at UCLA Medical Center bruised and incoherent, with a brain injury from a car accident she was in with her brother Skip and father, Jack. Hazel cannot remember anything from that life-altering day, not even her own name.
As she tries to piece the puzzle together, a mysterious man from the FBI arrives at the hospital, asking her questions about her father. Uncertain about the detective’s motives, Hazel digs into the case herself, which leads her down a path of government conspiracies and hard truths.
Hazel talks to her physician, Dr. Morrison, about her case, but his reluctance to provide answers to Hazel’s inquiries confirms Hazel’s suspicions that he too is keeping secrets from her about her father.
Meltzer’s compulsive storytelling is pleasantly satisfying as he weaves a complicated whodunit with tightly drawn characters and fast-paced plots. Short, engaging chapters keep the novel moving at a frantic clip, resulting in nail-biting cliffhangers and a compelling conclusion.
I won an uncorrected proof through Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy.
Hazel enters into an all too real nightmare when, at the age of 6, she hears a tall tale from her father, Jack Nash, the host of America’s favorite conspiracy TV show, "The House of Secrets," about the mystery of a bible hidden in a corpse.
Years later, Hazel wakes up in a hospital bed at UCLA Medical Center bruised and incoherent, with a brain injury from a car accident she was in with her brother Skip and father, Jack. Hazel cannot remember anything from that life-altering day, not even her own name.
As she tries to piece the puzzle together, a mysterious man from the FBI arrives at the hospital, asking her questions about her father. Uncertain about the detective’s motives, Hazel digs into the case herself, which leads her down a path of government conspiracies and hard truths.
Hazel talks to her physician, Dr. Morrison, about her case, but his reluctance to provide answers to Hazel’s inquiries confirms Hazel’s suspicions that he too is keeping secrets from her about her father.
Meltzer’s compulsive storytelling is pleasantly satisfying as he weaves a complicated whodunit with tightly drawn characters and fast-paced plots. Short, engaging chapters keep the novel moving at a frantic clip, resulting in nail-biting cliffhangers and a compelling conclusion.
I won an uncorrected proof through Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy.
July 16, 2016
Jim's Review: I enjoyed that this book took me down various paths. Every time I thought I had it figured out I was steered in another direction. The blending of historical events, current media and government intrigue made for an interesting read that was not settled until the very last chapter. 4 stars
March 18, 2017
The mystery was so subtly revealed, that even after I knew it, I thought that couldn't really be it. A good story, good suspense and buildup in the mystery, but the reveal was a little anti-climactic.
July 7, 2016
Didn't enjoy this book as much as his previous ones. Co-authoring not working out too well in this case.
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