In this masterpiece of narrative history, acclaimed author
Howard Blum evokes the original "crime of the century" and an
aftermath even more dramatic than the crime itself–a seminal
episode in America’s history that would spark national debate and
draw into its orbit master sleuth William J. Burns, crusading
lawyer Clarence Darrow, and industry-shaping filmmaker D. W.
Griffith.
"Hugely engaging . . . has tremendous verve . . . American
Lightning throws valuable new light on an episode that seems, for
us today, particularly pertinent. Terrorism happened here." –Los
Angeles Times
"A fast-moving, skillfully constructed account . . . Blum’s style
is cinematic." –Chicago Sun-Times
"Compelling . . . a tense detective story." –Seattle Times
"A thumping-good drumroll of narrative history . . . the
cross-country manhunt reads like a great mystery novel . . . Blum
blows the dust off a page of America’s own incendiary past and
brings it to pulsating life." –Dallas Morning News