Thunder Strikes Twice

By Margaret Hicks in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 23, 2006 7:27PM

Erik Larson is back, and we couldn’t be happier. His new historical fiction novel “Thunderstruck” refashions the story of murderer Hawley Crippen, while alternately telling the story of the invention of wireless communication by Guglielmo Marconi. Set in England in the early 1900’s, “Thunderstruck” follows the gruesome murder of Crippen’s flamboyant, eccentric wife and his rapid, oceanic escape with his new mistress. Through the wireless technology recently discovered, the world can follow the messages being passed from ship to ship that detail the mad chase for Crippen. One review called “Thunderstruck” the “O.J. Simpson car chase of its time.”

We haven’t read the book yet (it releases tomorrow), but we’re planning on it. We loved the dual stories of "Devil in the White City," and apparently Larson uses many of the same structural techniques for "Thunderstruck." We appreciated Larson's take on Chicago history, and we can't wait to see what he does with this one.

You can see Erik Larson at the Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton on Tuesday, October 24, 6:00 p.m. Admission is free.