Lilith - by Eric Rickstad

Book Synopsis

From the internationally bestselling author of I Am Not Who You Think I Am--a New York Times Thriller of the Year--comes Lilith, an incendiary powerhouse of a novel that strikes straight at the wounded heart of America. Included in this paperback edition are a note from the author and a list of book club discussion questions.

Mother. Hero. Villain. Killer.

After her son, Lydan, suffers traumatic injuries in a school shooting, single mom Elisabeth Ross grows enraged at men in power. If they won't do anything to help end this epidemic of violence, she will. Believing it's her destiny, she sets out to awaken the world to the cowards these men are and commits her own shocking act of violence.

Going by the name Lilith--the first wife of Adam who fled Eden rather than serve a man--she posts a video of her crime that reverberates throughout society.

Praised by some, demonized by others, and hunted by the FBI and vigilantes alike, Elisabeth must keep her identity a secret as she tries to care for her son.

As events take startling twists, Elisabeth begins to question her act of violence and the very roots and mythology of violence itself. Was her act justified, or has she become the monster that the original Lilith was accused of being?

As the FBI draws closer and Lydan starts to display odd, terrifying behavior, Elisabeth plots to avoid capture and keep her son safe at all costs, fearing she'll never escape what she's done without losing her son forever.

Written with Rickstad's singular command of language, human insight, and unnerving suspense, Lilith is a tale of our times. Tragic and profound, it echoes in the mind and lingers in the blood.

Review Quotes

"Lilith is a hauntingly tragic and stirring story that will punch you in the gut, leaving you teary eyed and breathless. Eric Rickstad has expertly crafted a profound tale that holds up a mirror to today's society and asks us to explore our humanity."

-- "Best Thriller Books"

"A novel of our times and for them. The book carries echoes of so many chilling recent events as Rickstad poses some powerful questions about the place of guns in our society and victimization of women. Well done, Eric!"

-- "Phil Lewis, regular guest on The Roundtable on WAMC Northeast Public Radio and owner of Bennington Bookshop"

"Explosive, gut wrenching, and powerful. An unforgettable read."

-- "Bruce Robert Coffin, award-winning author of the Detective Byron mysteries and the Turner and Mosley Files"

"Full of sadness and rage, this timely narrative cuts to the heart of the gun debate and school shootings with a scalpel of words...This is a novel that acts like mirror; it shows you society with love and great insight into what makes us tick, but also with brutal honesty and under a stark, unwavering light."

-- "NPR"

"If Lilith--the character in the Bible, the one in this book, and the book itself--can bring about a new narrative, what might the response 'in real life' become?"

-- "New York Journal of Books"

"Rickstad's powerful story is a ticking time clock of a thriller that breaches new territory by virtue of its boldness...Lilith may just prove to be Eric Rickstad's defining work."

-- "Criminal Element"

"This is a brave, timely novel that goes straight to the damaged soul of this country...This is a novel that acts like a mirror; it shows you society with love and great insight into what makes us tick, but also with brutal honesty and under a stark, unwavering light."

-- "NPR"

"Lilith is a literary dunk tank: prepare to be plunged into an unparalleled tale of pain and purpose that will leave you breathless. With taut language, raw emotion, and an unflinching eye, Eric Rickstad's exposé of gun culture in America and the depths to which a mother will go in order to protect her child is sure to become one of the most talked-about novels of the year."

-- "Tessa Wegert, author of Death in the Family"

"Lilith is a visceral gut punch of a tale, a blistering and bracing story layered with emotional resonance and a deep understanding of the human condition. Eric Rickstad has fashioned a thriller of rare depth and angst, confronting us with the notion of how far we should go to do what's right, even if it's wrong. Lilith will stay with you long after the final page is flipped, one of those rare books that remind us why we love to read."

-- "Jon Land, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author"

"A gripping tale of love, power, courage, and morality. Eric Rickstad is at his very best with this timely and poignant novel."

-- "Don Winslow, #1 internationally bestselling author"

"A timely, intensely harrowing, and ultimately rewarding read. Eric boldly takes us on a journey through the nuances of and turmoil within the human soul in conflict with today's gluttonous American consumption of and obsession with violence, and the consequential costs to our collective sanity. Brilliant and brutally honest."

-- "Stephen Mack Jones, author of the August Snow thrillers"

"Brilliant from the opening pages to the last. Lilith will be talked about for years."

-- "Drew Yanno, bestselling author of The Smart One"

"Incredible. Lilith is a fever and its attendant symptoms--a clarion call that challenges us to face uncomfortable truths about the infection of gun violence. But while fevers generally subside, the power of this fiery novel endures long after the last page is turned."

-- "Jahmal Mayfield, author of Smoke Kings"

"Intense, provocative, and thrilling, Lilith is sure to stir up some sh*t, in all the right ways."

-- "Matthew Farrell, bestselling author of The Woman at Number 6"

"Rickstad delivers a second suspenseful thriller, one that reflects our politically divided times."

-- "Booklist"

"Spellbinding. Visceral. Passionate. A devilish story meticulously told."

-- "Stephen Foreman, author of Journey and Watching Gideon"