While I’ve been focusing on my next novel, POONTOWN, my debut thriller BOTTLED LIGHTNING is still going strong, winning multiple awards in 2024, and garnering more fantastic reviews. Below is one of those reviews, plus the various book awards seals. Click here for purchase options, and to book your (literary) trip across the globe with Torn and Saya. 📚⚡✈️
Literary Titan Book Awards Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bottled Lightning, by L.M. Weeks, is a gripping legal thriller that seamlessly blends cutting-edge technology, global intrigue, and relentless action. Set in the bustling, vivid streets of Tokyo, the story introduces Tornait “Torn” Sagara, an elite technology lawyer who becomes ensnared in a deadly web of corporate espionage. Torn’s client, Saya Brooks, is a brilliant inventor whose revolutionary lightning-on-demand technology could transform the world by eliminating our reliance on fossil fuels. Yet, its disruptive potential makes her a target for powerful forces willing to stop at nothing—murder included.
The novel wastes no time plunging readers into chaos. An exhilarating motorcycle ride through Tokyo turns violent as Torn and Saya come under attack, thrusting them into a ruthless fight for survival. With assassins in pursuit and conspiracies unraveling, Torn races across borders—from Japan’s neon-lit streets to Russia’s unforgiving terrain. Along the way, he battles not only external enemies but his own inner demons, all while grappling with complicated feelings for Saya. The danger mounts. The stakes rise. And Torn’s entire existence—career, relationships, and life itself—hangs by a thread.
Weeks crafts a story that moves at breakneck speed but never sacrifices depth. The novel’s premise is both timely and compelling: Saya’s groundbreaking invention collides with the dark underbelly of corporate greed and energy politics. The result is a sharp exploration of technology’s promise and the forces determined to suppress it. Saya emerges as an engaging, multidimensional character—brilliant and ambitious, yet vulnerable enough to resonate with readers. Torn, by contrast, is a fascinating study of contrasts: a flawed lawyer wrestling with duty, desire, and the weight of his past. His personal struggles—his fractured moral compass and complex relationships—infuse the narrative with emotional heft.
Weeks offers a masterful portrayal of Tokyo’s culture, the nuances of Japanese legal systems, and the intricacies of advanced technology. These elements ground the story, giving it a realism often lacking in thrillers. Equally compelling is the emotional layer underpinning Torn’s journey. His growing bond with Saya, paired with his internal conflicts, adds depth to a plot that brims with action and suspense.
Fans of thrillers that deliver high-stakes espionage, electrifying twists, and a dash of romance will find Bottled Lightning impossible to put down. The pacing is relentless, the tension unrelenting, and the narrative rich with surprises. Torn’s evolution—both as a lawyer and as a man—provides an engrossing anchor for the story’s pulse-pounding momentum. Weeks doesn’t merely deliver thrills; he offers thought-provoking commentary on technology’s transformative power and its unintended consequences. Bottled Lightning stands as a remarkable entry in the legal thriller genre. Combining dynamic action with layered characters and an intelligent premise, it’s a story that captivates, challenges, and leaves readers hungry for more. This is more than a thriller—it’s a standout experience.
