Thunderstruck is a good read, especially if you’re into true crime. The story kicks off strong with the murder mystery, Larson really knows how to start a book with a bang. The true crime aspect is definitely the best part of this book. In the moments I felt myself slowing from the other parts, I’d remind myself I wanted to know what was going on in this particular part of the book. 

That said, the sections about Marconi and the development of wireless technology dragged a bit for me. While it’s clear Larson did a ton of research, some of those parts got a little too detailed and slowed the story down. I found myself wanting to get back to the characters and the drama instead of the technical stuff (I just am not good at science lol, the wave parts really went right over my head).

Things picked up whenever the focus shifted to the ship chase, the passengers, and the personal relationships!Those moments had great pacing and really pulled me back in. Larson does a great job making history feel human, especially when he’s showing how people’s lives intersected with the bigger historical events.

Overall, it’s an interesting read with a lot of strong moments, but it isn’t quite as consistently gripping as some of Larson’s other books. Still worth checking out if you like a good mix of crime and history.