c.2008, Grand Central Publishing, $25.99/$28.99 Canada, 352 pages.

How much did comic books cost when you were a kid?

Remember the smell of comic book paper and the “win this bike” ad on the back? Begging for the latest Archie or Spiderman issue, promising to share with your younger siblings but secretly intending to hoard it for yourself? I’ll bet you even remember how much coin (and it really was coin then) you had to shell out for an afternoon of entertainment. In the new novel “The Book of Lies” by Brad Meltzer, a rare and nearly unknown comic book is so priceless that the cost to have it may be death.

When he was 9 years old, Calvin Harper watched as his father pushed Cal’s mother to her death. Lloyd Harper went to the penitentiary for murder then disappeared upon release, never bothering to look for his son.  Cal, once a disgrace to the FBI and now working with the indigent, never forgot or forgave his father.

So when the well-dressed “homeless” man with the stomach wound gasps the name of Lloyd Harper, Cal recognizes his father and is angry. He hadn’t seen Lloyd in 19 years and now Lloyd is in Cal’s work territory, bleeding and — Cal is sure — lying.

Lloyd says he doesn’t know who hired him to run a load of shrimp to Cleveland, and he has no idea who shot him or why. Cal doesn’t believe him and goes digging.

But amidst the mess of melting shrimp, there it was, the reason Lloyd was involved: at the bottom of an occupied coffin lay a hand-drawn Superman comic book. Cal knows that there’s more to these funnies than a mere tie to the boy who created the Man of Steel. Reluctantly allowing his father to help and with his life in danger, Cal decides to follow the clues that make no sense but are obviously important to somebody.

Ellis Belasco knows that Lloyd Harper has the map that will lead to the Book. If Ellis can get his hands on it, he will fulfill the destiny started by his great-grandfather. The Prophet is helping Ellis, and the Judge has paid good money to recover what Ellis knows Lloyd Harper has.

And if people have to die because of it, well ...

Loosely based around truth, “The Book of Lies” is one of those novels that somewhat defies description but here goes: it’s part mystery, part conspiracy, part Da Vinci Code, plenty of pop culture, obligatory Nazis and some history mixed with thriller.

Author Brad Meltzer admits in his author’s notes that he gently stretched real, true facts to make this novel. Since the first third of the book is awash in confusion, understanding that is good. It makes you want to stick with the story. By the time the paper fog clears, though, you won’t be disappointed that you did.

If you consume novels faster than a speeding bullet or if you’d happily leap over tall bookcases for a great read, you’ll love this one. “The Book of Lies” is pretty super.

The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was three- years old and never goes anywhere without a book. She lives in Wisconsin and reviews books for publications all over the country.