How Did This Get Made? Last Looks: Monkeybone w/ Brad Meltzer
Jan 23, 2026
Brad Meltzer, a New York Times bestselling author and comic-book writer, joins the discussion to reveal intriguing insights about his new thriller, The Viper. He shares a captivating story about discovering a locked closet of burial outfits that inspired his book's opening. Meltzer delves into the evolution of witness protection and its challenges in today’s world. Additionally, he shares his favorite comic books and offers parenting tips on introducing kids to reading through comics. Get ready for laughs and fascinating anecdotes!
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Episode notes
Research Moments Turn Into Plot Hooks
- Brad describes surprising moments when researching, like a funeral-home closet that revealed story ideas.
- Those small, quiet discoveries often become powerful hooks in his fiction.
Burial Closet Sparks Thriller Opening
- Brad Meltzer describes finding a padlocked closet of burial outfits in a funeral home while researching a book.
- He used that real moment as the opening scene for The Viper to build a thriller around hidden items in burial clothes.
Secret Sewn Into Burial Suit
- Meltzer tells a story of a man handing over a burial suit with a sewn-in secret, then being killed, making the suit a perfect hiding spot.
- That precise anecdote seeded chapter one of The Viper and demonstrates creative concealment methods.
