8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not This Time, "Boyo", March 1, 2009
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
As his fans know, William Lashner wrapped up his Victor Carl series with the 2007 release of "A Killer's Kiss" in 2007, returning after a brief hiatus with "Blood and Bone." This is the tale of Kyle Byrne, the illegitimate son of a prominent Philadelphia lawyer, Liam Byrne. Liam dies prematurely and mysteriously when Kyle was only fourteen, who now, at twenty-six, a good-looking but purposeless slacker, still misses his dad. But when dad's former partner turns up murdered, Kyle is thrown back into his old man's life, soon unraveling secrets better left uncovered.
While many - myself included - were anxiously waiting the talented Lashner's return, I found "Blood and Bone" a rather uninspired and unlikely hodgepodge of random themes and listless characters. I missed the smart-talking, self-depreciating sometimes-mouthpiece-for-the-mob Vic Carl and the sharp and witty dialogue he so effortlessly spews. By comparison, Lashner has to forcibly extract insipid conversation from the mostly whining Kyle, an exercise lacking the color, energy, and edge of the Philadelphia that Lashner had previously captured so well. Lashner is more than capable of rendering a bizarre but entertaining cast, like Phil Skink, that human equivalent of a blunt weapon of the Carl books. But instead of the intimidating Skink, here we find only a couple of thinly drawn cops and a washed up lawyer-turned-assassin, about as terrifying as your local H&R Block clerk. It's not that Lashner doesn't try, but in describing a hotel room of smelling of "yesterday's urine, of indifferent adulterous sex," I'm pretty sure the witty Victor Carl would have noted that the subtleties between the aromas of "indifferent" and "passionate" adulterous sex were beyond his olfactory capabilities.
Sadly, a sub par effort for Lashner, a tired rerun of a plot we've read too many times. A snail-paced ride that lends little credibility to the pieces of the mystery as they magically flop into place for a painfully drawn out climax. Maudlin and sappy where a Lashner masterpiece like "Fatal Flaw" was edgy and cynically humorous, "Blood and Bone" left me wondering if we'll ever see the real William Lashner again.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Refreshingly Different Characters and Storyline!, March 10, 2009
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I like "different." Different can be a really great thing when you are reading fiction day after day. So, I thoroughly enjoyed William Lashner's latest very different novel, Blood and Bone!
First, the main character was different. He was funny, sensitive, and in many ways utterly charming. Yet, he drank most nights, couldn't hold jobs because he forgot to leave his drinking or his latest female friend, to go to work, and he dressed most of the time in undershirts and shorts! Kyle Byrne won me over quickly. I enjoyed his considering himself an orphan, even though he was in his late 20's when his mother died. I enjoyed the stories about how he stole his father's cremation jar and the fact that he continued to look for him, even though he had died when he was 12 and that he kept some of his ashes in the glove compartment of his car--the only thing he still owned, after the bank took his home for his failure to pay the mortgage. And, later, I enjoyed his character change when he "put on his suit."
Second, I really enjoyed the "bad guy" character! I appreciated the inclusion of his introspection, the love-hate relationship that was behind his actions and the suspenseful buildup as to the female who guided his actions. The last scene between he and the woman was indeed strangely memorable!
But most of all I enjoyed the storyline and all of the characters combined! The storyline was unique and the individuals were those who would be fun to meet. All together this was just a fun read!
You see, Kyle Byrne is the illegitimate son of a man who had been a lawyer. While Liam Byrne had been married and his wife knew about Kyle, he was not able to see him that often. Kyle could remember times when his father had attended and watched him play ball or when he came to visit and stayed for dinner with he and his mother, but there was never enough time with him. Kyle's mother had continue to love Liam throughout her life and had instilled, perhaps, too much of her love and devotion into her son.
It was only when his father's old partner was murdered and other strange events started, that Kyle began to wonder exactly what kind of man his father had been.
It had started many, many years ago when Liam Byrne had represented a young man whose family wanted to have a "relationship" eliminated. That young man was now in the political arena and, as always, his past was "fair game" as he set his sights for new offices.
Soon, everybody was looking for "The O'Malley File" and when they discovered Kyle attending the funeral of his father's former partner, he automatically became the focus for all that was happening! And the police were the first who started asking questions!
Different is good! Yes, there are still gory murder scenes; there are gangsters, arson, and blackmail attempts--not so unique, except in the way that William Lashner rolled them together! Unique characters, unique storyline, a unique, enjoyably memorable read! You won't be sorry you choose this one!
G. A. Bixler
For Amazon Vine
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
ZZZZZ for 200 pages, then it starts to pick up, April 10, 2009
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This is a book I never would have finished unless I had been stuck in an airport for 5 hours and had read all the other books in my carry on bag. The first 200 pages draaaagggggg so slowly it is amazing to me that this book received any 5 star reviews at all. Surprisingly though, if you can slog through the first 200 pages, it does begin to pick up a lot.
The book features a thorough slacker for the main character. I did not find him interesting, sympathetic, funny, or engaging. Just a boring slacker who loves to whine and make excuses for his slacker lifestyle. I never became engaged in the plot, was never intrigued about learning "who done it" and never found a character who was engaging at all.
At times the dialogue really sparkles and you can catch glimpses of a gifted writer. However, those times are not frequent enough to warrant buying this book.
Jan Dahlin Geiger Get Your Assets in Gear! Smart Money Strategies
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