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Beroepsgeheim
Kyle Byrne is een dude. Hij gold niet zo lang geleden nog als een basketbaalbelofte, maar tegenwoordig hangt hij doelloos rond in de vele bars van Philadelphia. Geld heeft hij niet, ambitie evenmin. Maar Kyle wordt ingehaald door zijn verleden. Hij is namelijk de onwettige zoon van Liam Byrne, een van Philadelphia's meest prominente advocaten, die twaalf jaar geleden overleed. Liam Byrne en diens compagnon Laszlo Toth hield er behoorlijk duistere praktijken op na, waar Kyle nu de rekening voor gepresenteerd krijgt. En die rekening kan hij niet betalen... Hij wordt benaderd door een geheimzinnige man die O’Malley heet en die op zoek is naar een oud dossier uit de archieven van zijn vader. Voor hij het beseft, is zijn rustige leventje voorbij en zit hij tot over zijn oren in de nesten. Want behalve O'Malley is er nóg een partij die ineens interesse toont in Liam Byrnes nalatenschap: de maffia.
Kindle Edition
First published March 11, 2015
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About the author
William Lashner
49 books303 followersWilliam Lashner is a former criminal prosecutor with the Department of Justice in Washington D.C. and a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His novels have been published world-wide and have been nominated for two Shamus Awards, a Gumshoe Award, an Edgar Award, and been selected as an Editor’s Choice in the New York Times Book Review. When he was a kid his favorite books were The Count of Monte Cristo and any comic with the Batman on the cover.
Under the pseudonym Tyler Knox he wrote the noir novel, Kockroach.
Series:
* Victor Carl Mystery
Under the pseudonym Tyler Knox he wrote the noir novel, Kockroach.
Series:
* Victor Carl Mystery
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 20, 2017
Blood and Bone is a stand-alone thriller and a departure for this author from his very good Victor Carl series. Our hero, Kyle Byrne, is a 26 year-old ne’er do well and a quintessential under-achiever. Think of a California beach bum residing in Philadelphia. Kyle is also the illegitimate son a somewhat well known attorney – who died suddenly when Kyle was 12. As the book opens his dad’s ex-law-partner is murdered and Kyle finds himself awash in fleeting memories of his father, unresolved paternal issues and on the periphery of the attention of the police. Attempting to find some answers, Kyle becomes embroiled in the murder case – which becomes more and more complicated as he and the police work to solve the crime.
The core plot of this book is pretty good, i.e. Kyle’ search for the truth about his father and where that journey takes him. Unfortunately the telling of this tale falls far short of this author’s previous works. Rather than letting his cast of characters develop the story for the reader, the author jumps in and explains things, including Kyle’s new found assertiveness and can-do attitude, as well as the book’s plot and twists - I guess in case the reader doesn’t follow them. “Suspense” is built up by dragging scenes out page after page, including the conclusion, which goes on for 60 or so pages - which simply deflates any and all tension or excitement.
This is just a guess, but this book reads as if it was written a while ago, mothballed, pulled back out of a drawer for whatever reason, and halfheartedly edited and updated for publication. And although I recommend passing on this one, don’t judge the author by this book. As stated previously, Lashner’s Victor Carl series is very good.
The core plot of this book is pretty good, i.e. Kyle’ search for the truth about his father and where that journey takes him. Unfortunately the telling of this tale falls far short of this author’s previous works. Rather than letting his cast of characters develop the story for the reader, the author jumps in and explains things, including Kyle’s new found assertiveness and can-do attitude, as well as the book’s plot and twists - I guess in case the reader doesn’t follow them. “Suspense” is built up by dragging scenes out page after page, including the conclusion, which goes on for 60 or so pages - which simply deflates any and all tension or excitement.
This is just a guess, but this book reads as if it was written a while ago, mothballed, pulled back out of a drawer for whatever reason, and halfheartedly edited and updated for publication. And although I recommend passing on this one, don’t judge the author by this book. As stated previously, Lashner’s Victor Carl series is very good.
April 4, 2017
Interesting novel of a young man whose father died when he was 14. it has been 12 years until his mother dies. He has no dreams, no ambition. He failed to pay the mortgage on the house, largely because he has no job. The bank has foreclosed. He keeps thinking he sees a shock of grey hair that makes him feel like his father is watching. His father's old partner is murdered and Kyle attends the funeral. Then things get lively! Murder and mayhem follows.
July 24, 2016
PROTAGONIST: Kyle Byrne
SERIES: Standalone thriller
RATING: 1.5
Some people can never come to terms with the past. They tend to float through life and not be engaged with the present. Their time and energy is spent on things that happened long ago. That's definitely the case for Kyle Byrne, a young man who can best be described as a slacker. He flunked out of college, forfeiting a promising sports career. He's lost his job and is about to lose his home. He doesn't seem to care all that much. The only thing that sparks his interest is his father, who died 12 years earlier. Although Liam Byrne left Kyle's mother and wasn't much of a father, Kyle is obsessed with him, to the point that he thinks that he sees him everywhere that he goes.
Liam's former law partner, Laszlo Toth, is murdered; and the police are all at once very interested in what really happened to Liam. Kyle immediately becomes a suspect because of his strange behavior. After Toth's death, he is approached by more than one person interested in something known as the O'Malley File. Forsaking his slacker ways, he is committed to finding the file and learning more about his father's circumstances. He is assisted by a surprising partner. He is also targeted by a lunatic straight from the pages of Villains R Us.
I find it amazing that I actually finished Blood and Bones, because it failed for me on almost every level. The writing was overwrought and clichéd. The characterization was inconsistent, with Kyle moving from being a complete loser to an intelligent, perceptive and dedicated investigator. The central evil character was created out of recycled cardboard. On the other hand, I did find the two main police characters to be a bit more credible; I especially liked the older investigator, Henderson, who was world worn but not burned out. He balanced out an inexperienced and somewhat incautious younger female partner. The supposedly clever plot twists were just irritating. I especially chafed at how the father sub-plot resolved.
A friend with reading tastes similar to my own mentioned that they like Lashner's Victor Carl series featuring a greedy, down-and-out lawyer. That certainly sounds more palatable than this standalone thriller.
SERIES: Standalone thriller
RATING: 1.5
Some people can never come to terms with the past. They tend to float through life and not be engaged with the present. Their time and energy is spent on things that happened long ago. That's definitely the case for Kyle Byrne, a young man who can best be described as a slacker. He flunked out of college, forfeiting a promising sports career. He's lost his job and is about to lose his home. He doesn't seem to care all that much. The only thing that sparks his interest is his father, who died 12 years earlier. Although Liam Byrne left Kyle's mother and wasn't much of a father, Kyle is obsessed with him, to the point that he thinks that he sees him everywhere that he goes.
Liam's former law partner, Laszlo Toth, is murdered; and the police are all at once very interested in what really happened to Liam. Kyle immediately becomes a suspect because of his strange behavior. After Toth's death, he is approached by more than one person interested in something known as the O'Malley File. Forsaking his slacker ways, he is committed to finding the file and learning more about his father's circumstances. He is assisted by a surprising partner. He is also targeted by a lunatic straight from the pages of Villains R Us.
I find it amazing that I actually finished Blood and Bones, because it failed for me on almost every level. The writing was overwrought and clichéd. The characterization was inconsistent, with Kyle moving from being a complete loser to an intelligent, perceptive and dedicated investigator. The central evil character was created out of recycled cardboard. On the other hand, I did find the two main police characters to be a bit more credible; I especially liked the older investigator, Henderson, who was world worn but not burned out. He balanced out an inexperienced and somewhat incautious younger female partner. The supposedly clever plot twists were just irritating. I especially chafed at how the father sub-plot resolved.
A friend with reading tastes similar to my own mentioned that they like Lashner's Victor Carl series featuring a greedy, down-and-out lawyer. That certainly sounds more palatable than this standalone thriller.
December 10, 2011
Blood and Bone was an uninspired story starred by a couple of uninteresting and forgettable characters. The core idea of the book, the one that has to do with Kyle trying to unravel the mystery that involved his late father, was interesting but the way it was presented to readers was very subpar. Coupled with its sleep-inducing pace and at times maudlin tone, Blood and Bone was certainly not an engaging or memorable read.
January 24, 2010
Without doubt, Lasner's weakest effort. Very formulaic and, without Victor Carl, the book completely falls flat. If his next effort isn't MUCH better, I may never read a new Lashner book again. Sad, he was my favorite author 3 months agol.
October 1, 2015
The past comes back to change the present and provide an answer to many questions for several characters. Plot is decent, if a little clumsy, but the characters interesting and the ending satisfying.
February 5, 2013
Incredibly lame, boring and not worth the time. 1 of 10 stars
September 13, 2017
This was an interesting novel & obviously a highly fictional one. This would appeal to young adults as some could relate to the written word & feel a connection with the main character, a young man who has no plans with his life & feels like he has never met his full potential. Kyle Byrne is a slacker who has no goals in life, drinks a lot & fraternises with many women. He alienates his closest friends, finds himself on the wrong side of the law & drifting through life. This behaviour stems from losing his father at a young age, a man whom he never really had a relationship with. Kyle, the illegitimate son of a prominent Philadelphia lawyer, thinks life is pretty sweet, that is until his late father's former partner is brutally murdered & he is the prime suspect. This story will keep you guessing until the very end.
June 21, 2021
A stand alone novel tells the story of Kyle Byrne, a young man who is talented in many ways but just wasting his life away because he misses his father who seems to have died under mysterious circumstances. The story constantly harps on this sense of loss as well as the death of the mother. There is a murderer lurking who has his own psychological issues. The plot is thin and our hero gets occasionally tiresome. What lifts the book is Lashner's language, which brims with metaphor and is sharp as ever. As the hero looks for closure the psychopath comes ever closer. Worth reading for the felicity of the writing.
May 9, 2017
I think I'm out of step with the general goodreads public. I don't get the scathingly bad reviews for this book. It had all the Lashner touches I love, humor, diffident hero, father-son relationship, with the addition of some amazing plot twists. I hope to hear more from slacker Kyle Byrnes. This could definitely be a series with Kyle finding himself as a lawyer or PI. It was a drop slow, and the police detectives were a little cliched. Otherwise I loved it.
May 4, 2018
Surprisingly great!
I expected to be disappointed, I was not! Cleaver, twisty, ironic and layered. I’ve found a new author to follow! Yay!
I expected to be disappointed, I was not! Cleaver, twisty, ironic and layered. I’ve found a new author to follow! Yay!
October 15, 2018
The first half of the book were quite boring but it did pick up the pace towards the middle. While I did enjoy the storyline and the characters it still felt as if something was lacking.
November 25, 2019
DNF. The first line of chapter 51 reads like this: “Kyle Byrne was drunk with whine.” That about sums up the protagonist. Bought this book at the dollar store for $2.00. I overpaid.
May 23, 2022
I finished it. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.
May 1, 2024
A fun who dun it to listen to in the car.
February 2, 2011
Kyle Byrne has led a rough life, some of it can be put directly on his shoulders adn some of it can be attributed to his childhood. His father, Liam, was a lawyer that tended to be on the shady side. He fathered Kyle but did not marry Kyle's mother. Liam did not participate in Kyle's upbringing, but his mother remainded loyal to Liam and Kyle up to love his father.
Kyle's mother dies and his father disappears, well he actually may be dead. At least thats what the death certificate says.
Kyle excelled in athletics but flunked out of college and ruined his chances of a pro career in football. He now finds himself wandering aimlessly in life. He is bartending and has no ambition in llife.
Kyle finds his life taking a drastic turn when his father's law partner is found dead and Kyle becomes a prime suspect. The police begin to ask Kyle questions concerning his father's death and Kyle begins his own search for answers.
In his search Kyle is faced with the real possibility that his father may still be alive. The answers he may be looking for may be hidden in a file cabinet that his father has hid. The file now becomes important to Kyle and the police, but there is someone else who will stop at nothing to get their hands on that file.
The file becomes the object of murder and political intrigue. Kyle is faced withmaking decisions that will not only affect him but some of his friends, and maybe some enemies that Kyle was unaware of. Oh, and there is Uncle Max who may know more than he is admitting to.
"Blood and Bone" is a good mystery with action and intrigue.
Kyle's mother dies and his father disappears, well he actually may be dead. At least thats what the death certificate says.
Kyle excelled in athletics but flunked out of college and ruined his chances of a pro career in football. He now finds himself wandering aimlessly in life. He is bartending and has no ambition in llife.
Kyle finds his life taking a drastic turn when his father's law partner is found dead and Kyle becomes a prime suspect. The police begin to ask Kyle questions concerning his father's death and Kyle begins his own search for answers.
In his search Kyle is faced with the real possibility that his father may still be alive. The answers he may be looking for may be hidden in a file cabinet that his father has hid. The file now becomes important to Kyle and the police, but there is someone else who will stop at nothing to get their hands on that file.
The file becomes the object of murder and political intrigue. Kyle is faced withmaking decisions that will not only affect him but some of his friends, and maybe some enemies that Kyle was unaware of. Oh, and there is Uncle Max who may know more than he is admitting to.
"Blood and Bone" is a good mystery with action and intrigue.
December 18, 2009
This book was fast paced, easy, light reading. The two main detective characters---Detectives Ramirez and Henderson--were well drawn and I would enjoy reading more about them. That's the good part of this book.
The bad part of this book can be stated in two words---Kyle Bryne. The summary of the book given above refers to him as "amiable and handsome". I myself saw more of a shallow con-man charm than amiability.
And, a handsome loser is still a loser. Only when the police start asking questions does Kyle get off his lazy backside, and start DOING anything.
I personally find that if I do not like--or at least understand somewhat--the main character, I usually do not like the mystery. I find Kyle Bryne a parasite; and my dislike for him ruins the entire story for me.
Should Mr. Lasher write more mysteries featuring Detectives Ramirez and Henderson , I might read them--as long as Kyle Byrne is not in the book. Otherwise, there are a lot better mysteries out there with better and more sympathetic characters.
A big dissappointment. Recommended only for the desperate mystery reader.
The bad part of this book can be stated in two words---Kyle Bryne. The summary of the book given above refers to him as "amiable and handsome". I myself saw more of a shallow con-man charm than amiability.
And, a handsome loser is still a loser. Only when the police start asking questions does Kyle get off his lazy backside, and start DOING anything.
I personally find that if I do not like--or at least understand somewhat--the main character, I usually do not like the mystery. I find Kyle Bryne a parasite; and my dislike for him ruins the entire story for me.
Should Mr. Lasher write more mysteries featuring Detectives Ramirez and Henderson , I might read them--as long as Kyle Byrne is not in the book. Otherwise, there are a lot better mysteries out there with better and more sympathetic characters.
A big dissappointment. Recommended only for the desperate mystery reader.
January 27, 2009
I had never read anything by William Lashner. I had heard of him and knew that he had been writing a series with a detective named Victor Carl in it but that's it. This was a surprisingly good book. A young boy named Kyle loses his father at the age of 12, however believes that he may be seeing him from time to time. Kyle's father was a lawyer and when his former law partner dies then the mystery starts. The twists and turns of this suspense mystery will keep you reading into the night. I was a little disappointed that Mr. Lashner wrote Kyle to be a very strong character and many of the secondary characters just don't have his depth. I enjoyed the interactions between the two police detectives, Henderson and Ramirez. I hope we see them in the future. This book is a quick and easy read. It will definitely keep you entertained and looking for the clue that will unravel it all. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good suspense mystery. This is a stand alone book, so you don't need to read Mr. Lashner's other series. However I just may have to pick them up.
November 13, 2014
A story of an illegitimate son of an attorney that died fourteen years back in the story. When his fathers partner is murdered the spotlight is turned on this young man and he must find out about his fathers past. I really liked the story and felt the author did a good job throwing a few twists at the reader. There were a few bumps along the way where I felt the story just felt a bit disconnected. Almost like the author had left something out than attempted to brush stroke it over. However for my first book from this author I did enjoy it and actually almost went four stars. The little bumps however held me back just a bit. I may look for more from this author should I ever get caught up with my current reading list.
August 25, 2014
Oh, William Lashner, I wish you would write more. Another entertaining novel, an absorbing read. Not quite on par with the Victor Carl series, but Victor is such a strong character, it'd be hard to match that. But still we have great writing, really pretty outrageous situations that somehow seem completely possible happening to these ordinary folks. I love that dichotomy in his characters, something that is their nature vs something they think they should or want to be. A satisfying conclusion, though I'd still like to learn more. I will pick up anything by this author, feeling that I will always get great characters, a good story, some laughs, and a lot of heart.
February 29, 2016
Kyle Byrne's life of drinking, playing games, sleeping around was blamed upon the death of his father when Kyle was only twelve. His father, dead for 14 years, a former lawyer, haunts Kyle's life. When his dad's former law partner is murdered and the cops start asking Kyle uncomfortable questions, he's forced to confront head on the tragedies and self-deceptions that form the fabric of his existence. His good friend Kat, a lawyer, helps him when he gets into trouble. Then the very pretty detective has Kyle flirting instead of answering questions. He is searching for his father's lost file cabinet when his house is deliberately set afire.
June 4, 2014
I liked it. Didn't love it, but it was a good story. Got off to a bit of a slow start for me, but it was fun being set in Philadelphia and the Main Line. The plot gained momentum as it progressed and for the second half of the book I was quite eager to see what would happen next. This was my first book by William Lashner. It was a stand-alone which I prefer. I would recommend this book as a back up book to have if one finished one's current book early and needed another one before the library re-opened.
September 16, 2012
This is my first read of William Lashner, and I do not think it will be my last.
The main character, Kyle Byrne, has a life that has gone off-track since his mother's death.
He wants to find out the truth about the death of a father he never really knew -- a Philadelphia lawyer.
Forget about the plot, it's how Lashner takes you on a ride with no brake pedal.
Go for it!
The main character, Kyle Byrne, has a life that has gone off-track since his mother's death.
He wants to find out the truth about the death of a father he never really knew -- a Philadelphia lawyer.
Forget about the plot, it's how Lashner takes you on a ride with no brake pedal.
Go for it!
May 14, 2016
.
When I pay for a 389 page book I expect to read 389 full pages. When dialog of two or three words is double spaced down a page, when one word on a page counts as a full page it makes me think the author is trying to crank out pages without the work of writing words. This book contains maybe 150 or 200 full pages due to these little gimmicks. I feel cheated.
When I pay for a 389 page book I expect to read 389 full pages. When dialog of two or three words is double spaced down a page, when one word on a page counts as a full page it makes me think the author is trying to crank out pages without the work of writing words. This book contains maybe 150 or 200 full pages due to these little gimmicks. I feel cheated.
June 1, 2009
I really wanted to give this 3.5 stars. What an interesting exploration of father-son relationships wrapped around an intriguing murder mystery. I hope that Kyle becomes a recurring Lashner character, because I can definitely envision adding him to Reacher and Ranger in my literary "crush" files.
June 2, 2009
I don't think it's a good sign that I just finished reading this book yesterday, and just now I had to read the plot summary to remember what it was about. I enjoyed reading it, but it didn't make much of an impression on me, apparently.
May 3, 2012
I got a little way into this and realized I'd read it before at some point. I don't know when. I usually don't enjoy airport books, but Lashner seems to me like airport +. I like them. They are inconsequential, but I like them.
February 27, 2013
honestly, I thought this story was garbage. I rescued this book from a trash can, and now realise it should have stayed there. characters not fleshed out until the VERY end, and the story has bad flow. needless to say, this feels as if it were a college satudent's rush job for a C minus.
May 31, 2016
I brought this book as I read before William's book Defending Jacob that I found to be an excellent read. I am very happy I brought this book and will look for more books by William, This book unlike most of Williams books is a stand alone book where uses lawyer Victor Carl,
March 29, 2009
Lashner knows how to craft a great thriller. This was a new and I assume non recurring main character, but his Victor Carl series is also great fun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews