From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Josh Lanyon…

Zero at the Bone (Zero at the Bone #1)

Jane Seville

Start date: January 1, 2012

Finish date: January 31, 2012

Discussion: Book of the Month Club

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 2 topics — 4,118 comments total

Book of the Month Club

* Candidates for Next Month's Read
By Josh · 3043 posts · 623 views

last updated Feb 21, 2024 10:37PM

February 2025: The Lemon Drop Kid
By Karen · 15 posts · 20 views

last updated Jun 14, 2025 04:47PM

showing 10 of 10 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Nov 07, 2011 JustJen "Miss Conduct" rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebook, mm

I really enjoyed this story. I fell in love with D and Jack almost instantly. I had a bit of a hard time reading D's speech and found myself rereading sentences in order to read them the way they were written. I liked it, but it didn't always match with my picture of him. I also liked that there was no rush into their relationship. The first 25% of the book I was trying to envision how they could possibly have one. By 50%, I was cheering them on. Then at 75%, I was back to figuring out a way for ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Dec 08, 2011 Wade rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I am finally done reading this book. What took me so long was just "life" in general. It had nothing to do with the book itself. ZATB was incredible. I can easily see why this book is at the top of every list on GR. It is a must read!! The intensity and passion between Jack and D is unlike anything I've read. The longing and desire they have for one another is on another level from most relationships. When they miss each other, YOU FEEL IT! Ms. Seville just about cuts my heart out every time. TH ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

May 11, 2013 Deanna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adventure, mystery, romance-contempory, grabs-my-heart

This was a wonderful, multi-layered adventure. This would make a thrilling movie or mini-series on cable. The main two characters happened to be gay. Their relationship and growing love was a big part of the story but it was a human story. I loved D. His journey and growth held my heart hostage. I loved his POV that came from his profession as a Hit Man. Jack was funny and had an inner strength that made him perfect for D. He was smart and educated, a perfect counterpoint for D. We are not guara ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 12, 2013 Susana rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Sometimes there are books that you know you will be reading again. And sometimes it happens immediately after finishing them. You cannot let the characters go so easily, and you have to re-read their story to keep them with you a little longer. That has happened to me with Zero at the Bone. I have enjoyed the story so much, I have got so attached to the characters that I have had to read it twice. And I am sure there is going to be a third time.
Jack Francisco is a good man. He’s a surgeon in Ba Sometimes there are books that you know you will be reading again. And sometimes it happens immediately after finishing them. You cannot let the characters go so easily, and you have to re-read their story to keep them with you a little longer. That has happened to me with Zero at the Bone. I have enjoyed the story so much, I have got so attached to the characters that I have had to read it twice. And I am sure there is going to be a third time.
Jack Francisco is a good man. He’s a surgeon in Baltimore, and his life seems to go smoothly until he happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He witnesses the murder of a woman by the mob, and he is obliged to leave his life behind and to be under protection until he can testify and go into witness security programme. D is a hitman with a certain moral code. He chooses who he kills, and he never fails. When he is blackmailed into killing Jack, he cannot do it. He decides to protect him instead. After convincing Jack that he will be safer with him than with the feds, they both hit the road in an attempt to escape from all the men trying to kill both of them. This journey endangers them both physically and emotionally, and the unexpected happens when they fall in love with each other.
This book has a perfect combination of motion and reflection. The action is fast paced and frenetic in some chapters. But there are other chapters when I had the impression that I was watching a noir film where two tormented characters are opening their hearts and letting their feelings pour. The runaway journey that D and Jack undergo is also a self-discovery journey. Jack thought he had a happy life, but when he finds himself deprived of all he thought important he discovers that he lacks the only thing that really matters, a reason to live, and he finds it in D. On the other hand, D thought he was dead to the world, no longer a human being, detached from everything and everybody. Jack gives him back his life. Opening up to Jack brings along opening himself to life and people, and he lets other people in. He moves from a gloomy and inexpressive sketch of a man to a full human being with feelings and emotions that only Jack can share. Building a relationship is a difficult process for both of them and it is also slow, as Jack himself states when talking about D:
“he was still a close-mouthed, grumpy son of a bitch, but he had seemed like a committed close-mouthed, grumpy son of a bitch”
I love to see how D and Jack interact, how they love and fight each other, and I really like the fact that they still have issues at the end of the book. There is a HEA, but there are many things they have to work out in their relationship and it shows at the end of the book. I hope there is a sequel on the way, because I would love to see how these two very different people work their love story into a long lasting relationship.

...more

Like · see review

Jul 05, 2012 Allison rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the story but I did have a couple of different issues.

It was a tad longer than it needed to be, there were probably 3 different places where I thought the book was done only to go to the next page (e-book) to find that I had anywhere from quite a few chapters to a couple more left.

Also, D's speaking voice, argh, that made me insane and I actually took to just glancing at what was written & then re-writing it in my head. I'm sorry, but I ca ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 08, 2012 Kay Sachse rated it really liked it

Shelves: krimis, schwulenkrimis, ebooks

After having seen a murder on a parking deck, Jack Francisco is a serious witness who has to be protected. D a killer is forced into taking a new job, to kill this witness. But when D is about to do the job he just can´t do it and both men flee together. Now they have even more people who want them dead but fortunately there is also the mysterious X who seems to help them out. And although both men seem to be more like enemies than anything else, a certain attraction seems to evolve between them ...more

Like · see review

Apr 29, 2016 ΛNNΞ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: hoopla, favorite-books-of-2016

I liked this book ... a lot!.

This book is really good ... it has an engaging plot and complex characters ... I really enjoyed reading this book and it will definitely go down as one of my all-time favourite books. What is particularly remarkable is that this book was written at a time when there wasn't a lot of books in this genre, and the fact that it is able to remain relevant, interesting and fresh is a testament to this excellent author's talent and skill. The MCs were endearing and had rea ...more

Like · see review

Mar 01, 2013 Claire rated it it was amazing

Will review soon.

Like · see review

Dec 06, 2011 Carey rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m-romance, mystery-crime, suspense, favorites

I REALLY loved this book! I liked the suspense and the characters were great! Great read!

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 09, 2017 Lois rated it it was amazing

Shelves: lgtb

I've put out reading this book as it doesn't seem like the series will ever continue, let alone finish. But I needed me some angsty loving, so I picked it up. Well it was as good as the reviews, which makes it double as bad that there isn't a sequel. ...more

Like · see review