Known for his series featuring Victor Carl, Lashner takes a break from Carl and has put out a wonderful first standalone. BLOOD AND BONE’s lead is Kyle Byrne, illegitimate son of a prominent lawyer in Philly. When his dad dies when Kyle is 14 he has to sneak into the funeral and is kicked out by his father’s law partner Laszlo Toth. Jump ahead 12 years and Toth is murdered. Byrne goes to the funeral which raises suspicions with the police. Doubts are raised in his father’s death and soon a former client approaches Byrne. As Byrne starts to dig into his fathers past and what he finds could change not only his life but many others as well.

Lashner’s character of Byrne is perfect, disenfranchised and disillusioned he is a man who seems lost, almost by choice. This is a compelling story and while I love the series I hope to see more stand-alones from Lashner as this one is terrific.

Jon Jordan 0f Crimespree Magazine