This is already the fifth book in the series, and even though I haven't read the first four, I did find this one very entertaining, full of twists and some old time Mobsters thrown in as well. Really thrilling read.

“When things went sideways like this, there was a momentary silence in your head while you inventoried all your own major body parts. No matter what was going on around you, your brain took the time. Head, good. Chest, fine. Blood on the face. No pain. No holes. Blood’s not mine. All checked out.”



When asked how a Jim Bean (Sin City) book by J.D. Allen is, I pause, because I’m confessing before I answer. I never thought I liked a story set in Las Vegas, but J.D. Allen proves me wrong with every Jim Bean story I encounter. I quickly follow that with the declaration that J.D. is such a talented writer and storyteller that she makes Las Vegas come alive in the most interesting of ways through her characters and plots. The best of what happens in Vegas is Jim Bean and his “uncomplicated” cases. As the clues turn into evidence, the suspense builds at a thrilling pace, leading Jim Bean into that abject danger in which he always lands himself.

Las Vegas Private Investigator Jim Bean has been called to the home of Irving Silverland, former player, “made man,” of one of the Vegas mob families. Silverland hands Jim a check for $10,000 to investigate a robbery that occurred at the Macabre Burlesque Theater, owned by the Silverland family and now run by Irv’s daughte, Bella. The items stolen are of an unusual nature, as they are from the Murderabilia Museum part of the business. Murderabilia is gruesome displays of items owned by murderers, and the selling and buying of it has become a highly competitive business. Missing are a brick from Lizzie Borden’s fireplace where she supposedly burned evidence of her guilt, garrotes belonging to William Gacy, and a glove of Jeffrey Dahmer’s. Jim doesn’t understand the big attraction of these ghoulish “artifacts,” but his finances don’t allow him to ignore the large check offered. After all, it seems like a simple straightforward case of burglary, nothing complicated. One of Jim Bean’s endearing qualities is his ability to believe his cases won’t get complicated. He even decides it will be a good case to let his assistant Sandy finally get out in the field a bit.

Jim starts his investigation with Bella Silverland at the Macabre Burlesque Theater and sees firsthand the bizarre world of murderabilia. His investigation takes him to more places of the odd and offbeat, including The Ghost Hunter’s Museum, where he finds that TV personality and owner Grey Powers is also interested in murderabilia. Jim makes a stop at the Mob Museum, too, where he talks to ex-FBI Special Agent Pearl about the Silverland family, as Pearl was involved in shutting down the Savino mob that Irving Silverland served in the 1980s. Bean uncovers useful information from all three individuals, but each one has secrets they are holding close to the vest.

Jim gathers quite a bit of information about the intriguing Silverland family as he tries to discover who had a reason to steal the particular murderabilia objects. Along with her father’s colorful past, Bella’s mother was the Sensational Cecilia, a much beloved performer who also had an interest in the paranormal, making contact with those on the “other side.” And, Bella had a twin sister named Nina, who disappeared when they were seventeen years old, almost twenty years ago. Nina is presumed dead by most, including her father and sister, but like so much in Vegas, that turns out to be a smoke and mirrors act.

When Detective Noah Miller shows up to Jim’s office, Jim and Sandy know something is up and it’s not good. Miller is there to inform them of the murder of an employee of the Macabre Theater and friend of the Silverland family. Of course, it bleeds over into Jim’s case, as the murder weapon was the stolen Izzy Borden brick, with which the victim was bludgeoned to death. As usual, Miller warns Jim to stay away from the murder case and let the police handle it. As usual, Jim isn’t going to do that, but in all fairness, it does involve one of the stolen objects he was looking for.

With the first murder occurring, the complications begin, and it’s not long before the “big picture” is realized, connecting the stolen murderabilia and the murders and the missing/not missing sister and the dark past of Ely coming to light and the ill-gotten treasure of a ghost. It’s a deadly treasure hunt in the desert with a gobsmacking twist. J.D. Allen gives all readers a reason to like Vegas.

Having read the Sin City Investigation series previously, J D Allen’s latest instalment is Bricks and Bones was keenly awaited. This fifth saga involving Vegas Private Investigator Jim Bean, sees him take on a highly paid but unusual case. Irving Silverland hires him to find some missing crime memorabilia, stolen from his museum. Thinking it’s a simple task, Jack decides to involve his assistant Sandy and but things get complicated. One murder leads to more dead bodies and violent crimes, placing Jack’s life at risk as he tries to fathom the Silverland family’s dark history. So, a dark mystery thriller with an oddity of a narrative tale that makes for a disappointing two-and-a-half-star read rating. With thanks to Severn River Publishing and the author, for an uncorrected advanced copy for review purposes. This is a freely given opinion without fear or favour.

Jim Bean is contacted/hired by Mr. Silverland (rumored to have mob connections) to help retrieve stolen items from his late wife’s Macabre Museum, that is now run by his daughter. Who would steal a brick from Lizzie Broden’s fireplace or garrotes from John Gacy’s home? When a family friend is found murdered, Jim is warned off by the police, let them deal with it. But how are the theft and murder connected, and what about the missing twin, is she dead or alive, and mob treasure, … so many questions.
Just like the previous books in the series, it’s a great read. Jim just gets in deeper and deeper. I really enjoy seeing his assistant Sandy grow more confident with each book, and learn a bit more what made Ely who he is.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn River Publishing for an early read.

Irving Silverland, “made man,” hires P.I. Jim Bean to investigate seemingly unrelated, missing items from his late wife’s “murderabilia” exhibit. Bella Silverland, his daughter, runs both her mother Cecelia’s exhibit and burlesque theater Cecelia started. Bella’s fraternal twin, Nina, disappeared many years ago which devastated the family. There is rumor of a mob boss’ vault full of gold and cash buried in the Nevada desert, and Bean has to figure out what these things and a series of gruesome murders have in common…before someone kills him too.

Buckle up for Bricks and Bones, and enjoy! This is a thrill ride, complete with enough twists and turns to give you whiplash. A fun, exciting, and well-written read from start to finish, it has a very interesting subject matter and plot, and a satisfying ending. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and highly recommend it to all fans of crime stories, Noir, mobster tales, and suspense.

I’d like to thank NetGalley, J.D. Allen, and Severn River Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jim Bean is a private investigator hired to help Mr. Irving Silverland. Mr. Silverland’s late wife’s business which is now ran by their daughter Bella was broken into and several “murderabilia” artifacts were stolen from their museum of the macabre.

While speaking with Bella on a tour of the museum, Jim that Bella’s sister disappeared years ago and it is now a cold case.

Jim is excited to take on this new case and for the glorious check that comes with it. He shares his excitement with his business partner Sandy.

Suddenly, a local cop friend shows up at Jim’s house to warn hi, of a murder of a close friend of the Silverton family and Ji, is warned against pursuing the case. However, the payout is too much to refuse so Jim continues to investigate the case.

Jim and Sandy eventually need to go into hiding because this case becomes so intense.

I really enjoyed this book! It was fast paced and full of interesting facts.

This is the fifth book in JD Allen's Sin City Investigations series and Jim Bean delivers. Could he be Jack Reacher's long-lost cousin?. A great addition! There's a twisty plot driving a mashup of modern Vegas with a throwback to Rat Pack and Mob influences. A fast read. Really enjoyed it.

eBook ARC Review - Author J.D. Allen’s fifth Sin City Investigators novel, “Bricks and Bones is one of her most suspenseful mystery murder novels to date. Private Investigator Jim Bean finds himself scrambling to untangle a client’s family dark history while investigating some missing artifacts. But when he gets too close to the truth, there is a well-known mobster willing to do anything to keep him quiet…even if that means putting Bean six feet under. But Bean is willing to risk his life to solve his deadliest case yet. The book is about Vegas PI Jim Bean being hired by an owner of a ‘ghoulish and morbid’ museum to find some “artifacts” stolen from an exhibit at the museum. But the more Bean and his apprentice/assistant investigate, the more evident it is that the stakes are much higher than the missing items. Warned by the police to leave the case alone, Bean presses on only to discover that more murders are being committed in his search for the missing artifacts. Thrilling, Shadowy, Murky and Dark, Bricks and Bones is a gripping crime mystery read that is well written and cleverly plotted. It is a fast read and kept my interest all the way through. All the characters are fascinating with varied and often odd backgrounds which makes for interesting story telling. Allen’s twists were skillfully delivered, and the pace was expertly climatic. Allen has proven she can do ‘noir’ stories just as good as any other crime fiction authors. I enjoy the Sin City Investigators series and recommend this book and the entire series to crime fiction readers. Very exciting read! I received a digital ARC of this book and thank NetGalley, Severn River Publishing and author J.D. Allen for providing me a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Murderabilia, rumors of riches, and a Mob Museum take J. D. Allen’s Vegas-based PI Jim Bean down a labyrinthine path that immerses readers in the dark history of this glitzy town. It’s a good thing for reader’s that what happens in Vegas DOESN'T stay there, so we can follow this gritty mystery to its rewarding finale.

Bricks and Bones
by J.D. Allen
Description
What do Jeffery Dahmer's murderous glove, a brick from Lizzy Borden's fireplace, a girl missing for over a decade, and an old mob boss have in common? This is what Private Investigator Jim Bean will need to figure out if he is to solve his next case in Bricks and Bones.

I like the book. I had no idea going in it was a series. I wish I had read the first beforehand.. Still, I read through and felt it was an ok read.

Male protagonist…mystery…intrigue…unique setting…friends…enemies…characters with secrets…all mesh together in this story of intrigue…try this one…enjoy…the book was sent to me by.Netgalley for review…it is a quick read although the story does move slowly at times…the conclusion…read and discover the secrets…

Bricks and Bones by J.D. Allen -- 5 Stars
Publisher: Severn River Publishing
ISBN: 9781648751899

Since I had read and enjoyed the first four books in the Sin City Investigations series, I was anxious to read the newest edition. I was not disappointed.
Las Vegas in the time of the Rat Pack and The Outfit is contrasted with the present city. The plot is fast paced, unique, full complex characters, and twisty with an unexpected conclusion. Great book.

Reviewer: Nancy

4 stars

Jim Bean, private investigator, meets with an elderly man in his palatial home. Mr. Irving Silverland wants Jim to look into a break in and theft at his now deceased wife’s business. (Mr. Silverland is reputed to have mid-level mob connections.) The business is run by his daughter Bella, Jim heads over. Missing, among other things, are some garrotts from John Gacy's home crawl space and a brick from Lizzie Borden’s fireplace.

The deceased wife, Cecilia, had an interest in the paranormal and in “artifacts” from famous murderers. She opened a museum to house her large collection and now Bella runs it. This is where Jim heads next.

Bella shows him around the museum, but refuses to talk about her missing sister Nina. Nina went missing several years earlier and no word has been heard from her since.

Grey Powers is also a collector of the macabre. He also has a popular television show about ghost hunters called (originally enough), The Ghost Hunter.. Jim visits him next. He tours his collection and gets nothing of any value from him. He seems like a pretty slick con man to Jim.

Jim is warned by the police to leave the case alone. Then, the bodies start falling.

Jim begins to doubt that Nina was dead, or that she was kidnapped at all. When Bella receives a mysterious text message, the plot thickens. Irving Silverland is connected to the mob. What is going on in this case? What do a brick and some garrotts have to do with the mob? How are the deaths connected?

The story picks up pace here and Jim and his partner Sandy feel the need to hide because they don’t know what is going on, or who is involved. But hiding isn’t Jim’s style. He continues with the investigation.

The ending of the book is fast paced and addictive. With a sandstorm thrown in for meteorological effect.

This book is well written and plotted. It is a fast read and held my interest all the way. This is my first J. D. Allen novel, but it won’t be my last. I truly enjoyed a look into the world of Jin Bean.

I want to thank NetGalley and Severn River Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this delightful book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

Mmm mmm not to sure about this one?! It had suspense, intrigue, action, and murder, mobsters! It was a decent storyline, but it just didn't catch my attention?! Its worth reading and I will recommend reading it but it wasn't one of my top favorites! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!