Walking the Bones: A Literary Thriller (Ryan DeMarco Mystery Book 2)

Had I started to read this right after I bought it, I would have returned it immediately. I can count on the fingers of one hand the times I did not finish a book, but after I slogged through the first two chapters of plodding overblown description in this one I threw in the towel. Very disappointed.

This is an outstanding novel. It has a good plot, likeable main characters and other quirky characters that add a lot of interest! Ryan Demarco is a flawed person with lots of demons. He takes a medical leave from his job as law enforcement officer. Along with his girl friend, who wants to save him from himself, hit the road for an extended vacation. Along the way, they get roped into helping solve a cold case. I love the 3 octogenarians that seek his help. Talk about interesting people! There are back stories about each main character that reveal the baggage they both carry around. I'm really liking this series.

You want a good review? Better write a good bookThis was just awful- read 10 chapters ( there are over 100 by the way) & it was so slow & boring on top of that- I just couldn’t keep going-

Once again, Randall Silvis has written a riveting crime novel featuring Sergeant Ryan DeMarco in ‘Walking the Bones’. Seven skeletons of young females have been discovered behind a false wall in a palatial place of worship, and we are gradually introduced to a line-up of fascinating characters, and equally fascinating storylines and locations. We’re also lucky enough to learn more about DeMarco himself – what makes him tick, his traumatic childhood and his futile reluctance to fall in love. But above all, it’s Randall Silvis’s writing which makes his novels so compelling. It’s in a class of its own.

I wanted to like this book - enjoyed the character in Two Days Gone. But too much sex - not needed in this genre, this story. And the story: for Pete's sake is it a relationship book or a detective story!? It was a slog because it was waaay too drawn out - couldn't believe at halfway gone I wasn't near the end. So dissatisfying.

He had me at hello. I went to college at Edinboro State south of Erie and grew up in McKeesport and was transported into the cold and the memories of his setting. I grew to like his guy although his failure to find his way through his grief frustrates me, apparently so much so that I had to buy his next two DiMarco mysteries to see how he learns to cope. It’s been a long time since I read a last page and yearned immediately for a next chapter. So glad to have discovered this author.

Great characters, very well written. Looking forward to the next book. Just as good if not better than the first book

Fleshed our well written characters with equally terrific places.For me, the writing is superb & I was into the characters & story from page one.Love DeMarco’s time in the mountains. We could all use such a spiritual journey.

前作 Two days goneの続きで、ペンシルベニア州警察４９歳のライアン・デマルコ部長刑事は過去に幼い息子を自動車事故で亡くし、それが因で妻に去られて悶々とした日を過ごしていたが、大学教授のトマス・ヒューストン家で妻と３人の子たちが惨殺された事件を追ううちに、犯人射殺と同時に夫のトマスを助けることができなかったのを悔み、精神的に不安定な状態になってしまった。もう警察を辞めるといいだしたのを心配したデマルコの愛人ジェイミー・マトソンがなんとか説得して有給休暇を取らせ、二人でクルマを駆ってジェイミーの古里メリーランド州アバディーンへ出かけた。ジェイミーの親戚一同に歓待されながらラブライフを楽しんでいたところに、数年前当地の古い教会の壁から少女７名の骨が見つかり迷宮入りしている事件を調べてくれないかという人物が現れ、勝手にしろと言う保安官を気にしつつ二人は嘗ての牧師エリ・ドイルを始め庭師のチャド・マクギンティとヴァージル・ヘルムから順に聞き込を始めた。犠牲者は全てアフリカ系アメリカ人で、牧師の妻は車イスを使う同様の非白人だとわかり、そこになんらかの人種意識問題が隠されているのでは、と探りを入れて行く。作者はデマルコの幼いころの複雑な生活環境を語り、愛人ジェイミーとの親密な交わりを通じてデマルコの性格描写を深掘りしていき、あとがきにもあるように「彼のベストクオリティはempathy共感にあり、無実の人には思いやりと、守り切れなかった人に対する責任感に溢れている」「温かさ」を描き出している。ミステリとしては弱いが主人公二人の心の動きを上手く見せ、良い話しを読ませてくれた、という満足感で終わった。刑事でありながら警察部隊の活動が全然でてこない珍しい２作で、最後は、去った妻が自殺をはかりジェイミーが「帰ってきて！」とデマルコを送りだす濡れ場が用意されており、単なる刑事物語では済みそうにない二人のシリーズが楽しみだ。