Remi Bone

by William L. Myers Jr.

Single father Remi Bone knows that his daughter' s Ivy League education will cost an arm and a leg . . . or a few bodies

Remi Bone is a good guy. He' s a hardworking mechanic, a single father raising his late wife' s daughter, and now, he' s dying of heart failure. But his daughter Kayla was just admitted to the college of her dreams. How will she afford college with two dead parents?

Before he dies, Remi decides to stockpile as much money as possible for Kayla' s future. When a chance to participate in a lucrative gun-for-hire scheme arises, Remi, out of desperation, agrees to execute a hit on a shady Philadelphia drug dealer.

This becomes only the first of several murders Remi is hired for, and soon, Remi' s the most sought-after hitman in town— both by his clients and by the police. He leaves investigators little to work with, but ear witnesses identify him by the phrase he recites before each “ Tick tock says the clock, time' s up . . .” With the police catching on to the “ Tick Tock Killer,” Remi has to work quickly to earn enough money for Kayla' s school— all while ensuring he dies with a clean record. Tick tock.

Perfect for fans of Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Mystery

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 19, 2023

About the author

William L. Myers, Jr. is the No. 6 best-selling author on Amazon Kindle in 2017 for his debut novel, A Criminal Defense. That was the first in what has become the Philadelphia Legal Series. The third book in that series, A Killers Alibi debuted earlier this year.
A Killer’s Alibi has had rave early reviews including New York Times Bestselling author, Bill Lasher—

“William Myers’ riveting new novel is not just a crackerjack legal thriller, it is a wrenching portrayal of a whole range of farther-daughter relations, showing how they can damage, how they can nourish, how they go dangerously off track. A story not to be missed.”

Born in 1958 into a blue-collar family, Mr. Myers inherited a work-ethic that propelled him through college and into the Ivy League at The University of Pennsylvania School of Law. From there, Mr. Myers started his legal career in a Philadelphia-based mega defense firm. After ten years defending corporate America, he realized his heart wasn’t in it. So, with his career on the fast track to success--he gave it all up and started his own firm. It was time to start fighting for the common guy.
That was twenty-five years ago and since then, he has focused on representing railroad employees and other honest, hard-working people who have been injured by others. He has represented thousands of clients in his tenure and has become a highly-regarded litigation attorney up and down the Eastern Seaboard.

Reviews

[CarolG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remi Bone (actually spelled Bohne and pronounced Bo-Nay) is a hardworking mechanic, raising his step-daughter Kayla on his own since the death of his wife. He's recently been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and is told that without a transplant his days are numbered. He decides he'll do anything in order to accumulate enough money to pay Kayla's university tuition. As a result, Remi Bone becomes a sought-after hitman, both by the police and by the criminals.

This is a quirky little book, quick and enjoyable to read. Despite Remi becoming a hit man he's a nice guy with Kayla's wellbeing at heart. Those on the receiving end of his hits are not nice people, not that that makes murder okay but I was rooting for him anyway. There are many interesting characters besides Remi and Kayla and an ending that I wasn't expecting. 3.5 Stars rounded up. I probably should mention that there is some swearing in the book as well as some sex scenes but I found both pretty low key.

I'm quite impressed by the cover of this book, reminds me of the old Dick Tracy comic books ... or am I dating myself?!

My thanks to Oceanview Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: September 19, 2023

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, William L. Myers Jr., and Oceanview Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always pleased to have a new William L. Myers Jr. novel to read, I gladly accepted this standalone thriller. Bringing more of Philadelphia to his stories, Myers offers up a thriller that pits a man who has nothing to lose against a city with so much to gain, all with a primary focus, his daughter. Myers presents a story full of action, adventure, and even a little humour, perfect for the reader who needs grittiness without all the drawn-out descriptions.

Remington ‘Remi Bone’ Bohne has seen a great deal in his life, A hard-working mechanic, Bone laid his wife to rest too soon and is a single father to a highly intelligent daughter. When he learns that Kayla has been accepted to Penn, he is both overjoyed and panicked, as he does not have the money to send her. However, this soon pales in comparison, as he discovered that he has congenital heart disease with only a short time left to live.

Unsure what he will do, Bone sifts through the money he’s stashed away for Kayla, realising that it will not be enough. In walks his boss at the shop with a proposal. With all the drugs on the streets of Philadelphia, many are beginning to think that there needs to be some honest to goodness clean up. This will not happen with city programs or law enforcement budgets, but with some vigilante work, killing those who are at the root of the problem, the drug dealers. Bone is offered the chance to make some decent money serving as a killer to rid Philly streets of the lowest scum. The money is nothing to turn away from and if Bone is going to be gone anyway, he might as well go out with a bang.

When one killing turns two two and then more, Remi Bone becomes the most sought after hitman of them all, both by the police and the drug dealers themselves. Uttering a catchphrase he always thought worked well for him, Bone is sent on multiple missions to rid the streets of killers and keep the money coming in for Kayla, all while keeping her strictly in the dark. All the while, some in positions of authority begin to piece it all together and lay a trap, in hopes of bringing this hitman to justice before too long. Myers does well to craft this piece and keep the reader flipping pages well into the night.

There is a certain eagerness when i read anything by William L. Myers, Jr. I discovered his legal thrillers and could not get enough of them, but also watched as he morphed into more writing projects more, all of which had his signature sharpness and great development. Myers builds a strong foundation with this book, premised on something is simple as cleaning up the streets, while providing the reader with something intriguing to read with an impetus unlike anything I have read before. Strong characters keep the story moving and leave the reader eager to discover more, particularly with Remi Bone and his sordid past. The plot simmers for a time before bubbling over and keeping the reader int he middle of the mix. There is a lot to discover with this piece and i hope Myers will keep writing, be it legal thrillers or something of a more psychological nature. I am exciting in to see what’s next and will have to wait patiently for whenever that might be.

Kudos, Mr. Myers, for providing energy and effort to a much needed topic.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/re...

[Susan Atherly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not my cup of tea. It felt to me like a hodgepodge of Pulp Fiction and TV crime shows and, for me, the tone felt off. The author is an attorney so those parts felt authentic but I think I've socialised with more career criminals than he has. Don't get me started on his female characters. I did like Remi Bone, so there is that.

If you are looking for a fast paced crime novel and what I've pointed out doesn't bother you, and you're here for the action, I think you will enjoy yourself.

I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway from Amazon.

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tick Tock says the clock!

Offbeat, decidedly different tale about a middle aged man with a rough history. Remington Bohne (Remi Bone) loves his adopted daughter. His wife Beatrice, Kyla’s mother was his life. When Beatrice died Remi of course went on supporting Kyla, caring for her. Kyla’s father is not in the picture and maybe that’s a blessing. At least Remi thinks it is. Now Kyla’s been accepted into the University of Pennsylvania.
Unfortunately Remi’s just been told he has a heart condition that could see the end of him at anytime. A ticking time bomb!
Remi wants to raise tuition and accommodation expenses for Kyla’s education before he dies. The way he chooses to fund Kyla’s future is as a hit man. That decision presents Remi with many dilemmas, including moral. Things spiral and Remi becomes known as the ‘Tick Tick’ man.
A host of brilliant characters including Catholic priest Father Kane, makes this read a cut above your normal crime fiction noir.
I really enjoyed the various aspects of this rather unexpected novel.

An Oceanview ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

[Donne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, the book summary pretty much lays out the primary storyline for this short story (269pgs). What the book summary doesn’t say is that Remi’s killing phrase is kind of an ode to Samuel Jackson’s character, Jules Winfield, in Pulp Fiction. While the phrase is a Samuel Jackson phrase, it just wasn’t a Jules Winfield/Pulp Fiction phrase. It doesn’t matter though, Remi is fascinated with Samuel Jackson/Jules Winfield quotes and he believes the phrase he is using is a Jules Winfield quote and the one he ends up using before he kills someone.

There are secondary stories like the one of the two cops, Flynn and Rizzo, who are investigating cases where the victim was shot by the same gun. Remi got the gun from his boss so he has no idea where the gun has been or how many people have been killed by it. There is another secondary story of Remi’s daughter, Kayla, who suspects that something is going on with Remi (she doesn’t know he’s dying) and she starts checking up on him and his whereabouts.

Most of the story revolves around Remi trying to stockpile as much money as he can, for Kayla’s college fund, before he dies of heart failure. His health gets worse throughout the story and he knows he doesn’t have much time to secure her future. It’s well into the second half that Rizzo and Flynn begin to zero in on the killings. The end comes pretty fast after that in a hot mess of activity and info dumping. Good grief!!!

Most of the story was leading up to a solid 4star read, but that ending was just way too messy for me, hence, the 3star rating. I want to thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #OceanviewPublishing #RemiBone

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Oceanview Publishing and William L. Myers Jr. for granting me a digital copy of this book.

3 ⭐ - desperate times call for desperate measures - Remi's a proud father, only there's one issue..money's tight and when his dead wife's daughter Kayla gets accepted to an Ivy league university, Remi's determined to help out with the tuition however with Remi's health is declining, he's diagnosed with a late stage heart failure.

The only way for Remi to get money fast was to perform a hit to a drug dealer who testified against his companions.
After a successful hit, Remi's asked to do more hits but will it be enough to help Kayla for the entire four years of her study or will Remi die before that time?

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is very little difference between reading this book and watching an internet incel try to make a convincing apologetic. Personally, I think the incel would be more entertaining, and perhaps even less misogynistic. For once, I am gladdened by a lack of ratings.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Story was ok, but I didn’t have an appreciation for the style of writing.

[Ramona Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a strange book. If you have come to the reviews you have already read a synopsis so I won't say much. Remi is dying and wants to make certain his daughter has enough money to go to college so he agrees to be a killer for hire . He justifies it because he was going to kill a drug dealer. and then he gets talked into doing another and then another but they all are people who are a drag on society. There is an interesting ending, and the reader is left to wonder if what he did was so wrong. A lot of characters to keep track of but it was a very good quick read. I would not give it to high schoolers. I received this as an arc from NetGalley and am under no pressure for a positive review.

[Doug Yonce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get ready to suspend reality, buckle up, and take off on a thrill ride of murder and mayhem. When our protagonist finds out that he’s dying, he needs to raise money fast to ensure his daughter’s future is secure. With that premise in place, the hits keep on coming. I received the advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of William Myers' legal series, this tale strikes out in a different direction.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Current day, Philadelphia
Characters: Remi Bone, daughter Kayla, and a full cast of criminals, detectives, and intriguing characters
Overview: Remi has a difficult problem – with not much time to live, he wants to ensure his adopted daughter has enough money to get a good college education, being accepted at Penn. He falls into the opportunity to make thousands by simply being a hit man – murdering people who his bosses want taken care of. The book is well-plotted, non-traditional, and keeps your attention throughout.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars
Extras: The moral enigma of this book is fascinating. How can you possibly be cheering for a character who is an assassin? Remi’s goal is honorable but his methods are despicable. I hope Kayla had a successful and rewarding career.
Thanx to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to provide this candid review.

[Carol Stefanik · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dichotomies of this story are exquisite. Good and Evil. Health and Illness. Fast and Slow. Young and Old. Right and Wrong. There are more. You know you are going to root for Remi Bone from the first page of the book and you experience every bit of his emotional upheaval. This is an anti-hero worth embracing. And pretty much every "good" guy in the story is an anti-hero because we are all just human. Good and bad in the same package but the author was kind enough to leave out any good that may have existed in our villains.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book was a decent first draft of a novel, but it did not feel complete or well developed to me. The basic premise was interesting. A dying man decides to become a hit man to earn money for his daughter to use after he dies. That could've been a really compelling plot. Unfortunately, there just wasn't enough here to make the story enjoyable. There was almost no character development, particularly for the main character. We're told several times early on that the MC is conflicted about what he should do. But that nuance is lost almost immediately. The character went here, he did this thing, he felt guilty, he did the thing again, he lied to his daughter. There wasn't any depth, or emotion from the MC. He read as very one dimensional and undeveloped. When my favorite character is the Uber driver that drives him to his hits, you know the hired gun isn't interesting enough.

And honestly, his plot line got really boring really fast. The side plots with the police officers and the mayor's assistant were much more interesting. And eventually they almost take over the story. For multiple chapters we only see the side characters and their relationships progressing and we hear nothing from the MC. This was sadly the best part of the book for me. And don't even get me started on the illegal actions taken by the police. So many things were incorrect and would never have held up. It read as sloppy research and lazy writing.

Random side note: The MC's two line catch phrase made me inordinately annoyed. It didn't rhyme. It was obviously meant to rhyme, but apparently no one editing the book realized that 'up' and 'fuck' don't actually rhyme.

Overall, this book was a big miss for me. 1.5 stars generously rounded up to 2.

[William Bentrim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remi Bone by William L. Myers
East Coast folks in the Philadelphia region will enjoy the vivid descriptions of Philadelphia. There is a tiny bit of supernatural in the mystery of the notorious Mr. Smith. Remi is given a fatal diagnosis and wants to provide a future for his daughter. This leads Remi down a very unsavory path.
There is a lot of karma in this book. You reap what you sow seems like a premise the author kept at the forefront of their creative process. The descriptions of Philadelphia and its less savory elements will annoy some and have others nodding their heads in recognition of places and people.
The book was entertaining and I enjoyed it.

[Ray Moon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Good Guy Gone Bad For A Good Cause

The novel opens with Remi Bone walking into the office of Dr. Roseman. After saying, “Tick tock says the clock. Time’s up,…,” He shoots him in the heart. From this heartless killing, the novel starts.

The main storyline has two major threads. The first is centered on Remi Bone as he spirals down to becoming a hired assassin and serial killer. The second thread is the investigation of the capture of the serial killer. Several characters support one or both major threads. The start is slow as Remi Bone is trying to solve his financial issue, which must be solved quickly. Once he has the solution, he is not sure and even calls upon an old friend who is a priest for guidance. Then, the first killing is described in detail. A subsequent killing changes everything. At this point, my attention was finally captured. Until this point, the tension was maintained by whether Remi Bone would solve his financial issue. This tension just wasn’t enough to capture my interest. That changed, but it was just too late into the novel.

The Remi Bone character starts sympathetic. In high school, he bullied many fellow students, but then he served in the military with tours in the Middle East. After the service, he inadvertently killed a man in a bar fight. After serving his time, he found his true love and married her. The woman’s daughter was part of the package deal, and he came to love her, too. Then, his wife dies. He promises her that he will take care of her daughter. The daughter is an excellent student and was just accepted by the University of Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, he works as an auto mechanic for a small garage. He does not have the money to pay for her tuition. When he took up the mantle of a paid killer, he lost all my sympathy. That was another strike against this novel for me.

Some aspects that can cause some readers to stop reading are present in this novel. There are no intimate scenes, but references to it occurring and activity before and after would give this novel a strong mature rating. There is a noticeable amount of vulgar and rude language. Violence is described as it occurs, so it is more edgy. These aspects were not over the top for me, but for some readers, they might be. Let the reader be forewarned.

I have several issues with this novel. This is a work of fiction, so some shortcuts are taken to keep the flow going. The most significant flaw was the “everyone lives happily ever after” style ending. For me, that ending couldn't survive a simple ballistic testing. I did like the latter half of the novel, as it captured my attention until the disappointing ending. This is the fourth novel by this author that I have read. One of which I purchased along with two other novels. He is in my Must-Read category, but this novel is not what I would expect from a Must-Read author. I am looking forward to his next novel, hoping that this novel is just a one-off. I am ambivalent in recommending reading this novel. I have mixed feelings about this novel, so I rate it with three stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Oceanview Publishing. My review is based solely on my own reading experience of this book. Thank you, Oceanview Publishing, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real Rating: 4.25* of five

The Publisher Says: Single father Remi Bone knows that his daughter’s Ivy League education will cost an arm and a leg . . . or a few bodies

Remi Bone is a good guy. He’s a hardworking mechanic, a single father raising his late wife’s daughter, and now, he’s dying of heart failure. But his daughter Kayla was just admitted to the college of her dreams. How will she afford college with two dead parents?

Before he dies, Remi decides to stockpile as much money as possible for Kayla’s future. When a chance to participate in a lucrative gun-for-hire scheme arises, Remi, out of desperation, agrees to execute a hit on a shady Philadelphia drug dealer.

This becomes only the first of several murders Remi is hired for, and soon, Remi’s the most sought-after hitman in town—both by his clients and by the police. He leaves investigators little to work with, but ear witnesses identify him by the phrase he recites before each “Tick tock says the clock, time’s up . . . ”With the police catching on to the “Tick Tock Killer,” Remi has to work quickly to earn enough money for Kayla’s school—all while ensuring he dies with a clean record. Tick tock.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: The "good-guy-does-'bad'-for-good" trope is fun to read. I like Breaking Bad despite Walter White's odiousness, so no matter Remi's traits I was ready to give him a fair shake. Turns out I like him fine, he's a stand-up guy who faces an ugly death by thinking of the child he loves not his own little self.

The uncharitable might also say he's in denial, running away from the end of a life he thinks is not worth living anymore. I think maybe both are true, and neither are as complete explanations as Remi's character supports. Author Myers, a lawyer by trade, knows how to put on layers of implication and unstated emotional truths. Remi turning to being a hit-man, one who kills only the ones who need killin' as I often say, is factually stockpiling money for his stepdaughter's future. But why turn to it now? Because, with a deadline (!) fast approaching he isn't going to face consequences. He can do the right, but illegal, thing. He has courage at last.

Why not before? And how is this pile of suddenly-acquired money he's leaving Kayla going to be explained to the IRS without causing her huge problems? Are the Authorities and the bosses ignorant of who he is? It's the reason I give this read over four stars that the answer is no to all these questions. Remi's, umm, sordid past isn't foregrounded to the point one thinks he's expiating sins, but is added to explain things that enable him to turn forty-five degrees from a law-abiding life.

What kept the fifth star from manifesting was an ending so rushed, so chaotic, that I felt I was watching a montage of Pulp Fiction, Bullitt, and The French Connection. I'm always about the dismount as much as the story-dressage. I think this book, at under 300pp, might've benefited from ~50pp more to wind things up more comprehensibly. Still a ride I'm glad I took. I think anyone who enjoys a leavening of humor in their crime fiction, a load of pathos, and a really easy-to-root-for protagonist will enjoy this trip on Philly's dark side.

[Roevardotter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last week I managed to get myself in a reading slump. Why that happened I don't know, but it may have to do with my overly ambitious reading plans (yeah, same story over and over again 😉). But this ARC that I got, helped me to go right out of it again. This psychological thriller called 'Remi Bone' is a fast-paced read that follows our main character Remi, who - knowing that he has not much time anymore - wants to know his daughter provided for for when he will be gone. Not many options to earn a lot of money in short time, Remi decides to let himself be hired as a hitman. But not just Remi tries to take matters in his own hand and so danger is lurking everywhere...

I do like some morally grey characters every once in a while, but at the same time i like it when it is clear, who the real bad people are. I find such a simple setup quite soothing and this book provided that for me. Although the characters were not particularly loveable, I found myself hooked anyway and it was quite a quick read therefore. Character development did sparsely happen, but this is not the kind of book where that bothers me or where it is necessary. The characters in itself I found quite realistically drawn. Diversity in choice of hte characters race was moderate divers, which is always a very good thing in my opinion :)

I didn't care too much for the constant mentioning of intercourse related stuff, but other than that, there is not much to complain about. Each time when I feared that the plot would diverge into chlichè-territory the author managed to not go there (VERY much appreciated). Although there was one scene that I thought was quite unrealistic and got me shaking my head quite a bit (I do not want to spoiler anyone, so if you want to talk mre about that, just head over to my Instagram and DM me!). The short chapters helped to make this a very easy read and I can just recommend this for anyone out there in a reading slump!

The only bigger downside of this thriller were on the one hand the ending (quite unbelievable and morally more than questionable. Also here the characters didn't seem to act coherent in my opinion). And on the other hand I really didn't like how drug addicted persons were describend in the story. They were literally just called 'Zombies' most of the time and seemed to be more thing- than human-like, and were portraied as merely a nuisance that had to be taken care of (meaning gotten rid off). Butif you can overlook that I can say:

Overall still a solid and enjoyable read :)

[Charlene Roberson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

Remington Bohne (pronounced Boh-nay" has been known as Remi Bone since he was a kid. Now grown, a widower with the sole responsibility for his adopted daughter, Kayla, since his wife's death, he would do ANYTHING to take care of her and her future. So when an old friend, a doctor he has known since high school, tells him he has late-stage congestive heart failure and only a little time to live, he panics. Kayla has just been accepted to the University of Pennsylvania and Remi has been putting away every penny he can so she can graduate college without crippling debt. What is going to happen to that plan now?

But just then his boss comes up with a scheme for Remi to make money quick. All he has to do is kill a drug dealer who is preying on children around schools. To Remi, this sounds like someone who needs to be stopped, so he agrees to take the job. And he does it so well, that he is hired to do another one, and then another one. He vows to quit after his third job, not because his conscience is bothering him, but because it isn't.

The people who have hired him have some ideas of their own, and want Remi removed and when the third job goes wrong, it is time for Remi to quit - for good.

A good, fairly quick read, with a lot of questions about good and evil, and is it OK to do bad things for a good reason?

[Kimberly Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love William L. Myers, Jr., Esq.'s novels. I’ve read all his books, this one now included, and I have to say, he did not let me down.

Remington Bohne (Bo-Nay) better known as Remi Bone was a regular smegular guy working as a grease mechanic and raising his daughter, Kayla, into a beautiful, well-rounded, intelligent black woman. Remi was a simple man. He didn’t need much, paid his bills on time, lived his life, grieved for his late wife and enjoyed watching Kayla grow up.

Kayla’s dream was to go to an Ivy League school, but as we all know, a college education is expensive. So, Remi wants to give his daughter the gift that will keep on giving and he was having an issue trying to come up with the money. And wouldn’t you know it, as luck would have it, Remi’s boss, Deke, came to him like a bright light shining from the Heavens. He has a job for Remi to do and wants to know if he’s all in.

Before Remi makes this decision, he’s thinking long and hard about his current health issues. Remi was given a death sentence and time was a ticking. His old heart wasn't what it used to be and was about to expire. Before he dies, he wants to ensure that Kayla will be well provided for.

While sitting across from Deke, there was only one decision he could come to. Remi advised Deke he would do the murder-for-hire. It was a quick way to earn some money and be rid of some bad characters in the world. What on earth could possibly go wrong with this scheme?


Readers! Wow! I could not get enough of this story and it’s a quick one too. It works up fast and there are so many moving parts that when the story comes into focus, you sit back and smile at the sheer brilliance. Myers is such an exceptional legal writer. I truly love his writing style. He is awesome at putting the reader in the driver seat and I was so here for it. As usual, Myers, well, well done! And that ending--Yasss!

To read original post, please stop by: https://www.thesexynerdrevue.com/2025...

Thanks!

[Cathy Geha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remi Bone by William L. Myers, Jr.

Reminiscent of Breaking Bad, a television series I found rather addictive.

What I liked:
* Remi Bohne: an ex-con, ex-military, widow, loving stepfather to Kayla, excellent shot, brilliant mechanic, nerves of steel, protective, quiet, conflicted
* Kayla: high school senior, athlete, accepted to Penn State University, keeps an eye on Remi, has dreams for her future
* Virgil: an uber driver, works for some rough characters, a bit of a mystery, has taken Kayla under his wing, clean cut appearance
* Detective Rizzo: divorced, an alcoholic in the past, took good care of his mother, partnered with detective Flynn
* The romance between Rizzo and Captain Sharon Walker
* Father Kane: discreet, ex-military, mercenary, had a moment that changes his trajectory, a good man
* The plot, pacing, setting and writing
* That the bad guys were easy to dislike
* That all of the threads of the story were wrapped up in the end

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about the life of the opioid users and the way they lived
* Not a dislike but would love to know more about Virgil’s backstory and what he is really up to

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

[josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

rated: 3.5 stars rounded up

this was a really solid, fast-paced thriller read that i got through easily in a few hours. the writing is solid and witty, does a good job of introducing all the characters, and doesn't bite off more than it can chew with its themes, discussing political corruption, the ethics of murder, religious views and family ties all at once.

i did think the blurb was a little misleading especially about how many people he ended up killing. it kind of makes it out to be that he's killing all these people on a murder spree when it says "the most wanted hitman in town", but really he is the one that is starting to seek out these jobs and its really not that much murder in the end!

the twist though. wow. my mouth DROPPED when the mayor was revealed to be his daughter's bio dad. the web of connection was weaved so well between all the characters and no one was introduced only to be useless later. they all connected up in the end.

is it cheesy to say id recommend this to people that like breaking bad? the book referencing that though and acknowledging the similarities definitely made it stronger. still definitely a recommended book though.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.

[MAYA ANGELOU · Rating 5 out of 5]

The answer to my headline, it's all three rolled into the most entertaining book I've read for quite some time. It is also a vastly different read than previous books by William L Myers, Jr. that I own. I've been a fan for a few years and did not expect this. But I'm not complaining. The question is, what is a good man? Does he have a good heart? Remi Bones, is a middle-aged man with congestive heart failure. Not a good heart! He loves his stepdaughter as if she were his own and has taken care of her since her mother's death. That's a good heart. As his life will be short due to his heart failure, he decides he must find the funds to put his brilliant daughter, Kayla, through University. That's a good heart. He is a mechanic, a good mechanic, but he is not earning enough to put anyone through school. So, he decides to accept a murder-for-hire job for big bucks. That is not a good-hearted profession. And the struggle continues, but it would not show a good heart if I were to tell you anymore and ruin a terrific plot. I devoured this book and hope Mr. Myers will write a few more like this.

[Harshali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remi Bone by William L. Myers is a thrilling ride through the gritty world of a dying single father turned reluctant hitman. The story hooks you from the start as Remi grapples with his impending death, driven by the desire to secure his daughter Kayla's future. The plot unfolds with gripping intensity as Remi dives into a dangerous underworld of hired killings to fund his daughter's Ivy League education.

The author crafts Remi as a complex yet relatable character, a hardworking mechanic pushed to extreme measures. The suspense builds with each calculated hit, keeping you on the edge of your seat. The narrative skillfully blends Remi's moral dilemma with the pulse-pounding pace of a crime thriller. As Remi becomes the elusive "Tick Tock Killer," the cat-and-mouse game with both clients and the police adds layers of intrigue.

The author weaves a captivating tale, exploring the lengths a desperate father will go to secure his daughter's future. Remi Bone is a must-read for those craving a suspenseful, emotionally charged story with a relentless pace.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another standalone thriller by William L. Myers, Remi Bone is the tale of an unusual assassin. Remi Bone is a single father, mechanic and genuine all-round good guy. He is most pleased when his daughter Kayla gets accepted into an Ivy League university and is determined to pay for her education. Facing his own mortality and the need to make more money, Remi agrees to kill a drug dealer for the cash. Circumstances then spiral outside his control as Kayla becomes concerned at his strange behaviour and the police are on the hunt for a serial killer. Whilst an entertaining narrative with empathy for its characters, there is somewhat of a lack of tension making for a two and a half stars read rating. With thanks to Oceanview Publishing and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.

[Allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were lots of flawed and immoral characters, but I loved to hate them.

Nick Loughhead was by far my favourite. He’s a criminal defence attorney, who is about as shady as they come. Nick does not mind going the extra mile to help out his clients, especially when he stands to gain from it. He arranges hits on their drug rivals or competition with his Uncle, Deke.

A few of the male characters could be sexist or misogynistic, mainly: Nick, Mayor Wallace Brown, and Detective Ed Rizzo. I didn’t like reading those parts. I wish the author had shortened their plot lines or introduced strong female characters to balance this. Besides Kayla, I don’t think there were any good representations of women in the book. The rest of them are nothing but mistresses to the other characters.

Rizzo gets sidetracked so many times. I wanted to skip over all of the romantic encounters that he had with his Captain. Also, Nick and his multiple affairs; just gross.

[Maria Beltrami · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would any father do knowing that he has little to live on and wanting to offer the best to his daughter, who has already lost her mother? That's probably all that Remi Bone, the protagonist of this novel that combines moments of great tenderness with others of fierce humour and still others of sheer ferocity, is willing to do. Because apart from Remi, who does what he has to do, aided by a muscular memory derived from a past that few know, all the others have ulterior motives, even the daughter, who pretends to be weak because she knows that this will bind her father to her, just as she has promised her mother, keeping him somehow away from certain dangers linked to his nature. The end of the novel, which envisages a very cruel punishment for the one who set the cascade of events in motion, is absolutely hilarious.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remi Bone is a mechanic and also raising his wife's daughter. The two of them buried her and now that Kayla the daughter has gotten into Harvad he wants to provide for her. The problem he has gotten some bad news about his heart. So to leave her with money he begins to take jobs taking out drug dealers. He also leaves a calling tik, talk. Once you get into the story you begin to realize that Kayla figures out something is wrong and becomes worried about him for she made a promise to her mother before she died to look after Remi. A good story with good characters and twists along the way, the ending I did not see either. I received this book from Netgalley.com

[Zuzu Burford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reme Bone has problems after visiting a doctor and being told he hasn't many birthdays to look forwards to in the future. Having promised both his stepdaughter and himself that there would be enough money for the prestigious college where Kalya is already accepted,
There are only two choices. Disappointment or selling your soul to the dark side.
A well-thought-out plot and writing style have twists and turns, making you dizzy and keeping you on your toes, which Elmore Leonard would have approved of.
An independent review Thanks to NetGalley / Oceanview Publishing

[Mary C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Remi is in a difficult position - he's been diagnosed with late stage congestive heart failure and needs to provide college tuition for his dead wife's daughter. The only way to earn money quickly is to perform a hit on a drug dealer who has agreed to testify against his cohorts.
After the successful hit, he is offered other jobs. His change in behavior becomes concerns his daughter who begins to follow him. Will he manage to make enough to cover her four years of college before he dies and without her discovering how the money was earned?
Fast paced read.
#RemiBone #NetGalley

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

First....the cover of this book says....READ ME. Next, this was a fsat, entertaining read about a man with a goal and the will to get it done, no matter the cost. But, it's so much more than that. This man has lived his whole life following society's rules but now he must use the skills he has to insure his daughter's future after.........But before he dies, he will become a hero to some and a boogeyman to others while managing to remain a good guy.