Bones in the Wash: Politics is Tough. Family is Tougher.

by John Byrne Barry

Albuquerque Mayor Tomas Zamara understands that politics is like playing football on a muddy field. If you don’t get dirty, you’re not giving your all. But dirty politics is not his style.

The Democrat’s Barack Obama is drawing adoring crowds with his uplifting speeches, and Zamara’s GOP bosses are pressuring him to do “whatever it takes” to win.

Challenging him every step of the way is fierce, young Sierra León of the Democracy Project, who calls on him to listen to his better self and reject his party’s unsavory practices.

But if only his life were as simple as politics. Mayor Zamara is also grappling with being a suspect in his wife’s murder; fending off his father, who wants to rescue his failing business with city money; and satisfying his demanding new woman, the radiant and volatile Tory Singer, who may not be who she says she is.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary

407 pages, Paperback

First published December 8, 2013

About the author

John Byrne Barry is a writer, designer, actor, bike tour leader, and crossing guard.

His first novel — Bones in the Wash: Politics is Tough. Family is Tougher — set during the 2008 presidential campaign in New Mexico, won the 2015 Best Book Award from the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA).

Reviews

[Foxy Vixen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wonderful political kind of thriller takes place in the great state of NM and In Albuquerque. Ok... I must disclose that I live in NM... but in Roswell. I don’t see that this Author lives in NM or has ever had. But I have to tell you he hit everything NM right on the nail. I was shocked when I saw that he wasn’t from or living in NM. Hats off to John Byrne Barry for that.
I was not living in NM during the time that this book takes place.. pre 2008 election.. but I certainly was following it and voted in it.
This gives you a behind the scenes of the ‘craziness’ that goes on during an election.. which most of us probably already knew.
This is more than just a political thriller... it involves the family and friend involvement also.
Murder, romance, NM history and political craziness.

I am a Republican... will I still vote Republican.. yes... remember this is fiction... but I’m sure quite a bit of truth behind it. It’s amazing that in 2020 we were still dealing with voter fraud. Interesting.

I got this ebook FREE from Amazon.. and it still is FREE on Amazon. I encourage everyone to go grab a copy, it certainly deserves to be read more than it has.
I know.. it’s politics... yes it is at it’s best and at it’s worse.

This book will be a April BOTM at Snag A Read For Free.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Bones in the Wash" which I won from Goodreads Giveaways is a political thriller with a smattering of murder and mystery. The story unfolds with the unexplained disappearance of Albuquerque Mayor Tomas Zamara's wife, then flips ahead five years to the Barack Obama and John McCain election campaigns for the Presidency. Tomas Zamara, the New Mexico State Chair for the McCain campaign believes in a fair and honest platform but suddenly finds himself dealing with sleazy tactics and dirty tricks. A man haunted by the disappearance of a wife known to have a connection to the cartel, and who has tried to maintain his distance from his family's shady business dealings, Tomas must either turn a blind eye to his party's dirty politics or resign which may not be that easy.

Sierra León, the Campaign Director for the Democracy Project (a coalition of progressive groups) believes in the mayor's integrity and calls on him to stop his party's crooked practices. Not wanting her staff and canvassers to fight back with their own underhanded tactics, Sierra finds herself in a contest of wills with Republicans who will do anything to silence the voice of the Democratic Project.

The plot of the story is full of intrigue, deception and secrets as Tomas has to deal with corruption in his political party, the bankruptcy of his father's business, confrontation with the FBI who suspect he's implicated in his wife's murder, as well as the demands of a high maintenance girlfriend, Tori Singer who's not what she seems. With clever dexterity John Bryne Barry heightens the excitement and tension in this political thriller with a flash flood, gunshots at a hot air balloon, a cryptic note and the discovery of a skeleton in the wash of a canyon. Although I enjoyed the twists and turns of the political shenanigans and manipulations, I would have liked more than just speculation about the murders of Vera Zamara and Loretta Garcia.

In this story all the characters struggle with personality flaws and weaknesses. Mayor Tomas Zamara is a sharp, ambitious and committed politician who believes an electoral platform should be based on honest issues. A principled and candid public servant he's challenged by the unethical activities of his party. At first he tries to overlook the corruption and ignore his ethical code until only with prayer can he do what's right and alleviate his conscience. Victoria Singer is his sexy, flirtatious and vainglorious lover. She falls in love with the humble politician, but harbours a secret that could fracture their relationship. Sierra León is a natural leader, assertive, confident and professional but at times impatient. She's alarmed by the instability and volatility of her parent's marriage and befuddled by her feelings for the two men in her life. Of these Cliff , a unemployed lawyer from Washington is bossy, self-absorbed and insensitive while Bas, a Los Angeles Times reporter is clever, charming and persistent, supporting Sierra's tough decisions. All these characters and many more add drama, power and depth to this riveting tale.

Woven into a story about dirty politics, crime, murder and violence are elements of conscience, friendship, love and deliverance. "Bones in the Wash" by John Bryne Barry is an absorbing political thriller that I couldn't put down and highly recommend.

[LR Shimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not attracted to political thriller novels. My favorite reads are historical stories with strong, romance, and mystery themes.
But Bones in the Wash caught my attention because its title had an exotic southwestern feel. And its cover had an alluring picture of a Native American cliff dwelling.
It turned out my favorite kinds of reading are buried in the wash as well. There’s a heroine and a hero each with their own political points of view. Each also has their own romantic entanglements that kept me turning the pages to find out whose relationship was going to work out.
Then there’s the mystery of the hero’s wife. She’s been missing for five years. Is there any chance she’s going to show up? And should he continue to keep his distance from other women?
The historical angle is the election of 2008. At first the political situation seems a world away from 2020’s upcoming battle for president. But the story brings out what every election is really about- the voters.
This engaging read has a strong sense of history, an exotic desert setting, plenty of heart throbbing, and a mystery waiting to be solved.
Maybe I’m a political thriller reader after all.

[Dk Zier author & Midnight Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In politics as in marriages, secrets held power” (Barry 264).

I highly recommend "Bones in the Wash" to anyone who loves political drama and mystery. Barry's fictional story explores the dynamic political processes at the grassroots level during the historic 2009 presidential campaign. The inherent conflict between power and common good comes into play on every level from the campaign to relationships and family, which can be the worst culprit. The story’s setting is in Albuquerque New Mexico where rugged beauty and strife coexist.

The likable yet flawed characters Mayor Tomas Zamara and Sierra León of the Democracy Project drive the plot with fascinating substories. Their lives intersect during the campaign. The protagonist, Mayor Zamara, is a person of integrity who is drawn to strong yet questionable women. He often does not follow his instincts as he is blinded by trust. I love the character Sierra who is inspired by the idealism of her youth. She stays focused throughout the story despite personal challenges.

Secrets and ambitions abound in the novel, and we learn how the political body lead lives as compelling as the presidential candidate they support.

[Becky Parker Geist · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a blast reading this book. Could hardly put it down! The characters are fun and flawed and so very human with their flaws. I found it especially enjoyable with the recent presidential election so recently behind us. Great plot twists and lots of finger pointing - but not at the people to blame.
I also really enjoyed John Byrne Barry's other books, and it was fun to recognize some of the same characters from a whole new point of view. Excellent!

[Judy M Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read, story builds to capture the reader

The story takes time to build. The characters also were not likeable right away. But as the intrigues compound both main characters Tomas and Sierra must adapt and face demons. I enjoyed their evolution and adventures and was rooting for them by the end. Fun read too for the politics and the New Mexico flavor.

[Marjorie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Politics, tough and dirty

I had no idea that politics could be this dirty. I liked the carefully rendered plot and having my naive eyes opened.

[Nathaniel Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great writing, great story, great characters . Read this book.

[Shari Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This smart novel is a great read. The characters are fascinating and well developed. The dialogue is well crafted -- interesting and believable. The story line is intriguing. And probably the best thing I might say is that I didn't want it to end -- I want to know what happens to the characters.
OK, so having read what I wrote above, you might be thinking I'm a friend or family member of the author -- Not true.
I received John's novel in a bundle of "indie" published books . . . many of which, unfortunately, would typify the average self-published book.
Not so with "Bones in the Wash." This is a book that ought to be picked up by a traditional major publishing house so it can get the wide distribution it merits.
What is it about? You can read some of the other reviewers who like to tell the whole story: All I will say is that it is an exciting account of what might have happened to politicos, campaign workers. drug dealers, and business people in and around Albuquerque, NM, during the Obama-McCain presidential race . . with a murder mystery and a romance thrown into the mix

[Susan Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not at all what I expected but better than I could have imagined!!

I am not sure just exactly what I expected but this was not it. Having been to New Mexico many times, it was easy to visualize the setting of the storyline. However, it was the many complex characters that brought the story to life and really captured my attention. The timing of a politically based plot couldn't have been better. You may not be able to put it down so be prepared for a long night of reading. It will be worth it!!

[Sep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Barry wrote an exciting political thriller about the struggle over New Mexico's electoral votes—so many red herrings. Tomas, the fictional mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico, supports clean politics, which puts him in opposition to his family and the new national election coalition he has been asked to join. Meanwhile, The remains of his wife, missing for several years, appear. A cartel or two show up with guns. A lovely young woman named Tory enters Tomas's life.

Descriptions of New Mexico abound--a lovely and suspenseful visit to the Southwest.

[Tommie Whitener · Rating 4 out of 5]

A political thriller, set in New Mexico at the time of the Obama/McCain presidential election. In addition to being a great page-turner, it provided an interesting look into how political campaigns work behind the scenes. For example, did you know what "caging" a voter means? Neither did I until I read about how it works in Mr. Barry's well-written book. Also, I enjoyed learning more about New Mexico, perhaps the more interesting because it's so far off the political beaten path..

[Betsy Schwarzentraub · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is there a place for conscience when the gloves come off? What could go wrong as two statewide campaigns fight it out for the President of the United States, with two estranged families in the mix? Bravo to "Bones in the Wash" for more than an eyebrow-raising look into their inner workings. Realistic characters show that "in politics as in marriage, secrets [hold] power." The plot unfolds in the beauty and danger of New Mexico, which also weighs in on the action.

[Bruce Sembar · Rating 4 out of 5]

One party is still trying the same tricks

With the political atmosphere right now this book takes on an extra level, with a certain party still using the same dirty tricks that they were using in 2008. The characters in the story had to deal with personal and family issues like most people but theirs were on a larger stage.

[Gwynneth Ott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't tell who the good guys were

Both political parties are just two sides of the same coin. Neither one is the good guy. That's it, just vote libertarian!!!

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow read and too much back and forth.

[Walter Critz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be a gripping story that captivates the geological and political landscapes of New Mexico. The main characters are all true-to-life, being complex and believable. The plot centers on the political in-fighting between factions representing the two major parties, but also the struggles of principled individuals to not lose their moral compass to a “win at all cost” mentality. I found myself racing through all the pages to see how tensions resolved themselves. A great read!

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having entered into reading this under the impression it was a murder mystery that would focus on discovering who killed Vera, the long missing wife of one of the two primary characters, whose bones are the ones discovered after a flash flood in New Mexico, it took me a bit to adjust my expectations to a novel that is much more so about the personal trials of the two main characters, Tomas Zamora and Sierra Leon, as they navigate through the final days of the Obama-McCain presidential election. And trials they have, particularly Tomas Zamora, a mayor with an estranged father, complicated relationships with the rest of his family, a missing and found to be dead wife who was involved in some very shady legal practices and a new lover who reawakens his lust for life (among other things) but who has a past that is unclear at best until the end of the story. In truth there is a whole novel of material in the events of Tomas Zamora's life and the story line of Sierra Leon is much less compelling though, given the structure of the novel, an essential part of the plot.

The other aspect of the novel that was particularly appealing was the informed and, I'm told by those who know better than I, very accurate depiction of the campaign practices of both parties and the pressures these practices put on to those involved in the process. The political shenanigans and machinations that form the backdrop of the personal stories were eye opening and fascinating to me, especially as I've always been more interested in political policy than political process.

Were Goodreads to allow half stars, I would probably rate this a 3 and a half rather than a four. The book seems overcrowded with people and events, some of which don't really have a role except as plot drivers for the main characters and are not well developed enough to be seen as anything else. That being said, Barry has written a compelling story with interesting characters in a world that does not often get depicted without agenda. As the story progresses, the need to keep turning the pages and see what is going to happen increased and that maybe one of the best measures of a successful novel there is. Definitely a book that is a Good Read.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Realistic portrayal of the stress of grass-roots political campaigns!

I recommend that the advertising campaign for this book re-focus on what it is really about. It is NOT about who killed the mayor's wife. Those who expect it to be will be disappointed. Instead, it is a suspenseful portrayal of the day-to-day stress on, and interaction between, two individuals campaigning in New Mexico on opposite sides for the 2008 presidential election.

For those with significant political knowledge, this will be an enjoyable book because of its realistic depiction of key issues (such as voter registration drives and charges of voter fraud). For those looking for this kind of political focus, the portions of the book detailing the quirky extended families and love interests of the two protagonists may be a distraction.

For those with less political insight (or who don't care much about politics at all), this book gives good insight in to how consuming politics can be. This class of reader will likely enjoy the details about the family and love interests, and see this part of the book as more interesting than the political parts.

The writing is decent. Character development is above average. My primary concern is that it is not really what the current advertising suggests.

Disclosure: I was randomly selected from among numerous GoodReads readers to receive an advance copy of this book; I have read it and this is my honest evaluation. I have no connection with this author or publisher and have received nothing from anyone in consideration for publishing this review.

[R.W. Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tomas Zamara, the Mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico, finds himself embroiled in politics and family drama. His choice of the political high road as chair of the New Mexico McCain presidential campaign isn't the same as his handlers. Then his position that city business doesn't mix with family business enrages his father and brother. Did I mention his wife disappears after some shady deals, and is found murdered years later? What about Tory, his new love interest, is she for real? John Byrne Barry pulls it all together in this well crafted Indie. You won't want to miss a word of this one.

[Jaq · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an intriguing book, at times it was quite compelling, and then at others, I just got lost in too much information.

It's fascinating because it gives non Americans an insight into the mess that is their political system, choked with lobby groups and political power plays.

What would have been more interesting, would have been a better pacing of the story, to keep the pace going, instead of it meandering at times....

[Yang Huang · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping multilayered story about the 2008 election, full of drama, intrigue, and conspiracies. The family dramas personify the campaigns and show us a gritty world that is all too real and yet worth fighting for, every step along the way. I learned so much from Barry’s novel. I’ll go to the poll with much misgivings but fierce determination that each vote counts even more than what it does.

[Liz Lennert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bones In The Wash

Sadly, I can't really recommend this book. This is the first time I have read a book that involved a political campaign which was okay. The story dragged quite a bit. Also, I felt it bounced back and forth between the characters to much. Sorry but you wanted my honest opinion.

[Darren · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't too bad of a book. It was on my to read list for a while and my good reads friend noticed a free link to download it so I did. I couldn't get into the story of it being about Politics. I would like to read another book by this author some time down the road.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read, especially now with all the political stuff in the news. Certainly makes one wonder about everything that goes on "behind the scenes" of politics. Rather frightening, truthfully. The author either has "inside information" on running a campaign, or a good imagination!

[Eileen E Cartwright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating

Good, fast moving plot. Interesting, well drawn characters. Especially interesting to read this as Obama nears the end of his second term given all he has done to change this country and the way he has governed

[Steven Baru · Rating 5 out of 5]

This pulsating story, available on Amazon, is worth discovering. From beginning to end it moves as rapidly as a canyon flash flood, full of surprises with each twist and turn.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great political thriller.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was enjoyable.