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Vegas Shadows #3
The Bone Stalker
Not yet published
Expected 23 Jun 26When a terrifying new killer targets Detective Lazarus Holloway’s inner circle, he ventures into the darkest corners of the city to unmask the murderer—and the one who’s really pulling the strings.
Lazarus Holloway is no stranger to violent crime. The seasoned detective has built a career on weeding out the worst of the worst from the glittering streets of Las Vegas.
But he never knew the worst could get this bad.
The Bone Stalker is a new kind of murderous. His MO is brutal, calculated, and ritualistic, removing only specific bones from his victims’ bodies. Each bone taken has a symbolic meaning…and they all tie back to Lazarus himself.
As Lazarus digs deeper with the help of investigative partner and guardian ad litem Piper Danes, they discover the detective isn’t the only connection. But before they can unravel the web of lies that’s been spun through the city for years, the killer ensnares another innocent in his trap.
Someone close to Lazarus becomes the bait. And he’ll stop at nothing to get her back—even if it means embracing the darkness he’s spent his life fighting against.
Lazarus Holloway is no stranger to violent crime. The seasoned detective has built a career on weeding out the worst of the worst from the glittering streets of Las Vegas.
But he never knew the worst could get this bad.
The Bone Stalker is a new kind of murderous. His MO is brutal, calculated, and ritualistic, removing only specific bones from his victims’ bodies. Each bone taken has a symbolic meaning…and they all tie back to Lazarus himself.
As Lazarus digs deeper with the help of investigative partner and guardian ad litem Piper Danes, they discover the detective isn’t the only connection. But before they can unravel the web of lies that’s been spun through the city for years, the killer ensnares another innocent in his trap.
Someone close to Lazarus becomes the bait. And he’ll stop at nothing to get her back—even if it means embracing the darkness he’s spent his life fighting against.
373 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 23, 2026
About the author
Victor Methos
72 books2,124 followersVictor Methos is the Edgar Award nominated bestselling author of over forty novels. He has been a criminal and civil rights lawyer in the Mountain West, conducting over 100 trials, and produces two books a year with his dog Fraiser by his side.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to both #NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me an advance copy of Victor Methos's latest #legalthriller, The Bone Stalker, in exchange for an honest review.
#TheBoneStalker is the third installment in the #VegasShadows series. Bruised and battered from his latest encounter, Detective Lazarus Holloway awakens in the hospital to learn not only the gruesome aftermath of the case, but also that he is stuck in the hospital recuperating for the next few weeks. Eventually, he is released into the care of friend and GAL Piper Danes, but that doesn't prevent him from showing up at CIU despite strict orders from his doctor and being on medical leave. While at the office, he receives a report that a close friend has been brutally murdered, which results in a lone and wild goose chase after a deranged serial killer.
Similar to the first and second installments, Detective Lazarus finds himself mired in a criminal matter, in which he ropes GAL Piper Danes and a few old cop buddies on the dl, that is linked to a corrupt overarching force; one who is single-handedly cementing the moniker 'Sin City' as its eternal namesake.
The third installment starts off fast-paced and entertaining, then peters out somewhere midway when the case takes a turn. The first novel in the series is the best, with the rest following in consecutive order. Much like the second installment, the writing is still clunky and does not feel as if it was written by the author. Once again, the redundant points made in short chapters (e.g., how many times is Lazarus going to almost black out from addiction and his kidney surgery?), as well as the characters losing more of their likable traits. Additionally, it felt like this novel was as sparse as the second regarding Judge Dawson who is supposed to be the mastermind behind the plots of the last two novels. I would have preferred hearing more about Dawson than anything involving Keri or newcomer Selene. Leave the family drama at home
Thus, the third installment unfortunately did not pay off suspense-wise in the way I had hoped. While there were some intriguing passages, this may be the weakest of the authors' series. I recommend reading one of his older standalones instead. Overall, three stars.
#TheBoneStalker is the third installment in the #VegasShadows series. Bruised and battered from his latest encounter, Detective Lazarus Holloway awakens in the hospital to learn not only the gruesome aftermath of the case, but also that he is stuck in the hospital recuperating for the next few weeks. Eventually, he is released into the care of friend and GAL Piper Danes, but that doesn't prevent him from showing up at CIU despite strict orders from his doctor and being on medical leave. While at the office, he receives a report that a close friend has been brutally murdered, which results in a lone and wild goose chase after a deranged serial killer.
Similar to the first and second installments, Detective Lazarus finds himself mired in a criminal matter, in which he ropes GAL Piper Danes and a few old cop buddies on the dl, that is linked to a corrupt overarching force; one who is single-handedly cementing the moniker 'Sin City' as its eternal namesake.
The third installment starts off fast-paced and entertaining, then peters out somewhere midway when the case takes a turn. The first novel in the series is the best, with the rest following in consecutive order. Much like the second installment, the writing is still clunky and does not feel as if it was written by the author. Once again, the redundant points made in short chapters (e.g., how many times is Lazarus going to almost black out from addiction and his kidney surgery?), as well as the characters losing more of their likable traits. Additionally, it felt like this novel was as sparse as the second regarding Judge Dawson who is supposed to be the mastermind behind the plots of the last two novels. I would have preferred hearing more about Dawson than anything involving Keri or newcomer Selene. Leave the family drama at home
Thus, the third installment unfortunately did not pay off suspense-wise in the way I had hoped. While there were some intriguing passages, this may be the weakest of the authors' series. I recommend reading one of his older standalones instead. Overall, three stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced reader copy.
This is the 3rd in the Vegas Shadows Books series, starring Detective Lazarus Holloway and lawyer Piper Danes. In this installment, Holloway is still recovering from the attack at the end of the last book that saw his partner and friend, Riley, killed, as well as an attack on his newly discovered daughter, Keri. Unable to actually sit back and recover, Holloway is pulled into a new case, prompted by the murder of one of his closest friends. As Holloway gets sucked further into a strange case involving the flaying of victims and the removal of their bones, Piper is contacted by a young woman who claims to be her half sister, which forces Piper to confront all the trauma she suffered as a child. Eventually, Holloway's case comes to a head, with some unbelievable reveals.
I'm still not sure how I feel about this book. It holds all the hallmarks of a Victor Methos story: sharp writing, extremely flawed characters, and Vegas as a character. The case of the bone stalker is just weird enough to keep the pages turning--and is made more compelling by the fact that Holloway has to deal with his alcohol addiction, desire to be out in the field while his body is still needing to heal, and having his daughter in his life. Piper's story felt less interesting in this book; her conversations with Selene, her sister, felt one note--they didn't move the story or the characters forward until a big reveal near the end that was surprising but didn't add much to the overall plot.
This might be Methos' most gruesome story that I've read. Don't eat while reading this, and for anyone who has difficulty with explicit descriptions of bodily harm, this might be one to skip. I found myself physically recoiling at many of the scenes, especially in the climactic series of events. This story is sticking with me and I'm definitely interested to see what happens with Holloway and Danes next.
The Bone Stalker is out June 23, 2026.
This is the 3rd in the Vegas Shadows Books series, starring Detective Lazarus Holloway and lawyer Piper Danes. In this installment, Holloway is still recovering from the attack at the end of the last book that saw his partner and friend, Riley, killed, as well as an attack on his newly discovered daughter, Keri. Unable to actually sit back and recover, Holloway is pulled into a new case, prompted by the murder of one of his closest friends. As Holloway gets sucked further into a strange case involving the flaying of victims and the removal of their bones, Piper is contacted by a young woman who claims to be her half sister, which forces Piper to confront all the trauma she suffered as a child. Eventually, Holloway's case comes to a head, with some unbelievable reveals.
I'm still not sure how I feel about this book. It holds all the hallmarks of a Victor Methos story: sharp writing, extremely flawed characters, and Vegas as a character. The case of the bone stalker is just weird enough to keep the pages turning--and is made more compelling by the fact that Holloway has to deal with his alcohol addiction, desire to be out in the field while his body is still needing to heal, and having his daughter in his life. Piper's story felt less interesting in this book; her conversations with Selene, her sister, felt one note--they didn't move the story or the characters forward until a big reveal near the end that was surprising but didn't add much to the overall plot.
This might be Methos' most gruesome story that I've read. Don't eat while reading this, and for anyone who has difficulty with explicit descriptions of bodily harm, this might be one to skip. I found myself physically recoiling at many of the scenes, especially in the climactic series of events. This story is sticking with me and I'm definitely interested to see what happens with Holloway and Danes next.
The Bone Stalker is out June 23, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Bone Stalker is a dark, razor‑edged thriller that drags you straight into the shadows of Las Vegas and refuses to let you look away. From the opening pages, there’s a sense of something feral moving beneath the city’s glitter—a predator with a ritualistic precision that feels both ancient and deeply personal.
Detective Lazarus Holloway is the perfect anchor for a story this unsettling. He’s seasoned, steady, and used to staring down the worst humanity has to offer, yet this case shakes him in ways he can’t quite hide. The killer’s brutal signature—the careful removal of symbolic bones—creates a chilling pattern that circles closer and closer to Lazarus himself. It’s the kind of twist that tightens the entire narrative, making every discovery feel like a step toward something far more intimate and dangerous.
Piper Danes adds a sharp, grounded counterbalance to Lazarus’s growing obsession, and their partnership gives the story a welcome emotional texture. As they dig deeper, the city’s polished façade begins to crack, revealing a web of secrets that’s been quietly tightening for years. The tension builds beautifully, each revelation darker than the last.
And then the case turns personal. When someone close to Lazarus is taken, the novel shifts into a breathless, high‑stakes chase that pushes him right to the edge of the darkness he’s spent his life resisting. It’s gripping, atmospheric, and threaded with a moral complexity that lingers long after the final page.
Gritty, haunting, and compulsively readable, The Bone Stalker is a thriller that knows exactly how to get under your skin—and stay there.
With thanks to Victor Methos, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Detective Lazarus Holloway is the perfect anchor for a story this unsettling. He’s seasoned, steady, and used to staring down the worst humanity has to offer, yet this case shakes him in ways he can’t quite hide. The killer’s brutal signature—the careful removal of symbolic bones—creates a chilling pattern that circles closer and closer to Lazarus himself. It’s the kind of twist that tightens the entire narrative, making every discovery feel like a step toward something far more intimate and dangerous.
Piper Danes adds a sharp, grounded counterbalance to Lazarus’s growing obsession, and their partnership gives the story a welcome emotional texture. As they dig deeper, the city’s polished façade begins to crack, revealing a web of secrets that’s been quietly tightening for years. The tension builds beautifully, each revelation darker than the last.
And then the case turns personal. When someone close to Lazarus is taken, the novel shifts into a breathless, high‑stakes chase that pushes him right to the edge of the darkness he’s spent his life resisting. It’s gripping, atmospheric, and threaded with a moral complexity that lingers long after the final page.
Gritty, haunting, and compulsively readable, The Bone Stalker is a thriller that knows exactly how to get under your skin—and stay there.
With thanks to Victor Methos, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THE BONE STALKER is the third installment of the Vegas Shadows book franchise. I was anxious to read it, because Lazarus is my favorite MMC (main male character). In this installment, watching him wrestle with his own faults while staying committed to protecting those around him made the book more interesting. This round was deep, dark, and insanely good.
Out of all of Victor Methos’ books I’ve read, this one is the darkest of them all. The kills were descriptive and gritty. At times, the violence gets quite graphic, and I felt I had to stop reading for a bit because of how gruesome the killings were. But I stayed with the book, consuming it like a man possessed.
The plot and subplots were impressive and easy to get lost in. I enjoyed what I was reading and didn’t want to stop.
I believe more books are coming in this series. There’s one resolution that wasn’t solved, in my opinion. (I am hoping there will be more books in the series!)
I highly recommend this book to readers. Thank you, Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer, for the advance readers’ copy, and all thoughts and opinions were of my own.
Out of all of Victor Methos’ books I’ve read, this one is the darkest of them all. The kills were descriptive and gritty. At times, the violence gets quite graphic, and I felt I had to stop reading for a bit because of how gruesome the killings were. But I stayed with the book, consuming it like a man possessed.
The plot and subplots were impressive and easy to get lost in. I enjoyed what I was reading and didn’t want to stop.
I believe more books are coming in this series. There’s one resolution that wasn’t solved, in my opinion. (I am hoping there will be more books in the series!)
I highly recommend this book to readers. Thank you, Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer, for the advance readers’ copy, and all thoughts and opinions were of my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Bone Stalker is the 3rd book in this series, and grizzled veteran Detective Lazarus Holloway matches wits with a vicious killer who is taunting him by targeting people Halloway holds near and dear. The book picks up with Holloway still recovering from severe injuries suffered in his last adventure, and he’s quickly put to the test when a body is found with their bones brutally removed. This is a gruesome and at times violent edition in this series, as Holloway battles his inner demons as well as his debilitating injuries in a plot that keeps readers firmly engaged. Even the subplot involving Holloway’s sometime partner, juvenile guardian attorney Piper Danes has meaning. Plenty of action scenes, not for the squeamish, and a riveting police procedural add up to another winner in this series. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The third in the Vegas Shadows series and it really is necessary to have read the others first to have a good idea of what is going on. Lazarus is as troubled as ever as he pursues the grisly Bone Snatcher a seemingly superhuman killer with a penchant for extracting and chewing the bones of his victims.
As always Pierce is looking out for him and becomes inextricably intertwined in his pursuit of the killer.
There is fascinating human interest too as Lazarus is forced to take on board the responsibilities of fatherhood and Piper too is faced with an apparent long lost relative which helps her to reexamine her childhood.
It is a densely plotted and violent thriller which shocks and enthrals in equal proportions.
I enjoyed it immensely and was left wondering if there is more to come in this series.
As always Pierce is looking out for him and becomes inextricably intertwined in his pursuit of the killer.
There is fascinating human interest too as Lazarus is forced to take on board the responsibilities of fatherhood and Piper too is faced with an apparent long lost relative which helps her to reexamine her childhood.
It is a densely plotted and violent thriller which shocks and enthrals in equal proportions.
I enjoyed it immensely and was left wondering if there is more to come in this series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“The Bone Stalker” by Victor Methos is the third installment in the Vegas Shadows series.
From the very first pages there’s a sense of a savage predator moving beneath the city’s glamorous facade.
Detective Lazarus Holloway and partner Guardian ad Litem Piper Danes are tracking down a serial killer that has hit too close to home. The killer’s brutal signature is the removal of the victim’s bones leaving symbolic messages. The descriptions of the murders and bodily harm are graphic so if this is a trigger for you, this book may be the one to skip. This thriller has taken a much darker and gruesome turn than the previous two books. I found myself having to skip past some of the action which is why I am giving it 3 stars. For everyone else who does not have this sensitivity, I think you will enjoy this emotionally intense, character driven addition to the series.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
From the very first pages there’s a sense of a savage predator moving beneath the city’s glamorous facade.
Detective Lazarus Holloway and partner Guardian ad Litem Piper Danes are tracking down a serial killer that has hit too close to home. The killer’s brutal signature is the removal of the victim’s bones leaving symbolic messages. The descriptions of the murders and bodily harm are graphic so if this is a trigger for you, this book may be the one to skip. This thriller has taken a much darker and gruesome turn than the previous two books. I found myself having to skip past some of the action which is why I am giving it 3 stars. For everyone else who does not have this sensitivity, I think you will enjoy this emotionally intense, character driven addition to the series.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Received as an ARC through Netgalley to read and review, this is an honest review.
Published by Thomas & Mercer
The Bone Stalker is a haunting read, with gruesome, brutal way the killer murders the people that have been marked to die. The serial killer made the mistake of putting themselves into the cross hairs of Detective Lazarus Holloway. He despises people that do awful things to innocent people... and the race is on with the company of trusted colleagues fight against a murderer that won't stop unless dead or in jail.
Hauntingly descriptive but beautifully poignant with well thpughtout character depth.
Highly recommended.
Published by Thomas & Mercer
The Bone Stalker is a haunting read, with gruesome, brutal way the killer murders the people that have been marked to die. The serial killer made the mistake of putting themselves into the cross hairs of Detective Lazarus Holloway. He despises people that do awful things to innocent people... and the race is on with the company of trusted colleagues fight against a murderer that won't stop unless dead or in jail.
Hauntingly descriptive but beautifully poignant with well thpughtout character depth.
Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for providing the copy of The Bone Stalker by Victor Methos.. When I started reading books by Methos, I was entranced by the writing style, so I’m not sure what changed and I couldn’t get interested in this book. I missed the courtroom battles from his earlier books. Lazarus was annoying as he insisted on drinking and acting like an action hero right after he underwent surgery. I stopped caring when he kept ripping his stitches and bleeding. This wasn’t the book for me, but if you love action and ‘manly’ men, it’s the book for you! 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
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March 24, 2026The Bone Stalker by new to me author Victor Methos is book three in the Vegas Shadows Series. The book is published by Thomas & Mercer, is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. For best reading experience I recommend to read the books in order.
Seasoned Detective Lazarus Holloway's latest case is a serial bad man who leads the Detective on a goose chase, a race against the tim, is fast paced, complex, gives all the feels, deserves all the stars.
I recommend the book and the series, 5 stars.
Seasoned Detective Lazarus Holloway's latest case is a serial bad man who leads the Detective on a goose chase, a race against the tim, is fast paced, complex, gives all the feels, deserves all the stars.
I recommend the book and the series, 5 stars.
March 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!
Once again, the life of Lazarus Holloway had me in a chokehold. I absolutely LOVED this third novel in the series. I’m so mad at myself for starting it before it ended, because waiting for each book is painful. Even though it had been months since I read the second book in the series, what happened previously came back fast. This book is fast-paced and gripping! I was reading at stop lights! I can’t wait for more Lazarus.
Once again, the life of Lazarus Holloway had me in a chokehold. I absolutely LOVED this third novel in the series. I’m so mad at myself for starting it before it ended, because waiting for each book is painful. Even though it had been months since I read the second book in the series, what happened previously came back fast. This book is fast-paced and gripping! I was reading at stop lights! I can’t wait for more Lazarus.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.25⭐️ I think this was my favorite book so far of the series. The story picks up right where the last one ended. I really enjoyed the main storyline of this one. It was a darker and grittier than the previous 2 books. I also like that there is an ongoing story and the same background characters throughout the series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews