Bricks and Bones

by J.D. Allen

When a mobster’s buried treasure inspires a series of violent crimes, private investigator Jim Bean will risk his life to solve his deadliest case yet.

What do Jeffrey 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? That’s what PI Jim Bean must find out to solve his next case.

When Irving Silverland hires him to find some missing murderabilia objects from his museum, Jim Bean struggles to find a motive behind the strange theft. But when one of the exhibit’s employees is bludgeoned to death with the stolen brick that came from Lizzie Borden’s fireplace, the bigger picture behind the crimes begins to take shape.

As legend has it, infamous mobster Phillip DeAngelo buried his fortune somewhere in the Vegas desert—and Jim suspects that Silverland’s museum holds the key to the treasure’s location. Now, more than one person is ready to kill Silverland’s daughter to get their hands on it.

As a trail of violent crimes blazes through Vegas, Jim Bean finds himself scrambling to untangle the Silverland family’s dark history. But when he gets too close to the truth, the fortune hunters will do anything to keep him quiet…even if that means putting him six feet under.

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Praise for J.D. Allen and the Sin City Investigations

"...extremely vivid noir characters..." —Chris Bauer, author of Hiding Among the Dead and Zero Island

"Secrets abound, and Allen doesn’t shy away from twists...” —LynDee Walker, Amazon Charts bestselling author of Fear No Truth

"Settle in, take a deep breath, and keep those pages turning..." —Tami Hoag, #1 New York Times Best Selling Author

"...characters who will bring you along with them on a great thrill ride!" —Heather Graham, New York Times Best Selling Author

"Overall, a must read for thriller fans and perhaps the best PI story we have read this year so far." ―Mystery Tribune

“That wonderful and rare combination of high-speed suspense and complex, richly drawn characters will keep you on the edge of your seat.” —Jeffery Deaver, New York Times bestselling author

"...one foot in the classic PI tradition and the other in the new age...a smart, fast-paced book that will keep the reader on edge from start to finish." ―Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of What You Break

"...a labyrinthine path that immerses readers in the dark history of this glitzy town. It’s a good thing for readers that what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay there, so we can follow this gritty mystery to its rewarding finale." —Katherine Ramsland, professor of forensic psychology and author of How to Catch a Killer

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What readers are

★★★★★ "...riveting..."★★★★★ "...I’m hooked!"★★★★★ "...mind-blowing..."★★★★★ "...action-packed page turner...

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 29, 2022

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.>
JD writes hardboiled PI Thrillers set in Vegas. Skin Game, the 2nd book in the Sin City Series, was nominated for a Shamus in 2020. She has short stories that have appeared in the Anthony Award-winning anthology, Murder under the Oaks, Carolina Crimes, Florida Happens, and Author Cruising Covid.
She is a member and VP of the Florida chapter of MWA, a member and former chapter president of Sisters in Crime. She moved to a lovely, downsized home in St Augustine, Fl, just in time to quarantine with her mom, six cats, and a grumpy Brit.
Pass her a drink.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Grace Convertino · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 the 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.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“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 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 plot. 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.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 garrotes 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 garrotes 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.

[Sheila Sobel · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, Jim Bean’s new case appears to be straightforward, but when a long-thought-to-be-dead mob boss’s daughter resurfaces with a new identity after years on the lam, the case takes a deadly turn. Soon after Bean is hired by Irving Silverland, the woman’s father, to find historic items stolen from his Las Vegas murderabilia museum, a museum employee is murdered, bludgeoned to death by a brick rumored to have come from Lizzie Borden’s fireplace. Jim, cautioned by the police to stay out of their investigation, finds it an impossible request since the two cases dovetail into a hunt for buried treasure that someone believes is worth killing for.

Murderabilia, the mob and buried treasure, what’s not to love about J.D. Allen’s mystery, “Bricks and Bones, Sin City Investigations Book 5”? An action-packed page turner, J.D. Allen’s latest in the Jim Bean series is an excellent read. I received an advance reader’s copy for review purposes.

[David Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m amazed at each of the Jim Bean Sin City PI books, while they each have the same characters and a case to be investigated, that is where the similarity ends. The rest of each story is a total departure from its predecessors and Brick and Bones is no different. AS far as the series goes these stories get better with each new story, I believe Bricks and Bones is my favorite so far, who know what how I’ll fell when the next installment appears. This story was not only action-packed, but there was a significant amount of misdirection by several of the characters as they all attempted to get their hands on a treasure. That’s about all I am going to say about the story for fear of providing any spoilers. However, I’d suggest getting a copy and settling in for a very enjoyable afternoon/evening of reading and following Jim and the gang as they work the case.

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first I’ve read by this author, but I’m hooked! Such interesting characters with varied and often crazy histories. Combine that with mob and gang connections and 2 bizarre museums: the Macabre Burlesque Theater and Murderabilia Exhibit and theGhost Hunters Museum, both showcasing oddities of the criminal mind. Jim Bean is hired by the owner of the Macabre to find some “artifacts” stolen from his Exhibit. But the more Jim and his apprentice/assistant Sandy look into things, the more evident it is that the stakes are much higher than the missing items. Excitement from the beginning to the end as it turns into a race! I received an ARC of this book from SRC mysteries and write this review voluntarily.

[Ilona · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you love in a novel! This is an outstanding addition to a great series. A cast of interesting characters that are developed with great depth. Bean and company are asked to locate some stolen macabre artifacts. What sounds simple becomes very complex when everyone he interviews is hiding something. When people start being murdered Bean realizes he is once again mired in a case that the local police want him to stay out of. A complex storyline with twisted threads that will keep you guessing. Brilliant book that I highly recommend.

[Tim Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Bean is back, with some positive changes in the dynamics of the group. A decades old war between mafia families mixed with modern day organised crime, a woman long believed dead and a reality TV ghost hunter combine to bring yet more chaos to Jim's world, although this time he's better equipped to handle it. As fascinating as the main plot is the lesson in the history of Las Vegas, and its mob connection. It probably helps to have read at least the previous book in this series, and if you've read the series this will definitely be a valued addition

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Jim Bean finds himself in the midst of an investigation that’s gone sideways. What began as a simple investigation into the theft of murderabilia exhibit artifacts becomes so much more complex as people begin dying. Jim’s investigation involves old Las Vegas mob families, a missing twin, murder and hidden treasure. Never a dull moment in this series! The characters are great and the investigations are always interesting and complex.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bricks and Bones is a story about life in Vegas and all the underbelly characters that might (or not) still be around the city. It involves two mob families and quite a few different people trying to find a hidden mob treasure. It has an interesting plot that could have been written at a faster pace, however, it still provides good entertainment!
I received an ARC copy of this book and this is my unbiased opinion.

[Doreen Fernandes]

Antiquities and Murder

Another mind-blowing page turner in the Jim Bean series. Can antique bricks and bones lead you to hidden treasure? When a girl is murdered, Jim Bean discovers that her murder is not accidental when another body is discovered. Jim is being framed and his life is in danger. Will he be able to find the killer before there is more mayhem. The twist at the end is unbelievable.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m loving this series! Jim Bean is hired to find a few stolen items, but his case is quickly complicated by murder and deep ties to the mob. This is a complex, twisty tale with well drawn characters and excellent storytelling. Highly recommended. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

[Emmy McCabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

PI Jim Bean was hired by Irving Silverland to find some artifacts that were stolen from his museum. Was this really the reason for him hiring Jim? We learn that Irving has two daughters Bella and twin sister Nina, Nina has been missing and presumed dead. Nina left many years ago with her then boyfriend Joey D'Angelo, son of a well known Mob leader. Does Irving want to find Nina, his long lost daughter or something else. A great mystery, with lots of twists and turns.

[RIchard Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bricks and Bones (Sin City Investigations Book 5), my fifth read from author J.D. Allen. I prefer mystery, thrillers & crime action fiction & this doesn't disappoint. "I received a complementary Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." No Deal (Sin City Investigations Book 6) is high on my TBR list. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim Bean takes on a much-needed paying case. Someone has stolen valuable artifacts from The Murderabilia Exhibit. What Jim thought would be a 'safe' case turns out to be anything but! Even his old pal Ely is involved! I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Christmas Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can never miss when Jim, Sandy, Miller, Eli and Anna are in the picture. Moments of mirth, fascinating info on the "good old days" and an all around riveting story written to enjoy, entertain and captivate. Highly Recommended.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doesn't stack up to the first four books in this series. It was "ok" but disappointing when compared to the others in this series.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, got a great idea of old Vegas and the way things were done.
Fast paced, engaging and great storyline.
Back stories starting to fill in on a few main characters which is great!

[Deb H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book. I enjoy a thriller and this did not disapoint. Listened on audible

[Sonia Jacobsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as other books by J. D. Allen in this series

[SteVen Hendricks · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.