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The Bone Records
NY Police Academy washout Grigg Orlov discovers an eerie piece of evidence at the scene of his father’s brutal murder: a disc-shaped X-ray of a skull. It’s a bone record—what Soviet citizens called banned American songs recorded on used X-rays. But the black-market singles haven’t been produced since the sixties. What’s one doing in Coney Island in 2016?
Grigg uncovers a connection between his father and three others who collected bone records when they were teenage friends growing up in Leningrad. Are past and present linked? Or is the murder tied to the local mob? Grigg’s got too many suspects and too little time. He must get to the truth before a remorseless killer takes everything he has.
Grigg uncovers a connection between his father and three others who collected bone records when they were teenage friends growing up in Leningrad. Are past and present linked? Or is the murder tied to the local mob? Grigg’s got too many suspects and too little time. He must get to the truth before a remorseless killer takes everything he has.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2022
188 people are currently reading
3990 people want to read
About the author
Rich Zahradnik
6 books113 followersRich Zahradnik is the author of the thriller The Bone Records and the four critically acclaimed Coleridge Taylor mysteries, including Lights Out Summer, winner of the Shamus Award from the Private Eye Writers of America.
Lights Out Summer won the 2018 Shamus Award for Best Paperback Private Eye Novel. The first three books in the series collected awards in the three major competitions for books published by independent presses. A Black Sail was named best mystery in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Drop Dead Punk received the gold medal for mystery ebook in the 2016 IPPY Awards, while Last Words won the bronze medal for mystery ebook in the 2015 IPPYs.
Zahradnik was a journalist for 27 years, working as a reporter and editor in several different media, including online, newspaper, broadcast, magazine and wire services. He held editorial positions at CNN, Bloomberg News, AOL and The Hollywood Reporter.
Zahradnik was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, and received his B.A. in journalism and political science from George Washington University. He lives with his wife Sheri in Pelham, New York, where he writes fiction and teaches kids around the New York area how to publish newspapers. He is providing guidance to the Pelham Examiner, the first community newspaper in New York State managed, edited, reported, and written by people under the age of eighteen.
Lights Out Summer won the 2018 Shamus Award for Best Paperback Private Eye Novel. The first three books in the series collected awards in the three major competitions for books published by independent presses. A Black Sail was named best mystery in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Drop Dead Punk received the gold medal for mystery ebook in the 2016 IPPY Awards, while Last Words won the bronze medal for mystery ebook in the 2015 IPPYs.
Zahradnik was a journalist for 27 years, working as a reporter and editor in several different media, including online, newspaper, broadcast, magazine and wire services. He held editorial positions at CNN, Bloomberg News, AOL and The Hollywood Reporter.
Zahradnik was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, and received his B.A. in journalism and political science from George Washington University. He lives with his wife Sheri in Pelham, New York, where he writes fiction and teaches kids around the New York area how to publish newspapers. He is providing guidance to the Pelham Examiner, the first community newspaper in New York State managed, edited, reported, and written by people under the age of eighteen.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 2, 2023
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE BONE RECORDS by Rich Zahradnik is a non-stop fast paced thriller filled with Russian mobsters and government agents, corrupt NYPD police, and FBI agents, good and bad, all after a young protagonist caught up for unknown reasons in international intrigue.
Grigg Orlov has never felt he belonged in his neighborhood of Little Odessa. Born of a Russian immigrant father and a Jamaican mother, he is plagued with prejudice his entire life. His father reappears after a six-month absence only to have both chased and his father killed. Grigg finds a disc shaped x-ray of a skull on his father’s body. It has an individual old song recording on the opposite side. He learns the discs were called bone records which in the old Soviet Union were sold on the black market with banned American music, but what does this have to do with his father?
Grigg and his ex-girlfriend, Katia, discover an old connection his father had to a group of friends in Russia and bone records, but what does that have to do with the present day run for his life from Russian mobsters and government spies? With no help from law enforcement, Grigg must find the truth before he and Katia end up dead.
This is a thriller with a stubborn and flawed young protagonist that the author is able to make me still care about and follow on this harrowing investigation and run for his life. The history of the bone records was interesting and new to me. The vivid descriptions of the neighborhood of Little Odessa and Coney Island made both feel real and integral to the story. I felt at times the number of mobsters, spies and corrupt law enforcement officials was over the top, but it certainly kept the action and Grigg moving. Every plot thread is tied up at the climatic ending, I just wish a few were answered sooner in the story because for me, all the solutions were rushed into the last chapters with much of the story being threat and chase.
I recommend this entertaining thriller with its unique protagonist and plenty of action and suspects.
THE BONE RECORDS by Rich Zahradnik is a non-stop fast paced thriller filled with Russian mobsters and government agents, corrupt NYPD police, and FBI agents, good and bad, all after a young protagonist caught up for unknown reasons in international intrigue.
Grigg Orlov has never felt he belonged in his neighborhood of Little Odessa. Born of a Russian immigrant father and a Jamaican mother, he is plagued with prejudice his entire life. His father reappears after a six-month absence only to have both chased and his father killed. Grigg finds a disc shaped x-ray of a skull on his father’s body. It has an individual old song recording on the opposite side. He learns the discs were called bone records which in the old Soviet Union were sold on the black market with banned American music, but what does this have to do with his father?
Grigg and his ex-girlfriend, Katia, discover an old connection his father had to a group of friends in Russia and bone records, but what does that have to do with the present day run for his life from Russian mobsters and government spies? With no help from law enforcement, Grigg must find the truth before he and Katia end up dead.
This is a thriller with a stubborn and flawed young protagonist that the author is able to make me still care about and follow on this harrowing investigation and run for his life. The history of the bone records was interesting and new to me. The vivid descriptions of the neighborhood of Little Odessa and Coney Island made both feel real and integral to the story. I felt at times the number of mobsters, spies and corrupt law enforcement officials was over the top, but it certainly kept the action and Grigg moving. Every plot thread is tied up at the climatic ending, I just wish a few were answered sooner in the story because for me, all the solutions were rushed into the last chapters with much of the story being threat and chase.
I recommend this entertaining thriller with its unique protagonist and plenty of action and suspects.
November 8, 2022
A high octane thriller from start to finish!
Grigg Orlov witnesses his father's murder, barely escaping himself. He takes with him what's called a bone record, an x-ray of a skull with one side containing the recording of a song. This is how some people in Russia would listen to banned American music in the sixties. It's also a calling card, if you get one that means your life's in danger, but from who? This leaves Grigg to figure out why his father was targeted and just who is now after him. From here the action gets intense as Grigg finds himself running from everybody it seems with just a couple people he can count on for help. One of them though has also received a bone record and she's a target as well. Will he be able to solve the riddle before anyone else, including himself, gets killed? This one had me guessing right up to the end.
I really enjoyed this crazy, suspenseful joy ride. The relatively short chapters containing lots of action make this a quick read that I couldn't put down. I was invested in Grigg's predicament wondering how things might resolve and who the bad guys were.
If you like a story with lots of action and possible suspects this might be one you're looking for.
Thank you to the author and Saichek Publicity for the gifted copy for me to read and review.
Grigg Orlov witnesses his father's murder, barely escaping himself. He takes with him what's called a bone record, an x-ray of a skull with one side containing the recording of a song. This is how some people in Russia would listen to banned American music in the sixties. It's also a calling card, if you get one that means your life's in danger, but from who? This leaves Grigg to figure out why his father was targeted and just who is now after him. From here the action gets intense as Grigg finds himself running from everybody it seems with just a couple people he can count on for help. One of them though has also received a bone record and she's a target as well. Will he be able to solve the riddle before anyone else, including himself, gets killed? This one had me guessing right up to the end.
I really enjoyed this crazy, suspenseful joy ride. The relatively short chapters containing lots of action make this a quick read that I couldn't put down. I was invested in Grigg's predicament wondering how things might resolve and who the bad guys were.
If you like a story with lots of action and possible suspects this might be one you're looking for.
Thank you to the author and Saichek Publicity for the gifted copy for me to read and review.
February 7, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Rich Zahradnik and Partners In Crime Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.
The Bone Records tells a dark story of the Russian mafia. The book hooks you from the start and doesn’t let go until it’s over. The book is full of descriptive details and the story quickly becomes very dark. The book is not for the faint of heart and contains graphic descriptions. Despite being difficult to read, these parts added depth to the story and were necessary to completely submerge yourself in the story.
Grigg’s dad disappeared and resurfaces for a short time only to disappear for good. To figure out who would want to murder his dad and why, Griggs must confront the past. Filled with mystery and suspense the reader is taken on an interesting ride to solve this mystery. The author does an excellent job of weaving together an engagingly complex plot full of effective and enjoyable characters.
The backdrop of Coney Island and the nearby declining neighborhoods known as Little Odessa is the perfect setting for this twisty tale. I’ve never been to this part of the country yet the writing transported me there. Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.
The Bone Records tells a dark story of the Russian mafia. The book hooks you from the start and doesn’t let go until it’s over. The book is full of descriptive details and the story quickly becomes very dark. The book is not for the faint of heart and contains graphic descriptions. Despite being difficult to read, these parts added depth to the story and were necessary to completely submerge yourself in the story.
Grigg’s dad disappeared and resurfaces for a short time only to disappear for good. To figure out who would want to murder his dad and why, Griggs must confront the past. Filled with mystery and suspense the reader is taken on an interesting ride to solve this mystery. The author does an excellent job of weaving together an engagingly complex plot full of effective and enjoyable characters.
The backdrop of Coney Island and the nearby declining neighborhoods known as Little Odessa is the perfect setting for this twisty tale. I’ve never been to this part of the country yet the writing transported me there. Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.
February 2, 2023
The Bone Records.
A story about dark Russian mafia, Lots of detail within this story, Gets very dark very quick.
Griggs,
Has been searching for his father for 6 months because well he was missing,, Done things he didn't want to do but needed to do to find his dad..
When his dad reappears hes taken away In a matter of Minutes.. Now Griggs has suspects and too many.. To figure out.. Who done it why would anyone want to take his father away.
There are Some graphic parts in the book..
So over all it was a good book.. But dark and graphic .All about a boy trying to figure out who murdered his father and why.. about the bone record.
A story about dark Russian mafia, Lots of detail within this story, Gets very dark very quick.
Griggs,
Has been searching for his father for 6 months because well he was missing,, Done things he didn't want to do but needed to do to find his dad..
When his dad reappears hes taken away In a matter of Minutes.. Now Griggs has suspects and too many.. To figure out.. Who done it why would anyone want to take his father away.
There are Some graphic parts in the book..
So over all it was a good book.. But dark and graphic .All about a boy trying to figure out who murdered his father and why.. about the bone record.
January 2, 2023
This was passed along from a coworker. I’d say 3.5 stars. It started off slow, but I read most of it in 1 day. Had me on the edge of my seat. There was a lot of history involved (I think 😅) that might have made it more of an interesting read had I known more about it.
January 8, 2023
The hallmark of any of Rich Zahradnik novel is a powerful sense of time and place that is far more than a one-dimensional backdrop for the characters and action of the story.
So it is with his latest mystery, The Bone Records. Zahradnik's rich descriptions of the faded glory of Coney Island and the threadbare decline of surrounding neighborhoods collectively known as Little Odessa create a vivid landscape for the lonely and desperate quest of Grigg Orlov to find his father's killers.
Orlov is a racial outcast in the Russian enclave he stubbornly calls home. His father was a Russian emigre, but his mother was Jamaican. He's stigmatized and downtrodden, forced to sell the home he shared with his father. He's also crippled, his left leg badly damaged following a vicious attack by masked police academy classmates that forced him to give his dream of becoming a New York cop.
All of this makes him an unlikely hero facing long odds that favor failure. But there's something gloomily dogged about Orlov, a decidedly fatalistic and utterly Russian determination to find out why a ginger-haired killer kicked down his front door just as his missing father was slipping in through the back door to say goodbye before returning to Russia, chasing them both across rooftops before gunning down dad.
All Orlov has to go on is a rolled-up tube bound by a rubber band his father gave him. And his dying old man's final instructions -- go to Katia Sokolov, his teenage sweetheart, the girl he abandoned a year ago. Unrolling the tube leads to more mystery -- it's an old X-ray of a skull with circular grooves cut into one side of the film and a hole punched in the middle.
Alfred Hitchcock would call this the MacGuffin of the story, the object of desire that binds together the characters and the narrative. Think of the black bird of The Maltese Falcon. In Zahradnik's story, the MacGuffin is called a bone record, a throwback to the end times of the old Soviet Union when hipsters, jazz addicts and rock rebels would cut forbidden tunes on the back of old X-rays and circulate them underground.
This bone record has Not Fade Away scrawled on it but doesn't say whether it's the Buddy Holly original or the cover by The Rolling Stones. Orlov remembers the day his father got it in the mail, opened the envelope then froze in fear when he realized what it was. A calling card from the past. He disappeared that night.
Swallowing his pride and shame, Orlov goes to Katia, whose own father is dead but was a close friend of Orlov's father, a fellow emigre from the Soviet Union. The star-crossed lovers rekindle their romance and chase after answers that lead them through a deadly and complex maze of computer hackers, Russian mobsters, crooked cops and a shipping container full of cash and gold bullion.
There's also the long arm of Vladimir Putin and the security thugs he sends to track down this stolen lucre.
But at the heart of this story is the MacGuffin, the bone records that represent ancient betrayal resurrected and stalking the present.
-- Jim Nesbitt, author of the Ed Earl Burch series of hard-boiled Texas crime thrillers
So it is with his latest mystery, The Bone Records. Zahradnik's rich descriptions of the faded glory of Coney Island and the threadbare decline of surrounding neighborhoods collectively known as Little Odessa create a vivid landscape for the lonely and desperate quest of Grigg Orlov to find his father's killers.
Orlov is a racial outcast in the Russian enclave he stubbornly calls home. His father was a Russian emigre, but his mother was Jamaican. He's stigmatized and downtrodden, forced to sell the home he shared with his father. He's also crippled, his left leg badly damaged following a vicious attack by masked police academy classmates that forced him to give his dream of becoming a New York cop.
All of this makes him an unlikely hero facing long odds that favor failure. But there's something gloomily dogged about Orlov, a decidedly fatalistic and utterly Russian determination to find out why a ginger-haired killer kicked down his front door just as his missing father was slipping in through the back door to say goodbye before returning to Russia, chasing them both across rooftops before gunning down dad.
All Orlov has to go on is a rolled-up tube bound by a rubber band his father gave him. And his dying old man's final instructions -- go to Katia Sokolov, his teenage sweetheart, the girl he abandoned a year ago. Unrolling the tube leads to more mystery -- it's an old X-ray of a skull with circular grooves cut into one side of the film and a hole punched in the middle.
Alfred Hitchcock would call this the MacGuffin of the story, the object of desire that binds together the characters and the narrative. Think of the black bird of The Maltese Falcon. In Zahradnik's story, the MacGuffin is called a bone record, a throwback to the end times of the old Soviet Union when hipsters, jazz addicts and rock rebels would cut forbidden tunes on the back of old X-rays and circulate them underground.
This bone record has Not Fade Away scrawled on it but doesn't say whether it's the Buddy Holly original or the cover by The Rolling Stones. Orlov remembers the day his father got it in the mail, opened the envelope then froze in fear when he realized what it was. A calling card from the past. He disappeared that night.
Swallowing his pride and shame, Orlov goes to Katia, whose own father is dead but was a close friend of Orlov's father, a fellow emigre from the Soviet Union. The star-crossed lovers rekindle their romance and chase after answers that lead them through a deadly and complex maze of computer hackers, Russian mobsters, crooked cops and a shipping container full of cash and gold bullion.
There's also the long arm of Vladimir Putin and the security thugs he sends to track down this stolen lucre.
But at the heart of this story is the MacGuffin, the bone records that represent ancient betrayal resurrected and stalking the present.
-- Jim Nesbitt, author of the Ed Earl Burch series of hard-boiled Texas crime thrillers
December 28, 2022
Zahradnik keeps you guessing right up until the end! The Bone Records is well researched and it shows in the setting and plot.
November 10, 2022
Thoroughly engrossing, fast paced detective yarn, with a very cool premise!
Zahradnik weaves a vibrant tapestry set within the Russian enclaves of Brooklyn, most especially Coney Island. This fast-paced detective yarn grabbed me from page one and didn’t let me go until the very end. Smartly written, superbly researched, and informed by the real-life underworld of social media hackers that was pervasive during the period in which the story is set, and which is still very much in operation today. Can’t recommend this book enough!
Zahradnik weaves a vibrant tapestry set within the Russian enclaves of Brooklyn, most especially Coney Island. This fast-paced detective yarn grabbed me from page one and didn’t let me go until the very end. Smartly written, superbly researched, and informed by the real-life underworld of social media hackers that was pervasive during the period in which the story is set, and which is still very much in operation today. Can’t recommend this book enough!
November 3, 2022
With a unique, haunting premise, The Bone Records hits the ground at a full-on sprint and never lets up. Against the rich backdrop of Brooklyn's Little Odessa and nearby Coney Island, Grigg Orlov struggles to piece together the events that lead to his father's murder, but between Russian mobsters and shady police, who can he trust? Zahradnik kept me guessing to the very end. I couldn't put this one down.
November 12, 2022
Great world building tightly wrapped in suspense. Rich Zahradnik has done an excellent job of providing the reader with an inside look at Coney Island, the Russian mob and social media hackers from our not-so-distant past. "The Bone Records" is Zahradnik's best novel to date; I am looking forward to his next release.
November 28, 2022
Enthralling and wonderful read
February 12, 2023
“Grigg’s reunion with his father was brief—eight minutes to be exact—and ended when a man with a nickel-plated revolver shot Dad twice.” Award-winning author Rich Zahradnik’s first line of The Bone Records starts readers off on a literary rollercoaster.
Grigg Orlov doesn’t fit in anywhere. Mixed race—a Russian father and a Jamaican mother who died years before—he relies on his dad for community and connection. Failing out of the police academy after a ruthless beating leaves him permanently handicapped, Grigg struggles to survive, but at least he has his dad.
Then his father goes missing, and Grigg’s world loses its center. When his father ends up dead, Grigg goes on the run as he sets out to bring his father’s killer to justice, not to mention keep from meeting the same violent end.
The non-stop action of The Bone Records combines with engaging characters in a high stakes battle, where everyone has something they believe in. Add in the corrupt underworld of the Russian mob and the backdrop of a complicated political landscape, and readers are in for one hell of a ride.
Set in 2016, Zahradnik incorporates the political climate through radio announcements, social media, and other news outlets, landing readers squarely in the middle of a divisive time in American politics. Alongside the fascinating era, Zahradnik places readers in a dynamic location: Coney Island. “Outside the station, Deno’s Wonder Wheel turned slowly, towering over the amusement park that took its name from the ancient fifteen-story ride. The wheel’s spokes glowed a hot neon white. Hazy coronas surrounded all the lights.”
The iconic location is more than just an interesting neighborhood, it’s also the place Grigg calls home. “Coney Island’s beaches and rides and freak shows anchored him; they were his midtown, his Times Square.”
It’s also the place that fostered all the good memories in his life. After the death of his father, his failure as a police cadet, and the dissolution of his love life, Grigg has nothing left to lose … or does he? Zahradnik gives Grigg something else to live for, pushing the stakes to the end.
As fast-paced and engaging as the “mystery” is in The Bone Records, half the fun is the journey of the characters. Grigg is a sympathetic protagonist who is aided by equally engaging secondary characters. From ex-girlfriend Katia Sokolav to Joe the Borscht, everyone has an agenda, and no one can be trusted.
Crime fiction readers will be swept up by The Bone Records, proof that Zahradnik remains at the top of his game.
Grigg Orlov doesn’t fit in anywhere. Mixed race—a Russian father and a Jamaican mother who died years before—he relies on his dad for community and connection. Failing out of the police academy after a ruthless beating leaves him permanently handicapped, Grigg struggles to survive, but at least he has his dad.
Then his father goes missing, and Grigg’s world loses its center. When his father ends up dead, Grigg goes on the run as he sets out to bring his father’s killer to justice, not to mention keep from meeting the same violent end.
The non-stop action of The Bone Records combines with engaging characters in a high stakes battle, where everyone has something they believe in. Add in the corrupt underworld of the Russian mob and the backdrop of a complicated political landscape, and readers are in for one hell of a ride.
Set in 2016, Zahradnik incorporates the political climate through radio announcements, social media, and other news outlets, landing readers squarely in the middle of a divisive time in American politics. Alongside the fascinating era, Zahradnik places readers in a dynamic location: Coney Island. “Outside the station, Deno’s Wonder Wheel turned slowly, towering over the amusement park that took its name from the ancient fifteen-story ride. The wheel’s spokes glowed a hot neon white. Hazy coronas surrounded all the lights.”
The iconic location is more than just an interesting neighborhood, it’s also the place Grigg calls home. “Coney Island’s beaches and rides and freak shows anchored him; they were his midtown, his Times Square.”
It’s also the place that fostered all the good memories in his life. After the death of his father, his failure as a police cadet, and the dissolution of his love life, Grigg has nothing left to lose … or does he? Zahradnik gives Grigg something else to live for, pushing the stakes to the end.
As fast-paced and engaging as the “mystery” is in The Bone Records, half the fun is the journey of the characters. Grigg is a sympathetic protagonist who is aided by equally engaging secondary characters. From ex-girlfriend Katia Sokolav to Joe the Borscht, everyone has an agenda, and no one can be trusted.
Crime fiction readers will be swept up by The Bone Records, proof that Zahradnik remains at the top of his game.
September 13, 2023
THE BONE RECORDS is a thriller. Grigg Orlov, the son of a Russian father and Jamaican mother (deceased), was an outsider in his own neighborhood. His father disappeared six months ago and the NYPD wasn’t interested in looking for him. Grigg alone has been searching while juggling two jobs. Just as suddenly, his father returns, with a gunman hot on his heels. His father’s last stand launches Grigg on mission for the truth. One with twisted truths and secrets so deep, dying is the only way out.
Bottom line: THE BONE RECORDS is for you if you like lightning-fast pacing, engaging underdogs, and a setting in one of America’s hidden cultures.
Strengths of the story. Rooted in New York City’s Russian community, the story is a creative weave of fiction and facts in the foreground of the 2016 presidential election. That being said, this is not a political thriller. At its essence, The Bone Records is a thriller about a son searching for the truth about his father’s murder. The plotting is strong with Grigg taking actions that interfere with the antagonists’ goals and force them to react to him, propelling the story forward. There is ample lying, backstabbing, and spying to keep the reader guessing right along with Grigg about who can be trusted.
Where the story fell short of ideal. This is a very strong thriller. Of course, there are always little things I can pick at, but nothing worth mentioning. When I got to the end of THE BONE RECORDS, I sat for several moments and unpicked the weave of the storylines. They all held up. The actions stayed consisted with the motivations of the decision makers from start to finish. It would have been interesting if Grigg had had more time with his father. What would he have learned and how would it have changed Grigg’s actions. For that matter, after six months, why did his father come back at all?
Bottom line: THE BONE RECORDS is for you if you like lightning-fast pacing, engaging underdogs, and a setting in one of America’s hidden cultures.
Strengths of the story. Rooted in New York City’s Russian community, the story is a creative weave of fiction and facts in the foreground of the 2016 presidential election. That being said, this is not a political thriller. At its essence, The Bone Records is a thriller about a son searching for the truth about his father’s murder. The plotting is strong with Grigg taking actions that interfere with the antagonists’ goals and force them to react to him, propelling the story forward. There is ample lying, backstabbing, and spying to keep the reader guessing right along with Grigg about who can be trusted.
Where the story fell short of ideal. This is a very strong thriller. Of course, there are always little things I can pick at, but nothing worth mentioning. When I got to the end of THE BONE RECORDS, I sat for several moments and unpicked the weave of the storylines. They all held up. The actions stayed consisted with the motivations of the decision makers from start to finish. It would have been interesting if Grigg had had more time with his father. What would he have learned and how would it have changed Grigg’s actions. For that matter, after six months, why did his father come back at all?
January 31, 2023
This novel is a deep dive into the dark world of Russian mafia influence in the Coney Island area in 2016. Grigg is a flawed hero, getting himself and others in trouble because of his actions, often from drinking too much alcohol. But he is determined, mistakes and all, to find the murderer of his father. We are taken into his battle with the powerful Russian mob, thwarted by policemen on the take and eternally slow FBI agents.
This novel is a good immersion in all things Russian, including the culture, prejudice and revenge. I was surprised to see a bit of the Russian disinformation influence on the 2016 presidential election included and how some of it was done. There is also information about the intriguing recordings made on x-ray sheets, the bone records.
This is a good novel for readers who would like a dive into the dark world of possible Russian mob activities in New York City in 2016. There is plenty of action as Grigg tries to be one step ahead of the bad guys. Except for a token sex scene that did not further the plot and was described a little to graphically for me, I enjoyed this novel.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
This novel is a good immersion in all things Russian, including the culture, prejudice and revenge. I was surprised to see a bit of the Russian disinformation influence on the 2016 presidential election included and how some of it was done. There is also information about the intriguing recordings made on x-ray sheets, the bone records.
This is a good novel for readers who would like a dive into the dark world of possible Russian mob activities in New York City in 2016. There is plenty of action as Grigg tries to be one step ahead of the bad guys. Except for a token sex scene that did not further the plot and was described a little to graphically for me, I enjoyed this novel.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
August 2, 2025
This book truly deserves a 5-star review! The main character is unique, the setting is fascinating and rich in texture, and the 2016 election cycle as a backdrop (does it have anything to do with the murder? - read the book and find out) is very clever.
Grigg is the son of a Russian immigrant father and a Jamaican mother. He lives in the Little Odessa neighborhood where he grew up among Russian immigrants like his father but, unlike all the other residents, he looks like the son of his mother and therefore is an automatic outcast. One day his father disappears and 27-year-old Grigg spends all his free time - what little there is left over after working two jobs - looking for clues. Six months after he disappears, Grigg's father reappears in the middle of the night only to be shot dead 8 minutes later.
Who killed his father? Why was he killed? What does the "bone record" have to do with anything?
The list of suspects and motives stretches a mile long and grows longer with every new bit of information Grigg discovers. His only allies are childhood friend Katia and her hacker friend Charlotte.
Who else can he trust? Anyone? Which lead will solve his father's murder? Why won't the police investigate the murder?
This is an engrossing read - highly recommended!
Grigg is the son of a Russian immigrant father and a Jamaican mother. He lives in the Little Odessa neighborhood where he grew up among Russian immigrants like his father but, unlike all the other residents, he looks like the son of his mother and therefore is an automatic outcast. One day his father disappears and 27-year-old Grigg spends all his free time - what little there is left over after working two jobs - looking for clues. Six months after he disappears, Grigg's father reappears in the middle of the night only to be shot dead 8 minutes later.
Who killed his father? Why was he killed? What does the "bone record" have to do with anything?
The list of suspects and motives stretches a mile long and grows longer with every new bit of information Grigg discovers. His only allies are childhood friend Katia and her hacker friend Charlotte.
Who else can he trust? Anyone? Which lead will solve his father's murder? Why won't the police investigate the murder?
This is an engrossing read - highly recommended!
February 6, 2023
Rich Zhradnik whisked me into a thrilling ride with THE BONE RECORDS a few chapters in. It's a constant flow of excitement, intrigue, and mystery, along with a pull on our country's past with the bone records. It wasn't until early college during a history class that I had ever heard of such a thing. Quite intriguing how Stalin wanted to rid the Soviet Union of any American influences - including music!
I've never been to Coney Island, but I felt immersed into the scenes as Zhradnik executes vivid imagery. Grigg has always felt like an outsider due to his diverse combination of races from his father and mother, so if you're not familiar with the area, this creates a link for you to feel and process everything that Grigg is going through.
If you love movies that are composed of Russian mobsters, corrupt government/police, along with good guys who are putting their lives on the line for the truth, you'll love this book! Grigg is full of flaws and good intentions. You can't help but hope he can make it out alive and not lose everything he's fought so hard for.
I received a complimentary copy for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
I've never been to Coney Island, but I felt immersed into the scenes as Zhradnik executes vivid imagery. Grigg has always felt like an outsider due to his diverse combination of races from his father and mother, so if you're not familiar with the area, this creates a link for you to feel and process everything that Grigg is going through.
If you love movies that are composed of Russian mobsters, corrupt government/police, along with good guys who are putting their lives on the line for the truth, you'll love this book! Grigg is full of flaws and good intentions. You can't help but hope he can make it out alive and not lose everything he's fought so hard for.
I received a complimentary copy for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
June 12, 2023
This is a superb read, tense, well-written and above all unique--from its stubborn, driven protagonist (Grigg Orlov, an outsider even in his own community of Little Odessa) to its subject matter. Even the bone record(s) of the title is unique and arresting. Long-buried secrets and vendettas bubble to the surface in this novel, forcing Grigg into action. He'll have to battle forces he doesn't fully understand while contending with corruption he knows all too well.
I loved learning about bone records, and the neighborhood Orlov inhabits really comes to life. Everything about this novel is appealing and compelling. I highly recommend it.
I loved learning about bone records, and the neighborhood Orlov inhabits really comes to life. Everything about this novel is appealing and compelling. I highly recommend it.
July 10, 2024
This book may appeal to some but I didn’t like the style. The book drew my interest due to the setting in the ethnic Russian community. Due to the main character being ostracized, the enlightenment on that topic was limited. All in all the book was dreary and depressing. The MC’s crippling injury is never explained well. In spite of the fact he can barely walk, he abuses the leg and suffers injuries to it repeated yet he can still ambulate. Very unlikely. The resolution is too pat and not believable. This book paints NYC and the NYPD as very racist. Is this true?
February 7, 2023
I won a Kindle copy of this book on a Goodreads giveaway. It was ok. Started out with an awful lot of violence.... And that stayed pretty consistent. I felt like the end was a little too quick. It took me a while to get invested in the book but was definitely interested in reading it as quickly as I could at the end.
May 29, 2023
Grigg was born in America and parents were Russian. Everyone assumed Grigg was Russian. Someone was chasing his Dad and ended up dead on Griggs roof. He was a suspect in his Dads murder. His Dad told him he was going back to Russia before he was shot.Grigg tried to find out why and who wanted to kill his Dad. Not alot of luck find out anything. Not a interesting story to me.
August 16, 2024
Russia, Russia, Russia
This book was like reading the newspaper. It's so authentic and real. It makes me want that much less of wanting to visit New York. But, I still would love to visit the New York harbor and visit the Statue of Liberty. Loved reading this book. It's so good that when you put it down and pick it up again, you know exactly where you are.
This book was like reading the newspaper. It's so authentic and real. It makes me want that much less of wanting to visit New York. But, I still would love to visit the New York harbor and visit the Statue of Liberty. Loved reading this book. It's so good that when you put it down and pick it up again, you know exactly where you are.
June 25, 2024
Excellent thriller
Good characterizations, particularly of Grigg, the unwitting victim turned vigilante. Detailed and convoluted plot revealed tidbit by morsel, with the final pieces tying it all together in the next-to-last chapter. Well written, well worth reading.
Good characterizations, particularly of Grigg, the unwitting victim turned vigilante. Detailed and convoluted plot revealed tidbit by morsel, with the final pieces tying it all together in the next-to-last chapter. Well written, well worth reading.
January 8, 2026
I enjoyed the storyline and the mystery behind everything happening. I did feel at times that I got lost in what was happening and had to go back to figure it out. I still enjoyed the story and would recommend.
January 4, 2023
This was a Goodreads Giveaway win. I found the storyline a bit all over the place and a little too much.
September 4, 2025
Unique and original, with so much action, I was compelled to read this book from cover to cover in one day.
The Bone Records is one of those books where the phrases “action-packed” and “non-stop action” genuinely apply. The story is tense, and the pace is breakneck. I was enthralled with Grigg from the opening.
The story has an engaging, sympathetic protagonist in Grigg Orlov (Grigoriy Andeiovich). With his mixed heritage, he grew up an outsider in the Russian immigrant community of his father’s people. He didn’t fare much better later when he pursued his dream of becoming a New York City police officer. He was jumped by a couple of academy classmates and severely injured enough that he was forced to withdraw. He lost his mother at an early age, so it’s always been just him and his father, and when his father goes missing, and the police show little interest in finding him, he pursues the matter night and day on his own. Their reunion is sudden and ends quickly with tragic and shocking results.There is a growing sense of menace as the story progresses, assisted by the noirish descriptions of the neighborhood, his living in his empty childhood home after he’s sold it, and the places he visits – old haunts that hold lots of memories of times with his father. The Coney Island setting is especially moody with the included bits of its history. Grigg gets much-needed and timely assistance in his investigation from some unlikely sources, but I really liked the growing relationship between him and his work manager, Jamie Carmichael. Again, I was slated to be shocked by the outcome.
The use of bone records in the story was unusual and original and sent me down some internet rabbit holes. There are actually some of these for sale on eBay! I’d never heard of these before, and I couldn’t help but read more about them.The book is set during the Clinton-Trump presidential campaign. It features computer hackers and whole warehouses of keyboard jockeys posting political memes, posts, and disinformation, from all party viewpoints, which stoked the emotions of the denizens of social media, dividing and conquering as intended.
With its fast-paced action, originality, atmospheric settings, and engaging characters, I was in the dark and off-balance, never knowing what the resolution would be until the end. I recommend THE BONE RECORDS to mystery and thriller readers who would enjoy a unique plot or a New York City setting in 2016.I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.
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