Mar 2, 2010

Book Review: The Brick Layer, a novel by Noah Boyd

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The Bricklayer (Steve Vail, #1)
The Bricklayer 
"That's the saddest thing about being young - you actually believe there is such a thing as hope." He raised his gun and fired one round that hit Dan West in the right temple." (ch. 2)

The Bricklayer by Noah Boyd  is a "pulse-pounding novel introducing Steve Vail, one of the most charismatic new heroes to come along in the thriller fiction in many years. He's an ex-FBI agent who's been fired for insubordination but is lured back to the Bureau to work a case that has become unsolvable - and more deadly - by the hour." (publisher's description).

My comments: Tense thriller with a likeable but somewhat unbelievable, too nice to be true, main character. Nevertheless, the book sparkles with excitement as the killers use technological savvy to thwart the FBI, their target for extortion. Vail turns down any monetary reward or other incentives for this job, going out on his own to trap the killers afer several FBI agents have tried and been killed. A most unlikely hero, yes, but one who gets the job done!

I expected the villains to have a similar background as the main character, Steve Vail, in order to pull off the kinds of elaborate crimes they did and stun the FBI. Who the killers turned out to be was somewhat surprising!

About the author: Noah Boyd (a pseudonym) spent more than 20 years as an FBI agent, working on some of their toughest cases. He now works on cold cases when not writing.  He lives in New England. Source: Review copy provided free by Wireset for my objective review.

        This book was provided by the publisher for my objective review.
Challenges: 100 + Reading Challenge, Thriller & Suspense Reading Challenge

33 comments:

  1. Great teaser... sorry to hear the book didn't turn out as well as you hoped.

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  2. I love your teaser ... it pulls all my attention...but your review push it away again.

    But, regardless on how the book turns out...I still say GREAT TEASER.

    Thx for stopping by on my blog :)

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  3. Ouch, he really does reinforce his words by shooting Sounds like a suspenseful thriller, too bad it didn´t live up to your exectations.
    Thanks for stopping by my teaser! :)

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  4. NotNessie, Novroz, ifyoucanreadthis: I realized I was being a bit hard on the book at the beginning of the post, though I liked the thriller. I rearranged my comments to have positives first, and any criticisms at the end! Hope you like it better! Thanks for yor comments.

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  5. i hope i can always be young..=0

    here's mine;

    http://ifyoucanreadthis.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/teaser-tuesday-16/

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  6. I hope that you enjoy your book. I am assuming the blurb is your teaser.Here's Mine.

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  7. I really like your teaser. I am not much into thrillers, but I do like stories with unexpected twists and turns. I will check it out further...have a great day!

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  8. Intriguing teaser, sounds a bit sad.

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  9. Great teaser! Very exciting.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  10. Sometimes a book is not all we hoped it would be - it's a shame but it happens.

    Heck of a teaser though! hehe

    Here are our teasers for this week :)

    ♥Isalys

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  11. Wow, this sounds like something hubby would like.

    Here's my teaser and giveaway

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  12. This sounds like a great thriller, even though the main character does sound a little too good to be true. Love the teaser!

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  13. That is a cynical, brutal character. Excellent teaser!

    My teaser: A Bit of Chick Lit for Teaser Tuesday

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  14. Not just a good teaser, but a good review too.

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  15. Well that got my attention. Great teaser!

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  16. That's quite a teaser! You know, the kind that tempts the rest of us to go out to Amazon with a credit card and buy the book.

    My teaser is here: http://jockstewart.typepad.com/writers_notebook/2010/03/tuesday-teaser-the-women-of-camp-sobingo.html

    Malcolm

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  17. Sounds very intriguing. I must still be young - goodie.

    RnPB: Ch 013 - Clean Up

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  18. That certainly grabs one's attention. Thanks for visiting!

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  19. That is a fantastic teaser! Probably the best I read today.

    http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2010/03/teaser.html

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  20. Awesome...I live gruesome, eye-catching Teasers!

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  21. That was a teaser not to be forgotten!!! Sounds like a great read!

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  22. Great quote! Sounds like a fast paced book :)

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  23. Ouch! Good teaser!

    Thanks for dropping by mine! :)

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  24. That is a SERIOUS teaser! You got my attention :)

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  25. That is a very intense teaser. Based on your description I think I may like this one.

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