All roads lead to Hell House
Dash Fuller knows his way around Hollywood, especially the dark and dirty parts that the bright lights cover up for the casual fan. As a long-time fixer for the seedy underbelly, Dash has seen and done more than his share of dirty work. After a job goes terribly wrong at Hell House a few years back, Dash has sworn off his usual work and is trying his hand as a stand-up comic and part time private investigator. His new leaf, however, has not deterred the strange ominous character known only as “Skull Face” from dogging his every move. What this mysterious person wants, Dash is unsure, but he is pretty sure it has to do with his past ties. Dash is approached by Madeline Ironwood, daughter of actor Ken Ironwood whose body was just discovered stuffed in a barrel on the shores of a dying lake. Madeline is sure that her father was murdered and enlists Dash to help her catch his killer. Together the pair head to nearby San Douglas to try to gain insight into her father’s demise. With their travels taking them to a famous winery, a nearby marina and the site of a new luxury development the duo is trailed by not only the local cops but others as well. What is it about Ironwood’s death that the powers that be not want them to find out? The more Madeline and Dash investigate, the more pressure is put on them to stop. And when Fuller and Ironwood find themselves literally in a firestorm, what begins as a quest for the truth turns into a fight for survival.
Where the Bones Lie is the newest novel by author Nick Kolakowski and can best be described as a mystery noir set-in and around modern-day L.A. From the opening scenes it was clear that Kolakowski was prepared to take the reader on quite a ride. Beginning at Hell House, a locale very familiar to Dash, all the way out to the stately Vonn Winery and all points in between, each location was crafted and described in detail that immersed the reader in the overall story line. With many characters and details that at times felt hard to keep track of, Kolakowski does a great job of bringing everything together to fit into the overall story. Even so, the complexity kept me guessing as any good mystery should. This really felt like a timely sort of novel as well, from the recent celebrity bombshell scandals to the devastating California wildfires, Kolakowski manages to weave each detail into the overall narrative that made for a pretty believable read. While this was the first title l have read by this author, I hope it won’t be the last and I intend to check out more of his catalog soon. If you like modern day twisty mysteries that will have you guessing until the end Where the Bones Lie would be a great addition to your TBR.
Full disclosure – I was provided with a copy of this book by the author; however, I have voluntarily chosen to write a review. All opinions are my own.
Where the Bones Lie is scheduled for March 11, 2025, release.
Jennly Reads 