The Bricklayer

A Novel

By: Noah Boyd

Narrated by: Michael McConnohie

Someone gives you a dangerous puzzle to solve, one that may kill you or someone else, and you're about to fail...and there is no other option. No one who can help. No one but the Bricklayer.

The Bricklayer is the pulse-pounding novel introducing Steve Vail, one of the most charismatic new heroes to come along in 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 more unsolvable - and more deadly - by the hour.

A woman steps out of the shower in her Los Angeles home and is startled by an intruder sitting calmly in her bedroom holding a gun. But she is frozen with fear by what he has to say about the FBI - and what he says he must do.

A young agent slips into the night water off a rocky beach. He's been instructed to swim to a nearby island to deposit a million dollars demanded by a blackmailer. But his mission is riddled with hazardous tests, as if someone wanted to destroy him rather than collect the money.

Vail has resigned himself to his dismissal and is content with his life as a bricklayer. But the FBI, especially Deputy Assistant Director Kate Bannon, needs help with a shadowy group that has initiated a brilliant extortion plot. The group will keep killing their targets until the agency pays them off, the amount and number of bodies escalating each time the FBI fails. One thing is clear: someone who knows a little too much about the inner workings of the Bureau is very clever - and very angry - and will kill and kill again if it means he can disgrace the FBI. Steve Vail's options - and his time to find answers - are swiftly running out.

Noah Boyd's The Bricklayer is written with the bracing authenticity only someone who has been a crack FBI investigator can provide. And in this masterful debut, Boyd has created a mind-bending maze of clues and traps inside a nonstop thrill ride that is sure to leave ...

©2010 Noah Boyd (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Nonstop action and nonstop authenticity make this a real winner." (Lee Child)
"We have a new American hero in Steve Vail." (Patricia Cornwell)
"Terrific pace [and] surprises galore." (James Patterson)

GREAT NOVEL

This is the first book in a long time that I didn't want to put down or stop listening to. I liked the story, the development of the characters and the pace. Beyond that, Michael McConnohie has a great voice to listen to. He is clear and totally lacks the speech mannerisms that drive me nuts.

The Bricklayer

Great mystery and intrigue crime novel. Character development and storyline made me feel a part of the story.

just when you think it was solved

Could not turn it off for all the peaks in story another would pop up

Never a dull moment !!

this book is one of the best I have read and listened to in a long time, Don't hesitate getting this...you won't be sorry.

Good story, very good narrator

The disinfranchised FBI/Police officer has been done nearly to death, but I have to say, I liked this guy called The Bricklayer. He isn't really "damaged", just stubborn and knows what he wants.

The story was interesting and clever enough to keep me guessing.

Loved the narration. Mr. McConnohie doesn't use fake voices but instead just lets the story flow. Very easy and enjoyable to listen to.

Can't wait for next one

Starts with a bang to introduce the title character and just kept me going the entire time. I loved it. Already bought the next one in the series and lookiing forward to more. I am hooked.

One of my best from audible

The story was superb. The intricacies were great. The weaving of the various elements well done. It held my interest completely. The planning going into the traps and avoidances were obviously the work of an extremely well focused and knowledgeable writer. This one writer that I will impatiently await.

Love these bricks

Excellent story and narration the mystery was revealed at the perfect moment. Enjoyed this audio

Just silly

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. I could get over the "rogue agent being called back in" part, but the rest of the story was just silly. Any particular action setup was complex and improbable enough, but these plot points strung together to form nothing. There were a few clumsy attempts to give the characters depth - sculptures without faces? - but the book was a just shell for action scenes.

Would you be willing to try another book from Noah Boyd? Why or why not?

No. I don't enjoy this type of book - all action strung together with a ridiculous plot.

What about Michael McConnohie???s performance did you like?

The performance was well done.

Was The Bricklayer worth the listening time?

Not for me.

Good read

Although the master criminal was easy to pick out thus lessoning the final reveal’s impact the book was a fun read. The plotting was good with good action sequences. I will be reading more in the series.