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    The Bricklayer: A Novel
    The Bricklayer: A Novel
    The Bricklayer: A Novel
    Audiobook9 hours

    The Bricklayer: A Novel

    Written by Noah Boyd

    Narrated by Michael McConnohie

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    “Terrific pace, surprises galore….Move over Jack Reacher, here comes The Bricklayer.”
     —James Patterson

     

    There is a brand new master on the thriller scene. Noah Boyd makes a truly spectacular entrance with The Bricklayer—the first in an explosive new series featuring former FBI agent Steve Vail that recalls the #1 bestsellers of John Sandford and Lee Child. An ex-FBI agent himself, Boyd adds gritty insider knowledge and color to this stunning novel, and the word on the street is The Bricklayer is fabulous. Kay Scarpetta’s creator, New York Times bestseller Patricia Cornwell, calls it, “Dazzling,” while Lee Child himself raves, “Non-stop action and non-stop authenticity make this a real winner.”

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateJan 26, 2010
    ISBN9780061974342
    Author

    Noah Boyd

    Noah Boyd is a former FBI agent who spent more than twenty years working some of the bureau’s toughest investigations, including the Green River Killer case and the Highland Park Strangler case (which he’s credited with solving). He passed away in 2011.

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    Reviews for The Bricklayer

    4/5

    208 ratings33 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I think Noah Boyd's character Steve Vail is as good as Lee Child's Jack Reacher! I hope he continues the Vail character in future books.
    • 3/5
      An action crime novel is certainly not the first thing I usually go for on bookshelf but I have to say that I found The Bricklayer thoroughly enjoyable. I really got caught up in the twists and turns of the crime plot and appreciated that the relationship between Steve and Kate was not just one innuendo after another. All in all, the story kept me involved and wondering what was coming next. If Steve Vail turns out to be a new serial protagonist, I wouldn't mind heading to the beach with the next installment!
    • 4/5
      Unbelievable setups, devious twists and may red herrings populate this tale. An ex-FBI cum bricklayer, Steve Vail, teams up with an FBI assistant director, Kate Bannon, to track a murderer-extortionist who seems to know more about the FBI than is possible from the outside.The action never seems to slow down. All of the important characters are way over qualified for true life, but in this story they are almost believable. Or perhaps you might cast them as magicians. Since the bad guy is leading Steve by the nose we can hardly acclaim his detection skills but otherwise he's a thinker as well as a strong arm. Great diversion.
    • 3/5
      Let me first say that the banter between the two protagonists, Steve Vail and Kate Bannon, was actually quite funny. For that alone, the book was worth the read. But the whole book was enjoyable, suspenseful, and kept the guesswork piling up as you say to yourself, "What the heck is going on!" All is truly not what it seems.
    • 3/5
      A blackmailer is holding the FBI to ransom. Unless they delivery his ever growing demands for cash people will die. They stall and the body count grows. At every turn they are outwitted by the gang who seems to be able to predict the FBI’s every move and the specific demands for dropping the money seem to be designed to eliminate the agent too.

      Kate Bannon, Deputy Assistant Director is stuck. Pressure is building to get this solved, and the government would like its money back as well. The only agent that may be able to help, Steve Vail, is now an ex-agent; fired for disobedience, he is a maverick who knows that getting to the bottom of this will require unconventional means.

      Vail’s first task is to drop the next payment to the gang; but what seems straightforward is suddenly revealed as being very deadly. He realises what he is up against, and knows that to win, or at the very least stay alive means that all the rules are off. Leaving the official FBI investigation to carry on, and give the effect that they are kowtowing to every demand, Vail steps away from that and starts to push, hoping to find the cracks in the gang, and hopefully their weakness, before anyone else dies at their hand.

      Not a bad thriller overall, it is full of elaborate traps that the main character has to try and get round with out killing himself or anyone else. Reasonable tension in the story makes it a good page turner too; it only took a day to read. There are a number of good twists and turns too. Characterisation is not particularly deep, but it is a thriller, so I kind of expect that. Gave it 3 stars, but 2.5 is fair I think.
    • 5/5
      A mysterious organization calling itself the Rubaco Pentad demands money from the FBI and threatens to kill a high-profile victim if they fail to deliver the money. But the delivery instructions are complicated . . . and lethal. FBI deputy assistant director Kate Bannon tracks down former agent Steve Vail to help. But will Vail, with his outside-the-rules way of operating, be able to unmask the wily criminals before someone else dies?With its fast pace, steadily building tension, and heroic protagonist doing the almost-impossible, readers will find much to enjoy in this action-packed thriller.Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      The FBI is struggling with a mysterious group, Rubaco Pentad, which is murdering people and demanding millions of dollars to stop. Unfortunately, the group then makes it impossible for the FBI to deliver the blackmail money safely. Agent Kate Bannon suggests bringing in former agent Steve Vail, and the story then follows Steve's adventures as he delivers money, kills baddies, recovers money etc etc. Initially he and Kate work together, while the rest of the FBI follow up on planted leads and dead ends, but towards the end he works entirely alone.I enjoyed this book, although the structure of the plot was really just one adventure after the other; in some ways it would make a better movie. There was humour in the relationship between Steve and Kate, which provided lighter moments. Occasionally there were pages of very detailed explanation of e.g. how a boobytrap was set up, which I skimmed, and some of the daring feats of endurance performed by Steve went on a bit long. I suspected the insider who was eventually revealed to have been involved all along, although this person's motivations (again described in excruciating detail) and consequent actions were not entirely convincing and consistent somehow. That whole last section could have been dropped and the book would have been better constructed, I think.Still an enjoyable page turner.
    • 5/5
      Absolutely brilliant. Move over Jack Reacher, Steve Vail is now “The Man”.
      When FBI, Deputy Assistant Director Kate Bannon reveals that she recognizes the behavioral traits of a missing hero, while watching the video of a botched bank robbery—botched, thanks to the intervention of one of the hostages—she is tasked with bringing the former renegade agent Steve Vail one last time.
      The Bureau is being targeted, perhaps from within, by a domestic terrorist group who call themselves the Rubico Pentad and who have already targeted, kidnapped or killed several upstanding members of society and the FBI has been unable to put a stop to them. They are ready to do whatever it takes, even if it means bringing back Vail for a limited performance.
      Heading out as a one-man destruction squad, Vail soon uncovers who is behind the destruction and innuendo that has handicapped the FBI. That it makes his former employers look bad is just a feather in his cap. Working on his own agenda, even after being dismissed by the officialdom whose judgment he made look inferior, he gets the job done right down to the bitter end.
    • 2/5
      I am surprised at all the rave reviews. Bricklayer was just ok. The genre is right up my alley, but I was somewhat disappointed. The story was interesting and the technical aspects seemed well thought out and authentic, but the characters were a little flat and cliched. Steve Vail, the main character, is a loner who is unable to deal with authority. A genius former FBI agent who works as a bricklayer to give himself more time to brood. A wise-cracking ninja who is irresistible to women. I would have rather had a little more Fox Mulder.
    • 4/5
      The Bricklayer, Steve Vail, is a fired FBI agent whose services are requested to help find a missing agent.I really enjoyed this thriller! Vail is a fabulous, intriguing character. The workings of his mind and the timing of his wit were both compelling factors for me, and that doesn't even include the actual plot! The intelligent plot contained non-stop action and wasn't extremely off the reality chart, which is a very good thing for me. But, best of all, I was engaged from the beginning and didn't want to disengage. It's always a delight to be so engrossed in a book that you don't want to put it down. And, for those that wonder, yes - there is a strong female role as well.What a terrific debut by Boyd! I hope to see more of him - hopefully showcasing Steve Vail. (4.25/5)Originally posted on: Thoughts of Joy
    • 5/5
      Definitely a page turner. I felt like I was trapped inside a movie length episode of Law & Order episode mixed NCIS. will be reading his next book. It's unfortunate that he is now deceased.
    • 3/5
      Good of its kind - airport bookstall page-turner. Well-plotted and almost believable; one wants to know what happens to and around these characters.
    • 5/5
      Really good story! I saw this as a recommendation and liked the book description; I'm so glad I found this. The characters were excellent and the plot was unique and surprising - it's been a while since I was this excited about a new author. Steve Vail was an awesome hero! I so enjoyed his attitude and style; I can't wait to go in search of book 2!Fast paced and thrilling. I couldn't put it down!
    • 5/5
      really enjoyed this; steve vail is a great hero; nice chemistry with Kate; great for fans of Jack Reacher
    • 2/5
      Having read Mike Spillane you could guess the plot right away.
    • 5/5
      I purchased this book because I won his second one in the series titled Agent X on the early review. I wanted to start a series at the beginning and I am so glad I did. This series is about ex- FBI Agent Steve Vail. When Vail refuses to compromise his ethics and let a cop killer go free, he is fired from the FBI. The book is called The Bricklayer because that is what Vail becomes. When someone is blackmailing the FBI and their best agents can't catch them it is time to bring the bricklayer back into the fold. Not everybody on the FBI is happy about this but Steve Vail does get results. This book had me from the beginning and made it very hard to put down and get work done. Steve Vail is a man's man, smart, funny and good at what he does. This is a must read. I just received the second book and am hoping it is just as good if not better.
    • 4/5
      The Bricklayer is a very entertaining book to read. I didn't like having to put it down to make dinner, or to go to sleep, but I had to. Steve Vail's sarcasm and anti-boss attitude is one of my favorite characters in modern books. He's cut from the same cloth as Jack Reacher (Lee Child) but is more outgoing, definitely similar but all his own just the same.I like reading the modern suspense, action books. This book, a first from the author, has me hoping for many more books to come with Steve Vail or anyone else he can dream up.
    • 4/5
      This reminded me a bit of Lee Child's Reacher, John Sandford's Davenport, and Michael Connelly's Bosch. The primary character was a familiar, comfortable fit, without being a bore. Boyd provided some interesting twists to what could have been just an ordinary story. I'm looking forward to seeing this series develop over time. 
    • 5/5
      Really enjoyed this book. When I got it from the library, there was a sheet glued inside the cover for "Readers Comments." Someone had commented - Very good - and I concur. Was surprised this is his first book and will be waiting for his next. The action captured me withing the first few pages and kept me reading throughout. Funny and realistic dialogue between the two main characters. Good read!
    • 4/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Bricklayer and look forward to reading more by Noah Boyd. Have recommended the book to several friends
    • 4/5
      This book will be a fine beach read for any fan of suspense. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, regardless of whether I was a step behind or a step ahead of the plot while reading any given scene.
    • 1/5
      This is a thriller/action novel. Not crime fiction, not my cup of tea. While it had lots of scenes that would make for a great movie, I felt that it had too many shortcomings. The dialog was generally lame - lots of banter. Banter. Banter. Banter. Not witty, not funny, just always there. It got really annoying. The characters are better suited for a comic book, especially the women who fall all over themselves in the presence of our hero, Steve. Including one who has risen throught the ranks in the FBI to a high level job, yet keeps asking Steve what she should do next. Steve, who was an agent for all of three years. There are a number of plot elements that stretch credibility, e.g., the FBI paying millions in ransom that so that the bad guy won't dispatch another innocent. But, if you're looking for mindless entertainment......
    • 3/5
      I want to say I really liked this book, because I know that Noah Boyd worked hard on it, and it shows in the plot line. The characters felt flat and one dimensional however. This may be a result of the genre, an action, suspense-filled story about Steven Vail, a former FBI agent fired because he is not a company man, although a very talented investigator. I am not going to attempt to summarize the plot because it is too complicated for me and completely out of my area of interest. Suffice it to say that Steve, though shunned and defiled by the senior members of the FBI, saves the day in true Superman like fashion. Too bad the villain was so easy to figure out, and too bad the villain’s demise was also predictable. I have to give Mr. Boyd credit for really good writing stylistically, and credible dialogue. I believe this is his first book, and it really is not all that bad, even good in spots. I would try another read by this author, to see where he goes with his talent. I just am not a fan of this type of story. I am gong to give it three stars because it is too hard to really hate it, and it was a page turner in spots.
    • 4/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It pulled you in from the first chapter all the way till the end. The story is about an ex-FBI agent, Steve Vail, pulled back to the Bureau to help solve an extortion/serial killer crime. It is a fast paced but easy to follow story. I highly recommend it.
    • 5/5
      Loved it! Writen as a pseudonym for a real life former FBI agent, this is a compelling read. While there is a certain character that is somewhat predictable, I loved the fast paced, well-written suspense novel.
    • 4/5
      This was a surprisingly good thriller. The plot was very intricate but crafted so that you could easily follow the action. Steve Vail is a bit overdrawn but not as much as usual in this genre. I', sure there will be a sequel and I'll buy it. I had a suspicion about the ending that turned out to be true, but that didn't ruin the suspense. A real page turner.
    • 4/5
      Bring on more Steve Vail! Joining the increasingly-crowded field of modern thriller writers, Noah Boyd shows the potential to measure up to the likes of Lee Child, Randy Wayne White, and John Sandford. Steve Vail, his protagonist, is an interesting and compelling character: I quickly came to admire his capabilities and care about his future. In the end, I found myself hungry for the next installment of his adventures.The writing is a bit uneven in places...not surprising in a first novel. I'm sure that as Boyd hits his stride in future tales, he'll smooth the rough edges of his writing -- while leaving his main character wonderfully rough-edged.Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      Noah Boyd's "The Bricklayer" is a sharp, witty, fast-paced thriller that is enjoyable from start to finish. Readers are introduced to former FBI agent Steve Vail. A man who prefers to bend the law and circumvent his superiors in order to solve crimes and provide justice. After being lured back to the Bureau to aid in solving a series of murders targeted toward the FBI, Vail finds himself involved in a chess match with a creative and cunning adversary with deadly intentions. Boyd, a former FBI agent himself, has crafted an entertaining novel possessing complex crime scenes and scenarios that rival any Hollywood action movie. Witty dialogue and successful characterization make for a narrative that involves the reader emotionally, while an intelligent understanding of the bureaucracy and methods of the FBI make for a believable and authentic narrative. Beginning with intense and satisfying action, the novel maintains its fast, adrenaline-rich pace from chapter to chapter. Well-written and believable, Noah Boyd's debut novel is highly recommended. Not only is it a satisfying read, but it left me want more.
    • 4/5
      This was a great book... well written with good character definition, and a story that made me not want to put it down. It's a well executed thriller (pardon the pun) concerning an ex-FBI agent who is called back to work a case involving several murders and the extortion surrounding them. the book is full of puzzles that make the mind wander into trying to figure them out, and twists and turns across the country as the main protagonist (Steve Vail) and his FBI handler try to work independently of the local field office and the rest of the FBI bureaucracy.The preface to the book ssays that we have an iconic new hero in Steve Vail, I hope he appears in a sequel soon.
    • 5/5
      I won an ARC to review, and I was glad to get it! I don't read a lot of thrillers, but the description provided with this one looked good so I requested it. Steve Vail was fired from the FBI for insubordination - he has authority issues. While there, he acquired a reputation for always finding his target, a skill that the FBI desperately needs now as a killer is on a country-wide spree of taking out prominent anti-FBI citizens. At the same time, he's demanding ever-increasing amounts of money from the FBI to stop killing. The FBI is looking bad, and it's getting expensive. Desperate measures are needed, so newly-promoted Deputy Assistant Director Kate Bannon is sent to Chicago to recruit Vail into helping them. He works as a bricklayer - a trade he learned from his grandfather - and likes working for himself. He cuts a deal that gives him autonomy from bureaucratic BS, and signs on the for project. Kate Bannon is his sidekick, although she's a novice at the kind of hunting Vail specializes in.The action flows smoothly for most of the book as Vail and Kate try to get a bead on a killer who always seems one step ahead. The bodies are beginning to pile up, and there's always a surprise around the corner. But the action is believable and the ending provided a nice surprise. One problem I have with most thrillers is that they tend to short character development at the expense of action. The people end up being two-dimensional. This book avoids that trap, does a nice job at letting us in to Vail and Kate as people. I'd like to learn more about them in follow-up novels and hope that the author continues down this path. At the same time, this is NOT a romance novel, so don't expect any hearts and flowers! You get just enough of a hint of a potential relationship to prevent the book from becoming a manly fist-fest, and I think this will appeal to readers who don't normally like thrillers.This is a very good start to what should be a very satisfying series.