The Bricklayer: A Novel

by: Noah Boyd

Published by: William Morrow

Reviewed by Bob Pike CSP, CPAE-Speakers Hall of Fame

Steve Vail wasn’t fired from the FBI for being a poor agent. He was extremely good at finding people no one else could find. He was fired for not being a team player. So he went back to Chicago and laid bricks–something else he was good at. Until he went to the bank on an ordinary Friday, and unarmed, he took down armed bank robbers who were about to kill a little old lady, just to make a point. Vail has his own sense of justice.

Now the FBI has a problem. Someone is killing high profile people – and demanding ransoms from the FBI to prevent the next killing. Every standard FBI procedure has failed – and now the group called Rubaco Pentad has two million dollars and the FBI has three victims and has lost two FBI agents – and no idea what to do.

Deputy Assistant Director Kate Bannon is brought in on the case and is prepared to do the unorthodox. She recommends bringing back Steve Vail to find a missing FBI agent who has disappeared along with the two million dollar ransom. Kate gets her wish and is charged with managing the unorthodox former agent. Vail agrees to return, for this case only, on two conditions – that he not be paid – and that he does things his way.

What follows is a fast-paced chase across the country, letting the FBI follow the trail of crumbs cleverly left by the gang as Vail gets closer to the truth by taking the road less traveled.

Author Noah Boyd develops the characters of Vail and Bannon in ways that make you want to see more of them – much more of them.

Armchair Interviews says: A 5-star suspense that is fast-paced and well-written.