The murder of Philadelphia attorney Laszlo Toth marks a turning point in the life of
part-time bartender Kyle Byrne, whose late father was Toth's law partner for many years.
Kyle's attendance at the funeral attracts the attention of a couple of homicide detectives,
and puts him on their suspect list for the murder of Toth.
Kyle is the bastard son of the elder Byrne who died ten years earlier, also under
mysterious circumstances. The teen-aged Kyle had sneaked into his father's funeral only
to be ousted by Lazlo. Kyle is currently an unemployed part-time bartender. He spends
his days playing X-Box and his nights in bars, drinking and going with the wrong kind of
women. Everyone, including Kyle, is searching for the "O'Malley File," which will likely
solve the murders, but in the meantime, Kyle's very life is in danger. Kyle is quirky and
funny, but lacks the flawed, sympathetic characterization of Lashner's earlier protagonist,
Victor Carl.
While the Blood and Bone is entertaining, with murder scenes, gangsters, arson,
and blackmail, and although the plot is fast paced, and does have some interesting turns,
in my opinioin, Lashner should let Kyle Byrne die a natural death, and resurrect Victor Carl.