Where the Bones Lie

by Nick Kolakowski

Overview

“A road trip into California’s gleaming, seething underbelly. Movie stars, mobsters, wildfires – buckle up and hold on for a heady ride.”
– Meg Gardiner, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Where the Bones Lie isn’t just Nick Kolakowski’s strongest novel yet, it’s a helluva page-turner, loaded with sinister humor, a twisty plot, and the kind of complicated characters readers deserve. Don’t miss this one.”
– Alex Segura, author of Secret Identity and Alter Ego

“Nick Kolakowski is a noir voice for the 21st century.”
– Steven Powell, Edgar-winning author of Love Me Fierce in Danger: The Life of James Ellroy

“Starts off in fifth gear and never slows down. This is the best detective novel I’ve read in years.”
– Steve Weddle, author of The County Line


For Dash Fuller, Hollywood’s underbelly is home. He’s spent years making the film industry’s worst secrets disappear, and it’s left him a cynical burnout with a taste for bourbon and self-loathing.

But when a young woman comes to him with a peculiar quest, Dash sees a chance at redemption. Madeline Ironwood is the daughter of Ken Ironwood, a notorious smuggler and murderer who disappeared 20 years ago. Ken’s skeleton has just been discovered in a barrel at the bottom of a dried-up lake, and Madeline wants to know who killed him.

Dash agrees to help, and as this desperate daughter and jaded cynic claw their way through a world of sun-bleached secrets, crooked cops, and Hollywood thugs, they soon uncover a conspiracy involving some of LA’s most powerful people.

Get ready for a fast-paced, darkly funny thriller with a twist you won’t see coming.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781915523501
Publisher:	Watkins Media
Publication date:	03/11/2025
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Nick Kolakowski lives and writes in NYC. His recent novels and novellas include “Groundhog Slay” (Crystal Lake Publishing), “Payback is Forever” (Shotgun Honey), and “Boise Longpig Hunting Club” (Down & Out Books). Nick grew up as a voracious reader of mystery and crime fiction, and his own writing is an attempt to pay homage to the best of the genre while also using it as a lens through which to view our weird, sometimes not-so-wonderful modern life.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Nick Kolakowski’s Where the Bones Lie starts off in fifth gear and never slows down. This is the best detective novel I’ve read in years.”
– Steve Weddle, author of The County Line

“Where the Bones Lie isn’t just Nick Kolakowski’s strongest novel yet, it’s a helluva page-turner, loaded with sinister humor, a twisty plot, and the kind of complicated characters readers deserve. Don’t miss this one.”
– Alex Segura, author of Secret Identity and Alter Ego

"Where the Bones Lie crackles and burns like the wildfires chasing its cagey characters from one deathtrap to the next. Nick Kolakowski has dragged the California noir out of the ashes and into the 21st century."
– Scott Von Doviak, author of Lowdown Road

“Sharp, gritty, and knowing, Where the Bones Lie is a road trip into California’s gleaming, seething underbelly. Movie stars, mobsters, wildfires – buckle up and hold on for a heady ride.”
– Meg Gardiner, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"A propulsive pace, first-class dialog, and a setting so hot you can feel it made this a book I couldn't put down. Highly recommended."
– SJ Rozan, bestselling author of The Mayors of New York

“Where the Bones Lie crackles with wit from page one. Set amidst the shadows and secrets of LA and populated with off-beat characters, Nick Kolakowski delivers a propulsive mystery that will keep you hooked. You'll tear through this one.”
– Jeff Macfee, author of The Contest

“Nick Kolakowski is a noir voice for the 21st century.”
– Steven Powell, Edgar-winning author of Love Me Fierce in Danger: The Life of James Ellroy

“There is betrayal, revenge, and redemption, and the bodies pile up like in any good hardboiled detective novel. And make no mistake, this is a good one.”
– Washington Independent Review of Books

“Where the Bones Lie may be the start of a potential series. Yes, please.”
– Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine

“Buckle up and prepare for a riveting ride through the gritty streets of L.A. with memorable characters involved in numerous twists and turns, which compel you to solve the mystery. Be warned, you will have to dive inside Dash’s mind and wrestle with his pain, suffering and sardonic rage. Noir thrillers have never been better!”
– Best Thriller Books

“This just might be the best thing Kolakowski has written so far.”
– Irresponsible Reader

“Where the Bones Lie has a tight plot, action that's plentiful, and its entertainment is continual.”
– Do Some Damage

Editorial Reviews

Where the Bones Lie isn’t just Nick Kolakowski’s strongest novel yet, it’s a helluva page-turner, loaded with sinister humor, a twisty plot, and the kind of complicated characters readers deserve. Don’t miss this one.”
– Alex Segura, author of Secret Identity and Alter Ego

“Sharp, gritty, and knowing, Where the Bones Lie is a road trip into California’s gleaming, seething underbelly. Movie stars, mobsters, wildfires – buckle up and hold on for a heady ride.”
– Meg Gardiner, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Where the Bones Lie crackles and burns like the wildfires chasing its cagey characters from one deathtrap to the next. Nick Kolakowski has dragged the California noir out of the ashes and into the 21st century."
– Scott Von Doviak, author of Lowdown Road

"Although noir wasn't born on the sun-scorched streets of LA, it took to them like a natural. Now the seas are rising and the hills are burning but Hollywood continues on, more in need of its cleaners and fixers than ever. Nick Kolakowski slots his beautifully-drawn characters deftly into the dark mechanism on the flip side of fame. A propulsive pace, first-class dialog, and a setting so hot you can feel it made this a book I couldn't put down. Highly recommended."
– SJ Rozan, bestselling author of The Mayors of New York

“Nick Kolakowski’s Where the Bones Lie starts off in fifth gear and never slows down. This is the best detective novel I’ve read in years.”
– Steve Weddle, author of The County Line

“Nick Kolakowski is a noir voice for the 21st century.”
– Steven Powell, Edgar-winning author of Love Me Fierce in Danger: The Life of James Ellroy

“Where the Bones Lie crackles with wit from page one. Set amidst the shadows and secrets of LA and populated with off-beat characters, Nick Kolakowski delivers a propulsive mystery that will keep you hooked. You'll tear through this one.”
– Jeff Macfee, author of The Contest

“There is betrayal, revenge, and redemption, and the bodies pile up like in any good hardboiled detective novel. And make no mistake, this is a good one.”
– Washington Independent Review of Books

“Where the Bones Lie may be the start of a potential series. Yes, please.”
– Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine

“Buckle up and prepare for a riveting ride through the gritty streets of L.A. with memorable characters involved in numerous twists and turns, which compel you to solve the mystery. Be warned, you will have to dive inside Dash’s mind and wrestle with his pain, suffering and sardonic rage. Noir thrillers have never been better!”
– Best Thriller Books

“This just might be the best thing Kolakowski has written so far.”
– Irresponsible Reader

“Where the Bones Lie has a tight plot, action that's plentiful, and its entertainment is continual.”
– Do Some Damage

From the Publisher