Review

Bone Records: Rich Zahradnik

Imagine finding a record within an x-ray of the bones of a person’s head. Imagine if this record played an American song or songs banned in Russia. This is how they were able to listen to the songs. Gregg Orlov never completed the police academy and witnesses the cold-blooded murder of his father. Missing for 6 months he returns to say goodbye and return to Russia but he’s assassinated and Grigg will stop at nothing to catch the killers. But, an odd yet interesting piece of evidence enters as Grigg finds this at the murder scene. It’s a Bone Record of what Soviet Citizens called banned American songs what is it doing in 2016 when it hasn’t been produced since the 60s? Meeting Katia he learns more about the period and the fact it was called Bone Music, bones, or bone record. X-rays because the owners figured that one side used an x-ray was soft enough to take a groove. Hear it as Katia plays it at different speeds. The cops now have his bone record and then Popov was now a problem but close to his father. Anger rises in Grigg missing his father, his father murdered, and debts that needed to be paid. Mermaid Avenue is the setting along with Coney Island. Grigg was an assistant adjuster who filled out forms and some claims were not exactly on the up and up. The man he worked with told him to solve the murder of his father he needed witnesses, talking to everyone he knew, anyone that might know something, and more. He also worked at the Conquistador Arcade where Mr.P was his boss and he asked about bone records. He learned a lot from him just by showing him the picture of the disc and intertwining his father with Katia’s father who bought many of the above records too. He reveals to him his father’s past and what would happen when they were younger if caught with them. 

The heat is in Grigg and he and Carmichael do some surveillance but the author shares the history of Wonder Wheel and that it’s one of the true survivors of the golden age of Coney Island. We learn more about Grigg and his job at Demos and how the Wonder Wheel was his first ride plus the fun of Coney Island brings back memories. Then Charlotte comes to the rescue and does some research but the funeral service turns violent and Grigg cannot control his anger as Joe the Borscht shows up with something that creates more than anger in him. He overreacts, drinks his anger to a fault, and winds up in gunfights that cost a life of a friend and more when deciding to confront Joe the Borscht on his territory is not wise. Then Charlotte comes through with more information about the Port Elizabeth Container Terminal and the truth behind what social media scams Joe the Borscht have going on including political slurs, character assassinations, and Wake The Fake Up. Viral Alternative News: LaTruth. Gregg cannot control his emotions and Popov is gone for three weeks, Carmichael’s shooting, and his problems with the cops. 

Finding matryoshka dolls and what was inside of them plus the gold and cash, what was his father up to and why? Then the cop in Charlotte’s apartment, the Facebook factory, the shipping container, and no bone record, no way would he give that info up to the cop. A computer program would solve it but not one you’d know and the murder of Nikolai Popov. Political posts, connections not made, and yet something called airgap might open up some answers. What did the program on the thumb drive show? 

Connections to different branches of law enforcement, corrupt agents, Grigg and Katia took, mob bosses, and the real killer face-to-face with Grigg but will he pay the price? Lives were lost, someone close to his father betrayed him and two others, and an ending that will shock you and a piece of Coney Island brings it to life. A list of names and bone records was sent as a warning that you might be next. Will Grigg stop his investigation or will he continue until he gets the final count of those involved and be able to reconcile many things within his life? One man just wanted justice for his father and to uncover the secrets behind the Bone Records.

Fran Lewis just reviews