Zero at the Bone - Jane Seville

Title: Zero at the Bone
Author: Jane Seville
Genre: Suspense, lgbtq+
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 293
Date read: June 2009, July 2023

After witnessing a mob hit, surgeon Jack Francisco is put into protective custody to keep him safe until he can testify. A hitman known only as D is blackmailed into killing Jack, but when he tracks him down, his weary conscience won't allow him to murder an innocent man. Finding in each other an unlikely ally, Jack and D are soon on the run from shadowy enemies.

Forced to work together to survive, the two men forge a bond that ripens into unexpected passion. Jack sees the wounded soul beneath D's cold, detached exterior, and D finds in Jack the person who can help him reclaim the man he once was. As the day of Jack's testimony approaches, he and D find themselves not only fighting for their lives... but also fighting for their future. A future together.


Hadn't read this in ages, and had forgotten most of the plot - I just remembered the basic premise, so it was fun to rediscover it. The plot is fast-moving and captivating - kept me intrigued from the first page, and I found the concept interesting - reading about the ins and outs of the life of a hitman and a person heading towards witsec.

Still the real strength of the novel lies in the characterizations and the dynamics between Jack and D. I loved seeing how Jack slowly but surely was allowed to see through D's facade and got under his skin enough to see him without his mask.

I LOVED Jack in court. Let our a loud "HA!" when he got the better of the other lawyer :-D I did think there were a few things there that weren't completely followed up on afterwards, but nothing important, and I can see how the details of the aftermath of the court case could get lost in the details of Jack and D's relationship.