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Jove: A Novel
248 pages, Paperback
Published July 7, 2026
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July 8, 2026The following is an abridged version of my review. The full length version can be found on my site www.readinghasruinedmylife.com
Thank you to Collective Ink and Roundfire Books for sending me a copy of Jove. They aren't paying me for my review, they just sent me the book for free; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I also am not giving a star rating of this novel as my mental health was in a terrible state while I was reading this novel. As my thoughts were marred and my knowledge level of Jove is not where is should be I do not find it fair for me to leave a star rating. Please take what I write with a grain of salt as I don't believe everything I write will be truly indicative of the quality of Jove.
I also have a quick content and trigger warning for Jove. The story deals with suicide and there is no escaping the topic; please take care while reading. There is also a lot of talk about white supremacy and racism. Again, there is no escaping these topics as they are extremely prevalent to the plot.
Let’s start with the characters, namely Eldon. Eldon is an active character. He is Liam Neeson on a mission to avenge his daughter’s death. A character and mission readers can clearly root for and get behind. But aside from his mission, there’s nothing much to Eldon. Again, he’s just Liam Neeson.
Most of the characters in Jove come across as one dimensional to me. While their backgrounds are thought out, most minor characters are included for one singular purpose thus they have no growth or offer much to the plot outside of their one or two relevant scenes. The same can be said for the main characters, too. I’ve already stated Eldon doesn’t have much growth. His partner, Yolanda, has backstory, but most of her personality is being competent at her job. Nothing about any of the characters stands out. The only one who remotely does is Jove as she haunts every page.
Personally I had a hard time following the story. Are the bad guys Russian? Are they far-right extremists? I don’t really know because both possibilities didn’t feel developed enough. (Well I do know who the villains are as I finished the whole novel and they are arrested in the end, but I digress). Anyway, the focus kept jumping between both possibilities, and as the focus was continuously pulled between the two neither possibility was given enough time to be properly explored. All information was revealed suddenly and fast throughout the entirety of the novel. Normally I love a fast paced read, but Jove was not it.
Jove was a hard read for me to review. Of course that’s because of my own issues more than anything else. Still, characters could have had more depth, I fear I need more explanation when it comes to the plot. Maybe I simply haven’t read enough spy novels and that’s part of the reason why I had a hard time with this read. Perhaps my mental health clouded my judgement to an extreme. Or perhaps Jove simply wasn’t that good of a book. I fear I cannot be the one to tell you though.
Thank you again to Collective Ink and Roundfire Books for sending me a copy of Jove. I greatly appreciate anyone who wants to send me books. Thank you, thank you.
Again, the full length version of my review can be found on www.readinghasruinedmylife.com. I post new reviews every Wednesday at noon EST.
Thank you to Collective Ink and Roundfire Books for sending me a copy of Jove. They aren't paying me for my review, they just sent me the book for free; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I also am not giving a star rating of this novel as my mental health was in a terrible state while I was reading this novel. As my thoughts were marred and my knowledge level of Jove is not where is should be I do not find it fair for me to leave a star rating. Please take what I write with a grain of salt as I don't believe everything I write will be truly indicative of the quality of Jove.
I also have a quick content and trigger warning for Jove. The story deals with suicide and there is no escaping the topic; please take care while reading. There is also a lot of talk about white supremacy and racism. Again, there is no escaping these topics as they are extremely prevalent to the plot.
Let’s start with the characters, namely Eldon. Eldon is an active character. He is Liam Neeson on a mission to avenge his daughter’s death. A character and mission readers can clearly root for and get behind. But aside from his mission, there’s nothing much to Eldon. Again, he’s just Liam Neeson.
Most of the characters in Jove come across as one dimensional to me. While their backgrounds are thought out, most minor characters are included for one singular purpose thus they have no growth or offer much to the plot outside of their one or two relevant scenes. The same can be said for the main characters, too. I’ve already stated Eldon doesn’t have much growth. His partner, Yolanda, has backstory, but most of her personality is being competent at her job. Nothing about any of the characters stands out. The only one who remotely does is Jove as she haunts every page.
Personally I had a hard time following the story. Are the bad guys Russian? Are they far-right extremists? I don’t really know because both possibilities didn’t feel developed enough. (Well I do know who the villains are as I finished the whole novel and they are arrested in the end, but I digress). Anyway, the focus kept jumping between both possibilities, and as the focus was continuously pulled between the two neither possibility was given enough time to be properly explored. All information was revealed suddenly and fast throughout the entirety of the novel. Normally I love a fast paced read, but Jove was not it.
Jove was a hard read for me to review. Of course that’s because of my own issues more than anything else. Still, characters could have had more depth, I fear I need more explanation when it comes to the plot. Maybe I simply haven’t read enough spy novels and that’s part of the reason why I had a hard time with this read. Perhaps my mental health clouded my judgement to an extreme. Or perhaps Jove simply wasn’t that good of a book. I fear I cannot be the one to tell you though.
Thank you again to Collective Ink and Roundfire Books for sending me a copy of Jove. I greatly appreciate anyone who wants to send me books. Thank you, thank you.
Again, the full length version of my review can be found on www.readinghasruinedmylife.com. I post new reviews every Wednesday at noon EST.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Jove: A Novel
By Jack Davies
Publisher: Roundfire Books
Published Date: June 30, 2026
ASIN: B0GYQ6QKN7
Page Count: 249 Pages
Triggers: Murder, grief, suicide investigation, violence, political corruption, slavery, espionage, death, betrayal, captivity, colonial history
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What Did I Just Walk Into?
Apparently, I walked into a retirement plan from hell. Some people retire and take up gardening, puzzles, or yelling at the news. Ron Eldon, retired secret service agent, decides to investigate his daughter’s death because everyone else is too busy filing it under “suicide” and moving on with their lives. Sir, that is not retirement. That is trauma with travel expenses.
Jove by Jack Davies is a sharp, grief-fueled spy thriller that throws its main character into a mess of obstruction, lies, old enemies, dead bodies, and political rot. Basically, it is one bad day after another, except the bad day has Cold War baggage, Russian interference, and enough secrets to make every government office sweat through its sensible paperwork.
Ron Eldon is exactly the kind of character I love in this sort of book. He is bruised, angry, stubborn, emotionally wrecked, and absolutely not interested in accepting the convenient answer. He has that retired-spy energy where you know he has seen things, done things, and probably has at least three deeply alarming skills that should not be used near civilians.
Here’s What Slapped:
The pacing has grit. Eldon moves through London, Bristol, Cornwall, and Yorkshire like a man powered by grief, suspicion, and caffeine strong enough to qualify as a weapon. The story keeps layering in false leads, bad information, official interference, and old Cold War ghosts until you start side-eyeing everyone.
Yolanda Reddy is a great counterbalance to Eldon’s relentless mission. She gives the story a human anchor without slowing it down, and their dynamic adds emotional weight to all the spy chaos.
I also appreciated that the book reaches beyond a simple revenge plot. Britain’s colonial past, present-day slavery, and dirty political games give the thriller more depth than just “old spy solves sad mystery.” The ending twist is bold too. It does not just tap you on the shoulder. It kicks the door open and asks if you were paying attention.
What Could’ve Been Better:
A few threads are doing a lot of heavy lifting, but honestly, I was too busy following the trail of bodies and betrayal to complain loudly.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
Spy thrillers, detective mysteries, retired agents with unfinished business, political secrets, Cold War tension, grief-driven investigations, and stories where the truth is somehow worse than the lie.
Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review
By Jack Davies
Publisher: Roundfire Books
Published Date: June 30, 2026
ASIN: B0GYQ6QKN7
Page Count: 249 Pages
Triggers: Murder, grief, suicide investigation, violence, political corruption, slavery, espionage, death, betrayal, captivity, colonial history
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What Did I Just Walk Into?
Apparently, I walked into a retirement plan from hell. Some people retire and take up gardening, puzzles, or yelling at the news. Ron Eldon, retired secret service agent, decides to investigate his daughter’s death because everyone else is too busy filing it under “suicide” and moving on with their lives. Sir, that is not retirement. That is trauma with travel expenses.
Jove by Jack Davies is a sharp, grief-fueled spy thriller that throws its main character into a mess of obstruction, lies, old enemies, dead bodies, and political rot. Basically, it is one bad day after another, except the bad day has Cold War baggage, Russian interference, and enough secrets to make every government office sweat through its sensible paperwork.
Ron Eldon is exactly the kind of character I love in this sort of book. He is bruised, angry, stubborn, emotionally wrecked, and absolutely not interested in accepting the convenient answer. He has that retired-spy energy where you know he has seen things, done things, and probably has at least three deeply alarming skills that should not be used near civilians.
Here’s What Slapped:
The pacing has grit. Eldon moves through London, Bristol, Cornwall, and Yorkshire like a man powered by grief, suspicion, and caffeine strong enough to qualify as a weapon. The story keeps layering in false leads, bad information, official interference, and old Cold War ghosts until you start side-eyeing everyone.
Yolanda Reddy is a great counterbalance to Eldon’s relentless mission. She gives the story a human anchor without slowing it down, and their dynamic adds emotional weight to all the spy chaos.
I also appreciated that the book reaches beyond a simple revenge plot. Britain’s colonial past, present-day slavery, and dirty political games give the thriller more depth than just “old spy solves sad mystery.” The ending twist is bold too. It does not just tap you on the shoulder. It kicks the door open and asks if you were paying attention.
What Could’ve Been Better:
A few threads are doing a lot of heavy lifting, but honestly, I was too busy following the trail of bodies and betrayal to complain loudly.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
Spy thrillers, detective mysteries, retired agents with unfinished business, political secrets, Cold War tension, grief-driven investigations, and stories where the truth is somehow worse than the lie.
Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jove is a gripping blend of espionage, grief, and relentless determination. Jack Davies delivers a story that feels both classic and contemporary—a retired MI5 agent stepping into the role of detective, driven not by duty but by the raw, personal need to uncover the truth behind his daughter’s death.
Ron Eldon is a fascinating protagonist: bruised by life, shaped by decades of secrets, and utterly unwilling to accept the easy answer of “suicide.” His pursuit of the truth takes him through layers of obstruction, misinformation, and old Cold War ghosts, and the result is a thriller that moves with purpose and tension. The dynamic with Yolanda Reddy adds a grounded, human counterbalance to Eldon’s single‑mindedness.
What really stands out is the atmosphere. The novel moves across London, Bristol, Cornwall, and Yorkshire with a sense of grit and momentum, leaving behind a trail of bodies and revelations that steadily raise the stakes. The Russian spy thread adds a classic espionage flavour without ever feeling derivative, and the political undercurrents—Britain’s colonial past, modern‑day slavery, and covert operations—give the story a deeper resonance.
The twist at the end is genuinely bold, reframing everything that came before in a way that feels earned rather than gimmicky.
A smart, emotionally charged spy thriller that will appeal to fans of John le Carré‑style intrigue with a modern edge. Dark, compelling, and surprisingly moving.
With thanks to Jack Davies, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Ron Eldon is a fascinating protagonist: bruised by life, shaped by decades of secrets, and utterly unwilling to accept the easy answer of “suicide.” His pursuit of the truth takes him through layers of obstruction, misinformation, and old Cold War ghosts, and the result is a thriller that moves with purpose and tension. The dynamic with Yolanda Reddy adds a grounded, human counterbalance to Eldon’s single‑mindedness.
What really stands out is the atmosphere. The novel moves across London, Bristol, Cornwall, and Yorkshire with a sense of grit and momentum, leaving behind a trail of bodies and revelations that steadily raise the stakes. The Russian spy thread adds a classic espionage flavour without ever feeling derivative, and the political undercurrents—Britain’s colonial past, modern‑day slavery, and covert operations—give the story a deeper resonance.
The twist at the end is genuinely bold, reframing everything that came before in a way that feels earned rather than gimmicky.
A smart, emotionally charged spy thriller that will appeal to fans of John le Carré‑style intrigue with a modern edge. Dark, compelling, and surprisingly moving.
With thanks to Jack Davies, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow! What a read! I generally find these kinds of espionage thrillers to be quite mundane and repetitive however Jove really blew my socks off! The pacing hit the mark, it was fast enough for me to stay captivated yet not too fast that I felt I was missing crucial information about the plot of the characters. The story line was so descriptive that at one point I found myself second guessing the integrity of every character and their story/part to play and something that stood out the most to me was the role the grief had to play in the plot, it was so rich and added a new depth to espionage thriller that I haven't experienced before. All in all I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and I would highly recommend this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow! This is a gripping mystery thriller full of espionage, grief, and determination.
As a medium paced story, things progress fast enough to keep your interest but not so fast that you miss key details. It's a perfectly paced spy thriller, which is rare.
You will end up questioning the motive and integrity of every single character. You will probably also end up questioning your own sanity and understanding of events that take place throughout the book. Then, the ending brings everything together in a way that makes so much sense.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a review copy of this book.
**Expected publication date - 30th June 2026.
As a medium paced story, things progress fast enough to keep your interest but not so fast that you miss key details. It's a perfectly paced spy thriller, which is rare.
You will end up questioning the motive and integrity of every single character. You will probably also end up questioning your own sanity and understanding of events that take place throughout the book. Then, the ending brings everything together in a way that makes so much sense.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a review copy of this book.
**Expected publication date - 30th June 2026.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews