TO DIE FOR: To Save Her Country, She Must First Save Herself

by Ray Ronan

Possession Is No Longer Nine Tenths Of The Law They Will Have Her, Piece By Piece

Lynn Clarke is Special Agent in Charge on the Presidential Protective Detail, trusted to put her life on the line to protect the world’s most powerful man.
That same President is supporting legislation to protect the new and powerful human organ trading industry from any challenge…an industry increasingly dominated by Zarus and its blood lusting CEO, Byron Ferdman.
Clarke, forced into pre-selling her organs, immediately finds herself sucked into a system that wants to eviscerate her. From the streets of Guatemala to the United States Supreme Court, where win or lose could affect the fate of countless citizens in America, exposing all to a precedent, allowing the doctors to take her, Lynn Clarke, piece by piece.
Other forces are working to isolate, discredit and ultimately harvest her for that rarest commodity… Bombay Blood.

˃˃˃ ”Ray Ronan Is A New Name In Thrillers, Bombay Blood Is Truly Scary.” – Glenn Meade, author of books that are ‘One twisting, breathless chase…’ NEW YORK TIMES

What if legally your body was no longer your own?

Bombay Blood runs through very few veins, and what if this rarity made you precious, coveted?

What if the law was turned on its head, putting the right to every individual’s own body up for grabs?

Scroll up, get a copy of Bombay Blood and find out.

524 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2015

About the author

Ray Ronan was born in Dublin Ireland. His chosen careers, professional cyclist, and now airline captain, have allowed him to travel to and live in cities all over the world.

Co-Author of non-fiction book Seconds To Disaster with thriller writer Glenn Meade, Ray has in recent years turned his attention to writing novels. More books with Glenn are in production.

He has recently signed with an Agent in New York to represent his thrillers to Publishers.

He continues to fly long haul which allows him the time to write, and explore...

Ray lives in Ireland with his two young boys.

Reviews

[Todd Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a great book. Ray Ronan has put together a very clever story, with quite an interesting plot. It’s not often that I’m enjoying a book like this one, that I find it just keeps getting better. I also love the intrigue and the corruption of some of the characters. It definitely set this novel apart from other Thrillers I’ve read. Lynn Clarke had a pretty tough job being a Secret Service agent, assigned to the protective detail to look after the president. Jimmy Donovan is one man that popped up on her radar as a possible threat. His ties to the radical group the ‘Army of God’, and his background in the military and weapons makes him a very dangerous person of interest, and they need to track him down. One thing that they are finding it hard to believe is that the company Zarus Organ-Trading, would give him an organ transplant for free. Byron Ferdman was the CEO of Zarus, and he was a very unusual character. Besides being extremely smart and wealthy, he has rather a bizarre liking for blood. It’s really the only thing that turns him on. It’s just unfortunate for Lynn that she has come into contact with Ferdman in her investigation of Donovan, and unbeknownst to her it has put her on Ferdman’s radar. He has acquired an unhealthy interest in her, and this could result in being very dangerous for her. Lynn has been lucky enough to meet the journalist Francisco Sierra, and he certainly has nothing nice to say about Zarus and the power that they wield with the Government. This is a wonderful piece of writing, and I’ve certainly become a fan. I can’t wait for the next book.

[Vivienne Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Bloodcurdling Thriller

If you are thinking about becoming an organ donor, you may have second thoughts after reading this superb, chilling story. Right from the start, this novel had me on the edge of my seat, which delves into murder, greed, deceit, fraud, political and medical transgressions, international intrigue, scandal, and relentless drama. The well-paced story sends you on a roller coaster ride with sharp twists and turns, revelations, secrets and lies, and where money, status, and influence can determine who gets a second chance at living a healthy and long life, at the expense of susceptible individuals. The multicultural characters are well defined, authentic and so descriptive that you will end up detesting some, like the depraved Byron Ferdman, and rooting for the heroine, Lynn Clarke, a straightforward Secret Service Agent, who risks her life exposing underhanded atrocities disguised as humane acts. The explosive ending will leave you wondering, “How far will people go to make a killing when it comes to organ transplants?”

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

**SPOILER FREE**


A remarkable read that will keep you on your toes! Fast paces page turning book! Things that will make you ponder... Things that will make you question.... Not your everyday read! This is a fantastic read!


*Received for an honest review*

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Bombay Blood
Author: Ray Ronan

Star Rating: 4.5 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 9/10
Of the 16 readers:
14 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
14 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
11 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
16 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
14 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
‘I do enjoy a good thriller. This is a good thriller. Sort of Clive Cussler but perhaps even better than his latest stuff. A ton of twists, a clever, evil plot. Everything a thriller needs to be.’ Male reader, aged 42
‘Corrupt is a big word today. Well, there’s plenty of that in this non-stop power-house of a thriller. The characters are big, bad and ugly; except for the good characters, who are not. I enjoyed this thriller. It’s not Hemingway, but it’s entertaining.’ Female reader, aged 29
‘Cool cover – tick. Tough agent – tick. A ton of bad guys – tick. Pacey – tick. Explosive ending – tick. Everything you need for a cosy night in.’ Male reader, aged 54

To Sum It Up:
‘If Clive Cussler is your thing, this is for you. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Jeanné Olivier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real page turner with a ruthless and corrupt storyline. I thought the idea of using human organs as a commodity was unique and interesting, albeit terrifying. Lynn Clarke was such a strong character and I found myself really rooting for her throughout. Byron was the epitome of evil and kept me up way past my bedtime. This is a gripping, intense and chilling dystopian thriller and certainly worth a read.

[Laura Ruetz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The further I got into this book, the more engaged I became into the story. The book centers around a Secret Service Agent, Lynn Clarke. In a world where organ donation can, and it brokered out, the market for organs is a busy one and not all donors are willing. Lynn Clarke finds herself thrown into this world thanks to a rare blood type that is highly desirable, and a race for her life, and against pending legislation that would make it legal to forcibly harvest organs from donors who are resuscitated on the table. This feels a little dystopian and a little sci-fi all at the same time and while parts are implausible at this time, it feels like it could be a possibility in the future.

The writing is very good, and the depth of the characters is great - especially the writing of the main bad guy - who is chilling on the page. The action is non-stop and draws in the reader. I just couldn't stop thinking that this really could be our future, as horrifying as that is but it is just toeing the line of what could happen in the future and that makes it all the more horrifying. The storyline felt a little disjointed here and there but overall, this was a great thriller.

I received a free copy of this book

[Debbie Maskus · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always enjoy a good mystery and sometimes an action book. Bombay Blood falls under that heading of action novel, as a race against time and events. Ray Ronan fought to heal all wrongs: the trouble in South America, the FBI, the selling of body parts, and the inequality among the classes. Too many issues loomed in the picture to really pinpoint one story. I felt like a world weary traveler, never reaching home and hearth. The story line faded into drop of water when I found one error: hole when the word should be hold. I told myself this must be a freak error, but then more errors in words and verb usage knocked me in the head. Instead of absorbing the tale, I began to discover more errors. This is not an advance copy, so all the problems should have been fixed. I waded through this ocean of mistakes and when reaching the last page, felt utterly unsure of what I had just read. This is a great novel for those who enjoy dialogue and not the endless description of setting and character.

[Book Wyvern · Rating 1 out of 5]

Received free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I admit, the idea for this is a…good one, not great but good. I couldn’t get through it though. It was very repetitive and I was just bored. Even when I got to a part that I suppose was supposed to be shocking, I didn’t really care for it.

After mentioning something once or twice, you don’t really need to repeat it every other page or every chapter. I’ve read other books that are repetitive but I can’t get through this because it isn’t about feelings I guess.

I don’t know, I don’t think this type of book is my cup of tea either. It’s a thriller but I didn’t get the creepy killer thriller vibe that I’ve gotten from others. I got a creepy vibe but not the kind I expect for the genre. Maybe because it was slow and repetitive, I don’t know but I just couldn’t get into it.

I don’t know if I would really recommend this to anyone, I didn’t get far enough to feel comfortable judging whether it would be a good book for others.

Thank you for reading my review.

-Sam

[Kymberli Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliantly Frightening

Thank you, Ray, for the invitation to read and review Bombay Blood. The entire concept was new to me and, given the state of the world right now, could not be more timely. The pace is fast from the beginning, and doesn't slow through the end.

This would be a 5-star rating but for a few things. The protagonist is fine (I don't mind over the top characters); however, some of the situations were just too easy. An example is Clarke's relationship with her brother. If they were that estranged, their reconnection was simply unbelievable. A number of editing problems, most of them minor, did cause me to lose the plot occasionally, and included some misspellings which changed the direction of a sectioned or two.

Overall, a very interesting and frightening book that I'll definitely recommend. What's next for Clarke? I look forward to finding out.

[T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Bombay Blood as a free copy from the author. The gifting did not determine the review/rating, which reflects my honest opinion. WOW! What a fantastic read. Bombay Blood strikes right at the heart of morality versus greed. The story starts with a slow, yet well-paced build as the reader gathers the threads of the story, but at no time was I bored or confused by too much information, The characters were developed and complex, complementing the onion-like layers of a gripping plot. While a longish story, I couldn't put this one down and read it in one day-- well, okay, I finished at 1am so technically I suppose two days. This was an easy five stars and highly recommend for readers who enjoy legal and medical thrillers.

[Leah Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be the most exciting books I have read this year. I could not put it down. I was hooked from the moment I started to read.

I wish I had the authors words to describe how great this book is. I consider myself a "smartly pants" when it comes to intrigue but I was left floundering trying to guess how this story was going to end.

I defy anyone to not enjoy this exciting, gripping book that has so many twists and turns. Buy it, read it and be transferred to a world of conspiracy, betrayal and a fight against time.

WoW, WoW, WoW.
Thank you, the best day and a half I have spent in ages.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bombay Blood by Ronan is a fast-paced, can't put down thriller. The main protagonist is Lynne Clarke, a Secret Service agent who faces multiple charges as the story unfolds. Along the way there is a plethora of men to support her to clear her name and not go under the knife for her Bombay Blood organs. Most of the action is in Washington DC and the Supreme Court is under pressure to pass a law giving rights to those who want your organs. Will Lynne survive the relentless onslaught?

[Julie Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was asked to read this book for an honest review.

This story is about science and what humans will do...how far will they go? It has a realistic cast of characters that move along this intriguing subject.

I don't give spoilers so I cannot say much but will add that it is well-written and reasonably paced after it gets going.

Worth a look.

[Charles Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the selling of human organs became legal, one company, Zarus, came to dominate the world market for body parts. Most prized for the donation of organs are those with the rare blood type known as Bombay Blood. Secret Service Agent Lynn Clarke, charged with protecting the President, happens to be one of those people, and this puts her on the most-wanted list of Zarus’s CEO, bloodthirsty in a literal sense, and his mission to serve his privileged and wealthy clients at all costs.

Charged with treason and stripped of her badge and gun, Clarke is pursued by government agencies and organ harvesters, all determined to take her, piece by piece if necessary. But, they failed to take into account her strength of will.

Bombay Blood by Ray Ronan is a riveting look at what the world could look like if profit-driven CEOs were allowed to dictate the law. It also shows the power of the individual who decides to take a stand against a government dominated by the 1%. In today’s American political climate, this is must reading—almost reads like nonfiction.

[Jo-Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This thriller was scary because it makes you believe that it could become legal to sell human organs in the future. In this story, there was a company, Zarus, who dominated the world market for organs and went to great lengths to get them. And there was Agent Clarke who was constantly in the wrong place at the wrong time. One being in Zarus' sights.

This wasn't an easy book for me to read but I was compelled to find out what was going to happen to Secret Service Agent Lynn Clarke. She had a rare blood type which was highly prized and sought-after. Since she had pre-sold her organs, Zarus wanted them. Would they take them before Lynn died? Lynn has more problems. She is charged with treason so the government is after her along with organ harvesters.

I found myself rooting for Lynn while feeling sorry for the mess she was in. This is a fast-paced good against evil story.

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Edith English · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind boggling!

If it's possible, Mr. Ronan deserves 20 stars! I have a hard time expressing the reactions I got from reading this book. I felt outrage at the actions of Americans, and even though this was a novel, I am left wondering if it could really happen. Mr. Ronan is a brilliant storyteller and is so well versed in the workings of the Federal government, I'm in awe of him. Outstanding!!!