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John Jordan Mystery #10
Blood Oath
A young army ranger on leave vanishes while swimming in the river with friends. Did the river swallow him whole? Was he killed by the vulnerable young woman he rejected? Or is he the latest victim of a sadistic serial killer?
John Jordan is once again carrying a gun and a badge—and he’s going to need them. Balancing family life with being a cop takes grit and grace—and John has plenty of both. Working two cases that may or may not be connected, John is investigating the disappearance of a young army ranger home on leave and one of the most sadistic serial killers he’s ever encountered.
Can John locate the missing ranger and the hidden killer or will someone close to him become the next victim?
Get Blood Oath today and find out!"Michael Lister is a giant talent with a unique vision. His landmark John Jordan Mystery series is a treasure of contemporary literature" - Florida Weekly.
John Jordan is once again carrying a gun and a badge—and he’s going to need them. Balancing family life with being a cop takes grit and grace—and John has plenty of both. Working two cases that may or may not be connected, John is investigating the disappearance of a young army ranger home on leave and one of the most sadistic serial killers he’s ever encountered.
Can John locate the missing ranger and the hidden killer or will someone close to him become the next victim?
Get Blood Oath today and find out!"Michael Lister is a giant talent with a unique vision. His landmark John Jordan Mystery series is a treasure of contemporary literature" - Florida Weekly.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2016
1184 people are currently reading
976 people want to read
About the author
Michael Lister
184 books233 followersNew York Times bestselling and award-winning novelist Michael Lister is a native Floridian best known for his literary suspense thrillers as well as his two ongoing mystery series, the prison chaplain John Jordan "Blood" series and the hard-boiled, 1940s noir Jimmy "Soldier" Riley Series, and the post-apocalypic suspense thriller Cataclysmos.
Visit www.michaellister.com for more information, or follow his youtube channel - Writing and Life at https://www.youtube.com/user/MichaelL...
The Florida Book Review says that "Vintage Michael Lister is poetic prose, exquisitely set scenes, characters who are damaged and faulty" and Michael Koryta says, “If you like crime writing with depth, suspense, and sterling prose, you should be reading Michael Lister," while Publisher's Weekly adds, “Lister’s hard-edged prose ranks with the best of contemporary noir fiction.”
Michael grew up in North Florida near the Gulf of Mexico and the Apalachicola River in a small town world famous for tupelo honey.
Truly a regional writer, North Florida is his beat.
Captivated by story since childhood, Michael has a love for language and narrative inspired by the Southern storytelling tradition that captured his imagination and became such a source of meaning and inspiration. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in theology with an emphasis on myth and narrative.
In the early 90s, Michael became the youngest chaplain within the Florida Department of Corrections. For nearly a decade, he served as a contract, staff, then senior chaplain at three different facilities in the Panhandle of Florida—a unique experience that led to his first novel, 1997’s critically acclaimed, POWER IN THE BLOOD. It was the first in a series of popular and celebrated novels featuring ex-cop turned prison chaplain, John Jordan. Subsequent books in the series include BLOOD OF THE LAMB, FLESH AND BLOOD, THE BODY AND THE BLOOD, BLOOD SACRIFICE, and RIVERS TO BLOOD, and each takes readers through the electronically locked gates of the chain-link fences, beneath the looping razor wire glinting in the sun, and into the strange world of Potter Correctional Institution, Florida’s toughest maximum security prison. Of the John Jordan series, Michael Connelly says “Michael Lister may be the author of the most unique series running in mystery fiction. It crackles with tension and authenticity,” while Julia Spencer-Fleming adds “Michael Lister writes one of the most ambitious and unusual crime fiction series going. See what crime fiction is capable of.”
Michael also writes historical hard-boiled thrillers, such as THE BIG GOODBYE, THE BIG BEYOND, and THE BIG HELLO featuring Jimmy "Soldier" Riley, a PI in Panama City during World War II. Ace Atkins calls the "Soldier" series "tough and violent with snappy dialogue and great atmosphere . . . a suspenseful, romantic and historic ride."
Michael Lister won his first Florida Book Award for his literary novel, DOUBLE EXPOSURE, a book, according to the Panama City News Herald, that “is lyrical and literary, written in a sparse but evocative prose reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy.” It is a contemplation of life and death, art and meaning, set deep in the swamps of the Apalachicola River, a thriller about a wildlife photographer whose camera traps capture a crime, that shows the beauty and danger of the Panhandle paradise.
His second Florida Book Award was for his fifth John Jordan novel BLOOD SACRIFICE.
Visit www.michaellister.com for more information, or follow his youtube channel - Writing and Life at https://www.youtube.com/user/MichaelL...
The Florida Book Review says that "Vintage Michael Lister is poetic prose, exquisitely set scenes, characters who are damaged and faulty" and Michael Koryta says, “If you like crime writing with depth, suspense, and sterling prose, you should be reading Michael Lister," while Publisher's Weekly adds, “Lister’s hard-edged prose ranks with the best of contemporary noir fiction.”
Michael grew up in North Florida near the Gulf of Mexico and the Apalachicola River in a small town world famous for tupelo honey.
Truly a regional writer, North Florida is his beat.
Captivated by story since childhood, Michael has a love for language and narrative inspired by the Southern storytelling tradition that captured his imagination and became such a source of meaning and inspiration. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in theology with an emphasis on myth and narrative.
In the early 90s, Michael became the youngest chaplain within the Florida Department of Corrections. For nearly a decade, he served as a contract, staff, then senior chaplain at three different facilities in the Panhandle of Florida—a unique experience that led to his first novel, 1997’s critically acclaimed, POWER IN THE BLOOD. It was the first in a series of popular and celebrated novels featuring ex-cop turned prison chaplain, John Jordan. Subsequent books in the series include BLOOD OF THE LAMB, FLESH AND BLOOD, THE BODY AND THE BLOOD, BLOOD SACRIFICE, and RIVERS TO BLOOD, and each takes readers through the electronically locked gates of the chain-link fences, beneath the looping razor wire glinting in the sun, and into the strange world of Potter Correctional Institution, Florida’s toughest maximum security prison. Of the John Jordan series, Michael Connelly says “Michael Lister may be the author of the most unique series running in mystery fiction. It crackles with tension and authenticity,” while Julia Spencer-Fleming adds “Michael Lister writes one of the most ambitious and unusual crime fiction series going. See what crime fiction is capable of.”
Michael also writes historical hard-boiled thrillers, such as THE BIG GOODBYE, THE BIG BEYOND, and THE BIG HELLO featuring Jimmy "Soldier" Riley, a PI in Panama City during World War II. Ace Atkins calls the "Soldier" series "tough and violent with snappy dialogue and great atmosphere . . . a suspenseful, romantic and historic ride."
Michael Lister won his first Florida Book Award for his literary novel, DOUBLE EXPOSURE, a book, according to the Panama City News Herald, that “is lyrical and literary, written in a sparse but evocative prose reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy.” It is a contemplation of life and death, art and meaning, set deep in the swamps of the Apalachicola River, a thriller about a wildlife photographer whose camera traps capture a crime, that shows the beauty and danger of the Panhandle paradise.
His second Florida Book Award was for his fifth John Jordan novel BLOOD SACRIFICE.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
August 15, 2018
I read this story as part of The Murder Book which has 10 full length stories. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. The number of ‘he said/say, she said/say (insert name) one right after another is very distracting. Lots of ways to let you know who is talking without the endless repetition of that. I read through chapter 31, then started skipping large sections. The writing was way to wordy (to the point of boring in many places), the author tried too hard for the touchy feeling emotion of men crying (a lot), the main character is so perfect he isn’t believable (try Jesus, Muhammad, and Buddha all rolled into one). Everything he says and does is perfect, even in his dealings with his ex-wife who starts out really unreasonable and seemingly unstable who, in a very short time, comes around to what he wants without much trouble. I won’t be looking for anything else by this author.
April 22, 2017
Magnificent work. The first I have read in the series but definitely not the last. The characters are so real and complex that you can really see them as living real human beings. There are so many threads in the plot line of that are brilliantly woven together that makes the story come alive. While it is very graphic in nature it makes the story come to life. I also appreciated how much John's faith in interwoven into his daily life and both of his jobs. It is a difficult read but so compelling that it's hard to put down. Worth every minute you spend reading it.
April 19, 2017
Excellent story
A gripping story with lots of great characters John .Anna their two daughters the police department staff the other people in the small town with lits of secrets
A gripping story with lots of great characters John .Anna their two daughters the police department staff the other people in the small town with lits of secrets
July 15, 2017
Pretty good. I could have done without the couple bad guy scenes, but at least they aren't overly revealing. 3.5
June 21, 2021
This story has an unexpected ending and a competent narrator. Both make this plot more interesting.
January 21, 2023
I have enjoyed this series, but I don't like the preachy parts. I am not talking religion, but politics.
July 20, 2018
This was my first experience with Lister's work in general, and I finished this book impressed with his writing. His depth of characters and ability to create a storyline full of twists, yet easily followed by the reader, make him one thriller author I'd gladly read again.
July 25, 2018
Pros and cons for this book.
The story line was interesting and solving the crime kept me reading. I liked the characters but had to refer back several times to figure out who was who and how connected. This was probably due to starting with book 11.
The book needs some editing and there were a couple places that jumped from one scene and characters to something else without even a dash or chapter change and I had to go back and figure out what was happening. Distracting!
My biggest dislike was the foul language. Not the words totally, but the lines were out of the blue and did not seem in character (especially Anna and Sam). If the characters were frustrated or angry or overwhelmed, the author could have done a better job expressing those feelings. The author has great skill with description and so the foul language seemed to be added to sell the book or by another person.
Lots of other good mystery, thriller, crime authors that I prefer.
The story line was interesting and solving the crime kept me reading. I liked the characters but had to refer back several times to figure out who was who and how connected. This was probably due to starting with book 11.
The book needs some editing and there were a couple places that jumped from one scene and characters to something else without even a dash or chapter change and I had to go back and figure out what was happening. Distracting!
My biggest dislike was the foul language. Not the words totally, but the lines were out of the blue and did not seem in character (especially Anna and Sam). If the characters were frustrated or angry or overwhelmed, the author could have done a better job expressing those feelings. The author has great skill with description and so the foul language seemed to be added to sell the book or by another person.
Lots of other good mystery, thriller, crime authors that I prefer.
April 9, 2018
Murder With Religion & Romance
LOTS & LOTS of religion hang from the backbone-storylines of two murders. The mysteries are good on their own, but this book is cluttered with too many side-stories, plus a lot of sidetracking in general. Plus pages of preaching.
I would’ve skimmed 2/3 of this book, but some attention was required because too many characters cluttered this book. 45-50 by my count, but I may have missed a few. Or over-counted by same. The chaplain/police investigator MC is too perfect to be believable, as are many major characters. Even the chaplain’s ex-wife—who is first written as unstable and unreasonable—whirls about and becomes a nice person.
There were frequent information dumps about religious symbology (less than the Robert Langdon series), Christian concepts and long biblical quotes. More info-dumps explain law enforcement, serial killers, abnormal psychology, etc. Add discussions/lectures about cops killing black men, Black Lives Matter, and Army Ranger trainees of different races (plus one LBGT). Trainee names are stereotypes: Rashard, Khaleel, Orlando, Joshua Darden and Jayson.
This book has pages of religious references, but it also contains bloody, sadistic murders AND a grisly suicide—described in detail. More: I never expected this error: author mentions a “Pascal lamb.” PASCAL? Really?
Two stars: the author finished the book, and there were no cliffhangers.
NOTE: I used more caps than usual, but I thought it appropriate. THE AUTHOR ACTUALLY WROTE TWO PAGES IN CAPS!
LOTS & LOTS of religion hang from the backbone-storylines of two murders. The mysteries are good on their own, but this book is cluttered with too many side-stories, plus a lot of sidetracking in general. Plus pages of preaching.
I would’ve skimmed 2/3 of this book, but some attention was required because too many characters cluttered this book. 45-50 by my count, but I may have missed a few. Or over-counted by same. The chaplain/police investigator MC is too perfect to be believable, as are many major characters. Even the chaplain’s ex-wife—who is first written as unstable and unreasonable—whirls about and becomes a nice person.
There were frequent information dumps about religious symbology (less than the Robert Langdon series), Christian concepts and long biblical quotes. More info-dumps explain law enforcement, serial killers, abnormal psychology, etc. Add discussions/lectures about cops killing black men, Black Lives Matter, and Army Ranger trainees of different races (plus one LBGT). Trainee names are stereotypes: Rashard, Khaleel, Orlando, Joshua Darden and Jayson.
This book has pages of religious references, but it also contains bloody, sadistic murders AND a grisly suicide—described in detail. More: I never expected this error: author mentions a “Pascal lamb.” PASCAL? Really?
Two stars: the author finished the book, and there were no cliffhangers.
NOTE: I used more caps than usual, but I thought it appropriate. THE AUTHOR ACTUALLY WROTE TWO PAGES IN CAPS!
July 21, 2018
Admire the Author
No spoilers. I admire Michael Lister as an author. He is prolific and remains true to his character's motivations and beliefs. The stories he tells are timely and interesting. This one in particular has several unexpected twists to keep the reader guessing. With all there is to admire, including writing a series as vast as the John Jordan books, there is something keeping me from giving this book more stars. It isn't something missing; it's a need to cut back on the attempts to make characters and couples perfect. A perfect couple is still made of humans with all their flaws. Real people don't need to grease their partner's ego all the time. Good people say impatient thing occasionally. Most of all, couples madly in love don't have sex every night, especially when the are tired and worn out from caring for an infant and a toddler. It is not distracting enough to tell anyone not to read the book. The police work and prison work at the heart of the John Jordan stories are there and told well. Some of the other thing are unnecessary distractions best edited out.
No spoilers. I admire Michael Lister as an author. He is prolific and remains true to his character's motivations and beliefs. The stories he tells are timely and interesting. This one in particular has several unexpected twists to keep the reader guessing. With all there is to admire, including writing a series as vast as the John Jordan books, there is something keeping me from giving this book more stars. It isn't something missing; it's a need to cut back on the attempts to make characters and couples perfect. A perfect couple is still made of humans with all their flaws. Real people don't need to grease their partner's ego all the time. Good people say impatient thing occasionally. Most of all, couples madly in love don't have sex every night, especially when the are tired and worn out from caring for an infant and a toddler. It is not distracting enough to tell anyone not to read the book. The police work and prison work at the heart of the John Jordan stories are there and told well. Some of the other thing are unnecessary distractions best edited out.
April 23, 2019
Everyone is concerned where Johanna Jordan (4, daughter/sister) will end up & with who will have custody.
Wewahitchka. Annual Tupelo Festival (honey harvest). Shane McMillan (Tommy’s brother, US Army 75th. Ranger Regiment) had vanished somewhere in the Chipola River area.
Cody, Matt, Megan (ADHD, depression), & Daronté “Swolle” Jackson were giving their description of what happened.
Reggie Raffield, & Ralph Raffield (older brother, leader) of the Wewa S&R teams were combing the area.
Tommy McMillan (35, husband, youth minister, Shane’s older brother, Anna’s cousin) has did several times also. Nothing.
Fred Hall is diligently doing the sonar scans.
Sheriff Reggie Summers (40+, Gulf County, boss), & John Jordan (narrator, husband/father, Gulf Correctional Institution chaplain, Gulf County investigator, former US Army 75th. Ranger Regiment) are interviewing several PPL.
Officer Nick Nichols (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission FWC) confirmed a decomposed corpse had been found but not Shane’s.
Agent Samantha “Sam” Michaels (Florida Department of Law Enforcement FDLE) had examined the remains of the young female body.
Amber Matthews (17, Wewa HS Sr., Rain’s ex-GF) was the deceased name.
Alcohol, & drugs were consumed by most of the teens swimming & jet skiing.
Iola Landing. Vera (witness) had seen a young girl on a wake board watching a young man being pulled under by the under current.
John stopped by to see Megan Stripling (Shane’s GF) because she had been missing school.
Columbus. Sweet Willy’s Soul Food Station. Shane’s former US Army 75th. Ranger Regiment buddies introduced theirselves to Tommy, & John.
They are Jayson (gay), Kahleel (A/A), Rashard (A/A), Orlando (Hispanic), Honor (Hispanic),
& Joshua “Josh” Darden.
The shots/toast was to Carl who had been KIA, & Shane.
Iola. BANG! The only thing you hear up down the Apalachicola River/swamp.
Megan (Shane’s GF) has taken her own life. Her lifeless body falls into the water.
Kayden Reynolds name had come up.
Will Shane every be found?
Will Megan’s body be recovered?
Warning: This book contains adult content, violence, or expletive language which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written crime thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great crime thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Pulpwood Press; BookSends; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Wewahitchka. Annual Tupelo Festival (honey harvest). Shane McMillan (Tommy’s brother, US Army 75th. Ranger Regiment) had vanished somewhere in the Chipola River area.
Cody, Matt, Megan (ADHD, depression), & Daronté “Swolle” Jackson were giving their description of what happened.
Reggie Raffield, & Ralph Raffield (older brother, leader) of the Wewa S&R teams were combing the area.
Tommy McMillan (35, husband, youth minister, Shane’s older brother, Anna’s cousin) has did several times also. Nothing.
Fred Hall is diligently doing the sonar scans.
Sheriff Reggie Summers (40+, Gulf County, boss), & John Jordan (narrator, husband/father, Gulf Correctional Institution chaplain, Gulf County investigator, former US Army 75th. Ranger Regiment) are interviewing several PPL.
Officer Nick Nichols (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission FWC) confirmed a decomposed corpse had been found but not Shane’s.
Agent Samantha “Sam” Michaels (Florida Department of Law Enforcement FDLE) had examined the remains of the young female body.
Amber Matthews (17, Wewa HS Sr., Rain’s ex-GF) was the deceased name.
Alcohol, & drugs were consumed by most of the teens swimming & jet skiing.
Iola Landing. Vera (witness) had seen a young girl on a wake board watching a young man being pulled under by the under current.
John stopped by to see Megan Stripling (Shane’s GF) because she had been missing school.
Columbus. Sweet Willy’s Soul Food Station. Shane’s former US Army 75th. Ranger Regiment buddies introduced theirselves to Tommy, & John.
They are Jayson (gay), Kahleel (A/A), Rashard (A/A), Orlando (Hispanic), Honor (Hispanic),
& Joshua “Josh” Darden.
The shots/toast was to Carl who had been KIA, & Shane.
Iola. BANG! The only thing you hear up down the Apalachicola River/swamp.
Megan (Shane’s GF) has taken her own life. Her lifeless body falls into the water.
Kayden Reynolds name had come up.
Will Shane every be found?
Will Megan’s body be recovered?
Warning: This book contains adult content, violence, or expletive language which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written crime thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great crime thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Pulpwood Press; BookSends; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
April 8, 2021
What a great story. This is the eleventh book in the murder mystery, John Jordan series and is engaging and suspenseful. John is now both an investigator and prison counsellor, in addition to his new family and two girls. He is assigned two cases, one a drowning and the other a serial killer. The characters are amazing, well crafted with great personalities, complete with strengths and weaknesses. The storyline flowed smoothly and quickly. The mysteries has numerous suspects, subtle clues, surprises and a build up of suspense, keeping you engaged until the very end. The narrative provided insight into character backgrounds, emotional drama, thought processes, motivations and actions. I really enjoyed the dialogue and character interaction. The tender romantic moments add a lot to the complex storyline. I really enjoy this series and look forward to reading more.
June 6, 2017
This is the second book in this series that i've read and i enjoyed them both. The protagonist is a prison chaplain who also works with the police in investigations. He is a very sympathetic character with high morals and good intentions, but that doesn't stop him from running into more than his share of problems along the way. In this book, he's working on two cases, one a presumed drowning where the body hasn't yet been recovered and the other a grisly serial killer case where the body was discovered while dragging the river for the other body. Add to this unrest at the prison where he works and custody problems with his ex-wife over their daughter, and that pretty much sums up the book. It was a very enjoyable read.
November 15, 2020
Good but way too short...like a short story
I lke the stories but I am beginning to feel the author is starting a keyboard race with someone. It is interesting that the original stories are now being upgraded to make political statements not originally there. That saddens my heart considering I had been impressed and contempletive about many of his theologian statements...his actions are contradictory. This is really a short book. Is this what the author is doing now? Why and what agenda do Connelly and him now have?
I lke the stories but I am beginning to feel the author is starting a keyboard race with someone. It is interesting that the original stories are now being upgraded to make political statements not originally there. That saddens my heart considering I had been impressed and contempletive about many of his theologian statements...his actions are contradictory. This is really a short book. Is this what the author is doing now? Why and what agenda do Connelly and him now have?
May 21, 2017
Apesar de ser o 11º livro de uma série, pode ser tranquilamente lido sem conhecimento prévio do autor ou seu personagem central. História policial que começa lenta e interiorana, e cresce com a revelação de assassino serial nas redondezas -- nada inovador, mas faria boa figura num seriado da Netflix. A dose de violência e morte cresce na segunda metade, e há boas surpresas até quase o final. Típico policial "page turner".
June 13, 2017
John Jordan is a chaplain as well as a police consultant. When a close friend's brother goes missing in the river, it is all hands on deck. As search and rescue drags the river, the find a horrific body of a young girl tied to a cross. This mystery as well as the missing young man make up the heart of the book. There is also a storyline about Jordan's personal relationship with his ex and their young daughter as well as his new relationship with Anna.
July 15, 2018
Blood Oath was an AWESOME read!!
Nothing better than a Michael Lister book to read!! A young man is lost in a river, and things quickly go south from there! Can John Jordan find out what happened and where the body went? Involved in the investigation and dealing with his ex-wife and getting visitations with his daughter. He gets all tangled up in both! This book, was a non-stop read! Loved it, especially that someone in the story, has my nickname of Rain!!
Nothing better than a Michael Lister book to read!! A young man is lost in a river, and things quickly go south from there! Can John Jordan find out what happened and where the body went? Involved in the investigation and dealing with his ex-wife and getting visitations with his daughter. He gets all tangled up in both! This book, was a non-stop read! Loved it, especially that someone in the story, has my nickname of Rain!!
May 28, 2017
My third John Jordan, I didn't realize the first 2 were related to each other and to this one until I read the writer's comments. The stories can certainly stand alone but I was glad to have the history that number 7 (the first, chronologically,) provided. The murder scenes here were quite graphic. In that regard, I preferred the earlier books.
September 5, 2017
Recommend
This is a good murder mystery, very readable, hard to put down. It has an overarching sense of goodness in it. Sometimes you don't know who is talking.....there are abrupt switches in scenes without a break in text. It threw me a little. Otherwise, a good mystery with good characters. I'll read more in he series.
This is a good murder mystery, very readable, hard to put down. It has an overarching sense of goodness in it. Sometimes you don't know who is talking.....there are abrupt switches in scenes without a break in text. It threw me a little. Otherwise, a good mystery with good characters. I'll read more in he series.
July 20, 2018
Interesting and surprising
This is a good read, it moves along well without providing an expected ending. There is enough variety, thought and action to keep our reading.
I rated it as average in that the story jumped a bit and sometime I had to go back to find out who was the character was there hat was talking.
This is a good read, it moves along well without providing an expected ending. There is enough variety, thought and action to keep our reading.
I rated it as average in that the story jumped a bit and sometime I had to go back to find out who was the character was there hat was talking.
August 2, 2018
Middling
This is the first book I’ve read of this author and I am not in a rush to read more. The writing is reasonable but it seems an unlikely coupling for the main character to be both a cop and a preacher I got tired of being preached too and the perfectness of the hero and his perfect character.
This is the first book I’ve read of this author and I am not in a rush to read more. The writing is reasonable but it seems an unlikely coupling for the main character to be both a cop and a preacher I got tired of being preached too and the perfectness of the hero and his perfect character.
April 22, 2021
Excellent! Michael Lister writes three (maybe more) series, and in this one, you get to meet some of the others if you haven't read those series yet. All in search of drowning victims and a serial killer. And John Jordan is trying to juggle his job as a prison chaplain, investigator for the local sheriff, and working out a custody arrangement with his ex. Busy man.
May 4, 2017
With this well paced read, two storylines emerge. One supersedes the other for a time but then gives way to the original. Just when you thought it was done save for the wrap up, a shocker is delivered. I like it.
August 3, 2017
Great read liked the main character in is role as cop and chaplain. This duel role adds some interesting aspects to the his character. Also loved that he is a committed husband and family man. The ending was a complete surprise so kept me guessing. I recommend it highly.
November 17, 2017
A Real Thriller That Seems So Real
Not every author can create a series of novels of which each can stand alone and each is as different and fresh as the previous one with any of the same characters. Great story, great surprises and great entertainment, well worth reading.
Not every author can create a series of novels of which each can stand alone and each is as different and fresh as the previous one with any of the same characters. Great story, great surprises and great entertainment, well worth reading.
August 8, 2018
Religious manifestations
Always a twist at the end of who done it. Incorporates prayer and sex in a twist. Not sure the two are compatible. Powerful and powerless compete for resources and naive policing. In the end the righteous lose.
Always a twist at the end of who done it. Incorporates prayer and sex in a twist. Not sure the two are compatible. Powerful and powerless compete for resources and naive policing. In the end the righteous lose.
June 18, 2020
The author sets up the ambience well but the story is disappointing. He leaps from character to character. And he cheats. In a mystery you have to play fair with the audience and the author does not. Could have been a good book.
Read
November 23, 2023More explicit than previous books
This was a great story, even though it had a bit of gore. John and Sam are working together in this volume. John has two new jobs, and he and Anna are happy.
This was a great story, even though it had a bit of gore. John and Sam are working together in this volume. John has two new jobs, and he and Anna are happy.
May 7, 2017
Well done John Lister
Like the suspense and the genuineness of the character. Enjoyed reading because not profane in language as most books are
Like the suspense and the genuineness of the character. Enjoyed reading because not profane in language as most books are
May 11, 2017
I really like this mystery and sober character. I'll try the rest of the series too
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews