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Tom Rollins Thriller #1
Blood Line
He’s quiet, ordinary-looking. But if you cross him – welcome to your worst nightmare.
Tom Rollins has gone AWOL from his CIA black-ops unit and is living off-grid when he hears that the woman he loves, Alejandra, has been murdered by a person or persons unknown.
Rollins is determined to punish her killers and sets out on his own personal search and destroy mission. Applying pressure as only he knows how, he quickly discovers who was behind the killing – a vicious gang of hardened criminals.
Using his dizzying array of lethal skills, Rollins begins to take out the leaders of the gang, one by one. But then he discovers that Alejandra’s murder was part of a larger conspiracy, one that threatens death and destruction on a horrifying scale.
The conspirators are clever and ruthless. They’ve thought of everything, covered every angle. Except one - Tom Rollins.
Tom Rollins has gone AWOL from his CIA black-ops unit and is living off-grid when he hears that the woman he loves, Alejandra, has been murdered by a person or persons unknown.
Rollins is determined to punish her killers and sets out on his own personal search and destroy mission. Applying pressure as only he knows how, he quickly discovers who was behind the killing – a vicious gang of hardened criminals.
Using his dizzying array of lethal skills, Rollins begins to take out the leaders of the gang, one by one. But then he discovers that Alejandra’s murder was part of a larger conspiracy, one that threatens death and destruction on a horrifying scale.
The conspirators are clever and ruthless. They’ve thought of everything, covered every angle. Except one - Tom Rollins.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2021
3551 people are currently reading
598 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
January 12, 2024
I am glad the ending was much better than the beginning. I got bogged down in the first forty five pages on the book due to the number of people introduced. The next hundred pages of the book was like the beginning of a brush fire, where there are small smoldering bursts of action. Finally the fire is on and the action is relentless. The main character is the type I would want on my side if I faced trouble. Very lethal, very smooth and will not suffer people being placed in harm’s way. The plot was terrifying. The remnant of evil left behind will make a good series for future reading. This is a worthy read.
December 11, 2021
If you like actionfilled thrillers this one is for you. Blood Line by Paul Heatley is the first in a new series about ex soldier and AWOL CIA agent Tom Rollins. He is trying to keep under the radar so the CIA don't find him but when his brothers girlfriend is killed and his brother left dying he must take action. This was a pleasant surprise for me and I bought all the books in the series at once, they are only .99 cents at the moment. I really like this kind of books with a strong main character that rights wrongs.
July 30, 2024
I listed to an audio recording of the book and found it easy to listen to and energizing. Yes, it would energize me as I listened to the book on my many walks. Well, now to listen to book 2.
March 22, 2021
Blood Line is the first instalment in the Tom Rollins Thriller series, and what a pacy and scintillating read it is. The prologue opens with Tom Rollins and his CIA black ops unit on a mission to find Aaban Ahmadi in Afghanistan. Ahmadi had been the one organising hit and runs on US bases and convoys for the past six months and the CIA had only two days ago received intelligence as to his whereabouts. Under the cover of darkness, M4A1s in hand the team descend upon the Villa-style house located in what seemed like the middle of the desert. The five men - Captain Robert Dale, Simon Collins, Nathan Sapolsky and Ezekiel Greene - plus Rollins, begin using hand signals to communicate knowing that there is likely to be guards outside the house, even though they are some distance away. Tom and Zeke are to go in through the front. Simon and Nate will take the rear. Once inside they scan the rooms and locate Ahmadi’s bedroom. Tom immediately heads in, checks this is their man and sticks a knife into his heart. The Captain decided to keep it from Tom that their orders were to kill all those in the house but he never relayed this to him because he knew Tom would object. Now it's too late because it's done. Tom decides that as soon as their plane lands, he's out. No more black ops missions. He lands back on US soil and goes AWOL; living off the grid is something he's used to. Meanwhile, Anthony and Alejandra are kicking back in front of the box at their home in Harrow when he gets a message telling him: ”we know. RUN.” so he quickly grabs his pre-packed emergency bag and leads Alejandra to the car. They head to the relative safety of his father’s house. Alejandra is thirty-eight weeks pregnant and Anthony is hoping the stress won't bring on early labour.
Then all of a sudden a car idling by the side of the road slams into them causing the car to roll and land on its roof. Someone begins to open his door but his attention is soon directed to Alejandra when she is pulled out of the car before him; her protestations falling on deaf ears. Then he is gripped and dragged out before been spat at in the face. He comes to realise that he knows the voices of the men. They are The Right Arm Of The Republic. Here to deal with him personally. Michael Wright, Harry Turnbull, Ronald Smith, and Peter ‘Terminator’ Reid. All of this because Anthony is an undercover narcotics officer. It isn't long before things take a turn for the worse when Peter takes out a gun and proceeds to shoot Alejandra right in the stomach leading Anthony to scream. Followed by a shot in the face. They decide to take him with them as Michael wants the satisfaction of torturing him before they kill him but as they haul him back to the van they can hear the police sirens nearing. Elsewhere, Tom is laying low in Arizona when he gets a call from his father, Jeffrey, telling him he is needed back home as quickly as possible as something as happened to his beloved brother, Anthony. So he sets off from Arizona immediately. What ensues once he is informed about the situation is a hunt for those responsible and although it isn't going to be easy those willing to shoot an unarmed pregnant woman need to be off the streets for good. This is a riveting and enthralling, action-packed thriller from start to finish with an intense and emotionally-charged plot and endlessly twisty narrative that totally satisfied me. There's drama, credible characters and liberal dashes of violence throughout, and it left me wanting more of Tom, a principled and likeable protagonist. Highly recommended.
Then all of a sudden a car idling by the side of the road slams into them causing the car to roll and land on its roof. Someone begins to open his door but his attention is soon directed to Alejandra when she is pulled out of the car before him; her protestations falling on deaf ears. Then he is gripped and dragged out before been spat at in the face. He comes to realise that he knows the voices of the men. They are The Right Arm Of The Republic. Here to deal with him personally. Michael Wright, Harry Turnbull, Ronald Smith, and Peter ‘Terminator’ Reid. All of this because Anthony is an undercover narcotics officer. It isn't long before things take a turn for the worse when Peter takes out a gun and proceeds to shoot Alejandra right in the stomach leading Anthony to scream. Followed by a shot in the face. They decide to take him with them as Michael wants the satisfaction of torturing him before they kill him but as they haul him back to the van they can hear the police sirens nearing. Elsewhere, Tom is laying low in Arizona when he gets a call from his father, Jeffrey, telling him he is needed back home as quickly as possible as something as happened to his beloved brother, Anthony. So he sets off from Arizona immediately. What ensues once he is informed about the situation is a hunt for those responsible and although it isn't going to be easy those willing to shoot an unarmed pregnant woman need to be off the streets for good. This is a riveting and enthralling, action-packed thriller from start to finish with an intense and emotionally-charged plot and endlessly twisty narrative that totally satisfied me. There's drama, credible characters and liberal dashes of violence throughout, and it left me wanting more of Tom, a principled and likeable protagonist. Highly recommended.
June 16, 2025
DNF @ 20% - this wasn’t for me - not a fan of excessive foul language.
February 7, 2022
I’m quite a fan of Paul Heatley’s work having read a few of his novels & novellas, in which he writes largely crime noir stories which are set on either side of the Atlantic, with equally authentic style. I was a bit worried when I first heard about this new series of novels, which were billed as Jack Reacher type action novels, of which I’m not really a fan. However I shouldn’t have worried, as although our new protagonist Tom Rollins is an all action hero, there is still plenty of grit, violence, intrigue and double dealing to raise this above your run of the mill action novel. Both Bloodline and its follow up Wrong Turn were published on the same day and I enjoyed the former so much I’ve went straight on to commencing the latter, as there are story threads from the first novel that continue into the second novel.
January 17, 2023
Dnf @ 18%
This present tense writing is just weird and it sounds repetitive and monotonous, it’s me not the book , I tried to enjoy it but I just couldn’t
This present tense writing is just weird and it sounds repetitive and monotonous, it’s me not the book , I tried to enjoy it but I just couldn’t
March 24, 2021
I'd like to thank Inkubator Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book and the chance to read and review it.
Did you like classic action movies from the '80s and '90s like Raw Deal, Commando, Death Wish ( 2,3, and 4), The Substitute, Lionheart, etc? Then you will enjoy this tale of revenge by Paul Heatley.
Synopsis
After seeing too many travesties overlooked by the government Tom Rollins goes AWOL from his CIA Black-Ops unit. When Tom's brother Anthony and Anthony's girlfriend Alejandra are attacked by The Right Arm of the Republic, a Nazi white supremacist group in Harrow, Texas Tom sets out on a bloody path of revenge.
Review
I really liked this book. From the very first chapter, I got a big 80's action movie vibe from it. I could just picture Van Damme, Schwarzenegger, Stallone, or Norris sitting in that bar waiting for a fight. And the action started right away. With most scenes, I couldn't help but get that Deja Vu feeling of seeing or reading this before. But not in a bad way. I never felt as if the scenes were simply ripped off from other works. Instead, I found myself riding a wave of nostalgia as I read. I really looked forward to reading about Tom hunting down each of the people responsible for his “family's” attack and the action that would ensue.
And that was one of the parts of the book I was a little disappointed in. While I love reading about the hero really going to town on some evil characters, there needs to be some back and forth. If there is no struggle then a story falls short. Without a good villain, a story becomes bland and easy. Nobody wants to see a movie where Superman faces off against a 95lb purse snatcher. And that's what the action seemed like in this book, at least to me. There was not enough pushback against Tom to give any sense of real danger or urgency.
The story also has a subplot involving mercenaries and the FBI. While they are brought up regularly, in a novel about a brother's revenge these parts always just seemed out of place and forced into the story. I understand why they were added but for me, they just didn't do much other than distract from the real story I wanted to read about and that I was hoping there was more of.
One of the things I liked about this book (though I know some people will find it lazy or a cop-out) was the lack of technical details. Heatley has a very blunt, straightforward style of writing. When someone hacks a computer in this book, they tap a keyboard for a few minutes and it's hacked. There isn't a page and a half of technical explanations that only a real-life hacker or computer software engineer would understand explaining what they are doing. And while I feel there could have been a little more effort put into those scenes I did like having the break from those paragraphs that mean absolutely nothing to me and that make me feel like I stepped into the wrong advanced physics class lecture.
Like the classic movies I referred to earlier, this book isn't something you pick up when you want to form a deep emotional connection with characters or story-line. This is for when you want a quick enjoyable read that you can just enjoy without having to put a lot of thought into it. I know sometimes that is just what I'm looking for.
I'd give it another half star if that was possible for 3.5 stars.
Did you like classic action movies from the '80s and '90s like Raw Deal, Commando, Death Wish ( 2,3, and 4), The Substitute, Lionheart, etc? Then you will enjoy this tale of revenge by Paul Heatley.
Synopsis
After seeing too many travesties overlooked by the government Tom Rollins goes AWOL from his CIA Black-Ops unit. When Tom's brother Anthony and Anthony's girlfriend Alejandra are attacked by The Right Arm of the Republic, a Nazi white supremacist group in Harrow, Texas Tom sets out on a bloody path of revenge.
Review
I really liked this book. From the very first chapter, I got a big 80's action movie vibe from it. I could just picture Van Damme, Schwarzenegger, Stallone, or Norris sitting in that bar waiting for a fight. And the action started right away. With most scenes, I couldn't help but get that Deja Vu feeling of seeing or reading this before. But not in a bad way. I never felt as if the scenes were simply ripped off from other works. Instead, I found myself riding a wave of nostalgia as I read. I really looked forward to reading about Tom hunting down each of the people responsible for his “family's” attack and the action that would ensue.
And that was one of the parts of the book I was a little disappointed in. While I love reading about the hero really going to town on some evil characters, there needs to be some back and forth. If there is no struggle then a story falls short. Without a good villain, a story becomes bland and easy. Nobody wants to see a movie where Superman faces off against a 95lb purse snatcher. And that's what the action seemed like in this book, at least to me. There was not enough pushback against Tom to give any sense of real danger or urgency.
The story also has a subplot involving mercenaries and the FBI. While they are brought up regularly, in a novel about a brother's revenge these parts always just seemed out of place and forced into the story. I understand why they were added but for me, they just didn't do much other than distract from the real story I wanted to read about and that I was hoping there was more of.
One of the things I liked about this book (though I know some people will find it lazy or a cop-out) was the lack of technical details. Heatley has a very blunt, straightforward style of writing. When someone hacks a computer in this book, they tap a keyboard for a few minutes and it's hacked. There isn't a page and a half of technical explanations that only a real-life hacker or computer software engineer would understand explaining what they are doing. And while I feel there could have been a little more effort put into those scenes I did like having the break from those paragraphs that mean absolutely nothing to me and that make me feel like I stepped into the wrong advanced physics class lecture.
Like the classic movies I referred to earlier, this book isn't something you pick up when you want to form a deep emotional connection with characters or story-line. This is for when you want a quick enjoyable read that you can just enjoy without having to put a lot of thought into it. I know sometimes that is just what I'm looking for.
I'd give it another half star if that was possible for 3.5 stars.
March 21, 2021
I love discovering new authors and Paul Heatley is certainly a new author for me. I read the synopsis for ‘Blood Line’ and it certainly sounded like the fast paced, adrenaline rush, Hollywood style, action, thriller blockbuster type of read I particularly enjoy. Oh it was that and so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Blood Line’ but more about that in a bit.
I actually liked the character of Tom Rollins, who reminded me a lot of Jack Reacher from the series of books by Lee Child. He is your classic mean and moody action hero. He was in the forces but went AWOL following something that happened when he was on an ‘operation’. I won’t go too far into what happens during that ‘operation’ as it might spoil the story for others. It’s safe to say that it is a huge deal. Cross Rollins at your peril because he will certainly make you pay. Rollins is called into action by a family member and then all hell lets loose. What happens? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
Oh my flipping word, what a read this was! As soon as I started to read the story that was it. I just knew that nothing would be done for the rest of the day because I knew that I would be unable to put the book down for any length of time. To say that reading ‘Blood Line’ became addictive is a mahoosive understatement. The book travelled everywhere with me. I just couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. The pages turned over at a fair old pace as I worked my way through the story. Then all too quickly I reached the end of the story and I had to say farewell to Tom Rollins.
‘Blood Line’ is superbly written. The story certainly starts with a bang and then some. The author has certainly created a attention grabbing opening sequence and then he draws you into the story. Reading ‘Blood Line’ was like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. Just when you thought that you could catch your breath, gather your thoughts and reclaim your stomach then off the action would go again. I found ‘Blood Line’ to be a gripping read, which held my attention throughout and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Blood Line’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Paul’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I actually liked the character of Tom Rollins, who reminded me a lot of Jack Reacher from the series of books by Lee Child. He is your classic mean and moody action hero. He was in the forces but went AWOL following something that happened when he was on an ‘operation’. I won’t go too far into what happens during that ‘operation’ as it might spoil the story for others. It’s safe to say that it is a huge deal. Cross Rollins at your peril because he will certainly make you pay. Rollins is called into action by a family member and then all hell lets loose. What happens? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
Oh my flipping word, what a read this was! As soon as I started to read the story that was it. I just knew that nothing would be done for the rest of the day because I knew that I would be unable to put the book down for any length of time. To say that reading ‘Blood Line’ became addictive is a mahoosive understatement. The book travelled everywhere with me. I just couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. The pages turned over at a fair old pace as I worked my way through the story. Then all too quickly I reached the end of the story and I had to say farewell to Tom Rollins.
‘Blood Line’ is superbly written. The story certainly starts with a bang and then some. The author has certainly created a attention grabbing opening sequence and then he draws you into the story. Reading ‘Blood Line’ was like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. Just when you thought that you could catch your breath, gather your thoughts and reclaim your stomach then off the action would go again. I found ‘Blood Line’ to be a gripping read, which held my attention throughout and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Blood Line’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Paul’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
March 19, 2021
What a story! Starts off with the violent killing of a pregnant woman and her unborn baby, leaving her partner injured, and never lets up. What follows next is a non-stop violent tale of revenge by the man's brother against the militia group responsible for the killings.
This book won't be for everyone due to the violence but I was hooked. It's hard to know how I feel about Tom Rollins. Suffice to say, I'd want him in my corner!
The style of writing did take some getting used to. Felt quite quirky and initially I thought I might find it hard to adjust to it, but actually it seemed to add to the fast moving pace of the story. The story felt very American so I was surprised to realise that the author is English. It had a very authentic feel to it.
I look forward to seeing what wave of destruction Tom leaves behind him in the next book. I'm also curious about how the relationship between the brothers became so fractured.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book won't be for everyone due to the violence but I was hooked. It's hard to know how I feel about Tom Rollins. Suffice to say, I'd want him in my corner!
The style of writing did take some getting used to. Felt quite quirky and initially I thought I might find it hard to adjust to it, but actually it seemed to add to the fast moving pace of the story. The story felt very American so I was surprised to realise that the author is English. It had a very authentic feel to it.
I look forward to seeing what wave of destruction Tom leaves behind him in the next book. I'm also curious about how the relationship between the brothers became so fractured.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 12, 2021
Too English
Needs to do better research. I keep reading and hearing about all these super organized and dangerous nazi white supremacists conspirators lurking everywhere- but absolutely no proof that they exist hardly anywhere outside if prisons or in the UK.
Write about things you know something about in your own country, dude. We have too many of our own liars and propagandists here to need another one from your sorry excuse of a country.
Needs to do better research. I keep reading and hearing about all these super organized and dangerous nazi white supremacists conspirators lurking everywhere- but absolutely no proof that they exist hardly anywhere outside if prisons or in the UK.
Write about things you know something about in your own country, dude. We have too many of our own liars and propagandists here to need another one from your sorry excuse of a country.
June 23, 2024
This series has been on my TBR pile for a while and after taking a pause on another novel, I finished the first Tom Rollins novel and was very pleasantly surprised with the opener.
The storytelling and writing are smooth, and though some detractors will suggest this is a Jack Reacher knock-off, it really isn't. It is along the lines of a "lone wolf" themed series, but clearly in possession of its own unique qualities.
Tom Rollins once was a high-speed/low-drag CIA operative who grew weary of unfettered violence enthusiastically used by his fellow operatives. He then fled the CIA and now has to live under the radar always in concern for his life due to those of his past worrying if he will reveal their past war crimes.
Rollins, forced to resurface, then returns home after learning his brother is near death due to a violent assault, not knowing even larger surprises await his arrival.
Blood Line is a perfect summer or beach read and is highly recommended to those fond of Lone Wolf-type novels.
And be sure to pick up some of his other exceptional novels of rough, hardcore noir that are available - I promise you won't be disappointed.
The storytelling and writing are smooth, and though some detractors will suggest this is a Jack Reacher knock-off, it really isn't. It is along the lines of a "lone wolf" themed series, but clearly in possession of its own unique qualities.
Tom Rollins once was a high-speed/low-drag CIA operative who grew weary of unfettered violence enthusiastically used by his fellow operatives. He then fled the CIA and now has to live under the radar always in concern for his life due to those of his past worrying if he will reveal their past war crimes.
Rollins, forced to resurface, then returns home after learning his brother is near death due to a violent assault, not knowing even larger surprises await his arrival.
Blood Line is a perfect summer or beach read and is highly recommended to those fond of Lone Wolf-type novels.
And be sure to pick up some of his other exceptional novels of rough, hardcore noir that are available - I promise you won't be disappointed.
March 26, 2021
Blood line by Paul Heatley is the very first book in a series of action thrillers. It revolves around Tom Rollins a (sort of) ex-CIA Black-Ops agent. He is AWOL and of the grid so he can stay undetected from them for reasons that we discover immediately. He receives a message that sees him return to visit his dad. On his arrival he discovers his brother is badly injured and Alejandra, the woman he loved dead. He makes it his business to find out who was behind the attack. Using his plethora of lethal skills he hunts down the perpetrators, a gang of hardened criminals and one by one he takes them out. As he works his way through the gang he discovers that Alejandra's murder was part of a larger conspiracy. A conspiracy that is much larger than he could ever expect, one that threatens to bring death and destruction on a terrifying scale. Tom makes it his business to stop this chilling act of violence and this conspiracy may be planned meticulously but they never accounted for Tom Rollins!
A new series is always an exciting read. New characters, fresh plots and Blood line is definitely that. A story that automatically pulls you in and carries you along with the action and intrigue. Tom Rollins is a character that has seen it all he may be AWOL but we see he is a man of principles and when people close to him are involved he will go all out to revenge them. Paul Heatley has created a main character that is very real. I empathised with him immediately and understood his every move. The cast of characters we meet are mainly fairly detestable and as the story unfolded I was so into it that when a particular person was duped I was on the edge of my seat wishing I could warn them! That for me is the sign of a great story.
An action thriller that is packed to the brim with mystery, intrigue and the action too. The twists are really well placed and do a great job to ramp up the tension as the story speeds to it's conclusion. I am really lucky and have the next book in the series to start when I am able. I am so interested in where Tom Rollins is off to next and what issues he has to solve, in his own inimitable way.
Big thanks to Emma at Damp Pebbles Blog Tours and Inkubator Books for the copy of the book today.
A new series is always an exciting read. New characters, fresh plots and Blood line is definitely that. A story that automatically pulls you in and carries you along with the action and intrigue. Tom Rollins is a character that has seen it all he may be AWOL but we see he is a man of principles and when people close to him are involved he will go all out to revenge them. Paul Heatley has created a main character that is very real. I empathised with him immediately and understood his every move. The cast of characters we meet are mainly fairly detestable and as the story unfolded I was so into it that when a particular person was duped I was on the edge of my seat wishing I could warn them! That for me is the sign of a great story.
An action thriller that is packed to the brim with mystery, intrigue and the action too. The twists are really well placed and do a great job to ramp up the tension as the story speeds to it's conclusion. I am really lucky and have the next book in the series to start when I am able. I am so interested in where Tom Rollins is off to next and what issues he has to solve, in his own inimitable way.
Big thanks to Emma at Damp Pebbles Blog Tours and Inkubator Books for the copy of the book today.
March 22, 2021
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
July 12, 2021
Another cliche anti-white racist hack job. Can't we just have PEOPLE who are good or bad regardless of race.
March 23, 2021
My thoughts about Paul Heatley's brilliant breathtaking suspense explosive action thriller,Blood Line was extraordinary nail-biting brilliant thriller, that packs a punch. Author Paul Heatley's breathtaking writing style,makes Blood Line worth reading for, which is incredible. The fast tension the author brings out with the plot and characters is spectacular. Blood Line is a story about how far would you go to search for the killer's who murdered the love of your life, was fantastic. What I loved about the story was the main characters journey to seek vengeance, was fantastic. The story of Blood Line begins when Tom Rollins has gone AWOL from his CIA black-ops unit and is living off-grid when he hears that the woman he loves, Alejandra, has been murdered by a person or persons unknown.Tom Rollins is determined to punish her killers and sets out on his own personal search and destroy mission. Applying pressure as only he knows how, he quickly discovers who was behind the killing – a vicious gang of hardened criminals was fantastic.Tom uses his dizzying array of lethal skills, Tom Rollins begins to take out the leaders of the gang, one by one. But then he discovers that Alejandra’s murder was part of a larger conspiracy, one that threatens death and destruction on a horrifying scale. Talented Author Paul Heatley has not only written a powerful story,he also manages the explosive breathtaking action scenes so well, that leaves you breathless. Blood Line has full of suspense and action, that is going to take your breath away. Highly recommended for fans of Lee Child. Blood Line is an action packed entertainer, that is beyond excellent. I would like to say thank you to author Paul Heatley, publishers Independently publishing group and Emma Welton from damppebbles blog tour for giving me a gifted ebook copy for me to read and review this hard-hiting action thriller.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥💥💥💥💥💥
October 25, 2024
Another new writer to me and an excellent one at that. He is easy to read, the story, what a great plot, flows at an incredible pace and the pages just turn for themselves. I was absolutely thrilled by this book and thought that the character of Tom Rollins to be brilliant. You can compare him to any of the other fictitious rough and tough heroes that we read about but he has a slight difference because he is quite ordinary looking. Yes he has all the abilities that the army and the CIA black-ops unit has trained him for, he is not overly built, but cross him at your peril because he will become your worse nightmare. He is brutally efficient with all sorts of weapon and you will not beat him in a fight.
Because his unit is doing things that is against his morals, killing ordinary people, and even though he has voiced his opinion, he has left and gone AWOL and is living by his own means.
He learns that his brother has been badly injured and his pregnant girlfriend, the woman that Tom secretly loves, has been murdered in the same attack. He vows to bring vengeance on the gang that did it and they can’t even know what kind of a horrible death awaits them all, as he picks them off one by one.
This is the first Tom Rollins book that I have read and already he is one of my firm favourites.
Thank you Mr Heatley, write on! This is right up my street, an excellent 5/5.
Because his unit is doing things that is against his morals, killing ordinary people, and even though he has voiced his opinion, he has left and gone AWOL and is living by his own means.
He learns that his brother has been badly injured and his pregnant girlfriend, the woman that Tom secretly loves, has been murdered in the same attack. He vows to bring vengeance on the gang that did it and they can’t even know what kind of a horrible death awaits them all, as he picks them off one by one.
This is the first Tom Rollins book that I have read and already he is one of my firm favourites.
Thank you Mr Heatley, write on! This is right up my street, an excellent 5/5.
March 29, 2024
My Thoughts:
Wonderful start to a new-to-me series!
For a crime fiction the plot was quite straight forward. But it is not so much the twistiness of the plot but of how the story was told. Now, that, was wonderful!
I like to throttle Anthony, though! That doesn't mean that the character development is bad. Quite the opposite in fact. The author painted him to be such a whiny little shit that it elicited an emotional response from me, the reader.
The audiobook is supposed to be about eight and a half hours long. It felt so much less than with hours. The book just whizzed by me! I call that fast-paced!
I wanted the bad guys to be punished though. I think some got away lightly and some scot-free. I wanted my happily ever after...
This is my first Wayne Mitchell audiobook and I would listen to him again.
Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (8 hrs and 24 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Wonderful start to a new-to-me series!
For a crime fiction the plot was quite straight forward. But it is not so much the twistiness of the plot but of how the story was told. Now, that, was wonderful!
I like to throttle Anthony, though! That doesn't mean that the character development is bad. Quite the opposite in fact. The author painted him to be such a whiny little shit that it elicited an emotional response from me, the reader.
The audiobook is supposed to be about eight and a half hours long. It felt so much less than with hours. The book just whizzed by me! I call that fast-paced!
I wanted the bad guys to be punished though. I think some got away lightly and some scot-free. I wanted my happily ever after...
This is my first Wayne Mitchell audiobook and I would listen to him again.
Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (8 hrs and 24 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
August 4, 2022
If "Toxic Masculinity" is a Favorite Phrase for You...
...you'll want to move on from this one. Because Tom Rollins, AWOL CIA agent, doesn't care about your political leanings or your feelings. He has a strong moral compass that won't allow him to ignore injustice and an equally potent desire for righteous revenge.
I love the action genre with its epically strong anti-heroes and its take-no-prisoners attitude. While this story fits that bill very well, it didn't bowl me over as one of the best I've read. This is probably due to the narration, which came dangerously close to being over the top when the action picked up. The voicings of certain characters were also a little... unusual. Seriously strong accents were intermittent, and many voicings made the characters sound like they weren't packing a full IQ. It was almost bizarre.
I think I probably would have enjoyed this story better as a book rather than an audiobook. Regardless, the plot was still good, and the depth of the main characters was better than the average action read. For fans of this genre, it's enjoyable entertainment.
...you'll want to move on from this one. Because Tom Rollins, AWOL CIA agent, doesn't care about your political leanings or your feelings. He has a strong moral compass that won't allow him to ignore injustice and an equally potent desire for righteous revenge.
I love the action genre with its epically strong anti-heroes and its take-no-prisoners attitude. While this story fits that bill very well, it didn't bowl me over as one of the best I've read. This is probably due to the narration, which came dangerously close to being over the top when the action picked up. The voicings of certain characters were also a little... unusual. Seriously strong accents were intermittent, and many voicings made the characters sound like they weren't packing a full IQ. It was almost bizarre.
I think I probably would have enjoyed this story better as a book rather than an audiobook. Regardless, the plot was still good, and the depth of the main characters was better than the average action read. For fans of this genre, it's enjoyable entertainment.
April 4, 2021
I received an ARC of Blood Line and in exchange I am providing my independent review. #BloodLine #NetGalley #InkubatorBooks
So this novel involves a character named Tom Rollins who is a badass. He has a code of rules about how he thinks things should be done and he doe not suffer fools lightly. Some bad guys attack his brother and kill his brother's girlfriend (who Tom had a strong affinity for). Tom decides to kick ass. He doesn't bother taking names. He gets most of the bad guys, but not all of them. Afterwards, he stays off the grid and just wants to be left alone to live his life.
I enjoyed the book and I recommend it. My only comments are that I am a bit surprised that Tom didn't have an acceptance that he was going to run into some bad apples in his chosen profession. I also wish there had been more attention to detail as to his background, skillset and how he did things.
So this novel involves a character named Tom Rollins who is a badass. He has a code of rules about how he thinks things should be done and he doe not suffer fools lightly. Some bad guys attack his brother and kill his brother's girlfriend (who Tom had a strong affinity for). Tom decides to kick ass. He doesn't bother taking names. He gets most of the bad guys, but not all of them. Afterwards, he stays off the grid and just wants to be left alone to live his life.
I enjoyed the book and I recommend it. My only comments are that I am a bit surprised that Tom didn't have an acceptance that he was going to run into some bad apples in his chosen profession. I also wish there had been more attention to detail as to his background, skillset and how he did things.
July 6, 2021
As a fan of Lee Child and similar authors, I thought this book would be something I would like. To be fair, I was right! Ex-military lead character doing what needs to be done to get the problem solved. This had the added element that Tom Rollins is now a wanted man for going AWOL, so trying to do what's right, whilst also staying below the radar.
My only fault with the book in my opinion was that the ending seemed to be a bit rushed. After all of the build up of the story, including the various threads that weaved in and out of the plot, they seemed to be resolved far too quickly, including the final battle. The language and prose prior to this was great, with some gritty actions that don't dwell and become gratuitous.
Overall I enjoyed the flow of the story and look forward to reading future novels by the author.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for my honest review.
My only fault with the book in my opinion was that the ending seemed to be a bit rushed. After all of the build up of the story, including the various threads that weaved in and out of the plot, they seemed to be resolved far too quickly, including the final battle. The language and prose prior to this was great, with some gritty actions that don't dwell and become gratuitous.
Overall I enjoyed the flow of the story and look forward to reading future novels by the author.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for my honest review.
January 23, 2022
I received this book for an honest review:
This book grabs you from the beginning and does stop until the end. If you like action then this is the book for you. Rollins is AWOL from the CIA black-ops units he was part of. You know something happened on his last mission but he does not talk about it. What is happening now is he is going after a gang who killed the woman he loved but was married to his brother. This is all explained.
Finding the gang trunks out to be a problem at first but along the way you get part of the back story about him along with people who won't leave him alone for whatever reason. He is also trying to stay under the radar so as to not draw attention to himself because he does have people looking for him. This was a good book at least for me and very fast-paced. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars.
This book grabs you from the beginning and does stop until the end. If you like action then this is the book for you. Rollins is AWOL from the CIA black-ops units he was part of. You know something happened on his last mission but he does not talk about it. What is happening now is he is going after a gang who killed the woman he loved but was married to his brother. This is all explained.
Finding the gang trunks out to be a problem at first but along the way you get part of the back story about him along with people who won't leave him alone for whatever reason. He is also trying to stay under the radar so as to not draw attention to himself because he does have people looking for him. This was a good book at least for me and very fast-paced. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars.
November 30, 2022
2.5 stars.
A fairly enjoyable, if predictable, yarn about a Jack Reacher clone beating up the bad guys for killing his ex-girlfriend and duffing up his brother.
The Good - Fast paced, easy to follow, simple writing that gets to the point.
The Bad - cliché ridden and very predictable. I could guess the ending and how it was going to be resolved. Big lack of character development and cardboard cut out characters - especially the villains.
The Ugly - The writing - present tense - feels like it's had a single draft and a once over upon review. It's too simple at times and there's way too much telling, not showing. It makes a pacy read, but a plot that is spoon fed and not particularly engaging.
Overall not a bad effort. I probably won't delve into Tom Rollins' world again simply because he wasn't very interesting and a little bland. But it wasn't a bad ride to the final page.
A fairly enjoyable, if predictable, yarn about a Jack Reacher clone beating up the bad guys for killing his ex-girlfriend and duffing up his brother.
The Good - Fast paced, easy to follow, simple writing that gets to the point.
The Bad - cliché ridden and very predictable. I could guess the ending and how it was going to be resolved. Big lack of character development and cardboard cut out characters - especially the villains.
The Ugly - The writing - present tense - feels like it's had a single draft and a once over upon review. It's too simple at times and there's way too much telling, not showing. It makes a pacy read, but a plot that is spoon fed and not particularly engaging.
Overall not a bad effort. I probably won't delve into Tom Rollins' world again simply because he wasn't very interesting and a little bland. But it wasn't a bad ride to the final page.
December 8, 2021
This was my first Paul Heatley book - I am surprised that it was not his first too. The story line was ok - but it was very difficult to follow in places until right at the end but I can work with that. However the quality of the writing I felt was lacking. The characters were very 2 dimensional ( more like 1 dimensional) so I couldn't really identify with them and the way it was written meant it did not flow well and seemed quite amateurish. Until I read these reviews I thought it was his first foray into writing so was willing to cut him some slack - obviously not the case. I wil persevere and read his second book in the series and see if I can get into the series and enjoy it. If not then .......
November 11, 2022
Enjoyed this book and the character of Tom Rollins very much. It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but it was well worth it. Read late into the night to finish it. The one issue I had was that when Tom was on his own or with other characters outside the commune his speech was very precise, grammatically correct. When he was in the commune with his family, he reverted to using poor speech patterns (ain't especially aggravated me), it was like the author was trying to emphasize that Tom had come from a poor family background or that the preppers like his family were lower class. That part of the story didn't jive with the rest of the book.
Highly recommend this if you like action heroes, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Highly recommend this if you like action heroes, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
May 22, 2024
Tom Rollins is not a rogue CIA operator... he has "simply" decided he doesn't want to keep doing the same and went AWOL (it looks like in that job you cannot simply leave it).
"Flying low" off radar he is trapped in a plot because of his brother.
This is little different from similar series, a former operator dealing his way with any situation crossing him (although this is not mainly his desire... ).
In this case Tom has not a elite operator background (SEAL, Ranger, Delta....) but it's only mentioned he was in the Army and, then, he received some training by CIA but he has lot of resources as these elite operators I read in other series.
Finally there is the rogue politician/security force managing the entire plot in the background who, probably, will be the enemy in coming boks
"Flying low" off radar he is trapped in a plot because of his brother.
This is little different from similar series, a former operator dealing his way with any situation crossing him (although this is not mainly his desire... ).
In this case Tom has not a elite operator background (SEAL, Ranger, Delta....) but it's only mentioned he was in the Army and, then, he received some training by CIA but he has lot of resources as these elite operators I read in other series.
Finally there is the rogue politician/security force managing the entire plot in the background who, probably, will be the enemy in coming boks
January 12, 2026
I saw this book as a recommendation from a reader on the site Book Notification. It is the first in a series of books following the character, Tom Rollins.
I like the premise of the book in that it doesn't fully takes place in the sandbox of the Middle East. The main character has a conscience and goes AWOL from a CIA black wet work team. The story is a rather common one. The writing style is a little rough, i.e., some short sentences to describe things or action. But is still a good read. I will read a few more in the series to see where it goes.
As of this review, there are nineteen books in the series. I'm not sure how long it will take me to catch up. I'm reading several other series.
I like the premise of the book in that it doesn't fully takes place in the sandbox of the Middle East. The main character has a conscience and goes AWOL from a CIA black wet work team. The story is a rather common one. The writing style is a little rough, i.e., some short sentences to describe things or action. But is still a good read. I will read a few more in the series to see where it goes.
As of this review, there are nineteen books in the series. I'm not sure how long it will take me to catch up. I'm reading several other series.
March 23, 2021
I was very happily surprised when I read this book. My go to favourite genre is UK Crime so I was not at all sure that I would enjoy reading a thriller set in the US. I am a big fan of Lee Childs, however, and this book is definitely up there. I loved it. Action packed doesn't begin to describe it. The story is fast paced, believable, exciting and very violent. The characters are so well drawn that you care what happens to them. You really want Tom to triumph and you feel the pain of his loss. This is book one in what I hope will be a long series of books about Tom Rollins. I am certainly a fan and cannot wait for the next one. A definite five stars.
January 30, 2024
Read Blood Lines for the second time. My kind of book—well written, good plot, excitement galore. My reasoning is that, unlike sci-fi, there is a certain plausibility to this novel. It apes American History to some degree, especially the hate groups and ammonium nitrate bomb as in Oklahoma City. Jim Rollins as the protagonist is a superior, nebulous being but, as a former Marine myself, I know these super fighters exist. Maybe not as far fetched as Tom is but, nevertheless, they exist, Lastly, the novels construed to be partly based on some degree of realism are the ones that appeal to me the most. I am going to finish the whole Tom Rollins series
March 20, 2021
Oh, but this was a brutal read! "Blood Line" is dark, cold, vicious - and I couldn't stop reading. Tom Rollins is a fantastic character who is as brutal as the story itself - when it's needed. Paul Heatley's writing style is perfect for this book, and contributes to making this a speed-of-light read. As the opener to a series, it works too well: I want more, and I want more right now.
This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion. My thanks to @damppebblesblogtours
This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion. My thanks to @damppebblesblogtours
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