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Power in the Blood (John Jordan Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

3.8 out of 5 stars 3,702 ratings

Detective John Jordan sought peace in the quiet corners of Florida, leaving behind the chaos of Atlanta and his tumultuous past. But tranquility is elusive when a shocking event thrusts him back into the heart of a gripping mystery.

Witnessing the bizarre death of an inmate in state prison, John is reluctantly drawn back into the world he tried to escape. When the desperate pleas of two young children lead him to search for their missing mother, Candace Miles, John can no longer ignore his calling. As he delves into the investigation, he must unravel whether the inmate’s death was a murder, a tragic accident, or a sinister suicide. All while he confronts the enigma of Candace’s disappearance—their fates intertwined in a web of deceit and danger.

In this fast-paced thriller, Detective Jordan confronts his deepest fears and darkest secrets. With tension that crackles and a narrative that grips from start to finish, Power in the Blood is a thrilling whodunit that showcases the depth of human emotion and the complexity of true crime.

“Crackles with tension and authenticity.” — Michael Connelly

Includes a Special Introduction by Michael Connelly.

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There are 31 books in this series.

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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004GEAMV8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pulpwood Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 8 Dec. 2010
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.2 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 329 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1888146752
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 31 ‏ : ‎ John Jordan Mysteries
  • Customer reviews:
    3.8 out of 5 stars 3,702 ratings

About the author

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Michael Lister
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New York Times bestselling and award-winning crime novelist Michael Lister is a native Floridian best known for his acclaimed John Jordan “Blood” mystery thriller series. 

#1 New York Times Bestseller Michael Connelly says that “Michael Lister may be the author of the most unique series running in mystery fiction.” Publisher’s Weekly writes that “Lister gives fair clues for the surprise solution, thus combining a compelling account of his hero’s spiritual struggle with a top-notch whodunit.”

Michael grew up in North Florida near the Gulf of Mexico and the Apalachicola River in a small town world-famous for tupelo honey.

In the early 90s, Michael became the youngest chaplain within the Florida Department of Corrections. Then, for nearly a decade, he served as a contract, staff, and senior chaplain at three different facilities in the Panhandle of Florida. This unique experience inspired his first novel, 1997’s critically acclaimed POWER IN THE BLOOD. Michael’s books take 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 most brutal maximum-security prison.

Michael is also an inspirational speaker and musician, who with his wife, has the band Bliss Street. 

Find out more at www.MichaelLister.com.

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
3,702 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be an excellent read with well-written content and interesting characters. The plot receives positive feedback for its surprising twists and turns.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

25 customers mention ‘Readability’25 positive0 negative

Customers find the book brilliant and an excellent read, with one customer noting it's a must-read for crime thriller fans.

"A good steady read with a likeable hero and a convincing plot. I look forward to the rest of the series" Read more

"...There is some nice banter, occasionally...." Read more

"...It is worthwhile reading a book that makes you pretty uncomfortable once in a while. This delivers." Read more

"A good read with plenty of twists in the story.Will definitely buy the next books by this author." Read more

7 customers mention ‘Plot’7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, noting its surprising twists and turns.

"This book surprised me with its twists and turns, it's depth and the complex mix of characters...." Read more

"A good steady read with a likeable hero and a convincing plot. I look forward to the rest of the series" Read more

"A good read with plenty of twists in the story.Will definitely buy the next books by this author." Read more

"Not a bad read but nothing exciting either, the story was fine although far fetched in places. Didnt inspire me to read any of the other books." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Writing quality’6 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, with one noting it is written in the first person and another describing it as graphic.

"...I read it to the end and hadn't really guessed the culprit. It's not badly written, although I could've done without the long, religious passages..." Read more

"...The writing is graphic, portraying very clearly the grim realities of the prison population, and the equally grim life of Jordan...." Read more

"...Don't get me wrong. The standard of writing is at a very high level but there occasions when this got too violent, too real, and at that point it did..." Read more

"Very good read. Enjoyed it. Well written. Well done." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Character development’5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, with one specifically mentioning the likeable hero.

"...surprised me with its twists and turns, it's depth and the complex mix of characters. It's a real life view of prison (from what I've heard!)..." Read more

"A good steady read with a likeable hero and a convincing plot. I look forward to the rest of the series" Read more

"...A really well thought out plot, some truly despicable characters, and squirm-worthy scenes, corpses around every corner, not knowing who to trust..." Read more

"Interesting characters and settings, well crafted and well worth reading. I look forward to more John Jordan titles." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 April 2017
    This book surprised me with its twists and turns, it's depth and the complex mix of characters. It's a real life view of prison (from what I've heard!) and it only makes it better. Highly recommended to all crime genre lovers.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 March 2017
    A good steady read with a likeable hero and a convincing plot. I look forward to the rest of the series
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 February 2017
    Not bad - not great. Lots of things confused me about this book - and, in the first half, it was the sheer volume of characters (prison inmates, guards etc.). Then the confusion centred around JJ. I just didn't fully buy into who he was.

    Ex cop turned cleric - sounds a bit unlikely but I could go along with it (so far). But all the crying - combined with him ploughing on with an investigation while in ever greater danger...just didn't stack up for me as a plausible character. Ditto his "pious" side contrasting with his noticing (to some level or other) every woman that worked in the prison. It made him almost have a Jekyll and Hyde side - but neither of them came across as particularly attractive (which means his attractiveness to women always came as a surprise).

    His relationship with his brother was something I didn't like. If his father was a professional then he wouldn't have allowed one of his officers (aka his son) to talk to a "civilian" the way he did in public. Would he?

    I think the main thing that got to me though was the keeping secret bits of evidence because, in the long run, it usually comes back to bite you in the rear. By trusting no one more lives were put at risk (trying not to spoil the book for anyone else).

    The plus points? I read it to the end and hadn't really guessed the culprit. It's not badly written, although I could've done without the long, religious passages (skipped those pages). There is some nice banter, occasionally.

    It's def not the worst book I've ever read - but I'm only lukewarm towards reading another John Jordan Mystery.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 July 2016
    This was quite a different experience for me. So many aspects of life in America are at the least unfamiliar to British readers and often downright alien. This was true for me reading Power in the Blood but I suspect that American readers from other parts of the USA would find this, often quite harrowing tale, quite challenging too.

    It is worthwhile reading a book that makes you pretty uncomfortable once in a while. This delivers.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 January 2017
    A good read with plenty of twists in the story.Will definitely buy the next books by this author.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 July 2024
    Not a bad read but nothing exciting either, the story was fine although far fetched in places. Didnt inspire me to read any of the other books.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 July 2014
    I do love a good mystery, and this one didn't disappoint. I'd never heard of this author to be honest and only downloaded the book as it was free and I was short of something to read, but I'm really glad I did and I've now bought (and paid for) the next one.
    The main character is likeable and its easy to slip into his head. Yes he's a preacher, but not some sanctimonious Bible basher; rather he's as flawed and damaged as anyone else. He's been through a tough time and has his own closet full of skeletons, so strives to carry out his work with compassion instead of brimstone and judgement.
    A really well thought out plot, some truly despicable characters, and squirm-worthy scenes, corpses around every corner, not knowing who to trust and plenty of twists kept me turning the pages, and I must say I didn't see that one coming.
    On to the next book
    8 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 May 2017
    Written in the first person. John Jordan - ex-cop, ex-husband, ex-drunk, is now a prison chaplain. I was surprised to find Jordan is only 27, which seems a little young for the background he is given. The writing is graphic, portraying very clearly the grim realities of the prison population, and the equally grim life of Jordan. This was one of the problems for me. It is all too grim. There are no individuals that I felt drawn to, or even care greatly about. The other problem was the plethora of characters - I just could not keep track of them. Even right at the end of the book, one name is mentioned and I thought "who the blazes is that?"

    I didn't enjoy it, and if the milieu remains the same in future books in the series, I doubt I will read any more by this author.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Indy Dog
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in France on 5 September 2016
    Excellent and well written story. Different kind of hero, a flawed man who does the best he can. Will definately read Lister again
  • Kindleユーザー
    3.0 out of 5 stars フロリダローカルなクライムノベル
    Reviewed in Japan on 8 September 2016
    土地勘があればもっと楽しめそうです。
    作者は元刑務所の牧師の経験をいかしてねたをかいているようです。
    LA,NY,Boston,Chicago などなどご当地ミステリーがあるのは、アメリカの広さを感じます。
    KINDLE で無料。
    Report
  • Marian Vollans
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!
    Reviewed in Canada on 23 January 2017
    I did not want to put the book down when I was able to find a few minutes to read.
  • Mark H
    5.0 out of 5 stars I've got a new favourite character
    Reviewed in Australia on 29 August 2022
    I don't think I've read any of the authors books before, and this book has made me aware that I have been missing out on something. His writing style is excellent. I will be reading another of this series soon.
  • Bookzilla
    5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling
    Reviewed in the United States on 20 January 2024
    Abuse triggers

    Michael Lister is a must buy, must read author. This stand-alone is easy to follow but at times difficult to read due to emotions evoked. No editing errors, gratuitous violence or drag-you-down drama.

    Intriguing storyline of faith, prison and obviously illegal activities. Descriptive writing that draws the reader into each scene. Realistic procedures, actions and reactions. Believable characters with distinct personalities and emotional baggage. Thought-provoking dialogue.

    No desire to re-read this story. I am always interested in works by this author.

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