Power in the Blood: A John Jordan Mystery - Hardcover

Lister, Michael

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1561641375 ISBN 13: 9781561641376

Publisher: Pineapple Press, 1997

Synopsis

Former cop-turned-clergyman John Jordan, now the chaplain of the toughest prison in the Florida Panhandle, is ordered to assist in the investigation of an inmate's murder

About this title

About the Author

Multi award-winning novelist, Michael Lister, is a native Floridian best known for his literary suspense thrillers DOUBLE EXPOSURE, BURNT OFFERINGS, and SEPARATION ANXIETY, as well as his two ongoing mystery series, the prison chaplain John Jordan "Blood" series (BLOOD SACRIFICE) and the hard-boiled, 1940s noir Jimmy "Soldier" Riley Series (THE LONG DARK NIGHT).

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

Reviews

Born into an alcoholic family, long broken with his mother over her drinking and with his sheriff father over his decision to leave law enforcement for the clergy, hounded out of his parish and his marriage by accusations of sexual misconduct--Rev. John Jordan (``JJ'') feels he can't have very far to fall from the trailer he calls home and the prison he calls work. But his ministry at the Potter Correctional Institution goes into crisis when he sees inmate Ike Johnson stabbed to death by a panicky correctional officer who goes on to spray Johnson's AIDS-ridden blood all over JJ. While he's waiting to find out if he's infected, JJ is bullied into joining Inspector General Tom Daniels, who just happens to be his ex-wife's choleric father, in finding out who put Johnson's drugged body out with the trash. What else can go wrong? Well, bank president Russ Maddox, the uncle of JJ's new romantic interest, can be murdered under circumstances that link him directly to Ike Johnson; a rogue prison official can put a price on JJ's head; and a fresh accusation of rape can return him to the nightmarish past he's never lived down. Enough tribulation for you, maybe, but not for JJ, who turns cheek after cheek rather than taking revenge on his tormenters or even turning evidence against them over to the authorities. The result is a first novel that takes a uniquely uncompromising view of grace, though readers less saintly than the hero will burn with impatience at his sempiternal suffering. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

After witnessing the death of an inmate allegedly trying to escape, Florida prison chaplain John Jordan works with state prison inspector Tom Daniels, a man who despises him, to find out what really happened. With help from a few allies?stunning classification officer Anna Rodden, best friend and black guard Merrill Monroe, and clever nurse Strickland?Jordan struggles to overcome threatening letters, officer corruption, drug trafficking, illicit sexual activity, and his own alcoholism and depression. Awkward moments and lack of finesse sometimes hinder the flow, but overall this is a promising first novel.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pineapple Press
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1561641375
• ISBN 13: 9781561641376
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 336