2015 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Reader's Choice Award in Mystery/Thriller
2015 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal in Fiction-Action
2015 eLit Gold Medal in Popular Fiction
2015 eLit Silver Medal in Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
"Davis sets a solid foundation for more adventures. Sharply written, starring characters readers will be happy to meet again." - Kirkus Reviews
"Blood Line is compelling, with accelerating pace, surprising twists and a spectacular ending-readers will be eager for the sequel, coming soon!"-Alan Rinzler, Consulting Editor
"Blood Line's psychology is exquisitely wrought, its action is elegantly played out against the backdrop of political and criminal forces, and its ultimate results are satisfyingly unpredictable." -D. Donovan, eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book Reviews
"Blood Line is a quiet little gem of genius. I love espionage novels and I have read a lot of them, but I can assure you that I have never read a novel where the world of espionage is so smoothly blended with ordinary American family life. The genius of John J. Davis is that both facets of Ron and Valerie's characters are believable; the spy and the parent. Just as importantly for the reader, this family is very, very likable." 5 out of 5 Stars -Ray Simmons for Reader's Favorite
"Rich character back stories make this spy thriller an entertaining read. Fans of spy novels and series will enjoy this energetic and entertaining story of a family of spies." -Paige Van De Winkle for Foreword Clarion Reviews
"John J. Davis has written a thriller that is special in many ways, but for me the one that stands out among all the superlatives is that it crosses many genres.
If you are a fan of spy novels, espionage, and or suspense thrillers, you will love this book." -JM LeDuc (author of "Sin") for Suspense Magazine
2014-08-21
This debut thriller finds an entire family on the run from those who would sell bleeding-edge technology to the highest bidder.In Park City, Georgia, Ron and Valerie Granger work for INESCO, a family-owned research company that develops technology for the U.S. government. Ron also happens to be an inactive CIA operative, while Valerie belonged to the Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency. They believe they've set their spy careers aside to raise their teen daughter, Leecy, but a home invasion may mean otherwise. After disabling one intruder and killing the other, the Grangers meet with FBI agent John Porter. He informs them that one of the intruders is a former INESCO employee, and perhaps they wanted to kidnap Leecy and leverage her for obtaining vital Department of Defense proposals. The Grangers disagree with Porter's theory, maintaining that INESCO projects proceed under a shroud of coded secrecy. Later, when Leecy overhears sensitive information, the Grangers must run from the FBI and into the safekeeping of Ron's former handler, Tammy Wakefield. With her help, they realize that INESCO has a greedy mole and that Ron's legendary reputation as a violent, take-no-prisoners operative is their best hope for protecting everyone. In his aptly titled debut, author Davis does an excellent job laying the groundwork for upcoming volumes in the series. Ron and Valerie feel like true partners and parents, and Leecy is a believable teen ("my life is on that phone!"). Clever scenes also have Ron playing with his legend as a one-man Native American kill squad who only used a knife and a tomahawk. Valerie's past as a Mossad assassin is more explicitly referenced; readers learn that she helped get Boris Yeltsin elected. As the tightly written plot advances, however, the Grangers' familial bonds are so pervasive that it's hard to feel the real danger. And though the details of CIA operations and modern technology are impressive, the narrative loses some bite when everyone stops to explain things to Leecy. Nevertheless, Davis sets a solid foundation for more adventures.Sharply written and starring characters readers will be happy to meet again.
