Power in the Blood: A John Jordan Mystery

by Michael Lister and Michael Connelly

Book Overview

From New York Times Bestselling author Michael Lister and a special Introduction by Michael Connelly . . . A new, revised, special anniversary edition of Michael Lister's very first novel with content... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561641375
• ISBN13: 9781561641376
• Release Date: October 1997
• Publisher: Pineapple Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A believable insiders view...

This book grabbed me and I read it from cover to cover in one sitting. Something I've never done before. This first novel by an actual prison chaplain gives the reader a view never before seen inside the prison system. None of the prison cliches we're used to are there. The unique viewpoint of a man of faith and his take on an inside murder prison officials want him to solve is refreshing. At first glance I suspected a message disguised as a novel because of the author's ministry and the main character's religious calling. However this is a no-holds barred, in-your-face action-packed book. Rev. John Jordan relies on his faith to get him through this life-threatening ordeal, but the author doesn't use his first novel as a platform to preach to the reader. Blood is a very powerful element in this thriller. It begins awash in it. I was actually quite surprised. I would never have believed a Chaplain could have written something so raw, gritty and violent as this excellent first novel.

Prison chaplain rebuilds life while solving crime

Too often, a "Christian" mystery isn't Christian at all. It may include a clergyman sleuth or a church setting, but the Christian faith has no bearing on anyone's conduct. Happily, that is not true here.POWER IN THE BLOOD is Michael Lister's first novel. It relates Fr. John Jordan's initial year as the prison chaplain at Potter Correctional Institution in north Florida. Raised in the area by his daddy, the sheriff, Jordan has returned after a disastrous fall from grace. He's now divorced, a recovering alcoholic, and followed by rumors of scandal. He's delighted to discover, however, that he likes ministering to these "low lifes" better than the wealthy Atlanta congregation he lost.Lister is himself a prison chaplain. His mystery (the death of a prisoner trying to escape in an unlikely way) and its surroundings witness to his experience. The prison wants a quiet investigation of the death of Ike Johnson and drafts Jordan to assist, because of his rapport with the inmates. As it becomes obvious that only a prison employee could have arranged such a death, Jordan's life and the lives of his closest friends are seriously endangered.When he's not worrying about getting killed, he's coping with his alcoholic mother, a new romantic interest who can't believe he intends to remain celibate until marriage, and pressure from powerful townspeople. Prayer, a desire to care for God's weakest children, and a growing commitment to his vocation help Jordan fight back to a solution. I hope this isn't the last appearance of this thoughtful sleuth.We may never face murder, but this Christian "detective" can teach us how to apply our faith in situations of stress and fear. Not bad for "light" reading!Kathleen T. Choi HAWAII CATHOLIC HERALD

An auspicious debut! A promising first novel!

The reviews speak for themselves:"Power in the Blood provides an unflinching and disturbing look at contemporary prison life, and prison chaplain, John Jordan makes for a convincing and altogether appealing detective/protagonist. An auspicious debut." --Les Standiford."Lister, a real life prison chaplain who knows his turf, delivers gritty portrayals of inmates and prison workers." --Publisher's Weekly."Lister gives his leading character the depth and shortcomings of a 'regular guy,' a refreshing change from the typically flawless clergy found in much of pop fiction." --Booklist."Michael Lister, a North Florida prison chaplain, is a first-time author, but you'd never know it. His book, Power in the Blood, reads as if it had been dreamed up by a skillful old pro. The cruel, small world inside prison could make for an unpredictable, claustrophobic series. Something untried, different, interesting. Thank heaven."--Miami H! erald.