Jove Brand Is Near Death

Written by A. Crawford

Narrated by Tim Campbell

The name is Allen. Ken Allen.

These days Ken Allen is a nobody.

But once upon a time, his name was Brand. Jove Brand.

Eighteen years ago, Ken Allen played the famous fictional superspy in Near Death, a movie so bad it was never meant to be seen. Since then, Ken has faded into cult obscurity, but when his celebrated successor is killed in the same ghastly fashion as the villain in Near Death, Ken is cast as the prime suspect.

The only way for Ken to clear his name is to go full method and once again play the part of Jove Brand, except this time it’s for real. As murder surrounds him, the secrets behind Near Death Ken fought to keep buried for eighteen years begin to surface.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CamCat Publishing
• Release date: Jul 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9780744302936

Reviews for Jove Brand Is Near Death

[karensiddall · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Pure entertainment from start to finish!Jove Brand is Near Death is fun and quirky, and immensely entertaining. I was hooked from the start. Parodying such successful movie franchises as James Bond, Marvel, and DC Comics, I laughed out loud in delight at the fun parallels (and remembering my own experiences going to the cons; the descriptions are spot on!) The throwbacks to the past are fabulous, but there are also up-to-the-minute cultural references, making the whole story fresh and funny. Ken’s devotion to his diet and the frequent inclusion of trendy food choices had me smiling. The writing is easy to read, and the dialogue sparkles as Ken investigates the murder.Ken is a genuinely nice guy, and he’s got a solid circle of friends who have his back. I particularly enjoyed Yuen Hung, his former Near Death co-star and convention partner. I hope he returns in future books. The effects master, Ray Ford, provides awesome working props that he engineers to Ken’s needs. I loved his whole persona and vibe.The plot is a solid mystery with constant action as Ken follows his instincts and chases down possible leads. The story is more complex than I expected and kept me guessing. Tim Campbell narrates the audiobook edition, and I thought he was perfect as Ken Allen. He has a wonderful voice and delivery and uses it to get perfect results. He is my Ken Allen now. I will also be looking for more audiobooks that he’s voiced. I recommend JOVE BRAND IS NEAR DEATH to mystery readers, especially those with a fun interest in spy movie thrillers and comic book-themed film series. However, no knowledge of either would keep a reader from enjoying this delightful book.I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

[yarmando_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In his early 20's, Ken Allen played Jove Brand (James Bond) in a small, rushed installment produced in order to keep the film rights in the family. Eighteen years later, Ken's stint is a big joke, until he becomes the suspect in a series of murders surrounding the Brand franchise.Why I picked it up: The book was an Audie nominee when it came out; I liked it, but never got a chance to finish it. I needed to use an Audible credit quick, and remembered this.Why I finished it: Campbell is a good performer, with a good range of character voices and excellent pacing. I like how Ken, denied Bond/Brand legitimacy, becomes a real life version of the character.I'd give it to: It has a nice action comic feel to it, and fans of spy thrillers and more active mysteries would like it.