Power in the Blood: John Jordan Mysteries, #1

By Michael Lister

From New York Times Bestselling author Michael Lister 

Newly Revised with an Introduction by Michael Connelly 

Was it murder, accident, or suicide? A baffling case. A brilliant detective. An introduction to an insightful, sympathetic, spiritual, and utterly unique investigator. John Jordan is a cop in a clerical collar haunted by his past—a man of mercy who also thirsts for justice.

"Michael Lister may be the author of the most unique series running in mystery fiction. It crackles with tension and authenticity." Michael Connelly

The first novel in the popular, award-winning, and critically-acclaimed John Jordan mystery series.

˃˃˃ POWER IN THE BLOOD a John Jordan novel from award-winning and bestselling author Michael Lister

Witness the series Florida Weekly calls "a treasure of contemporary literature--suspenseful, provocative, and unsettling," and bestselling author Julia Spencer-Fleming says is "one of the most ambitious and unusual crime fiction series going. See what crime fiction is capable of."

In POWER IN THE BLOOD, ex-cop John Jordan, now a prison chaplain in the Florida Panhandle, witnesses the bloody death of Potter Correctional Institution inmate Ike Johnson. But what exactly did he witness? Murder, accident, or suicide? Jordan discovers that in the closed society of captives and captors no act goes unseen, and no one takes kindly to a cop in a collar. He soon finds his reputation, his career, and even his life are at stake.

"Another great ride with a very assured driver behind the wheel." Michael Connelly

Offering up both the sacred as well as the profane, POWER IN THE BLOOD is a thoughtful thriller and a suspenseful mystery you won't want to miss!

"Eerie, cinematic, finely-wrought, unflinching, suspenseful, complex, and original, POWER IN THE BLOOD is a page-turner with a soul." Lisa Unger

If you love exciting, gritty, thoughtful mysteries, don't miss Michael Lister's POWER IN THE BLOOD.

˃˃˃ The John Jordan series in order: 1) POWER IN THE BLOOD, 2) BLOOD OF THE LAMB, 3) FLESH AND BLOOD, 4) THE BODY AND THE BLOOD, 5) BLOOD SACRIFICE, 6) RIVERS TO BLOOD, 7) INNOCENT BLOOD, 8) BLOOD MONEY, 9) BLOOD MOON, 10) BLOOD CRIES, 11) BLOOD OATH, 12) BLOOD WORK, 13) COLD BLOOD, 14) BLOOD BETRAYAL, 15) BLOOD SHOT, 16) BLOOD TIES, 17) BLOOD STONE, 18) BLOOD TRAIL, 19) BLOODSHED, 20) BLUE BLOOD

Don't miss a single second of this brilliant, breathtaking series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pulpwood Press
• Release date: May 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781513046754

Michael Lister

New York Times bestselling and 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 BIG HELLO). 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.

Book preview

Reviews for Power in the Blood

[kindleifier · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Written in the first person. John Jordan - ex-cop, ex-husband, ex-drunk, and 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.

[vesper1931 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

John Jordan is the prison chaplain at Potter Correctional Institution where one day he witnesses the death of an inmate, Ike Johnson. Because of his previous experience as a police officer he is instructed to investiagte in an unofficial capacity. But this is not the last death. And what is reeally happening withing the prison.
A enjoyable and decent start to the series, probably more of a 3.5 rating. Hopefully the religious content will just be a background aspect of the stories.

[mikedraper · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Michael Lister is a chaplain in the Florida Dept. of Corrections. He spins a disquieting story of corruption, sexual activity, drug dealing and violence inside a Florida correctional facility.John Jordan was a former cop who entered the ministry and was assigned as chaplain for the Porter Correctional Institute.In the opening scene, he witnesses a prisoner who is killed, apparently while attempting escape.Superintendent Edward Stone considers Jordan's past in law enforcement and his rappor with the prisoners and so he orders Jordan to assist in the investigation to the killing. He is to work with Tom Daniels, the IG. Daniels is an arrogant and condescing official who displays dislike for Jordan's meddling.Jordan is able to get information about one prison official who works on the late shift. This person sees the prison as his own domain and treats prisoners and their spouses with contempt.While the investigation is under way, we learn of the personal side of the minister as he discusses his alcoholic past and failed marriage. He seems to have put this behind him as he begins to date a young woman from the town.When complications arise and Jordan is falsely accused of certain crimes, the story becomes a testament to his faith. As in the Biblical story of Job, the pain and suffering that this good man endures, almost makes him dispair, but his inner strength and faith, saves him.This is a story of a man overcoming his past and attempting to improve the lives of others. It deserves a wide audience. The author does a nice job in using his experience as a prison chaplain to create a realistic and enjoyable story.

[jenforbus · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

John Jordan is a former cop and the present Potter Correctional Institute chaplain who witnesses first hand the gruesome death of inmate Ike Johnson. When the superintendent asks Jordan to help investigate the death, Jordan discovers not only a network of crime and corruption taking place within the walls of PCI, but also the crime and corruption that is spilling out in the county. With the assistance of his friends Merrill and Anna, Jordan sets out to uncover the truth behind it all. POWER IN THE BLOOD is Michael Lister's first John Jordan mystery, and I can say without reserve that I am looking forward to checking out the next two books in the series. John Jordan is a unique protagonist; definitely the first crime-fighting chaplain I've read about! And (you can say it with me because you've heard me say it before) I love Jordan because he's real: he isn't perfect, he makes mistakes, he has "issues", and there are many complex layers to this character. The inmates like Jordan and it's believable. I would like J.J. if I knew him, too. As is common place with me, I took a special shine to Jordan's good friend Merrill - Merrill Monroe. His intelligent, sarcastic humor provides a great deal of comic relief throughout the novel. Lister also does a very nice job with the character of Anna. Just anyone wouldn't be working in a high security correctional facility, especially not just any woman. Anna's personality is believable for the job she holds. She's spunky and self-assured. Anna's personality is essential for the believability of the plot as well. Overall, a very well developed female character.I especially enjoyed Lister's creative use of both biblical and literary illusions. They are spread throughout the books and are some of the most effective use of this device I've experienced in some time.The plot of Power in the Blood is tight. There isn't a lot of unnecessary, outside detail to muck up the storyline. Jordan has some past issues that Lister brings out seamlessly. They don't detract from the present, but instead allow the reader a better understanding of Jordan. And Lister is great at slowly feeding the reader facts as the investigation progresses. The novel is told in first person, and the reader receives clues exactly the same way that the narrator receives them.The only negative I would present about Power in the Blood were a couple of occasions where I rolled my eyes thinking Lister got a little hokey. Maybe others might view these scenes differently, but I thought they were conspicuously sappy. The book is not sappy and the couple of spots seemed to stand out to me as not fitting in with the tone of the novel. But that is far from enough for me to not recommend this novel.