What do you do when you wake up from a horrible nightmare after dreaming that your husband is the sole survivor of a mass slaughter?
This is the position that Therese Elliott finds herself in when four weeks before her husband Mike’s forthcoming launch of the shuttle Atlantis she has a terrifying and realistic nightmare. It is not until she joins forces with an investigative priest from the Vatican that she understands that she has tuned into an international terrorist who has his own devious agenda and who will stop at nothing to get his own way.
Father John Cortise who has been sent from the Vatican to investigate a series of religious murders has his own problems to deal with as well. The already rather shaky hold that Father John has on his convictions is again sorely tested when he joins forces with Therese. They soon find themselves on the move from London, Beirut and finally to Florida.
Never by Blood is an international thriller style of novel with lots of action complete with requisite details about the shuttle and NASA. It also gives the reader a good insight into the preparations that take place for sending men and women off into space.
I found it very difficult to enjoy this novel. There was something about it that put me off. It was well written but I could not empathise with any of the characters especially Therese, as much as I sympathised with the situation that she found herself in. At times I found this novel too plausible especially at the beginning where Therese has her vision via a nightmare.
I am sure that this book will appeal to many but sadly it did not appeal to
me and I had to force myself to finish it. I was not in the least bit concerned
about the outcome, I think partly because Never by Blood never quite held my
attention. However, for those readers who enjoy international espionage then
this is certainly the book for you to read.
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Ayo Onatade
Noel Carroll are a husband and wife writing team.