Written in Blood (The Foley Chronicles:Files from the 8th District Book 1) in Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie

Feb 15, 2017 Gayle Pace rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: detectives, crime

MY THOUGHTS
This author did an amazing job of putting out this book, written in first person which is given by two different people. Not an easy task for a writer. As you turn the pages, as a good book should, it keeps you wondering. Mr. Bush brings us authentic characters. They are everyday people with everyday lives. Not characters that are glossed over, like icing on the cake. I did find the pace to be rather slow, but to me, that was refreshing. It gave me time to take in the characters and ...more

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Feb 09, 2017 Grady rated it really liked it · review of another edition

White male, fiftyish, GSW to the back of the head, close range; white female, 20’ s to 30’ s, multiple stab wounds to chest and neck area.”

Alabama author Nathan Bush writes Christian Crime series, of which this is Book 1 – WRITTEN IN BLOOD. Nathan has lived in several US states, but has called Alabama his home for the past 20 years, after leaving the Army to pursue other duties. According to notes from Nathan, he found the Lord in 2001 after spending the first 32 years of his life fruitlessly se White male, fiftyish, GSW to the back of the head, close range; white female, 20’ s to 30’ s, multiple stab wounds to chest and neck area.”

Alabama author Nathan Bush writes Christian Crime series, of which this is Book 1 – WRITTEN IN BLOOD. Nathan has lived in several US states, but has called Alabama his home for the past 20 years, after leaving the Army to pursue other duties. According to notes from Nathan, he found the Lord in 2001 after spending the first 32 years of his life fruitlessly searching for meaning in countless other endeavors, and has been passionately "working" as a youth leader for the past 10 years. In addition to his passion for Christian work he is deeply interested in criminal profiling, homicide investigation and psychology. Though this is the first book in his Foley Chronicles he demonstrates a keen insight into this subject matter, assuring us that there will be further volumes to follow in this Christian crime series.

Using a sophisticated style of pulling readers in to his story Nathan offers a fine brief Prologue: ‘His given name was Kennedy Collins, but everybody called him Ken. He was a Detective Grade 2 in the Homicide Division in the 8th District of the Foley Police Department. The close of his rookie year in the Investigative Branch of the FPD was not a good time in his life. Personal circumstances came about that pushed him to his limits and beyond. They brought more baggage than he could handle and threatened to destroy everything. However, the physical issues and the spiritual battle he faced were only parts of the problem. In that same timeframe, he and his partner, Senior Detective John Filcher, got handed a case that was to become the most trying of his career. Someone was killing prostitutes in their district. He was efficient and brutal, and unfortunately for the duo, left no trail to follow, except for some inexplicable messages left at each crime scene. During the course of the investigation, things may not have been handled in the best possible way by all those involved, regardless of the outcome. Interdivisional rivalry, evidence withholding, personal grudges and external forces jeopardized the case at its core.”

In this Prologue Nathan offers the nidus for his intent to infuse Christian principles and the need for spiritual intervention to mold his characters. That is not to say that this book does not deal with gristly crime – it does – and Nathan handles that well, as his synopsis suggests: ‘Join Detective Kennedy Collins and John Filcher as they attempt to track down a killer with an insatiable appetite for destruction and a desire to ruin Ken's life. Read along as John, a devout Christian, seeks to lead Ken to a lasting relationship with his Creator. Feel the anguish as Ken struggles with his dad's recurring illness, as well as his own mental and physical issues, and burgeoning questions about his Eternal security. Throw in a budding romance between Ken and a beautiful coffee house cashier, a bureaucratic watchdog known as the "Special Crimes Division" established by the Governor, and some insight into the mind of Eddie, a serial killer bent on revenge, and you might just have a book worth reading. Will Ken and John find the killer before more victims die? Will Eddie make good on his vow to destroy Ken? Will the 'Special Crimes Division' make a move to take the case away from the detectives from the 8th District? Will Ken accept the Truth that can change his life forever?’

For a first novel this book is strong. Yes, there are grammatical errors and typos that editing will adjust, but the writing is strong and Nathan accomplishes his goal of combining evangelical elements in the world of crime.
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Feb 09, 2017 Ariel C rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Thrilling crime read!

Very fast paced, unpredictable, clean crime fiction.
None of the extreme violence or unnecessary profanities typical of the crime genre.
Intensely powerful character voices just jump off the pages, desperate to tell their story.

John and Ken are both such versatile great 3D characters.
No cardboard cut outs of "good/bad cop".
John has an almost paternal air about him and his faith adds to this element.
Ken is a fascinating and complex character.

Brilliant writing from Nathan Bu ...more

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Aug 26, 2016 Nathan Bush rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

Shelves: crime, christian-fiction

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Feb 05, 2017 Sarah marked it as to-read

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Sep 30, 2021 Nathan Bush rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

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