Reviews

     

 Glass in the Blood is an ambitious international thriller that I highly recommend. 

K.C. Finn: Readers' Favorite.®️ Book Reviews and Award Contest  |  Readers' Favorite.com

     

 Dialogue crackles with authenticity, reflecting regional nuances and the unspoken power struggles between characters. Layered, gripping, and evocative. 

BookView Reviewer: Book Reviews  |  Bookview Review.com

     

 An excellent read - couldn't put it down! Characters come to life in a great way with the story unfolding just like you are watching a movie. Keep an eye on the big screen for this one. 

I. Cooke: Avid reader. U.K.  |  Original Review on Amazon

     

 A fascinating well written story that presents cultural and historical facts as fiction. A must read to get insites into today's problems 

Marilyn U.S.A.

     

 I really enjoyed this story. Jim Blood is wonderful character - he’s the guy you’d choose to be stuck on a desert island with. His survivor instinct, with a tongue-in-cheek perspective of the world, would keep you alive and entertained whilst you waited to be rescued! In addition to being an exciting and humorous read, Glass in the Blood is also informative; giving a first hand account of Middle East culture. Well worth a read! 

J. Penman. U.S.A.  |  Original Post - Amazon U.S.A.

     

 A riveting, galloping read. I felt invested in the central characters which are masterfully brought to life by the author. Jim is a classic, brilliant but flawed hero and Fatima is heroically resilient. The complex weaving of their stories kept me hooked throughout. I will admit to being disturbed by certain very raw scenarios, but everything was integral to the development of characters and plot. I hugely recommend this book for some engrossing escapism and an increased pulse rate. 

Laurie, U.K.: English and Maths Teacher

     

 Compelling. Scarily realistic. A poignant reminder that life is not a bowl of cherries. 

Kindle Customer  |  Original Post - Amazon U.K.

     

 Great Read. Ordinarily I read non-fiction and I'm very busy at university but, on the recommendation of a friend picked up the book. To the detriment of my studies I couldn't put it down. Action from start to finish. Having grown up as an ex-pat in the Middle East, there is a broad section of the book that is relatable. As my friend said, "Read it." 

Ryan O'Donnell: Degree Student, London, U.K.  |  Original Review in Amazon

     

 Great read. Fast moving, believable and exciting❤️ looking forward to a sequel please. 

Ann M. Retired U.K.  |  Original Review on Amazon

     

 Glass In The Blood is a thrilling novel that blends suspense, international intrigue with deep emotional narratives. Reeves's storytelling is vivid and immersive, with profound character development and a gripping plot full of twists and turns, keeping you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Themes of faith and superstition are explored without slowing the narrative, leading to a satisfying ending. As a thriller enthusiast, I was completely hooked. If you enjoy books that keep you guessing, Glass In The Blood is a must-read. 

Ramona: USA  |  Original Post - Amazon U.S.A.

     

 Great Book. Really fun and very clever. Look forward to reading more from JM reeves. Well worth a read, its easy and engaging 

1979 yesterday EU: UK verified purchaser  |  Original Post. Amazon

    

 Loved it. Jim Blood and his wife Valerie travel the oceans in and around the Middle East and Africa for great coastlines and productive work contracts. Jim, an Englishman, also called the 'glass man', specializes in quality glass installations at construction sites. He is brought in on sites to assess the production and work involved with the glass, but business isn't always available, and finances can get tight. A new contract requires sailing to the Republic of West Africa. Kareem had negotiated the contract and travel plans for Jim, however, it was discovered that Kareem's partner, Waleed, had been using inferior products and also overstated the quantities to pocket money for himself. Jim's role as a contracted consultant has become very complicated, not only with the manipulation of the books but also due to the current civil unrest within West Africa. This is a fast-paced storyline involving the lives of many characters: Fatima, who suffered physical mutilation deemed culturally appropriate for females in the '70s, and caused superstitions to follow her throughout her life. Fatima's son, Khalid, was summoned into service by the 'Giant', a merciless military adversary, intent on a government coup using violence and fear. Ali and Waleed are relatives of Fatima and believe her to be a witch who can cause people to die. Finally, Kim Tibbs, an American, befriends Jim at a conference and becomes an integral part of Jim's current assignment. Jim Blood is an intriguing and enjoyable character of depth and many skill sets that are needed to uncover not only the issues of fraud and incompetence at the glass construction site, but also to keep him and others safe from the entanglement of 'the Giant'. Jim is a fascinating blend of two characters, Indiana Jones and Jack Ryan. He is dapper, quick of wit, strategic, adventurous, and savvy. He can decipher problems with the glass installation and decode potential threats to his safety and that of many others. From the time he agrees to take on this contractual assignment, he is met with changes, challenges, threats to personal safety, and additional hurdles to accomplish not only the assignment, but also other conditions as well. The complicated plot and the many diverse characters keep the suspense building to a surprising finish. There are episodes of violence in the book that are brief but build on the intensity of the issues within the African experience and Jim Blood's efforts to finish his work as promised. 

Linda Besser: Reviewer at Reedsy  |  Reedsy review

    

 Decades ago in Yemen, a young woman called Fatima birthed a son named Khalid. Fatima hated many aspects of her highly oppressive and conservative culture. Fatima and her family believed she could summon supernatural powers to cast evil on those who offended her. Her ability to conjure up misfortune had become tightly associated with a hue of the moon dubbed Blood Moon. Fast forward to 2022, and Khalid is now a grown-up man working for his uncle Waleed, who runs a glass business with some family members. While overseeing a glass delivery in the Republic of West Africa, Khalid is detained by the Giant, a military general of the republic, on issues related to a faulty glass shipment. To secure Khalid’s release, the Giant requests Waleed and his company fix the faulty shipment, a task requiring the expertise of a British national called Jim Blood. Glass in the Blood by John M. Reeves details the intriguing, thrilling, and funny adventures and investigations of Jim from the Middle East to the Republic of West Africa. One thing I like about this story is how accurately the author portrays the cultures of the countries, places, and people the story draws inspiration from. The names and behaviours of the characters match the typical patterns seen in conservative Arab countries and dictatorial African countries, making them more relatable. The portrayal of superstitious beliefs, like the legend of the Blood Moon, and the role of Christianity in some characters’ lives, reflects the beliefs often found in many parts of the Middle East and Africa. Another good thing about this book is how humorous some scenes and characters are. Comedy in this book is not overt, and it can take a while before you grasp the cleverly contrived punchlines spread across the book. The Giant has to be the most entertaining and funny character in this book, taking fun in terrorising the local population. I also like how challenging it is to read this book, partly due to the author's use of multiple rare words that compel you to hold a dictionary close by when reading. I learned many new words and British slang from this book. Another challenging aspect of the book is the author’s narrative style, marked by little introduction of the characters or explanations of the plot, letting the reader figure out virtually everything themselves. One thing I disliked about this book is how much of the early chapters focused on Fatima’s childhood, before and after motherhood, which didn’t bring much to the plot development other than understanding Fatima’s relation to the Blood Moon and her family members. This downside doesn’t bother me much, but I wish this section were shorter. One thing that persistently bugged me was the multiple punctuation, typos, and grammatical errors. I think this book deserves another round of editing. I rate this book four out of five stars. I rate it so for the following reasons: Firstly, it accurately portrays the cultures of the countries and people from which the author drew inspiration, making the story relatable. Secondly, its characters are entertaining and funny. Portions of this book feel like a genuine comedy drama. Thirdly, the author's narrative style allows the reader to figure out the plot themselves, adding complexity that obliges you to read between the lines, since every conversation could potentially uncover crucial plot details. What made me deduct one star from the maximum rating was that this book wasn’t well-edited, making me enjoy it less. This book features multiple instances of non-borderline profanity, violence, and a couple of lightly sexual references. I recommend this book to readers of all religions. 

Ams Strong: OnlineBookClub.org  |  Original review

     

 Action packed. I hardly had time to draw breath. Jim Blood might just be one of the most compelling leads I’ve read in a long time: equal parts elegant consultant and reluctant action hero, with enough grit and depth to carry a story that’s as much about survival as it is about identity. What I really enjoyed was how cleverly and seamlessly the book layered personal, political, and cultural tension into a globe-spanning narrative. Stretching across the seas and into volatile West Africa. It felt not only real, but lived-in. And Fatima’s storyline? Haunting, powerful, and a bold counterbalance to Jim’s. Her strength radiated off the page. I especially appreciated the slow burn of suspense as things unraveled. From bureaucratic fraud to military threat, it was all so tightly woven and the way superstition, trauma, and faith as narrative threads were woven in, elevated everything to another level. 

Christian: Gas turbine engineer