J. K. Kelly (https://jkkelly.com) is the author of eight novels. I had the opportunity to interview Mr. Kelly in 2019. The Blood Compass was supposed to be published early this year but has not yet appeared on the Amazon Books store. This novel continues his The Export series. It is the 117th book I completed reading in 2023.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R.

This novel continues the exploits of Matt Christopher. He is still living abroad, away from the crazy place his home of America has become. He has used his well-honed skills to deliver justice and protect those who are suffering from abuse. For now, his home on Capri in the Mediterranean.

A US president had been assassinated only a year earlier. Now, a Supreme Court Judge has been shot and killed. A mixture of characters makes life for Christopher more harrowing. An orphaned nephew, a corrupt president, and plots within the Catholic Church bring danger and intrigue into his life. A reemerging romance with a woman who was once a US Navy SEAL adds its own set of complications.

I enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent reading this 523-page thriller. With this book, I have read six of Mr. Kelly’s novels. The others were Found in Time, The Lost Pulse, The Export, The Export’s Revenge, and Deadly Driver. They have all been good, action-packed thrillers. I give this novel a rating of 3.8 (rounded to 4) out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

I sadly didn't connect with this book and didn't find it very interesting. I appreciate the opportunity, however and hope it works for others!

A fast paced crime novel, with multiple characters and locations, number three in a series. Hence I struggled with it and did not finish.

I don't like reading books in a series out of order and hadn't realised this was number 3. However, it worked as a standalone and was still a good read. Former American Agent Matt Christopher runs a security business operating worldwide investigating and protecting the rich and powerful including Presidents and Prime ministers. Now, everything seems to be coming home to roost and things becoming personal. Matt doesn't know who to trust even when called to protect the most powerful man in the Western World and investigate the Pope and the Vatican. Really fast moving and full of incident. #netgalley #TheBloodCompass

Pretty decent read but a little slow at times, I wanted to love this one but it fell a bit short for me, Characters were well developed though which is a huge plus.

This book was given to me by NetGalley and JK Kelly Consulting. My review of this book is my own opinion in exchange for this Earc.

Let's talk about it! I found this book to be too fast-paced for my taste. It was like as soon as I was getting to know one character and grasp the relevance and purpose of the storyline another one was introduced and it was quite annoying. Now listen don't get me wrong this was not a bad read once you started getting into it but that's the thing getting into it. I am a firm believer in not DNF a book because I have been pleasantly surprised by books I didn't like in the being that I ended up loving at the end.

I wanted to like this book and love it even but It just didn't pull me in to be honest it took me a week to finish this book. I feel as if the author would have a little more control over his character development and not try to cram so much into the pages that were given to us the book would have been so much better. As a reader, I need to be able to relate to the characters and sadly I couldn't with this book. I do look forward to watching this author grow and can't wait to see what else they come out with. Sadly this one was a no for me it wasn't bad others may enjoy it but it wasn't for me.

I had great hopes for this book but sadly for me it didn’t live up to expectations, to the extent that I gave up about halfway through.

The concept was promising but it struck me as rather muddled and I couldn’t really see where we were going with the plot. To be honest I’m not really sure what the plot was.

The casual killings seemed rather too ‘so what’ and unnecessary; the constant flights to and from the US, Italy and Ireland seemed as normal as taking a bus and I thought that more back story was needed to set the various characters in context.

Not for me I’m afraid, but thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. It didn't disappoint! Must read!!

Reading this book will give you whiplash, the pacing is so breakneck each piece of dialogue feels like a slap in the face. Nothing has time to be developed or properly explained. The whole novel reads like a circle jerk for those interested in men looking cool in suits while holding a gun and nothing of actual substance. Very 007 but in the worst possible way imaginable. No, thank you.

What a great surprise this book proved to be! I enjoyed reading every page of it! There is mystery, deceit, many crimes being dealt with in paralel, and a group of people who work with and above the law. Who to trust, when to trust, who is the main player, all those questions seem to be answered but all of sudden nothing is as it seems! Great entertainment! I'll be looking forward to reading other books by this author.

Life can be complicated enough but for Matt Christopher, living far from home and away from the mad world his America had become, he was free to pursue his passions. He delivered justice and sought to protect the abused, all from the splendor of his Mediterranean villa on Capri. An orphaned nephew, a corrupt president, a practical pontiff, and a love interest in an elusive former Navy SEAL are just a few of the complicated characters that will compromise him and make THE BLOOD COMPASS a riveting read. The suspenseful plot with may twists and turns kept me reading to the very end. It was highly engaging with great writing and a fantastic story. Matt Christopher is a well-developed character with a complex past. The young orphan, Mattie and Francesca further enhance the story. If you like thrilling and suspenseful reads, then you will love this book

Too many characters, not enough character building, I felt this was a confusing melange of people that I didn't care about. Not really a book for me.

I found this novel to be too full of events and characters, before you had time to grasp the relevance of each person, others were introduced at a breakneck speed.
Acronyms, as a reader from across the Pond, I’m not familiar with too many of these , I found that having to look them up broke the pace and flow of the narrative.
Once you get into the story, it is in good and familiar territory. There are plots against Presidents and Prime Ministers, retributions planned against the Pope and suspected priest child abusers, each one individually would have made a challenging story, but altogether, it makes for a very busy working life!!
This novel needs a firm hand to edit and put some rhythm into the various events and plots. Sometimes the narrative seemed to be just about rich people, trained in weapons, having access to all corners of the globe, providing protection and assistance to many causes, which were not too believable in many cases. This book reminded me of Scott Mariani novels, sometimes outlandish, but his books have a better sense of control about them. I did find this a struggle to get through, I like this genre , but it was too cramped with characters, events and places.
Nevertheless, it was an interesting and fast paced adventure.
My thanks to Netgalley and JK Kelly Consulting ( IBPA) publishers , for my advance digital copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review.
A 3 star rating, it needs tightening up. I will post reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK later.

Normally the word dystopia is associated with science fiction, yet I find it somewhat applicable to this novel, despite being a thriller. Having said that, I find the story has neither head nor tail, and not because it is part of a series. I do not expect what is written in a novel to be true - after all, it is still a product of the imagination, but it must be believable. Here, however, nothing is believable: characters, settings, events, and this is a cardinal sin.

Fast paced and engaging, the plot sometimes became convoluted, but it was a story filled with well-described characters who were fleshed out and realistic.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This author needs to slow down, build characters. It's important, as the reader needs to relate to characters, whereas in this book, numerous characters are introduced in practically every page from the start which is downright confusing. So then with a shallow knowledge of the characters, every page produces an new implausible drama, be it with child molesting priests, the nazis, some President, etc. It's whirlwind of a plot, and I don't mean that in a good way.

I think there is the essence of a good book here, hence two stars and not one. If editing before publishing allows, the main characters could be made more likeable, as they seem to have bottomless money, private jets, amazing cars, guns, know every elite person in the world, etc. I don't like them the way the book is written, as their lives and lifestyles are superficial, just no depth. Then less drama with every page turned would be a good thing too.

“The Blood Compass” by J.K. Kelly is a captivating thriller that takes readers on a pulse-pounding journey alongside protagonist Matt Christopher. Living in Rome, Christopher utilizes his unique talents and family wealth to protect abused women while also managing his global security company. As he strives to leave his troubled past behind, he finds himself entangled in a dangerous web of corruption and vengeance.

The strength of “The Blood Compass” lies in its gripping plot, which keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. J.K. Kelly expertly weaves together suspense, action, and intrigue, ensuring that there is never a dull moment. The pacing is fast, and the story unfolds with twists and turns that will leave readers guessing and eager to uncover the truth. The character of Matt Christopher is well-developed and relatable, with a complex past that adds depth and emotional resonance to the narrative. As readers follow his journey, they become deeply invested in his mission to protect the vulnerable and seek justice. Supporting characters, such as the enigmatic Francesca and the young orphan Mattie, further enhance the story by adding layers of complexity and providing moments of genuine connection.

Kelly’s descriptive writing style shines in “The Blood Compass.” The vivid portrayal of Rome, including the beautiful villa overlooking the Mediterranean on Capri, immerses readers in the rich setting and adds an atmospheric backdrop to the story. The attention to detail and imagery create a strong sense of place, making it easy for readers to visualize the scenes as they unfold. Overall, “The Blood Compass” is a gripping thriller that will satisfy fans of the genre. With its well-crafted plot, compelling characters, and immersive setting, it is a book that will keep readers hooked until the final page. J.K. Kelly demonstrates skill in creating a thrilling and suspenseful read, leaving readers eager for more of Matt Christopher’s adventures.

The characters in this book were interesting and if you like fast paced books, you may enjoy it. It is definitely an energetic read. If you're into crime television shows you'll certainly be interested in the premise. However, it wasn't my personal favorite because I found it difficult to follow the plot. It seemed a little rushed and some plot points came off as having little rhyme or reason. As always, thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for the chance to read this ARC!

I struggled slightly with this one, but I don’t know why. Perhaps it isn’t quite what I normally read.

Thanks to NetGalley and to the author for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

A different genre than a normally read, but I love FBI style movies and shows so was very interested in reading this book. I liked the characters and it was fun to follow. There were so many things happening though that sometimes I got a bit lost on what the main plot or objective of the story was. The story seems to have many little events that are created in a chain reaction, so they do not have one arching theme but rather several smaller bumps that take you along their linear journey.