Review of Blood Vengeance

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 09 Oct 2021, 03:10

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Blood Vengeance" by Charles Alexander.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Blood Vengeance by Charles Alexander is the second book of a series of thrillers with some bits of science fiction. LAPD motorcycle officer Annie Steele goes to London to find her friend Bobby Whittaker, who disappeared in the British capital city. What started as a private investigation quickly escalates after an attempt to her life. Contacts with the British police turn into a collaboration, albeit with some complications. Alexander Axeman is an Irish billionaire known for his philanthropic activities who hates the English and wants to destroy England. Annie Steele ends up involved in an investigation that becomes increasingly riskier, even for a woman with superpowers.

I had the chance to read Untouchable, the first book in the Annie Steele series. I liked it, so I was happy when I found its sequel available for review. This is a new story, independent from the first one. There are explanations about Annie Steele's past, in particular about the origin of her superpowers, so you don't need to read the first novel. However, a full appreciation of the protagonist requires reading both novels.

Bobby Whittaker is a character from the first Annie Steele book who disappears after going to London for a job. This is the start of a thriller that quickly becomes much bigger than a missing person case. There's a lot I appreciated of this novel, as Charles Alexander confirmed the skills I already saw. He's terrific in creating plots full of twists that are used to create a big picture. It might seem like the plot is formed by unrelated parts but ends up being consistent. Revealing the diabolical mastermind's identity from the beginning didn't spoil my fun because that was cleverly used to dig into his personality and motives.

The only thing I didn't appreciate in this novel is that, in its last chapters, Annie Steele moves quite abruptly from one place to another. I have to be a bit vague about my complaint to avoid spoilers. I'll just say that there's a climax reached through events that happen in different places and the protagonist is in one place at the end of a chapter and in another place at the beginning of the next chapter with very few explanations about what happened in-between. That makes it a bit difficult to understand the timeline of those events. A few more details to start some of those chapters would have helped in following the timeline of the final events without slowing down the pace.

My complaint is minor compared to my enjoyment of a fast-paced thriller. Unfortunately, the novel contains more than 10 errors. For this reason, I rate it only 3 out of 4 stars. This is a novel for adults because of its sexual content. Charles Alexander doesn't go into details but there's a lot of eroticism in the story going from innuendos to actual sexual activity. Like the first novel, it has a self-contained plot, with a proper end. If you like thrillers with big and complex plots full of twists, I recommend both Untouchable and Blood Vengeance.

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Blood Vengeance
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Linus Izundu · Post by **Linus Izundu** » 11 Oct 2021, 09:13

Review very brief and straight to the point. The book reading is simplified and less boring. Thanks for the good work.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 11 Oct 2021, 10:37

Linus Izundu wrote: ↑11 Oct 2021, 09:13 Review very brief and straight to the point. The book reading is simplified and less boring. Thanks for the good work.

Sometimes, the need to be a bit vague about the plot to avoid spoilers is positive.

Thank you for your appreciation!

RHD · Post by **RHD** » 11 Oct 2021, 12:31

This one seems like an okay read, although one has to read the first for a smooth read. Thank you for the well-done review, NetMassimo

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 11 Oct 2021, 15:53

RHD wrote: ↑11 Oct 2021, 12:31 This one seems like an okay read, although one has to read the first for a smooth read. Thank you for the well-done review, NetMassimo

Reading both novels is certainly better, and you double the fun as well

Thank you for your appreciation!

Kaushiki Parihar · Post by **Kaushiki Parihar** » 11 Oct 2021, 20:48

It's great that the book can be read as a standalone, but I like it when I can relate to the characters. To understand the character of Bobby, I'll read both the books in the series. Thanks for the great review.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 12 Oct 2021, 06:34

Kaushiki Parihar wrote: ↑11 Oct 2021, 20:48 It's great that the book can be read as a standalone, but I like it when I can relate to the characters. To understand the character of Bobby, I'll read both the books in the series. Thanks for the great review.

The books are not very long and they keep your attention until the end, so reading both of them is easy. Thank you for your appreciation!

NancyDrew12 · Post by **NancyDrew12** » 12 Oct 2021, 10:16

As a lover of fast paced thrillers I might give this book a shot! Id love to learn what Annie Steele digs up throughout her investigation. Thank you for your wonderful review!

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 12 Oct 2021, 15:41

Rashawn Carter wrote: ↑12 Oct 2021, 10:16 As a lover of fast paced thrillers I might give this book a shot! Id love to learn what Annie Steele digs up throughout her investigation. Thank you for your wonderful review!

Annie Steele's novels seem perfect for your taste. Thank you for your appreciation!

Astral Magi · Post by **Astral Magi** » 12 Oct 2021, 15:56

An action packed mystery series! I like the sound of it. Thanks for a great review.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 13 Oct 2021, 07:11

Niens Now wrote: ↑12 Oct 2021, 15:56 An action packed mystery series! I like the sound of it. Thanks for a great review.

Action is indeed one of the main elements of this series. Thank you for your appreciation!

markodim721 · Post by **markodim721** » 13 Oct 2021, 11:16

It seems like a great novel, although I don't like it when the book has a timeline that is difficult to understand. This can confuse readers. Thanks for the objective review.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 13 Oct 2021, 14:11

markodim721 wrote: ↑13 Oct 2021, 11:16 It seems like a great novel, although I don't like it when the book has a timeline that is difficult to understand. This can confuse readers. Thanks for the objective review.

Luckily there are just a few chapters that create a bit of confusion. Thank you for your appreciation!

Fareed Regal · Post by **Fareed Regal** » 13 Oct 2021, 16:15

I like fast-paced thrillers with strong characters. Thanks to your review I will give this one a try. Great review, well done.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 14 Oct 2021, 01:30

Fareed Regal wrote: ↑13 Oct 2021, 16:15 I like fast-paced thrillers with strong characters. Thanks to your review I will give this one a try. Great review, well done.

This series seems perfect for your taste. Thank you for your appreciation!