Welcome to the blog tour of J.A. Marley’s book Godsend!
My Review:
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Godsend, by J.A. Marley is the second Danny Felix novel, and although I have not read the first, Standstill, I read this fast and furiously, as if this was indeed a standalone novel.
Vincent Cardell has over zealous political and religious ambitions, and decides to help out the Mexican cartel with their money laundering, and skims a little bit off the top for himself, I mean the church, whilst he’s at it.
His wife, June is fed up with his ways, and suspects the cartel know what he’s done, and it won’t be long before they come for him, and perhaps her too. So what does she do? Enlists Danny, to rob Vincent’s money and give it all to her. What could possibly go wrong with a deal proposed by a Preacher’s wife?
Right from the first few pages I knew this cheeky chappy was going to be a lot of fun to read. Danny is a flawed, and somewhat vulnerable character, coping with past events that have led to panic attacks and flashbacks, yet he’s still a criminal at heart, despite being ‘retired’ and living in Florida Keys. Nothing, it seems, can keep this man down. He’s a genuine, loveable rogue. As is his mate, Ciaran.
In fact, all of the characters were really well rounded; I loved to hate Harkeness, and I kind of liked June Cardell (also a Brit), even though I probably shouldn’t have. Hell, even Slow Tina, a seventy year old stripper, had a great part to play! (Her character made me giggle).
Because Godsend was based in America, the whole story was written very much in an American style read (lots of Americanisms), with an evangelical couple, preacher Vincent and his conniving wife, June, being a central part of this theme. This was balanced out nicely by the fact that Danny himself was from the UK, with plenty of British-isms up his sleeve! Lots of ‘feckin’s’ and ‘fecks’ too! Aha!
As with this style of gritty, pulp action, there is a lot of name dropping in this book, musicians, actors, and the films, books and songs they produced. They even went to a Geekfest, which I have to mention, as I went to one last Sunday! So yeah, you could say this was my kind of read in more ways than one. Then, just when I thought it was all over the epilogue says otherwise… Nice one!
Overall this is a terrific hard-boiled crime thriller, with some great one liners and equally great, misbehaving characters. If you want to know what happens when you mess with the cartel, read this book! Thanks to the author, J.A. Marley, Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for my copy.
Book Description:
It has been eighteen months since Danny Felix pulled off the robbery of his life. His plan brought London to a standstill, but at a heavy price.
Now, living a quiet life running a charter fishing business in the Florida Keys, Danny is trying to come to terms with the death and destruction he had unwittingly unleashed. However, the low profile is beginning to wear thin and he soon starts to crave the adrenalin rush of his former criminal ways.
Little does he know that three very different women are about to enter his life and turn it upside-down. Soon Danny finds himself right back in the action.
But why has he been chosen? And does he have the appetite to pull off another job where the stakes are so lethally high?
Author Bio:
John A. Marley’s writing career started with a poem about two brothers who both liked sausages…their names were Butch and Dutch and his Primary School teacher Mr. Murray liked it so much it made the main noticeboard at the entrance to Holy Child Primary School in West Belfast. A little older but none the wiser, he ended up as a film journalist in his native Northern Ireland, contributing to local newspapers, BBC Radio Ulster and latterly writing as the main film critic for the glossy magazine, Northern Woman.
John’s love of good stories came from the Irish predilection for telling a good yarn and the fact that there was nothing quite like sneaking away his Dad’s battered paperbacks to read even though he knew they were meant for adults and not kids. And so pulp fiction such as The Edge Westerns by George G. Gilman, the adventure novels of Alistair MacLean and the thrillers of Jack Higgins all served to whet his appetite for a good story told at pace.
These days, his reading tastes still focus on thrills, spills and good plot and he can’t walk by a James Lee Burke or an Elmore Leonard without pausing to read a few pages…even if it is in a busy bookshop.
John A. Marley is also a TV producer with a proven track record in creating and producing distinctive, original entertainment and factual programming and formats for both a UK and international audience. His eclectic portfolio of high-profile shows include Britain’s Ultimate Pilots: Inside the RAF, Britain’s Flying Past, Staraoke, Best of Friends, Skatoony, Noel’s House Party, Through the Keyhole, SMTV:Live/CD:UK, How Euro Are You? and live coverage of “The Oscars” with Barry Norman.
John runs his own production company Archie Productions which he launched in 2008. Prior to setting up his own indie, John enjoyed a wide and varied career in television will creative roles at Talent Television, Planet 24, Carlton Television and Walt Disney UK. John’s broadcast media career started in his native Northern Ireland as a radio host.
Godsend is the follow up to John’s debut novel, Standstill in which we first met master thief Danny Felix.
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Thanks for being part of the tour 🙂 x
Thank you! It’s a pleasure, I really enjoy Bloodhound books! x