Blood Lines-Mel Odom

Blood Lines
Mel Odom
Tyndale, Jan 2009, $13.99
ISBN: 1414316356

During a fugitive recovery op in Charlotte, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Agent Marine Gunnery Sargent Shelton “Shel” McHenry is shot trying to make the arrest while the alleged criminal Bobby Lee Gant is killed. However, there are consequences to his use of deadly force. The father of the deceased, three tours of Viet Nam ground pounder veteran Victor Gant, leader of the violent weapons and meth peddling Purple Dragons bike gang, vows the grunt who murdered his son will pay in blood. Ironically Victor served with Shel’s dad decades ago in Vietnam. The FBI who is investigating Victor sees an opportunity by using Shel and his family as bait.

NCIS Commander Will Coburn believes strongly in taking care of your team. He and the unit have Shel’s back when attacks occur. They also want to protect Shel’s family, an easier target to bring down his morale. As death stalks Shel, he goes back to the day he lost faith in God; the day he buried his beloved mother. He prays for the first time since that day, but not for him; he asks God to protect his family back in Texas while also wondering if he believes in the Lord or is this foxhole mentality.

This is an action-packed NCIS thriller that goes a bit over the top of Camp Lejeune, but no one will care as the fast-paced story line grips readers from the opening basketball game through the revealing of Texas secrets to the final confrontation. The key cast is fully developed especially Shel who turns to God and even pleads with his daddy to try it. Fans will appreciate Mel Odom’s exhilarating inspirational tale.

Harriet Klausner