Synopses & Reviews
In Ben Sanders's American Blood, a former undercover cop now in witness protection finds himself pulled into the search for a missing woman; film rights sold to Warner Bros with Bradley Cooper attached to star and produce.
After a botched undercover operation, ex-NYPD officer Marshall Grade is living in witness protection in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Marshall's instructions are to keep a low profile: the mob wants him dead, and a contract killer known as the Dallas Man has been hired to track him down. Racked with guilt over wrongs committed during his undercover work, and seeking atonement, Marshall investigates the disappearance of a local woman named Alyce Ray.
Members of a drug ring seem to hold clues to Ray's whereabouts, but hunting traffickers is no quiet task. Word of Marshall's efforts spreads, and soon the worst elements of his former life, including the Dallas Man, are coming for him.
Written by a rising New Zealand star who has been described as "first rate," this American debut drops a Jack Reacher-like hero into the landscape of No Country for Old Men.
Review
"Readers know from the first page of this amazing novel that they’re in for a hard-boiled feast...A stunning achievement and a likely breakout book from a talented New Zealand author."Booklist, starred review
Review
“A fast-moving thriller that leaves a trail of blood and grit across the pages. Great dialogue and a hero who won't stay hidden make this a winner for crime fans.” Kirkus, starred review
Review
“Ben Sanders's American Blood is an intense, action-packed crime novel that smoothly unspools the background of its enigmatic lead character.” Associated Press
About the Author
BEN SANDERS is the author of three previous novels: The Fallen (2010), By Any Means (2011), and Only the Dead (2013), all of which were New Zealand Fiction Bestsellers. Sanders's first three novels were written while he was studying at university; he graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Engineering, and now writes full-time. American Blood is his first novel in the U.S., and has been optioned by Warner Bros. for a major motion picture. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.