From the back of the novel: When Jay Cassio’s best friend is murdered in a job clearly done by professionals, the walls that he has built to protect himself from the world of others begin to shatter. Dan Del Colliano had been his confidante and protector since the men were children on the savage streets of Newark, New Jersey. When Dan supports and revives Jay after Jay’s parents die in a plane crash, their bond deepens to something beyond brotherhood, beyond blood. Now Jay, a successful lawyer, must find out why Dan died and find a way to seek justice for his murder.

Isabel Perez has lived a life both tainted and charmed since she was a teenager in Mexico. She holds powerful sway over men and has even more powerful alliances with people no one should ever try to cross. She desperately wants her freedom from the chains these people have placed on her. When Jay catapults into her world, their connection is electric, their alliance is lethal, and their future is anything but certain.

Once again, James LePore has given us a novel of passions, intense moral complexities, and irresistible thrills. Filled with characters you will embrace and characters you will fear, Blood of My Brother is a story about a quest for revenge and redemption you won’t soon forget.

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LePore says it best in regards to his novel as it “explore[s] many things: the child shaping the man, the loss of loved ones, human cruelty, and the forces that compel us to either live or die in the face of despair.”  This is a wonderful read with many different twists and turns.

I highly enjoyed the parallel stories entwined within the novel.  LePore has a gift for bringing together two seemingly unrelated stories, and I love reading about two separate instances and contemplating their connection.  The characters in this novel are very strong, and LePore does a wonderful job fleshing them out, starting from their early childhood to the present.  I’ll admit that it took a few pages for me to get into the story, as I wasn’t sure where the background information was going (Jay as a five year old).  However, the story quickly picked up and I saw the connection, which helps solidify the relationships between the characters within the novel—so, if you’re anything like me, don’t let the first few pages deter you.  LePore is an exceptional writer, and his novel will have you on the edge of your seat before long!

Blood of My Brother is another testament to LePore’s refined writing ability; he is a wonderful suspense novelist.  I’ve read all of his novels, and I’ve greatly enjoyed every one of them; they have character.  His style is a cross between John Grisham and Harlan Coben, two of my favorite authors, and LePore has quickly endeared himself to me; I love his writing! Four stars!

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.