Literature professor Jack Griffen has recently suffered a nervous breakdown. His wife has divorced him and she and their adult daughter have moved to the USA. Into the void steps exchange student Hieronymus Beck, claiming to be the professor’s greatest fan.
But everything changes when Jack finds Hiero’s list. Five sheets of paper. Five ways to commit a murder.
His student has told him he’s writing a crime novel, but is that all he is doing? Caught up in his protégé’s dangerous game, the mild-mannered professor finds himself asking how far will he go to save a life. As far as murder?
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
This novel is fast-paced, action-packed, and almost frustrating at times! I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it but once I got a couple of chapters in I was hooked. I did love that Jack Griffen lives in my hometown, as does Brett Adams, so I was familiar with the areas and places in Perth that were featured in the story. A page-turning, easy to read, psychological thriller. Chrissie, WA, 5 Stars
Professor of Literature Jack Griffen is taken on a cat and mouse game of murder and mystery. Loved this fast-paced crime thriller. Intriguing from the start and kept me guessing to the end. Vivienne, VIC, 5 Stars
A cleverly crafted novel full of spine-tingling puzzles. I almost didn’t read the last page because I didn’t want it to end. Oh bliss, an epilogue! Kirralee, SA, 5 Stars
What a wonderful surprise this book was. An action-filled page-turning book from the first to the last. Loved how the plot progressed and how it had me guessing to the end. Highly recommend. Rebecca, QLD, 5 Stars
Wow, what a great read. This book was action packed and an enthralling murder mystery from the first page to the last. The story line moved along quickly making this a great read. Christine, QLD, 5 Stars
Blood & Ink is an interesting crime novel by Brett Adams. It captures the reader’s attention and interest from the first page. Mr Adams has a Ph D in computer science and that knowledge is evident in the story as the plot relies on computer knowledge. The title is taken from a quote from T.S Eliot and as we read in the book ‘the purpose of literature is to turn blood into ink” an interesting concept descending of crime novels. One of the main characters is Jack Griffen, a mild mannered professor of literature. He is shy and introverted. However, he is passionate about literature as well as teaching. He is a lonely man who is divorced and has a daughter called Tracy. But Griffin’s life will begin to change once he meets Hieronymus Beck, a young and handsome exchange student from the USA. Hiero as he is mentioned in the novel greatest desire is to write a murder mystery. It is there where Jack finds five lists on how to commit murder. They are five calculated and premeditated actual crimes. Jack feels compelled to act and prevent another murder to happen. How far will Jack go to save a life before Hiero claims another victim for his novel. The story takes us on a terrifying adventure. It is where fear mixes with cruelty and pure evil. We begin to be immersed with the two characters and be taken into the mind of evil. A great page turner and if one enjoys computers, puzzles and crime then Brett Adams “Blood and Ink” is the book that will leave you wanting more. Roxana, VIC, 5 Stars
Brett Adams will take you on a roller coaster ride of suspense and twists and turns you won’t see coming. I absolutely loved reading Blood and Ink and found it hard to put it down. Literary Professor Jack Griffin is a gentle, good man who is struggling with divorce and worry about his adult daughter as she moves a long way from Perth to the USA. Unfortunately for Jack, his path crosses with Hieronymous Beck (Hiero), a nasty man who wants to write a crime novel and will stop at nothing to make sure his research is authentic. All is not as it seems for poor Jack. How much does he know? How does he react? Will he be pushed too far? Who will believe him? The story is a heart stopper and I found the writing easy to read. I immersed myself in the story and really wanted the story to end well. Did it end well? No spoilers here. Helen, QLD, 5 Stars
Hop in, sit down and buckle up. We are in for one hell of a ride with this one. We have Professor Jack Griffen, 49, divorced of the English faculty at U.W.A. Perth and one of his students Hieronymus Beck, Hiero is an exchange student from the US. Hiero is planning to write a book with the help of Jack. Jack says that Hiero has to research everything which he has done – from poisons, death, places to do it etc. On the final week of term, Jack and Hiero have their last conversation and say their goodbyes. As Jack is leaving after locking up, he slips on something. As he looks down it is Hiero’s notes that he had been putting together over time and his folder with the name Hieronymus E. Beck – Blood and Ink. Jack collects them all and takes them home with him as he has no forwarding address for Hiero who is on his way home. Jack reads through the notes, there are five different kills and comes to one of the ways Hiero had planned to kill in his book and that was by Garroting. He was going to use a very old Japanese weapon called a Kyoketsu-shoge and it will be at Point Walter which is across from where Jack is. Next morning, Jack is listening to the news and a girl has been strangled using this weapon at the same area mentioned in Hiero’s notes. From then on in it’s all go, go, go. This book is full of non-stop action and has you sitting on the edge of your seat. I read this in two days and that is how I felt. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and I am sure you will enjoy it just as much. #BRPreview @betterreadingau @brettadams @FremantlePress Sue, NSW, 5 Stars
This crime story starts in Australia where the main character Jack Griffen, a Professor of literature gets dragged into the plot of his protege, US exchange student, Hieronymus Beck’s novel. What follows is a race against time, across countries where someone leads, someone follows with Jack in the middle, the prime suspect for murders. Within the novel you can find elements of a psychological thriller, family drama, mystery and humour. At times it is fast paced in ‘can’t put down’ mode and at others it slows and allows the reader to gain insights into the characters and what motivates them. I found it to be well written with the unusual movement from first person to third person actually working. The weaving of known crime fiction into the story worked well as did the ending. The only dampener for me was the inconsistencies that popped up as the result of poor editing – there had been much made of Jack’s shaved head and then he’s sitting on a wharf and the wind rose ‘peeling back my salt damp hair’. Really! There were others that I noted and this detracted from the otherwise splendid writing. All in all a good read. Kay, VIC, 4 Stars
I read this quite quickly, but you do need to read it without distractions – it needs your focus as mostly you need to be right there in the story, or you’ll lose your ‘place’. This year I have been reading multiple point of view alternating chapters differently, but it didn’t work so well for this book, so I had to read it in the order of the pages (at least they were in a similar time period) The writing is witty and has some humour, some analysis into literature and true crime, given the lead character is a literature professor, and ‘true crime’ is happening as the story unfolds. It is a little crazy in pacing, and with crazy characters which adds to absurdity of the book. Great debut. I look forward to what Brett comes up with next. Thanks to BetterReading and Fremantle Press for an advanced copy to read. KT, NSW, 4 Stars
Blood and Ink by Brett Adams is an intercontinental thriller detailing the pursuits of Jack Griffen. It’s a compelling whodunnit type story, where you’re never sure whether he is innocent or guilty. The back story regarding his nervous breakdown makes him seem a little bit unstable. Marten the female police officer uncovers the facts pertaining to the case to seek to unravel whether or not jack has been framed or not. A thoroughly great read. Thank you @Better Reading and Fremantle Press for the opportunity to preview this wonderful book. Matilda, QLD, 4 Stars
I love a good book based in Australia and Blood & Ink did not disappoint. Suspense and crime with a very unique story based around an exchange student who has a list of five planned murders. Jack, a professor who recently suffered a mental breakdown, tries to stop these murders, but does he actually commit them? The quick pace drives you to stay awake too late seeing as to what happens next! I enjoyed this read and the characters, particularly Jack and Marten. Tess, TAS, 4 Stars
Literature professor Jack Griffen is a broken man operating on autopilot. Hieronymus Beck, Jack’s protégé, races into his office brandishing a knife. How does the cold steel feel? Hiero’s writing a crime novel and Jack cross-examines him for details but there’s little forthcoming. On leaving his office Jack slips on a folder. It’s Hiero’s. Opening the folder and reading the contents, Jack is haunted. Will Hiero’s research involve actual murders? Blook and Ink is an unparalleled psychological thriller pitting a ferocious, game-playing young psychopath against a subdued middle-aged man whose life is heading south. Hiero’s high-octane control of each situation is restrained yet menacing. His manipulation elevates the anxiety and foreboding Jack experiences. In Jack Griffen, author Brett Adams has produced a man challenged to look beyond himself and strip his life away till only bare bones are left. Jack is pushed in all directions, goaded to do things beyond his ability and discovers the strength to continue his hunt. I was fascinated by Blook and Ink and the ideas held within. In the company of two strong lead characters and a healthy supporting cast, I thoroughly recommend this novel to all readers. Thank you Better Reading and Fremantle Press for the free copy for an honest review. Cynthia, NSW, 4 Stars
Thank you for the opportunity to read Blood and Ink by Brett Adams. What a crazy ride this novel is! It was intense and full of action from the very first chapter. Professor Jack Griffen finds himself caught up in his student Hieronymus Beck’s real life crime novel. This catapults him from his safe but unsatisfying existence into a life-or-death race around the world. In the beginning, I struggled with the plot, some of it seems quite contrived and improbable but I found it was best to suspend disbelief and go with it. I am glad I did. The fast -paced narrative kept my attention and I enjoyed the literature and true crime references peppered throughout the book. Blood and Ink is not an easy read, it is confusing and suspenseful and required concentration to keep up with the twists and turns. However, it is well-written and different to most books in the crime fiction genre. It is worth the effort and overall, a very enjoyable read. Debra, NSW, 4 Stars
Wow, strap in readers as this is a wild, fast-paced, unique story. I loved that Brett Adams is from Perth, it added a personal touch that heightened my engagement and I throughly enjoyed a genre I would not normally read. Juliet, WA, 4 Stars
An exciting new crime novel. The main character is a literature professor, Jack Griffen, who has recently suffered a nervous breakdown, which ended in his wife divorcing him and moving to the USA with their adult daughter. He is also left with a mysterious heart condition which is monitored by a gadget to inform him of any dangerous changes in his health. It is worn on his wrist. Enter the second main character, Hieronymus Beck, an exchange student, who claims he is the professor’s greatest fan. Hiero has told him he is going to write a crime novel. He is determined to outwit his teacher by turning him into a real character in a true crime novel. At the end of the semester, Jack finds Hiero’s list. Five sheets of paper. Five ways to commit a murder. Griffen finds himself the prime suspect in the murders set up by Beck, even while he races across the globe to try and stop them from happening. An action-filled new novel where Jack Griffen races to change the ending of it before the author forces him to become a murderer. Edith, SA, 4 Stars
Before receiving Blood and Ink I had never heard of Brett Adams nor knew what novels he wrote but have been happy with this book. It kept me guessing as to what would happen next and when or how things would happen. The chapters were easy to read and very short, which was easy to not want to put the book down and make me want to read and read. The characters in Blood and Ink are written very well and the story line is well written, however like most novels these days, the ending was not what I expected it to be and could have been better. I expected to find out an outcome to what was happening in the book and think that the ending could have been better written. Overall though, a great read. Raffaela, VIC, 4 Stars
I can recommend this one compared to my last Aussie crime read. Whilst the character the story revolves around Professor Jack Griffen seemed silly at times and a few suspension of disbelief moments were needed from myself I enjoyed learning about almost every character. And I enjoyed most of the plot for the better part, and when I didn’t enjoy the plot there was enough interest to keep me going. I *slight spoiler alert* did not expect an international crime spree from this little book! It kept it more diverse and expansive, when a reference to a book, movie or true crime occurred- and there were many- if I had no context or knowledge of the reference the main arc kept me invested. If you don’t like carrots of other crimes and third and fourth walls all over your reading avoid this one, otherwise dive in and see which references you pick up and understand along the way. Thanks to a high school movie in Lit Class I knew of one particular New Zealand crime and it gave that part an extra thought for me! I’d definitely be interested in seeing if Brett has or will write any other books. Fiona, VIC, 4 Stars
This is the story of professor Jack Griffen and his exchange student Hieronymus Beck who claims to be the professor’s biggest fan but soon professor Griffen is in the throes of a murder mystery. This story didn’t grab me from the beginning, for me it started out slow but I persisted and boy am I glad I did. As I was reading I felt like I was in the middle of a modern Agatha Christie and I was dying to find out how it would end. I loved how it describes the scenes and kept me guessing until the end. I would recommend this for crime and mystery lovers of Agatha Christie and Sophie Hannah. Thank you @betterreadingau and @fremantlepress for this preview copy, all opinions are solely my own. Leanne, QLD, 4 Stars
4 1/2 stars from me. I was lucky enough to receive an advance reading copy and at first, I could not warm up to the story. It was so obvious Hiero left the papers on purpose and Jacks “conversations'” with Tracey were a bit odd (on the other hand, Jack is a bit weird) but then I found myself immersed in what was unfolding and I must say, the last third of the book was amazing. I did not see the – spoiler alert – involvement of that person and the entire story just made sense and came together beautifully. Marten was also a good addition, an interesting character who added some “normal” perspective to the case. Sandra, NSW, 4 Stars
Meet Jack Griffin – Literature Professor. Having recently suffered a nervous breakdown Jack finds himself divorced from his wife who has moved to America with their adult daughter. Enter exchange student Hieronymus Beck (Heiro) who claims to be Jacks’s greatest fan. Jack stumbles upon 5 pieces of paper belonging to Heiro – each describing a way to murder. Confronting Heiro the professor questions him only for Heiro to tell him he is writing a novel. Jack soon finds himself entangled in a dangerous game asking himself how far he will go to save a life and ending the game for good. Catherine, NSW, 4 Stars
Professor Jack Griffen believes that his exchange student, Hieronymus Beck, is writing a crime novel. We soon learn that it is the university lecturer himself who is the main character in this book. And Jack is unwittingly acting out the plot in real life as he tries to prevent another tragic death. This fast-paced murder thriller takes us around the world with detectives from more than one country hunting for the killer. The lead detective, DCI Marten Lacroix, is not satisfied with her colleagues’ interpretation of the evidence. She is canny at uncovering gaps in people’s story and puts her reputation at risk to seek the truth. To help the professor in his chase, an IT colleague unravels clues by hacking into blogs and personal databases. While this keeps Jack on track of the next scheduled murder, it makes him the prime suspect. Blood and Ink by Brett Adams is a thoroughly enjoyable novel with several twists and turns that I couldn’t see coming. It is heart-stopping, in more ways than you think! Roger, VIC, 4 Stars
This book is a great psychological story with twists and turns that have you wondering who’s innocent, who’s guilty and what exactly is happening anyway! I had a lot of empathy for the main character, Jack as all the twists and turns of the plot affected him. Just when he thinks he understands what’s going on, there is one of those plot turns and things are not what he thought. The chase to different cities in the world is interesting, as was his decline into poverty and homelessness and how he overcame all of these obstacles that confronted him! In the climax he finds out what is actually happening in his life and how well he was being manipulated. A very readable, fast-paced plot that I really enjoyed. I read it in a few days it was so engrossing. Chris, VIC, 4 Stars
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