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Jove Brand Is Near Death (1) (Ken Allen Super Sleuth) Hardcover – July 13, 2021

by J. A. Crawford (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 65 ratings
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2021 Foreword INDIES Finalist
A Mystery Scene Magazine 2021 Editor's Pick

The name is Allen. Ken Allen.

These days Ken Allen is a nobody.

But once upon a time, his name was Brand. Jove Brand.

Eighteen years ago, Ken Allen played the famous fictional superspy in Near Death, a movie so bad it was never meant to be seen. Since then, Ken has faded into cult obscurity, but when his celebrated successor is killed in the same ghastly fashion as the villain in Near Death, Ken is cast as the prime suspect.

The only way for Ken to clear his name is to go full method and once again play the part of Jove Brand, except this time it’s for real. As murder surrounds him, the secrets behind Near Death Ken fought to keep buried for eighteen years begin to surface.

Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 3
    Ken Allen Super Sleuth
  2. Print length
    336 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    CamCat Publishing
  5. Publication date
    July 13, 2021
  6. Dimensions
    5.51 x 1.1 x 8.5 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    074430170X
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0744301700
Next slide of product details
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

From the Publisher

Jove Brand Is Near Death

Jove Brand Is Near Death

Jove Brand Is Near Death

Jove Brand Is Near Death

Jove Brand Is Near Death
Heroes Ever Die
King Me
Customer Reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars 65
4.5 out of 5 stars 22
4.2 out of 5 stars 16
Price $24.99 $16.63 $22.79
The Award-Winning Ken Allen Super Sleuth Series by J. A. Crawford Book One Book Two Book Three
Description A failed actor who once disastrously portrayed a famous fictional superspy is forced to go full method and play the part for real when he is framed for the murder of his celebrated successor. D-list detective Ken Allen investigates a series of murders—all actors who play superheroes on screen—after his closest friend is framed by the killer. Super sleuth Ken Allen is called into action when the creator of an immensely popular fantasy television series is murdered, and his notebook—which holds all the secrets, twists, and endings—goes missing.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[A] nicely plotted debut . . . Readers will have fun spotting the real-life inspirations for the characters, and the authentically described fight scenes will please martial arts enthusiasts. Hopefully, Ken will be back soon for a sequel." -Publishers Weekly

"J. A. Crawford's debut is a pitch-perfect combination of action, mystery, and humor." -Anthony Award-winning author Gigi Pandian

About the Author

Despite what his family thinks, Joe is not a spy and travels the country investigating disaster sites. Before that, he taught Criminal Justice, Montessori Kindergarten, and several martial arts. He divides his time between Michigan, California, and the worlds in his head.

Check in on Joe at www.jacrawford.net.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CamCat Publishing (July 13, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 074430170X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0744301700
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.51 x 1.1 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 65 ratings

About the author

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J. A. Crawford

J. A. Crawford

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Despite what his family thinks, Joe is not a spy and travels the country investigating disaster sites. Before that, he taught Criminal Justice, Montessori Kindergarten, and several martial arts. He divides his time between Michigan, California, and the worlds in his head.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
65 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book entertaining and full of action, with one review noting it kept them guessing until the very end. They appreciate the fun, quirky main character and the snappy pacing. The style receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as a refreshing style of humble badass.

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13 customers mention "Fun read"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and exciting, with one mentioning its fresh and funny story, while another appreciates its fabulous puns.

"...It’s very deep, full of action, full of information, and funny. But if you read too fast, you miss it...." Read more

""Jove Brand is Near Death" is fun and quirky, and immensely entertaining. I was hooked from the start...." Read more

"...Crawford's style is smooth and approachable, ranging from witty to hilarious...." Read more

"...All that plus a fun quirky main character made this an exciting and enjoyable read!" Read more

7 customers mention "Action"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the action in the book, with one customer describing it as a multithreaded mystery that kept them guessing until the very end.

"...It has its own unique personally. It’s very deep, full of action, full of information, and funny. But if you read too fast, you miss it...." Read more

"...I loved his whole persona and vibe. The plot is a solid mystery with constant action as Ken follows his instincts and chases down..." Read more

"This book is an absolute delight! The pacing is snappy, the mystery is curious and the action has a cinematic quality that makes it easy to imagine..." Read more

"Everything you want a spy novel to be, plus a great murder mystery! I am a mystery lover and this kept me guessing until the very end...." Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, particularly noting the fun and quirky main character.

"...Ken is a genuinely nice guy, and he’s got a solid circle of friends who have his back...." Read more

"...All that plus a fun quirky main character made this an exciting and enjoyable read!" Read more

"...I enjoyed the snarky characters, the fabulous puns, and the whodunit was right up until the last few pages!..." Read more

"This entertaining book had me from the start. Great characters, good background stories, cool settings, martial arts, and humorous lines...." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, describing it as snappy, with one customer noting it's a fast read and another appreciating it as a charming change of pace.

"This book is an absolute delight! The pacing is snappy, the mystery is curious and the action has a cinematic quality that makes it easy to imagine..." Read more

"I loved this book so much! It's a fun, FAST read! If you are a fan of James Bond, Martial Arts, and Pop Culture - this book is for you!..." Read more

"Fun, Fast-Paced, And Full of Action..." Read more

3 customers mention "Style"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the style of the book, finding it impressive, with one customer noting its unique personal touch and another describing it as a refreshing style of humble badass.

"...It is not a ‘Bond child’. It is not a light quick read. It has its own unique personally...." Read more

"...He makes for a very refreshing style of humble badass that I just realized is totally my thing...." Read more

"...The setting was full and rich - an impressive feat for a first time author!..." Read more

One of the most Cinematic books I have ever read - Jove Brand is Near Perfection!
5 out of 5 stars
One of the most Cinematic books I have ever read - Jove Brand is Near Perfection!
I loved this book so much! It's a fun, FAST read! If you are a fan of James Bond, Martial Arts, and Pop Culture - this book is for you! You can almost SEE this book play out in your head as you thumb through it. Highly recommended! Get in on the ground floor of this future franchise!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Hott Books
    5.0 out of 5 stars You won’t want to miss this!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I’ve always been a James Bond fan and grabbed Jove Brand is Near Death thinking it would be just the thing for a lazy weekend.

    Let me start by saying that Jove Brand is Near Death was not at all what I anticipated. It is not going to be a book for everyone. It is not a ‘Bond child’. It is not a light quick read. It has its own unique personally. It’s very deep, full of action, full of information, and funny. But if you read too fast, you miss it. So take your time and savor this one!

    What I liked: At first I really didn’t like Ken Allen. I thought I was going to immediately enjoy him, but that came slowly for me. He’s not confident, he’s not egotistical, he’s just a guy… And on the surface not a particularly great guy 🤷… until you get to know him.

    One of the things I enjoyed most was that there were quite a lot of really profound reflections and statements that were especially relevant to the book… If you’re paying attention. These adages all worked perfectly within the story line and really hit you as you saw how deep Ken Allen really is.

    Another thing I loved was how much I learned. Much of it about the industry, ‘This Town’, and all of it about a people and a lifestyle I’ve never experienced.

    What I didn’t like: Looking back over my notes and reflections as I read Jove Brand is Near Death I can honestly say that the only thing I didn’t like was that there were things that, if you didn’t have some frame of reference, were too oblique. Acronyms, point spreads, euphemisms, fighting terms… There was obviously no way he could have explained all of these as well as I needed it to be explained (🙄🤔) but, at times, I did find myself either confused or doing a bit of research.

    Summary: For me, this was a prefect mystery. We followed Ken Allen through his experience and investigation and we learned things as he did, or remembered it as he did. There were red herrings and surprises but nothing that didn’t fit with the story or the characters.

    This one took some time (maybe about 15%) to ‘get into’ but as I finally slowed down and read… Jove Brand is Near Death became an excellent book. One I’m so grateful I took the time to dive into. You won’t want to miss this!
    One person found this helpful
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  • angiesue
    4.0 out of 5 stars Will have you laughing
    Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2021
    This book was so full of action and humor. I chose to listen to the audiobook while reading along. I am so glad I did! It just really added to the experience. I loved the character Ken Allen! He was hilarious! He had some pretty cool gadgets too. If I had to choose I would probably want his watch, a close second would be a green grenade ball (these make people vomit). There were a lot of fight scenes with a whole lot of throat chopping. I just imagined a James Bond/Johnny Bravo hero. I was definitely laughing out loud while reading this book.
    ✰✰✰✰/5 stars from me! I recommend this book to you action fans. There is a good mystery too.
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  • Karen Siddall
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pure entertainment from start to finish!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    "Jove Brand is Near Death" is fun and quirky, and immensely entertaining. I was hooked from the start. Parodying such successful movie franchises as James Bond, Marvel, and DC Comics, I laughed out loud in delight at the fun parallels (and remembering my own experiences going to the cons; the descriptions are spot on!) The throwbacks to the past are fabulous, but there are also up-to-the-minute cultural references, making the whole story fresh and funny. Ken’s devotion to his diet and the frequent inclusion of trendy food choices had me smiling. The writing is easy to read, and the dialogue sparkles as Ken investigates the murder.

    Ken is a genuinely nice guy, and he’s got a solid circle of friends who have his back. I particularly enjoyed Yuen Hung, his former "Near Death" co-star and convention partner. I hope he returns in future books. The effects master, Ray Ford, provides awesome working props that he engineers to Ken’s needs. I loved his whole persona and vibe.

    The plot is a solid mystery with constant action as Ken follows his instincts and chases down possible leads. The story is more complex than I expected and kept me guessing.

    I enjoyed this book so much I obtained it on audiobook as well. Tim Campbell narrates, and I thought he was perfect as Ken Allen. He has a wonderful voice and delivery and uses it to get perfect results. He is my Ken Allen now. I will also be looking for more audiobooks that he’s voiced.

    I recommend JOVE BRAND IS NEAR DEATH to mystery readers, especially those with a fun interest in spy movie thrillers and comic book-themed film series. However, no knowledge of either would keep a reader from enjoying this delightful book.

    I voluntarily reviewed this after purchasing the book and receiving an Advanced Review Copy of the audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Laura C
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read
    Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book is an absolute delight! The pacing is snappy, the mystery is curious and the action has a cinematic quality that makes it easy to imagine watching on the big screen.

    Ken Allen's humble self-deprivation makes for a charming change of pace when he proves to be highly intelligent, clever and exceptionally capable even when faced with challenges that would make anyone else hide under a desk and pee themselves. He makes for a very refreshing style of humble badass that I just realized is totally my thing.

    Crawford's style is smooth and approachable, ranging from witty to hilarious. I don't remember the last time I cackled out loud when reading a book.

    Seriously, if you have even the vaguest interest in action and mystery and leading men that you can get behind, this book will do all of it for you.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Cassie Frank
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great mystery, lots of fun
    Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Everything you want a spy novel to be, plus a great murder mystery! I am a mystery lover and this kept me guessing until the very end. Loose ends were tied up in a satisfactory way and the final reveal made perfect sense based on the clues we had been given. All that plus a fun quirky main character made this an exciting and enjoyable read!
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