Most of the time, I’m a hit or miss fan of fiction that is controversial or apocalyptic in nature. But Torn Blood was a book I simply could not put down.

The plot is a labyrinth of mystery, and details unfold in their own time, and aren’t easily predictable.

Only days before reporting for duty at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Addison Deverell arrives in Israel on a mission: to identify the source of the conflict between Arabs and Jews. Going into Palestinian territory for answers he can’t find in Israel, Addison struggles to uncover the truth. And he faces danger from those he seeks to understand and finds himself a pawn in a plot to eradicate the Jews from the earth. In the midst of all of this, Addison, along with his mother, discover a hidden identity, and their true destiny.

For the most part, the story was gripping and held my attention completely. However, toward the end of the novel, Bain seems to get in a hurry, and wraps up a lot of loose threads too quickly. Other than that, I found the book to be highly interesting and well worth my time to read it.

Q & A with the author, David J. Bain.

David, how did you first come up with the idea for Torn Blood?

I knew that Jews in Israel had been attacked multiple times before and after its founding in 1948 but I didn’t know the story behind the attacks. Warfare doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Torn Blood began as research for the story behind the story of those attacks and ended as a journey that challenged my faith and broadened my perspective about the world.

What have you learned personally about your own faith as you researched and wrote Torn Blood?

As a Christian I thought monolithically. There is the God of the Bible and there I am in relationship to the God of the Bible. While true, it’s too limiting because God works through all of mankind which includes through the Jewish people even when they, for the most part, reject that Yeshua/Jesus is God. God’s original covenant was with Adam. When Adam broke that covenant we then see God’s covenant with Abraham and that covenant is still in effect in spite of choices the Jewish nation and people have made over the millennia. Through the process of research and writing this story I came to find my faith centered more in God and less in what He could do for me which is both challenging and liberating.

My picture on reality was too small to include many important events occurring outside the frame of my singular life. I am now discovering a faith I only thought I had before this eight year journey to research and write Torn Blood began and I understand this journey has just begun.

Could you define what you mean by faith?

All human beings, from our first recognition of free will, exercise faith. The theist to the atheist, and everyone in between. My faith is that the Bible represents the will and truth of God therefore my faith is in the authenticity of the Bible as God’s word to humanity.

Can you give us a snapshot of the story, without giving away any spoilers?

Torn Blood is a story of choices and their consequences. It takes its moral imperative from the Bible which isn’t all that touchy-feely to the Jews at times but demonstrates an ongoing relationship between the God of the Bible and the Jewish people.

The events of Torn Blood look into the past showing how blood can be torn and the consequences of such a choice, and it was a choice.

There is armed confrontation between the jihadist’s and the Jews, that’s the adventure part of the story but what interests me is how a handful of insurgents believe they can prevail against a military force that has proven itself every time it has been challenged since its founding in 1948. What could the jihadists know or possess that would level the field of battle? Keeping in mind their goal is to inhabit all of Israel so nuclear weapons are not on the table. Torn Blood doesn’t pick sides but presents choices made and consequences unleashed.

What drives your passion for Israel?

The heart of God. He established a covenant with Abraham for the purpose of testifying to His existence and from that testimony to bring people to Himself. God set down conditions; faithfulness and obedience to his commands would bring blessings but persecution would result if His commands were disobeyed. History has been an unfolding of that story ever since. If God loves Israel—He calls them the apple of His eye—and I love God, then the result of my love for God will naturally be a love for Israel and her people.

How did you research your book to ensure it accurately reflects the culture of Israel and Palestine?

The Old Testament was my beginning point as to this day the Jewish people are defined by their roots. I then focused from the time of Theodor Herzl who is widely considered to be the founder of the State of Israel though he died in 1904, forty-four years before Israel became a nation. I also worked with several research assistants in Israel, studied hundreds of articles about different aspects of the Jewish and Arabic dilemma in modern Israel. The Palestinians were of particular interest as they are an eponymous group made up of a number of different ethnic groups none of which are ethnically Palestinian (Arabs, Persians, Egyptians, among others) because sociologically that ethnic group doesn’t exist. It came into being courtesy of the Romans in about 132 A.D. when they renamed Iudaea province Syria Palaestina and from that, hundreds of years later, Palestinians declared themselves to be a separate genera group.

Why do you think Israel is such a controversial country?

This is a question that elicits a wide range of opinions. Please note I didn’t say answers since after considering the facts all that is left are opinions. The book’s premise is that the only answer consistent with the facts is that a spiritual battle is taking place.

How can Christians take a more active role in supporting Israel?

A good place to start would be Psalm 122:6 which tells believers to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Praying for the Arab residents of Israel, Judea, and Samaria wouldn’t hurt either. Support mission work in Israel as there is much need in both Jewish and Arab people in Israel. Finally, something for each of us: go to Israel, visit. I know of no Christian that has gone there that hasn’t touched the roots of their faith.

What do you think is ahead for Israel and its people?

If we go to Romans 11:25, Paul says that a partial hardening (of heart) has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in and verse 26 says: and so all Israel will be saved. Scriptures warn what will happen at that point and many good books have been written about this period of time which is beyond the discussion of my book but the essence is God has not forgotten His chosen people and He will conclude history as foretold in Scripture.

As part of writing Torn Blood, you also launched a new publishing company, Bo Iti Press, which focuses on stories about the Jewish experience as well as the rights of Israel as a sovereign nation. Why do you think a company like this is needed?

Few of us have the fortitude to read academic tomes about the issues confronting Israel. Torn Blood’s purpose was to give flesh, blood, and bone to people facing an existential threat which is a part of life in Israel. We rarely see behind the headlines which are at times simply biased talking points. Israel holds a singular place of importance among the nations and Bo Iti Press provides a platform to show that importance in stories about real lives. In an adventure story you follow protagonists and antagonists. Torn Blood shows these opposing forces but it shows them in their humanity dealing with the life they were born into. Bo Iti Press can publish books so that readers will not only be entertained but informed, this I think is good.

What impact do you hope Torn Blood has on readers?

When readers come to the end of Torn Blood my hope is that they will have apprehended the heart of an Israel not seen before. It is this Israel, covenanted by God and not created by man, which can start a discussion, a dialogue, that may challenge our world.

I’m giving away a copy of the book!

If you are interested in receiving a copy of Torn Blood, simply leave a comment below, telling me why you’re interested in reading the book, and share this post on Facebook or Twitter. I will randomly pick a commenter to receive a copy, sent from the marketing firm handling the release. Comments must be left by Sunday night, at midnight CST. I will select and notify a winner right here on this post on Monday morning, so make sure you subscribe to the comments in order to be notified of the lucky person!

Tell me why you are interested in reading this book? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

I highly recommend that you read Torn Blood, by David J. Bain. You can purchase it at Amazon.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free as part of a blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links”. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.“