The main character in this book is Jack Salvo, a Los Angeles detective similar to Robert Crais' Elvis Cole. He's tasked with protecting some visiting Russian ballerinas. One of these ballerinas is kidnapped and the story goes from there.
The book had good character development and an original story. My only complaint was that some parts lagged. The end was unexpected, but made sense. I like when a book can surprise me without throwing in characters barely mentioned earlier in the book

Okay, okay maybe it is "PULP", but its' good pulp with a surprise waiting at the end. Enjoy the short read

I enjoyed this book until the end. Excellent writing style, and likable characters. Exciting plot, unfortunately after being on the edge of my seat until the end, I was still hanging there with the abrupt ending.

3.75 stars
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ok, to start: That's how it ends? Are you kidding me? I would have appreciated a little more; even seeing Jack walk out of the hospital and head off to the airport. It was just abrupt - for me. Some will feel differently I'm sure. [Also, Yelena being a part of the kidnapping plot, didn't see that coming. I squinted my eyes at that because it came out of left field. And how in the hell did Jack figure it out? He tells her how he did it, but come on!! I didn't like the fact that she was in on it. What would have been better is if she had told Jack the truth when the wrong girl was kidnapped and she could have helped him. Things could have worked out for the better and the 2nd half of the story still could have taken place, but been a much more satisfactory ending. This is the reason for the 3.75 stars instead of a full 4 or even higher. Everything was too smooth for Jack, the ending didn't make sense nor was I happy it ended abruptly. (hide spoiler)]

Beyond that, I enjoyed this story. This was strictly a crime/mystery PI investigative action story. While Jack does get some action with one of the ballerinas, it's not meant to be.

Jack seems to have been born under a lucky star because he seems to find clues and witnesses everywhere. Smart fella. Anywho, it's still a well written story and I enjoyed it. I wouldn't mind revisiting him again (I just hope he gets a HEA at some point. He's a nice guy.)

If you enjoy reading strict mystery/PI type stories, with lots of action and a super smart MC, then this is a good book. I was able to read it quickly and I wasn't bored.

P.S. Not sure if it was the ARC or my kindle, but the spacing of the words was off. A lot of times the words were smashed together, like they forgot to hit the space bar. It made it hard to read at times while I figured out what word(s) they were trying to say. Also, the quotation marks were not always where they should have been. So maybe it really is an editing issue to be corrected in the future.

This was a procedural about Jack Salvo, a PI and Philosophy Professor, who is hired to watch over three Russian ballerinas while they are in Los Angeles. One is kidnapped and Salvo is on the case. Ultimately he ends up in St. Petersburg (Russia) where he continues to work on the original kidnapping along with a second one. All in all it was a good, fast read. Thanks to Net Galley and the author for an ARC for an honest review.

'Church of Spilled Blood' had a great plotline, but the story-telling fell short. The beginning was choppy, with too many descriptive details (i.e. clothes, for example). Then later in the book, there weren't enough details.
I like the main character, and his subversive, snarky personality improved the story for me.
I didn't like the story's abrupt ending. For a moment, I thought that I was missing the last page

Jesse Miles got hooked on private detective novels early in life. It’s not hard to see that connection in his portrayal of Jack Salvo, the main character in “Church of Spilled Blood,” a prototype of many of the fictional detectives of the past. He is tough, compassionate, brave, and has an intense desire for justice. In other words, he’s a perfect, if improbable, hero.

His character, Salvo, suffers an embarrassing incident in which a ballet dancer he was hired to protect, gets kidnapped right from under his nose. The entire story involves his attempt at redemption and revenge.

This story is complicated and involves ballet dancers, Russian mobsters, kidnapping, double-crossing, diamonds, philosophy, and a travel adventure to St. Petersburg, Russia. Miles is adept at keeping it understandable, untangled, fast moving, and engrossing. His dialogue is hard-boiled and full of witty repartee, but very understandable. His writing skills are remarkable.

I have become a big fan of Miles, after having read one book. I will be reading more of them.

****Copy received from NetGalley for honest review*****
When I read the blurb for this book I thought it was one I would very much like. Guess what? I really did. Some would say it had too much descriptions but for me it gave such a visual, like I was watching a movie. Jack was like an upgraded Columbia mixed with a CSI agent. Reminded me of the Sue Grafton series, which I wouldn't mind this being. My first from this author and the ending lends itself to a continuation

While it took me a while to actually get into this book I did enjoy it. I put it down and came back to it a few weeks later. It was a good mystery that took place on 2 different continents. Learning about the ballerina world was interesting. Also the way the author explains how Jack Salvo risked everything to save someone he barely knew was great.

A tough read because it was about a tough subject.

Jack Salvo is an LA PI hired to protect a group of Russian ballet dancers. One of them is kidnapped. He ends up dealing with the Russian mafia and lots of bad stuff happens. Some language and sexual scenes to be aware of.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1881714579

When a Russian ballerina is kidnapped while in his care, PI Jack Salvo must act quickly to save her from an undoubtedly horrible fate. But when she's safely returned two days later, the case becomes even more suspicious. Travelling from LA to St. Petersburg, this novel explores the lengths some people will go for money and revenge. The best parts of this novel involve the Russian ballerinas and the brief glimpses readers get into that world. The actual detective part of the novel is pretty standard, with only a few expected twists.

REVIEW
Posted by Anna Patterson, Writer, Journalist, Book Reviewer, January 20, 2017.
I am a blogger and reviewer. I was privileged to read this book as a professional reviewer on NetGalley.
I would give this book Four Stars and I found it something I really enjoyed. I would have liked it to be longer, but it was complete and very intriguing.
This is a Book Review of the book Church of Spilled Blood, a Jack Salvo novel written by Jesse Miles. It is 207 pages, Author Buzz Mystery Thriller. It was published in August of 2016.
The story is about an occurrence one Los Angeles Summer when a man becomes a body guard in a home near a college campus. The story concerns a physician of Beverly Hills, who became involved in a charity initiative for exchange students from Russia. This lead to a case involving world-class ballerinas.
The body guard, Jack Salvo, was working with a friend and former partner in investigative services. Jack Salvo was enjoying this rather light duty of watching over a dance troupe, dancers Kata, Yelena, and Galina, when pandemonium erupted this peaceful scene and the dancer, Galina is kidnapped leaving her body guard wounded and blaming himself. As he frets over messing up this job for not only himself, but also his friend, Gabe, he tries to resume his normal life, and goes to a college class which he teaches. He cannot help but think of the recent abduction of the dancer, with thoughts the situation could involve terrorism, but then he is shaken by the appearance of Yelena, the thirty-year-old ballerina, older by far of the three of them, and her obvious attraction to him. Then Galina suddenly arrives on his door step and complications set in deep problems not helped in any way when his investigation leads him to a tarot card reader and then later, an intense attraction for Yelena!
I like the comfortableness of the author. He tells the story of this gumshoe detective in a comfortable way and it makes for enjoyable reading. For instance, “I said, “I can go a hundred if there’s information I can use. And I never burn my sources.”
As the detective’s love life seems to get interesting, his search for answers in the case he is trying to solve does also. He explains” “Oddly shaped pieces of evidence were starting to accumulate.”

If you like strong, brave, wise-cracking investigators you will love Jack Salvo. Called into service by an old friend, Jack is hired to protect an elite ballerina and two students from the elite Russian Ballet. They are here to attend a series of classes at the Los Angeles Dance Academy.

Despite his best efforts, one of the women is kidnapped, but returned the next day, unharmed. Confused and frightened the women return to Russia, where another of the trio is abducted. Jack is asked to go to Russia and rescue the ballerina. And the fun begins. Jack must work a miracle and in a country he does not know, where they speak a language he does not know, and find a woman held by people he does not know. This is a well written suspense tale with an exciting hero. The twists and turns as Jack investigates are filled with danger for all.

Church of the Spilled Blood is a modern day "hard-boiled" private eye story. As is typical with the genre, there are amazing escapes, reckless action, over the top criminals, and intriguing femme fatales. The basic plot is of a private eye investigating the kidnapping of Russia ballerina while still teaching his philosophy class at the local college. The philosophy spouting PI was a different twist, but ultimately, it didn't add much to the story.
It's a fun romp through parts of LA. and Russia. There are murders, kidnappings, and some anxious moments, all of which should appease fans of this genre.

Jack Salvo, private investigator and philosophy professor, a unique character who is not only observant but quick with the sarcastic quips. Well developed characters but a little predictable. Fun read!

Jesse Miles' Church of the Spilled Blood (Author Buzz 2017) is a fast paced, well-executed thriller. Jack Salvo, private investigator, is part of a 24-hour-a-day team hired to protect visiting Russian ballet dancers. When one of the ballerinas is kidnapped, Jack is not happy and wants to try to save the girl, but, problem is, he is taken off the case. It doesn't matter. When the police aren't handling things to his standard, Jack decides to find the kidnapper on his own.

Jack is a fun character. Kind of a combination of Sam Spade and Deadpool. In personality anyway.

Fun read.

Who knew that there was a church in St. Petersburg, Russia called the Church of The Savior on Spilled Blood? I certainly didn’t until I read Jesse Miles CHURCH OF SPILLED BLOOD featuring an unusual private eye named Jack Salvo whose thought process, in some instances, becomes rather philosophical in nature. Could this be due to Jack’s other job teaching philosophy at a local community college?

In this outing, Jack’s services are commissioned by a local big-wig “patron of the arts” to guard a small group of female Russian ballet dancers who he is hosting at his estate. Jacks assignment is to escort them to and from their daily ballet practice sessions. Seems like a pretty easy gig to Jack, until all hell breaks loose and one of the dancers is kidnapped. Jacks ensuing investigation takes him from L.A. to the streets of St. Petersburg in search of answers.

While Miles has created an engaging character in Jack, complete with a good backstory about his childhood and an opportunity for enticing cases, this particular plot line strained the laws of credulity for this reader.

That being said, I must admit that I liked the Jack Salvo character and his deductive reasoning well enough to try a second book. I understand that there is another in this series called Dead Drop, so maybe I’ll give that one a shot.

Wonderful novel. Jack Salvo is the real deal. Looking forward to the next installment!!