Primal Calling

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 07 Jan 2021 | Archive Date 02 Feb 2021

Talking about this book? Use #PrimalCalling #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

While rummaging through the attic, high school senior Jack Davies is surprised to find his never-before-seen birth certificate, revealing a startling fact that changes his life. The story his mother told about his birth, he discovers, is a lie. 


Jack becomes obsessed with discovering the true identity of his father, forcing him to face and conquer obstacles – kidnapping, death threats, and a powerful family secret – most 20-year-olds would never even dream they would encounter. Faced with unanswered questions and confounding obstacles at every turn, Jack finds himself deeply enmeshed in an intricate world of national security and international intrigue. 


Relationships are tested as his every move is tracked by a group of mysterious people. Who are they? Whose side are they on? Who can he trust? And, most importantly, who will he ultimately become?



While rummaging through the attic, high school senior Jack Davies is surprised to find his never-before-seen birth certificate, revealing a startling fact that changes his life. The story his mother...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781784657307
PRICE $14.99 (USD)

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (PDF)
Send to Kindle (PDF)

Average rating from 14 members


Featured Reviews

Excellent story about a young man raised by his single mom. When he comes across his birth certificate, the search begins for his father. The search, the subterfuge, the relationships, and the repercussions are all examined in a tense story that also includes a bit of international intrigue.

Was this review helpful?

"Primal Calling" is Barry Eisenberg's first published book. It is a nicely done study in human relations tucked into a tiny bit of International Intrigue. Jack Davies is a senior in high school and the son of Linda; a single mother. Linda has done well for herself in terms of making a living at the same time as making sure that Jack has a loving relationship at home. She is the owner of a successful business. She had an affair with a young man years ago and it did look like it would develop into a permanent relationship. Unfortunately, he was at the onset of a career that would take him all over the world with rapidly increasing responsibilities and the affair was allowed to stop, but not before Linda became pregnant with Jack.
During Jack's growing years Linda made the decision to tell him that she was not aware of his father's identity and carry on by herself. One day pure chance led Jack to discover his birth certificate hidden in one of Linda's drawers. What immediately came to his mind was that his mother did know his father and kept it from him all these years. Jack slowly comes to the conclusion that he must find his father, but to avoid problems not tell his mother that he is searching for him.
During the early part of his search Jack finds one of the schools his father attended and in trying to get information from them meets a girl who helps him. The two develop a friendship which continues after Jack goes on seeking more information. Cathy, the young lady becomes a friend to Jack and it certainly seems that they will go on to more permanent arrangements.
Jack continues with his search until the day another car stops him on the road, frightening him a great deal. He is made to enter the other car. Then a strange thing happens. To calm Jack's fears he is told that he is being taken to meet his father. And that is exactly what happens. The remainder of the novel takes Jack, his mother, his father and Cathy into an adventure of discovery that does become very heartwarming with an ending that is well done and emotionally uplifting.

Was this review helpful?

This is a stellar first book. A richly written multi-layered story filled of intrigue and a nicely done portrayal of the power of persistence. Jack is the center of attention and the main player in this wonderful story.

The story focuses on Jack’s determination for find his father, a man he never knew existed, on his relationship with his mother and the developing relationship with a girl. This tense story brings us to Jack’s father, Stewart a man determined to fulfil his duty for the DIA ( a federal agency) and ordered to keep up with the subterfuge by his handlers for the safety of all. Following them we find ourselves enmeshed in an intricate world of national security and international intrigue.

A lot goes on and without going into too many details we have a story that takes off in several directions. The plot mainly set in the US brings some episodes to Germany and Arabia and as Jack’s gets closer to the truth so does the intrigue.... What a ride...and a heartwarming page-turner.

Persistence pays off but at what price. Jack’s every moves were track by a group of mysterious people...who were they?....haha!... you will need to read ”Primal Calling” I will say no more.....

Jack’s saga moves at a steady pace and keeps the tempo throughout: not too fast just smooth sailing. I like the portrayal of each character: each has a strong personality, we have no bad or good guys even when Steward got mixed up in a terrorist attack...oh yes we have a bit of a bang in a cafeteria and the usual aftermath...

I enjoyed this story quite a bit.

Was this review helpful?

Jack is a confident high school senior who has a great relationship with his mum until he discovers his birth certificate. Jack’s world went into an almighty spin as he secretly decided to trace his biological father down. It isn’t your run of the mill story of tracking down a parent, this story is the one in a million, frustrating and dangerous step into the unknown. It isn’t just dangerous for him and the father he never knew he had but for countless others too.


This story strips relationships and emotions back to raw nerve endings that manipulate and distort feelings to something more primal. He had once asked a question about who his father was and been answered and accepted it. But now he was angry that his life had been a lie. He had to find out who his dad was and he had some leads to go on.


Jack is more mature than his years, I liked his character and felt that the author captured his reaction to events in a realistic way. Lisa, Jack’s mum, had always known that these events were a ticking time bomb but, the story gets across how one lie leads to another, even with good intentions, until time runs out.

I liked how this story didn’t follow the expected route and took on a more thrilling conclusion. All in all, this is a story that will keep your interest from the first to the last page.

Was this review helpful?

Primal Calling by Barry Eisenberg is the perfect story to get into the new year. It’s all about the close relationships shared amongst friends and family, finding a purpose and valuing the little things in life.

Eisenberg’s debut is set to put Jack on a ride to find his biological father, who he hadn’t known existed until he found his birth certificate. For the next year it sets Jack on finding his father no matter what. There will be trials along the way that emotionally tear Jack apart, but knowing his father is still out there, motivates him to continue his search.

With Jack’s quick thinking, he’s able to surf the internet, bring up articles and make phone calls. Jack’s inquisitive thinking only gets him further from the truth when he hears how private his father’s life actually is with the help from a girl, Cathy. As their friendship develops, so does the search for Jack’s father.

The pace at which Eisenberg wrote brought out each character with enough backstory to state their purpose. Eisenberg introduces readers to both the world of Jack and his father, Stewart Jacobson. Stewart has worked for the government for many years and, too, has built relationships along the way. We’re shown the sacrifices Stewart has to make every day in order to keep his identity a secret. The amount of people who have Stewart’s back, not only in the United States but Saudi Arabia as well.

These friendships are put to the test when Stewart’s identity is in danger and it shows readers how far everyone has gone to not only protect this man, but their country. In turn, we’re also shown how focusing on one person might distract them from worrying about another who might’ve needed help and support.

Eisenberg has crafted such likeable characters throughout the story. Jack’s demeanour was mature yet predicted for a young adult like himself. Stewart was responsible, intelligent and understanding as someone who has just found out they had a son. Cathy was so supportive toward Jack and made him see both sides to the story whenever he was conflicted.

Overall, this is a beautiful story of family, love, grief, and relationships, and readers will become intrigued to find out what will happen next. This is a story that can take you to another place and watch the unravelling after the discovery of a birth certificate.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: