Blood Work

Terry McCaleb, a former FBI profiler who hunted serial killers, lives on a boat after a heart transplant. Graciela Rivers asks him to look into the death of her sister, Gloria, shot in a convenience store robbery. McCaleb's new heart was Gloria's. With help from deputy Jaye Winston, he sees the robbery was a hit and links it to another killing through the same gun. The victims shared his blood type. Police start treating him as a suspect, until McCaleb cracks the Code Killer's signature: the murderer killed so McCaleb would get a heart. Still frail, McCaleb tracks him to Baja California, kills him and rescues Graciela and her nephew.

1. ChangeTwo characters become one

   In the book, boat neighbor Buddy Lockridge and killer James Noone are different people. The movie merges them into Jasper "Buddy" Noone, played by Jeff Daniels.

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2. ChangeMexico is cut from the ending

   The book ends with a whole act in a remote part of Mexico. The movie drops it and moves the showdown to a wrecked Coast Guard cutter in Long Beach bay.

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3. ChangeMcCaleb ages 30 years

   In the book, McCaleb is in his forties. Clint Eastwood, who also directed, was past 70 when he played him.

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4. ChangeGraciela takes revenge

   In the book, McCaleb himself finishes off the killer. In the movie, after he shoots Noone, Graciela holds his head underwater to avenge her sister.

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