diff --git a/db/examples.json b/db/examples.json
index b22dc00..5f25eef 100644
--- a/db/examples.json
+++ b/db/examples.json
@@ -2,7 +2,12 @@
     "create": [{
         "title": "Create a record",
         "request": {
-            "record": "{\"id\": \"1\", \"name\": \"Jane\", \"age\": 42, \"isActive\":true}"
+            "record": {
+                "id": "1",
+                "name": "Jane",
+                "age": 42,
+                "isActive":true
+            }
         },
         "response": {
             "id": "1"
@@ -18,7 +23,10 @@
     "update": [{
         "title": "Update a record",
         "request": {
-            "record": "{\"id\": \"1\", \"age\": 43}"
+            "record": {
+                "id": "1",
+                "age": 43
+            }
         },
         "response": {
         }
@@ -29,7 +37,12 @@
             "query": "age == 43"
         },
         "response": {
-            "records": "[{\"id\": \"1\", \"name\": \"Jane\", \"age\": 43, \"isActive\":true}]"
+            "records": [{
+                "id": "1",
+                "name": "Jane",
+                "age": 42,
+                "isActive":true
+            }]
         }
     }]
 }
diff --git a/db/handler/db.go b/db/handler/db.go
index 6b0df6e..dfcdda8 100644
--- a/db/handler/db.go
+++ b/db/handler/db.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	gorm2 "github.com/micro/services/pkg/gorm"
 	"github.com/micro/services/pkg/tenant"
 	"github.com/patrickmn/go-cache"
+	"google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/structpb"
 	"gorm.io/datatypes"
 	"gorm.io/gorm"
 )
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ type Db struct {
 
 // Call is a single request handler called via client.Call or the generated client code
 func (e *Db) Create(ctx context.Context, req *db.CreateRequest, rsp *db.CreateResponse) error {
-	if len(req.Record) == 0 {
+	if len(req.Record.AsMap()) == 0 {
 		return errors.BadRequest("db.create", "missing record")
 	}
 	tenantId, ok := tenant.FromContext(ctx)
@@ -60,11 +61,7 @@ func (e *Db) Create(ctx context.Context, req *db.CreateRequest, rsp *db.CreateRe
 		c.Set(req.Table, true, 0)
 	}
 
-	m := map[string]interface{}{}
-	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(req.Record), &m)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	m := req.Record.AsMap()
 	if _, ok := m[idKey].(string); !ok {
 		m[idKey] = uuid.New().String()
 	}
@@ -85,7 +82,7 @@ func (e *Db) Create(ctx context.Context, req *db.CreateRequest, rsp *db.CreateRe
 }
 
 func (e *Db) Update(ctx context.Context, req *db.UpdateRequest, rsp *db.UpdateResponse) error {
-	if len(req.Record) == 0 {
+	if len(req.Record.AsMap()) == 0 {
 		return errors.BadRequest("db.update", "missing record")
 	}
 	tenantId, ok := tenant.FromContext(ctx)
@@ -98,11 +95,7 @@ func (e *Db) Update(ctx context.Context, req *db.UpdateRequest, rsp *db.UpdateRe
 		return err
 	}
 
-	m := map[string]interface{}{}
-	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(req.Record), &m)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	m := req.Record.AsMap()
 
 	// where ID is specified do a single update record update
 	id, ok := m[idKey].(string)
@@ -182,7 +175,8 @@ func (e *Db) Read(ctx context.Context, req *db.ReadRequest, rsp *db.ReadResponse
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	ret := []map[string]interface{}{}
+
+	rsp.Records = []*structpb.Struct{}
 	for _, rec := range recs {
 		m, err := rec.Data.MarshalJSON()
 		if err != nil {
@@ -191,10 +185,15 @@ func (e *Db) Read(ctx context.Context, req *db.ReadRequest, rsp *db.ReadResponse
 		ma := map[string]interface{}{}
 		json.Unmarshal(m, &ma)
 		ma[idKey] = rec.ID
-		ret = append(ret, ma)
+		m, _ = json.Marshal(ma)
+		s := &structpb.Struct{}
+		err = s.UnmarshalJSON(m)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		rsp.Records = append(rsp.Records, s)
 	}
-	bs, _ := json.Marshal(ret)
-	rsp.Records = string(bs)
+
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/db/handler/parse.go b/db/handler/parse.go
index 1ea730e..6f0e03d 100644
--- a/db/handler/parse.go
+++ b/db/handler/parse.go
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 var quoteEscape = fmt.Sprint(0x10FFFF)
+var singleQuoteEscape = fmt.Sprint(0x10FFFE)
+var backtickEscape = fmt.Sprint(0x10FFFD)
 
 const (
 	itemIgnore = iota
@@ -53,6 +55,8 @@ var expressions = []lexer.TokenExpr{
 	{`>`, itemGreaterThan},
 	{`[0-9]+`, itemInt},
 	{`"(?:[^"\\]|\\.)*"`, itemString},
+	{"`" + `(?:[^"\\]|\\.)*` + "`", itemString},
+	{`'(?:[^"\\]|\\.)*'`, itemString},
 	{`[\<\>\!\=\+\-\|\&\*\/A-Za-z][A-Za-z0-9_]*`, itemFieldName},
 }
 
@@ -67,6 +71,9 @@ func Parse(q string) ([]Query, error) {
 		return nil, errors.New("query contains illegal max rune")
 	}
 	q = strings.Replace(q, `""`, quoteEscape, -1)
+	q = strings.Replace(q, "``", singleQuoteEscape, -1)
+	q = strings.Replace(q, "''", backtickEscape, -1)
+
 	tokens, err := lexer.Lex(q, expressions)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -102,7 +109,11 @@ func Parse(q string) ([]Query, error) {
 			if len(token.Text) < 2 {
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("string literal too short: '%v'", token.Text)
 			}
-			current.Value = strings.Replace(token.Text[1:len(token.Text)-1], quoteEscape, `"`, -1)
+			to := token.Text[1 : len(token.Text)-1]
+			to = strings.Replace(to, quoteEscape, `"`, -1)
+			to = strings.Replace(to, singleQuoteEscape, `'`, -1)
+			to = strings.Replace(to, backtickEscape, "`", -1)
+			current.Value = to
 		case itemBoolTrue:
 			switch current.Op {
 			case itemEquals, itemNotEquals:
diff --git a/db/handler/parse_test.go b/db/handler/parse_test.go
index 12f196f..72c0d65 100644
--- a/db/handler/parse_test.go
+++ b/db/handler/parse_test.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func TestLexing(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(tokens)
 	}
 
-	tokens, err = lexer.Lex(`a == 12 and name != "nandos"`, expressions)
+	tokens, err = lexer.Lex(`a == 12 and name != 'nandos'`, expressions)
 	if tokens[0].Typ != itemFieldName ||
 		tokens[1].Typ != itemEquals ||
 		tokens[2].Typ != itemInt ||
@@ -55,9 +55,54 @@ func TestParsing(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 		},
+		tCase{
+			Q: `a == 12 and name != "nan'dos"`,
+			E: []Query{
+				Query{
+					Field: "a",
+					Value: int64(12),
+					Op:    itemEquals,
+				},
+				Query{
+					Field: "name",
+					Value: "nan'dos",
+					Op:    itemNotEquals,
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		tCase{
+			Q: `a == 12 and name != 'nandos'`,
+			E: []Query{
+				Query{
+					Field: "a",
+					Value: int64(12),
+					Op:    itemEquals,
+				},
+				Query{
+					Field: "name",
+					Value: "nandos",
+					Op:    itemNotEquals,
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		tCase{
+			Q: "a == 12 and name != `nandos`",
+			E: []Query{
+				Query{
+					Field: "a",
+					Value: int64(12),
+					Op:    itemEquals,
+				},
+				Query{
+					Field: "name",
+					Value: "nandos",
+					Op:    itemNotEquals,
+				},
+			},
+		},
 		// test escaping quotes
 		tCase{
-			Q: `a == 12 and name != "He said ""yes""!"`,
+			Q: `a == 12 and name != 'He said ""yes""!'`,
 			E: []Query{
 				Query{
 					Field: "a",
diff --git a/db/proto/db.pb.go b/db/proto/db.pb.go
index 2579605..e5068ac 100644
--- a/db/proto/db.pb.go
+++ b/db/proto/db.pb.go
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 // Code generated by protoc-gen-go. DO NOT EDIT.
 // versions:
 // 	protoc-gen-go v1.26.0
-// 	protoc        v3.15.6
+// 	protoc        v3.6.1
 // source: proto/db.proto
 
 package db
 
 import (
+	_struct "github.com/golang/protobuf/ptypes/struct"
 	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
 	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
 	reflect "reflect"
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ type ReadResponse struct {
 	unknownFields protoimpl.UnknownFields
 
 	// JSON encoded records
-	Records string `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=records,proto3" json:"records,omitempty"`
+	Records []*_struct.Struct `protobuf:"bytes,1,rep,name=records,proto3" json:"records,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (x *ReadResponse) Reset() {
@@ -153,11 +154,11 @@ func (*ReadResponse) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) {
 	return file_proto_db_proto_rawDescGZIP(), []int{1}
 }
 
-func (x *ReadResponse) GetRecords() string {
+func (x *ReadResponse) GetRecords() []*_struct.Struct {
 	if x != nil {
 		return x.Records
 	}
-	return ""
+	return nil
 }
 
 type CreateRequest struct {
@@ -167,7 +168,7 @@ type CreateRequest struct {
 
 	Table string `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=table,proto3" json:"table,omitempty"`
 	// JSON encoded record or records (can be array or object)
-	Record string `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=record,proto3" json:"record,omitempty"`
+	Record *_struct.Struct `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=record,proto3" json:"record,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (x *CreateRequest) Reset() {
@@ -209,11 +210,11 @@ func (x *CreateRequest) GetTable() string {
 	return ""
 }
 
-func (x *CreateRequest) GetRecord() string {
+func (x *CreateRequest) GetRecord() *_struct.Struct {
 	if x != nil {
 		return x.Record
 	}
-	return ""
+	return nil
 }
 
 type CreateResponse struct {
@@ -272,8 +273,8 @@ type UpdateRequest struct {
 	Table string `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=table,proto3" json:"table,omitempty"`
 	// query filter if applying to multiple records
 	Query string `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=query,proto3" json:"query,omitempty"`
-	// JSON encoded record or records (can be array or object)
-	Record string `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=record,proto3" json:"record,omitempty"`
+	// record, JSON object
+	Record *_struct.Struct `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=record,proto3" json:"record,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (x *UpdateRequest) Reset() {
@@ -322,11 +323,11 @@ func (x *UpdateRequest) GetQuery() string {
 	return ""
 }
 
-func (x *UpdateRequest) GetRecord() string {
+func (x *UpdateRequest) GetRecord() *_struct.Struct {
 	if x != nil {
 		return x.Record
 	}
-	return ""
+	return nil
 }
 
 type UpdateResponse struct {
@@ -465,50 +466,57 @@ var File_proto_db_proto protoreflect.FileDescriptor
 
 var file_proto_db_proto_rawDesc = []byte{
 	0x0a, 0x0e, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x2f, 0x64, 0x62, 0x2e, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f,
-	0x12, 0x02, 0x64, 0x62, 0x22, 0x97, 0x01, 0x0a, 0x0b, 0x52, 0x65, 0x61, 0x64, 0x52, 0x65, 0x71,
-	0x75, 0x65, 0x73, 0x74, 0x12, 0x14, 0x0a, 0x05, 0x74, 0x61, 0x62, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20,
-	0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x05, 0x74, 0x61, 0x62, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x12, 0x14, 0x0a, 0x05, 0x71, 0x75,
-	0x65, 0x72, 0x79, 0x18, 0x02, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x05, 0x71, 0x75, 0x65, 0x72, 0x79,
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+	0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x33,
 }
 
 var (
@@ -533,21 +541,25 @@ var file_proto_db_proto_goTypes = []interface{}{
 	(*UpdateResponse)(nil), // 5: db.UpdateResponse
 	(*DeleteRequest)(nil),  // 6: db.DeleteRequest
 	(*DeleteResponse)(nil), // 7: db.DeleteResponse
+	(*_struct.Struct)(nil), // 8: google.protobuf.Struct
 }
 var file_proto_db_proto_depIdxs = []int32{
-	2, // 0: db.Db.Create:input_type -> db.CreateRequest
-	0, // 1: db.Db.Read:input_type -> db.ReadRequest
-	4, // 2: db.Db.Update:input_type -> db.UpdateRequest
-	6, // 3: db.Db.Delete:input_type -> db.DeleteRequest
-	3, // 4: db.Db.Create:output_type -> db.CreateResponse
-	1, // 5: db.Db.Read:output_type -> db.ReadResponse
-	5, // 6: db.Db.Update:output_type -> db.UpdateResponse
-	7, // 7: db.Db.Delete:output_type -> db.DeleteResponse
-	4, // [4:8] is the sub-list for method output_type
-	0, // [0:4] is the sub-list for method input_type
-	0, // [0:0] is the sub-list for extension type_name
-	0, // [0:0] is the sub-list for extension extendee
-	0, // [0:0] is the sub-list for field type_name
+	8, // 0: db.ReadResponse.records:type_name -> google.protobuf.Struct
+	8, // 1: db.CreateRequest.record:type_name -> google.protobuf.Struct
+	8, // 2: db.UpdateRequest.record:type_name -> google.protobuf.Struct
+	2, // 3: db.Db.Create:input_type -> db.CreateRequest
+	0, // 4: db.Db.Read:input_type -> db.ReadRequest
+	4, // 5: db.Db.Update:input_type -> db.UpdateRequest
+	6, // 6: db.Db.Delete:input_type -> db.DeleteRequest
+	3, // 7: db.Db.Create:output_type -> db.CreateResponse
+	1, // 8: db.Db.Read:output_type -> db.ReadResponse
+	5, // 9: db.Db.Update:output_type -> db.UpdateResponse
+	7, // 10: db.Db.Delete:output_type -> db.DeleteResponse
+	7, // [7:11] is the sub-list for method output_type
+	3, // [3:7] is the sub-list for method input_type
+	3, // [3:3] is the sub-list for extension type_name
+	3, // [3:3] is the sub-list for extension extendee
+	0, // [0:3] is the sub-list for field type_name
 }
 
 func init() { file_proto_db_proto_init() }
diff --git a/db/proto/db.pb.micro.go b/db/proto/db.pb.micro.go
index 48732c1..ddff33f 100644
--- a/db/proto/db.pb.micro.go
+++ b/db/proto/db.pb.micro.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package db
 import (
 	fmt "fmt"
 	proto "github.com/golang/protobuf/proto"
+	_ "github.com/golang/protobuf/ptypes/struct"
 	math "math"
 )
 
diff --git a/db/proto/db.proto b/db/proto/db.proto
index 0f63d0d..dd5331d 100644
--- a/db/proto/db.proto
+++ b/db/proto/db.proto
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 syntax = "proto3";
+import "google/protobuf/struct.proto";
 
 package db;
 
@@ -28,13 +29,13 @@ message ReadRequest {
 
 message ReadResponse {
 	// JSON encoded records
-	string records = 1;
+	repeated google.protobuf.Struct records = 1;
 }
 
 message CreateRequest {
 	string table = 1;
 	// JSON encoded record or records (can be array or object)
-	string record = 2;
+	google.protobuf.Struct record = 2;
 }
 
 message CreateResponse {
@@ -46,8 +47,8 @@ message UpdateRequest {
 	string table = 1;
 	// query filter if applying to multiple records
 	string query = 2;
-	// JSON encoded record or records (can be array or object)
-	string record = 3;
+	// record, JSON object
+	google.protobuf.Struct record = 3;
 }
 
 message UpdateResponse {