A small town with a huge secret. A woman facing a danger so insidious that her life, and the life of her unborn child, are at stake. One false step in a town with it’s secretive tendrils snaking far and wide will mean certain disaster, and the deeper she falls into it’s web, the more obvious it is that she might not be able to trust anyone but herself.
I just finished the mystery/thriller novel Bloodline by Jess Lourey and damn, what a fun and creepy ride! I’m going to keep this review spoiler free because this story has a twist that makes EVERYTHING so much more sinister and creepy, and I don’t want to spoil that for you!
But, I HIGHLY recommend you pick up a copy of Bloodline by Jess Lourey for yourself.
What can I say about this book without giving too much away?
First, as you may know, I’m not a typical “mystery/thriller” genre reader. I tend to lean more into the worlds of fantasy, horror, dark fiction, and the like. However, a while back I was recommended a book by Jess Lourey, called Unspeakable Things, so I picked it up and loved it. From there I grabbed a free copy of her book, Autumn Moon, which was free for Amazon Prime members, and enjoyed that one as well. So when the opportunity to grab Bloodline popped up I didn’t hesitate and can say with certainty that it has been the best I’ve read by her so far.
The setting of the late 60’s, at the height of the Vietnam war, this tiny little Minnesotan town was the perfect place to stage a true “real life horror”. No, this isn’t a true story. However it IS inspired by real events of a missing child that took place in the 1940’s. As a parent, I think the book really hits home extra hard, because what parent HASN’T worried about someone kidnapping their child. Especially in today’s day and age where child trafficking seems to be at all time highs.
More than that, however, is just how beautifully it’s written. The pace is unrelenting in the best possible way and every small detail or scene only serves as fuel to build the suspense, make you question just what is happening around Joan, and just how incredibly deep the secret of this small town runs.
It’s one of those books that I would LOVE to see adapted to a film or limited run series.
If you enjoy mystery and thriller novels, you’ll love Bloodline by Jess Lourey. And if you don’t normally read this genre, pick it up anyways because the story is PERFECT for an October Spooky Season read!
Unsettling, chilling, and full of great twists and turns. Bloodline is a fast paced novel that won’t let go of you until long after you’ve read the final words.
4 out of 5 stars and a highly recommended read.
