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Blood Trilogy #1
Blood Like Mine
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Horror (2024)STAY ON THE MOVE. STAY OUT OF SIGHT.
In LA Times Book Prizewinner Stuart Neville’s daring foray into horror fiction, a mother takes desperate measures to protect her daughter in a sinister, blood-chilling highway pursuit across the American West.
On a snowy December night, single mother Rebecca Carter drives her van into a snowbank to avoid hitting an elk on a desolate mountain highway. She is at the end of her rope, out of money and food. Still, she refuses help from a man in a pickup truck—Rebecca’s adolescent daughter, Moonflower, is on the run from a grisly secret, and the last thing they can afford is to be remembered by anyone they meet.
Meanwhile, Special Agent Marc Donner of the FBI has spent the better part of two years hunting down a gruesome serial killer who drains victims of blood before severing their spinal cords, leaving a trail of bodies throughout the American West. As Agent Donner’s investigation brings him closer and closer to where Rebecca and Moonflower are hiding out, in the foothills of Colorado, the life that Rebecca has fought so hard to hold together for her daughter becomes increasingly imperilled.
In this deadly, high-stakes game of cat and mouse by the Los Angeles Times Book Prize winning author of THE GHOSTS OF BELFAST, nobody is safe and nothing is certain—not even the line between predator and prey.
In LA Times Book Prizewinner Stuart Neville’s daring foray into horror fiction, a mother takes desperate measures to protect her daughter in a sinister, blood-chilling highway pursuit across the American West.
On a snowy December night, single mother Rebecca Carter drives her van into a snowbank to avoid hitting an elk on a desolate mountain highway. She is at the end of her rope, out of money and food. Still, she refuses help from a man in a pickup truck—Rebecca’s adolescent daughter, Moonflower, is on the run from a grisly secret, and the last thing they can afford is to be remembered by anyone they meet.
Meanwhile, Special Agent Marc Donner of the FBI has spent the better part of two years hunting down a gruesome serial killer who drains victims of blood before severing their spinal cords, leaving a trail of bodies throughout the American West. As Agent Donner’s investigation brings him closer and closer to where Rebecca and Moonflower are hiding out, in the foothills of Colorado, the life that Rebecca has fought so hard to hold together for her daughter becomes increasingly imperilled.
In this deadly, high-stakes game of cat and mouse by the Los Angeles Times Book Prize winning author of THE GHOSTS OF BELFAST, nobody is safe and nothing is certain—not even the line between predator and prey.
425 pages, Hardcover
First published August 6, 2024
337 people are currently reading
66047 people want to read
About the author
Stuart Neville
39 books1,036 followersI have been a musician, a composer, a teacher, a salesman, a film extra, a baker and a hand double for a well known Irish comedian, but I'm currently a partner in a successful multimedia design business in the wilds of Northern Ireland.
I have published short stories in Thuglit, Electric Spec and Every Day Fiction. THE TWELVE is my first novel, and will be published in the UK and Commonwealth by Harvill Secker, an imprint of Random House, on July 2nd 2009. It will be published in the USA as THE GHOSTS OF BELFAST by Soho Press, New York, and by Random House Kodansha in Japan.
I have published short stories in Thuglit, Electric Spec and Every Day Fiction. THE TWELVE is my first novel, and will be published in the UK and Commonwealth by Harvill Secker, an imprint of Random House, on July 2nd 2009. It will be published in the USA as THE GHOSTS OF BELFAST by Soho Press, New York, and by Random House Kodansha in Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 674 reviews
October 15, 2025
4 bloody ⭐️
What lengths would you go through to save your child?
Rebecca and her daughter are on the run carrying with them a dark secret.
FBI Special Agent Marc Donner has spent two years hunting down a suspected serial killer who drains victims of blood before severing their spinal cords.
I’m so glad I decided to bump this one up my list. Equal parts horror and thriller, it was a great cat and mouse chase, but my dilemma was that I liked both sides and couldn’t decide who to root for. I honestly couldn’t choose since I could see things from both perspectives.
The tension built steadily throughout the story and really peaked toward the end, culminating in what I thought was the perfect ending though I’ll admit I may have shed a tear.
Blood Like Mine is the first in the Blood Trilogy. I’m so glad book two will be out at the end of the month. 🩸🩸
What lengths would you go through to save your child?
Rebecca and her daughter are on the run carrying with them a dark secret.
FBI Special Agent Marc Donner has spent two years hunting down a suspected serial killer who drains victims of blood before severing their spinal cords.
I’m so glad I decided to bump this one up my list. Equal parts horror and thriller, it was a great cat and mouse chase, but my dilemma was that I liked both sides and couldn’t decide who to root for. I honestly couldn’t choose since I could see things from both perspectives.
The tension built steadily throughout the story and really peaked toward the end, culminating in what I thought was the perfect ending though I’ll admit I may have shed a tear.
Blood Like Mine is the first in the Blood Trilogy. I’m so glad book two will be out at the end of the month. 🩸🩸
November 26, 2025
**4.5-stars**
Ooo, Blood Like Mine was so, so good.
A fabulous blending of Horror with Crime Fiction. It was gripping, fast-paced, included excellent character work and a bloody sensational ending!
After seeing a couple of trusted Book Friends write glowing reviews for this one, I started to experience my typical high-levels of FOMO. They were enjoying it, therefore, I wanted to be enjoying it. I couldn't rest until I was.
I requested an audio copy and very luckily, my request was granted. I started right away and was so very happy that they brought this book, and this author, onto my radar.
In this story, we are following Rebecca and her daughter, Moonflower. It's clear the two are on the run from a difficult past, but the full truth of that isn't revealed right away.
As we get to know Rebecca and Moonflower, the truth behind their past, current situation and close connection, is beautifully-exposed. I loved getting to know these two characters. They were both so real to me and fascinating.
We also meet a Special Agent with the FBI, Marc Donner. For the last two-years, he has been hunting a serial killer across the American West, a killer who drains their victim's bodies of blood.
As the trail he is following leads him closer to Rebecca and Moonflower, the existence Rebecca has worked so hard to create for them is inexorably threatened. Donner isn't giving up, he's not turning back, and they're all set on a crash course with disaster.
The synopsis describes this one as cat-and-mouse and I absolutely agree with that. I love those types of stories, so that played a huge role in my enjoyment.
It was intense. I grew to care for all of these characters, not just Rebecca and Moonflower, but also Agent Donner. The high stakes involved, you know it can't end well for everyone though, which made it particularly gripping for me.
Who was going to end up on top?
I vibed so well with the way the author told this story. The level of intrigue is high from the get-go and for me, it really never let up. You can intuit what is going on with Moonflower and Rebecca, but there's a certain level of uncertainty that did keep me guessing.
Until there's not. Once it's clear, I was loving this even more, because if anything it only upped the stakes of the game playing out on the page.
I would love to read more from this author. I think the genre-bending nature of this really took the cake for me. The Horror aspects blended perfectly with the Crime Fiction elements. It was seamless.
I would recommend this to Horror Readers who enjoy fast-paced, high-stakes Thriller-type reads. This is unique, fun and for me, memorable. I'm looking forward to seeing what more Readers think of this one.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Recorded Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. The audio narration was so well done and definitely helped to bring this story to life for me!
Ooo, Blood Like Mine was so, so good.
A fabulous blending of Horror with Crime Fiction. It was gripping, fast-paced, included excellent character work and a bloody sensational ending!
After seeing a couple of trusted Book Friends write glowing reviews for this one, I started to experience my typical high-levels of FOMO. They were enjoying it, therefore, I wanted to be enjoying it. I couldn't rest until I was.
I requested an audio copy and very luckily, my request was granted. I started right away and was so very happy that they brought this book, and this author, onto my radar.
In this story, we are following Rebecca and her daughter, Moonflower. It's clear the two are on the run from a difficult past, but the full truth of that isn't revealed right away.
As we get to know Rebecca and Moonflower, the truth behind their past, current situation and close connection, is beautifully-exposed. I loved getting to know these two characters. They were both so real to me and fascinating.
We also meet a Special Agent with the FBI, Marc Donner. For the last two-years, he has been hunting a serial killer across the American West, a killer who drains their victim's bodies of blood.
As the trail he is following leads him closer to Rebecca and Moonflower, the existence Rebecca has worked so hard to create for them is inexorably threatened. Donner isn't giving up, he's not turning back, and they're all set on a crash course with disaster.
The synopsis describes this one as cat-and-mouse and I absolutely agree with that. I love those types of stories, so that played a huge role in my enjoyment.
It was intense. I grew to care for all of these characters, not just Rebecca and Moonflower, but also Agent Donner. The high stakes involved, you know it can't end well for everyone though, which made it particularly gripping for me.
Who was going to end up on top?
I vibed so well with the way the author told this story. The level of intrigue is high from the get-go and for me, it really never let up. You can intuit what is going on with Moonflower and Rebecca, but there's a certain level of uncertainty that did keep me guessing.
Until there's not. Once it's clear, I was loving this even more, because if anything it only upped the stakes of the game playing out on the page.
I would love to read more from this author. I think the genre-bending nature of this really took the cake for me. The Horror aspects blended perfectly with the Crime Fiction elements. It was seamless.
I would recommend this to Horror Readers who enjoy fast-paced, high-stakes Thriller-type reads. This is unique, fun and for me, memorable. I'm looking forward to seeing what more Readers think of this one.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Recorded Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. The audio narration was so well done and definitely helped to bring this story to life for me!
October 16, 2025
Just so glad I rechecked Blood Like Mine out after unwisely retuning unread the first time.
From start to finish, this is one fine-tuned combination of an intense crime thriller and ghastly horror.
Stuart Neville has masterfully crafted the ultimate predator and prey chase in which it is never quite clear who is pursuing who.
Man, these characters are dark. And oh, are they ever a wily bunch.
The ending could not be more perfect and cannot wait to find out what's next. Bonus is I won't be left hanging for too long cuz book two: Blood Like Ours is being released October 28, 2025!!
Highly recommend.
From start to finish, this is one fine-tuned combination of an intense crime thriller and ghastly horror.
Stuart Neville has masterfully crafted the ultimate predator and prey chase in which it is never quite clear who is pursuing who.
Man, these characters are dark. And oh, are they ever a wily bunch.
The ending could not be more perfect and cannot wait to find out what's next. Bonus is I won't be left hanging for too long cuz book two: Blood Like Ours is being released October 28, 2025!!
Highly recommend.
July 26, 2024
It’s July 4th in Texas as I’m writing this review. I went to a festival before the fireworks and finished this almost right before they went off!!! Holy smokes this was amazing!!! Fireworks were the perfect setting!
Rebecca and her daughter, Moonflower are on the run. Rebecca will stop at nothing and no one in order to keep her safe. Something terrible happened some years ago and they’ve been trying to stay out of sight. What is this terrible secret? Can Rebecca really keep her daughter from a terrible demise? On top of that, what actually is it???
This is what I call TRUE HORROR! This is the kind of stuff I grew up on. The mother, daughter and detective on the case were all just fascinating to me. Neville wrote an ending that is truly EPIC! Horror fans and thriller fans DO NOT MISS OUT! PUT THIS ON YOUR TBR NOW!!! Tied for Favorite of the year! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Huge gratitude to Stuart Neville for writing this masterpiece! Thank you to Hell’s Hundred, Soho Press and NetGalley for the phenomenal opportunity!
Release 8/6 US 8/15 UK
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rebecca and her daughter, Moonflower are on the run. Rebecca will stop at nothing and no one in order to keep her safe. Something terrible happened some years ago and they’ve been trying to stay out of sight. What is this terrible secret? Can Rebecca really keep her daughter from a terrible demise? On top of that, what actually is it???
This is what I call TRUE HORROR! This is the kind of stuff I grew up on. The mother, daughter and detective on the case were all just fascinating to me. Neville wrote an ending that is truly EPIC! Horror fans and thriller fans DO NOT MISS OUT! PUT THIS ON YOUR TBR NOW!!! Tied for Favorite of the year! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Huge gratitude to Stuart Neville for writing this masterpiece! Thank you to Hell’s Hundred, Soho Press and NetGalley for the phenomenal opportunity!
Release 8/6 US 8/15 UK
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 22, 2024
Wowza! What a fantastic and shocking book! Blood Like Mine had me hungry for more. I devoured the pages, fully engrossed in this thrilling pursuit across the American West. From the very first page, my interest was piqued. I wanted more and Stuart Neville delivered.
Rebecca Carter is a single mother who will stop at nothing to keep her daughter, Moonflower safe. They are on the run and do their best to not draw attention to themselves. They do not want to be remembered, they just want to survive and stay safe. They have a HUGE secret and need to keep under the radar.
Special Agent Marc Donner of the FBI has been on the hunt for a serial killer who always appears to be one stop ahead of him. He will stop at nothing to catch this killer!
Woohoo! This one was off the hook. I loved this cat-and-mouse that had me rooting for all of the characters! I felt for them all. Rebecca loves her daughter and wants to keep them safe. She has devoted her life to their survival. Moonflower listens to her mother, trying her best to do as she is told, and tries not to draw attention to them. Agent Donner is a good yet flawed man who has made mistakes in his life. But make no mistake, he will not be deterred in his pursuit of justice.
Whew! This book had just about everything that I enjoy in books. There is mystery, a thrilling investigation, horrific scenes, and endearing flawed characters. I enjoyed the tension, the danger, the mounting suspense, the relationships, and the vivid descriptions.
I found this wonderfully written book to be well thought out, perfectly paced and addictive. So bloody good!
4.5 stars
***** A bloody good buddy read with Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill! Please read her fabulous review as well to get her thoughts on the book. Also please read Nikki Lee's amazing review as well. It was her review that piqued our interest and led to us wanting to read this book!
Thank you to Soho Press | Hell's Hundred and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Rebecca Carter is a single mother who will stop at nothing to keep her daughter, Moonflower safe. They are on the run and do their best to not draw attention to themselves. They do not want to be remembered, they just want to survive and stay safe. They have a HUGE secret and need to keep under the radar.
Special Agent Marc Donner of the FBI has been on the hunt for a serial killer who always appears to be one stop ahead of him. He will stop at nothing to catch this killer!
Woohoo! This one was off the hook. I loved this cat-and-mouse that had me rooting for all of the characters! I felt for them all. Rebecca loves her daughter and wants to keep them safe. She has devoted her life to their survival. Moonflower listens to her mother, trying her best to do as she is told, and tries not to draw attention to them. Agent Donner is a good yet flawed man who has made mistakes in his life. But make no mistake, he will not be deterred in his pursuit of justice.
Whew! This book had just about everything that I enjoy in books. There is mystery, a thrilling investigation, horrific scenes, and endearing flawed characters. I enjoyed the tension, the danger, the mounting suspense, the relationships, and the vivid descriptions.
I found this wonderfully written book to be well thought out, perfectly paced and addictive. So bloody good!
4.5 stars
***** A bloody good buddy read with Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill! Please read her fabulous review as well to get her thoughts on the book. Also please read Nikki Lee's amazing review as well. It was her review that piqued our interest and led to us wanting to read this book!
Thank you to Soho Press | Hell's Hundred and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
August 10, 2023
Wow, just WOW. I've waited a long time for a crime novel to do something different, to keep me guessing, to blow me away - this is that book. I suspect that this is one of those books, like Behind Her Eyes, where it's best if you come to it with no preconceptions, so I'm not going to say too much. But if you think this is 'just another woman and daughter on the run novel' then you would be very, very wrong.
I lived and breathed every second and flew through the pages - desperate to keep reading but not wanting it to end. Wholly original and utterly compelling, this is an incredibly tense book that is also full of regret, guilt and love. Blood Like Mine will grip you from the first page and keep you prisoner until you turn the last page. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to see what Stuart Neville writes next (hopefully, a sequel to this).
Once in a blue moon I read an advance review copy of of a book and think, 'This book will be huge.' I thought that about The Couple Next Door, The Chalk Man, Eleanor Oliphant, Behind Her Eyes and I Let You Go - and I was right about all of them. If there's any justice in publishing this book will be a massive hit too.
PS. This would make the most amazing TV series. As I read it I could SEE the scenes play out in my mind.
I lived and breathed every second and flew through the pages - desperate to keep reading but not wanting it to end. Wholly original and utterly compelling, this is an incredibly tense book that is also full of regret, guilt and love. Blood Like Mine will grip you from the first page and keep you prisoner until you turn the last page. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to see what Stuart Neville writes next (hopefully, a sequel to this).
Once in a blue moon I read an advance review copy of of a book and think, 'This book will be huge.' I thought that about The Couple Next Door, The Chalk Man, Eleanor Oliphant, Behind Her Eyes and I Let You Go - and I was right about all of them. If there's any justice in publishing this book will be a massive hit too.
PS. This would make the most amazing TV series. As I read it I could SEE the scenes play out in my mind.
July 21, 2024
2.5 Stars
This was a pretty standard action packed thriller. It was an easy pageturner but it didn't provide much new or interesting twists. I would only recommend to readers looking for this kind of tropey narrative.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was a pretty standard action packed thriller. It was an easy pageturner but it didn't provide much new or interesting twists. I would only recommend to readers looking for this kind of tropey narrative.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
February 25, 2025
Blood like mine is the kind of story that creeps up on you. Page after page is filled with tension and the tension is only getting worse towards the end.
When we meet Rebecca Carter and her teenage daughter Moonflower (originally Monica) they are travelling in an old van. They have no home, no money, no family, nothing. They have each other and that must be enough. It must, because Rebecca and Moonflower are on the run and they are hiding a terrible secret.
Marc Donner works for the FBI and he’s searching for a killer. A killer who leaves dead men in shallow graves in the woods – and now Marc suspects the killer has a certain method that also leaves dead animals in his wake.
The two stories come together pretty soon in the book and now the readers get more clues about what this is all about. Very important is the fact that Rebecca is a great mother to Moonflower, and she would defend her with her life should she ever be found. But Rebecca and Moonflower also start to realize that this life cannot go on forever. The have a certain craving and they need to fulfil that sooner or later.
Marc Donner will do anything to stop the killer because by the time he gets more insight in the case, already dozens of dead men were found almost over half the country. And as one day Rebecca is caught stealing something she desperately needs, the hunt is on. Literally.
This is horror as horror should be! Its creepy and dark and the characters are great. And just as you think you’ve seen it all, there is that incredible ending.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for this review copy.
When we meet Rebecca Carter and her teenage daughter Moonflower (originally Monica) they are travelling in an old van. They have no home, no money, no family, nothing. They have each other and that must be enough. It must, because Rebecca and Moonflower are on the run and they are hiding a terrible secret.
Marc Donner works for the FBI and he’s searching for a killer. A killer who leaves dead men in shallow graves in the woods – and now Marc suspects the killer has a certain method that also leaves dead animals in his wake.
The two stories come together pretty soon in the book and now the readers get more clues about what this is all about. Very important is the fact that Rebecca is a great mother to Moonflower, and she would defend her with her life should she ever be found. But Rebecca and Moonflower also start to realize that this life cannot go on forever. The have a certain craving and they need to fulfil that sooner or later.
Marc Donner will do anything to stop the killer because by the time he gets more insight in the case, already dozens of dead men were found almost over half the country. And as one day Rebecca is caught stealing something she desperately needs, the hunt is on. Literally.
This is horror as horror should be! Its creepy and dark and the characters are great. And just as you think you’ve seen it all, there is that incredible ending.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for this review copy.
February 13, 2025
A mother/daughter pair are constantly on the run. The mother wants to protect her daughter at all costs. But, unfortunately, the daughter gets hungry.
The story of what caused the daughter’s hunger is dribbled out very slowly, in the form of letters written by the mother to her daughter. Because dead bodies keep turning up, the FBI is on the case, especially one agent with a problematic family life. It’s obvious what is going on from the beginning of the book, but in case there is someone who hasn’t read a thriller in the last century so can’t figure it out, I’ll put a spoiler tag in the rest of the review.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
The story of what caused the daughter’s hunger is dribbled out very slowly, in the form of letters written by the mother to her daughter. Because dead bodies keep turning up, the FBI is on the case, especially one agent with a problematic family life. It’s obvious what is going on from the beginning of the book, but in case there is someone who hasn’t read a thriller in the last century so can’t figure it out, I’ll put a spoiler tag in the rest of the review.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
January 28, 2025
I never would've picked this up had it not been a GCA nominee. I almost didn't read it because I think the cover is ugly & it looks like a book that an old man would randomly pick up at an airport.
but let this be a lesson for those who judge books by their covers because wow this is going on my most surprising of 2025.
also I looked up what moonflowers symbolize and it ALL MADE SENSE as to why that's the daughter's nickname.
this was so hard to put down! I haven't wanted to stay up late for a book in a while.
I was near tears by the end because I was so invested in these characters without even realizing it.
I would love to see an adaptation of this!
but let this be a lesson for those who judge books by their covers because wow this is going on my most surprising of 2025.
also I looked up what moonflowers symbolize and it ALL MADE SENSE as to why that's the daughter's nickname.
this was so hard to put down! I haven't wanted to stay up late for a book in a while.
I was near tears by the end because I was so invested in these characters without even realizing it.
I would love to see an adaptation of this!
December 13, 2024
Blood Like Mine
By Stuart Neville
This started out like a regular serial killer mystery, then slowly added hints of things supernatural. That's when I got excited! I loved how it presented the clues and the bond between mother and daughter. 💕 No, it's not a vampire story, and I am not going to spoil it for the next reader! Very suspenseful and entertaining! Love the ending!
By Stuart Neville
This started out like a regular serial killer mystery, then slowly added hints of things supernatural. That's when I got excited! I loved how it presented the clues and the bond between mother and daughter. 💕 No, it's not a vampire story, and I am not going to spoil it for the next reader! Very suspenseful and entertaining! Love the ending!
October 28, 2024
This was terrible and hokey. This shouldn’t have been written, but if it had to be, then it needed to be well over 100 pages shorter. It was definitely not a cat and mouse, fast-paced thriller, like all the top reviews claim (I’m assuming they all got free copies) but a really boring book for the first half. I can’t even call it a slow burn. And then at the halfway point the twist is revealed and I’m like are you kidding me?!
I generally always look at all the genres the book is claimed under on Goodreads, but somehow I missed this so spoilers ahead if you plan to read this, but the genre said vampire, so why was it only revealed halfway through that the child is actually a vampire. Which again is fine if I’m reading a book that we assume vampires are real, and I do enjoy those, but for like a real mystery thriller set in the real world and you want me to believe vampires are real then the book lost all credibility & it got ridiculous.
Again, all the top reviews are saying how they were rooting for every single character and I’m like huh? Did you read the same book? I literally didn’t like a single one of them. And I’m so tired of reading books where the parents would literally burn the entire world down to save their kid.
Also, the beginning of the book the mom is constantly saying how they can’t bring attention to themselves, but literally every single thing she does brings attention to them like all the characters were infuriating and full of contradictions, so just poorly written.
I could go on, but I need to stop so I never think about how dumb this book was.
I generally always look at all the genres the book is claimed under on Goodreads, but somehow I missed this so spoilers ahead if you plan to read this, but the genre said vampire, so why was it only revealed halfway through that the child is actually a vampire. Which again is fine if I’m reading a book that we assume vampires are real, and I do enjoy those, but for like a real mystery thriller set in the real world and you want me to believe vampires are real then the book lost all credibility & it got ridiculous.
Again, all the top reviews are saying how they were rooting for every single character and I’m like huh? Did you read the same book? I literally didn’t like a single one of them. And I’m so tired of reading books where the parents would literally burn the entire world down to save their kid.
Also, the beginning of the book the mom is constantly saying how they can’t bring attention to themselves, but literally every single thing she does brings attention to them like all the characters were infuriating and full of contradictions, so just poorly written.
I could go on, but I need to stop so I never think about how dumb this book was.
June 2, 2025
3.5 stars
A game of insane cat vs. monster mouse ensues as an FBI agent chases down a mother and daughter with a grisly and bizarre secret.
All the characters are flawed, and I was interested in them. It’s clear from the outset there can be no real winner here but regardless, I rooted for Rebecca and Moonflower. At its heart this is a story about the lengths one will go to save themselves or the one they love. What is clear at the beginning may not be so by the end.
I didn’t like this one quite as much as Night's Edge, which had a similarly themed mother-daughter relationship at its core but focused more on the gradually increasing emotional burden of the dysfunctional relationship between the two rather than introducing a independent character going through their own personal train wreck.
She is human. This is the first and last rule because it is the truth. She is Monica Carter my daughter, my Moonflower, and she is first last, and always a human being.
A game of insane cat vs. monster mouse ensues as an FBI agent chases down a mother and daughter with a grisly and bizarre secret.
All the characters are flawed, and I was interested in them. It’s clear from the outset there can be no real winner here but regardless, I rooted for Rebecca and Moonflower. At its heart this is a story about the lengths one will go to save themselves or the one they love. What is clear at the beginning may not be so by the end.
I didn’t like this one quite as much as Night's Edge, which had a similarly themed mother-daughter relationship at its core but focused more on the gradually increasing emotional burden of the dysfunctional relationship between the two rather than introducing a independent character going through their own personal train wreck.
She is human. This is the first and last rule because it is the truth. She is Monica Carter my daughter, my Moonflower, and she is first last, and always a human being.
March 4, 2025
First of all, every person I’ve seen reviewing this book saying it's a vampire/werewolf story owes me financial compensation because how are you going to just spoil the whole thing!?!?
Blood Like Mine follows Rebecca and her daughter Monica, aka Moonflower. The two are on the run for a reason unknown to the reader. At the same time, we are following Special Agent Donner who is investigating a string of murders. All of the victims have prior charges of sexual abuse against minors, all have been killed in a similar way, and all of the bodies have been found in similar locations, leading law enforcement to believe there is a serial killer at large.
This had a solid blend of bloody horror and compelling crime elements that keep the reader engaged, while also being emotionally invested in the mother/daughter relationship.
I would recommend this though it didn’t do anything special for me. The story did just what I thought it would and there was nothing unexpected (though I guess I did get accidentally spoiled for a reveal).
Blood Like Mine follows Rebecca and her daughter Monica, aka Moonflower. The two are on the run for a reason unknown to the reader. At the same time, we are following Special Agent Donner who is investigating a string of murders. All of the victims have prior charges of sexual abuse against minors, all have been killed in a similar way, and all of the bodies have been found in similar locations, leading law enforcement to believe there is a serial killer at large.
This had a solid blend of bloody horror and compelling crime elements that keep the reader engaged, while also being emotionally invested in the mother/daughter relationship.
I would recommend this though it didn’t do anything special for me. The story did just what I thought it would and there was nothing unexpected (though I guess I did get accidentally spoiled for a reveal).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2024
I think I’ve realised that I’m not a fan of cat and mouse thrillers. The premise of this was great, I wish we didn’t have the detectives POV as much. The characters felt very under developed.
September 6, 2024
Excellent narration. No issues there with listening at faster speed. Male/female voice for each character so easy to follow.
Cat and mouse type story between FBI agent Donner and mother/daughter duo with a secret. Great mystery storyline and unwrapped well. Could relate to the characters even though they all had unlikeable qualities. Lots of explicit language throughout, just unnecessary and takes from the quality of the writing. No major gasp moments from me but some nice twists along the way.
Thanks to netgalley and recorded books for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Cat and mouse type story between FBI agent Donner and mother/daughter duo with a secret. Great mystery storyline and unwrapped well. Could relate to the characters even though they all had unlikeable qualities. Lots of explicit language throughout, just unnecessary and takes from the quality of the writing. No major gasp moments from me but some nice twists along the way.
Thanks to netgalley and recorded books for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 6, 2024
I don’t know how to describe this one, aside from a dark mix of X Files meets Dexter, all while showcasing a mother’s love towards her daughter. This audiobook did a perfect job of building suspense while keeping you in the dark. I went in blind and I recommend you do too- and with an open mind! This one does venture on the “realm of normal”, but in such a satisfying way. Do yourself a favor and listen to the audiobook- the narration was on point!
Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!!!
#netgalley #arc #rbmedia #fivestarread #pubdaybooks #stuartnevilleauthor
Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!!!
#netgalley #arc #rbmedia #fivestarread #pubdaybooks #stuartnevilleauthor
September 5, 2024
The relationship between the mother and daughter is powerful and carries the plot. Who wouldn’t want a mother like Rebecca? This book is fast paced and continues to ratchet up the suspense until the explosive ending. This made me question myself rooting for a vampire! The character development was strong and left you with clear and distinct images of the separate characters. As far as timeline, you learn of the past through a series of letters from mother to daughter. It was well done and carried the plot forward. I’m dying to know what happens next and would love a second part to this book! Highly recommend.
Also, huge shoutout to Netgally for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review..
Also, huge shoutout to Netgally for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review..
January 20, 2025
IN A NUTSHELL
'Blood Like Mine' was a gripping story, cleverly told, that combined a serial killer narrative with a horror narrative and gave both a few twists while delivering an emotional story about the love between a mother and her daughter. It was a story that kept surprising me without making me feel that the narrative was doing gymnastics.
Blood Like Mine’ (2024) came as a complete surprise to me. I liked the cover and picked it up as something for my wife and I to listen to on a long car drive. It was so compelling that we kept listening to it after the drive was over. We were wrapped up in the people and we needed to know how the story ended.
I think this is a story that it’s best to go into blind, knowing only that it’s a powerful blend of crime thriller and horror novel, with a strong focus on the personalities of the people involved. The relationship between the fugitive mother and daughter is close, complex and convincing. The FBI man pursuing them is self-destructive and hard to like.
The plot uses familiar tropes from the serial killer and horror genres but makes them feel fresh by changing who I cheered for (HINT - it wasn’t the FBI guy). The plot didn’t go where I thought it would, even after I’d fully understood the situation that the mother and daughter were in. It kept me on the edge of my seat to the last page.
Perhaps what surprised me most about it was how engaged I became with the mother and daughter as I learned more about them and what they'd been through.
If you're looking for a genre read with a difference then I recommend listening to the audiobook of 'Blood Like Mine' narrated by Elizabeth Rodgers and Michael Braun. It will be ten hours well spent.
'Blood Like Mine' was a gripping story, cleverly told, that combined a serial killer narrative with a horror narrative and gave both a few twists while delivering an emotional story about the love between a mother and her daughter. It was a story that kept surprising me without making me feel that the narrative was doing gymnastics.
Blood Like Mine’ (2024) came as a complete surprise to me. I liked the cover and picked it up as something for my wife and I to listen to on a long car drive. It was so compelling that we kept listening to it after the drive was over. We were wrapped up in the people and we needed to know how the story ended.
I think this is a story that it’s best to go into blind, knowing only that it’s a powerful blend of crime thriller and horror novel, with a strong focus on the personalities of the people involved. The relationship between the fugitive mother and daughter is close, complex and convincing. The FBI man pursuing them is self-destructive and hard to like.
The plot uses familiar tropes from the serial killer and horror genres but makes them feel fresh by changing who I cheered for (HINT - it wasn’t the FBI guy). The plot didn’t go where I thought it would, even after I’d fully understood the situation that the mother and daughter were in. It kept me on the edge of my seat to the last page.
Perhaps what surprised me most about it was how engaged I became with the mother and daughter as I learned more about them and what they'd been through.
If you're looking for a genre read with a difference then I recommend listening to the audiobook of 'Blood Like Mine' narrated by Elizabeth Rodgers and Michael Braun. It will be ten hours well spent.
July 27, 2024
Required 2024 reading for horror fans.
Blood Like Mine is a thoughtfully executed detective/crime horror. I’m obsessed with this book and the direction it took. If I wasn’t in the mood for spooky season before, I definitely am now.
Rebecca and her daughter, Monica "Moonflower", are on the run and Rebeca will do anything to protect her daughter. Marc Donner of the FBI has been hunting a relentless, unforgiving serial killer for years. When another body is found in the foothills of Colorado, he can feel himself getting close. In this novel, readers stand witness to one seriously tense cat and mouse chase. It’s bloody, it’s gritty, and once things ramp up (and boy do they) so will your heart rate.
I don’t know what to say to give justice to this book which is generally when I know I really loved a book because when I do, my critical mind turns off and I completely lose myself in the story and come out on the other end with no comments. I guess that says everything that it needs to. I’m going to be thinking about this book for a long time. The ending wraps everything up nicely but there could also be room for a sequel so who knows!
Delightful narration by Michael Braun and Elisabeth Rodgers. Even though this entire story is in third-person narrative, I appreciated the change of narrator to represent the different characters.
Thank you RBmedia and NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review! Available 08/06/2024!
Blood Like Mine is a thoughtfully executed detective/crime horror. I’m obsessed with this book and the direction it took. If I wasn’t in the mood for spooky season before, I definitely am now.
Rebecca and her daughter, Monica "Moonflower", are on the run and Rebeca will do anything to protect her daughter. Marc Donner of the FBI has been hunting a relentless, unforgiving serial killer for years. When another body is found in the foothills of Colorado, he can feel himself getting close. In this novel, readers stand witness to one seriously tense cat and mouse chase. It’s bloody, it’s gritty, and once things ramp up (and boy do they) so will your heart rate.
I don’t know what to say to give justice to this book which is generally when I know I really loved a book because when I do, my critical mind turns off and I completely lose myself in the story and come out on the other end with no comments. I guess that says everything that it needs to. I’m going to be thinking about this book for a long time. The ending wraps everything up nicely but there could also be room for a sequel so who knows!
Delightful narration by Michael Braun and Elisabeth Rodgers. Even though this entire story is in third-person narrative, I appreciated the change of narrator to represent the different characters.
Thank you RBmedia and NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review! Available 08/06/2024!
March 5, 2025
Normally I hate anything with even a tiny detective element but this was sooo good oh my god
March 2, 2025
This book was absolutely fantastic and I don’t know why it has such mediocre reviews.
This book is very similar to the vampire movie Let Me In based off the book Let The Right One In, which I’ve never read but you bet your sweet ass I’m about to go on a vampire binge after reading this.
Like “Let Me In”, the word Vampire is never used nor Blood-sucker or anything like it. It’s treated as a human with horrific condition which I kind of liked. Also they aren’t romantic or sexy and don’t glitter. They’re just trying to survive the parasite they’ve been infected with.
This book is basically a crime novel with a vampire twist. An FBI agent is tracking a bunch of murders with their throat cuts across America. Only thing they have in common is that they’re all child predators.
Rebecca is trying to escape the law with her child but also trying to keep her fed so her sickness doesn’t come to surface.
The character work of Rebecca, Moonflower, and Agent Donner was top tier and I loved every single word of this book. I was very happy to know that this is book 1 of a trilogy however you could read this as a standalone just fine.
2025 5 Star Reads in Preferential Order
The Tyranny of Faith by Richard Swan
Heart of the Mountain by Larry Correia
Once There Were Heroes by Philip C Quaintrell
Justice of Kings by Richard Swan
Blood Like Mine by Stuart Neville
In The Shadow of Kings by Philip C Quaintrell
Cello’s Gate by Maurice Africh
This book is very similar to the vampire movie Let Me In based off the book Let The Right One In, which I’ve never read but you bet your sweet ass I’m about to go on a vampire binge after reading this.
Like “Let Me In”, the word Vampire is never used nor Blood-sucker or anything like it. It’s treated as a human with horrific condition which I kind of liked. Also they aren’t romantic or sexy and don’t glitter. They’re just trying to survive the parasite they’ve been infected with.
This book is basically a crime novel with a vampire twist. An FBI agent is tracking a bunch of murders with their throat cuts across America. Only thing they have in common is that they’re all child predators.
Rebecca is trying to escape the law with her child but also trying to keep her fed so her sickness doesn’t come to surface.
The character work of Rebecca, Moonflower, and Agent Donner was top tier and I loved every single word of this book. I was very happy to know that this is book 1 of a trilogy however you could read this as a standalone just fine.
2025 5 Star Reads in Preferential Order
The Tyranny of Faith by Richard Swan
Heart of the Mountain by Larry Correia
Once There Were Heroes by Philip C Quaintrell
Justice of Kings by Richard Swan
Blood Like Mine by Stuart Neville
In The Shadow of Kings by Philip C Quaintrell
Cello’s Gate by Maurice Africh
February 6, 2024
I find reading a Stuart Neville book both exciting, exhilarating, exasperating and frightening. His characters don’t appear to have an easy life, and this agony is laid bare on the printed page and I felt every word. I must also mention, at this stage, the dazzling DCI Serena Flanagan books, and Neville’s portrayal of life on the edge with Serena balancing home and work and not always successfully. However I hear you say, and quite rightly so, we are here to discuss and review the author’s latest work of angst: Blood like Mine. My goodness this is a 400 page work of some brilliance, as Stuart aptly and expertly balances a police thriller with horror undertones that becomes evident after a number of chapters.
Rebecca Carter and her daughter Monica, known as Moonflower, are on the run throughout the United States from what or whom gradually becomes clear. We learn that Rebecca will do anything to keep Moonflower safe including killing or sacrificing herself. Meanwhile special agent Marc Donner has spent the last 2 years trying to identify and apprehend a serial killer who strikes with regularity and leaves no trace or clues at the scene of the crime. Donner is a troubled soul, he has become obsessed with the apprehension of this individual to the detriment of the love of his wife and children.
This novel was never going to have a happy ending, as the two sets of players attempt to achieve their individual goals, the tension and the pain is written across every page. I truly found it hard to put this book down, Stuart Neville had me hooked from page one. I hoped that mother and daughter would be safe but as the chapters flew by I began to doubt. Donner, a cop with a mission, was on a self-destruct course and only he had the power to turn this around for surely the love of his wife and young children would prove more important…or would it?
If you are going to read one thriller spiced with horror this year I heartily recommend Blood Like Mine, It is a brilliant, addictive read from one of Northern Ireland’s finest authors.
Rebecca Carter and her daughter Monica, known as Moonflower, are on the run throughout the United States from what or whom gradually becomes clear. We learn that Rebecca will do anything to keep Moonflower safe including killing or sacrificing herself. Meanwhile special agent Marc Donner has spent the last 2 years trying to identify and apprehend a serial killer who strikes with regularity and leaves no trace or clues at the scene of the crime. Donner is a troubled soul, he has become obsessed with the apprehension of this individual to the detriment of the love of his wife and children.
This novel was never going to have a happy ending, as the two sets of players attempt to achieve their individual goals, the tension and the pain is written across every page. I truly found it hard to put this book down, Stuart Neville had me hooked from page one. I hoped that mother and daughter would be safe but as the chapters flew by I began to doubt. Donner, a cop with a mission, was on a self-destruct course and only he had the power to turn this around for surely the love of his wife and young children would prove more important…or would it?
If you are going to read one thriller spiced with horror this year I heartily recommend Blood Like Mine, It is a brilliant, addictive read from one of Northern Ireland’s finest authors.
September 3, 2024
Blood Like Mine by Stuart Neville
I wasn’t sure where this book was going until suddenly, I did and it was terrifying.
Rebecca and Moonchild are running from something. They have to remain hidden but what they are running from is breathing down their necks and the danger is too close.
This was a really fabulous twist on a vampire tale. Rebecca isn’t coping. They are both living out of their van and they are being hunted. Staying one step ahead on no money is taking its toll.
It’s split between 2 POV, Rebeccas and Special Agent Donner. It wasn’t fast paced enough for me but the story was entertaining enough that it kept me engaged. I loved the vampire lore and it was a really well done horror/thriller.
4 stars
I wasn’t sure where this book was going until suddenly, I did and it was terrifying.
Rebecca and Moonchild are running from something. They have to remain hidden but what they are running from is breathing down their necks and the danger is too close.
This was a really fabulous twist on a vampire tale. Rebecca isn’t coping. They are both living out of their van and they are being hunted. Staying one step ahead on no money is taking its toll.
It’s split between 2 POV, Rebeccas and Special Agent Donner. It wasn’t fast paced enough for me but the story was entertaining enough that it kept me engaged. I loved the vampire lore and it was a really well done horror/thriller.
4 stars
March 8, 2025
This is my first time reading anything by Stuart Neville, but it won’t be the last.
Rebecca and her daughter Moonflower have been on the run for a long time, but an FBI agent is now on their trail and he’s determined to find them no matter the consequences. He knows that there’s more to the trail of animal corpses and murdered men that he’s been tracking.
More than a cat and mouse detective story, and definitely more than the usual tired vampire/ werewolf tropes. Bring on the sequel!!
Rebecca and her daughter Moonflower have been on the run for a long time, but an FBI agent is now on their trail and he’s determined to find them no matter the consequences. He knows that there’s more to the trail of animal corpses and murdered men that he’s been tracking.
More than a cat and mouse detective story, and definitely more than the usual tired vampire/ werewolf tropes. Bring on the sequel!!
August 10, 2024
TW/CW: Language, abortion mention, teenage pregnancy, covid mention, drinking, smoking, death by suicide, child abuse, toxic relationships
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
On a snowy December night, single mother Rebecca Carter drives her van into a snowbank to avoid hitting an elk on a desolate mountain highway. She is at the end of her rope, out of money and food. Still, she refuses help from a man in a pickup truck—Rebecca’s adolescent daughter, Moonflower, is on the run from a grisly secret, and the last thing they can afford is to be remembered by anyone they meet.
Meanwhile, Special Agent Marc Donner of the FBI has spent the better part of two years hunting down a gruesome serial killer who drains victims of blood before severing their spinal cords, leaving a trail of bodies throughout the American West. As Agent Donner’s investigation brings him closer and closer to where Rebecca and Moonflower are hiding out, in the foothills of Colorado, the life that Rebecca has fought so hard to hold together for her daughter becomes increasingly imperilled.
Release Date: August 6th, 2024
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 384
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Writing
2. Atmospheric
3. Characters written well
4. Loved twist of Moonflower being a powerful being
What I Didn't Like:
1. 1,000 times that Moonflower says she's hungry
2. I hated the characters
3. Repetitive at times
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Omg they tried to pay Rebecca off so she wouldn't try to do anything for child support or claim her child as his.
Moonflower is a vampire and is the one that has been killing men that are trying to sexually abuse girls.
Weird letter to write to your 8 year old daughter for the future. Wr
I was so annoyed that Rebecca forces herself to stay at guffrie's house. I get that he was pretty much trying to sleep with Rebecca in the beginning but after she explained she wasn't interested he pretty much backed off. So then Rebecca acts like she can't trust him because he pulled a gun on her because he was asking her to leave. She's eating all this food her daughter's eating all the bloody has and then she's frustrated because he wants her to leave his house.
Wow and I guess it just ends like that.
Ending of Rebecca denying Moonflower to make her immortal remind me if the ending of Midnight Mass.
Final Thoughts:
This book reminded me of an opposite version of Night's Edge.
If you have ever been annoyed at how a parent thinks they are allowed to have whatever they want then Rebecca's actions will annoy you to no end.
I think I liked this book more in the beginning than at the end. For me it felt at times fair repetitive we were always just trying to get moonflower food and we would just cycle through that. Add in the detective following them constantly and him raving and talking about trying to find the person and it all just felt like we were repeating the same scenes over and over again.
I enjoyed the writing style and I feel like the author did a good job at making things atmospheric as well as making the characters more alive. I unfortunately did not like the characters. Rebecca was insane. Moonflower was absolutely annoying. The detective seems like he had no personality other than finding this killer so much so that he lost his family, so that felt like his only personality trait.
I did like the twist that Moonflower was something bordering on a dog/ werewolf I suppose.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Hell's Hundred for the ebook copy and Recorded Books for the audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
On a snowy December night, single mother Rebecca Carter drives her van into a snowbank to avoid hitting an elk on a desolate mountain highway. She is at the end of her rope, out of money and food. Still, she refuses help from a man in a pickup truck—Rebecca’s adolescent daughter, Moonflower, is on the run from a grisly secret, and the last thing they can afford is to be remembered by anyone they meet.
Meanwhile, Special Agent Marc Donner of the FBI has spent the better part of two years hunting down a gruesome serial killer who drains victims of blood before severing their spinal cords, leaving a trail of bodies throughout the American West. As Agent Donner’s investigation brings him closer and closer to where Rebecca and Moonflower are hiding out, in the foothills of Colorado, the life that Rebecca has fought so hard to hold together for her daughter becomes increasingly imperilled.
Release Date: August 6th, 2024
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 384
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Writing
2. Atmospheric
3. Characters written well
4. Loved twist of Moonflower being a powerful being
What I Didn't Like:
1. 1,000 times that Moonflower says she's hungry
2. I hated the characters
3. Repetitive at times
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Omg they tried to pay Rebecca off so she wouldn't try to do anything for child support or claim her child as his.
Moonflower is a vampire and is the one that has been killing men that are trying to sexually abuse girls.
Weird letter to write to your 8 year old daughter for the future. Wr
I was so annoyed that Rebecca forces herself to stay at guffrie's house. I get that he was pretty much trying to sleep with Rebecca in the beginning but after she explained she wasn't interested he pretty much backed off. So then Rebecca acts like she can't trust him because he pulled a gun on her because he was asking her to leave. She's eating all this food her daughter's eating all the bloody has and then she's frustrated because he wants her to leave his house.
Wow and I guess it just ends like that.
Ending of Rebecca denying Moonflower to make her immortal remind me if the ending of Midnight Mass.
Final Thoughts:
This book reminded me of an opposite version of Night's Edge.
If you have ever been annoyed at how a parent thinks they are allowed to have whatever they want then Rebecca's actions will annoy you to no end.
I think I liked this book more in the beginning than at the end. For me it felt at times fair repetitive we were always just trying to get moonflower food and we would just cycle through that. Add in the detective following them constantly and him raving and talking about trying to find the person and it all just felt like we were repeating the same scenes over and over again.
I enjoyed the writing style and I feel like the author did a good job at making things atmospheric as well as making the characters more alive. I unfortunately did not like the characters. Rebecca was insane. Moonflower was absolutely annoying. The detective seems like he had no personality other than finding this killer so much so that he lost his family, so that felt like his only personality trait.
I did like the twist that Moonflower was something bordering on a dog/ werewolf I suppose.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Hell's Hundred for the ebook copy and Recorded Books for the audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 6, 2024
Alright alright, I'm not a fan of this trope, but we can equally co-exist together. I would say this is more of a 4.5 rather than 5 star read.
I enjoyed it every bit of it until we find out what's going on then I was mad/annoyed.
It was still carried out really well and I thoroughly enjoyed it, (despite gritting my teeth and being angry about the trope, I must repeat we can co-exist together! (That's more for me, than you😂))
I enjoyed it every bit of it until we find out what's going on then I was mad/annoyed.
It was still carried out really well and I thoroughly enjoyed it, (despite gritting my teeth and being angry about the trope, I must repeat we can co-exist together! (That's more for me, than you😂))
January 22, 2025
I just finished reading this book and I absolutely loved it!! The author did a great job in shaping the characters and story line, and the narrative just flowed so easily. There are also some secrets that are revealed throughout the story, and the final ending (title chapter called "The Beginning") was really creepy and cool.
The story takes place throughout the American west, primarily in Arizona, Texas and Colorado. We follow a mother, Rebecca Carter, and her teenage daughter, Moonflower, as they travel across the country. Moonflower has a strange illness that leaves her eternally hungry...for blood. FBI agent Marc Donner is hot on their trail but has no idea what he's in for. He makes a lot of idiotic choices (at least in my opinion) and I was not surprised where he ended up.
There's a flashback part of the story where we see Rebecca as a 16 year-old, pregnant with a young rich kid's baby. We see the rich kid's father come to the house, and offer Rebecca's father a check to never talk to or see them ever again. Her father does not respond the way you would think, and Rebecca is delighted.
She has the baby and names her Monica. They do okay for a while, then Monica gets lost in the woods. Rebecca finds her, and she comforts her daughter as she lays dying in her arms. Then, the next night, her daughter returns but is "different". Eventually, they leave their home and are moving from place to place trying to satiate the hunger. They meet someone who had a similar situation with his mother, and Moonflower learns there are several others like her.
I just loved this book, the storyline, the characters...I felt like I was right there in the story. I want to thank the author, the publisher, Netgalley, and Edelweiss+ for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.
The story takes place throughout the American west, primarily in Arizona, Texas and Colorado. We follow a mother, Rebecca Carter, and her teenage daughter, Moonflower, as they travel across the country. Moonflower has a strange illness that leaves her eternally hungry...for blood. FBI agent Marc Donner is hot on their trail but has no idea what he's in for. He makes a lot of idiotic choices (at least in my opinion) and I was not surprised where he ended up.
There's a flashback part of the story where we see Rebecca as a 16 year-old, pregnant with a young rich kid's baby. We see the rich kid's father come to the house, and offer Rebecca's father a check to never talk to or see them ever again. Her father does not respond the way you would think, and Rebecca is delighted.
She has the baby and names her Monica. They do okay for a while, then Monica gets lost in the woods. Rebecca finds her, and she comforts her daughter as she lays dying in her arms. Then, the next night, her daughter returns but is "different". Eventually, they leave their home and are moving from place to place trying to satiate the hunger. They meet someone who had a similar situation with his mother, and Moonflower learns there are several others like her.
I just loved this book, the storyline, the characters...I felt like I was right there in the story. I want to thank the author, the publisher, Netgalley, and Edelweiss+ for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.
August 12, 2024
Blood: it is everywhere in Stuart Neville’s first horror novel, Blood Like Mine. It is the life force behind the decisions of Rebecca Carter whose sole purpose is to keep her daughter, Monica, alive. It is part of Marc Donner’s decisions as an FBI agent who sacrifices his family life searching for a serial killer. It is spilt and drained from the bodies of men found across the southwest states of the USA. Blood as life force, familial ties, and death.
Marc Donner is an FBI agent searching for a serial killer only he thinks exists. He has found a pattern of clues that connect the bloodless corpses found sprawled across the southwest. However, his FBI partner and colleagues don’t see it (they think he is a kook). With no support, he embarks on his own to follow leads and investigate the murders.
Rebecca Carter is on the run with her fifteen-year-old daughter, Monica. She has left behind a caring and supportive mother, a fiance, and the promise of a new career. Life is finally going her way, but now her main purpose is keeping her daughter safe, warm, and fed. They zigzag across the USA in a van, living under the radar.
This is one of the best of horror novels that I’ve read this year. It is not gory, sexist, or sadistic. The horror is the human condition. There is darkness within the main characters that motivates them to do the questionable things they do. I found this to be a very riveting literary horror novel that I highly recommend. I will be re-reading this in the future.
I would like to thank Soho Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Marc Donner is an FBI agent searching for a serial killer only he thinks exists. He has found a pattern of clues that connect the bloodless corpses found sprawled across the southwest. However, his FBI partner and colleagues don’t see it (they think he is a kook). With no support, he embarks on his own to follow leads and investigate the murders.
Rebecca Carter is on the run with her fifteen-year-old daughter, Monica. She has left behind a caring and supportive mother, a fiance, and the promise of a new career. Life is finally going her way, but now her main purpose is keeping her daughter safe, warm, and fed. They zigzag across the USA in a van, living under the radar.
This is one of the best of horror novels that I’ve read this year. It is not gory, sexist, or sadistic. The horror is the human condition. There is darkness within the main characters that motivates them to do the questionable things they do. I found this to be a very riveting literary horror novel that I highly recommend. I will be re-reading this in the future.
I would like to thank Soho Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
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