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Blood in the Valley
Old money. Buried secrets. A deadly legacy.
In Blood in the Valley, the past refuses to stay buried. When a powerful socialite collapses at a gala clutching damning evidence, Detective Harry Starke finds himself thrust into a high-stakes investigation that unravels a deadly conspiracy stretching back generations.
It begins with a whisper—“Ask about the fire of ’47”—and soon, Harry and his partner Kate Gazzara are neck-deep in a case involving Chattanooga’s most influential families, a long-forgotten industrial disaster, and a war-era mystery someone is willing to kill for.
As bodies fall and secrets surface, the façade of a century-old family feud begins to crumble. What lies beneath could shatter the city’s elite… and get Harry killed in the process.
Fans of Michael Connelly, James Lee Burke, and David Baldacci will love this gripping Southern noir.
Blood in the Valley is Book 9 in the bestselling Harry Starke Genesis series, a gritty, fast-paced prequel saga chronicling the early career of Blair Howard’s iconic detective.
In Blood in the Valley, the past refuses to stay buried. When a powerful socialite collapses at a gala clutching damning evidence, Detective Harry Starke finds himself thrust into a high-stakes investigation that unravels a deadly conspiracy stretching back generations.
It begins with a whisper—“Ask about the fire of ’47”—and soon, Harry and his partner Kate Gazzara are neck-deep in a case involving Chattanooga’s most influential families, a long-forgotten industrial disaster, and a war-era mystery someone is willing to kill for.
As bodies fall and secrets surface, the façade of a century-old family feud begins to crumble. What lies beneath could shatter the city’s elite… and get Harry killed in the process.
Fans of Michael Connelly, James Lee Burke, and David Baldacci will love this gripping Southern noir.
Blood in the Valley is Book 9 in the bestselling Harry Starke Genesis series, a gritty, fast-paced prequel saga chronicling the early career of Blair Howard’s iconic detective.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 25, 2025
About the author
Blair Howard
515 books349 followersBlair C. Howard is a Royal Air Force veteran, a retired journalist, and the best-selling author of more than 50 novels, including the international best-selling Harry Starke series, and 23 travel books. In 2021, having been fascinated by the heavens almost from childhood, and a SciFi fan for almost as long, he decided to try his hand at writing a military space opera. His first journey into this genre resulted in the Sovereign Stars series. Book 1 in the series, Avenger was quickly followed by Gods of War and Armored Fleet.
Blair lives in East Tennessee with his wife Jo, and Jack Russell Terrier, Sally.
Blair lives in East Tennessee with his wife Jo, and Jack Russell Terrier, Sally.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 8, 2025
This novel takes readers back to 2006 when a woman from a prominent Chattanooga family is killed. Harry and Kate are work and life partners and begin investigating her background and the circumstances leading to her death. The story takes them back to a fire in the 1940’s, the Nazis and two families that unbeknownst to the citizens and authorities of Chattanooga have been running a criminal “empire” for decades. It is gripping and salient,another 5 star read. Thanks to the author and publisher for an ARC for an honest review.
April 11, 2025
Blood in the Valley, Blair Howard's new Harry Starke book, takes us back to 2006 when Harry and Kate were still working together in the Chattanooga Police Department, and were together as a couple.
Harry and Kate were at an event that many of Chattanooga's power players, especially the Rawlings and the Masons. Elizabeth Rawlings was going to announce a new development project that was supposed to rehab the City's North Shore. The Rawlings and the Masons both own a large percentage of the property on the North Shore. Thomas Mason, the apparent head of the Masons clan, did not appear to be looking toward Elizabeth's announcement. Before Elizabeth could say more than five words she collapsed. Since Kate and Harry were at the front they were the first ones to get to Elizabeth. Harry was certain the Elizabeth was murdered since he smelled the aroma of bitter almonds coming from Elizabeth's breath as she spoke her last words “Ask about the fire of '47”.
One of the first things Harry and Kate discover is that Elizabeth had three meetings with a Dr. Marcus Walker, a history professor at UTC. When they go to visit the professor they find out that Elizabeth was researching the past history of both the Rawlings and the Masons. Dr. Walker telling Harry and Kate that before the “fire of '47” both families were close friends but after the fire the was an apparent feud between the families than continued to this day. Further into the investigation it appears that each time the families feud always seemed to hit headlines was when one family was trying to obtain a piece of property that the other family owned.
The “fire of'47” was when a mill, that was part of a profitable partnership between the two families, was burned down. The fire seemed to have started the feud. Dr. Walker was told by Elizabeth that the fire was in fact a manufactured start of the feud and was actually started by both families. The further the investigation proceeded the more it looked like Elizabeth was correct. It appears to the team that smuggling seemed to be the purpose of the “fire of'47” and that it was highly probable that the smuggling has continued up to the present day. In order to solve the murder of Elizabeth Harry and Kate must solve the truth about the feud and what could still being smuggled to this day.
Another great read from Blair Howard, an enjoyable look back of before Harry started Starke Investigations and Kate became one of Chattanooga's finest police officers.
Harry and Kate were at an event that many of Chattanooga's power players, especially the Rawlings and the Masons. Elizabeth Rawlings was going to announce a new development project that was supposed to rehab the City's North Shore. The Rawlings and the Masons both own a large percentage of the property on the North Shore. Thomas Mason, the apparent head of the Masons clan, did not appear to be looking toward Elizabeth's announcement. Before Elizabeth could say more than five words she collapsed. Since Kate and Harry were at the front they were the first ones to get to Elizabeth. Harry was certain the Elizabeth was murdered since he smelled the aroma of bitter almonds coming from Elizabeth's breath as she spoke her last words “Ask about the fire of '47”.
One of the first things Harry and Kate discover is that Elizabeth had three meetings with a Dr. Marcus Walker, a history professor at UTC. When they go to visit the professor they find out that Elizabeth was researching the past history of both the Rawlings and the Masons. Dr. Walker telling Harry and Kate that before the “fire of '47” both families were close friends but after the fire the was an apparent feud between the families than continued to this day. Further into the investigation it appears that each time the families feud always seemed to hit headlines was when one family was trying to obtain a piece of property that the other family owned.
The “fire of'47” was when a mill, that was part of a profitable partnership between the two families, was burned down. The fire seemed to have started the feud. Dr. Walker was told by Elizabeth that the fire was in fact a manufactured start of the feud and was actually started by both families. The further the investigation proceeded the more it looked like Elizabeth was correct. It appears to the team that smuggling seemed to be the purpose of the “fire of'47” and that it was highly probable that the smuggling has continued up to the present day. In order to solve the murder of Elizabeth Harry and Kate must solve the truth about the feud and what could still being smuggled to this day.
Another great read from Blair Howard, an enjoyable look back of before Harry started Starke Investigations and Kate became one of Chattanooga's finest police officers.
April 20, 2025
Another triumph for Blair Howard, looking back to 2006 when Sgt. Harry Starke and Sgt. Kate Gazzara were partners at the Chattanooga PD and partners in life.
When Elizabeth Rawlings collapsed and died just as she was about to make her speech at a function that Harry and Kate were attending, her last words to her friend Harry before she died were "Ask about the fire of 47"...........and ask Harry did, this led to one of the most complex and far reaching cases of his career.
Elizabeth was about to reveal information that would turn the elite of Chattanooga on their heads, that was before she was silenced, the powerful Mason family and the equally powerful Rawlings family both owned swathes of land along the coast, they had been firm friends until a disastrous Mill fire in 1947 when a multigenerational feud started.
Elizabeth's moral compass had set her on the road to painstakingly researching the well documented feud, she left no stone unturned, she dotted the Is and crossed the Ts ,with the assistance of Marcus Walker, history professor at UTC and his archivist daughter, Sarah.
Marcus and Sarah were to be a great help to Harry and Kate as they investigated the murder of Elizabeth but what this led to neither of them could have imagined.
This story has more twists and turns than a corkscrew, it covers a network of underground tunnels, each with their own secrets, Nazi collaboration, stollen gold and precious artifacts, smuggling on a grand scale. As the body count escalates, Harry and Kate have time and police corruption against them, this is a David and Goliath situation, can David win ?
This book was unputdownable (is that a word ? in not it should be)
Thank you to the author for this ARC, my review is totally my own.
When Elizabeth Rawlings collapsed and died just as she was about to make her speech at a function that Harry and Kate were attending, her last words to her friend Harry before she died were "Ask about the fire of 47"...........and ask Harry did, this led to one of the most complex and far reaching cases of his career.
Elizabeth was about to reveal information that would turn the elite of Chattanooga on their heads, that was before she was silenced, the powerful Mason family and the equally powerful Rawlings family both owned swathes of land along the coast, they had been firm friends until a disastrous Mill fire in 1947 when a multigenerational feud started.
Elizabeth's moral compass had set her on the road to painstakingly researching the well documented feud, she left no stone unturned, she dotted the Is and crossed the Ts ,with the assistance of Marcus Walker, history professor at UTC and his archivist daughter, Sarah.
Marcus and Sarah were to be a great help to Harry and Kate as they investigated the murder of Elizabeth but what this led to neither of them could have imagined.
This story has more twists and turns than a corkscrew, it covers a network of underground tunnels, each with their own secrets, Nazi collaboration, stollen gold and precious artifacts, smuggling on a grand scale. As the body count escalates, Harry and Kate have time and police corruption against them, this is a David and Goliath situation, can David win ?
This book was unputdownable (is that a word ? in not it should be)
Thank you to the author for this ARC, my review is totally my own.
April 13, 2025
Well, I guess that's one way to get assigned to a homicide investigation - have the victim die in your arms. Harry and Kate are at an event when Elizabeth Rawlings, a member of one of Chattanooga's oldest families, is murdered. And her last wors give a clue as to where to start his investigation. And it doesn't take long before it becomes clear that this is about much more than just her murder.
This story is jam packed full of secrets that are to be protected above all else, betrayal, danger, multiple murders, and possible treason. Luckily for Harry and Kate, there are multiple breadcrumbs that were left to further the investigation even as others are intent on destroying evidence of their crimes. Plus, they have to decide whose word they can trust and who is trying to manipulate them.
This story is jam packed full of secrets that are to be protected above all else, betrayal, danger, multiple murders, and possible treason. Luckily for Harry and Kate, there are multiple breadcrumbs that were left to further the investigation even as others are intent on destroying evidence of their crimes. Plus, they have to decide whose word they can trust and who is trying to manipulate them.
April 25, 2025
I received an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This latest book in the aeries begins with Harry and Kate at a community event. When it is time for the main speaker to talk, she dies just as she begins to speak. This is a high profile killing because this is one of two main families in the town. The method of death was through poisoning and it happened in front of many people.
As Harry and Kate begin their investigation, it turns into something more major. It had its' start back in 1947 when a mill burnt down and the Rowlins and Mason families supposedly blamed each other as being responsible. Following along and discover who wound up providing assistance and what was uncovered.
The story is well done and as each piece of evidence is unveiled, you feel you are right there. This is definitely well worth reading!
This latest book in the aeries begins with Harry and Kate at a community event. When it is time for the main speaker to talk, she dies just as she begins to speak. This is a high profile killing because this is one of two main families in the town. The method of death was through poisoning and it happened in front of many people.
As Harry and Kate begin their investigation, it turns into something more major. It had its' start back in 1947 when a mill burnt down and the Rowlins and Mason families supposedly blamed each other as being responsible. Following along and discover who wound up providing assistance and what was uncovered.
The story is well done and as each piece of evidence is unveiled, you feel you are right there. This is definitely well worth reading!
April 3, 2025
Blood in the Valley (Harry Starke Genesis Book 9), my sixty-eighth read from author Blair Howard and the ninth in the Harry Stark Genesis series taking us back to untold tales from Harry's police detective days. Well-written and enjoyable, edge-of-your-seat detective fiction, thoroughly entertaining! I always look forward to the next work from Howard. A Blair Howard book is like a visit from an old detective friend. I received a complementary Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
March 26, 2025
Another terrific Harry Starke book. This book takes place in Harry Starke's early years, when he was a homicide detective and partner with Det. Kate Gazzara and together in their personal lives. When Elizabeth Rawlings is murdered, Harry and Kate are assigned the case. The case turns out to be a twisted and complex case involving generations of deceit between two rich families in Chattanooga. Can Harry and Kate unwind this case before more murders happen, and send the guilty parties to jail? You need to read this to find out.
April 2, 2025
At and elite business gathering, Harry finds himself holding a dying woman in his arms. With her last breath, she whispers a cryptic sentence. Harry and Kate catch the murder case. As they uncover clues and evidence, they find a convoluted scenario. The perpetrator's far-reaching web spreads like the threads of an orb spider's web (resembling the great mob families). What will they eventually find? Will they catch the killer? I really liked this book. It kept me thinking. I couldn't put it down.
April 13, 2025
True to form, Blair Howard has written another nail-biter of a story. This one is set in the nearer past - around 2006 or so, when Kate Gazzara and Harry Starke were an “item”. The story focuses on the rich and powerful founding families of Chattanooga and the lengths they will go in order to protect their dark family secrets and heritage. It’s a heart-pounding book that you won’t be able to put down until you’ve read the very last page.
I received an advance copy of the book and am voluntarily leaving this review.
I received an advance copy of the book and am voluntarily leaving this review.
April 15, 2025
I always know I'm going to enjoy books from this author, and this one is no exception. Blood in the Valley is another exciting and well-written story. The story moves quickly, and the mystery keeps you guessing. There's plenty of twists along the way, with characters playing both sides.
I do love Harry and Kate together!
As with other books in the series, it's great to read them all, but this is also a most enjoyable read as a standalone book.
I received an ARC from the author. This is my honest review.
I do love Harry and Kate together!
As with other books in the series, it's great to read them all, but this is also a most enjoyable read as a standalone book.
I received an ARC from the author. This is my honest review.
April 12, 2025
I love the Genesis books and delving into the past lives of Harry and Kate when they were partners at work and home. Blood in the Valley is an interesting and fast paced book about two well to do families that pretend to hate each other while both are profiting from the stolen goods that go back decades. It has drama, feuding, death, corruption, you name it, this book has it. This book is well written and will keep your interest to the very end. I highly recommend this book!
April 17, 2025
This amazing book kept me enthralled from beginning to end Time to reminisce. Remember when Harry and Kate were partners? Not just at work but on a more personal level. I miss those days. I always did like them together. Harry and Kate have a complex murder to solve. Multiple crimes, multiple perpetrators, multiple solutions. Harry and Kate at their best.
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
April 24, 2025
Blood In The Valley - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
Blair Howard's 9th Harry Starke: The Early Years series, is Blood In The Valley.
It starts with a woman's brutal murder, that leads D.Ss Harry Starke and Kate Gazzara to unveil, in considerable detail, a plethora of secrets well-kept by generations of two local families with an evil accord.
Read Blood In The Valley today, if you like gritty police procedurals!
Blair Howard's 9th Harry Starke: The Early Years series, is Blood In The Valley.
It starts with a woman's brutal murder, that leads D.Ss Harry Starke and Kate Gazzara to unveil, in considerable detail, a plethora of secrets well-kept by generations of two local families with an evil accord.
Read Blood In The Valley today, if you like gritty police procedurals!
June 2, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, Harry Starke and Kate Gazzara have a very unusual case. Elizabeth Rawlings is murdered at her function where she was going to expose her family’s secrets. Their investigation brings them into a whole new world where family honour is everything and if you don’t tow the line you are expendable. A very interesting story that has historical significance. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I received an arc and the views and opinions are my own.
April 6, 2025
I am a fan of Blair Howard’s books but not this. I did find it interesting to see how having money can get you above or around the law. Money certainly talks. This book goes back in time to 2006 when Kate and Harry are partners in work and life. I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
April 10, 2025
A patriarch of one of the most powerful families is dead. A murder to cover up secrets within the family. This novel travels back to when Harry Starke and Kate Gazzara were partners in the police department. They take on the case to find the killer, but find secrets harbored for years. Corruption that extends within the police department. Another page turner from Blair Howard.
April 15, 2025
So, a delve back into Harry and Kate’s earlier career. This one’s an absolute doozy. A fascinating look into what goes on in the rich peoples minds, especially the criminal ones. Fully crafted criminal empire over years and years, which took some dismantling I can tell you. I was seriously engrossed by this book. I loved every word from beginning to end. Highly recommended.
April 15, 2025
Really great reading about Harry and Kate when they were both on the police force. Interesting background. Of course as always fast paced and love the twists and turns of the plot that keep you guessing. Stand alone book but I really enjoy reading each of these series because you get to know them and that makes it more enjoyable.
April 24, 2025
As always I love a good Harry Starke novel and this series as per the title is part of the genesis series so goes back to the beginning of his and Kate's relationships. I like the different take on the characters as you know how they develop but this provides more background.
The crime itself is very interesting and I dont know how he has though of it.
The crime itself is very interesting and I dont know how he has though of it.
April 29, 2025
This should be a movie showing all the natural beauty of Tennessee and of course the tunnels depicted in this great story. It was great to see Harry and Kate back again. It’s been awhile. Plus court room scenes always make awesome movie fare. It was an interesting plot full of exciting and mysterious situations.
May 10, 2025
I have read a lot of Harry Stark books. I really enjoyed going back in time to 2006 when Harry was still a cop and a relationship with Kate. This story may take place in 2006 but to solve the murder they need to go back to the 1940s.
A family feud, smuggling, the Nazis and secret tunnels make for a wild ride to solve a murder. Once you pick this book up it is very hard to put down.
A family feud, smuggling, the Nazis and secret tunnels make for a wild ride to solve a murder. Once you pick this book up it is very hard to put down.
April 4, 2025
Another Excellent Addition to this series of books storyline flows along keeping you guessing how it will end. Characters interact nicely and all in all an excellent ,well written and very cleverly thought out novel. I recommend it very highly.
April 15, 2025
A great read. Harry and Kate become involved in a case that takes them through a huge conspiracy cover up and years of deceit, murder and more. A difficult case to solve and even more difficult to uncover. Loved it and highly recommended,
April 22, 2025
Harry and Kate investigate a murder and end up with a story of deceit and coverups of decades. Pealing back the layers in this one takes some time.
Howard certainly knows how to weave a story and keep the surprises coming. The book won't disappoint.
Howard certainly knows how to weave a story and keep the surprises coming. The book won't disappoint.
April 29, 2025
This is the ninth book in the Harry Starke Genesis series. The story goes back to when Harry and Kate were partners. It drew me in right away with the intense drama, intrigue and twists. It’s an excellent page turner.
June 10, 2025
Explosive
History can kill you. That's what Harry and Kate discover while investigating the murder of a prominent socialite. There are twists and turns and a conspiracy that covers decades.
History can kill you. That's what Harry and Kate discover while investigating the murder of a prominent socialite. There are twists and turns and a conspiracy that covers decades.
July 3, 2025
Once again Harry and Kate are drawn into a murder investigation. Filled with danger and secrets that will keep you reading until the very end. Will they solve the case in time, don’t miss out on this fantastic book.
April 6, 2025
Brilliant and very complex story. Highly recommend.
April 8, 2025
Another excellent story from this author. I couldn’t put it down,an edge of the seat page turner.
April 13, 2025
This was a very satisfying and intriguing book to read that has several twists and turns. Definitely a page-turning read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews