Two years ago, Detective Mitch Haskell lost his wife to a vicious act of retribution, and has since attributed her murder two men: Roland Malone and the unidentified mastermind of the crime known only as Oz. Malone, a ruthless executioner and drug dealer who fronts as a restaurant owner, neutralizes so cleanly that he doesn’t leave a trace. And he performs his handiwork at the biddings of Oz, the faceless kingpin of a drug trafficking operation whose name alone evokes terror.
Obsessively vowing to avenge his late wife’s murder, Mitch has been on a downward spiral, jeopardizing his closest relationships and drinking excessively to numb his pain. After going one step too far, Detective John Bowie, his former best friend and now his boss, has forced Mitch to get therapy to sort himself out.
Dr. Dylan Reede is immediately empathetic to the pain she senses beneath Mitch’s cavalier attitude and wisecracking. She’s determined to make the most of his mandated sessions. But from the moment Mitch breezes into her office, Dylan finds it a struggle to maintain the professional and personal boundaries that keep her own tragic past at a safe distance.
As Mitch begins to close in on Oz and Malone’s operation, they’re prepared to stop him by any means necessary. And when it’s revealed that Dylan might hold the key to bringing them to justice, Mitch and Dylan’s irresistible attraction to each other may not only compromise both of them professionally, but place them in Oz’s bullseye.
Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including STING (2016), FRICTION (2015), MEAN STREAK (2014), DEADLINE(2013), & LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011).
Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages.
In 2009 Brown detoured from romantic suspense to write, Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving historical fiction story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.
Brown was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
the setup… It’s been two years since Detective Mitch Haskell’s wife Angela was found dead in their home with their infant son Andrew nearby. Her death was ruled a suicide but Mitch knows she was murdered by Roland Malone, a New Orleans restauranteur who is also the lethal henchman used by Oz, the head of a criminal enterprise who’s true identity is unknown. Angela was killed in retribution for Mitch’s undercover work when he was a DEA agent. Even though Roland’s signature killing method of using a garrote to take down his targets wasn’t used on Angela, Mitch knows these two orchestrated her murder. Mitch’s is a mess and things come to a head when Detective John Bowie, his boss and friend, orders him into counseling. Dr. Dylan Reede has her hands full with him, in more ways than one…until it becomes dangerous.
the heart of the story… I was so excited to be back in Auclair and the world of John Bowie! I’d hoped to learn more about Mitch and his backstory. The situation is treacherous as Roland and Oz are utterly ruthless. It was made more chilling by getting their points of view, too. Mitch and Dylan’s professional relationship turns personal, complicating things even more. Beware, however of a host of unreliable narrators!
the narration… I’m a longtime fan of Kyf Brewer as he’s not only a wonderful storyteller but provides distinctive character voices. Loved everything about his performance.
the bottom line… The tension begins with that prologue and never lets up. Mitch is a resourceful and colorful character, showing the skills that made him so good as an undercover agent, despite his personal issues. His relationship with Dylan was more than complicated, even more after some unforeseen (and clever) twists down the road. This was an outstanding police procedural and I hope we haven’t seen the last of these characters and the town. 4.5 stars
Another great Sandra Brown thriller/romance! Her books are always easy highly entertaining reads that draw you into the story. It was great to see what continues to happen to the Bowie/Haskell partnership and how their personal lives evolve with their profession. I always like a good law enforcement thriller and this fit the bill!
Thank you to Net Galley and Grand Central Publishing for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
If you follow my reviews, then you know I love a good police procedural story, and this one is ranking high on my list for must-reads this year.
Brown has done it again with a fabulous story that is intricately woven with imagery and incredible detail. Plus, she added a love interest and some spicy romance. I am here for it all! Such a perfect blend and balance throughout the book.
This murder mystery is a police procedural with some bad guys you know and others you do not. There are characters you will love and some you will hate. The author expertly develops a story that is one part shockingly incredulous and one part highly emotional, especially when it comes to the main character, Mitch. Oh, I love his devious mind!
The suspense ramps up the further we dive into the murder plot, and the ending brings an awesome twist only Brown can deliver. Bloodlust is an outstanding story that will definitely be on my re-read list and my Best Of list this year!
~~~~~ I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/bloodlust-by...
Sandra Brown has been my favorite and reliable author for more years than I’d like to admit! But I love her Romantic Suspense stories.
No matter how crazy the circumstances, I always root for the main characters - both of them until they come together all while the bad guys get their due.
Sandra Brown levels up with strong & fierce FMC energy.
Her stories are sound, no strings left hanging and I love how the ending makes you feel good 😊 too.
Sandra Brown is the best. She blends bad-boy macho man with a sweet, damaged heroine with a spine of steel for a heart-rending love story. Works for me every single time. There is little mystery as the baddies are known from the beginning, but the suspense is top shelf and edge of your seat. As we revisit the bayou country of Louisiana, a site for books I just love, the action takes place in the small city of Auclair and New Orleans and doesn't quite have the bayou feel of the first book. Mitch and Dylan start out with two strikes against them, the Doctor-Patient situation and both being damaged by prior trauma. The plot kept me involved and rooting for the HEA that was hard earned, but worth the wait.
My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Ohhh this one took me back to why Sandra Brown used to be a one click buy for me. This was pure old-school romantic suspense, moody, dramatic, and a little unhinged. Once it got its hooks in me, it did not let go. I loved the atmosphere, the sense of danger, and that constant “something is very wrong here” feeling. It was simmering under every interaction. It was twisty without being confusing, intense without being exhausting, and absolutely soaked in tension.
I really liked the emotional pull mixed with the mystery. The relationships were messy, and although the motivations weren’t always clean, that just made everything feel more real and gripping. It had the perfect blend of obsession, secrets, and simmering attraction that kept me turning the pages long past my “go to bed now or I’ll be a zombie tomorrow” time. Was it dark? To a certain degree. A little dramatic? Definitely. But if you like your suspense with sharp edges and emotional bite, this one delivers, and then some.
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I have been trying to return to some new books of my old favorites lately and was very intrigued by this new release from Sandra Brown. I don’t often read mysteries these days, and this one was a very interesting (as expected) read from a great writer.
The story is one of vengeance for the terrible soul-destroying wrong vs. justice, and choices that led us to where we are and continue to guide our future. The book leaves you with many emotions about these complicated characters. Mitch Haskell (MMC) is a haunted man, obsessed with avenging his wife’s murder. He is spiraling and struggles, and it is then he meets the FMC - psychologist Dylan Reede, who is tasked with helping him, but herself struggles with a similar loss. The paths of their two mysteries intertwine amidst the building attraction and feelings, and eventually come to a head where major life choices will need to be made.
The mystery angle is done very well and characters are vivid and nicely developed. They are both wearing their professional masks and are hiding their real selves, all their emotions and internal trauma behind this veneer. I really enjoyed the interaction between MCs and their journey to each other.
This was such a good detective revenge story, and honestly not something I’d normally pick up but I’m really glad I did.
Mitch was such a layered character. The depth of what he was dealing with kept me invested the entire time, and I loved peeling back those layers as the story unfolded.
And Dylan?? I loved her. A therapist with attitude, spunk, and zero patience for nonsense. She brought such a fun, fiery energy to the story that balanced everything out perfectly.
The drug trafficking aspect had me completely hooked. It added another level of intensity to the story that kept me turning the pages.
There were so many “ah ha” moments that completely caught me off guard, which made this such a fun ride.
Definitely outside my usual genre, but 100% worth it.
Fans of the author will be happy to read this thrilling story! The characters were unique and it kept me hooked. Slightly overly detailed at times, which can make some scenes feel slow. But overall still a solid suspense with a romance that makes you swoon.
Another very interesting romantic suspense from SB. I had a few issues with this one though.
While I think the dead spouse trope can be difficult to write in romance books, I think SB went too far in the other direction. He seemed bent on revenge but I didn't get that he truly missed his wife. I was expecting him to battle a bit of guilt when he realized he was interested in Dylan. But there wasn't anything.
Dylan...while I loved her character for majority of the book, she did something that made me so frustrated.
One thing that SB manages to do for me, is feel a bit of sympathy for a villain. He definitely wasn't a good guy at all but I was still a bit sad for him.
Could be a slight spoiler: * * * * * There was a plot device that SB over used in this story. I don't mind it used once or twice but she used it for almost every reveal and it made the story loose some of its interest for me. I also lost trust in Mitch and I'm surprised that Dylan didn't make him grovel more. This overuse it what really brought the rating down.
This had some solid twists but overall it was just an okay read for me. I think I'm a bit over romantic suspense police procedural type stories but I did feel for the policeman mourning his murdered wife. I didn't care that much about him jumping into a relationship with his new therapist. Yeah just didn't feel this one. Completely a me thing.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Atmospheric and engaging, with a few extra layers
Bloodlust delivers a gripping mystery with rich atmosphere and compelling characters. While the pacing dragged at times due to some overly detailed scenes, the story kept me invested. I’ll admit I don’t personally care for spicy scenes in thrillers—they pull me out of the suspense—but that’s just my preference. Overall, a solid read that fans of Sandra Brown will enjoy. Thanks NetGalley!
Sandra Brown returns to the world of her 2025 novel Blood Moon with BLOODLUST, bringing back familiar characters and centering the story on Mitch, a detective still determined to prove his wife was murdered… even when no one else believes him. As he digs deeper into the truth, the help of his alluring new therapist may be exactly what he needs to finally uncover what really happened.
Brown once again delivers exactly what her readers love: a fast paced blend of suspense, danger, and sizzling chemistry. BLOODLUST is a gripping romantic thriller that kept me turning the pages. Another satisfying hit from the true master of romantic suspense, long may she reign! 👸🏻
quietly falling down the Sandra Brown rabbithole and loving it. she and Karin Slaughter are the only authors i've discovered (so far) that are able to combine thriller/suspense with just the right amount of romance to keep me hooked all they way through to the end
5/5 and feeling disappointed that there isn't another book in the series waiting for me but i just have to be patient i guess
It was interesting easy to follow. Some gruesome stuff involved. A man seeks revenge for whoever killed his wife but left his infant son alive. The thing I couldn't understand is that if a Garrote was used to strangle Angela you should be able to clearly see that and so why was it called a suicide. Just because she was in the auto in the garage with motor running, does not make that a suicide. Poor conclusion by the medical examiner. A cop is ordered to see a "shrink" to help solve his problems before he can return to duty. Shrink and cop "get involved." The owner of a restaurant is involved in high crimes with someone higher up calling the shots.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Sandra Brown is another of my favorite authors. Bloodlust is a very very very good book. Fast paced read. It is a hard book to put down. I highly recommend it. I love psychological thrillers and Sandra Brown does it extremely well. As I said you can’t stop turning the pages!!!
Compelling Story with Escalating Tension and Relatable Characters
Mitch Haskell is a police detective on a mission of revenge, to find and execute those responsible for his wife’s death. With a toddler to care for and a job on the rocks since he has been drinking too much, Mitch is under orders to seek counseling. That’s how he meets Dr. Dylan Reede. The plot is one that includes drug trafficking, hidden identities, and a sleazy crime boss who thinks he is untouchable. The action is fast-paced and non-stop. I really enjoyed the interactions between Dylan and Mitch and between Mitch and his young son Andrew. Both showed the heart of a many that had been broken and the reason he was so adamant about seeking revenge. There are a lot of characters who have secondary roles in his quest for revenge, and I really liked John Bowie, his boss and the man who brings out the best in Mitch. This book includes steamy scenes but they are not totally off-putting, just part of the plot. Good book, well worth reading and the five stars it earned. I checked out a copy of this book from the library using the Libby App. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Keep the novels featuring Mitch and John coming! I thoroughly enjoyed Blood Moon, and when I was offered a copy of Bloodlust, I was thrilled to revisit this partnership.
In the new novel, Mitch is out to avenge the murder of his wife, though his life is sliding quickly off the rails. Ordered to enter therapy or be fired, he reluctantly starts to see Dr. Dylan Reide, a surprisingly attractive woman, and that is where things start to get really complicated.
I love the mix of romance and danger that Brown mixes in her novels, and Bloodlust has both in spades. I will admit that the ending was a bit of a surprise, with a twist that I did not see coming. This is a page-turner with just the right amount of spice and I look forward to the next installment.
Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the digital ARC of Blood lust by Sandra Brown. The opinions in this review are my own.
I love Sandra Brown's writing for its perfect blend of romance and suspense. In this book, Detective Mitch Haskell has gone too far in his obsession to bring his wife's killers to justice, and his boss, his former friend John Bowie, threatens to fire him if he doesn't get therapy. Dr. Dylan Reede has a tragic past of her own and can see past Mitch's joking and attitude to the hurt and grief he hides. She's determined to help him even if he doesn't want it. But as their mandatory sessions go on, she finds it more difficult to keep a professional boundary as their attraction grows. I really enjoyed both the thriller and romance aspects of this book and especially the surprise ending! I look forward to more books in this series. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
This is a great sequel to Blood Moon! it is OK read it on its own because everything is well laid out. MItch is a divine character whom I was worried about and was ready to handle his troubles for him, until I knew I would not need to because he became entwined with Dylan, who turned out to be a complicated and emotional character. John, another complicated, interesting part of Mitch's life was a huge surprise ~ enough said ... I am going to sit right here and wait for the next installment to the 'Blood' knowing I will not be disappointed! My thanks to Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley for the download of this book for review purposes.
I loved Blood Moon and couldn’t wait for Bloodlust to be released. It was definitely worth the wait! So many twists and turns, who’s lying and who is not? A grieving cop, whose wife was murdered in cold blood, and his quest for revenge has taken over his life. He and his best friend his superior officer are at odds, which never happens. Impossible to know who are the good guys and who are not. No one knows who to trust. This story kept me riveted till the last page. I highly recommend both books in the series, and hope there’s a third!
It was a good read, however I got frustrated during parts of it. I did like the main character Mitch. I thought he had the best dialog of all the characters. Where I got frustrated was some of the very graphic murder and attack scenes. I thought a bit overwritten and too much. Ending was no surprise.
Both of the books in this series read like they were written in the 80’s. I wonder if these were old unpublished books that she dusted off and submitted. Men forcing kisses, steamrolling over the women, etc.
This book is a reminder of why I love Sandra Brown’s work. She writes Suspense and romance in such a beautiful way that I remain a fan of her.
The storyline is humorous and engaging, I love how straight to the point it felt. The characters are well written, layered and even crazy. Mitch, with his desperation to prove that his wife was murdered and to arrest the murderers and Dylan the therapist who has to help Mitch overcome his traumas.
I enjoyed reading this book, the twist, the suspense, the humor and the ridiculousness of the romance.
Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for my ARC