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The Blood We Share
A community built upon secrets and lies. One man’s hunt for justice. Jacob Taylor is driving home from a roadside bar and sees a young woman walking barefoot, covered in blood. Desperate, she asks if she can stay with him just for one night.
Next morning, local sheriffs burst in, search the place and arrest him, finding blood and DNA all over the place. She’s missing, presumed kidnapped, with two dead in her wake.
The following night, two cops enter his cell with a mind to kill him and stage it as suicide. He manages to fight them off and escape, determined to clear his name and discover the dark truth hiding in his seemingly peaceful town.
A gripping crime thriller with a twisted heart, with a twist that will leave you reeling.
Next morning, local sheriffs burst in, search the place and arrest him, finding blood and DNA all over the place. She’s missing, presumed kidnapped, with two dead in her wake.
The following night, two cops enter his cell with a mind to kill him and stage it as suicide. He manages to fight them off and escape, determined to clear his name and discover the dark truth hiding in his seemingly peaceful town.
A gripping crime thriller with a twisted heart, with a twist that will leave you reeling.
320 pages, Paperback
Published July 17, 2025
15 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Greene
38 books345 followersMorgan Greene grew up in Wales, and works a copywriter, editor, and author. Morgan studied Creative Writing and English Literature at Swansea University with a focus on narrative structure and theory, and published the first crime novel in the Jamie Johansson series in 2020. Since its release, the series has gone on to reach bestseller status, with Detective Jamie Johansson quickly becoming a reader favourite.
The series blends classic Scandi-noir elements with modern and cinematic thriller writing to create a unique style that adds to the emerging Brit-noir genre. Jamie has many novels ahead of her, but Morgan is also working on a variety of other projects across crime, thriller, and mystery and plans to publish plenty more in 2022 and beyond.
The series blends classic Scandi-noir elements with modern and cinematic thriller writing to create a unique style that adds to the emerging Brit-noir genre. Jamie has many novels ahead of her, but Morgan is also working on a variety of other projects across crime, thriller, and mystery and plans to publish plenty more in 2022 and beyond.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 25, 2026
2.5 rounded down stars for a book with a lot of violence, profanity and 2 creepy sex scenes.
One of the sex scenes involves a bucket of blood, 3 young women mesmerized by the cult leader, and the 60 year old cult leader.
The blurb: "Jacob Taylor is driving home from a roadside bar and sees a young woman walking barefoot, covered in blood. Desperate, she asks if she can stay with him just for one night.
Next morning, local sheriffs burst in, search the place and arrest him, finding blood and DNA all over the place. She's missing, presumed kidnapped, with two dead in her wake."
The subtitle is "A captivating, dark crime thriller from the Waterstones Welsh Book of the Month pick." I decided to read this book, based on the blurb and that it was a book of the month club pick. It was definitely dark, with a very dark ending. But captivating--hmm, I did finish to find out what happens to Jacob. I don't recommend this book. I won't be reading any more books by this author.
The story is told by two different narrators, Jacob, and Ellis, a honest cop in a department with several corrupt cops. The two narrators repeat various incidents from their perspective, making for some repetition. It is set in a fictional N. Dakota town.
The author, Morgan Greene is the pen name of Daniel Morgan and author of a bestselling separate series. He lives in South Wales, UK.
Thank You Canelo Crime/Penguin Random House for sending me this eARC through Edelweiss+.
One of the sex scenes involves a bucket of blood, 3 young women mesmerized by the cult leader, and the 60 year old cult leader.
The blurb: "Jacob Taylor is driving home from a roadside bar and sees a young woman walking barefoot, covered in blood. Desperate, she asks if she can stay with him just for one night.
Next morning, local sheriffs burst in, search the place and arrest him, finding blood and DNA all over the place. She's missing, presumed kidnapped, with two dead in her wake."
The subtitle is "A captivating, dark crime thriller from the Waterstones Welsh Book of the Month pick." I decided to read this book, based on the blurb and that it was a book of the month club pick. It was definitely dark, with a very dark ending. But captivating--hmm, I did finish to find out what happens to Jacob. I don't recommend this book. I won't be reading any more books by this author.
The story is told by two different narrators, Jacob, and Ellis, a honest cop in a department with several corrupt cops. The two narrators repeat various incidents from their perspective, making for some repetition. It is set in a fictional N. Dakota town.
The author, Morgan Greene is the pen name of Daniel Morgan and author of a bestselling separate series. He lives in South Wales, UK.
Thank You Canelo Crime/Penguin Random House for sending me this eARC through Edelweiss+.
September 7, 2025
A long-time fan of Morgan Greene, I thought I ought to expand my horizons with this standalone novel. Having recently discovered his Solomon Church work and long been a fan of Greene's Jamie Johansson collections, I wanted to delve deeper to explore the one-off novels that are just as impactful. Jacob Taylor made one major mistake driving home from the bar one night and now his life has been turned upside down. While the cops want to pin a murder and kidnapping on him, they will need to build a case. All the while, Jacob tried to get to the heart of the matter, discovering that his small North Dakota town has been hiding something major, which could have serious implications. Unsure who to trust, Jacob must reach out to an unlikely ally to shine a light on what's going on, even if everyone in a position of authority is trying to cover it up. Greene impresses with this standalone thriller that had me reading well into the night.
Jacob Taylor has a boring life in the small community of Devils Lake, North Dakota. After tying one on at the bar, he travels home one night and comes upon a young woman walking barefoot and in desperate need of help, covered in blood not her own. While the alcohol impairs his judgement, he agrees to take her home and allows her to clean up. He vows Lily will stay just one night and things soon get a little intense, which is not what Jacob expected.
He is roused from sleep the next day by the police, who arrive to arrest him for two murders and the kidnapping of Lily Graham, who is nowhere to be found. The blood and DNA she had all over her the night before is now scattered around Jacob's house, making him appear guilty. He knows he is innocent, but cannot prove anything and must try to piece together an alibi while he is cooling his heels in jail. Two cops try to help frame him by staging a suicide in his cell, but Jacob is able to escape and realises that something is definitely amiss in this town.
On the lam and trying to determine what's going on, Jacob seeks to uncover the secrets this town is running on and how he has been caught up in this web. He learns more about the young woman he found on the road and what she's been trying to do. He's also able to trip on some troubling truths about one of the powerful families in town and how they have been pulling strings to keep things secret. Jacob Taylor might be a nobody to many, but he will have to find something inside him to be somebody or die trying. Morgan Greene delivers a chilling story that takes the reader on an adventure like no other.
Morgan Greene uses his novels to create a powerful bond with readers, no matter the subject matter. I came upon his work reading the Jamie Johansson series, later some Solomon Church, and a few one-offs. Each novel challenges me and has me mentally change gears as I seek to find my niche in the reading experience. Greene delivers a strong narrative that flows with ease and keeps the reader on their toes as they inch towards buried truths. Needing to be highly attentive, everything is revealed in time, forcing the reader to keep their focus. The momentum of the piece serves to kick the action into high gear. Great characters and backstories enrich the reading experience, something Greene has been able to do effectively in the past as well. Plot points serve not only to entertain, but toss surprises into the piece along the way. Greene's use of these twists helps add depth and intrigue to the piece in ways that I have come to enjoy. I am always looking out for new and exciting things that Morgan Greene has on the go, with this piece ticking all the boxes for a successful read!
Kudos, Mr. Greene, for a gripping standalone thriller that had everything I needed.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Jacob Taylor has a boring life in the small community of Devils Lake, North Dakota. After tying one on at the bar, he travels home one night and comes upon a young woman walking barefoot and in desperate need of help, covered in blood not her own. While the alcohol impairs his judgement, he agrees to take her home and allows her to clean up. He vows Lily will stay just one night and things soon get a little intense, which is not what Jacob expected.
He is roused from sleep the next day by the police, who arrive to arrest him for two murders and the kidnapping of Lily Graham, who is nowhere to be found. The blood and DNA she had all over her the night before is now scattered around Jacob's house, making him appear guilty. He knows he is innocent, but cannot prove anything and must try to piece together an alibi while he is cooling his heels in jail. Two cops try to help frame him by staging a suicide in his cell, but Jacob is able to escape and realises that something is definitely amiss in this town.
On the lam and trying to determine what's going on, Jacob seeks to uncover the secrets this town is running on and how he has been caught up in this web. He learns more about the young woman he found on the road and what she's been trying to do. He's also able to trip on some troubling truths about one of the powerful families in town and how they have been pulling strings to keep things secret. Jacob Taylor might be a nobody to many, but he will have to find something inside him to be somebody or die trying. Morgan Greene delivers a chilling story that takes the reader on an adventure like no other.
Morgan Greene uses his novels to create a powerful bond with readers, no matter the subject matter. I came upon his work reading the Jamie Johansson series, later some Solomon Church, and a few one-offs. Each novel challenges me and has me mentally change gears as I seek to find my niche in the reading experience. Greene delivers a strong narrative that flows with ease and keeps the reader on their toes as they inch towards buried truths. Needing to be highly attentive, everything is revealed in time, forcing the reader to keep their focus. The momentum of the piece serves to kick the action into high gear. Great characters and backstories enrich the reading experience, something Greene has been able to do effectively in the past as well. Plot points serve not only to entertain, but toss surprises into the piece along the way. Greene's use of these twists helps add depth and intrigue to the piece in ways that I have come to enjoy. I am always looking out for new and exciting things that Morgan Greene has on the go, with this piece ticking all the boxes for a successful read!
Kudos, Mr. Greene, for a gripping standalone thriller that had everything I needed.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 29, 2025
As a huge fan of Morgan Greene given his absolutely top class Jamie Johansson series, I was extremely excited to hear about this new novel. Unfortunately, it didn't hit the mark for me, perhaps due to overly high expectations.
There are some positives though, namely the start which really drew me in and had me intrigued from the off. There are also some cool twists and some strong issues tackled, as well as some (at times) suspenseful moments. What was lacking for me was any really interest or concern for the main characters, barring Ellis. Greene's character work has been so consistent and so well handled in previous books, but it felt distinctly lacking in this title and meant the overall story felt a bit flat, and it kills me to say that. I really wanted to like this book but sadly it wasn't for me.
A massive thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Crime for the ARC of this novel.
There are some positives though, namely the start which really drew me in and had me intrigued from the off. There are also some cool twists and some strong issues tackled, as well as some (at times) suspenseful moments. What was lacking for me was any really interest or concern for the main characters, barring Ellis. Greene's character work has been so consistent and so well handled in previous books, but it felt distinctly lacking in this title and meant the overall story felt a bit flat, and it kills me to say that. I really wanted to like this book but sadly it wasn't for me.
A massive thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Crime for the ARC of this novel.
July 15, 2025
3.5 stars rounded down
There's a really icky bit in this book which, although happens the first time imo legitimately in order to speak for one of the characters concerned, after the other character finds out, and it happens again, I can't really figure out why the author would include that. It kinda irked me and I would be a bit remiss if I didn't voice it.
But obviously I get ahead of myself. We start with what appears to be a good Samaritan scene where Jacob Taylor, driving home after a sesh at the pub, and clearly over the limit, sees a young woman walking alongside the road, barefoot, covered in blood and obviously in some distress. He stops and asks her of he could help. She asks him if she could stay with him for the night. Obviously it's the last thing he wants but, over the limit, driving home, the Police or other authorities are not really a viable option to him so he agrees.
Worst. Decision. Ever. As this event becomes the catalyst for a whole shower of shenanigans that is about to rain down on him leaving death and destruction in its wake when, next morning, he wakes, she's gone, leaving blood in his home and the local sheriffs banging at his door...
And so begins a fun, albeit a bit on the implausible side on occasion, romp during which Jacob, on the run, tries to both find his missing woman, and also get to the bottom of a darkness contained within his hometown.
It's hard to say too much about why I didn't really get on with the characters or why I have issues with some elements of the plot without spoilers but there were parts which were a bit too over the top for me and that might have worked had I better connected with some of the characters. With Jacob, we started off well but then things escalated a bit too far too fast and I lost any connection we had. I did however love Ellis...
Although better known for the Jamie Johansson series (which I haven't yet read but have on my tbr), I have read and enjoyed a few of this author's previous stand alones and enjoyed them so, although this was, for me, not so strong, it will not deter me from him in the future. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
There's a really icky bit in this book which, although happens the first time imo legitimately in order to speak for one of the characters concerned, after the other character finds out, and it happens again, I can't really figure out why the author would include that. It kinda irked me and I would be a bit remiss if I didn't voice it.
But obviously I get ahead of myself. We start with what appears to be a good Samaritan scene where Jacob Taylor, driving home after a sesh at the pub, and clearly over the limit, sees a young woman walking alongside the road, barefoot, covered in blood and obviously in some distress. He stops and asks her of he could help. She asks him if she could stay with him for the night. Obviously it's the last thing he wants but, over the limit, driving home, the Police or other authorities are not really a viable option to him so he agrees.
Worst. Decision. Ever. As this event becomes the catalyst for a whole shower of shenanigans that is about to rain down on him leaving death and destruction in its wake when, next morning, he wakes, she's gone, leaving blood in his home and the local sheriffs banging at his door...
And so begins a fun, albeit a bit on the implausible side on occasion, romp during which Jacob, on the run, tries to both find his missing woman, and also get to the bottom of a darkness contained within his hometown.
It's hard to say too much about why I didn't really get on with the characters or why I have issues with some elements of the plot without spoilers but there were parts which were a bit too over the top for me and that might have worked had I better connected with some of the characters. With Jacob, we started off well but then things escalated a bit too far too fast and I lost any connection we had. I did however love Ellis...
Although better known for the Jamie Johansson series (which I haven't yet read but have on my tbr), I have read and enjoyed a few of this author's previous stand alones and enjoyed them so, although this was, for me, not so strong, it will not deter me from him in the future. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
July 10, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Greene and Canelo for giving me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I was drawn to this book originally by the synopsis because it sounded interesting. And for about the first 50 pages The Blood We Share by Morgan Greene was super interesting.
After that though, the characters fell flat (and were all unlikeable), the world building was weak, and the back and forth from the past to present events threw me off completely. The only strong point of this book was its plot -- and unfortunately, that also was weak.
This book follows Jason and how one drunken mistake of picking up a girl from the side of the road turned into being framed for a double homicide and kidnapping of a young girl. After he is arrested, the police chief tries to frame Jason’s suicide.
One officer, Ellis, doesn’t believe in the corruption of the chief and lets Jason escape. On the run, Jason tracks down the girl, Ella, and wants to uncover the secrets of the town’s local berry farm.
My biggest issue with the world building was that I had no idea where this was taking place until it was mentioned (North Dakota) and by then it felt like a non-American writing characters based in America (which is actually the case). Even though I read an advanced copy, my hope is that the editing gets fixed so that isn’t the case.
Overall, while I wanted to like this story, it fell completely flat. I couldn’t find a single thing that I liked about this novel and that disappointed me. However, with some major edits, this book could be successful. But when I read it, I was bored and the stakes were low (which is, obviously, what you don’t want in a thriller).
I’m displeased to give this book two stars, but it happens. Sometimes books just don’t live up to their expectations, and this was one example.
To read my whole review: https://bellaandbooks5.wordpress.com/...
I was drawn to this book originally by the synopsis because it sounded interesting. And for about the first 50 pages The Blood We Share by Morgan Greene was super interesting.
After that though, the characters fell flat (and were all unlikeable), the world building was weak, and the back and forth from the past to present events threw me off completely. The only strong point of this book was its plot -- and unfortunately, that also was weak.
This book follows Jason and how one drunken mistake of picking up a girl from the side of the road turned into being framed for a double homicide and kidnapping of a young girl. After he is arrested, the police chief tries to frame Jason’s suicide.
One officer, Ellis, doesn’t believe in the corruption of the chief and lets Jason escape. On the run, Jason tracks down the girl, Ella, and wants to uncover the secrets of the town’s local berry farm.
My biggest issue with the world building was that I had no idea where this was taking place until it was mentioned (North Dakota) and by then it felt like a non-American writing characters based in America (which is actually the case). Even though I read an advanced copy, my hope is that the editing gets fixed so that isn’t the case.
Overall, while I wanted to like this story, it fell completely flat. I couldn’t find a single thing that I liked about this novel and that disappointed me. However, with some major edits, this book could be successful. But when I read it, I was bored and the stakes were low (which is, obviously, what you don’t want in a thriller).
I’m displeased to give this book two stars, but it happens. Sometimes books just don’t live up to their expectations, and this was one example.
To read my whole review: https://bellaandbooks5.wordpress.com/...
November 23, 2025
Thanks to Canelo and Netgalley for this eARC.
🩸 Morgan Greene’s The Blood We Share is a gripping, emotionally charged thriller that blends procedural detail with psychological depth. It’s a novel that thrives on atmosphere and character, pulling readers into a story where family ties, hidden truths, and the pursuit of justice collide.
🌒 This novel is steeped in tension, with Greene’s prose capturing both the urgency of investigation and the haunting weight of personal history.
Settings—whether crime scenes, quiet homes, or shadowed streets—are rendered with precision, amplifying the sense of unease.
The tone balances suspense with reflection, ensuring the thrills are grounded in emotional resonance.
👤 The lead investigator is portrayed with layered complexity, driven by duty but haunted by personal connections to the case.
🩸 Morgan Greene’s The Blood We Share is a gripping, emotionally charged thriller that blends procedural detail with psychological depth. It’s a novel that thrives on atmosphere and character, pulling readers into a story where family ties, hidden truths, and the pursuit of justice collide.
🌒 This novel is steeped in tension, with Greene’s prose capturing both the urgency of investigation and the haunting weight of personal history.
Settings—whether crime scenes, quiet homes, or shadowed streets—are rendered with precision, amplifying the sense of unease.
The tone balances suspense with reflection, ensuring the thrills are grounded in emotional resonance.
👤 The lead investigator is portrayed with layered complexity, driven by duty but haunted by personal connections to the case.
June 18, 2025
Book Review: The Blood We Share by Morgan Greene
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
The Blood We Share starts off with a bang—pulling readers straight into a whirlwind of suspense and chaos. The beginning is intense, attention-grabbing, and had me fully locked in. But as the story went on, things started to get a little confusing. Some plot points felt murky, and I found myself having to reread sections just to keep up with what was happening.
While the concept and atmosphere were strong, the overall execution didn’t quite stick the landing for me. It was an okay read—not bad, but not great either. Still, if you enjoy dark thrillers with twists, it might be worth checking out.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
The Blood We Share starts off with a bang—pulling readers straight into a whirlwind of suspense and chaos. The beginning is intense, attention-grabbing, and had me fully locked in. But as the story went on, things started to get a little confusing. Some plot points felt murky, and I found myself having to reread sections just to keep up with what was happening.
While the concept and atmosphere were strong, the overall execution didn’t quite stick the landing for me. It was an okay read—not bad, but not great either. Still, if you enjoy dark thrillers with twists, it might be worth checking out.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!
August 9, 2025
Jacob Taylor leads a quiet life but everything changes when he picks up a young lady driving home one night. She is no ordinary lady, she is covered in blood and the police are after her. When she disappears and he is arrested by the police, he is on his own and has to fight to survive and try and work out what the hell is happening. The truth will hurt.
An interesting thriller that does well at creating atmosphere and an interesting story to hook you in, but doesn't quite hit the mark at the end. It is ultimately a story of revenge and I found it a bit hard to have empathy for one character because they seem to be quite driven with self-interest bordering on evil.
An interesting thriller that does well at creating atmosphere and an interesting story to hook you in, but doesn't quite hit the mark at the end. It is ultimately a story of revenge and I found it a bit hard to have empathy for one character because they seem to be quite driven with self-interest bordering on evil.
June 29, 2025
ARC Read: NetGallery & Canelo
Jacobs life at Devils Lake takes a dark turn when he decides to drink and drive then made the reckless decision to pick up a helpless stranger and bring her home.
The town of Devils Lake itself was riddled with corruption, crooked cops, a disturbing cult, and layers of secrets. I found the incest storyline especially off putting.
The non stop action of the storyline kept me on edge and it was so fast paced I couldn’t put the book down. I never knew who to trust and the ending caught me completely by surprise I'm still trying to reel it in.
Jacobs life at Devils Lake takes a dark turn when he decides to drink and drive then made the reckless decision to pick up a helpless stranger and bring her home.
The town of Devils Lake itself was riddled with corruption, crooked cops, a disturbing cult, and layers of secrets. I found the incest storyline especially off putting.
The non stop action of the storyline kept me on edge and it was so fast paced I couldn’t put the book down. I never knew who to trust and the ending caught me completely by surprise I'm still trying to reel it in.
July 1, 2025
This book was rather difficult to read! Quite a bit of tension, but the characters did not appeal to me, not because (most of them) they were bad people, but maybe because they were a bit too unhealthy mentally... A pretty short novel whose plot was unpleasant and over the top to me . Shame, as I usually enjoy the author's novel
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
August 24, 2025
The initial synopsis of this thriller as well as the cover drew me in- however, the incorporation of incest turned me off from wanting to read any further, It was a shame as I had high hopes for this book but alas they were dashed along with a weak plot and one dimensional characters.
Thankyou to Net galley and the publisher for an arc of this book.
Thankyou to Net galley and the publisher for an arc of this book.
July 28, 2025
Another great read
Once I started reading it was hard to put down another great read from a fantastic author now what's next from Morgan Greene
Once I started reading it was hard to put down another great read from a fantastic author now what's next from Morgan Greene
October 1, 2025
Also rounded down, because of another one I can’t place my finger on. Maybe the ending was just less satisfying than I wanted? Again, this had some real great moments, but I just felt a bit… meh.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews