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In the Blood
Not yet published
Expected 12 May 26In this thrilling mystery by New York Times bestselling author April Henry, Tessa takes a DNA test to try to find her biological parents, unknowingly putting herself in the sights of a serial killer known as the Portland Phantom.
Adopted as a newborn, Tessa has always wondered who her biological parents are. After turning 18, she takes a DNA test in hopes of finding the answers. With best friend El and lab partner Victor, Tessa uses the results to start building her family tree. But they find more dead ends than answers. Her biological mother, who was raised in a religious cult, has cut all ties with her controlling family. And her biological father remains a complete mystery, at least until the police show up. For fifteen years, they’ve been trying to identify a serial killer known as the Portland Phantom. Tessa is the link they’ve been waiting for.
April Henry delivers a twisty tour-de-force about the families who choose us—and the ones we’re born into. Biology doesn't have to be one's destiny.
Adopted as a newborn, Tessa has always wondered who her biological parents are. After turning 18, she takes a DNA test in hopes of finding the answers. With best friend El and lab partner Victor, Tessa uses the results to start building her family tree. But they find more dead ends than answers. Her biological mother, who was raised in a religious cult, has cut all ties with her controlling family. And her biological father remains a complete mystery, at least until the police show up. For fifteen years, they’ve been trying to identify a serial killer known as the Portland Phantom. Tessa is the link they’ve been waiting for.
April Henry delivers a twisty tour-de-force about the families who choose us—and the ones we’re born into. Biology doesn't have to be one's destiny.
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 12, 2026
4 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
April Henry
34 books3,390 followersI write mysteries and thrillers. I live in Portland, Oregon with my family.
If you've read one of my books, I would love to hear from you. Hearing from readers makes me eager to keep writing.
When I was 12, I sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He liked it so much he arranged to have it published in an international children's magazine.
My dream of writing went dormant until I was in my 30s, working at a corporate job, and started writing books on the side. Those first few years are now thankfully a blur. Now I'm very lucky to make a living doing what I love. I have written31 novels for adults and teens, with more on the way. My books have been on the New York Times bestseller list, translated into twelve languages, and won the Edgar, Anthony, and Oregon Book awards.
If you've read one of my books, I would love to hear from you. Hearing from readers makes me eager to keep writing.
When I was 12, I sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He liked it so much he arranged to have it published in an international children's magazine.
My dream of writing went dormant until I was in my 30s, working at a corporate job, and started writing books on the side. Those first few years are now thankfully a blur. Now I'm very lucky to make a living doing what I love. I have written31 novels for adults and teens, with more on the way. My books have been on the New York Times bestseller list, translated into twelve languages, and won the Edgar, Anthony, and Oregon Book awards.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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January 14, 2026I couldn't put down this book and I was "afraid" what would happen next, but I couldn't put it down!
It's perfect for high school readers who love a good mystery. April Henry is very good at keeping readers on the edge of their seat throughout the whole book.
A must-have addition for all libraries!
Possible Spoiler Alert-
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Possible Spoiler Alert-
I can see this book being using in high school classes mainly for the ending and the use of AI to deceive someone. Showing how AI can be used to create false pictures and videos of someone. This would be a great discussion in high school classrooms of the legality and effectiveness. How can you tell an image of video is real? How can you trust what is online?
It's perfect for high school readers who love a good mystery. April Henry is very good at keeping readers on the edge of their seat throughout the whole book.
A must-have addition for all libraries!
Possible Spoiler Alert-
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Possible Spoiler Alert-
I can see this book being using in high school classes mainly for the ending and the use of AI to deceive someone. Showing how AI can be used to create false pictures and videos of someone. This would be a great discussion in high school classrooms of the legality and effectiveness. How can you tell an image of video is real? How can you trust what is online?
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Tessa Lundgren has always known she was left at a fire station right after her birth and adopted, and is happy with her parents, but when she turns 18, her best friend El gives her a DNA test. The two had always thought about who Tessa's biological parents might have been, so Tessa does eventually send off the test. She's busy at school, and starts hanging out with her lab partner, Victor. In alternating chapters, we also hear the point of view of Keisha, a police officer who is sent to do a welfare check on a young woman named Alida and finds her murdered. She starts to delve into the fifteen years history of a killer called the Portland Phantom who is scrupulous about leaving no traces, but who does leave gruesome "calling cards" of mementos from previous victims. There is only one sample of DNA from one of his killings, taken from underneath the fingernails of the victim. We also see Quentin Sinclair, who is committing the murders, and get a look at the warped psychology behind his actions. While her parents are generally supportive of her, Tessa has noticed that they seem very stressed, and worry that they will divorce, leaving her and her younger sister Phoebe, their biological child, in a stressful situation. When she gets her DNA match back, she locates a woman who is probably a cousin of her mother. Audrey meets up with Tessa, El, and Victor, and seems to think that her cousin Gina might be Tessa's mother. Gina is involved in a cult-like religious group called the Reapers, and does talk to Tessa. It seems that her daughter Ruth might be Tessa's mother, but she ran away from home around the time that Tessa was born. Since she was raised in such a strict environment, Tessa is at a loss as to who her father might have been. She talks to Ruth's brother Jared, who gives her Ruth's diary. There's still not a lot of information. There has been yet another murder, and Keisha, who is still involved in the investigation, gets an alert about Tessa's DNA test. Suspicion falls on Tessa's father, until the detectives talk to Tessa and find out that she is adopted. We see Quentin setting up his next murder, and learn about Ruth's affair with him from his perspective. Tessa is upset to learn that her father might be the Portland Phantom, but when Quentin finds out he has a daughter, the situation becomes dangerous for all involved. Will Tessa find her father, or will she become his next victim?
My students are enthralled by true crime podcasts and documentaries like the one in the book that details the investigation into the Portland Phantom and is quoted between chapters. Henry's When We Go Missing has been extremely popular with my students, and this book is even better!
I've never been a fan of true crime stories, but Henry writes such incredible mysteries that I was drawn right in. There are a lot of twists and turns that I don't want to ruin. Seeing the story unfold from three different perspectives didn't sound that appealing to me at first, but ended up being absolutely fascinating, and added a huge amount of tension to the story! The research behind the science of DNA and the way that crime scenes are investigated is very evident, and I would NEVER want to get on Henry's bad side. If anyone could pull off the perfect crime, I think it could be her!
The best part of this was that even though the murders are grisly and Quentin is clearly deranged, there are no details that make this inappropriate for middle school readers. Even Ruth's pregnancy is framed in a very factual way with no particulars. Showing Quentin's thought process can't have been easy, but we see his wife, Melanie and her Precious Moments figurines, and also Quentin's creepy storage unit with the relics from his victims. This is top notch writing, since it is suspenseful without having to resort to gruesome descriptions, profanity, or more mature language.
There's plenty of suspense, and the end of the book is fraught with danger. I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to say that Tessa survives, and ends up writing a book about her experience, since throughout the story she has talked about wanting to write. After all of the tension of the book, it is good to have a happy ending; even Tessa's parents problems are revealed as being a health issues with the father.
Something about the cover reminded me of Lois Duncan or Joan Lowery Nixon books from the 1990s, in absolutely the best way. There's always been a middle grade and young adult interest in true crime and murder, but they are hard topics to write about for this age group. Henry knocks it out of the park every single time with her books, and just keeps getting better and better. I will buy at least three copies of this newest title, which my students have been asking about already in January 2026.
Also, I hadn't known that the murder case of Lois Duncan's daughter was solved in 2021. Sadly, the author died in 2016.
https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/loi...
Tessa Lundgren has always known she was left at a fire station right after her birth and adopted, and is happy with her parents, but when she turns 18, her best friend El gives her a DNA test. The two had always thought about who Tessa's biological parents might have been, so Tessa does eventually send off the test. She's busy at school, and starts hanging out with her lab partner, Victor. In alternating chapters, we also hear the point of view of Keisha, a police officer who is sent to do a welfare check on a young woman named Alida and finds her murdered. She starts to delve into the fifteen years history of a killer called the Portland Phantom who is scrupulous about leaving no traces, but who does leave gruesome "calling cards" of mementos from previous victims. There is only one sample of DNA from one of his killings, taken from underneath the fingernails of the victim. We also see Quentin Sinclair, who is committing the murders, and get a look at the warped psychology behind his actions. While her parents are generally supportive of her, Tessa has noticed that they seem very stressed, and worry that they will divorce, leaving her and her younger sister Phoebe, their biological child, in a stressful situation. When she gets her DNA match back, she locates a woman who is probably a cousin of her mother. Audrey meets up with Tessa, El, and Victor, and seems to think that her cousin Gina might be Tessa's mother. Gina is involved in a cult-like religious group called the Reapers, and does talk to Tessa. It seems that her daughter Ruth might be Tessa's mother, but she ran away from home around the time that Tessa was born. Since she was raised in such a strict environment, Tessa is at a loss as to who her father might have been. She talks to Ruth's brother Jared, who gives her Ruth's diary. There's still not a lot of information. There has been yet another murder, and Keisha, who is still involved in the investigation, gets an alert about Tessa's DNA test. Suspicion falls on Tessa's father, until the detectives talk to Tessa and find out that she is adopted. We see Quentin setting up his next murder, and learn about Ruth's affair with him from his perspective. Tessa is upset to learn that her father might be the Portland Phantom, but when Quentin finds out he has a daughter, the situation becomes dangerous for all involved. Will Tessa find her father, or will she become his next victim?
My students are enthralled by true crime podcasts and documentaries like the one in the book that details the investigation into the Portland Phantom and is quoted between chapters. Henry's When We Go Missing has been extremely popular with my students, and this book is even better!
I've never been a fan of true crime stories, but Henry writes such incredible mysteries that I was drawn right in. There are a lot of twists and turns that I don't want to ruin. Seeing the story unfold from three different perspectives didn't sound that appealing to me at first, but ended up being absolutely fascinating, and added a huge amount of tension to the story! The research behind the science of DNA and the way that crime scenes are investigated is very evident, and I would NEVER want to get on Henry's bad side. If anyone could pull off the perfect crime, I think it could be her!
The best part of this was that even though the murders are grisly and Quentin is clearly deranged, there are no details that make this inappropriate for middle school readers. Even Ruth's pregnancy is framed in a very factual way with no particulars. Showing Quentin's thought process can't have been easy, but we see his wife, Melanie and her Precious Moments figurines, and also Quentin's creepy storage unit with the relics from his victims. This is top notch writing, since it is suspenseful without having to resort to gruesome descriptions, profanity, or more mature language.
There's plenty of suspense, and the end of the book is fraught with danger. I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to say that Tessa survives, and ends up writing a book about her experience, since throughout the story she has talked about wanting to write. After all of the tension of the book, it is good to have a happy ending; even Tessa's parents problems are revealed as being a health issues with the father.
Something about the cover reminded me of Lois Duncan or Joan Lowery Nixon books from the 1990s, in absolutely the best way. There's always been a middle grade and young adult interest in true crime and murder, but they are hard topics to write about for this age group. Henry knocks it out of the park every single time with her books, and just keeps getting better and better. I will buy at least three copies of this newest title, which my students have been asking about already in January 2026.
Also, I hadn't known that the murder case of Lois Duncan's daughter was solved in 2021. Sadly, the author died in 2016.
https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/loi...
November 30, 2025
Thank you to School Library Journal for allowing me to read and review this!
April Henry at her best; this book is great for those who are young adults into a more realistic crime/thriller that is fast paced. I would recommend this book for mature middle grade students, or high school students as there are mentions of grooming, cults, homophobia, racism, matured language, violence, and murder. Situations in this novel are more mature for some young teens, but not gory or unrealistic. Definitely a closed-door book with implications of sex.
About the book with no spoilers:
Tessa is given a DNA testing kit for her eighteenth birthday by her best friend during their senior year of high school, El, as Tessa has always been curious about her biological parents since she was adopted as a newborn. She always stuck out at home with her little sister, Phoebe, as her parents weren’t ever expecting their own child, hence Tessa’s adoption.
In her hometown of Portland, Oregon, over the span of sixteen years, the Portland Phantom has been on a string of murders killing young women where the Phantom leaves clues and “trophies” at each crime scene where he has yet to be identified after seven murders over this time frame. Two murders in the span of six weeks raises a huge red flag, and a DNA match leads back to Tessa at a 49.9% where she learns that her research about her biological parents turns to be the biggest lead for these serial killings since they began.
This book is told in three different points of view: Tessa’s, the Portland Phantom, and the lead detective in the case, Keisha. The pace is pretty fast depending on your reading ability which can easily be read within the span of one whole day as the book is no longer than 250 pages, I’m sure depending on formatting and editing upon its final publication.
I do give this novel four stars because I felt as if there was a chunk of information in the story that was skipped. Parts of the research and events in the story were skipped and in the beginning of some chapters, it was touched on enough to understand, but still would have been interesting to have reactions from characters as events unfolded. I would definitely recommend this book, along with other April Henry books, if you are freshly interested and looking for young adult crime/thriller reads!
April Henry at her best; this book is great for those who are young adults into a more realistic crime/thriller that is fast paced. I would recommend this book for mature middle grade students, or high school students as there are mentions of grooming, cults, homophobia, racism, matured language, violence, and murder. Situations in this novel are more mature for some young teens, but not gory or unrealistic. Definitely a closed-door book with implications of sex.
About the book with no spoilers:
Tessa is given a DNA testing kit for her eighteenth birthday by her best friend during their senior year of high school, El, as Tessa has always been curious about her biological parents since she was adopted as a newborn. She always stuck out at home with her little sister, Phoebe, as her parents weren’t ever expecting their own child, hence Tessa’s adoption.
In her hometown of Portland, Oregon, over the span of sixteen years, the Portland Phantom has been on a string of murders killing young women where the Phantom leaves clues and “trophies” at each crime scene where he has yet to be identified after seven murders over this time frame. Two murders in the span of six weeks raises a huge red flag, and a DNA match leads back to Tessa at a 49.9% where she learns that her research about her biological parents turns to be the biggest lead for these serial killings since they began.
This book is told in three different points of view: Tessa’s, the Portland Phantom, and the lead detective in the case, Keisha. The pace is pretty fast depending on your reading ability which can easily be read within the span of one whole day as the book is no longer than 250 pages, I’m sure depending on formatting and editing upon its final publication.
I do give this novel four stars because I felt as if there was a chunk of information in the story that was skipped. Parts of the research and events in the story were skipped and in the beginning of some chapters, it was touched on enough to understand, but still would have been interesting to have reactions from characters as events unfolded. I would definitely recommend this book, along with other April Henry books, if you are freshly interested and looking for young adult crime/thriller reads!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Disclaimer: I am adopted.
I was hoping this book would delve into the nuances surrounding adoption instead of regurgitating the same tired narrative that biological connection outweighs everything else (looking at you The Reappearance of Rachel Price). I guess there's an attempt at that here, but it was hard for me to enjoy it because Tessa doesn't even feel like the main character in her own story? There are 3 POVs in this book, 2 of which are adults, something I've never encountered in a YA novel. I can see the appeal of Quentin having his own POV, but the cop's POV felt completely unnecessary and just took away page time from Tessa and and learning more about her adoptive family. Tessa's conflicting feelings would've been more impactful had she gotten more interactions with her parents and especially her little sister. Without that added context, everything felt too distant.
As for Quentin, he obviously sucks, but that's intentional so I don't mind that. What I do mind, however, is that I felt like way more care went into his characterization and backstory compared to Tessa. The strongest parts of this book are the flashbacks about Tessa's biological mom and her relationship with Quentin. Would've been nice to stay focused on Tessa and maybe small snippets of her birthmother's life instead of sidelining her to keep the focus on the serial killer, when Tessa being adopted is the whole reason this story exists. Just felt like adoption was used more as a plot device instead of offering any insightful commentary, which I'm not a huge fan of.
I was hoping this book would delve into the nuances surrounding adoption instead of regurgitating the same tired narrative that biological connection outweighs everything else (looking at you The Reappearance of Rachel Price). I guess there's an attempt at that here, but it was hard for me to enjoy it because Tessa doesn't even feel like the main character in her own story? There are 3 POVs in this book, 2 of which are adults, something I've never encountered in a YA novel. I can see the appeal of Quentin having his own POV, but the cop's POV felt completely unnecessary and just took away page time from Tessa and and learning more about her adoptive family. Tessa's conflicting feelings would've been more impactful had she gotten more interactions with her parents and especially her little sister. Without that added context, everything felt too distant.
As for Quentin, he obviously sucks, but that's intentional so I don't mind that. What I do mind, however, is that I felt like way more care went into his characterization and backstory compared to Tessa. The strongest parts of this book are the flashbacks about Tessa's biological mom and her relationship with Quentin. Would've been nice to stay focused on Tessa and maybe small snippets of her birthmother's life instead of sidelining her to keep the focus on the serial killer, when Tessa being adopted is the whole reason this story exists. Just felt like adoption was used more as a plot device instead of offering any insightful commentary, which I'm not a huge fan of.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
IN THE BLOOD by April Henry (May 12, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and LBBYR for the earc
When Tessa turns 18, she uses a DNA test to try and figure out who are biological parents are. With help from her friends, she begins building a family tree that ends in a dead end. She learns who her mother is, but her father remains unknown. When the police show up, Tessa learns that her DNA matches that of someone in their system---her father is the Portland Phantom.
IN THE BLOOD is a YA thriller with a bit of m*rder scattered throughout. This is very found-family focused---even though Tessa wants to know who her bio family is. It's also heartbreaking, especially as Tessa unravels her past, her parents' past.
A few things that I love about Henry's books are how fast-paced they are, how the chapters aren't too drawn out, and how sometimes we get the "whodunits" point of view. IN THE BLOOD is no exception. This is a fast-paced read with a lot of science-y/ancestry bits. It was quite interesting learning these things, and it really put into perspective how things connect and whatnot.
IN THE BLOOD isn't extremely high-stakes, but once it gets to a certain spot, the stakes had never been higher. (I love when things amp up). This is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that offers multiple pov's, drama, and true crime. What's not to love?
IN THE BLOOD by April Henry (May 12, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and LBBYR for the earc
When Tessa turns 18, she uses a DNA test to try and figure out who are biological parents are. With help from her friends, she begins building a family tree that ends in a dead end. She learns who her mother is, but her father remains unknown. When the police show up, Tessa learns that her DNA matches that of someone in their system---her father is the Portland Phantom.
IN THE BLOOD is a YA thriller with a bit of m*rder scattered throughout. This is very found-family focused---even though Tessa wants to know who her bio family is. It's also heartbreaking, especially as Tessa unravels her past, her parents' past.
A few things that I love about Henry's books are how fast-paced they are, how the chapters aren't too drawn out, and how sometimes we get the "whodunits" point of view. IN THE BLOOD is no exception. This is a fast-paced read with a lot of science-y/ancestry bits. It was quite interesting learning these things, and it really put into perspective how things connect and whatnot.
IN THE BLOOD isn't extremely high-stakes, but once it gets to a certain spot, the stakes had never been higher. (I love when things amp up). This is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that offers multiple pov's, drama, and true crime. What's not to love?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a very interesting thriller! I read this in one sitting! I liked how this book had 3 POVs ; Tessa’s: an 18 years old trying to find her biological parents, Keisha’s, the police officer on the trail of the Portland Phantom and Quentin’s, the Portland Phantom. But because of the 3 POVs, there wasn’t a lot of suspense at the beginning, since the blurb of the book does tell a big part of what is going to happen. Nevertheless, towards the end, there’s more shocking revelations, so it’s worth reading until the end! It’s a nice short thriller but it does pack a punch. I liked how profound the author went into the psychology of the serial killer. You can’t help but feel disgusted by what he’s doing and his justification of the murders. I’d recommend this book for readers, including young adults who like fast paced thrillers !
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book. Opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book. Opinions are my own.
January 4, 2026
Thank you Edelweiss for allowing me read this early! I really liked the 3 pov’s we had. It’s not your standard thriller where you don’t know who the bad guy is, you get to meet him right away. First you meet Tessa who is about to turn 18 and is adopted so she takes a dna test to find her parents one of which ends up being the Portland Phantom (her dad). Next is Keisha who is a police officer who is trying to help solve the crimes. And lastly Quintin the Portland Phantom. I always enjoy reading the pov of the killer I feel like it makes the book more unsettling and this one definitely did it. I thought the way the book ended was interesting. A good quick thriller with a uniqueish twist, one you will want to finish in one sitting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
April Henry has written another winner for YA readers. The premise of this one is so creative, the idea that anyone could discover something completely surprising doing a genealogy DNA test is one readers will relate to. That undiscovered information in our character, Tessa’s, DNA is that her father is the serial killer known as the Portland Phantom. Thank goodness April Henry has set this one in Portland, OR! Her books are always more interesting when she’s writing on her own turf. Teens will love the drama and high stakes ending of this one. I will definitely be getting this for my classroom library!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, Little, Brown and Company for providing the copy of In The Blood by April Henry. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened, so I stayed up way too late to finish this book. I loved the tangled story and the multiple POVs. The characters were well-defined, and I liked how Tessa’s parents had a story of their own, which you don’t always see in YA books. If you don’t read YA thrillers, other than the teen main character, the only thing that felt “too YA” was the last chapter. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love April Henry thrillers and this one did not disappoint.
When Tessa submits her DNA to an ancestry site to try to find her biological parents, she gets more than she bargained for.
I didn't want to put this book down, and read it in a day. Short chapters and multiple POVs kept me turning the pages.
This is great for high schoolers or readers who prefer less gore in their thrillers.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy for review.
When Tessa submits her DNA to an ancestry site to try to find her biological parents, she gets more than she bargained for.
I didn't want to put this book down, and read it in a day. Short chapters and multiple POVs kept me turning the pages.
This is great for high schoolers or readers who prefer less gore in their thrillers.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy for review.
February 9, 2026
In the Blood is a great thrill ride of a book. On Tessa's 18th birthday her best friend gifts her a DNA kit so she can learn about her biological parents after being adopted when she was an infant. Only learning more about her past could have a major impact on her future.
I absolutely loved this one. It is told through 3 different POVs and each adds a different layer to the story. Another home run for April Henry.
I absolutely loved this one. It is told through 3 different POVs and each adds a different layer to the story. Another home run for April Henry.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I enjoyed this one a lot! It's a quick and suspenseful read that was hard to put down.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
An interesting thriller. More plot than character development. Got an ARC from Edelweiss
Want to read
February 8, 2026really love this author!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews