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Blood Always Tells
Dominique Monaghan just wanted to get even with her two-timing, married boyfriend, a washed-up boxer stuck in a toxic marriage to a dangerously spoiled socialite. However, an elaborate blackmail scheme soon lands her in the middle of an unexpected kidnapping... and attempted murder. But who is actually out to kill whom?
Desmond Edgars, Dominique’s big brother, has looked out for his wayward sister ever since their mother was convicted of murder many years ago, so when he receives a frantic phone call from Dominique in the middle of the night, he drops everything to rush to the rescue. But to find out what has really happened to his sister, the stoic ex-military man must navigate a tangled web of murder and deception, involving a family fortune, a couple of shifty lawyers, and a missing child, while wrestling with his own bloody secrets...
“Blood Always Tells will surprise you at every turn. You think you know what’s going on... until you don’t. Hilary Davidson is the master of plot twists!” — Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author
“Blood Always Tells is a story about power and powerlessness, about selfishness and selflessness, about desperate people doing desperate things. Underneath it all, though, it’s also a meditation on fate and free will, on nature and nurture, and on whether it’s possible to overcome genetics and circumstance.” — Criminal Element
“Readers may think they know where Hilary Davidson is going with Blood Always Tells, but they’ll be wrong time and again. Davidson writes thrillers by her own set of rules and the result is a terrific, highly original read” — Gar Anthony Haywood, Shamus Award-winning author
“A tale of revenge and redemption that keeps the reader guessing until the last page.” — Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author
Desmond Edgars, Dominique’s big brother, has looked out for his wayward sister ever since their mother was convicted of murder many years ago, so when he receives a frantic phone call from Dominique in the middle of the night, he drops everything to rush to the rescue. But to find out what has really happened to his sister, the stoic ex-military man must navigate a tangled web of murder and deception, involving a family fortune, a couple of shifty lawyers, and a missing child, while wrestling with his own bloody secrets...
“Blood Always Tells will surprise you at every turn. You think you know what’s going on... until you don’t. Hilary Davidson is the master of plot twists!” — Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author
“Blood Always Tells is a story about power and powerlessness, about selfishness and selflessness, about desperate people doing desperate things. Underneath it all, though, it’s also a meditation on fate and free will, on nature and nurture, and on whether it’s possible to overcome genetics and circumstance.” — Criminal Element
“Readers may think they know where Hilary Davidson is going with Blood Always Tells, but they’ll be wrong time and again. Davidson writes thrillers by her own set of rules and the result is a terrific, highly original read” — Gar Anthony Haywood, Shamus Award-winning author
“A tale of revenge and redemption that keeps the reader guessing until the last page.” — Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author
314 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2014
13 people are currently reading
1530 people want to read
About the author
Hilary Davidson
66 books580 followersHilary Davidson was a journalist before she turned to the dark side and started writing crime fiction. Her novels include the award-winning Lily Moore series—The Damage Done, The Next One to Fall, and Evil in All Its Disguises—the bestselling Shadows of New York series—One Small Sacrifice and Don’t Look Down—and the standalone novels Blood Always Tells and Her Last Breath. She is also the author of some fifty short stories. Her fiction has won two Anthony Awards, a Derringer Award, and a host of other accolades. Toronto born and raised, she moved to New York City in October 2001. She is also the author of 18 nonfiction books. Her next novel, Every Lie I Told, will be published on June 16, 2026, by Blackstone.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
January 24, 2018
In my review of Davidson's collection, The Black Widow Club, I sort-of compared her to Hitchcock. Yep, I did that. And I'll probably do it again here. Davidson impressed me again with this book, with her skill with plot and character, and the melding of the two. She tells a crafty story about a former supermodel who's plot to blackmail her married ex-boyfriend is thwarted by a bigger, deeper, and ultimately more deadly conspiracy. To say more would betray the joy of discovering the Hitchcockian plot reversals and twists that will keep you on your toes. And she really sucked me into caring about the characters in no time!
Another hit for Davidson!
"At some point, you have to be more than a collection of all the rotten things that ever happened to you."While reading, I realized how appropriate the title of the book really is, because the running theme through its entirety is how every character's motivations and decisions are ultimately informed by the effect of family and its legacy; family secrets that have affected the rest of their lives. Fans of the classic mysteries of Ross MacDonald will enjoy this one. Another thing I found surprising was how much the main character is constantly informing the cops about the case, when usually in the mystery genre, the amateur detective is almost always trying to work around the inept or corrupt police.
Another hit for Davidson!
February 23, 2014
An extremely good read, the characters in this suspense bring excitement to every page.
Dominique Monaghan is a supermodel who is, shall we say, a little past her prime. She has decided to get even with her ex-boyfriend, Gary Cowan, for stringing her along and playing a game she’s just figured out. For one thing, he is married. A boxer who is also past his prime, Gary is in a marriage with a very spoiled socialite who’s more than a little dangerous.
The supermodel, of course, is a bit dangerous too. Planning to go away with Cowan on a trip, she intends to slip him a mickey and ask him questions about his betrothed, so she can gather secrets to use against him that will make his wife leave him in the dust.
However, when the couple arrive at their destination, her simple plan goes out the window. Within the country house a kidnapping takes place and the duo is transported to an old house in the Pocono’s where they are kept apart by a couple of extremely inept criminals. Dominique searches the house for Gary, but is more than a bit surprised to find him in the basement living the ‘life of Riley’. As the secrets are revealed, the fun truly begins.
When Desmond Edgars, Dominique’s very big brother, receives a phone call from sis in the middle of the night, he finds a situation that makes his blood boil. Going on a spree to discover the truth, Desmond not only finds himself embroiled in a murder, but also a ring of crimes that include a family fortune, crooked lawyers, and a child who has been missing for years.
This is a fantastic mystery of love, criminals, and a family that is more weird than any other in literature. With extremely well-written characters and a fabulous plot, mysteries just don’t get much better than this!
Dominique Monaghan is a supermodel who is, shall we say, a little past her prime. She has decided to get even with her ex-boyfriend, Gary Cowan, for stringing her along and playing a game she’s just figured out. For one thing, he is married. A boxer who is also past his prime, Gary is in a marriage with a very spoiled socialite who’s more than a little dangerous.
The supermodel, of course, is a bit dangerous too. Planning to go away with Cowan on a trip, she intends to slip him a mickey and ask him questions about his betrothed, so she can gather secrets to use against him that will make his wife leave him in the dust.
However, when the couple arrive at their destination, her simple plan goes out the window. Within the country house a kidnapping takes place and the duo is transported to an old house in the Pocono’s where they are kept apart by a couple of extremely inept criminals. Dominique searches the house for Gary, but is more than a bit surprised to find him in the basement living the ‘life of Riley’. As the secrets are revealed, the fun truly begins.
When Desmond Edgars, Dominique’s very big brother, receives a phone call from sis in the middle of the night, he finds a situation that makes his blood boil. Going on a spree to discover the truth, Desmond not only finds himself embroiled in a murder, but also a ring of crimes that include a family fortune, crooked lawyers, and a child who has been missing for years.
This is a fantastic mystery of love, criminals, and a family that is more weird than any other in literature. With extremely well-written characters and a fabulous plot, mysteries just don’t get much better than this!
February 12, 2014
I was kind of excited to learn Hilary Davidson was done with her Hitcockian Lily Moore trilogy, not because it was bad, but because I know for a fact it's only one side of her writing talent. Everyone who had read her short stories know how singular and twisted she can get. Then comes BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS, her first standalone novel.
Hilary Davidson is such a gifted classical storyteller. She doesn't play with the form at all, her novels real like airport thrillers, except they're a lot more complex, sophisticated and just flat out better. In BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS, she draws a web of storylines without you ever noticing it. Her character lives in a world where everything is about appearances and reputation while visceral things forces them to confront one another and BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS won't disappoint in that regard.
It felt good to read one of her novels again, like seeing an old friend who can always turn a boring evenings into a complete blast.
Hilary Davidson is such a gifted classical storyteller. She doesn't play with the form at all, her novels real like airport thrillers, except they're a lot more complex, sophisticated and just flat out better. In BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS, she draws a web of storylines without you ever noticing it. Her character lives in a world where everything is about appearances and reputation while visceral things forces them to confront one another and BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS won't disappoint in that regard.
It felt good to read one of her novels again, like seeing an old friend who can always turn a boring evenings into a complete blast.
February 12, 2015
"...I also know that blood always tells. Your mother was a murderer. You're capable of killing a man just like she did."
Blood Always Tells was an incredible story about what means to lose a family and stick to them even after they are gone. It had everything. Amazing plot, great characters, and non stop action with twists that noone could have predicted.
Story starts off when Dominique puts together a plan to set up her ex-boyfriend Gary to tell her the truth about his wife. Spending a weekend together should give her enough time to put her plan in action but when a guy in the mask kidnaps them and takes them to the middle of nowhere, Dominique has to find a way out.
Desmond gets a phone call from his sister Dominique that she's in trouble. Ever since he turned his life around, he would do anything for his sister to ensure that she is safe and sound. But finding out the murderer can get him into a lot of trouble with the law and the bad guys and the only way to decide who is the real killer is to follow the leads.
You know you read a good mystery book when you almost cry when it ends. It's so hard to find a good one too because you usually know who did it and don't even want to continue with the story. But Hilary Davidson definitely has an amazing talent for keeping the reader in the dark. I can't believe these twists actually got me,
Definitely recommend to anyone who's been looking for a good mystery book or looking to change up the genres!
May 3, 2014
The setup here is reminiscent of an Elmore Leonard tale -- but before long, this story heads into darker terrain. I particularly enjoyed the sharp wit that's on display, especially with regard to New York society. That aspect reminded me a great deal of Dominick Dunne's work.
Where Hilary Davidson differs from other authors, however, is in how she crafts her stories. There are multiple layers, which she reveals expertly. As with her Lily Moore books (of which I have read two), the inner workings of human psychology are explored from a variety of angles. I like the Lily books a great deal...but I like this one even better.
Where Hilary Davidson differs from other authors, however, is in how she crafts her stories. There are multiple layers, which she reveals expertly. As with her Lily Moore books (of which I have read two), the inner workings of human psychology are explored from a variety of angles. I like the Lily books a great deal...but I like this one even better.
July 17, 2014
They're two things I wanted to say before I start my review:
One: I won this book in a goodreads giveaway, and I have to say, I am glad, because this book left me at the edge of my seat, and left me wanting more!!
Two: This is my very first book that I have read from this author... I know I'm horrible, but I just discovered her through this book, and now I want to read more of her books....
Anyway on with the review!
This book has a person named Dominique (I don't like that name, too long :P).
She just wanted to get even with her two-timing, married boyfriend, a washed-up boxer stuck in a toxic marriage to a dangerously spoiled socialite (I feel you!!).
However, an elaborate blackmail scheme soon lands her in the middle of an unexpected kidnapping... and attempted murder.
The question is: who is actually out to kill whom????
We also have Desmond Edgars.
He is Dominique’s big brother, who has looked out for his wayward sister ever since their mother was convicted of murdering many years ago, so when he receives a frantic phone call from Dominique in the middle of the night, he drops everything to rush to the rescue.
But to find out what has really happened to his sister, the stoic ex-military man must navigate a tangled web of murder and deception, involving a family fortune, a couple of shifty lawyers, and a missing child, while wrestling with his own bloody secrets...
This book had everything, from love, and crime, to a family gone wrong. :P
One: I won this book in a goodreads giveaway, and I have to say, I am glad, because this book left me at the edge of my seat, and left me wanting more!!
Two: This is my very first book that I have read from this author... I know I'm horrible, but I just discovered her through this book, and now I want to read more of her books....
Anyway on with the review!
This book has a person named Dominique (I don't like that name, too long :P).
She just wanted to get even with her two-timing, married boyfriend, a washed-up boxer stuck in a toxic marriage to a dangerously spoiled socialite (I feel you!!).
However, an elaborate blackmail scheme soon lands her in the middle of an unexpected kidnapping... and attempted murder.
The question is: who is actually out to kill whom????
We also have Desmond Edgars.
He is Dominique’s big brother, who has looked out for his wayward sister ever since their mother was convicted of murdering many years ago, so when he receives a frantic phone call from Dominique in the middle of the night, he drops everything to rush to the rescue.
But to find out what has really happened to his sister, the stoic ex-military man must navigate a tangled web of murder and deception, involving a family fortune, a couple of shifty lawyers, and a missing child, while wrestling with his own bloody secrets...
This book had everything, from love, and crime, to a family gone wrong. :P
May 21, 2018
I think this would be a 4.5 since I couldn’t stop reading it- I needed to know who the killer was and so I read for 24 hours straight basically!
April 22, 2014
I came to crime fiction via Kate Atkinson, so Hilary Davidson is something of a departure. She’s less blurry about genre, more bare-bones, hardboiled. Though not so much that there isn’t a character here who isn’t always spouting literary allusions, this time Marcus Aurelius. And the spouter is Desmond Edgars, a fascinating character, a helicopter pilot who hauled his own good self out of a troubled youth by way of a good education and military service. Though there is a hollowness to him, something broken in his core, and what makes Blood Always Tells different from the other crime novels I’ve read lately is that Desmond’s emotional truth and complexity stays peripheral to a question that refuses to digress, despite Davidson’s plot with its many twists and turns. And the question, of course, is, Who done it?
But who done what? It’s not straightforward. The book opens with Desmond’s half-sister, Dominique, who’s putting a plan in motion to take revenge on her cheating boyfriend, but then the two of them get kidnapped and holed up in a creepy house in the middle of nowhere. It seems like Dominique’s boyfriend has set them both up to get money out of his heartless wife (yes, he’s married. Yes, it’s complicated) or else the wife is out to get them both, and luckily Dominique has better luck getting a cellphone signal than she does getting her bearings. She manages to get through to her brother Desmond who drops everything to come and find her, to come to rescue just like he always did.
Blood Always Tells is a novel steeped in atmosphere, and it took me a while to find my own bearings, partly because Dominique is not well defined, and the story of her boyfriend and his wife is vaguely preposterous. But once Desmond took over the story, I was hooked, his perspective adding a steadying force, which is essential as the story gets wilder and wilder. Suddenly, we’re dealing with stupid cops and hostile cops, drug dealers, glamour models, three different tragic family legacies, and the extraordinary lengths that one sibling will go to protect another.
The final time I sat down with this book, I had just a few pages left, but absolutely no idea how the story would be resolved. The only thing I was expecting was that I would probably be surprised, and I was, even shocked. Hilary Davidson has nerve, in addition to skill, and in this, her first stand-alone novel, she’s made her mark and it’s truly first-rate.
But who done what? It’s not straightforward. The book opens with Desmond’s half-sister, Dominique, who’s putting a plan in motion to take revenge on her cheating boyfriend, but then the two of them get kidnapped and holed up in a creepy house in the middle of nowhere. It seems like Dominique’s boyfriend has set them both up to get money out of his heartless wife (yes, he’s married. Yes, it’s complicated) or else the wife is out to get them both, and luckily Dominique has better luck getting a cellphone signal than she does getting her bearings. She manages to get through to her brother Desmond who drops everything to come and find her, to come to rescue just like he always did.
Blood Always Tells is a novel steeped in atmosphere, and it took me a while to find my own bearings, partly because Dominique is not well defined, and the story of her boyfriend and his wife is vaguely preposterous. But once Desmond took over the story, I was hooked, his perspective adding a steadying force, which is essential as the story gets wilder and wilder. Suddenly, we’re dealing with stupid cops and hostile cops, drug dealers, glamour models, three different tragic family legacies, and the extraordinary lengths that one sibling will go to protect another.
The final time I sat down with this book, I had just a few pages left, but absolutely no idea how the story would be resolved. The only thing I was expecting was that I would probably be surprised, and I was, even shocked. Hilary Davidson has nerve, in addition to skill, and in this, her first stand-alone novel, she’s made her mark and it’s truly first-rate.
May 17, 2014
Congrats to Hilary Davidson for this chilling standalone departure from her Lily Moore series. I read all the Lily books and will follow her anywhere, but I'm glad Davidson took a break, because I needed this book for an escapist day of rapid page turning. I wouldn't quite call this a beach read - too many deaths (and some violence) for a sunny day. This is the story of a woman, Dominique, who discovers that her married lover is cheating not only on his wife, but on her, as well - and decides to get revenge by drugging him, manipulating him into telling the truth, taping it, and handing the tape over to his wife. Instead, on Dominique's carefully orchestrated weekend-of-truth-telling away, she and the louse are kidnapped. And there begins a twisting ride. Many reviewers and readers talk about the twists at the end, but it was a twist about a third of the way through that affected me the most. I truly did not see it coming, and it was like playing that kids' game, Whip It (I think it's called that), when someone grabs your hands and whips you forward - that's what the twist did for me. It whipped me hard into the heart of the book. Needless to say, I finished it in less than 2 days!
June 19, 2014
BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS is a twisted tale of revenge, murder, family, and loyalty. Dominique Monaghan is a beautiful woman who fell for the wrong married man. When she found out he was also cheating on her, she comes up with a plan to blackmail him. Yet, it backfires in a big way and she finds herself kidnapped along with her cheating beau. Desmond Edgars is Dominique’s brother and protector. Always looking out for her since their mother was convicted for Dominique’s father’s murder; he doesn’t hesitate to respond to Dominique’s strange cry for help. What he finds leads him untangle a complex web of deceit spun by all the players. BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS is a compelling and strange tale. The characters and their intricate connections draw you into the plot quickly and will hold you there until the ride is over. This is the first book I’ve read by Hilary Davidson, but I know it won’t be the last. The story is told through the eyes of three different characters, but all of the secondary characters are just as detailed and rich as the main characters. I don’t want to give too much away – BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS is a great book!
April 28, 2014
In a stand-alone story based in NYC, Hilary Davidson gives us many of answers and then robs us of the easy solutions. That is just the way I like it.
Davidson is also the queen of 'fore-shadowing', one of my first-learned and ever-favorite literary terms. And why does she wear the crown? Because she fore-shadowed the reveal of an old secret. Yes, she built UP to the PAST! (Kinda Doctor Who-ish.)
Okay, it has probably been done before and a reader probably knows the big secret before the reveal. However, actual fore-shadowing was pretty artfully and delicately done. Brava.
Lily Moore, the center of Davidson's first three books, takes a break. Hopefully it's a temporary one. In the meantime, BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS was worthy.
Davidson is also the queen of 'fore-shadowing', one of my first-learned and ever-favorite literary terms. And why does she wear the crown? Because she fore-shadowed the reveal of an old secret. Yes, she built UP to the PAST! (Kinda Doctor Who-ish.)
Okay, it has probably been done before and a reader probably knows the big secret before the reveal. However, actual fore-shadowing was pretty artfully and delicately done. Brava.
Lily Moore, the center of Davidson's first three books, takes a break. Hopefully it's a temporary one. In the meantime, BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS was worthy.
April 10, 2014
Since it was frigid in Denver, it was time to read a new mystery by one of my favorite authors Hilary Davidson. Blood Always Tells is the story of model/stylist Dominique who falls for the wrong man. Both have secrets and he has enemies. Dominique's brother Desmond is summoned and must figure out the mystery, the secrets while shedding light on his troubled past. It was hard to put down, as are all of Davidson's. I highly recommend it!
May 3, 2014
Hilary Davidson can tell a story like no other...she could make the ABC's exciting. I love her Lily Moore series and when I found out about the stand alone, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Not disappointed. Everything about the story was excellent. I would recommend this book to anyone who READS. Doesn't matter if you like mysteries, crime, noir, whatever. Just a damn fine read.
July 28, 2019
This book was good. I did enjoy it. It is lacking details to really tie all of these people together and that made it a bit choppy. It provided too many cliches that made the book completely eye rolling, however, still enjoyable. If you don't mind how everything is really connected it is a page turner. If you start to put stock into the whys and how's of things this story falls short and you would put it back on the shelf. It's a first draft excellent read, just needs more work to fine tune.
March 31, 2018
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
Story of a girl who wanted to get even with a married boyfriend who said the marriage was a charade. Only to wind up dead. But her older brother sets out on a revenge murder mystery. Mix in a coked up billionaire heiress, some Russian bad guys and you have a good story.
Story of a girl who wanted to get even with a married boyfriend who said the marriage was a charade. Only to wind up dead. But her older brother sets out on a revenge murder mystery. Mix in a coked up billionaire heiress, some Russian bad guys and you have a good story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2018
This was a very fast read, and I found the twists and turns interesting...although there were several points I thought didn't ring quite right. I may have to look up Davidson's mystery series as they sound a bit more up my alley.
May 17, 2019
Stereo typical characters, plodding unrealistic story filled with silly premises and predictable outcomes. I would have given it one star, but I did finish it. The fact that she constantly has one of her character quoting Marcus Aurelius made me want to throw the book across the room.
March 24, 2023
The book started out strong. I really liked the first third of it and the characters that were introduced. It went downhill after that. It felt like the development was really slow, and I found myself reading it simply to finish it, not because I enjoyed it.
July 19, 2024
Dominique is a model who just wants to get back at her married boyfriend. Instead she finds herself in the middle of a kidnapping. There are murders too. If you like twists and turns in a novel, then this one is for you. They just keep coming.
March 30, 2018
Popsugar reading challenge 2018 - a book given as a gift
June 27, 2019
3.5 stars - although it grew on me as I got further into it
March 23, 2021
WOW! Just WOW!
May 7, 2022
Liked it but not as good as her newer ones.
October 15, 2016
Boring book about horrid characters. If I hadn't been stuck in a traffic jam, I wouldn't have gotten as far as I did in listening to it. It never takes off--characters talking, talking, talking, rehashing. Even though there should be suspense because of an interesting initial situation, there is not. After awhile, I skipped through, looking for something to intrigue me, but it just got worse & worse. The stop-and-go traffic was more interesting.
January 17, 2022
Hillary Davidson is a master at murder mysteries and this is one of her best.
March 2, 2017
3.25 stars. The pace feels too rushed, with a whole lot of elements introduced into a not-terribly-long book (one of the major players in the plot doesn't show up until maybe less than 20% of the book is left). There is a wry tone every now and then that honestly made me laugh out loud, though, so I appreciated that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2017
Okay enough - will not make me go out and binge read but good nevertheless...
July 18, 2014
My Review: I wasn't sure what to expect from Hilary Davidson because I hadn't heard about her before and had only picked up this book based on my long-time friend (and fellow Library Assistant) Beth's insistence that it was a good suspenseful read. Honestly, a 'word of mouth' read is one of my favourite ways to find a new author and Beth knows me and my 'book likes' so very well.
Blood Always Tells starts off strong because Davidson doesn't waste any time getting into the storyline and suspense. It's intriguing, creepy and I wanted to know what was really going on. The story is laid out for the reader and then the twists begin to come and oh boy is there a big twist towards the beginning! I won't give anything away but when I read the twist I honestly muttered 'No! You've got to be kidding me!' when it happened. I totally didn't see that coming and I loved it!
The story is told from three points of view -- Dominique, her brother Desmond and then a fairly tertiary character. Each of these characters were interesting in their own right but my favourite main character had to be Desmond Edgars. I think a big part of this had to do with Desmond kind of resembling in physical description and personality (at least to me) to Harlan Coben's character, Myron Bolitar. Yup, I really liked him. He was the big brother swooping in to save the day. He was a strong, smart and believable main character and I would love to see more of him.
You can tell that the author has some experience with writing mysteries (she has written three books in her Lily Moore series which I'm eager to pick up now). Her pace, character development and complexity of the mystery were all well done. There are multiple layers going on within the story and even though there are quite a few characters thrown into the storyline I never felt confused about who was who.
Finding this book and author was a wonderful surprise for me. It's a story of family and how they influence who we become (good or bad), revenge, murder and deceit. With interesting characters and some great twists this is a great contender for a sittin' and relaxin' summer read.
Recommended.
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars
*** This book review, as well as many more can also be found on my blog, The Baking Bookworm (www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.ca). ***
Blood Always Tells starts off strong because Davidson doesn't waste any time getting into the storyline and suspense. It's intriguing, creepy and I wanted to know what was really going on. The story is laid out for the reader and then the twists begin to come and oh boy is there a big twist towards the beginning! I won't give anything away but when I read the twist I honestly muttered 'No! You've got to be kidding me!' when it happened. I totally didn't see that coming and I loved it!
The story is told from three points of view -- Dominique, her brother Desmond and then a fairly tertiary character. Each of these characters were interesting in their own right but my favourite main character had to be Desmond Edgars. I think a big part of this had to do with Desmond kind of resembling in physical description and personality (at least to me) to Harlan Coben's character, Myron Bolitar. Yup, I really liked him. He was the big brother swooping in to save the day. He was a strong, smart and believable main character and I would love to see more of him.
You can tell that the author has some experience with writing mysteries (she has written three books in her Lily Moore series which I'm eager to pick up now). Her pace, character development and complexity of the mystery were all well done. There are multiple layers going on within the story and even though there are quite a few characters thrown into the storyline I never felt confused about who was who.
Finding this book and author was a wonderful surprise for me. It's a story of family and how they influence who we become (good or bad), revenge, murder and deceit. With interesting characters and some great twists this is a great contender for a sittin' and relaxin' summer read.
Recommended.
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars
*** This book review, as well as many more can also be found on my blog, The Baking Bookworm (www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.ca). ***
April 30, 2014
Before reading Hilary Davidson’s Blood Always Tells I was on the verge of another book slump but luckily this book prevented that from happening. Blood Always Tells is a story that is told in different parts with three different narrators. It starts with Dominique Monaghan, a model with pretty horrible taste in men. When we first meet her, she is having an affair with a married ex-boxer. One day while trying to get revenge on him, the two of them end up getting kidnapped. The second part is then told from the perspective of Dominique’s half brother, Desmond Edgars who used to be a delinquent and later went on to enlist in the military. Here we see Desmond trying to find out what happened after he received a distressed phone call from his sister. Finally the third part features a character named Polly, a minor but very pivotal character to the story.
I flew through this book in less than two days. And if you know me, you would know that this is a very rare occurrence. But I just couldn’t help it; this book had pretty much everything a good mystery should have. Blood Always Tells was very fast paced, very difficult to put down and thrilling up until the very last page. The story was gripping, and the plot was well developed and complex with so many twists and turns that you just want to keep reading on to find out what happens next.
And while I liked Dominique’s part more than the other two parts; I did like how in the second part of the book, Desmond’s character was used to illustrate racial stereotypes still prevalent today. It’s a sad fact that the discrimination that Desmond encounters because of his skin colour is something that is still very much a reality even today in our society. To be honest, I found all the characters to be quite fascinating even Trin who is supposed to be very villainous, as she is Dominique boyfriend’s wife. I couldn’t help but be intrigued by her rather than hating her. I highly recommend Blood Always Tells as it is a very thrilling, and fast paced mystery that is as much about family and redemption as it is about murder and kidnapping. This is a must read standalone for mystery fans.
I flew through this book in less than two days. And if you know me, you would know that this is a very rare occurrence. But I just couldn’t help it; this book had pretty much everything a good mystery should have. Blood Always Tells was very fast paced, very difficult to put down and thrilling up until the very last page. The story was gripping, and the plot was well developed and complex with so many twists and turns that you just want to keep reading on to find out what happens next.
And while I liked Dominique’s part more than the other two parts; I did like how in the second part of the book, Desmond’s character was used to illustrate racial stereotypes still prevalent today. It’s a sad fact that the discrimination that Desmond encounters because of his skin colour is something that is still very much a reality even today in our society. To be honest, I found all the characters to be quite fascinating even Trin who is supposed to be very villainous, as she is Dominique boyfriend’s wife. I couldn’t help but be intrigued by her rather than hating her. I highly recommend Blood Always Tells as it is a very thrilling, and fast paced mystery that is as much about family and redemption as it is about murder and kidnapping. This is a must read standalone for mystery fans.
January 12, 2015
I have enjoyed Hilary Davidson's series centered on Lily Moore, which are not only mysteries, but, since the main character is a travel writer (as the author is) take me on a journey to a new location, as well. When I heard that a new novel was out, I snagged a copy, not even noting at all what it was about. In this case, the novel is a stand alone, but carries with it the same crafting of a mystery that hooked me with earlier writing.
A beautiful woman wants revenge on her charming but deceitful boyfriend and plots for blackmail. That she's a model, and he's a washed up boxer, married to an heiress, makes the situation more interesting. Then the blackmail plot gets complicated by a kidnapping, but it becomes even more daunting. What starts off as blackmail ends up looking like murder, with twists and turns along the way. The story is told from three points of view, each character with their own motivations and drives. There was one bit that didn't hold for me, but once I decided not to worry about a character's decision making process, I did fine. Keep writing, Hilary Davidson, and I'll keep reading.
A beautiful woman wants revenge on her charming but deceitful boyfriend and plots for blackmail. That she's a model, and he's a washed up boxer, married to an heiress, makes the situation more interesting. Then the blackmail plot gets complicated by a kidnapping, but it becomes even more daunting. What starts off as blackmail ends up looking like murder, with twists and turns along the way. The story is told from three points of view, each character with their own motivations and drives. There was one bit that didn't hold for me, but once I decided not to worry about a character's decision making process, I did fine. Keep writing, Hilary Davidson, and I'll keep reading.
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