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Not By Blood
When Tina Evans gets a call from her brother in the middle of the night, she doesn’t think much of it; she’s been fielding distress calls from Bill for the last twenty years, ever since the day their father killed their mother.
At first, this call seems just like all the others: Bill’s holed up in a Brooklyn drug den and needs her to come rescue him. But when Tina gets there, her brother’s nowhere to be found. Instead, she discovers the body of a private detective hidden in the junk heap out back. He’s been shot to death, and his gun is missing from its holster.
Tina’s about to dial 911 when she receives a three-letter text message from a number she doesn’t recognize: “Shh...”
Tina doesn’t believe in coincidence—the death of this detective and her brother’s disappearance must be related. But how? Could it be her father pulling the strings from his prison cell? And is she willing to risk her own freedom—and her life—to uncover the truth?
At first, this call seems just like all the others: Bill’s holed up in a Brooklyn drug den and needs her to come rescue him. But when Tina gets there, her brother’s nowhere to be found. Instead, she discovers the body of a private detective hidden in the junk heap out back. He’s been shot to death, and his gun is missing from its holster.
Tina’s about to dial 911 when she receives a three-letter text message from a number she doesn’t recognize: “Shh...”
Tina doesn’t believe in coincidence—the death of this detective and her brother’s disappearance must be related. But how? Could it be her father pulling the strings from his prison cell? And is she willing to risk her own freedom—and her life—to uncover the truth?
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 18, 2023
12 people are currently reading
803 people want to read
About the author
Chris Narozny
1 book65 followersProfessional ghostwriter, author of Jonah Man, The Exiled, and the forthcoming Not by Blood (a debut psychological thriller).
My website includes a three-chapter excerpt from NOT BY BLOOD.
My website includes a three-chapter excerpt from NOT BY BLOOD.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
February 7, 2023
Not really reviewing my own book--just want to let people know that it's available now through May on NetGalley. If you're interested in receiving an ARC but don't do NetGalley, please message me--I'm able to give out a limited number.
There's a three-chapter excerpt up on my website if you'd like to investigate further before committing. Meanwhile, the first blurb is in, from the wonderful Heather Chavez (NO BAD DEED, BLOOD WILL TELL):
"Utterly compulsive and brilliantly plotted, this tale of sibling loyalty and deadly family secrets digs in its claws on page one and doesn’t let go. An adrenaline-fueled, nerve-shredding thrill ride."
There's a three-chapter excerpt up on my website if you'd like to investigate further before committing. Meanwhile, the first blurb is in, from the wonderful Heather Chavez (NO BAD DEED, BLOOD WILL TELL):
"Utterly compulsive and brilliantly plotted, this tale of sibling loyalty and deadly family secrets digs in its claws on page one and doesn’t let go. An adrenaline-fueled, nerve-shredding thrill ride."
May 14, 2023
A great debut novel from this author. It was a quick read at less than 300 pages and I finished in an afternoon.
The story was fast moving but I did guess the ending. A woman searching for her brother, a troubled man who she believes in danger. She will do anything to protect him, putting herself and her family in danger.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for my copy of this book to read.
The story was fast moving but I did guess the ending. A woman searching for her brother, a troubled man who she believes in danger. She will do anything to protect him, putting herself and her family in danger.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for my copy of this book to read.
December 23, 2022
Tina receives a call in the middle of the night from her brother, Bill saying he needs help. She goes to see him, but he is not there. She does, however, find the body of a detective named Jake. When she looks at his phone she finds her husband's number on it, with a bunch of missed calls. Where is Bill and how is her husband involved with this detective?
This was a great debut. I will say, I had no idea where this was headed and was surprised by the big reveal at the end. If you like a good crime thriller filled with suspense, you are sure to enjoy NOT BY BLOOD. I read this one in a days time, as it's not a super long book, which I also appreciated.
Many thanks to Chris Narozny for my gifted copy. This review will be posted to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.review) closer to pub day.
This was a great debut. I will say, I had no idea where this was headed and was surprised by the big reveal at the end. If you like a good crime thriller filled with suspense, you are sure to enjoy NOT BY BLOOD. I read this one in a days time, as it's not a super long book, which I also appreciated.
Many thanks to Chris Narozny for my gifted copy. This review will be posted to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.review) closer to pub day.
July 23, 2023
Not By Blood is Chris Narozny's debut psychological thriller and believe it when I say this is a quick and arresting novel with an incredibly fast pace. It is only 258 pages (just over 7.5 hours on audio), and it flies by. I finished it in one day because I couldn't put it down, and I had to know where Bill was and what Tina was going to uncover in her search for him. There are many elements to this story, which means it is never boring, and it has been a minute since I read something so fast-paced and punchy. I really liked Tina’s character and it was nice to have someone so quick witted and smart as the MC. As she pieces together what happened and what is still going on, I was just trying to keep up and I didn’t have it figured out until she did. I loved the twists, and the climax of the novel was what I considered to be the perfect ending.
Jennifer Jill Araya is the narrator for the audiobook, and I’m glad I used a credit because I could definitely see myself listening to this again at some point. Araya was a great narrator, and I thought she was perfect as Tina, so I would recommend it for sure. Not By Blood could potentially be predictable for some readers, but if you enjoy crime thrillers and unputdownable reads you should easily find it enjoyable. I thought it was well crafted, and though Tina’s son kind of takes a backseat to the overall story, I feel like I understand why Narozny did it. Siblings and murder are at the heart of the book, so I recommend just sitting back and enjoying the ride!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Jennifer Jill Araya is the narrator for the audiobook, and I’m glad I used a credit because I could definitely see myself listening to this again at some point. Araya was a great narrator, and I thought she was perfect as Tina, so I would recommend it for sure. Not By Blood could potentially be predictable for some readers, but if you enjoy crime thrillers and unputdownable reads you should easily find it enjoyable. I thought it was well crafted, and though Tina’s son kind of takes a backseat to the overall story, I feel like I understand why Narozny did it. Siblings and murder are at the heart of the book, so I recommend just sitting back and enjoying the ride!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 24, 2023
3.5 stars.
Tina has been caring for her drug-addict brother forthe last twenty years, but this time is different, Bill calls for help but when she arrives it's the body of a dead detective she finds instead of Bill. To make matters more confusing, his two last missed calls are from her husband, a filthily rich philanthropist architect. What happened in that squat? And what have the three man to do with each other?
As Tina starts to investigate, things start to unfold, Tom's a victim of a hit and run, her brother went visiting her incarcerated father without her knowing, she also has a detective on her back.
The characters:
To be honest, I had a hard time connecting with Tina's character, I understand the fact that she wants to save her brother, but what mother never calls or texts to ask about her only child? She meant well by leaving him at his uncle's (her step brother), but never asking for news for days? And what kind of reckless person goes out hunting potentially dangerous criminals without notifing the authoroties or a trusted someone?
The plot:
It was solid with lots of twists and turns, was a bit slow at the beginning but then picked up the pace, I had my doubts on what's going on but nothing to back it up, beautiful move by the author to keep me reading and wondering if my suspicions were well placed or not.
For a debut novel, it certainly is an interesting one, and kind of unputdownable if you start to suspect someone early in your reading. So, I do recommend it for thriller lovers, for we might be witnessing the birth of another good thriller writer!
Thanks Netgalley for the copy!
Tina has been caring for her drug-addict brother forthe last twenty years, but this time is different, Bill calls for help but when she arrives it's the body of a dead detective she finds instead of Bill. To make matters more confusing, his two last missed calls are from her husband, a filthily rich philanthropist architect. What happened in that squat? And what have the three man to do with each other?
As Tina starts to investigate, things start to unfold, Tom's a victim of a hit and run, her brother went visiting her incarcerated father without her knowing, she also has a detective on her back.
The characters:
To be honest, I had a hard time connecting with Tina's character, I understand the fact that she wants to save her brother, but what mother never calls or texts to ask about her only child? She meant well by leaving him at his uncle's (her step brother), but never asking for news for days? And what kind of reckless person goes out hunting potentially dangerous criminals without notifing the authoroties or a trusted someone?
The plot:
It was solid with lots of twists and turns, was a bit slow at the beginning but then picked up the pace, I had my doubts on what's going on but nothing to back it up, beautiful move by the author to keep me reading and wondering if my suspicions were well placed or not.
For a debut novel, it certainly is an interesting one, and kind of unputdownable if you start to suspect someone early in your reading. So, I do recommend it for thriller lovers, for we might be witnessing the birth of another good thriller writer!
Thanks Netgalley for the copy!
September 18, 2023
excelent story
February 2, 2023
Tina receives a phone call from her brother Bill in the middle of the night. At first, she doesn’t think much of it, since Bill has been doing things like this for most of their lives. Usually he calls Tina when he is in trouble with drugs and needs to be rescued. But this time, Bill is nowhere to be found and instead, Tina finds another man murdered. Could this be connected to her brother’s disappearance?
This book grabbed my attention from the first few pages and didn’t let it go! Tina’s whole world seemed to be falling apart around her and it was an anxiety-inducing ride for her to get to the truth. There was a huge twist I did not see coming and that’s my favorite part of any good thriller! I will say, for a debut novel, especially a thriller, thisreally impressed me and I cant wait to see what the author comes up with next :)
Thanks to Chris Naozny for the ARC. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly.
This book grabbed my attention from the first few pages and didn’t let it go! Tina’s whole world seemed to be falling apart around her and it was an anxiety-inducing ride for her to get to the truth. There was a huge twist I did not see coming and that’s my favorite part of any good thriller! I will say, for a debut novel, especially a thriller, thisreally impressed me and I cant wait to see what the author comes up with next :)
Thanks to Chris Naozny for the ARC. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly.
May 26, 2023
When Teen aka Tina receives a frantic phone call from her drug addict brother, she leaves her husband and her toddler at home to follow her brother's last known location to help him out of his 'situation' like she always does.
Only this time, her brother is missing and her husband meets with an accident and goes into coma just as she discovers incriminating evidence one after another.
Without any more clue, Tina races to know more about everyone around her as no one is what they say they are.
.
.
.
What a delicious treat - fast paced chapters, sketchy AF characters, racing through time I can't help but root for Tina to get out of it alive. I absolutely enjoyed this popcorn thriller. It has everything I wanted and a lot more.. I had absolutely no idea what was going on until about 50% of the book and then Mr Narozny decided to throw in twists after twists to keep me hooked! 👏💯
Overall ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨/5
Only this time, her brother is missing and her husband meets with an accident and goes into coma just as she discovers incriminating evidence one after another.
Without any more clue, Tina races to know more about everyone around her as no one is what they say they are.
.
.
.
What a delicious treat - fast paced chapters, sketchy AF characters, racing through time I can't help but root for Tina to get out of it alive. I absolutely enjoyed this popcorn thriller. It has everything I wanted and a lot more.. I had absolutely no idea what was going on until about 50% of the book and then Mr Narozny decided to throw in twists after twists to keep me hooked! 👏💯
Overall ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨/5
August 29, 2023
A solid debut novel. Writing was good and I enjoyed the plot, but I found my thoughts wandering toward the middle as I lost a bit of interest.
I got back into the story toward the end, but the ending was a bit underwhelming for me since I guessed who was behind it all.
I will read more from this author!
I got back into the story toward the end, but the ending was a bit underwhelming for me since I guessed who was behind it all.
I will read more from this author!
November 25, 2022
When Tina Evans gets a call from her brother in the middle of the night, she doesn’t think much of it; she’s been fielding distress calls from Bill for the last twenty years, ever since the day their father killed their mother.
At first, this call seems just like all the others: Bill’s holed up in a Brooklyn drug den and needs her to come rescue him. But when Tina gets there, her brother’s nowhere to be found. Instead, she discovers the body of a private detective hidden in the junk heap out back. He’s been shot to death, and his gun is missing from its holster.
I am loving all these new authors I am being introduced to lately and again another very enjoyable read. I would not say that it is the best book I have read this year but it definitely held my attention. The past and present are interwoven which provide the reader with clues along the way and I stayed up reading this one late at night as I needed to find out how everything would pan out. Brother and sister relationships are often complicated but generally that involves either a lot of love or a lot of grief, sometimes you need the grief to make the love stand out and the relationship between Bill and his sister definitely has a combination of the two. Throw in a father that seems to be a catalyst for further trouble and you have a complicated scenario that makes for excellent reading.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. 4 stars
At first, this call seems just like all the others: Bill’s holed up in a Brooklyn drug den and needs her to come rescue him. But when Tina gets there, her brother’s nowhere to be found. Instead, she discovers the body of a private detective hidden in the junk heap out back. He’s been shot to death, and his gun is missing from its holster.
I am loving all these new authors I am being introduced to lately and again another very enjoyable read. I would not say that it is the best book I have read this year but it definitely held my attention. The past and present are interwoven which provide the reader with clues along the way and I stayed up reading this one late at night as I needed to find out how everything would pan out. Brother and sister relationships are often complicated but generally that involves either a lot of love or a lot of grief, sometimes you need the grief to make the love stand out and the relationship between Bill and his sister definitely has a combination of the two. Throw in a father that seems to be a catalyst for further trouble and you have a complicated scenario that makes for excellent reading.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. 4 stars
January 1, 2023
Rating: 3 stars.
This was an average read for me. I definitely didn't really see the comparison to Karin Slaughter, because of that I expected this to be much darker than it was, and I also didn't see a similarity in writing style. The story itself was pretty solid, slightly predictable, and not the most original. It could have benefitted from multiple POVs to help with the pacing because the middle was quite boring. It's a quick read though and definitely entertaining if you're into thrillers.
This was an average read for me. I definitely didn't really see the comparison to Karin Slaughter, because of that I expected this to be much darker than it was, and I also didn't see a similarity in writing style. The story itself was pretty solid, slightly predictable, and not the most original. It could have benefitted from multiple POVs to help with the pacing because the middle was quite boring. It's a quick read though and definitely entertaining if you're into thrillers.
May 20, 2023
Not by Blood is a standalone debut thriller by author, Chris Narozny. A story of childhood trauma, family relationships and the questions we ask about how well we really know those who are our ‘blood’. Tina and her biological brother, Bill faced in childhood something that no child should have to. Their father was convicted of murdering their mother and Tina was sent to live with a foster family and Bill, a group home. Years later, Tina’s search to find her missing brother might uncover more than she bargained for. This one was a quick read and the pace fast moving. The story took a little bit to set up all the characters, layers and backstory but then what unfolded was a gripping ride to the end as the author peeled back layer after layer until the very end leaving me shook. I enjoyed this chilling family mystery and would read more by this author.
January 18, 2023
It was good a good book. Nothing more, nothing less. I hate saying that because I want to give raving reviews on every book I read, but this one was lacking in the plot somehow and I can’t put my finger on it. Then again, that may just be me, and it’s not my type of mystery/thriller, I’m not sure. I’d tell others to give it a chance though.
**I received this book as an advanced copy for free from NetGalley.
**I received this book as an advanced copy for free from NetGalley.
December 2, 2022
Congrats to Chris for his debut thriller!! Although Chris is not new to writing this is his first thriller on his own.
Such a well written and suspenseful book. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next! Crime, murder, father in jail, drug addict brother, husband in a coma, and so many secrets, what more could a gal ask for? Such a mix of twist, turns, and lies!
I recommend this book to those who like domestic thrillers, and surprises!
This is my honest review.
Such a well written and suspenseful book. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next! Crime, murder, father in jail, drug addict brother, husband in a coma, and so many secrets, what more could a gal ask for? Such a mix of twist, turns, and lies!
I recommend this book to those who like domestic thrillers, and surprises!
This is my honest review.
December 19, 2022
Chris Narozny ratchets up the tension one agonizing notch at a time in this psychological thriller about trauma, addiction, and memory. In a world of secrets lurking just beyond reach, EMT Tina Evans must face an array of personal demons, including her own broken family. Not By Blood reads like a midnight ride in a speeding ambulance, where your life is on the line and the most dangerous people may be the ones closest to home.
June 28, 2023
“I’d decided a long time ago that no one would ever take Bill from me again. Bill wasn’t just my brother— he was the only person I’d always known. Every other familiar face disappeared twenty years ago, the day our father killed our mother.”
“The bottom’s never as far from the top as it appears.”
‘Not By Blood’ is a debut psychological thriller from Chris Narozny, a ghostwriter who has coauthored four New York Times bestsellers with James Patterson.
This book definitely had the mystery and suspense, the twists and turns and a satisfying ending, but the language turned me off a bit. I guess considering several of the characters are criminals and drug addicts it makes sense for their characters, but it’s just something I personally don’t care for.
The basic premise of the book is this:
Tina Evans, paramedic, gets a distress call from her drug addict brother, Bill. Not an uncommon occurrence. But when she shows up at his place he is not there. Instead there is a body, dead by gunshot and Bill’s sketchbook that he never goes anywhere without.
Fiercely protective of her brother Tina decides to get to the bottom of it and find her brother before bringing the police in.
Then she gets an anonymous text message that says ‘Shhh…’ Is she being watched?
Things get worse when that very same night she gets a call that her wealthy developer/architect husband, Tom, has been in a bad car accident—when he’s supposed to be home watching their son— and is in a coma.
Tina’s world is turned upside down as she is torn between finding her brother, being there for her husband and son, and realizing some of the people closest to her have been telling lies. Plus the past comes back to haunt her as she discovers she must visit her father in prison.
Who can she trust?
“Tom and Bill gone in a span of hours, connected by a dead private detective. No such thing as coincidence.”
For the most part I enjoyed the book. There were parts of it I figured out early on, but I still thought Narozny did a good job of weaving the story and clues together.
It was a really fast read at only 277 pages so it’s a low-commitment book.
One thing I thought Narozny could have done a better job with was his descriptions. The action and suspense begins immediately— which I like— but I realized halfway through the book that I didn’t feel like I could picture the characters very well. I still am not sure what Tina looks like.
The book is more plot-driven than character-driven but it still seems weird that I can’t envision who I’m reading about.
Maybe that’s partly why I didn’t feel connected to the characters much and didn’t find them likeable. Tina definitely experienced some trauma in her life, but it was hard to see where she was resilient to her past and where she was still influenced in a negative way.
Last comment: I like the book cover image and the title. That helped with the intrigue and had made me interested in reading it.
Recommendation
If you can get past the language, this is a decent psychological thriller read that won’t take up too much of your time.
This book didn’t blow me away, but I may be interested in reading his next book just for the plot creation. But if it’s full of seedy characters like this one, I may not.
[Content Advisory: 29 f- and 48 s-words in the second half; drug use; no sexual content]
**Received an ARC via NetGalley**
Book Review Blog | Facebook | Pinterest
“The bottom’s never as far from the top as it appears.”
‘Not By Blood’ is a debut psychological thriller from Chris Narozny, a ghostwriter who has coauthored four New York Times bestsellers with James Patterson.
This book definitely had the mystery and suspense, the twists and turns and a satisfying ending, but the language turned me off a bit. I guess considering several of the characters are criminals and drug addicts it makes sense for their characters, but it’s just something I personally don’t care for.
The basic premise of the book is this:
Tina Evans, paramedic, gets a distress call from her drug addict brother, Bill. Not an uncommon occurrence. But when she shows up at his place he is not there. Instead there is a body, dead by gunshot and Bill’s sketchbook that he never goes anywhere without.
Fiercely protective of her brother Tina decides to get to the bottom of it and find her brother before bringing the police in.
Then she gets an anonymous text message that says ‘Shhh…’ Is she being watched?
Things get worse when that very same night she gets a call that her wealthy developer/architect husband, Tom, has been in a bad car accident—when he’s supposed to be home watching their son— and is in a coma.
Tina’s world is turned upside down as she is torn between finding her brother, being there for her husband and son, and realizing some of the people closest to her have been telling lies. Plus the past comes back to haunt her as she discovers she must visit her father in prison.
Who can she trust?
“Tom and Bill gone in a span of hours, connected by a dead private detective. No such thing as coincidence.”
For the most part I enjoyed the book. There were parts of it I figured out early on, but I still thought Narozny did a good job of weaving the story and clues together.
It was a really fast read at only 277 pages so it’s a low-commitment book.
One thing I thought Narozny could have done a better job with was his descriptions. The action and suspense begins immediately— which I like— but I realized halfway through the book that I didn’t feel like I could picture the characters very well. I still am not sure what Tina looks like.
The book is more plot-driven than character-driven but it still seems weird that I can’t envision who I’m reading about.
Maybe that’s partly why I didn’t feel connected to the characters much and didn’t find them likeable. Tina definitely experienced some trauma in her life, but it was hard to see where she was resilient to her past and where she was still influenced in a negative way.
Last comment: I like the book cover image and the title. That helped with the intrigue and had made me interested in reading it.
Recommendation
If you can get past the language, this is a decent psychological thriller read that won’t take up too much of your time.
This book didn’t blow me away, but I may be interested in reading his next book just for the plot creation. But if it’s full of seedy characters like this one, I may not.
[Content Advisory: 29 f- and 48 s-words in the second half; drug use; no sexual content]
**Received an ARC via NetGalley**
Book Review Blog | Facebook | Pinterest
January 28, 2023
Tina Evans is sent on a wild chase to find her addict brother after a phone call one night. The book follows Tina as she's looking for her brother to get him out of trouble meanwhile uncovering a plethora of family secrets.
For some reason the plot just didn't keep my interest as much as I hoped. While full of twists, at times, they were confusing or I felt like I've read similar plots before.
It's a quick read little thriller. But not my favorite.
Thank you Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC.
For some reason the plot just didn't keep my interest as much as I hoped. While full of twists, at times, they were confusing or I felt like I've read similar plots before.
It's a quick read little thriller. But not my favorite.
Thank you Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC.
February 13, 2023
This book started strong but fell flat afterward.
Teena is looking for her brother Bill. She receives a mysterious call from him saying that things are really bad. With Bill being an addict, Teena runs to his rescue, only to find he isn't where he said he would be once she has arrived.
Throughout the book she continues to look for Bill, meeting a few shady characters along the way, who also happen to be looking for Bill as well
Teena is looking for her brother Bill. She receives a mysterious call from him saying that things are really bad. With Bill being an addict, Teena runs to his rescue, only to find he isn't where he said he would be once she has arrived.
Throughout the book she continues to look for Bill, meeting a few shady characters along the way, who also happen to be looking for Bill as well
December 8, 2022
This book grabbed me from the start and didn't let go. Lots of interesting twists and tie ins to people' s past traumas. It was not predictable, which was a nice change since this genre can get repetitive. Tina tries to find her addict brother and a chain of events that affects every part of her life. Well written and absorbing
July 15, 2023
Thank you to the author for my gifted #earc of this book.
This debut has all the great qualities of a suspense thriller. The characters are relatable, there are some great twists and a some red herrings. There was a nice flow to this book and I appreciated the author’s inclusion of family-life matters while amidst the suspenseful search and investigation.
This debut has all the great qualities of a suspense thriller. The characters are relatable, there are some great twists and a some red herrings. There was a nice flow to this book and I appreciated the author’s inclusion of family-life matters while amidst the suspenseful search and investigation.
September 28, 2023
At under 300 pages, this short thriller really packed a punch. Fast paced and addictive, I was turning the pages at rapid speed to find out where Bill was and how the case ended. I'm surprised this is a debut novel! It was written so strongly. I'm so keen to read more by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read
December 4, 2022Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the digital ARC!
This was an enjoyable psychological thriller! The opening was especially captivating and fast-paced, with action that kicks off from the very first page.
The first-person POV was well done and the plot kept me turning the pages until the end.
𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝘽𝙮 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 releases July 18, 2023!
𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗬 𝗤𝗨𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗦:
“Sometimes a mirror is just a mirror.”
This was an enjoyable psychological thriller! The opening was especially captivating and fast-paced, with action that kicks off from the very first page.
The first-person POV was well done and the plot kept me turning the pages until the end.
𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝘽𝙮 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 releases July 18, 2023!
𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗬 𝗤𝗨𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗦:
“Sometimes a mirror is just a mirror.”
November 23, 2022
[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Not By Blood releases July 18, 2023
Tina is no stranger to the many phone calls she gets from her drug addicted brother, Bill, looking for someone to lend a hand at odd hours and at sketchy places. So when she gets a phone call from him at 1 am with a location leading to a drug den, she shows up, because that’s what family does right? Except, Bill is no where to be found. In his place, is a dead detective, a missing gun, and a sketch book that was left behind. Right when Tina’s about to call in for help, she gets an anonymous text message saying “shhhh…”
Not three hours later, when Tina arrives back home, she finds that her husband Tom is now missing and has even left their six year old son unattended.
How are all of these things connected? And where is her brother Bill?!
This was an okay thriller. A bit lackluster and not as gripping as I would have hoped. There were a lot of secrets between characters that were slowly revealed along the way.
I didn’t think the addition of a past event between Tina and Desmond was all that necessary.
Perhaps making this a multi-pov story would have helped to propel this further and be more three-dimensional.
Also, the title of the book was sadly a dead giveaway for the plot considering that this had an adoptive family dynamic.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Not By Blood releases July 18, 2023
Tina is no stranger to the many phone calls she gets from her drug addicted brother, Bill, looking for someone to lend a hand at odd hours and at sketchy places. So when she gets a phone call from him at 1 am with a location leading to a drug den, she shows up, because that’s what family does right? Except, Bill is no where to be found. In his place, is a dead detective, a missing gun, and a sketch book that was left behind. Right when Tina’s about to call in for help, she gets an anonymous text message saying “shhhh…”
Not three hours later, when Tina arrives back home, she finds that her husband Tom is now missing and has even left their six year old son unattended.
How are all of these things connected? And where is her brother Bill?!
This was an okay thriller. A bit lackluster and not as gripping as I would have hoped. There were a lot of secrets between characters that were slowly revealed along the way.
I didn’t think the addition of a past event between Tina and Desmond was all that necessary.
Perhaps making this a multi-pov story would have helped to propel this further and be more three-dimensional.
Also, the title of the book was sadly a dead giveaway for the plot considering that this had an adoptive family dynamic.
January 13, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advanced copy of this ebook.
Chris Narozny made a splash with this debut psychological thriller. This book actually kind of gave me ‘Last Thing He Told Me’ vibes with more danger, more complicated characters and WAY more thrill.
The characters are complicated and thoroughly developed. Many have suffered through some sort of trauma and we can see the different ways trauma can help to shape a person. I think this was done very well.
The beginning of this book really sucked me in - so many exciting things happened so fast. Then unfortunately from approx the 10% - 70% mark it was just clues piling up. I think it would have helped if there had been a twist, a more suspenseful element of danger or even maybe some answers given in this period. I definitely lost some steam because it was just mystery with nothing really given until the very end which made it feel a little slow and then like everything was thrown at you at once.
Overall this was a solid (and quick!) read. Great debut and can’t wait to see what else Narozny puts out.
Chris Narozny made a splash with this debut psychological thriller. This book actually kind of gave me ‘Last Thing He Told Me’ vibes with more danger, more complicated characters and WAY more thrill.
The characters are complicated and thoroughly developed. Many have suffered through some sort of trauma and we can see the different ways trauma can help to shape a person. I think this was done very well.
The beginning of this book really sucked me in - so many exciting things happened so fast. Then unfortunately from approx the 10% - 70% mark it was just clues piling up. I think it would have helped if there had been a twist, a more suspenseful element of danger or even maybe some answers given in this period. I definitely lost some steam because it was just mystery with nothing really given until the very end which made it feel a little slow and then like everything was thrown at you at once.
Overall this was a solid (and quick!) read. Great debut and can’t wait to see what else Narozny puts out.
January 16, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy of Not by Blood, a stand-alone thriller set in New York.
Tina Evans’s brother Bill asks her to rescue him from a drug den in Brooklyn, but when she gets there he isn’t, instead she finds the dead body of a private investigator. She’s about to call the police when she gets a text saying “shhhh”. This sets her on a hunt for Bill, worried that he has something to do with the murder of the investigator.
I thoroughly enjoyed Not by Blood, which is an event packed novel with plenty of twists and turns. It is not a long novel, so the author uses his space well with little wasted. It is told from Tina’s first person point of view, giving the reader a close up of how the events affect her and her thought processes. I must admit that I wasn’t overly impressed by how she thinks as she is insistent on interpreting the facts to fit her predetermined narrative rather than the other way round. Her lack of clear sightedness is annoying, but part of why the novel is billed as a psychological thriller.
It may also irritate some readers that there is no explanation, not even a hint of one, until much later in the novel of why this is happening. It’s not just Bill’s disappearance and a dead investigator as there is further violence and some strange happenings. I found it all intriguing and encouraged me to keep turning the pages. The answers lie in the past and I’m not quite sure it’s convincing that all the characters have monstrous at worst and indifferent at best parents, who have shaped their children’s psyche. Still, the journey to these answers is tense and fast moving.
Not by Blood is a good read that I can recommend.
Tina Evans’s brother Bill asks her to rescue him from a drug den in Brooklyn, but when she gets there he isn’t, instead she finds the dead body of a private investigator. She’s about to call the police when she gets a text saying “shhhh”. This sets her on a hunt for Bill, worried that he has something to do with the murder of the investigator.
I thoroughly enjoyed Not by Blood, which is an event packed novel with plenty of twists and turns. It is not a long novel, so the author uses his space well with little wasted. It is told from Tina’s first person point of view, giving the reader a close up of how the events affect her and her thought processes. I must admit that I wasn’t overly impressed by how she thinks as she is insistent on interpreting the facts to fit her predetermined narrative rather than the other way round. Her lack of clear sightedness is annoying, but part of why the novel is billed as a psychological thriller.
It may also irritate some readers that there is no explanation, not even a hint of one, until much later in the novel of why this is happening. It’s not just Bill’s disappearance and a dead investigator as there is further violence and some strange happenings. I found it all intriguing and encouraged me to keep turning the pages. The answers lie in the past and I’m not quite sure it’s convincing that all the characters have monstrous at worst and indifferent at best parents, who have shaped their children’s psyche. Still, the journey to these answers is tense and fast moving.
Not by Blood is a good read that I can recommend.
March 14, 2024
this was my first audiobook of the year and i really enjoyed the narration, even if i did have some issues with the story itself. let’s start with the positives, though… a man who knows how to write female characters? wasn’t expecting that! not to give the author too much credit here because tina, the fmc, wasn’t extraordinarily well-crafted, but i didn’t notice any misogynistic language used to describe her or too much emphasis on her physical appearance when it wasn’t of relevance to the story, so that’s definitely something. in fact, the writing was quite good for a thriller, which is a genre in which i don’t generally expect to find meticulously constructed sentences or carefully chosen vocabulary.
the story quickly pulled me in because it was fast-paced and there wasn’t any preamble before all the action began. however, i was a bit puzzled by some of tina’s actions, especially what could only be perceived as her lack of worry and interest in her son while he was in his uncle’s care and she was around going chasing the bad guys. it’s understandable that tina was worried out of her mind about her brother, even admirable, but it wasn’t as if she was his mother or the one responsible for his actions when he was a grown man and she had her own family to take care of. her main focus should’ve been her child, yet she willingly involved herself in her brother’s mess and tried to solve something she didn’t even understand without alerting the authorities.
when quite a few new characters got introduced and it started to make sense how they were all intertwined, i lost interest because some things seemed too far-fetched. i also didn’t really like how the author spent an entire book describing one of the characters as a gentle person with good morals only to completely dismiss that for the sake of a plot twist. actually, more authors should let the villain stay the villain and stop ruining perfectly regular characters with various ooc storylines just for shock value or because they don’t know how else to wrap up the story. despite being fairly interesting and addictive, i couldn’t disregard what bothered me in this one and rate it more highly, but i still think it might be an enjoyable read if you go into it without expecting too much.
the story quickly pulled me in because it was fast-paced and there wasn’t any preamble before all the action began. however, i was a bit puzzled by some of tina’s actions, especially what could only be perceived as her lack of worry and interest in her son while he was in his uncle’s care and she was around going chasing the bad guys. it’s understandable that tina was worried out of her mind about her brother, even admirable, but it wasn’t as if she was his mother or the one responsible for his actions when he was a grown man and she had her own family to take care of. her main focus should’ve been her child, yet she willingly involved herself in her brother’s mess and tried to solve something she didn’t even understand without alerting the authorities.
when quite a few new characters got introduced and it started to make sense how they were all intertwined, i lost interest because some things seemed too far-fetched. i also didn’t really like how the author spent an entire book describing one of the characters as a gentle person with good morals only to completely dismiss that for the sake of a plot twist. actually, more authors should let the villain stay the villain and stop ruining perfectly regular characters with various ooc storylines just for shock value or because they don’t know how else to wrap up the story. despite being fairly interesting and addictive, i couldn’t disregard what bothered me in this one and rate it more highly, but i still think it might be an enjoyable read if you go into it without expecting too much.
January 1, 2023
Book Title: Not By Blood
Author: Chris Narozny
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: July 18, 2023
My Rating: 3 Stars!
Tina Evans receives a call in the middle of the night from her brother, Bill Morgan saying he needs help. This call is no shock to her – Bill is an addict and he has made many similar calls in the past twenty years.
He gives her his address and says he’ll be waiting on the curb. When she gets there, he is not there. She goes to his apartment and waits. While waiting a guy Samuel stops in and says Billy asked him to take care of ‘Dumb Jake’. Since he isn’t there Samuel takes her to where he might be. As he is probably sleeping it off. Sure enough he is there! Samuel doesn’t seem to notice that ‘Dumb Jake’ has been shot. He offers to make Tina a sandwich. While he is gone, Tina does a quick search of Jake’s pockets for ID. She discovers he is Jake Bickert a private Detective with Empire Investigations. She also finds the detective’s phone which has her husband's number listed with several missed calls.
How her husband is involved with this detective and where is Bill?
I love psychological thrillers and yes I was surprised with the bad guy.
I was hooked from the beginning, I always say I perfect ‘plot’ driven stories but unlikeable characters sure can mess up a plot for me. Tina and her ‘f-bombs’ sure made it hard for me to like her. I found her unlikeable and SHE is the protagonist in this story!!
On the positive side I will read another Chris Narozny novel!
Want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for granted me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 18, 2023
Author: Chris Narozny
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: July 18, 2023
My Rating: 3 Stars!
Tina Evans receives a call in the middle of the night from her brother, Bill Morgan saying he needs help. This call is no shock to her – Bill is an addict and he has made many similar calls in the past twenty years.
He gives her his address and says he’ll be waiting on the curb. When she gets there, he is not there. She goes to his apartment and waits. While waiting a guy Samuel stops in and says Billy asked him to take care of ‘Dumb Jake’. Since he isn’t there Samuel takes her to where he might be. As he is probably sleeping it off. Sure enough he is there! Samuel doesn’t seem to notice that ‘Dumb Jake’ has been shot. He offers to make Tina a sandwich. While he is gone, Tina does a quick search of Jake’s pockets for ID. She discovers he is Jake Bickert a private Detective with Empire Investigations. She also finds the detective’s phone which has her husband's number listed with several missed calls.
How her husband is involved with this detective and where is Bill?
I love psychological thrillers and yes I was surprised with the bad guy.
I was hooked from the beginning, I always say I perfect ‘plot’ driven stories but unlikeable characters sure can mess up a plot for me. Tina and her ‘f-bombs’ sure made it hard for me to like her. I found her unlikeable and SHE is the protagonist in this story!!
On the positive side I will read another Chris Narozny novel!
Want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for granted me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 18, 2023
June 29, 2023
NOT BY BLOOD was a twisty thriller told in the first person by Tina Evans. The story starts with a phone call from her drug addict brother asking for her help. By the time she gets to his flop, Bill is missing but the body of a private detective is there for her to find. Calling 911 isn't an option until she finds out where her brother is and what his role was in the scene she walks in on.
Before she can decide what to do, she gets a text that just says Shhhh... Next there is a phone call telling her that her philanthropist husband has been hit by a car and is in surgery. She goes home, drops her six-year-old with her foster brother, and heads off to the hospital where she is confronted by a police detective who wants to know where she was and what she knows about her husband's accident.
She lies and then begins a marathon search for her brother which involves contacting her father who has been in prison for the past twenty years convicted of murdering his wife over a dime bag of drugs.
This twisty tale is full of all sorts of secrets from one her husband has never told her to what really happened when her mother died. Tina keeps discovering that those she thought she knew the best were still managing to hide major things from her.
Tina was an interesting character. She was an EMT, her brother's would-be savior, the wife of a millionaire, and so many more things. She was also locked into her past traumas even though she thought she had moved on.
Fans of twisty psychological suspense will enjoy this story.
Before she can decide what to do, she gets a text that just says Shhhh... Next there is a phone call telling her that her philanthropist husband has been hit by a car and is in surgery. She goes home, drops her six-year-old with her foster brother, and heads off to the hospital where she is confronted by a police detective who wants to know where she was and what she knows about her husband's accident.
She lies and then begins a marathon search for her brother which involves contacting her father who has been in prison for the past twenty years convicted of murdering his wife over a dime bag of drugs.
This twisty tale is full of all sorts of secrets from one her husband has never told her to what really happened when her mother died. Tina keeps discovering that those she thought she knew the best were still managing to hide major things from her.
Tina was an interesting character. She was an EMT, her brother's would-be savior, the wife of a millionaire, and so many more things. She was also locked into her past traumas even though she thought she had moved on.
Fans of twisty psychological suspense will enjoy this story.
February 27, 2023
2.5 stars - rounded to 3
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was an exciting thriller with an interesting and complex plot with many moving pieces. I think Narozny did a good job of describing Tina's past and the nature of the important relationships in her life.
I'm always skeptical of a male author trying to write a female character, and this was no different. The very voice and tone of the text made me think that the protagonist was male until her name (not her nickname) was spelt out in Chapter 3. This made some parts wildly unbelievable to me, such as Tina not telling anyone her whereabouts before going to meet a murderous and potentially threatening man. I also didn't find it believable that Tina wouldn't call the police to protect her brother. I don't know what it's like in the USA, but in Canada, there are some situations where people addicted to substances won't be indicted.
Though the book was fun to read, the author's depiction of an "overdose" was inaccurate. Someone who's overdosing is unable to stand, speak, or carry a weapon. Maybe this was just a glitch in terminology, but it was a big one, I thought.
Oh, and having 3 different characters named Alan, Alden, and Aiden? What is that about?
I would recommend this for people who like butch straight women and those who can handle a long list of characters without getting them mixed up or confused.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was an exciting thriller with an interesting and complex plot with many moving pieces. I think Narozny did a good job of describing Tina's past and the nature of the important relationships in her life.
I'm always skeptical of a male author trying to write a female character, and this was no different. The very voice and tone of the text made me think that the protagonist was male until her name (not her nickname) was spelt out in Chapter 3. This made some parts wildly unbelievable to me, such as Tina not telling anyone her whereabouts before going to meet a murderous and potentially threatening man. I also didn't find it believable that Tina wouldn't call the police to protect her brother. I don't know what it's like in the USA, but in Canada, there are some situations where people addicted to substances won't be indicted.
Though the book was fun to read, the author's depiction of an "overdose" was inaccurate. Someone who's overdosing is unable to stand, speak, or carry a weapon. Maybe this was just a glitch in terminology, but it was a big one, I thought.
Oh, and having 3 different characters named Alan, Alden, and Aiden? What is that about?
I would recommend this for people who like butch straight women and those who can handle a long list of characters without getting them mixed up or confused.
July 19, 2023
Chris Narozny's riveting, twisty solo debut thriller of trauma, family secrets, addiction, violence, and memory, NOT BY BLOOD, features a woman who goes to extraordinary lengths to save her family.
Tina (Teen) Evans, EMT nurse (married to Tom), and son Aiden (age 6) knew something was very wrong with Bill Morgan (Billy), her brother.
There were only two things her brother couldn't do without. Two things he needed to make it through the day: heroin and a little black book. The first: he knew how to get at a moment's notice; the second: he never let out of his sight.
Tina and her biological brother, Bill faced a massive trauma in their childhood. Their father was convicted of murdering their mother, and Tina was sent to live with a foster family and Bill, a group home.
When Tina receives a call from her brother in the middle of the night, which is not unusual since she has been receiving Bill's calls for the last twenty years since the day their father killed their mother.
However, Bill is not there when she arrives at the Brooklyn apartment. Instead, there is the dead body of a private detective, Jake Bickert —hidden in the junk behind the apartment, shot to death, and his gun is missing.
When she is about to dial 911, she receives a vibrating text message from a private number. "Shhhhhh."
Bill left his behind his sketchpad. Was this a message from him? Her husband accused her of always choosing her brother over her own family. They had security and he was tired of her putting her junkie brother over them.
Does her missing brother have a connection to the death of the detective? Why was her son left at home alone, and where was Tom? He would never leave their son alone at home. Why was Tom calling this private detective?
Tom is a philanthropist with a Harvard pedigree, was heir to a real estate fortune, and was an architect who designed and funded the construction of schools, hospitals, and community centers.
Then she discovers her husband is missing and has been hit by a car in an accident. (was it an accident)? What do the detective, her brother, and her husband have in common, and how is this linked? Could it be her father pulling strings from prison?
However, things are not as they appear, and the author keeps you guessing until the end with this action-packed suspense thriller with a jaw-dropping twist! A riveting tale of sibling loyalty and deadly family secrets.
A well-written chilling family mystery! I look forward to reading more from his talented author!
Thanks to #CrookedLaneBooks and #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 18, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
July 2023 Must-Read Books
Tina (Teen) Evans, EMT nurse (married to Tom), and son Aiden (age 6) knew something was very wrong with Bill Morgan (Billy), her brother.
There were only two things her brother couldn't do without. Two things he needed to make it through the day: heroin and a little black book. The first: he knew how to get at a moment's notice; the second: he never let out of his sight.
Tina and her biological brother, Bill faced a massive trauma in their childhood. Their father was convicted of murdering their mother, and Tina was sent to live with a foster family and Bill, a group home.
When Tina receives a call from her brother in the middle of the night, which is not unusual since she has been receiving Bill's calls for the last twenty years since the day their father killed their mother.
However, Bill is not there when she arrives at the Brooklyn apartment. Instead, there is the dead body of a private detective, Jake Bickert —hidden in the junk behind the apartment, shot to death, and his gun is missing.
When she is about to dial 911, she receives a vibrating text message from a private number. "Shhhhhh."
Bill left his behind his sketchpad. Was this a message from him? Her husband accused her of always choosing her brother over her own family. They had security and he was tired of her putting her junkie brother over them.
Does her missing brother have a connection to the death of the detective? Why was her son left at home alone, and where was Tom? He would never leave their son alone at home. Why was Tom calling this private detective?
Tom is a philanthropist with a Harvard pedigree, was heir to a real estate fortune, and was an architect who designed and funded the construction of schools, hospitals, and community centers.
Then she discovers her husband is missing and has been hit by a car in an accident. (was it an accident)? What do the detective, her brother, and her husband have in common, and how is this linked? Could it be her father pulling strings from prison?
However, things are not as they appear, and the author keeps you guessing until the end with this action-packed suspense thriller with a jaw-dropping twist! A riveting tale of sibling loyalty and deadly family secrets.
A well-written chilling family mystery! I look forward to reading more from his talented author!
Thanks to #CrookedLaneBooks and #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 18, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
July 2023 Must-Read Books
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