What do you think?
Rate this book
Blood Innocents
Two deer lie ahead in the Central Park Children's Zoo. One stabbed 57 times and the other killed with a single slash across the neck. Then two women are found murdered in their Greenwich Village apartment, the body of one stabbed 57 times and the other killed with a single knife slash across her neck. New York City is paralyzed with terror as a psychopathic killer stalks its streets...
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
22 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Thomas H. Cook
98 books358 followersThere is more than one author with this name on Goodreads.
Thomas H. Cook has been praised by critics for his attention to psychology and the lyrical nature of his prose. He is the author of more than 30 critically-acclaimed fiction books, including works of true crime. Cook published his first novel, Blood Innocents, in 1980. Cook published steadily through the 1980s, penning such works as the Frank Clemons trilogy, a series of mysteries starring a jaded cop.
He found breakout success with The Chatham School Affair (1996), which won an Edgar Award for best novel. Besides mysteries, Cook has written two true-crime books including the Edgar-nominated Blood Echoes (1993). He lives and works in New York City.
Awards
Edgar Allan Poe – Best Novel – The Chatham School Affair
Barry Award – Best Novel – Red Leaves
Martin Beck Award of the Swedish Academy of Detection – The Chatham School Affair
Martin Beck Award of the Swedish Academy of Detection – Red Leaves
Herodotus Prize – Fatherhood
Thomas H. Cook has been praised by critics for his attention to psychology and the lyrical nature of his prose. He is the author of more than 30 critically-acclaimed fiction books, including works of true crime. Cook published his first novel, Blood Innocents, in 1980. Cook published steadily through the 1980s, penning such works as the Frank Clemons trilogy, a series of mysteries starring a jaded cop.
He found breakout success with The Chatham School Affair (1996), which won an Edgar Award for best novel. Besides mysteries, Cook has written two true-crime books including the Edgar-nominated Blood Echoes (1993). He lives and works in New York City.
Awards
Edgar Allan Poe – Best Novel – The Chatham School Affair
Barry Award – Best Novel – Red Leaves
Martin Beck Award of the Swedish Academy of Detection – The Chatham School Affair
Martin Beck Award of the Swedish Academy of Detection – Red Leaves
Herodotus Prize – Fatherhood
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 25, 2014
“An excellently written and superb murder mystery”
“Blood Innocents” was written by Thomas H. Cook. Mr. Cook has many works attributable to him and has received several book awards for his writing. The ‘Quest for Anna Klein” is the subject of a previous review and a popular current work from this author. This novel, “Blood Innocents” is a short one, less than 200 pages, and may well be categorized as a Novella. The novel would be classified as fictional literature of the murder mystery genre.
The story is written using an anonymous narrator and is salted with Cook’s many descriptive references. Through his writing, Cook has the uncanny ability to bring characters and a scene into the realm of reality and “blood Innocents” is no exception. This tale is so well written one could conclude it was transcribed from a real investigation file though it is fictional by all accounts.
As seems to be typical for many of the electronic book formats, the text contains several spelling and grammatical errors. While annoying, they are sparse in this particular composition and do not seriously affect the reading experience. Otherwise, the prose style is rich metaphorically but easily read and understood making it appealing to a wide audience.
The story in main is told from the perspective of detective John Reardon, a 30 year veteran of the New York Police Department. In the opening scenes, detective Reardon is being reassigned to a high profile case that occurred in the children’s zoo and involved two animals previously donated to the zoo by a wealthy and powerful family. The circumstances surrounding the case are steeped in mystery and incomprehensible motive as many crimes can be. There is also the possibility that the crime that took place in the zoo was linked to a more serious one. The reader is drawn to follow Detective Reardon as he gathers and examines the clues to the mystery and diligently proceeds to solve the case.
I quite liked this book and I very much like Cook’s writing style. He has a way of making fiction seem real and it is a remarkable writing ability in my opinion. The book itself was not otherwise remarkable in anyway, just a good story told by a terrific story teller. The characters are memorable as that is also a trait that Cook has mastered. It is the seeming real nature of the people that Cook invents that draws the reader so to their trials and tribulations.
This novel can be read quickly and the reader should find it very enjoyable. I would highly recommend this novel and rate it memorable.
“Blood Innocents” was written by Thomas H. Cook. Mr. Cook has many works attributable to him and has received several book awards for his writing. The ‘Quest for Anna Klein” is the subject of a previous review and a popular current work from this author. This novel, “Blood Innocents” is a short one, less than 200 pages, and may well be categorized as a Novella. The novel would be classified as fictional literature of the murder mystery genre.
The story is written using an anonymous narrator and is salted with Cook’s many descriptive references. Through his writing, Cook has the uncanny ability to bring characters and a scene into the realm of reality and “blood Innocents” is no exception. This tale is so well written one could conclude it was transcribed from a real investigation file though it is fictional by all accounts.
As seems to be typical for many of the electronic book formats, the text contains several spelling and grammatical errors. While annoying, they are sparse in this particular composition and do not seriously affect the reading experience. Otherwise, the prose style is rich metaphorically but easily read and understood making it appealing to a wide audience.
The story in main is told from the perspective of detective John Reardon, a 30 year veteran of the New York Police Department. In the opening scenes, detective Reardon is being reassigned to a high profile case that occurred in the children’s zoo and involved two animals previously donated to the zoo by a wealthy and powerful family. The circumstances surrounding the case are steeped in mystery and incomprehensible motive as many crimes can be. There is also the possibility that the crime that took place in the zoo was linked to a more serious one. The reader is drawn to follow Detective Reardon as he gathers and examines the clues to the mystery and diligently proceeds to solve the case.
I quite liked this book and I very much like Cook’s writing style. He has a way of making fiction seem real and it is a remarkable writing ability in my opinion. The book itself was not otherwise remarkable in anyway, just a good story told by a terrific story teller. The characters are memorable as that is also a trait that Cook has mastered. It is the seeming real nature of the people that Cook invents that draws the reader so to their trials and tribulations.
This novel can be read quickly and the reader should find it very enjoyable. I would highly recommend this novel and rate it memorable.
August 26, 2013
Having read many other Thomas H. Cook novels, but not his very early ones- I rather expected to see a different type of progression. Nope! Not very much, as he was always a good writer from the get-go. This one is supposed to be taking place in the late 1970's and he had to be quite young when he wrote it. And yet he seems to have accurate knowledge of a 56 year old protagonist. With excellent personality of aging insight, at that.
If anything the very earliest and least read of his are just as good in psychological depth as the more modern and more known. Probably less commercial in glitz factor, but to me, rather more succinct. Precise. And short crisp sentences that I love too. Easy, easy read- this one. I read it in a couple of hours on a 90 degree day.
OMG, the urban jungle without cell phones and tech! But the cases, oh so similar. And I didn't guess the solution either. Highly rec for gritty city detective readers.
Reardon is fab, btw.
If anything the very earliest and least read of his are just as good in psychological depth as the more modern and more known. Probably less commercial in glitz factor, but to me, rather more succinct. Precise. And short crisp sentences that I love too. Easy, easy read- this one. I read it in a couple of hours on a 90 degree day.
OMG, the urban jungle without cell phones and tech! But the cases, oh so similar. And I didn't guess the solution either. Highly rec for gritty city detective readers.
Reardon is fab, btw.
April 21, 2022
Blood Innocents is American crime writer Thomas H. Cook’s first novel. Published in 1980, it tells the story of NYC police detective John Reardon who, returning to work after the death of his wife, is given a strange case involving the slaughter of two deer in the Children’s Zoo in Central Park.
Yep – deer. Not people.
The deer had been gifted to the zoo by one of New York City’s most prominent businessmen, Wallace Van Allen. When Reardon balks at the assignment, his lieutenant, Piccolini tells him
“…this is a big case. One of the biggest. Some real big people are looking in on this one, interested in it, if you know what I mean. I know you’re in homicide, but this is bigger than a homicide right now, and the people downtown want top people on it all the way.”
Reardon has made a reputation for himself by following his instincts and so despite the strangeness of the case, he starts digging. Then, when the bodies of two young women turn up in their apartment with almost identical injuries as the deer, Reardon redoubles his efforts to solve the crimes.
I have been a Thomas H. Cook fan for many years. He’s a prolific writer, with more than 30 books to his credit, and yet many people have never heard of him. The first book I ever read by him is called Breakheart Hill (1995) and it had such an amazing twist that I was keen to read more by him. Except it was almost impossible to find his books anywhere. Over the years I have managed to track down and read Evidence of Blood, Peril, Mortal Memory, The Interrogation, The Fate of Katherine Carr, Master of the Delta, The Cloud of Unknowing, Instruments of the Night, Red Leaves, Places in the Dark, The Chatham School Affair and I have one more book on my tbr shelf, Night Secrets, which I will not read until I track down at least one more.
If Blood Innocents had been the first book I’d ever read, I am not sure I would have become the super fan I am now. It’s not that the book wasn’t any good, it’s just that it lacked the layers I’ve always found in his novels: complicated father/son relationships (although Reardon does have a son, and they are certainly not close), a clever twist (this novel is really just a straight-forward detective story), philosophical underpinnings (although Reardon is certainly at a thoughtful point in his life after the loss of his wife.)
It was definitely cool to go back to the very beginning, but I am glad it’s not where I started.
Yep – deer. Not people.
The deer had been gifted to the zoo by one of New York City’s most prominent businessmen, Wallace Van Allen. When Reardon balks at the assignment, his lieutenant, Piccolini tells him
“…this is a big case. One of the biggest. Some real big people are looking in on this one, interested in it, if you know what I mean. I know you’re in homicide, but this is bigger than a homicide right now, and the people downtown want top people on it all the way.”
Reardon has made a reputation for himself by following his instincts and so despite the strangeness of the case, he starts digging. Then, when the bodies of two young women turn up in their apartment with almost identical injuries as the deer, Reardon redoubles his efforts to solve the crimes.
I have been a Thomas H. Cook fan for many years. He’s a prolific writer, with more than 30 books to his credit, and yet many people have never heard of him. The first book I ever read by him is called Breakheart Hill (1995) and it had such an amazing twist that I was keen to read more by him. Except it was almost impossible to find his books anywhere. Over the years I have managed to track down and read Evidence of Blood, Peril, Mortal Memory, The Interrogation, The Fate of Katherine Carr, Master of the Delta, The Cloud of Unknowing, Instruments of the Night, Red Leaves, Places in the Dark, The Chatham School Affair and I have one more book on my tbr shelf, Night Secrets, which I will not read until I track down at least one more.
If Blood Innocents had been the first book I’d ever read, I am not sure I would have become the super fan I am now. It’s not that the book wasn’t any good, it’s just that it lacked the layers I’ve always found in his novels: complicated father/son relationships (although Reardon does have a son, and they are certainly not close), a clever twist (this novel is really just a straight-forward detective story), philosophical underpinnings (although Reardon is certainly at a thoughtful point in his life after the loss of his wife.)
It was definitely cool to go back to the very beginning, but I am glad it’s not where I started.
January 18, 2026
A stunning first book by Thomas H. Cook.
I'm fourteen books into the entire Cook fiction library, reading each (often a second time) and moving on. It's like a literary buffet!
Cook is not for everyone, often dark and sometimes bloody. Still, his characterizations, plot, and style are among the best I've encountered, including those of classic mystery and thriller authors throughout the generations.
This is a hard-boiled detective tale that is compelling and immersive. His detective, another damaged but dogged MC, is relentless in his search for a killer. It is raw and realistic, set in Manhattan, as are many of Cook's other stories. The ending is standard Cook-surprise. Looking back, everything falls into place as any brilliant author aims to do. Cook is a writer's writer, worth your time.
I'm fourteen books into the entire Cook fiction library, reading each (often a second time) and moving on. It's like a literary buffet!
Cook is not for everyone, often dark and sometimes bloody. Still, his characterizations, plot, and style are among the best I've encountered, including those of classic mystery and thriller authors throughout the generations.
This is a hard-boiled detective tale that is compelling and immersive. His detective, another damaged but dogged MC, is relentless in his search for a killer. It is raw and realistic, set in Manhattan, as are many of Cook's other stories. The ending is standard Cook-surprise. Looking back, everything falls into place as any brilliant author aims to do. Cook is a writer's writer, worth your time.
January 25, 2015
Every time I pick up a book by this author, I am wowed beyond words. The Chatham School Affair was my first experience with his work, and it intrigued me because I live near Cape Cod. I devoured the book in a day, and have been smitten ever since. Mr. Cook writes taut, understated mysteries. He paints horrifying pictures in the calmest of tones; there is nothing sensational in his descriptions. This ability to write vividly yet simply creates tension, and the tension builds slowly and deliciously to the denouement. He never disappoints.
July 17, 2015
This book is better than the later ones of Mr Cook that I have read (being released in 1980)
It still has his big failing in my eyes of being far too wordy. Its only a short book, but it seems that with all the words he tries to put in to explain things it actually makes the actual conclusion of the crime far too hurried.
Was good to read one of his books that actually had a kind of plot you could understand, but as I said it all felt rather hurried to me.
Read if you like Colombo stuff, but remember there are far better crime mysteries out there.
It still has his big failing in my eyes of being far too wordy. Its only a short book, but it seems that with all the words he tries to put in to explain things it actually makes the actual conclusion of the crime far too hurried.
Was good to read one of his books that actually had a kind of plot you could understand, but as I said it all felt rather hurried to me.
Read if you like Colombo stuff, but remember there are far better crime mysteries out there.
March 20, 2016
This was my first book by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Looking forward to reading more of his books. If you like what feels like those old-fashioned, black and white (if they were on television) 50's cop books, then you will love this one.
January 17, 2012
Great book; not a wasted word in it.
June 28, 2012
I enjoyed this book. Liked the detective. The characters weren't hard to keep up with and it had a twist at the end. I would read more of this author.
Read
February 1, 2013that Reardon can’t believe it’s a coincidence. This is a very good book, and, according to the publisher’s note, his first novel.
October 2, 2025
So, I found this book randomly and thought it sounded good. It took about 5 years for me to actually read it lol and I have to remind myself it way set in the late 70s. It follows like what I would assume a police investigation would be. Long and kind of boring. I appreciate the descriptions and character building but I guess the plot 'twist' at 25% of the way through maybe even sooner. I ended up skimming a good part of the book. Just not my type of book I suppose.
May 19, 2017
Wow, what an awesome mystery!
I never know what to expect from Mr. Cook, but I should know by now to never expect less than the best.
Blood Innocents is an exceptional story, violent death and investigation leading to solution, but not in any ordinary way. Detective John Reardon is only doing his job, of course, but he is an exceptional detective.
7
I never know what to expect from Mr. Cook, but I should know by now to never expect less than the best.
Blood Innocents is an exceptional story, violent death and investigation leading to solution, but not in any ordinary way. Detective John Reardon is only doing his job, of course, but he is an exceptional detective.
7
February 3, 2024
Despair
What a raw, confessional story. Religion, class, politics and despair make for a heart rending plot. The writing is exquisite. The main character is deeply drawn and the for the rest, you are told just the perfect amount. Although I was left with a somewhat hopeless feeling at the conclusion, I want to read more of Thomas Cook.
What a raw, confessional story. Religion, class, politics and despair make for a heart rending plot. The writing is exquisite. The main character is deeply drawn and the for the rest, you are told just the perfect amount. Although I was left with a somewhat hopeless feeling at the conclusion, I want to read more of Thomas Cook.
November 18, 2023
This book was excellent and demonstrated the author's talent and skill. His writing and descriptions of the protagonist's thoughts made me feel as if I was right there sharing the drama and experience.
The author is one of my favorites.
The author is one of my favorites.
February 12, 2025
3-1/2 stars
March 1, 2020
Two deer are murdered. One brutally slashed and the other simply killed. This is followed up by the deaths of two human women. Killed in the same manner as the deer. Is there a new serial killer on the loose? The cop on the case is world weary but he is very good at his job because he sees things others don't want seen. Unfortunately, these were not ordinary deer. They had a backstory. Which meant the sooner they caught the guy the sooner NYC could rest. But when an arrest is made, the lead cop isn't sure they have the right guy. The biggest problem with the audio is that the cops sound like they come from DownEast, Maine, not Brooklyn which was off-putting. And the story, which is now a period -piece, felt dated. But otherwise, it was an interesting story.
April 7, 2020
Blood Innocents (1980) Cook's first book...a dark NYC police procedural written in '80...excellent until the very end where it came together rather quickly...pretty good first novel though...Thomas Cook is really good, he's won a few Edgars and has written quite a few crime novels...
June 12, 2012
His first book.
October 8, 2012
Easy book to read, good author, decent character development
October 17, 2012
Reminded me of how well put together most short stories are
November 18, 2012
Thomas Cooks "Blood Innocents" is a top notch story about a veteran police detective who runs into case which shows the problem when rich citizens pressure the police and city officials.
March 16, 2013
I was hoping for more from the title. It was an interesting story, just ok. Probably would not recommend to others.
October 27, 2015
such a great beginning to the series, such good news there are more..
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews