This book was abit of a slow burner for me, but I did like how the story unfolded towards the end. It was well written and I enjoyed uncovering the secrets each characters had.

Absolutely brilliant book!
I am a big fan of this author and love the writing style!
I cant wait to read more!

The suspense in this book kept me awake at night. Every reveal deepened the mystery and kept me turning pages.

4.5/5 Stars: A Riveting and Twisty Thriller

Sarah Hornsley’s Bad Blood is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that hooks readers from the first page and doesn’t let go. Combining intricate plotting with emotionally charged storytelling, Hornsley delivers a tale of betrayal, family secrets, and the devastating effects of buried truths.

The protagonist is a standout, a flawed yet relatable character whose journey feels raw and authentic. As they navigate a tangled web of deceit and danger, readers are drawn into their inner turmoil and high-stakes decisions. Hornsley’s supporting characters are equally compelling, each one shrouded in just enough mystery to keep the reader guessing about their true intentions.

The pacing is impeccable, with each chapter ending on a note of suspense that makes it nearly impossible to stop reading. The twists are expertly executed, some completely unexpected, while others are cleverly foreshadowed, rewarding attentive readers. Hornsley also weaves in themes of loyalty, identity, and the dark side of ambition, adding depth to the gripping narrative.

The only minor drawback is the ending, which, while shocking and satisfying, feels slightly rushed in its resolution. Still, this does little to detract from the overall experience.

Bad Blood is a must-read for fans of twisty, emotionally charged thrillers. Hornsley is a writer to watch.

An assured court room drama and crime investigation from debut author Sarah Hornsley.
Justine Stone is a confident experienced barrister; when she’s given the case of a lifetime, prosecuting a brutal double murder, she is sure that she’s up to the task. But when she finds out that her first love Jake is the one accused, she has the chance to answer some longstanding questions about her past and her own family.

I really enjoyed this book, it was interesting to see how the characters interlinked and I loved finding out what was going to happen next.

A rather unusual story, which turns preconceived notions on their head. Well written and a convoluted plot to keep you guessing.
Some quite uncomfortable confrontations are described regarding child abuse so please be aware if you are sensitive.
A good read, I enjoyed it

Going into this I didnt really know what it was about. But I was quickly invested in finding out what happened. Not only the current crime but the past as well.
Seeing how each character was intertwined.
The pacing and writing made this such a fast and easy read. Perfect for a quiet night read.

I read Bad Blood by Sarah Hornsley the explosive psychological crime thriller with a triple twist due out March 2025, and here are my thoughts. Justine Stone is a criminal barrister who has just been given her first murder case. The accused is the guy who ghosted her 18 years ago, the one who was her first love. He changed his name and fled their Essex hometown. But he wasn’t the only one who left that week and never looked back. Only Justine has never been able to ghost her past. She has a shrink on speed dial, and now Jake has resurfaced on a charge of double murder back in their hometown.

With Blood Orange and Anatomy of a Scandal vibes the book switches when Justine returns home gathering evidence for the prosecution, with supposition, hearsay, and misdirection small-town Kala vibes.

Bad Blood is a real dog and pony show with all the familiar entertaining attractions done really well. An accused with a mysterious backstory linked to the prosecution with more questions than answers, a happily married high-flying prosecutor with secret emotional ties to the defendant, a set of friends with divided loyalties. Unreliable witnesses, bias, and witnesses withholding information, perhaps because they are dead? Scores to settle, grudges held, a police detective who isn’t a local who has a hunch she can't let go, and a journalist who doesn’t play by the rules. And did I mention Freemasons? We watch and we judge because we are the jury but can the verdict ever be safe?

In my closing statement, I am going to thank NetGalley and author Sarah Hornsley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book, and I will admit to being guilty in the highest degree of enjoying Bad Blood. I couldn't put it down... cuff me!

I just finished this book and I started it months ago. I don't know what it was about it, but I just couldn't get into it.

I read it all though and it's an ok story. I found the ending a bit frustrating. The writing was good tgough. I didn't like the main character which didn’t help. Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.

I would give 3.5 stars but can't so rounded to 4

A good solid family mystery/drama rather than a thriller but I thought it was well plotted and well written. Some of the characters were well defined while others were a bit of a caricature. However overall I enjoyed reading this book and would read more by Sarah Hornsley.

This wasn’t quite what I expected. I thought it would be a legal thriller, maybe set in a court room. A la John Grisham! But it isn’t.
The main character is a lawyer but the story has little to do with the law. A lot of it is discovering her past and the secrets that have been hidden for many years, leading to consequences in the present day.
Well written. Engaging story. I enjoyed it,

"Everything is open to interpretation... even murder"
This is a gripping, fast paced, twisty book, that is very well written and will keep you guessing right until the very end. It has some twists that you'd never expect and it's all tied together very well. The different POVs/timelines actually worked very well and I felt they added to the story. Overall a very enjoyable read.

This is a gripping read, fast-paced and full of twists which are neatly tied up at the end. As a lawyer myself, I particularly enjoyed the courtroom scenes, and that we had some unreliable narrators throughout the story which added to the theme of “bad blood”. As other reviews have said, this is very well-written, and so descriptive that it would easily translate to a TV or film script. The only drawback for me was that I wanted to hear more from Jake, but that might have ruined the ending. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

First, thanks to Netgalley and Sarah Hornsley for this ARC!

Again, my body is hating me for getting no sleep yet again because I had to continue reading! I am glad it was not exactly a courtroom thriller, I am not exactly into those usually. It is mostly told from the perspective of Justine, but we also hear her ex-boyfriend Jake telling his part of the story, along with some other people in the 'before' chapters.

I do often struggle with dual POV and multiple timeslines, but this one was thankfully an easy read, twisty and intense. I admit though, I made some notes about the people still, just so I do not accidentally mix anyone up.

I did not see the twists coming, yet again. But that is what a good thriller usually does to us, right? A very good debut overall, and I am surely looking forward to other things coming from this author!

Amazing edge of your seat story you won't be able to put down this is a thriller which will keep you turning the pages long into the night

What a mystery! I was expecting a more courtroom based thriller but what I got was a little courtroom and a cracking holiday read mystery! I am really looking forward to the next one - maybe make it clearer in the description what to expect though

"Bad Blood" by Sarah Hornsley is an engrossing tale of love, betrayal, and the ghosts of our pasts.

The story centers around Justine Stone, who has meticulously built a life far from her roots in Essex. Eighteen years later, she finds herself entangled in a chilling murder case involving her ex-boyfriend, Jake. This shocking turn forces Justine to confront not only Jake but also the unsettling possibility that she never truly knew him.

The novel's atmosphere brims with tension and nostalgia as Hornsley expertly weaves past and present. We shift from Justine's polished barrister life to the gritty realities of a murder trial, creating a stark contrast that raises the emotional stakes. Readers feel Justine's internal conflict as she grapples with memories of Jake, now marred by disturbing allegations. Her emotional turmoil is tangible; Hornsley captures Justine's confusion and heartbreak deftly.

Characterization shines in Hornsley's work. Justine is complex—ambitious yet vulnerable, fiercely loyal yet conflicted. Jake emerges as an enigmatic figure, gradually revealed through the investigation. Supporting characters like Justine's husband Noah add depth, reflecting various aspects of loyalty and betrayal.

Hornsley's writing is engaging and accessible, blending crisp dialogue with introspective passages inviting us into Justine's mind. The pacing is balanced; intense drama mingles with quieter reflections allowing character development and thematic exploration. While some elements may seem familiar—revisiting one's past—the execution remains fresh and compelling.

"Bad Blood" explores the idea that secrets inevitably resurface, often unexpectedly. Justine's journey reminds us that our pasts shape us profoundly, and running from them only postpones the inevitable reckoning.

This thought-provoking read balances emotional depth with suspenseful storytelling, making it a valuable addition to contemporary crime fiction.

This is an absolutely cracking debut from Sarah Hornsley. Following the life and career of newly qualified barrister Justine Stone, who has a seemingly perfect life with her dreamy husband Noah.

As the blurb tells us, all is peachy for Justine and Noah both at home and for Justine's career - she is flying high and headed for the big time until her first major case is against her childhood sweetheart, and she has to make the case against him.

I found myself annoyed at Justine at times as she made some questionable choices but in truth I was too drawn in by the story to care and just had to keep reading to see what the real truth was that lay buried in their shared past, and whether Justine would succeed in keeping it hidden.

This is a powerful message that we are none of us too far removed from our childhoods - scratch the surface and it is all still there. For some, this is good, and for others this is a consequence waiting to be metered out.

Overall this is a fast and exciting read and I think the author, NetGalley and Hodder & Staughton for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This book starts as if it is going to be a straightforward read. A young female KC has been given a significant career move by being assigned to an important case defending someone accused of multiple murders. The trouble is that when she looks through the paperwork she recognises the accused as a former significant boyfriend who has changed his name. The murders take her back to where she grew up, an area she rarely visits where here mother still lives. She is, of course, relieved of the case but that enables her to pursue the crimes in question because she doesn’t believe the accused can be guilty. She also has a past she does not want to revisit. The story unfolds with revelation after revelation. It is very well told without unnecessary description. Everything has to be read. The KC is married and she has to reluctantly explain her past to her husband. This is a story that keeps you reading. I strongly recommend it.