Blood Like Mine

I hadn't really realised what this was to begin with. I'd assumed it was a story of revenge, of a mother wanting to hurt the sort of people who had hurt her daughter. Then I realised it was something totally different. It wasn't my normal type of story - but actually I really really enjoyed it and it kept me enthralled right to the end, with a few surprises.

An intriguing story that starts with a mother and daughter on the run that develops into a gothic horror story with lots of bite. The daughter has special dietary needs which just happens to be human blood and the mother has decided that the best providers are child abusers as it was one such individual who infected her in the first place. The chase involves an FBI agent who had become obsessed by the case and as his chase causes even more tragic events he’s thrown off the investigation but carries on regardless. A blood soaked ending but the perpetrator is still out there. Beware!

A desperate mother is on the run, sacrificing everything to protect her child. Following close behind is FBI agent Marc Donner, equally driven he won't stop until he catches them. From the opening chapter right the way through to its intiguing ending this novel had me completely under its spell.

Superb characterisation, I wasnt sure how I felt or even which party I was rooting for as the lines between hunter and prey became blurred and they headed on a collision course towards the explosive ending.

A powerful and moving novel that held my attention from start to finish. Not quite what I was expecting but a terrific read nonetheless. I'm hopeful there's more to come and if so I'll look forward to reading it.

Really enjoyed this !
Monica and her mother are on the run -we are not sure from whom or from what at first .
As the story unfolds it becomes clear that Monica has certain needs that her mum is helping her with -and the bodies are piling up !
Great little horror story -loved it !

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

Well that was unexpected!
I ought to start by thanking all of the reviewers for not giving it away. For the record, I'm not about to either.
What starts out as a cat and mouse chase between a woman and her daughter who are on the run and the FBI agent who has spent the last two years trying to track them down at the cost of his marriage, home and possibly his career takes a sinister turn about half way through..
I actually loved it.
It's a great thriller, with a fast, enjoyable plot and a very satisfying conclusion. The characters are, shall we say, interesting and that's as much as I dare give away.
Thanks for taking me out of my comfort whilst still managing to entertain me..
Much appreciated.

#BloodLikeMine #NetGalley
Brilliant
You would do anything to protect your child.
Even if she’s a monster .Rebecca Carter and her daughter Monica, nicknamed Moonflower, travel the American West, always on the move, always hiding, always looking behind them, always keeping Moonflower out of sight.
They speak to no one, only interacting with people when it’s absolutely necessary.
But wherever they go, bodies are left behind.
Special Agent Marc Donner of the FBI has been tracking a killer for the best part of two years. A murderer that strikes once every few weeks. The victims are all men, many disappearing only to be found months later, dumped in forests or rivers or quarries, far from their places of death. All of them with their throats opened, their bodies bled out and their spinal cords severed. The killer leaves no trace, no clues – only a trail of corpses.After all this time, Donner has gleaned only a handful of facts from the few witnesses and snippets of CCTV footage available. He’s hunting a middle-aged woman who drives a van with blacked-out windows and false plates. Often she poses as a child online to lure in her prey. It’s never been enough to track her down though. And so begins a cat-and-mouse game between Donner and his prey, Rebecca and Moonflower. But who is the actual hunter – and who is the actual prey? For perhaps Moonflower isn’t the child that her mother claims she is. Perhaps she’s something else – and as Donner puts everything on the line to capture them and prove his suspicions right, perhaps he isn’t prepared to face what is really out there.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Schuster UK for giving me an advance copy.

Every so often this book pops up on my social media, despite it not being out for many months, and it's always heaped with praise.
Here I am, adding to that praise.
Or I'm trying to.... its one of those books I can't review well, without giving spoilers, and nobody needs them.
For me, it just had everything I'm looking for in a book,
A brilliant read.

I'm a massive fan of the author so went into this with high hopes and it did kot disappoint. It's a cross between police procedural and something darker and unnatural with horror vibes. The characters are well written and the narrative flows so easily. You think you have a grasp on what's going on but soon discover you have no idea! It's dark and tense and unsettling and I just loved every second of it! Another amazing installment from the author

Rebecca will do anything to protect her daughter Monica (affectionately nicknamed Moonflower) which is why they are constantly on the move from town to town and don’t draw attention to themselves. FBI agent Marc Donner will do anything to hunt down a serial killer who has left behind a trail of bodies over the last two years even if it costs him everything. Their two worlds are about to collide in an explosive way… Blood Like Mine is a dark, atmospheric and terrifying thriller-horror where nothing is quite what it seems. It will break your heart and haunt your dreams. Highly recommended!

I find reading a Stuart Neville book both exciting, exhilarating, exasperating and frightening. His characters don’t appear to have an easy life, and this agony is laid bare on the printed page and I felt every word. I must also mention, at this stage, the dazzling DCI Serena Flanagan books, and Neville’s portrayal of life on the edge with Serena balancing home and work and not always successfully. However I hear you say, and quite rightly so, we are here to discuss and review the author’s latest work of angst: Blood like Mine. My goodness this is a 400 page work of some brilliance, as Stuart aptly and expertly balances a police thriller with horror undertones that becomes evident after a number of chapters.
Rebecca Carter and her daughter Monica, known as Moonflower, are on the run throughout the United States from what or whom gradually becomes clear. We learn that Rebecca will do anything to keep Moonflower safe including killing or sacrificing herself. Meanwhile special agent Marc Donner has spent the last 2 years trying to identify and apprehend a serial killer who strikes with regularity and leaves no trace or clues at the scene of the crime. Donner is a troubled soul, he has become obsessed with the apprehension of this individual to the detriment of the love of his wife and children.
This novel was never going to have a happy ending, as the two sets of players attempt to achieve their individual goals, the tension and the pain is written across every page. I truly found it hard to put this book down, Stuart Neville had me hooked from page one. I hoped that mother and daughter would be safe but as the chapters flew by I began to doubt. Donner, a cop with a mission, was on a self-destruct course and only he had the power to turn this around for surely the love of his wife and young children would prove more important…or would it?
If you are going to read one thriller spiced with horror this year I heartily recommend Blood Like Mine, It is a brilliant, addictive read from one of Northern Ireland’s finest authors.

Wow what a rollercoaster of. A book looking forward to a follow up.
Rebecca will always be there for her daughter Monica whom she lovingly calls moonflower. They travel around the countryside in van running and hiding it from what?
Greta storyline and a keeps you on your toes

This book was definitely a tense read, the tension and suspension built keeps up the pace and kept me hooked.

A really gripping read, I thought the characters were intriguing and I'm going to look out for more by this author.

WOW! That feeling when you’ve just finished an amazing book, excited by what you’ve just read, excited that others will get to read it too…

I was at a Q&A, C.L. Taylor and Lisa Jewell, hosted by Luca Veste, one of the questions was ‘What was your last five star read?’ - C.L. Taylor and Luca Veste immediately answered, in unison Blood Like Mine, Lisa Jewell answered Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry.

It’s the story of Rebecca Carter, a mum on the run with her daughter Monica (nicknamed Moonflower), staying hidden and anonymous. There’s an FBI agent Marc Donner who has been tracking a k*ller for nearly two years, he’s as determined to catch the k*ller as Rebecca is to protect Moonflower.

This is an amazingly fresh and original novel. It goes deep into a mother’s need to protect her child. The mom and daughter as anonymous fugitives on the run is very powerful and Stuart Neville builds this story perfectly. There are heart-stopping twists and reveals that will chill your blood.

For once, I’ll say this book is crying out for a sequel or ongoing series and needs to be made into a movie.

This is a book of the year, emotionally involving while throat grabbing as a cat and mouse high stakes thriller. This is a book I’ll be shouting about. Read this as soon as you can!

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster UK

Deeply creepy, original and well written. I really enjoyed this horror and found myself thinking about it for weeks after.

"Blood Like Mine" by Stuart Neville is a compelling story. The book excels in building tension and suspense, taking readers on a thrilling journey from beginning to end.
The story follows Rebecca Carter and her daughter Monica, known as Moonflower, who are on the run from something or someone. We're not entirely sure what's going on at first, but Rebecca will do anything to keep Moonflower safe, including putting herself in harm's way. Meanwhile, Special Agent Marc Donner is on the hunt for a serial killer who's been leaving a trail of bodies across the country. The killer is clever and always seems to be one step ahead of Donner.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that there's more to Moonflower than meets the eye. She's not like other children, and Rebecca's motivations for keeping her safe are shrouded in mystery. Donner is obsessed with catching the killer, but his obsession is taking a toll on his personal life. His wife and children are suffering because he fixates on the case.
The tension in this book is palpable. Neville does an excellent job of building suspense and keeping you guessing until the very end. I found myself wondering if Moonflower was truly innocent or if she was somehow connected to the murders. And what about Rebecca's motivations? Was she doing everything she could to keep her daughter safe, or was she hiding something?
The characters in this book are complex and multi-dimensional. Rebecca and Moonflower are both flawed and troubled, but they're also deeply human. Donner is a more straightforward character, but his obsession with the case is understandable given the circumstances.
The writing is superb. Neville's prose is evocative and immersive, and he does an excellent job of creating a sense of atmosphere and setting. The pacing is quick and intense, and the plot twists are expertly handled.
Overall, "Blood Like Mine" is for anyone who loves thrillers with a supernatural or horror twist. It's a gripping and suspenseful read that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Just be prepared for a wild ride - this book is not for the faint of heart!

Alsolutley loved this book! I was bitten and taken on a wild ride, think Twighlight but less glitter darker and with some real teeth!


Review posted on my Insta is below



Blood Like Mine by Stuart Neville

This was an advance copy thanks to @netgalley
Released 15th August 2024

I heard about this book when @cltaylorauthor recommended it saying it was one of the best books she had read recently and she isn’t wrong!

I was gripped by this book which I can only describe as a dark twighlight, minus the glitter and Edward Cullen! This book builds and builds and ……. I always keep my reviews spoiler free so I’m going to leave it there 🤭but you all need to read this @stuartnevilleauthor is a genius and I was shook by this book! 😬

If you’re looking for an epic thriller, get it preordered now! I’ll definitely be grabbing a physical copy when it’s released!

I read this all in one sitting this morning, one of those crazy addictive novels that defy all attempts to abandon them even when you might need a minute

Blood Like Mine is pacy and terrifying and emotional all in one go, it doesn't really let up on the tension at all yet also has a strong character driven core, is cleverly written and packs one hell of a punch.

The Kingesque ending just sealed the deal for me.

Going to be one of my favourites this year I think.

I loved Blood Like Mine. I was so invested in the story, and I could feel the love between mother and daughter, but also the resentment and loss.
It was reminiscent of Let the Right One In, but it was also totally its own storyline.
I would definitely recommend this book.

Back in the 80s I cut my adult reading teeth with the horror genre. Herbert, Masterton, King, Brandner, Lumley - I can go on... These days I have fell a bit from that wayside, more favouring crime fiction, apart from every so often dipping a toe back in the pond. This was my latest dip... And it was wonderful...
We start with Rebecca Carter driving her and her daughter, Moonflower, on a dark snowy night in the run-up to Christmas. She swerves to avoid an elk, driving her van into a snowdrift. It's the latest annoyance to her ever mounting list of annoyances. Broke, no food, no help, no nothing, and now stuck. As luck would have it, along comes a man in a pick-up truck. But strangely, Rebecca refuses all or his efforts to help her... But why...?
Meanwhile, we also follow FBI Special Agent Marc Donner who has been hunting down what he has identified as a prolifically gruesome serial killer who drains their victims of all their blood before severing their spinal cords. But for some reason he is pretty much on his own with this investigation...
And so begins a rather interesting and intriguing game of cat and mouse with loads of violent brutality and just enough maverick behaviour to keep me up, reading way beyond my bedtime, so eager I was to get to the conclusion... And I was well rewarded for my endeavours...
I do admit that I haven't read too much by this author before. But I have enjoyed what I have read, and I do fully intend to make a concerted effort to play catch-up in the near future.
Rebecca and Marc are more alike than they would both wish to admit to. Both troubled - in different ways. Both alone. Both out on a limb. Both trying to make the nest of what they are left with. But also, both on opposing sides. They are also both cracking characters.
Pacing is good, matching the narrative all the way through. Heavy on the violence and a bit brutal in places, deliciously so...
And the ending when it came was perfect. Wholly satisfying for what had gone before but also, maybe, also leaving a wee chink of light for the future...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Absolutely thrilling. Blood Like Mine blends the crime and horror genres in a new and exciting way. The best way to explore this book is to go on completely blind and be taken on an adrenaline filled adventure. It is a bleak chase across America as one FBI agent chases the elusive wanted serial killer who he has pursued to the detriment of his marriage and sanity. It is also a story of a mother's love and desire to protect. Unputdownable. #bloodlikemine #stuartneville #netgalley

This is a crime thriller with a supernatural edge and I loved it. Stuart Neville has a nice easy style of writing that engages you with the characters and fleshes out the plot gradually. This cleverly written story is a film or series waiting to be made. Now, where are Mr Neville's other books?