Review: Bloodline by Jess Lourey

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bloodline, Jess Lourey, Reviews, suspense, Thomas & Mercer, thriller

Bloodline

by Jess Lourey

Thanks so much to the author and Thomas & Mercer for this review copy.

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Publish Date: January 1, 2021
Paperback
348 Pages
Standalone
Genres: Thriller, Suspense

Perfect town. Perfect homes. Perfect families. It’s enough to drive some women mad…

In a tale inspired by real events, pregnant journalist Joan Harken is cautiously excited to follow her fiancé back to his Minnesota hometown. After spending a childhood on the move and chasing the screams and swirls of news-rich city life, she’s eager to settle down. Lilydale’s motto, “Come Home Forever,” couldn’t be more inviting.

And yet, something is off in the picture-perfect village.

The friendliness borders on intrusive. Joan can’t shake the feeling that every move she makes is being tracked. An archaic organization still seems to hold the town in thrall. So does the sinister secret of a little boy who vanished decades ago. And unless Joan is imagining things, a frighteningly familiar figure from her past is on watch in the shadows.

Her fiancé tells her she’s being paranoid. He might be right. Then again, she might have moved to the deadliest small town on earth.

My Review:

What's the big deal about New Years? I drop the ball all the time! 😁 You know who didn't drop the ball? Jess Lourey, that's who! Y'all probably remember me raving over Unspeakable Things. It was my first read of 2020 and crazy enough, Bloodline is my last. Lourey, you've sandwiched all my reads this year and I wouldn't have it any other way!

A creepy, suspenseful novel based on true events? Um, ALL THE YES PLEASE. We are delivered a paranoid atmosphere of a small town that is focused singularly on our protagonist, Joan . The eerie feeling that came across felt like a mix of The Truman Show meets Get Out meets Rosemary's Baby meets The Stepford Wives. Where everyone seems to be in on something. Where they know your every move and veer you in the "right" direction. Act properly and get rewarded. Don't act properly... well, do you really want to go there?

Uff the men in this book. I try to remember the time period in which this was written but still. UFF THE FUCKING MEN IN THIS BOOK. I wanted to scream on every woman's behalf. But I also wanted to drop kick or glove slap most of these women too so... 🤷 One character I did love? Regina! She is a fun character and I loved her banter with Joan. I truly loved the atmosphere of this. You feel more and more claustrophobic as the pages turn.. and whatever it was I was expecting, it wasn't THAT. Brilliant. Lourey has solidified a spot in my top authors list.

A word I haven't seen in a while - kerfuffle - I couldn't stop saying it after I read it Kerfuffle. KERFUFFLE. Try it, it's fun. 😉

I would highly recommend this and Unspeakable Things. If you haven't read either yet - chop chop - get on it!

★★★★★