Bloodline by Jess Lourey

Bloodline

by Jess Lourey

An ITW Thriller Award and Anthony Award winner.

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.

Reviewed by mrs_mander_reads on

3 of 5 stars

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The jury is still out on this one. TW for rape, incest, and violence against women here.
I felt like, especially towards the end, the author just kind of assumed that I realized more about the plot twist than I did, so I was lost a lot.
I wasn't expecting the details that did come out, so that was good?
I just don't know how I feel here. For me, it was a mediocre thriller.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 15 March, 2021: Finished reading
  • 15 March, 2021: Reviewed