Stuart Neville’s The Twelve (aka The Ghosts of Belfast) hit the crime fiction world like a ton of bricks in 2009, ushering in a fresh new voice for the genre. For the past fifteen years, Neville has continued to release work that pushes the boundaries of crime fiction, while solidifying his reputation as a damn fine writer and human being. He is once again thinking outside the box with his newest novel, Blood Like Mine.
Since that now-classic debut, the works of Stuart Neville have often incorporated supernatural elements—at varying levels, depending on the needs of the story. That remains true with Blood Like Mine—a work that is the veritable definition of cross-genre. In one very entertaining story, Stuart Neville has created a blend of thriller, mystery, and procedural, after which he coats the entire narrative with the milieu of horror. The end result being something that feels both fresh and unexpected.
Blood Like Mine is about a mother and daughter—Rebecca and Moonflower—on the run across the American landscape. They are hiding from the authorities due to the fact that they have been present at the scene of several unexplained deaths in which the bodies were drained of blood and the motives for murder unknown. FBI Special Agent Marc Donner believes he’s on the trail of a serial killer; meanwhile Rebecca is a mother just trying to protect her child.
The cat-and-mouse hunt fuels the propulsive nature of the narrative. Shifting points of view help to shield a few of the bigger surprises. As with any road novel, the characters who are met along the journey must be vibrant enough to add depth and variety without being so interesting that readers lose interest in the main protagonists. Stuart Neville makes striking that balance seem easy.
Fast-paced chapters keep readers glued to the page looking for answers even as they figure out parts of the story. In a nice touch that will resonate with parents, Stuart Neville occasionally interrupts the narrative to give readers a glimpse at letters Rebecca has written to Moonflower at different life stages—from before she was born to the novel’s present day. This solidifies the parental bond and keeps reader’s loyalty in flux.
Blood Like Mind is quite fascinating—though it at times risks being not scary enough for true horror fans and yet maybe too creepy for most mystery/thriller readers. But in Stuart Neville’s hands, this highwire act of attempting to please multiple genre fans at once comes across as ambitious rather than absurd. It’s due to Neville’s knowledge of the genres that he manages to strike the right balance more often than not.
Readers will leave Blood Like Mine satisfied, knowing they have witnessed a highly skilled author attempt something that feels both unique and authentic—resulting in what is sure to be one of the most memorable books of the year. No one is ever going to accuse Stuart Neville of giving readers the same type of novel over and over. Each time he puts pen to paper, he allows the needs of the story to dictate all aspects of the telling. And who could ever fault that?
BUY LINKS: Blood Like Mine by Stuart Neville
Disclaimer: A print galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
