Title:	Bad Blood
	Author:	Sarah Hornsley
	Published:	July 1, 2025, Zando
	No. of Pages:	346
	Cover Price:	$24.93 Hardcover, $18.00 Paperback, $9.99 Kindle, $21.43 Audiobook

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Sarah Hornsley has released her debut novel, Bad Blood, where Justine Hart is a barrister, and excited to be assigned a case that will put her in the spotlight; it’s a double murder case, and there is plenty of evidence against the suspect. However, once she starts to gather the evidence, she discovers that the suspect is her first love, Jake Reynolds, who left her 18 years ago and changed his name. She goes back to her hometown for the first time in those 18 years, tries to locate her brother, Max, who always protected her, and who she had kept in contact with, but only saw her mother who had sent her away after her father’s death. She knows her mother is keeping secrets, and that Jake’s disappearance, Max’s disappearance, her father’s death, and her mother’s secrecy are connected, but is trying to find out why. As the family secrets begin to emerge, suspense builds, and readers will find themselves on the edge.

Hornsley does an excellent job of telling the story, especially for her debut novel. There are a few places that are a bit hard to follow, but that’s partly because of the twists and turns that are unexpected. She also does a good job of developing her characters. Justine, the protagonist, is likeable, and is a woman who has had a difficult past. As the story progresses, more information comes out and things begin to be clear. The dénouement is definitely interesting and a surprise.

Anyone who chooses to listen to this novel as an audio book, will find that the narrator is excellent and with her British accent, makes readers feels they are actually in the UK.

All told, this is a unique kind of suspense novel and is quite enjoyable.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.