Bad Blood - by Sarah Hornsley (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A woman is on a mission to discover if her high-school sweetheart is guilty of murder in this domestic suspense debut filled with "head-snapping reveals, jaw-dropping twists, and a stunning conclusion." (Samantha M. Bailey)

"I read it in a SINGLE SITTING." --Hayley Scrivenor, nationally bestselling and Lambda Literary Award-winning author of Dirt Creek and Girl Falling

A double murder. A toxic past. A family secret.

When criminal lawyer Justine Stone is handed the lead on her first murder case, she's thrilled at the chance to enter the big leagues--until she discovers that she recognizes the man on the stand. Jake Reynolds, her first love who abruptly disappeared from her life years ago, and who is now facing charges for a grisly double homicide. If she's going to send Jake to prison for murder, she has to be sure, and that means heading back to their hometown to seek answers, a place she's been desperate to leave in the past.

Back home after almost two decades, Justine is haunted by memories, not only of the idyllic love she shared with Jake, but darker recollections of the death of her beloved father and the weight of the small town's expectations. When her older brother Max goes missing, she starts to suspect that everything is connected, and with the date of the trial looming, she's running out of time to put the pieces together.

Riveting and atmospheric, Bad Blood is a story of dark secrets, complicated families, and fraught homecoming, which will keep readers guessing until the very last page.

Review Quotes

"When Justine is assigned the biggest case of her rising barrister career, she has no way of knowing that it will reach right to the heart of her family, her past, and her future. With a compelling case for the impossibility of arriving at a 'truth', Hornsley has delivered a propulsive debut that asks difficult questions. I read it in a single sitting." --Hayley Scrivenor, nationally bestselling and Lambda Literary Award-winning author of Dirt Creek and Girl Falling

"From the first page of Bad Blood, I was completely immersed in the sophisticated labyrinth Sarah Hornsley has created. With brilliant insight into the complexities of trauma, guilt, and complicity, Hornsley peels back the layers in a poignant and captivating suspense that is ultimately about how far we'll go for love. The head-snapping reveals, jaw-dropping twists, and stunning conclusion make this a masterfully sensational thriller." --Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today, Amazon Charts, and #1 international bestselling author of Hello, Juliet

"In your next favorite read, Bad Blood, Justine Stone discovers that her childhood sweetheart, Jake, is accused of a shocking double murder. As she confronts the buried secrets of her past, her carefully constructed life begins to unravel. What unfolds is a masterful blend of suspense and emotion that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Sarah Hornsley's artful writing and lightning-fast plot will leave you breathless and craving more!" -- Elizabeth McCullough Keenan and Greg Wands, authors of Trust Issues

"Incredibly gripping. A triumph." ―Claire Douglas, #1 internationally bestselling author of Local Girl Missing and The Couple at Number 9

"A page-turner in every sense of the word, BAD BLOOD is a masterclass in pacing." ―Anstey Harris, author of When I First Held You

"BAD BLOOD is a twisty, gripping, fresh take on a legal thriller, deftly weaving an intricate plot that keeps you guessing. Criminally good!" ―Amy McCulloch, author of Breathless

"I thoroughly enjoyed it, a satisfyingly complex twisty and twisted thriller that takes you in all manner of unexpected directions. Sarah draws her characters with great skill and a knack for pacing that would put many a seasoned writer to shame, let alone a debut . . . A plot that delights in defying expectations at every turn." ―James Oswald, author of the Inspector McLean series

"BAD BLOOD is a tangled, twisty, thrill-ride of a bookwith a protagonist you won't forget and layers upon layers of secrets and lies. A super-dark thriller that keeps you guessing and gasping until the very last page." ―Cressida McLaughlin

"A beautifully-written, atmospheric thrillerwith a killer twist - I loved it. Can't wait to see what Sarah writes next." ― Catherine Cooper, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Chalet

"I was immersed in this tale of a small town where everyone has secrets and nothing is quite what it seems. Sarah Hornsley takes us on a well crafted journey full on tension and twists. Claustrophobic and unsettling in the best way- BAD BLOOD is sure to be the thriller of 2025." ― Roxie Cooper, author of The Day We Met

"Excellent debut psychological / legal thriller. Flawless structure. Taut intelligent, and shockingly gripping. Loved the mentions of Kintsugi, the epistolary flourishes and the descriptions of barrister life. BRILLIANT ."― Will Dean, author of The Chamber

"Once I started, I couldn't stop reading this tautly paced tale of family secrets and betrayal. BAD BLOOD is a perfectly titled page-turner; suspenseful, addictive, twisty, and yes, it delivers that sucker-punch ending too! I LOVED it." ―Fionnuala Kearney, author of The Book of Love

"A first-rate psychological thriller!" ―Guy Morpuss, author of Five Minds

"BAD BLOOD is an intricate, clever thriller that delves beautifully into family dynamics and small-town politics. I loved it." ―Jennie Godfrey, Sunday Times bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things

"A dark, twisted thriller from a compelling new voice. Part law-room thriller, part psychological family drama - and chock-full of secrets and lies - this had everything I expect from a pageturner and more besides. An absolute belter!" ―Russ Thomas, internationally bestselling author of Sleeping Dogs

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