What a spooky, sinister adventure this book was! Blood Like Mine by Stuart Neville follows a mother and daughter on the run from the law. From the get go, it’s clear that there’s something not quite right about Rebecca’s teenage daughter, Moonflower. As they navigate through remote and desolate parts of America, avoiding cities and anywhere they might be recognised, the reader learns more about Moonflower’s differences. She can’t go out in the sun, Rebecca doesn’t like her speaking to strangers, and Moonflower has an insatiable hunger that is taking over her bit by bit.

This book was so unlike anything else I’ve read! It was a new take on the vampire/undead trope and was creepy and unsettling without being overly gory. It was also so much more than a vampire novel, with the theme of how far a mother would go to protect her child running consistently through the novel.

I enjoyed the alternating perspectives between Rebecca, Special Agent Donner and Rebecca’s teenage diary. The mixed timelines and POVs kept the book fast-paced and interesting. I was on the edge of my seat start to finish!

4 ⭐️

Thank you Simon & Schuster Australia for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was sure I'd read previous books by Neville but I can't see any in my Goodreads list. I suspect I thought Blood Like Mine was the typical psychological thriller when I requested it, so it's my own fault. I still read the entire book as I liked Rebecca but don't read supernatural books or fantasy so the presence of 'otherworldly' creatures is firmly outside my reading comfort zone.

That bit aside, I enjoyed the relationship between Rebecca and Moonflower and pushed aside the vampire elements, telling myself the latter was merely a psychologically damaged serial killer with a thirst for murder or vengeance, rather than physiological desire for blood.

I also appreciated that Neville wasn't shy about killing off his characters and giving them dubious morals and ethics and that he threw in a nice little twist at the end.

I enjoyed the pace of this book and the way it kept me on edge. I liked the twists and turns.
This is a horror, thriller mystery.. so if you do read this be prepared for the horror themes.
I enjoyed the story and I’m excited to see more work by this author.
Thankyou for the opportunity to read this!

I am not normally one for horror books and this contains strong horror themes throughout mixed in with a taut crime thriller, the story of a woman and her daughter on the run. A very dark and compelling tale that involves Rebbecca Carter and her daughter Monica travelling in an old van through Colorado with only have limited money and food. They are both on the run and FBI Agent Marc Donner is on their case, slowly trying to track them down. He believes they are responsible for some extremely gruesome murders and will leave no stone unturned until he finds them.

This is a story of a mother’s love for her daughter and what lengths she will go to to protect her and keep her safe. I really think it is best that the least you know the better when reading this book. As the story unfolds there many OMG moments and you are kept on the edge of your seat, the suspense and tension are rife. The pace is fast, and the characters excellently portrayed taking you on this horrifying journey that will completely capture your imagination and have you reeling throughout.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.