3.5 stars

Sandra Brown delivers another suspenseful thriller in Blood Moon, in which a troubled detective and a determined TV producer race against time to prevent another disappearance. Detective John Bowie, teetering on the edge of professional disaster, teams up with Beth Collins, a true crime producer convinced that a series of teenage girls vanishing under a blood moon isn’t a coincidence. With only four days until the next blood moon, they dig into a case riddled with corruption, danger, and an undeniable attraction.

The plot had promise, with an intricate mystery and a solid twist at the end. However, the book struggled to keep my attention. The pacing was sluggish at the start, and the early chapter focused too much on Bowie ogling Beth, which felt unnecessary and off-putting. The romantic subplot, a Brown staple, leaned heavily on graphic sex scenes that didn’t add much to the story.

I previewed both the book and the audiobook—Kyf Brewer’s narration was strong, though imagining him recording the steamy scenes gave me a chuckle. Blood Moon was intense and had its moments, but I didn’t love it.

** Thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Hachette Audio for comps. The opinions are my own.

Sandra Brown does what Sandra Brown does best. She's delivered another enjoyable, solid suspense novel. Rarely does a book of hers let me down; this is no exception. John Bowie is on thin ice with his boss. When he's approached by a woman looking to dig into an old case of his, the last thing he wants to do is tick his boss off by dredging things up again. When she states that there's going to be another murder soon, on the next blood moon, he tries not to get involved but doesn't really succeed at staying out of it. With his boss (the Police Captain) and his goon trying to stop him from looking into this old case any further, he and the woman, Beth, who happens to be a producer on the TV crime show that's going to be airing a special on the old case, end up uncovering things that keep them on the run and trying to prevent the next abduction/murder.

This is a fun, fast-paced story and if you're a fan of Sandra Brown's this one does not disappoint. The narration is great and beings Beth and John to life as well. Thank you to Net Galley, Sandra Brown, and Hachette Audio for the chance to listen to and review this ARC!

This latest romantic suspense from Sandra Brown felt a lot more like her classic books and I really enjoyed it. When a true crime producer gets in touch with a detective about a cold case that's always bothered him, they find themselves racing against the clock to prevent another 'Blood Moon' killing. If you like serial killer stories, unique plots, lots of drama and authors like Tami Hoag or Karen Robards, this one is sure to entertain. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Meh.
The mystical plot was interesting, but it does not read like it was written by a woman.
The toxic machismo is rampant and not something I would expect to see in a book set in modern times.
Also the FMC is very "damsel in distress" despite trying to seem like she isn't?
Not for me.
Thanks to NetGalley & Hachette Audio for letting me try this one on.

Once again Sandra Brown writes another amazing book. Mystery, thriller, romance and spice what could be better. This was an amazing story and I loved the characters so much. The whole time it kept my attention and interest. I did not see the ending of the cases coming but wow was it a good twist. Highly recommend this story. I loved the narration it was amazing and only adds to the story. I loved the voices for the characters and how each character was protrayed.

I listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed it very much. The narrator was amazing.

The story revolves around the cold case that tormented John, the detective who worked the case, for years. A disappearance of a teenage girl who's never been found and a rushed investigation that never sat right with him. He gets sucked in it again when Beth, a producer on a tv show about the case that's about to come out, approaches him because she feels there is more to the story and wants his help to see if her theories are true before something else happens. Although reluctant at first, he agrees to investigate with her. Full of suspense, with dirty cops and a tight timeline, it delivers an exciting story. While the suspense part of the book delivered, with a plot twist I didn't see coming, I found the romance part lacking.

I really enjoyed this book! Sandra Brown knows how to keep you hooked with plenty of twists and tension. The characters were well-developed, and the pacing kept me turning the pages. I especially liked the mix of romance and suspense—it had just the right balance. My only small gripe is that some parts felt a bit predictable, but overall, it was a great read. If you’re into romantic thrillers, this one is definitely worth picking up!

Another great one from Sandra Brown!

This one revolves around an unsolved ‘cold case’ that has the producer of Crisis Point, a NY True Crime Series show, trying to get to the bottom of who the killer was! She has some crazy ideas going through her mind, but she’s afraid no one will believe her! 🤔

So, Beth travels to Louisiana, searching for ONE cop who was NOT on board with all the other cops and what happened back then… in the hopes that she can bring him on board to solve this mystery WITH her.

To say the least, it doesn’t go well, initially…

But, when John starts thinking more about what she’s saying, he thinks she just might have something there…

As they start to push through this together, John gets more and more pushback from his superior…to LEAVE IT ALONE! Which of course, only wants to make him dig more into it!

Full of suspense, with a bit of romance too, this one was terrific!
If you’ve been a fan of this author, you will not go wrong with this one. And, if you’ve not read her before, this would be a great one to start with!!

#BloodMoon by #SandraBrown and narrated nicely by #KyfBrewer.

4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, happily rounded up to 5!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #HachetteAudio and #GrandCentralPublishing for an ARC of the audiobook! **** Please keep an eye out for it, the release date is: March 4,2025!! So, look 👀 for it then!! ****

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This book had everything a romantic suspense reader could want! The suspense was gripping, the romance sizzling hot and a fast-paced novel with a satisfying conclusion.

Narrator Kyf Brewer did phenomenal. I found Brewer's voice to be captivating and could easily get lost in the story.

Brown's new book is a thrilling and romantic. Highly recommend!

Blood Moon
by Sandra Brown

A missing girl, a corrupt police force, and a killer who strikes with the Blood Moon. A detective and a TV producer join forces to uncover the truth before the Blood Moon murderer slays another victim. As the clock ticks down, secrets unravel, danger closes in, and their spark threatens to ignite.

Hey, that sounds like it could be pretty good.

We meet:
• John Bowie: A hardened, whiskey-soaked detective with a shattered past, teetering between self-destruction and redemption.
• Beth Collins: A relentless television producer whose instincts for the truth put her onto--and in the path of--a killer.

The characters are formulaic, clichés wrapped in familiar packages. Bowie is a blender version of every burnt-out cop trope you’ve ever seen or read, but less likable than most of them. His inner dialogue and conversational style are meant to be charming, but I’d say it comes across like sandpaper on the senses. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with being impressed by a beautiful chest—attraction usually harbors physical elements—but Bowie can come off as a creep rather than a rake with a heart of gold.

Beth is better developed than Bowie, but her attraction to him is about as baffling as trying to figure out who this book is for.

That’s why it’s hard to grade. I’m unsure what the author was trying to do.
I see it listed as romantic suspense, but it fails to be remotely romantic in any believable way. It is mediocre at best regarding suspense.

It reminds me of the novel version of those straight-to-VHS movies starring Tracy Scoggins and a revolving door of moderately famous men from around 1990. You know the films—the ones with a thinner-than-paper suspense plot that’s just a device to get to two key moments:
1. When the sexy woman takes off her shirt.
2. When the troubled male lead gets into a fight with the big bad to save the day.
16 year old me loved that hypersexual pseudo romance plus mindless action nonsense. Yep, this is the novel version of that. And if that’s what Sandra Brown was going for, she nailed it. If it was meant to be a complex suspense story or a sexy thriller—as marketed—it very much is not.

I give it a C-.

Blood Moon will be released on March 4th, 2025,
is 448 pages in hardback,
12 long hours on audio,
and narrated decently by Kyr Brewer.

We’ll talk soon

This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced, gripping, romantic suspense novel. It has an intelligent, likable female protagonist, an engaging, strong and capable male protagonist, murder, mystery, intrigue, sizzling chemistry, twists and turns, and a gratifying conclusion. I listened to the audio book, and the narrator, the truly talented Mr. Kyf Brewer, has a captivating voice and does an outstanding job voicing the characters. Many thanks to Hachette Audio/Grand Central Publishing, NetGalley and Ms. Sandra Brown, from whom I received an advanced listener copy of this fabulous novel. This is my honest opinion.

In short, I liked this, but didn't love it!

Pros: The mystery/suspense plot was great and there were a lot of layers to it that I enjoyed!

Cons: Sadly, the romance just felt very rushed. I didn't really love the MMC and I felt like we moved from lust/attraction to more very quickly, and I just wasn't fully sold on it.

But overall, a solid listen that kept me hooked.

3.5 ⭐️

This fast-paced romantic suspense audiobook is packed with intrigue, passion, and unexpected twists. The narrator does an excellent job capturing both the steamy romance and the high-stakes drama, pulling listeners into the story. While some plot points may feel familiar, the combination of suspense and sizzling chemistry makes for an entertaining and satisfying experience.

Blood Moon
By Sandra Brown Narrated by Kyf Brewer
"Detective John Bowie is one misstep away from being fired from the Auclair Police Department in coastal Louisiana. Recently divorced and slightly heavy-handed with his liquor, Bowie does all that he can to cope with the actions taken (or not taken) during the investigation of Crissy Mellin, a teenage girl who disappeared more than three years prior. But now, Crisis Point, a long-running true crime television series, is soon to air an episode documenting the unsolved Mellin case. Bowie has been instructed by his unscrupulous boss to keep to himself his grievances and criticisms over the mishandling of the investigation.
Beth Collins, a senior producer on Crisis Point, knows what classifies as a great story and when there’s something more to be told. After working on the show for seven years researching, fact checking, and editing dozens of episodes, Collins is convinced that Crissy Mellin’s disappearance was not an isolated incident. A string of disappearances of teenage girls in nearby areas have only one thing in common: They took place on the night of a blood moon. In a last-ditch effort to find out the truth, Beth leaves New York City for Louisiana to enlist Detective Bowie in helping her figure out what happened to Crissy and find the true culprit before he acts on the next blood moon—in four days’ time.
At the risk of their jobs and lives, Bowie and Collins band together to identify and capture a canny perpetrator, while fighting an irresistible spark between them that threatens to upend everything."

As always, my reviews are of the audio version of this book. As a rule, I listen at 70% speed or less as this makes it easier to hear details without needing to rewind as often. If things get tedious, I generally speed up.
Present in all of my reviews will be notes marked by an asterisk. These are pretty much just random thoughts I have, ignore them if they are annoying. I tend to think out loud...or in writing.
I have read multiple novels by Ms. Brown and enjoyed them more or less. I would classify them as dramatic, usually romantic, and not particularly cerebral. Don't expect Michael Connelly.
My first thought was "GOOD southern accent!", if not particularly Louisianan. I refuse to suffer through hours of butchering the accent of the southern US. Unfortunately, the male protagonist speaks rather as if he is reading. I DO realize he actually IS reading, but, I mean...well, you get it.
*Note: I've lived in the southern US my entire 50 (gulp!) years, been to my share (and at least two other people's, tbh) of pool halls (otherwise known as billiards and/or snooker), played-if not well-many games myself, and I have NEVER heard the activity referred to as "shooting stick." I mean it's cute and all, but we have enough "southern-isms" without coming up with new ones. Idk, maybe this is a term used by the author and his drinking buddies?
Pet peeve, "butter wouldn't melt in his/her mouth" can only imply a person behaves coldly. When a person behaves sweetly it is accurate to say "SUGAR wouldn't melt in his/her mouth" as butter, while it can be sweetened with cream, is not generally considered sweet.
The "detective as rebel who has an antagonistic relationship with his superior" trope is well over done. It really isn't necessary to shun authority for a character to be interesting.
I quickly got the impression that the plot seems to be more a romance ( likely to become steamy) than a mystery/suspense at this point. It is early on, so this may change. While I wasn't expecting this, I'm not averse as long as the romance isn't too ridiculous (they are constantly arguing, they are constantly wearing wet clothes, etc.)
My next impression of John is that he is rather gullible for a detective. I find him not particularly likable and a bit dim. I assume that, as with most romance novels, he will become enlightened and make a change for the better which is brought about through the extraordinary love for the female protag.
I still have hope for Beth.
*Note: Even being southern, I am capable of pronouncing Iraq as "Eer-ahk" rather than "Eye-rack" grrrr.
*Note: completely unimportant, but "head master" is redundant when referring to one who is best at one's job rather than the person overseeing the running of a school.
The rebel cop is wearing on my nerves to the point of speeding up the playback. I find it really irritating how John goes out of his way to cause issues with his boss while claiming he is on the edge of losing his job if he steps out of line. "Insubordination" is a thing.
Well, shoot. Sadly, Beth is behaving just as counter productively as John. *Sigh* She seems to want one thing desperately, then when she has achieved it, she goes off in a huff and refuses to follow up. I keep saying out loud, "Oh, GROW UP!" My dog is getting concerned.
Neither Beth nor John are proving to be two of the brightest crayons in the box. Maybe the sexual tension is affecting their brains?
No, seriously, the amount of arguing between Beth and John, I assume to build aforementioned sexual tension (at which it is failing), is absurd.
Oh, yay. When I thought it could get no more dreadful.
My least favorite thing in any book.
The POV of the villain.
I have never read this POV and gained anything. I basically skip them automatically and lose NONE of the plot. Ugh. This just keeps getting better. I'll finish the book to give a full review.
At least the mystery part picked up quite a bit, although it really couldn't be called compelling. After the romance got put aside (sort of) the mystery itself was the focus until the last chapter or so. Things went very predictably.
Sadly (welcome to the life of a hardcore mystery reader), I pretty well outlined the remainder of the book. Not a surprise one. Oh well.
I may or may not read another Sandra Brown, it depends on the level of boredom I'm experiencing.
As always, thank you to NetGalley for allowing me early access to this audiobook in exchange for a (brutally) honest review!

Thank you @NetGalley and @HachetteAudio for the ARC. Sandra Brown has been one of my favorite authors for decades. Her books are engaging, fun and written so well. Kyf Brewer was a great narrator, he made the story sound so mysterious with his smoke filled voice. Detective John Bowie never felt right about the disappearance of Crissy Mellin but, his both said case closed and murder in jail. Yet when Beth Collins comes to town for research for a documentary on the Mellin case, John realizes that his instincts might have been right. A must read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I was looking forward to reading this one as a a Sandra Brown fan and lover of a good detective thriller. While, I was entertained and interested throughout the story, I found it a little lackluster. Detective John Bowie is a cool detective who is smarter than most give him credit for. Beth is a younger, smart TV producer who becomes enthralled with Bowie's manhood. I found the intermittent views into Bowie's thoughts for Beth a little cringeworthy. Then, the playout of the catch the criminal events seemed quite convenient and predictable to pull the story together into a nice neat happy ending.

Overall, I enjoyed it but I expected a little more from the author.

Blood Moon by Sandra Brown is based in a coastal town in Louisiana. Narrator Kyf Brewer did a great job distinguishing between characters.
Beth Collins is a senior producer on Crisis Point and wants to get information from Detective John Bowie to stop another kidnapping/murder that she thinks will take place at the next Blood Moon. Can they work together to stop the next attack? This is a fast paced romantic suspense with a touch of spice. Great beach read. Thank you to #NetGalley, Hachette Audio and the author for this arc audio. This is my honest review.

Sandra Brown does it again. I really enjoyed listening to this book. It had me guessing up til close to the end. Recommended.

***4.0 Stars***

Overall,
So I have read Sandra Brown before but like more than a decade ago. I remember really enjoying her writing and stories so when I saw an opportunity on Netgalley to read this book I took the chance to see if I could rekindle my joy of Suspenseful Romance. Boy did it ever! I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting mystery with a grumpy detective and a very smart lonely TV producer as they come together to solve a murder and hopefully stop another. I took the one star off because the ending was pretty foreseeable. All and all I really enjoyed this book and will likely be picking up more for Sandra's back list now. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in a thriller with a bit of spice.

***Thank you Netgalley and Hachette for the chance to read this story in exchange for my free and honest review***

Nice, fast-paced book

This had a good plot. A reporter noticed that young women had all gone missing during a blood moon. Another blood moon was coming up, so she teamed up with Louisiana law enforcement to try to prevent another kidnapping.

The premise was a little far-fetched. Why would she assume the new abduction would happen in the same town that the last one occurred, especially when others were in different towns? There was a romance with sex scenes. I am not that big on romance books, but it did not take away from the mystery of the main plot.

All in all a pretty good book.