Dark, unrelenting, and hauntingly atmospheric, Of Flesh and Blood is a gripping horror debut that blends Southern Gothic with psychological thriller and supernatural dread to unforgettable effect. Fans of Chasing the Boogeyman, What Moves the Dead, or the eerie philosophical spirals of True Detective Season 1 will find themselves right at home—and deeply unsettled—within its pages.

The story follows forensic psychiatrist Dr. Vincent Blackburn, whose professional curiosity becomes a personal nightmare when he discovers a blood connection to the infamous “Cajun Cannibal,” a serial killer who shocked rural Louisiana with a series of grotesque murders in 2008. Ten years later, as Vincent begins digging into the case as part of a psychological study, he finds more than just buried trauma—he uncovers the tangled roots of his own legacy, one that blends the psychological, the historical, and possibly the occult.

What makes this novel truly compelling is the way it blurs genre boundaries. Yes, there are gruesome crimes and procedural elements. Yes, there are ghosts—both literal and metaphorical. But at its core, Of Flesh and Blood is about the inheritance of violence, the dangers of obsession, and the thin, often bloody line between sanity and madness. Allen (assuming the author’s name) does not give easy answers; instead, they offer a descent into ambiguity, where truth is a fluid concept and horror seeps from both within and without.

Vincent is a strong narrator—wounded, intelligent, and increasingly unreliable. As he delves deeper into his connection to the Cajun Cannibal, the novel takes on a feverish quality. The oppressive heat of Louisiana, the racial and cultural tensions of the region, and the echoes of generational trauma wrap around the narrative like kudzu, choking and all-consuming. The prose is lush and poetic at times, yet sharp as a scalpel when it needs to be.

Where Of Flesh and Blood stumbles slightly is in its pacing—there are a few stretches where the dense introspection slows the narrative momentum—but this is a minor quibble in an otherwise riveting read.

Seeing serial killer was all I need to read!
Of Flesh and Blood by N. L. Lavin; Hunter Burke kept me totally absorbed in the story from the first page.
The writing skills was truly remarkable. The author's gripping plot that immediately grabbed my attention and kept me engaged throughout.
An intriguing story with characters who draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.

"Of Flesh and Blood” by N. L. Lavin and Hunter Burke is a 3-star psychological horror! While writing a novel about the notorious Cajun Cannibal, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Vincent Blackburn begins to question whether the events really unfolded the way they’ve been told over the past decade and decides to take a closer look at the investigation.

I thought the premise of this story was great, and I enjoyed the lore surrounding the small parish in Louisiana. What didn’t work for me was the execution of the story. The narrative alternates between the present day and flashbacks presented as excerpts from The International Journal of Forensic Medicine. It was hard for me to believe that articles in a medical journal would be written the way they were portrayed.

If you’re a fan of true crime podcasts and documentaries, this style of storytelling may work better for you, and you might enjoy the book more than I did. Much of the book is a slow burn, with the action not really picking up until closer to the conclusion.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books, N. L. Lavin and Hunter Burke, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

This one definitely gave off true crime and folklore vibes! 🙌

The first half was spent with the MMC’s investigation into the Cajun Cannibal, Henri Judice, and the victims. While interesting, there were parts where the pace became sluggish. But the second half, that took off!! There were times I was actually tensed up and creeped out, especially toward the end!! My takeaway is how easy it is to make assumptions! 😅 Definitely recommend checking this one out! 👏

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and N.L. Lavin and Hunter Burke for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

Serial killer and the swamps of Louisiana, count me in! This book is a banger and shook me! Vincent Blackburn is a forensic psychiatrist investigating the "Cajun Cannibal". Told through a dual timeline 2008 and present day. As he gets more and more involved, he uncovers shocking information, thst he may be closer to the serial killer than he would like. The atmosphere is so creepy.  At one point Blackburn is interviewing patients at a very infamous prison, and you can just feel the dread and despair of the prison. These guys create an incredible world filled with terror yet hope and humanity emerge. Very fast paced and well written.

🍖 Book Review 🍖

⭐️⭐️⭐️ // ARC Review

🩸 Of Flesh and Blood by Hunter Blake & N.L. Lavin🩸
Release Date: 10th June

I love a good cannibal plot 🥩🖤 call me sick, call me twisted, but I live for it. That said, this wasn’t quite what I expected…

Less gritty Louisiana outback 🌾, more folklore-meets-zombie-virus vibes 🧟‍♂️🪵. Not bad, just different.

The gore? Delicious. Some genuinely great horror scenes 🔪🩸
The writing? Fluid, atmospheric, and kept me hooked from start to finish ✍️📖
The twists? Painfully good 😢💔

But… I was craving more.
Maybe my Splatterpunk soul has been desensitized over time 🤷‍♀️💀
And the ending? Didn’t land the way I hoped. It started strong but veered off in a direction that didn’t quite satisfy the buildup. 😕

Still, it’s a solid horror read for fans who like their terror mixed with myth and madness 🌕✨

📚 Would I recommend it? Yeah for the right horror reader. Just don’t go in expecting full-blown depravity.

Great book will certainly read more of their work 📚

Thank you so much @titanbooks 🖤❤️🖤

🥩 🪵🩸🪓 🥩 🪵🩸🪓 🥩 🪵🩸🪓 🥩 🪵🩸🪓 🥩 🪵🩸🪓 🥩

#OfFleshAndBlood #HunterBlake #HorrorBooks #BookReview #HorrorReads #CannibalHorror #ARCReview #GoreLoversUnite #TitanBooks

I received an advance copy of the book for review. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but was intrigued by the description. I was quickly sucked into the story and hooked for the duration. This was one that kept me guessing and kept me jumpy.!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

N. L. Lavin’s "Of Flesh and Blood" is a novel that pulses with tension, weaving together raw emotion and deep psychological intrigue. It is both intimate and expansive, pulling readers into a world where personal history collides with larger forces that shape identity and fate.

At its core, the novel explores the complex ties between family, duty, and the secrets that threaten to unravel them. Lavin’s prose is sharp and immersive, drawing readers into a narrative that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. The characters are layered, shaped by their experiences in ways that make them flawed, compelling, and achingly real.

The storytelling never lingers unnecessarily, but it also refuses to rush—allowing space for introspection and raw honesty. Themes of loyalty and betrayal pulse beneath the surface, making every interaction feel charged with hidden meanings.

Lavin’s ability to craft an atmosphere of quiet tension ensures that even the simplest moments—an exchanged glance, a hesitant conversation—carry the weight of unspoken truths. Readers will find themselves questioning not only the choices of the characters but also the deeper implications of identity and belonging.

Ultimately, "Of Flesh and Blood" is a testament to Lavin’s skill in storytelling, offering a deeply emotional yet thrilling exploration of human relationships. For those seeking a novel that doesn’t just entertain but leaves an imprint, this one is a compelling choice.

Vincent Blackburn's research into the Cajun Cannibal forms the backbone of this atmospheric horror novel that takes great advantage of folklore, legend and gore. It's told largely through documents and interviews, which I liked although I understand others find sterile. This has good twists and a few turns so no spoilers to me. Imagine discovering this in your family history! Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. For fans of the genre.

Of Flesh and Blood
Hunter Burke, N.L. Lavin
Release Date: 06/10/2025
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Of Flesh and Blood is a gripping fusion of horror, folklore, and crime, told through the lens of a unique narrator — a psychiatrist investigating the dark past of his own cousin, the man accused of being the infamous Cajun Cannibal. What sets this novel apart is its immersive, case file-style narrative. Medical records, autopsy reports, police transcripts, historical accounts, and rich regional folklore are all woven together to create a chillingly realistic experience. It reads like a true crime novel — one that feels unnervingly real.
The setting is deeply atmospheric. South Louisiana, with its shadowy bayous and thick, humid air, becomes a character in its own right. The authors do an exceptional job of bringing the region to life through vivid descriptions of the food, traditions, superstitions, and landscape. The folklore is especially compelling — I found myself diving down internet rabbit holes about the Rougarou and other local legends. With a trip to New Orleans coming up in September, I’m already planning to explore more of these eerie tales in person.
The dialogue stands out for its authenticity. It shifts naturally between characters, reflecting their backgrounds, voices, and personalities. (Mitch in particular) The book also touches on small-town politics, eccentric locals, and cultural tensions, all of which deepen the sense of place. Southern horror folklore has a distinctive flavor — a haunting mix of gothic atmosphere, regional history, and supernatural dread. Of Flesh and Blood delivers on every front. It’s the kind of story that stays with you, unsettling and absorbing in equal measure.

I really liked this book! Either the author is from Louisiana, or they’ve spent a lot of time there. I was totally immersed in the setting and the characters (Mitch was my favorite) and the language was on point. I heard the accents and visualized everything in my head. So much so that I would read lines to my husband, who was actually homeless as a teenager in New Orleans (Jackson Square and the Ninth Ward). We also have a very good friend who is Cajun, so sometimes it was like hearing him talk. To be quite honest, I was really impressed with that part. It takes real skill to reflect a person’s language and accents without overdoing it. As far as the story itself, I loved the Rougarou storyline. It’s been a while since I’ve had something that intrigued me so much. But my favorite part was actually the format, which I know a lot of readers didn’t like. The story is laid out like a case file with interviews, medical studies, case notes, etc. It made me feel like I was part of the case, and was a very interesting strategy. Personally, I thought it was fantastic. I would’ve liked a little bit more action with the Rougarou at the end as the last few pages did seem a little rushed, but overall, the author killed it with this one!

Huge thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

I love all books that take place in the Bayou, likely because it is so far from my reality living here in dry Utah. The culture, the food, and the landscape fascinates me and creeps me out a little.
This was pretty good. I felt it. I did get a little distracted in the middle but it is likely a me problem.
This was amazing for a debut novel. Keep it up!

The bayous of South Louisiana have always seemed like the perfect playground for crime fiction or even horror fiction. While much of this specific kind of Southern culture has been sensationalized by popular culture, there are a few realities some folks haven’t quite grasped about this unique setting. Maybe it’s the carnivorous creatures that occupy the bayous and waterways. Maybe it’s the ever invasive kudzu that turns everything it touches into a Gothic nightmare (or dream, depending on your interests). Possibly it is the unique stories and traditions that may seem to be from another planet to outsiders but feel familiar to Cajuns. Whatever the reason, these listed or those unspoken, authors N.L. Lavin and Hunter Burke know this place as their home and have penned one psychologically enthralling novel of murder, mystery, and madness with Of Flesh and Blood.

Of Flesh and Blood: Fictional True Cajun CrimeThe genre of fictional true crime is gaining momentum, and if you aren’t familiar with this niche subset of fiction, the premise is quite imaginative. Image a crime (or horror) novel told from the perspective of someone researching the topic, not unlike an investigative journalist. These stories read with a lived-in authenticity that the realities of true-crime offer while remaining fictional. Lavin and Burke straddle the line of horror and crime thriller by embracing the unique subgenre of fictional true crime to deliver the story (or the alleged story) of the Cajun Cannibal, a serial killer plaguing the swamps of South Louisiana. Told from the perspective of a distant relative of the Cajun Cannibal and forensic psychiatrist, Vincent Blackburn, Of Flesh and Blood reads as a wholly unique, fully-realized story that embraces the strange in light of the traumatic.

More than ghosts can haunt people, a fact that is fully explored with this compelling novel. While the beginning unfolds with a rather clinical presentation of the Cajun Cannibal’s background that perfectly suits the character of Dr. Blackburn, it becomes readily apparent that the personal stakes for the doctor overshadow our introduction. We quickly follow Blackburn down a rabbit hole of crime, violence, and mystery as many questions around the Cajun Cannibal remain unanswered. Blackburn’s dogged ambition to find these answers fuels the novel into riveting, compelling crime-fiction, that also leaves room for the inexplicable.

Yet, Of Flesh and Blood truly wins for it’s Southern heart. Look, I’ll confront my bias here as I am from a similar part of the state as Lavin and Burke. However, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Of Flesh and Blood is the exact kind of strange, brooding crime fiction I have been so desperate to read all my life. The small-town politics, the quirky characters, the slang, the food, the culture, the tradition, the strange paranormal lore, all of it is so at home within my dark, twisty Cajun heart. This is a novel that fully embraces its unique DNA, straddling the line of crime and horror to deliver something totally distinct and narratively effective.

Atmospheric, compelling, and wholly of its own, Of Flesh and Blood by N.L. Lavin and Hunter Burke is an enthralling, impressive debut. There’s no one box a novel like this falls into, but fans of thrilling crime novels with a flair for the possibly otherworldly will feel right at home in these pages. With a setting that allows for mystery to reign supreme, Of Flesh and Blood utilizes the haunted bayous of South Louisiana to deliver bone-chilling storytelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review Of Flesh and Blood by N.L. Lavin and Hunter Burke. All opinions are my own.

Of Flesh and Blood is pitched to people who liked Chasing the Bogeyman and True Detective, which I really loved, therefore enticed me to take a chance on an unknown author to me. This story follows a psychiatrist researching the Cajun Cannibal case from 2008 in Louisiana. Through his research he finds he might be related by blood to the actual serial killers. This leads him to all types of questions. When a copycat killer begins to surface during Vincent's case study of the original serial killer it puts his family at risk.

I can see the comparison between this and Chasing the Bogeyman as that it reads similar to a true crime book as opposed to fiction. We follow a couple of timelines and different characters that were involved in the case in 2008. The jumping back between timelines and characters did confuse me at times. I also felt it was a bit of a slow pace which kept me from enjoying the book as much as I had thought I would. I think I was expecting more horror and was disappointed it wasn't. Doesn't mean this might be better for others though. I would read the other reviews thoroughly and see if it might be for you.

Of Flesh and Blood will be available at all major book retailers on June 10th. Happy reading!!!!

This book had a great premise but the execution fell a bit flat. I couldn’t connect with the characters and it was too slow paced for a horror story. Overall a nice read.

thank you net galley for this arc. so this story blend true crime and supernatural horror. what i like the French -cajun folklore,the eerie atmosphere.i enjoyed the descent into madness. i just didnt feel it was done very well. the lay out felt a little confusing.

I need to start with a thanks to NetGalley, N.L. Lavin, Hunter Burke, and Crooked lane Books for giving me a chance to read this ARC copy. I really liked the premise of this story. It felt different in how it was presented, in a good way! There were times in the book where I felt disengaged, like the storyline drifted and so did my attention. However, the mystery was solid, the setting in the story was super interesting, and the history mixed into the story was neat. Overall, I would definitely say it is worth the read.

A murder mystery, supernatural folklore, and lot and lots of blood.

Vincent Blackburn is working on a book about the notorious Canjun Cannibal, a serial killer who devastated a rural Louisiana community a decade before. The Cajun Cannibal also happened to be Vincent’s estranged relative. Told through alternating perspectives, Vincent delves into the Cajun Cannibal case and finds more than he bargained for.

The novel is told through switching perspectives, primarily through Vincent’s early research studies into the massacres and traveling into the past to see the events unfold as they happened. I liked that the perspectives almost always came from those right on the outskirts of the action. It kept the drama tense and the true story shrouded for readers to see the gentle unfolding as Vincent worked through the layers that added to the case. The book very much leaned into the feeling of being a big case study, almost as if we were reading Vincent’s published book.

This book is gory and wet and gross in all the ways you want your horror novel to be. The authors definitely didn’t shy away from their dark descriptions; they’re gory and unsettling from beginning to end. I loved every second of that. The authors have a great command over the macabre and perturbing and wielded it well.

I really did enjoy this book, but I do agree with other reviews that the book is difficult to get through and the pacing feels off in places. I think this is especially apparent in the beginning of the novel. The changes from past to present happen more often, so keeping everything straight took a bit of work. That said, this book really takes off in stride around Part II, and from there, the pacing felt more in-step and I had much less trouble deciphering what was going on.

I’ve also seen reviews that found this book boring, and on that point, I disagree (almost) completely. Of Flesh and Blood doesn’t necessarily read like a typical horror novel. It reminded me at lot of FantasticLand that I read earlier this year and absolutely loved. The action isn’t immediate or continuous like I’d expect from a horror like Grady Hendrix or Stephen King, instead it sprawls out like an investigation slowly putting clues together or a doctor working on an analytical essay. I almost prefer this type of horror, the soft unraveling of clues and a deep delve into the psyche of the characters, but I also know that I’m only one particular type of reader. If you’re looking for a horror with quick punches and fast-paced action, this might not be for you.

One note I do agree on is that sometimes the writing sprawled a little too much. There’re so many little minute details on so many different characters, that sometimes it actually did feel like a student trying to pad their essay. Some of those details are important and some felt less so, but then again, it’s up to Vincent and the reader to decide which of those details are the pertinent ones.

Overall, solid horror novel for me. It’s a good length, great story, and perfecting unsettling descriptions.

Of Flesh and Blood caught me off guard—in the best way. I went in expecting a gritty supernatural thriller, and what I got was that plus a whole lot more: dark atmosphere, moral ambiguity, and characters that felt raw and dangerously real.

Right from the start, there’s a heavy, almost suffocating mood to the story that sets the tone. It's not horror in the traditional sense, but there's a lurking sense of dread that never really lets up. The world Lavin and Burke build is sharp-edged and unrelenting, filled with people who have seen too much, lost too much, and are still trying to claw their way toward something resembling redemption—or revenge. Maybe both.

What really pulled me in was how human the supernatural elements felt. The blood, the violence, the monstrousness—it’s all rooted in trauma, in emotion, in relationships that are strained to the breaking point. You’re not just reading about creatures or powers; you’re reading about what happens to people when they’re forced to confront the darkest parts of themselves—and each other.

The pacing is relentless in a good way. You never feel like you're standing still. And while the plot has its share of brutal moments, it also knows when to slow down just enough to let you feel what’s happening—grief, loyalty, betrayal, all of it. There’s a weight to it that lingers after you close the book.

This was fairly enjoyable. Loved the twists and the thrills. The writing was decent but a bit simplistic from time to time. A good one to explore if a person is more of a thriller reader and is transitioning into horror. 3.75 out of 5 stars.