Another fantastic example of how thrillers and horror novels can overlap. What starts as an engrossing true crime style serial killer thriller gets a decidedly supernatural potential explanation and I was absolutely enthralled the entire time.

Unfortunately I have decided to DNF this one, it wasn't for me.
I will continue to check for future books from this author as I like to give author's a second chance and I won't be put off from DNF this one for my future reads.

I really enjoyed this Cajun folklore/monster, (fictional) true crime and psychological thriller all rolled into one. My opinion on how this was going to end continually evolved and I really liked the outcome of the story, I wasn’t expecting it. I think this was a really good debut. It sent me down a rabbit hole on the Cajun Rougarou swamp monster and I loved every second of that.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for my eARC.

ARC provided by Crooked Lane Books

Of Flesh and Blood is a striking and emotionally charged debut that balances slow-burn mystery with character-driven drama. Lavin and Burke craft a layered, intimate story that explores grief, identity, and the long shadows cast by family history.

This isn’t a book that rushes. Instead, it settles into a steady, deliberate rhythm that gives space for every emotion to breathe and for the central character’s journey to unfold with depth and nuance. The writing is atmospheric and often lyrical, weaving tension through small moments, buried memories, and long-avoided truths.

What stood out most to me was the emotional authenticity. The characters are flawed, human, and deeply compelling. Their pain feels lived-in. The interpersonal dynamics—especially between family members—ring with a quiet truth that often hits harder than any dramatic twist.

While the book does touch on dark themes, it never leans into them gratuitously. Instead, it handles trauma and secrecy with care, letting the weight of silence and unspoken pain do the heavy lifting. There are moments of unease, yes—but they serve the story rather than distract from it.

A thoughtful, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant read. If you're drawn to stories about the things we inherit—both visible and unseen—and how we survive them, this one is worth your time.

4.5 stars rounded up.
Read if you enjoy southern gothic horror, swamps, police procedurals, amateur sleuths, true crime puzzles and monster horror. This was exquisitely written, where I was captivated from the beginning. The suspenseful layering of puzzle pieces in various forms (journal article, radio excerpt, recording) was unique, and the atmospheric mysteries of the swamp had me in a trance. Each character back story was thoroughly fleshed out. My only struggle was with the amount of character off-shoots and the unlikelihood of some story elements (eg. Reddit usernames not being anonymous, the questionable legitimacy of a social media post…but I guess you just need to suspend belief) and the ending was left dull due to the stilted convenience of the aforementioned Reddit lead. This is probably me being very picky though.

Nonetheless, what a fantastic debut. I was really glued to the story throughout. I enjoyed the over arching exploration of what fear and obsession can do to any mind. I think these authors are definitely ones to look out for.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced readers copy.

Of Flesh and Blood is an ambitious collaboration between N. L. Lavin and Hunter Burke that dives headfirst into Southern Gothic horror with a pulpy, blood-soaked bite. The novel excels in mood and atmosphere, sweaty, claustrophobic, and saturated with menace. Its tale of family secrets, generational trauma, and monstrous inheritance feels both timely and mythic, grounding visceral horror in emotional stakes.

4⭐

I loved the premise of this book. It was a compelling blend of horror, thriller, folklore, science, medicine and magical realism.

The ending felt rushed but I'm not sure how you would finish a book that is part mystery thriller and monster horror story.

It may be a bit slow for some people as it builds the story, but it really pays off.

Thank you to the Authors, Crooked Lane Books, and Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Hunter Burke, NL Lavin for the arc of Of Flesh and Blood

Of Flesh and Blood is a medium paced psychological thriller with horror elements and boy does this book keep your attention ! With a mix of characters and told through forensic psychiatric reports. We get an engaging story of the Cajun Cannibal who committed horrific murders and someone who shares the same cursed blood but took a different path. This book has everything, psychological twists, obsession and a rampant serial killer.

I also listened to the audiobook. Our narrators Hunter Burke, Bahni Turpin, Darrell Dennis, Cary Hite, Eric Jason Martin, Jude Prest, Raechel Wong, Chris Marroy did a fantastic job in keeping both the story and the characters alive. All of them kept the intrigue and pacing of the book perfectly.

4.25 for Storygraph, 4 stars for other review sites.

This book started out as a pretty run of the mill serial killer story and became something very different by the end. This story takes a really bold turn, which although I think could have been better explained, I kind of enjoyed the ride anyways. There were some really interesting elements relating to local myth that makes this one read like folk horror at times that I really enjoyed. I really loved the format of the story particularly when it involved articles and transcripts from after the crimes - these were done exceptionally well. I definitely don’t think this one will be for everyone as the story does feel a little convoluted at times and requires the reader to suspend a lot of belief, but if you are able to enjoy it for what it is, I think it's worth picking up!

This was an odd one to read, and a hard one to review. For the first half of the book, I was a little confused by the organization of the storytelling, but by the second half I found other reasons to find this confusing. The saving grace of this one is the detailed and descriptive setting.

If you love true crime podcasts, gritty detective shows, and stories that blur the line between truth and manipulation, Of Flesh and Blood might just be your next obsession. This novel delivers a dark, twisty ride that feels like True Detective met Serial in a smoky interrogation room.

Told through a compelling mix of letters, tapes, interviews, and journal articles, the story unfolds across dual timelines and presents an ever-shifting puzzle that keeps you questioning everything. Just when you think you’ve grasped what’s real, a new discrepancy throws your theory off the rails. It’s that unreliable narrative structure that makes this book so addictive, and also slightly maddening in the best way.

While the print version is solid, I highly recommend opting for the audiobook. The full cast narration adds a layer of immersion that brings the story’s format to life. It truly feels like you’re eavesdropping on a case file unraveling in real time.

That said, the pacing does falter in the middle, and the ending left me more puzzled than satisfied. I closed the book still piecing things together, which may appeal to some readers more than others.

What really stood out for me was the premise itself and the atmospheric setting: dark, eerie, and soaked in Southern gothic vibes. Despite some bumps along the way, Of Flesh and Blood is an ambitious and immersive novel that plays with form in a way that’s sure to get under your skin.

Perfect for fans of I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair, or anyone who loves their fiction tangled in lies.

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.