My Rating 4.25
This book was so full of twists and uncertainty that I never knew what to believe. This kept me guessing until the end. I read this in one sitting, because I needed to know the truth! Very good writing, great story, complex characters... What more could I need?
Thank you to Sarah Hornsley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This was pretty good kept my interest I will recommend this read since it was a page turner I’m sure people will love this book

Bad Blood is a gripping crime thriller packed with dark family secrets, twists and a constant sense of uncertainty. Just when you think you can believe one character, you find yourself doubting and wondering what is the truth.

At the heart of the novel is Justine, a successful barrister whose world is thrown into turmoil when her ex-boyfriend is accused of a double murder. Returning to her childhood home to try and uncover the truth, Justine is forced to confront uncomfortable memories from her past.

As old wounds resurface and buried truths begin to emerge, Bad Blood keeps you questioning everyone's motives - including Justine's. A layered thriller that explores how the past can shape, haunt and ultimately define the future.

5 ⭐️

Bad Blood is an exciting and suspenseful story that grabbed my attention right away! The plot was easy to follow and the characters feel so real.
The writing is clear and engaging, and I couldn’t stop turning the page. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good mystery or thriller!
I was genuinely impressed with this novel and will definitely read more by Sarah Hornsley.

BAD BLOOD is very suspenseful. I didn't know who or what to believe. Filled with plenty of twists I found it hard to put down. Highly recommend.

Many thanks for my #gifted copy.

Justine’s career as a criminal barrister is on the up when a case comes through that links to her past. Returning to her hometown she tries to make sense of a double murder and her brother’s disappearance. Interspersed is snippets of a party 18years ago, and also the lead up to the murders.

Until the end I thought some twists were a little bit predictable. I wasn’t sure what I thought of the book to be honest. My feelings for the main characters didn’t seem right. I couldn’t get a feel for Justine or her decisions but by the end this all made complete sense.

This is a very clever book ( and title)!

What a twisty, thrilling, fast-paced read! This one had me on the edge of my seat and could not put this one down. Just when you think you have it figured out, there is another twist. So good! I can't wait to read more from this author!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for the ARC!

Talk about a debut book that I could not put down! The past can sure come back to haunt! Not action packed, but the twists and turns sure took me for a ride. The ending for me was unpredictable, and tied up nicely. I mean, what more could you ask for in a psychological thriller than drama, dark secrets, manipulation, and suspense? This book has all of those traits! I highly recommend this read to add to any collection.

Trigger Warning: Abuse

Thank you to NetGalley and Sarah Hornsley for the eARC

How many lies are you capable of telling in order to save your loved ones?

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

This book kept me on my toes. I was tying the dots and untying them constantly. Although some of The twists were expected, some left me stunned

This was an enjoyable read - fast moving, unexpected and gripping. The family interactions are suspenseful and interesting. I liked the portrayal of Justine, though I felt the parts about her romance with Jake should have been expanded more. The twists and turns, and the 'did he do it or not' ensured I was hooked till the end.

Criminal lawyer Justine Stone is handed the lead on a double murder case, only to find out that the accused is her first love, who disappeared from her life 18 years prior. She is determined to find out what happened and begins her own investigation.
This book is very twisty. I was hooked from the start. The story is told in multiple points of view over 18 years, slowly revealing Justine’s disfunctional family and the secrets they have kept, and are maybe still keeping. A lot is revealed at the end that made me question my allegiance to one character in particular. I am still unpacking it all. Great book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Really enjoyed this one! A really solid thriller with twist after twist that keep you guessing. Loved the writing style and the different points of view shown throughout to show different sides to the story. A really solid debut novel, can't wait to read more from this author!

we watching a wave of complex characters here and i loved to see it. you get attached to knowing what happens or what happened to them all. for this to be a debut novel is just brilliant for the author and they sure do have a talent in this. im excited to where her books will go to next and i cant wait to get my hands on the next.
we get to learn about our characters not only in the story of their nows, the also as so often is the way of how their past links so many more things.
Justine is living her dream. shes got a successful career and home life. and this is very good news as she definitely has a past she needs to leave behind. but sometimes this isn't an option as the next case she gets is to be in court with her ex boyfriend Jake who has been accused of murder. oh and not just murder but a double murder.
but for her to go into that court room Justine knows she needs to go into his past. she needs to go into their past.
and lets just say there is a lot to discover and unpack for both herself and us readers. and i loved doing so as it was both smart and clever in how everything was relevant. and we got to know both past and present in equal intriguing measure.
the characters not being likeable to me made it all the more fun to read. because you are just witness to the chaos and mess of these people who are just giving us more and more deceit lies to witness and unpack,

I absolutely loved Bad Blood - it was such an interesting premise. I've often wondered about people working in the legal system and whether their personal opinions ever interfere with the way they work a case. In this story, that issue is explored even further as we follow criminal lawyer Justine Stone. She has been offered a career defining murder case, but Jake Reynolds who has been accused of murder also happens to be her ex-boyfriend, her childhood sweetheart and first love. Their break-up was sudden and unexpected when he completely ghosted her - something she has never really recovered from. Instead of declaring that she knows Jake and taking herself off the case, Justine decides to start investigating. Two decades after leaving her hometown, she is forced to face all of the issues she ran away from while she looks into the case, and then to complicate matters further, her brother goes missing.

The twists and pace of this novel were incredible, it had me totally hooked and it was such an entertaining story. From reading the synopsis, I was expecting more of the book to take place in the courtroom but the way it developed was a surprise and I really enjoyed the way the characters explored past trauma and the idea that you never really know people.

A twisty, twisted narrative that plays expertly with POV. By the end of the first few chapters, they "why" of our main characters motivations get more and more desperate with a thrilling finale that answers every question– except the biggest question about human nature.

Bad Blood by Sarah Hornsley was a chilling and captivating read.
This was a quick and entertaining read that I finished in a few hours.
A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
The characters were all realistic and very well developed.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.
A great read.

Thank you Zando and publisher for this approved eARC.

“Bad Blood” by Sarah Hornsley had a strong premise and some gripping moments, but overall, it fell a bit flat for me. I was intrigued by the setup and really wanted to connect with the characters, but I found it difficult to stay fully engaged.

The pacing was uneven, moments of tension were there, but they didn’t always build in a way that felt satisfying. I kept waiting for that “can’t put it down” moment, but it never quite arrived. That said, the writing itself was solid, and I do think many readers who enjoy slower-burn suspense might appreciate it more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. While this one didn’t completely work for me, I’m still open to reading more from this author in the future.

This is an incredibly written book and I really enjoyed it. Liked the main character and child really feel.her emotions throughout. A great small.town psychological thriller xx

I absolutely loved this book . It contained some great writing and amazing , complicated characters . The tension of the story was great throughout with the story going back and forth from all the different characters viewpoints . I would definitely recommend this book and can’t wait to read more from this author. 5 stars from me

A really good psychological read set in a small Essex town delving into past secrets and the traumas they cause for those left behind.
This was an easy read and I really did like the main character Justine she really wants to leave the past behind and the author really does a good job of portraying her really well especially the things she's hiding.The other characters were rather unlikeable but that makes for a very good story.
Told in multiple POV's that I always enjoy.
A debut novel that delivers with its twist and turns and holds your full attention.
Look forward too reading more by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and Zando books for the Arc.