The last thing Jack Baxi expected when a Detective rand his doorbell in the middle of the night was be tortured and left for dead, with a young woman he'd never met before. Now running for their lives, Jack and Aisha frantically try to discover why the Detective was so convinced they both had information on a missing person. Jack is a Sikh corner shopkeeper with a criminal record. Aisha is a Muslim medical student from a wealthy family.

This is a new standalone novel from the fantastic A. A. Dhand. I was hooked from the first page, I knew this was going to be another winner for me. I was desperate to find out the connection between Jack and Alisha. The story is set between Bradford and Delhi, it's descriptively written with cultural, historical and political insights. We also learn about Sikh's, Muslim's, Shamans and gurus. I didn't like any of the characters except for Aisha and Cruise, the rest are quite shady. Cruise was my favourite with his film star white teeth and big ideas. At times, it can be quite violent, it's filled with twists and action packed. I do recommend this book.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #Transworld Publishers and the author #AADhand for my ARC of #TheBloodDevide in exchange for an honest review

I have been enjoying the Harry Virdee series written by this author so I thought I'd give this, his latest stand alone, a crack. Although it didn't quite hit the sweet spot for me, it was a good solid read that kept my attention nicely throughout, and which left me satisfied at the end. With a few enquiring questions though but that's more about the history and culture aspects of what is contained within the book, and which led me to wonder why this stuff wasn't taught more in schools when I was younger.
But, I digress. Jack Baxi (great name btw) is rudely awoken in the middle of the night by the police. In the formidable form of Detective Singh. Along with him is a young woman. Long story short and both Baxi and the woman find themselves tortured and left locked in the cellar of Baxi's shop. As they smell smoke coming from above, the duo make their dramatic escape as they also try and come to terms with what is happening to them. And indeed, what connects them? And what of the person Singh accused them of knowing? All a bit strange, unsettling and unreal. But it's a situation that has thrown them together and will keep them running a while yet. All the way to Delhi as they race to find the truth, as they strive to stay one step ahead of those who mean them harm.
Firstly I must say that I loved Baxi. Name and all! And I really want to read more about him. I know this is a stand alone book... but... maybe?
Secondly, I thought that the history and cultural aspects of the book have been well researched (or already known) and their inclusions really brought the narrative to life in parts. Locations likewise as the action spans many settings.
The story was fascinating and kept me on my toes throughout as it built up layer by layer initially and then became a race to the end. Pacing matching the narrative throughout.
And then, to relieve the high octane thrilling nature of the book, to give the reader the occasional respite, we have Cruise - our duo's erstwhile driver who provides some great comedy relief from what is going on and makes the book more balanced.
All in all, another winner from an up and coming author who is now firmly cemented on my watch list. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

My first book to read by A A Dhand and I loved it. It starts off set in Bradford and then moves to India as Jack and Aisha try to find out why they were nearly killed and what the secret is that seems to stem from the partitioning of India in 1947.
The characters are brilliant and the historical references are informative with a thrilling plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It makes you realise how the actions of the past can have serious impact on the future.

This was an edge of your sea thriller, it was part of a series but I hadn’t read any of the others but, it was easily read as a stand alone book. The pace of this book was fast and it kept me gripped all the way through. A brilliant read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

The Blood Divide is the fast paced thriller you’ve been looking for. As soon as you begin, you’ll find yourself in a life or death situation, with no clue what’s going on. As Jack, our main character, begins to retrace his steps and make connections, his past quickly begins to catch up with him in a way that he never expected. With plot twists taking you all the way to the very end, you’ll want to buckle up for this one.

This was my first read by A.A. Dhand and I can definitely say that it won’t be my last.

LOVED this book! I've been meaning to start AA Dhand's books for a while now and I'm so glad I've finally got around to doing so. A departure from his Harry Virdee series, this stand alone thriller rips along at a cracking pace. Brilliant and compelling characters with an utterly plausible friendship between Aisha, Cruise and Jack. The novel is packed with historical references all woven flawlessly into a complex plot that will keep you guessing until the final page. At turns, funny and heart-breaking the novel explores the devastating consequences of past acts of history on future generations.
I highly recommend this book and plan to read a lot more novels by A A Dhand. Huge thanks for the opportunity to read this.

As a big fan of AA Dhand’s Bradford set Harry Virdee Thrillers, I was intrigued to see a new standalone so had to read it.

Again starting out in Bradford, the story is of shopkeeper Jatinder “Jack” Baxi and Aisha, a young woman who’s fathers past inexplicably brings her together with the Shady feeling Baxi.

This powerful thriller soon takes us to the seedy brooding and darkly dangerous underbelly of Delhi of India where they story is mainly based as Jack and Aisha hunt for answers.

Action Packed and at times jaw dropping, Dhand pulls no punches as he lays bare they dark side of Indian Culture and Religion.

The Twists are a plenty in this frantic, and at times violent tale, and it’s absolutely superb.

If this is the first book by Dhand you read make sure it’s not the last as his series is fantastic and this is cringe writing with some depth and from a writer at the top of his game

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

4.25*
Gore score 4/5
I love the gritty Harry Virdee series, so I was excited to read the new standalone. Oh my! This is a full on dark gritty all action thriller! It might not be for everyone’s as the author has pushed the envelope with this book. It has a dual location between Bradford and India.
The prologue takes to to 1947 and to the Punjab in India.
The story starts proper in Bradford in 2019. Jack is visited in the middle of the night by police. He is beaten and interrogated and left in the premises with a young Medical student called Aisha while the property is set on fire.
They manage to escape through the cellar and try to work out how they are bound together and can only come up with a name of Benedict Cave who neither of them know. They need to find answers.
It starts with a fast pace, and a lot of action becoming an international action adventure come quest with a trip to Delhi seeking answers. It’s hard to know through the book whether the driving forces behind the situation are political, financial,religious or historical in their basis.
Jack isn’t very likeable, but I feel he has a morale compass, and he does grow on me towards the end. I wanted him to find the answers to his questions. Aisha I didn’t engage with, but Cruise the taxi driver, guide and fixer is very likeable, without doubt my favourite character.
There’s aspects in the book that I found upsetting, the wide spread bribery and corruption. The existence still of barbaric practices, I am presuming that the practices of the Khoon-Saab are real.
This is even darker than the Harry Virdee books that I’ve read. I had to get my head around that practices on a different continent are very different to what I am used to. It was interesting to get a glimpse of the seedy side of Delhi.
It’s a very unique plot, 10/10 for originality. It took me a little while to get a feel for it and become engrossed with it. But when I did it had me hooked. I lost track of the amount of times I said OMG!
The ending delved too much into history and the outcome of Partition for me. However the very end was another OMG moment. Overall I feel that the author came up trumps for me with this one.
A favourite quote ‘whiter than white on paper, but in reality dirtier than a crack addict’s needle’

Very descriptive, dark gritty tale of secrets and lies and corruption. A fast paced action thriller.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review

Really enjoyed this book. I felt empathy towards the main character (despite the fact that I didn’t find him very likeable) as its very easy to lose one’s way in life. I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t know much of the history on which the book is based so I found it really interesting even if some of the horrors were difficult to digest. The book was very descriptive and sometimes I felt like I could almost smell the scents and hear the sounds of India despite sitting in a cold rainy England. Thoroughly recommended.

I received an advance digital copy of "The Blood Divide" from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I was not familiar with the author, A. A. Dhand, thus had no idea what to expect. This book was definitely not my usual genre of British mystery/thriller.
Jatinder (Jack) Baxi is a wealthy criminal with a murdered, adulterous wife & deceased parents. Someone wants him dead. Discovering who will change everything he thought he knew about his family.
This is a gritty, dark tale of secrets, deceit, lies, corruption, torture, murder, prostitution, rape, & betrayal. It is fast paced with surprising revelations and is painfully descriptive.
My lack of knowledge of India, the culture, religion, customs, and the history involving Britain & Pakistan had me at a disadvantage. The author gave vivid descriptions of the underbelly of Delhi. The supporting character, Cruise, was the best part of the book.
This book was out of my comfort zone and at times left me a bit lost and somewhat confused.

The Blood Divide is soooo good!
I was gripped straight away and really didn’t want to put this one down. If it wasn’t for work I probably would have finished this in 24 hours. The plot is very fast paced, constantly moving along and although this starts in the UK, it’s really refreshing to read a thriller that’s not based solely in the UK or USA. So much happens in The Blood Divide, it is very much ‘action packed’. I loved the characters, especially Aisha, she is feisty & fearless! …. This is the authors first stand alone thriller and it’s brilliant!

Hold on tight as this book travels at high speed. Jack Bali would have no idea why a detective wakes him up in the night, but from that moment life will never be the same.
The hunt for the truth about what’s going on starts and lives are in danger. Past secrets are revealed.
A really good, fast paced book. Loved every page.

The Blood Divide is the first stand-alone thriller from A A Dhand but don’t worry as it is still full of his trademark thrills, spills and action from the very first page until the last one.

Whilst taking the reader on a rollercoaster of a ride the author still manages to weave an underlying story of family and in particular family loyalty into the narrative that definitely engages and adds to the enjoyment.

Highly recommended

This was an awesome book. A captivating thriller with edge of the seat suspense...from the first page itself. A book exploring the past of Jack Baxi...a shopkeeper in the U.K.. He is thrown into a whirlwind adventure exploring his origins and the mystery of his missing wife. There is Aisha, an innocent medical student, who gets thrown in with him. She is shy and timid but in the end turns out to be stronger than steel. Most of the story takes place in the ruddy and rough streets of India...where money is the only language anyone understands. But Jack makes a lifelong friend and faces impossible challenges, heartaches and loss to finally reach a sense of peace and higher understanding.
What a book..so descriptive and picturesque..like a movie...I would definitely read more from this author.

A thrill a minute ride from Bradford to the Golden Temple of Amritsar. A crooked shopkeeper Jack Baxi is visited by the police at the start but all is not what it seems and he and a medical student called Aisha are tortured about a man neither has heard of. Left to die in a fire at his shop a daring escape and the search for truth begins. The girls father was once Jacks partner before he went to jail and the father prospered. The story becomes more complex with Jacks wife apparently murdered but he finds she had been kidnapped to India. The search begins and an entertaining yarn ensues with Sikhism at its core. Well worth sticking with!

The Blood Divide follows the story of shopkeeper Jack and medical student Aisha who are thrown together after being tortured and left for dead. They work together to try and solve the mysteries that have linked them together.

This story is FULL of plot twists and devices to shock the reader. It is also incredibly fast paced. In the beginning I really enjoyed the style and the constant twists to reel me in. But after a while I found it quite hard to follow and confusing. The plot became so convoluted I couldn’t keep up, and the story was just so unrealistic.

I feel like the book was quite dragged out in parts, but in other areas I feel I needed more explanation, particularly about the organisation and what really happened to Jack’s wife (trying not to spoil!).

It is disappointing as there are some great elements to the book. The choppy writing works well for a thriller and some characters such as Cruise were really humorous and added light to the shade. The scene setting in Bradford and India was also well described.

However, I didn’t really like Jack as a protagonist and don’t think he’s very likeable through the majority of the novel.

I also feel the ending was so rushed and that the constant plot twists were just unnecessary. It became too much and almost like it was just for shock value not to add anything to the plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the book to review.

Being a huge fan of A.A.Dhand’s Detective Harry Virdee series, I was excited to read his stand-alone The Blood Divide.

Bradford shopkeeper, Jack (Jatinder) Baxi, is woken in the depths of night by a loud hammering on his door, but little does he know that it will lead to him being tortured by none other than an officer of the law, DS Singh. Singh has also abducted and tortured a young medical student called Aisha. Both Jack and Aisha are interrogated, and Baxi’s corner shop burnt to the ground, but they have no idea why, as they know nothing about the questions and accusations being thrown at them. Baxi has always moved in criminal circles, but he’s at a loss to explain any of this.

The pair manage a daring, and breathtaking escape, and before they know it, they are literally running for their lives, in order to find out who has ordered their capture and interrogation, and why - the two have never met before, so any connection they may have to each other, is a complete mystery.

Their quest for answers will take them to India, vividly brought to life by the author, with rich descriptions of locations, holy temples, the sights, sounds, culture and history of the country.

‘The Blood Divide’ is a dark and gripping all action thriller, lightened somewhat by ‘Cruise’, Jack and Aisha’s Indian driver, whom they met in Delhi. Cruise is a wonderful character, completely loyal, kind, and immensely funny. All in all, another gripping read from this talented writer.

This was my first taste of this author’s work and it was a thoroughly engrossing read, both thrilling and historically educational. I knew little of Sikh history, something which was expertly woven into this story.
When Jatinder Baxi’s corner shop in Bradford is attacked and set alight he barely escapes with his life. He is thrown together with Aisha, a young medical student who has also been attacked and kidnapped and they both have no idea why this should have happened to them. Their escape and quest for answers leads them all the way to India where both must confront ghosts from their past.
There are some great characters in this book: Jatinder or Jack as he is known seems to be a likeable rogue who has a good heart despite, by his own admission, having made a few mistakes along the way.
Aisha is a strong and formidable young woman, who although she is placed in many difficult situations, shows fortitude and a cool head.
The other person I liked was Cruise, the Indian driver who takes them around Delhi, getting involved with their quest and despite the violence directed at Jack, Cruise remains loyal and will not leave them to fend for themselves.
The story itself is really a search for a truth which will eventually overturn everything both Jack and Aisha know about their lives up until this point. .As the reader learns more about them both, their quest becomes more and more intriguing.
This is a fast paced action packed thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed. I’ve already looked for more books by A. A Dhand which is definitely a tell tale sign for me when I find a good author- I’m always keen to read more books that they have written.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

Having read the Harry Virdee books by A.A. Dhand already, I was looking forward to his first stand-alone thriller and I was not disappointed.

The story begins in Bradford but takes the reader all the way to Delhi and across to the India/Pakistan border as we follow our protagonist, Jatinder "Jack" Baxi, on his mission to find who tried to kill him (and why).

I really enjoyed this novel; it is dark, gripping, action-packed and fast paced and the characters are all richly drawn (Cruise was a particular favourite of mine).

My only (minor) criticism would be that there a few moments where there is a lull in the action that took me out of it a little bit.

All in all though I really enjoyed this novel and hope that author continues in his stride and that more stand-alone works are on the horizon. My thanks to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC 4/5