I liked the premise of the novel, thinking it was a sharp courtroom thriller but it turned out to be a dual timeline story of lost love, family and childhood trauma. I did not engage with the narrative or characters.

I was hoping for a courtroom drama, instead I got a flip-flop novel (past and present, constantly switching) so a double negative for me. The story is not very novel although there was a nice twist towards the end. Justine the barrister fulfills the meaning of the title and what a piece of work she is. I won't explore the story here because it would spoil the enjoyment someone might get from it. I will mention the pace and liken it to trying to light a firework on a sodden November evening, plus it contained more padding than a winter quilt. For those reasons I am afraid it's a three from me.

An engrossing thriller about family secrets, told from different point of views, with lots of twists and turns throughout. Whilst I had expected this book to be more courtroom based, I liked how the story and characters developed and didn't expect the ending. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader copy.

A fast-paced gripping thriller that revolves around family secrets, grief and fragile appearances.
I was instantly drawn into the court room action of the book and how KCs get cases etc, there wasn't as much of this as I'd anticipated from the blurb, as the story deviates inevitably to the main character's return to her previous life, surrounding her childhood home. I enjoyed how much I was never really sure of the characters, the narratives all had slight twists and issues with reliability, and this ultimately fed through the book's theme of what the "truth" really is.

Sarah Hornsley’s Bad Blood is an engrossing psychological crime thriller that expertly weaves past and present timelines to craft a tense and twisty narrative. Set in the UK, the story follows Justine Stone, a barrister whose seemingly perfect life—a thriving career, loving husband, and enviable home—takes a sharp and unsettling turn when she is handed her first high-profile criminal case.

The case involves her ex-boyfriend, Jake, who has been accused of a double murder in their shared hometown. As Justine delves deeper into the case, she is forced to confront long-buried secrets about her past, her family, and the role they played in events that still haunt her. Told through alternating timelines and multiple perspectives, the narrative unfolds with surprising revelations that keep the reader on edge.

Hornsley masterfully develops Justine’s character, portraying her struggle to balance her professional obligations with her personal turmoil. The dual timelines add layers of intrigue, as the present-day investigation intertwines with dark truths from Justine's youth. Each perspective contributes to the suspense, offering fragments of the bigger picture while keeping the ultimate resolution tantalisingly out of reach.

The twists and turns are impeccably timed, with each revelation raising the stakes and drawing the reader further into the story. Hornsley’s ability to maintain tension while exploring themes of family loyalty, betrayal, and justice makes this a standout thriller.

For fans of psychological crime fiction, Bad Blood is an absolute page-turner. With its complex characters, sharp plotting, and riveting twists, this book is sure to keep readers hooked until the very last page.

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An author that is new to me but will definitely be reading more of.

This book was fantastic, really enjoyed it and found myself thinking about it when I wasn’t reading.

Thank you NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review

This book was abit of a slow burner for me, but I did like how the story unfolded towards the end. It was well written and I enjoyed uncovering the secrets each characters had.

Absolutely brilliant book!
I am a big fan of this author and love the writing style!
I cant wait to read more!

The suspense in this book kept me awake at night. Every reveal deepened the mystery and kept me turning pages.

4.5/5 Stars: A Riveting and Twisty Thriller

Sarah Hornsley’s Bad Blood is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that hooks readers from the first page and doesn’t let go. Combining intricate plotting with emotionally charged storytelling, Hornsley delivers a tale of betrayal, family secrets, and the devastating effects of buried truths.

The protagonist is a standout, a flawed yet relatable character whose journey feels raw and authentic. As they navigate a tangled web of deceit and danger, readers are drawn into their inner turmoil and high-stakes decisions. Hornsley’s supporting characters are equally compelling, each one shrouded in just enough mystery to keep the reader guessing about their true intentions.

The pacing is impeccable, with each chapter ending on a note of suspense that makes it nearly impossible to stop reading. The twists are expertly executed, some completely unexpected, while others are cleverly foreshadowed, rewarding attentive readers. Hornsley also weaves in themes of loyalty, identity, and the dark side of ambition, adding depth to the gripping narrative.

The only minor drawback is the ending, which, while shocking and satisfying, feels slightly rushed in its resolution. Still, this does little to detract from the overall experience.

Bad Blood is a must-read for fans of twisty, emotionally charged thrillers. Hornsley is a writer to watch.

An assured court room drama and crime investigation from debut author Sarah Hornsley.
Justine Stone is a confident experienced barrister; when she’s given the case of a lifetime, prosecuting a brutal double murder, she is sure that she’s up to the task. But when she finds out that her first love Jake is the one accused, she has the chance to answer some longstanding questions about her past and her own family.

I really enjoyed this book, it was interesting to see how the characters interlinked and I loved finding out what was going to happen next.

A rather unusual story, which turns preconceived notions on their head. Well written and a convoluted plot to keep you guessing.
Some quite uncomfortable confrontations are described regarding child abuse so please be aware if you are sensitive.
A good read, I enjoyed it

Going into this I didnt really know what it was about. But I was quickly invested in finding out what happened. Not only the current crime but the past as well.
Seeing how each character was intertwined.
The pacing and writing made this such a fast and easy read. Perfect for a quiet night read.

I read Bad Blood by Sarah Hornsley the explosive psychological crime thriller with a triple twist due out March 2025, and here are my thoughts. Justine Stone is a criminal barrister who has just been given her first murder case. The accused is the guy who ghosted her 18 years ago, the one who was her first love. He changed his name and fled their Essex hometown. But he wasn’t the only one who left that week and never looked back. Only Justine has never been able to ghost her past. She has a shrink on speed dial, and now Jake has resurfaced on a charge of double murder back in their hometown.

With Blood Orange and Anatomy of a Scandal vibes the book switches when Justine returns home gathering evidence for the prosecution, with supposition, hearsay, and misdirection small-town Kala vibes.

Bad Blood is a real dog and pony show with all the familiar entertaining attractions done really well. An accused with a mysterious backstory linked to the prosecution with more questions than answers, a happily married high-flying prosecutor with secret emotional ties to the defendant, a set of friends with divided loyalties. Unreliable witnesses, bias, and witnesses withholding information, perhaps because they are dead? Scores to settle, grudges held, a police detective who isn’t a local who has a hunch she can't let go, and a journalist who doesn’t play by the rules. And did I mention Freemasons? We watch and we judge because we are the jury but can the verdict ever be safe?

In my closing statement, I am going to thank NetGalley and author Sarah Hornsley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book, and I will admit to being guilty in the highest degree of enjoying Bad Blood. I couldn't put it down... cuff me!

I just finished this book and I started it months ago. I don't know what it was about it, but I just couldn't get into it.

I read it all though and it's an ok story. I found the ending a bit frustrating. The writing was good tgough. I didn't like the main character which didn’t help. Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.

I would give 3.5 stars but can't so rounded to 4

A good solid family mystery/drama rather than a thriller but I thought it was well plotted and well written. Some of the characters were well defined while others were a bit of a caricature. However overall I enjoyed reading this book and would read more by Sarah Hornsley.

This wasn’t quite what I expected. I thought it would be a legal thriller, maybe set in a court room. A la John Grisham! But it isn’t.
The main character is a lawyer but the story has little to do with the law. A lot of it is discovering her past and the secrets that have been hidden for many years, leading to consequences in the present day.
Well written. Engaging story. I enjoyed it,

"Everything is open to interpretation... even murder"
This is a gripping, fast paced, twisty book, that is very well written and will keep you guessing right until the very end. It has some twists that you'd never expect and it's all tied together very well. The different POVs/timelines actually worked very well and I felt they added to the story. Overall a very enjoyable read.

This is a gripping read, fast-paced and full of twists which are neatly tied up at the end. As a lawyer myself, I particularly enjoyed the courtroom scenes, and that we had some unreliable narrators throughout the story which added to the theme of “bad blood”. As other reviews have said, this is very well-written, and so descriptive that it would easily translate to a TV or film script. The only drawback for me was that I wanted to hear more from Jake, but that might have ruined the ending. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.