Of Flesh and Blood by Hunter Burke and N.L. Lavinr is a dark, atmospheric blend of horror and emotional depth that sinks its teeth in early and doesn’t let go. The writing is rich and immersive, with a tone that balances the visceral and the poetic. It’s a story that feels both raw and carefully constructed.

The characters are complex and haunted, each carrying emotional scars that add weight to the unfolding horror. Burke and Lavinr build a world that’s gritty and intimate, where the line between monstrosity and humanity blurs in compelling ways. A few pacing dips aside, the tension holds steady, and the emotional stakes remain high.

The ending lands with both impact and resonance, closing the story on a satisfying, if unsettling, note. Of Flesh and Blood is a layered, evocative horror tale—gruesome, thoughtful, and hard to shake. A strong 4-star read for those who like their horror with heart.

I have not provided a review for this title as it didn’t work for me. The story felt too fragmented and was not for me. I’m avoiding leaving a negative review as it may have just not been to my taste.

A great story - nothing spectacular but a good yarn. I did not care very much for the format - all that scientific papers, adverts, cartoons etc just made me want to skip some parts. I did finish the book on account of the story and it's premise. Like I said a great "rougarou" story.

i liked this book and how different it was from my usual read which is why i chose it in the first place. there a great pacing and intrigue to the plot and the characters. it reads a bit like a true crime almost too real story. this only added to your interest in the book. and at times it did such a good job i wanted to google to find out the facts, which im very glad i could and that it was indeed fiction. who want this kind of things to be real!
the main character who is both looking into the story and telling us the story via his work is Vincent. he has close connection than hed like to a Cannibalism case. as he investigates more the more he gets sucked into and obsessed with the case.
we are also switching between the times of when the actual murders took place.
im glad i got to read this book as it was refreshing in its difference to my norm. im not sure on my opinions as to quite how to give it a good etc rating. because im still working it over in my own mind. it being so different it didnt feel like something i could say completely floored me with the thriller esque nature to it. but it was brilliantly read and i thoroughly enjoyed it, maybe i just need to put it as a complete individual book and in that case it really was very good.

True crime and monsters all wrapped up in one neat package.

This novel follows Vincent, a psychiatrist and his investigation into a series of mysterious murders.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. Don't get me wrong, there are minor flaws here and there, but as a whole makes one hell of a captivating read.
The writing is of a good quality and I found it easy to follow, even though things get a little complicated at times.
I loved the plot and how plenty of lore and cultural references were feed into the narrative. I mean who wouldn't like to imagine hunting some unknown beast in a dense and humid forest?
Great reading!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC!

This was quite an interesting read, and a perfect choice if you're looking for a horror story set in deep Louisiana with a Cajun influence.

The layout of this book initially confused me—I wasn't sure if I was reading a legitimate story, to the extent that I was looking up the Cajun Cannibal! Don't worry, though—this is all fiction (as far as I'm aware!).

The main character is Dr Vincent Blackburn, who has been writing a paper/book about his cousin, Henri Judice. Vincent works in the mental health field and finds his niche to be his wayward cousin, who was found to be the Cajun Cannibal before his death. As Vincent investigates, he discovers that maybe his cousin wasn't as deranged as everyone made him out to be. He then makes it his life mission to discover the truth about Henri, though he takes an obsessive, almost paranoid approach.

The story also follows other characters at the time of the murders in 2008/2009, namely Dr Edward and Sheriff Yvette—Henri's adoptive mum. We also get interview/recording transcripts and autopsy reports, giving this all a slightly more legitimate feel. It all works to flesh out the story of Henri, the main character we never really get to spend time with.

My main issue with this book was that it got a little confusing. The timeline jumps around a lot, and I struggled a little to figure out what was happening when. It wasn't too annoying, but it would take me a few moments to realise where I was regarding the timeline.

I enjoyed most of the characters (as much as you can), but given the book's nature (that it's almost a biography), you don't get to feel too much for the characters. That was fine for me, as I clearly understood the book's style.

The actual story itself - the Cajun Cannibal and everything surrounding it- was entertaining enough, and I found myself wondering what was actually happening. I think it all came to a reasonably satisfactory conclusion, and I was pretty happy to have read it!

Thank you to the author and publishers for allowing me an ARC via NetGalley!

This book was a nice little break from all of the fantasy I’ve been reading. There’s a good amount of intrigue, there were some plot twists, and the reader is constantly questioning everything throughout the book. The characters were really well described and it was easy to tell the difference between different characters! The pacing was pretty good throughout the book and it was easy to read and follow. The writing flowed really well and it was an interesting story
I am a bit confused about the ending which left me a bit deflated, cause it wasn’t a satisfying answer but that’s just my opinion!

Rating: 3.5/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
(Stars rounded up)

3.5 ✨

This does a great job of reading like a true crime book, right up to a certain point, where you suddenly find yourself thinking "Na"
Or that was my experience anyway.
Detailed believable reports, actions that were suspicious, but not outright crazy.... and then an idea that turns the Cajun Cannibal on its head.
Very entertaining, and decent pacing.
I very much enjoyed this