I'm big fan of Arnott's work and this took me back to his work with the Harry Stark books. Dark, adrenaline soaked and tense, this is a great story and was compulsive reading. I'd recommend his books to anyone.

The play on the Oedipus story is cleverly done and I loved spotting the links and the name allusions. I also enjoyed the riddles. The characters were well drawn and strong and there was something state of the nation about the themes here. I liked the sense of mounting drama and how the complex and layered plot and characters hustled towards tragedy and a dramatic ending. Perfection.

With a very clear debt to Greek myth at its climax (and in the use of a trans character acting almost like an "oracle") this crime family saga twists and turns through betrayal, hate and revenge in a propulsive fashion, ultimately revealing its true nature in the last few pages.

The result is a book that feels ambitious but at times can feel like its treading water slightly as it waits to get to the next revelation that reveals its shape. However, there's a lot of fascinating work here, and the ultimate reveal is both inevitable and cleverly unexpected when you don't realise the influence of the classic tale from which it takes its inspiration.

As always, Arnott's trying to do something different within the borders of the crime novel, and while Blood Rival may not reinvent the wheel entirely as much as it could, it's a solidly captivating read from an author who's always exploring fascinating ideas and characters.

This book has a nice pace that sometimes felt little bit slow but it did take off colse to the end. Perfect for readers who like crime thrillers

This is a fast-paced crime thriller. Gangster Lee Royle is murdered in a road rage incident, and his widow Jo goes on to marry Eddie, a young gang member and have a child. Eddie has nightmares and his behavior becomes increasingly erratic and he is suspicious of Jo. As everything escalates, their secrets are revealed, culminating in a terrible ending.
I couldn't put this down, it is excellent writing.
Recommended.

Blood Rival is excellent—dark, surprising, and the kind of novel that creeps up on you long after you’ve put it down. Arnott once again dives into the murky world of the Kent crime families, painting a world where no character is clean and every secret feels like a ticking time bomb.

The story begins with the suspicious death of Lee Royle, the so-called ‘King of Kent’, in what looks like a brutal act of road rage. From there, the narrative spirals into betrayal, revenge, and forbidden desire, told through Jo Royle, her lover Eddie Pierce, and corrupt cop Commander Spinks. Each has their own agenda, and watching them circle each other is as gripping as it is unsettling.

Arnott handles the plot with a master’s touch—layered, twisting, and full of sharp turns. Even when you think you see the ending coming, there’s still enough shock left in the final pages to leave you reeling. It’s both Greek tragedy and neo-noir, a collision of fate and ambition where love, lust, and loyalty blur fatally.

What makes the book unforgettable is how flawed, human, and hauntingly real these characters are. No one escapes unscathed, and as the secrets unravel, so too does the fragile balance of power.

Blood Rival is a compulsive psychological thriller—darkly elegant, compelling, and utterly addictive. Arnott proves once again that he is a master of modern crime fiction.

Action unfolds at a decent pace, helped along by the snappy dialogue. Oddly enough, the ending felt a little too neat and tidy for me, given the chaos of the previous pages, but for the reader looking for a dark, twisty read this is sure to appeal.

Set in the present day, the parallels to the infamous 1996 road rage killing near Swanley are quite clear. The story makes another connection to the perpetrator in question so the tone of the protagonists is quite clearly set out. With a power struggle opening up after a stabbing, there’s plenty of doubt about what really went down and, crucially, if anyone bore witness. The narrative skips along and does a particularly good job of getting across the insecurities that bedevil those who live on the edge of the law. I very much enjoyed the South London settings.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. I am leaving a review voluntarily.