Structurally, there is a “frame” story in Bloodline that keeps interrupting the main narrative. And yet, Lourey elicits the same unease that Joan feels from the readers of the novel as well. The tone of the whole novel perfectly transports readers back to a time when small-town life was viewed as an ideal.

In Bloodline, Jess Lourey blends elements of mystery, suspense, and horror to stunning effect. Now it seems like every movement Joan makes is being monitored, and what is with that mysterious shadowy figure Joan keeps seeing out of the corner of her eye? Could what happened to this boy provide the answers Joan is looking for? When a man arrives in town claiming to be the missing boy, the reactions of the townsfolk are both surprising and concerning. At first, the quaint small-town vibe of Lilydale seems like just the salve she needs to ease her mental distress, but as news of her pregnancy spreads among the townsfolks, Joan begins to notice flaws in the just-a-bit-too-perfect façade.Īs a journalist, Joan becomes entangled in the unsolved disappearance of a child in the town’s history. It’s the 1960’s and Joan Harken has seen how rough city life can be – in fact, she’s lucky to be alive after facing that violence first-hand – so when her fiancé suggests they move back to his hometown of Lilydale she embraces the idea with enthusiasm tinged with uncertainty. In these novels, Unspeakable Things and Bloodline, Jess Lourey has used true crimes from her home state of Minnesota as inspiration – but not as roadmaps – for her complex storylines and the results have been stellar achievements. That said, in her last two novels Jess Lourey has stumbled upon a trademark which she has wielded like a weapon, slaying any doubts, and racing to the top of many “to-be-read” piles. She has crossed the gamut of sub-genres within the crime writing arena and beyond, but what has remained consistent is the presence of well-developed characters, unpredictable plots, and that elusive addictive nature that transforms fans into fanatics.

Trying to pin down Jess Lourey’s writing style is pointless.

Bloodline jess lourey book review