Strange Blood: A Crime Novel

There are mysteries that hit you between the eyes with a 2X4, they are so obvious. There are others that pull the bad guy out of the woodwork at the last second, as in "where did HE come from?" Then there is Strange Blood: A Crime Novel, by Lindsay Jayne Ashford. Think of her writing style as a cross between P.D. James (a complement) and Patricia Cornwell (less so). Here we have forensics psychologist Dr. Rhys, investigating a series of gruesome murders. Is there a connection among the victims? Is her sister a target? Then there is Rhys with her own personal relationships and demons. What I liked about this novel was that you didn't have to have read the first book about Dr. Rhys in order to enjoy this one. The plot weaves to and fro, with the reader thinking that "Ah-ah! I know who dunnit!" Then your earlier impressions come crashing to the floor, and a new theory pops up. I look forward to another book by Lindsay Jayne Ashford.

Reviewed by Knevits Stephens Megan has a few things going for her. She has Patrick, her boyfriend of five months, and a good job. Megan is Dr. Megan Rhys, a forensics psychologist. Megan and Patrick had been to Dublin for a few days together. On the plane home she checks her phone to make sure it is off for the flight. Upon landing, she turns her cell phone back on and sees that she has messages. She receives a call from Steve Foy, a detective, who tells her that there has been a murder and she is needed. The victim had been stabbed to death and a 5-point star was carved into her head. The detectives are trying to decide if it is cult related or a sexual killer who is trying to cover his tracks. Detective Foy believes that the murder is cult related and doesn't look into other angles. Megan is starting to believe that maybe he is not to be trusted. Other women are showing up dead. The police are still looking at just the one suspect who they believe is the killer. As the interrogations take place, lots of secrets are being revealed. Megan decides she is going to find out who the killer is, and learn why he is killing. She is starting to have people turn on her, even ones she loves, but that won't stop her from solving this case. She is determined to see it through to the end. There are so many questions to answer. Is it a crime of passion or a black magic ritual? Are the killings personal or a stalking? Why use the pentagram if not a killing from a cult? Read this book to find out how all the little things add up to a killer and learn the reason why. I really liked the story. There are some graphic details in the book but overall an exciting read. Armchair Interviews says: A chilling thriller with a forensic specialist as the main character.

In England forensic psychologist Dr. Megan Rhys heads the Heartland University Department of Investigative Psychology as well as providing consulting services to the British police. Currently Megan has personal issues with a former Ph.D. student, which she hopes to derail before she runs into professional condemnation. To occupy her mind and escape her troubles, Megan is profiling a serial killer who carves pentagrams on the foreheads of his victims. Looking into the background of the first victim wife and mother Tessa Ledbury, Megan learns the deceased was involved with Wiccan coven chief Sean Raven. Wolverhampton Detective Superintendent Steve Foy assumes between the Raven connection and the etching that the occult, probably one of the witches, is involved. Megan has doubts re Foy's theory especially as the murder count rises, but struggles to offer a counterpoint even as she profiles the killer. STRANGE BLOOD, the sequel to FROZEN, is a tense serial killer thriller starring an engaging heroine. Megan is terrific as once again she struggles with a police superintendent although Foy is nothing like West Midlands Police Detective Superintendent Martin Leverton of FROZEN fame who wanted Megan to fail. Readers will enjoy Megan's profiling efforts as things don't go quite smoothly as she tries to make the puzzle fit in a constantly morphing arrangement in which either she has to many pieces or lacks pieces. Harriet Klausner