Flesh and Blood

Written by Caroline Mitchell

Narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden

A string of suicides. A community in terror. And a chilling conspiracy only DI Amy Winter can crack.

A wave of apparent suicides hits a string of seaside resorts, but when a police officer is named as the latest to die, DI Amy Winter suspects there may be more than mere coincidence to these tragic deaths. But what dark motive could cause someone to throw themselves into the cold depths of the North Sea?

Someone in the community knows more than they are letting on, but Amy’s questions are met with resistance. A group of mysterious teenagers might hold the key, but why are they so afraid to talk? Meanwhile, after the release from prison of her serial killer mother, Amy is fighting her own demons.

In her toughest investigation yet, Amy must confront her dark past if she is to put an end to the carnage. What secret is so terrible that it’s worth killing a police officer for? Amy needs to find the answer, before the sea washes up any more bodies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Apr 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781713570813

Caroline Mitchell

A former police detective, Caroline Mitchell now writes full-time. She has worked in CID and has also specialised in roles dealing with vulnerable victims—high-risk victims of domestic abuse and serious sexual offences. The mental strength shown by the victims of these crimes is a constant source of inspiration to her, and Mitchell combines their tenacity with her knowledge of police procedure to create tense psychological thrillers. Originally from Ireland, she now lives in a pretty village on the coast of Essex with her husband and two children. You can sign up for her newsletter at www.caroline-writes.com, or follow her on Twitter (@caroline_writes) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/CMitchellAuthor).

Reviews for Flesh and Blood

[Angi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the 2nd book I have read from this author and I am hooked. I love her style of writing and I really enjoy the narrators. I look forward to reading more of her books.

[rowingrabbit · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Flesh and Blood (kindle version) Claire & Mandy Hagen are sisters living in NYC.They only have each other for family so the elder Claire feels responsible for Mandy's well being. Apparently she's not doing such a great job as Mandy ends up in a psych ward, claiming a vampire is sucking her dry.
Horrified, Claire starts to dig through Mandy's life, looking for clues to her madness. At her sister's apartment she finds a whack of empty Valium bottles & an online contact. This leads her to "John" who agrees to meet her at JFK & tell her his story.
Yes, vamps do exist & he recently ran into one while doing a B & E. Unfortunately, he woke the homeowner. John survived but he'll never forget the floating "man" with the glowing red eyes. He's leaving the country & gives Claire advice & a cross. Neither is aware they are being watched by Bishop, a mercenary who belongs to a shadowy organization with ties to the Vatican.
Dismissing him as a crank, she heads out to visit Mandy, who is now sporting a straightjacket. Seems she's become a tad violent & wastes no time attacking her sister. Claire might be able to accept that as part of her psychosis but Mandy's glowing red eyes kind of freak her out.
Then things get weird(er). Driving home, Claire realizes she's being followed. On the news she hears a man was murdered at JFK. She needs a little quiet time to reflect on the day's events but soon has company. The stranger knows a lot about Claire & the men following her but before he gets too far, Bishop & his crew attack. In short order, the apartment is demolished in a bloody gun fight & the stranger flees, taking Claire. The chase is on.
This is the first in a series featuring journalist Claire Hagen & George Powell, a hybrid vampire (the stranger). Plot lines include saving Mandy from her fate, George's background & the story behind Bishop and the ancient order he works for. Typically, an author uses book #1 to establish the characters & do the world building necessary to introduce the reader to his "reality". Here, he succeeds some of the time.
George is by far the most compelling character. His status as a hybrid has its' roots in Auschwitz & it's an interesting concept. Turns out those darn Nazis were more devious than we knew. Claire starts out as mildly annoying, a weepy young woman with a martyr's complex but these attributes are toned down as the book progresses, thank God. I found Mandy more interesting but we never really get her story despite it being central to the plot. Bishop has a predominant role but comes off as two dimensional, a Rambo-like assassin who spends most of this time plotting his partner's demise & assuring himself he's an alpha male, twirling his metaphorical moustache. There's little about how he came to be the hired gun for a Vatican cardinal or why he's so motivated.
The world building is spotty at best. We never learn why Mandy was targeted, who her vampire/maker is, the history of the Organization or how vamps in general fit into society. It's ok to leave unanswered questions for a subsequent book but the reader should finish the first one with a basic understanding of the game & all its' players so they feel invested in their fate.
The remainder of the story is largely devoted to Claire & George being hunted by Bishop & Co., leading to the inevitable showdown. There are several scenes where a character finds themselves cornered & facing death, only to have time stop as they or their attacker launch into a lengthy explanation or internal monologue. It kills any tension that may have been building but of course, provides time for escape. I know it seems ironic to talk about believability in a PNR but if an imaginary world is well created, it can at least feel credible.
Peripheral characters are few, mostly members of Bishop's gang. Claire seems to have no friends so her only contact is her boss at the paper as she runs from crisis to crisis. The dialogue is oddly stilted in places but this may be due to blips in translation & have a smoother flow in the original German.
By the end, most of the cast has undergone huge change & although little is resolved, it's the strongest part of the book. So if you enjoyed the ride, no doubt you're looking forward to the next one & the further adventures of the Hagen sisters.

[cherylk_44 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like a good vampire story. However it seems that there are an overwhelming amount of books out there about vampires that you have to be careful what you pick up. A lot of them can be cheesy and not well written. You can be assured however that this was not the case with this book. In fact, you were never know that this book was translated from German to English. I wanted to point this out because if you have ever read a book that has been translated from another language, sometimes the language barrier can interupt the flow of the story and make it read chunky. This story was not just about vampires attacking but it also showed the progression of the transformation from human to vampire. The feel of this book was dark with some psychological elements to it as well. Like were the vampire hunters really the good guys? Maybe the vampires were the good ones. There was plenty of things happening in the story to keep it moving and interesting. I liked the ending. If you are looking for a good vampire story to "sink your teeth into" you have to check out this book.

[cinachilders · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Flesh and Blood is not your average vampire story. Frankly, it's better than any other vampire story that I have ever read. The characters are very well written and each intriguing. I loved the interaction between Bishop and his partner. The story was fast paced and suspenseful. I devoured the entire book in no time and was left wanting more. I can only dream and hope the best for Claire at the end. It's bugging me, actually. I want a sequel. I need a sequel, honestly.

[catya77 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Claire just wants to take care of her younger sister, Amanda, who must be having a psychotic break. Vampires aren't real, right?This action packed, often dark, sometimes creepy and horrific, mysterious narrative frequently leaves the reader questioning who, if anyone, is the good guy. While the lines are often blurred, by and large, it is up to the reader ultimately and/or perhaps to future/prequel/side adventures.Characters are vivid, flawed, often scarred, emotional, and varied.Overall, a rich read.