3.5
This author is quickly becoming one of my favorite mm fantasy authors.

"I only know what the newspapers said. But I also know that blood always tells. Your mother was a murderer. You're capable of killing a man just like she did."

I am a big fan of Hilary Davidson's Lily Moore mystery series so when I heard that she had a stand-alone novel out I knew that I had to read it. Blood Always Tells had everything that I love about the Lily Moore mystery series, interesting characters, rich plots that hook you in, and great twists and turns that leave you guessing throughout. I kept thinking that I had things all figured out but really I had no idea.

 

This book is split up in three parts, one that follows Dominique (a model turned stylist who just wants to get revenge on her married ex-boyfriend), one that follows Desmond (Dominique's brother), and the other one I won't say who it follows as I don't want to give any spoilers.

 

I really loved reading about Dominique and Desmond. They both have dealt with some hardships in their past and I was really interested in reading about what had happened with their mother and father. In the beginning you always sense there is more to the story about their parents that you are first told. Quite frankly you get that feeling all the time while reading this book, there is always more to the story.

 

With Hilary Davidson's novels there always so many twists and turns that I am left on the edge of my seat constantly trying to guess at what really happened. That is one thing that I really love about this book and her other novels, it isn't easy to guess what happened everything is really messy.

 

I have one tiny bone to pick with this novel. Desmond mentions that he lives in Hammond, Indiana but he calls it "the Chicago suburb of Hammond, Indiana." I live in the suburbs of Chicago and I do not consider Hammond, Indiana to be a Chicago suburb. It is northwest Indiana to me and not the Chicago suburbs. I guess it probably differs depending on who you ask but it really irks me when people lump northwest Indiana into the suburbs of Chicago. Clearly this is an issue that I get irrationally annoyed at.

 

As with all of Hilary Davidson's novels I would recommend this if you are looking for a mystery with some great twists and turns.

I've just finished Part One of this book, which in from Dominique's point-of-view, and I really enjoyed it. I didn't think that it was too hard to figure out who was behind the events that were taking place but the mystery was why. I still have my doubts that the person who says that they are behind what is happening is really in control. I am looking forward to reading more of this book.

Today in the middle of my errands I went to the library and pick up the latest book from Hilary Davidson, Blood Always Tells. I really love her Lily Moore Mystery series so I am really excited to read her first stand-alone book. Hilary Davidson always manages to create such intriguing characters and fills her books with great suspense. I just can't wait to dive into this book.

Blood Tells True - Alan Ryker Ryker expands his canvas for the follow up to Burden, Kansas---which was excellent. With the survivors from the first tale he takes the show on up the road a bit and involves a neighboring community that has a different sort of vampire problem. New characters add life to the story and moving the vampire up the evolutionary scale a bit make for a compelling story line.

Well written, great characters, told with a sense of the rapid pace that a story of this type requires, and you have a very good vampire/vampire slayer novel. Alan Ryker, who just added to his reputation with the excellent novel The Hoard, is one of the new crew of top notch dark fiction writers.