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gregcagle's review against another edition
4.0
Sandilands gets into the 1930s and uncovers some really weird stuff.
roshk99's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable fast-paced mystery with a likable main character and lots of twists and turns. The ending was a little unbelievable, but it was still a fun read
jcbmathcat's review against another edition
3.0
I have not read a book by this author before and am not certain where I saw this, as it's not the first in the Sandilands series.
It was well written and held my interest. In fact, by the end, I realized that the horrible events that unfolded had been released to me in a rather polite fashion. Not until I thought about it did I realize the heinous nature of what was underneath the original mystery.
Other readers might recognize this earlier than I. Perhaps I was caught up in the original mystery too much and didn't see what was gruesome actions were being presented until near the end. That would be the fault of the reader in this case.
It was well written and held my interest. In fact, by the end, I realized that the horrible events that unfolded had been released to me in a rather polite fashion. Not until I thought about it did I realize the heinous nature of what was underneath the original mystery.
Other readers might recognize this earlier than I. Perhaps I was caught up in the original mystery too much and didn't see what was gruesome actions were being presented until near the end. That would be the fault of the reader in this case.
henrismum's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, Death, and Forced institutionalization
jcbmathcat's review
3.0
I have not read a book by this author before and am not certain where I saw this, as it's not the first in the Sandilands series.
It was well written and held my interest. In fact, by the end, I realized that the horrible events that unfolded had been released to me in a rather polite fashion. Not until I thought about it did I realize the heinous nature of what was underneath the original mystery.
Other readers might recognize this earlier than I. Perhaps I was caught up in the original mystery too much and didn't see what was gruesome actions were being presented until near the end. That would be the fault of the reader in this case.
It was well written and held my interest. In fact, by the end, I realized that the horrible events that unfolded had been released to me in a rather polite fashion. Not until I thought about it did I realize the heinous nature of what was underneath the original mystery.
Other readers might recognize this earlier than I. Perhaps I was caught up in the original mystery too much and didn't see what was gruesome actions were being presented until near the end. That would be the fault of the reader in this case.
samhouston's review
4.0
The special appeal of series fiction, at least for me, largely comes from watching the lead characters change and mature over a number of years. That, however, can be a double-edged sword when a reader begins a long-running series with its latest volume. Not having watched a character evolve over time, a reader might find the current versions of the character and setting intriguing but discover that, for them, the earlier books do not work as well. Because Not My Blood is Barbara Cleverly’s tenth “Joe Sandilands investigation,” but my first, that is exactly the proposition I look forward to putting to the test soon. I am particularly curious this time because I have never before started a series so late in its run.
Not My Blood is set in 1933, a time far enough from both the past horrors of World War I and the future ones of World War II that people are still easily surprised by crimes against children. And what Scotland Yard detective Joe Sandilands uncovers at one English boarding school shocks him to his core.
Joe spent time in India on assignment to the British Foreign Service but has been back in England now for several years. When the young son of a British couple he befriended in India flees his Brighton-area boarding school and seeks shelter with Joe in London, Joe is drawn into an investigation at the school that unexpectedly has the potential to shame members at the highest levels of British society and government. His determination to protect the little boy is intensified when Joe sees things in Jackie Drummond that convince him that Jackie could be the illegitimate son whose existence he never suspected.
A professor at Jackie’s school has been murdered, and Joe and the local police are charged with the responsibility of bringing the killer to justice. When the investigation reveals that the murdered man was investigating the disappearance from the school of almost a dozen young boys over a period of several decades (only one of whose parents ever showed any concern about a missing son), and fearing that Jackie might be targeted as the next victim, Joe turns up the heat. His efforts are ably assisted by a local cop and by Dorcas Joliffe, a headstrong young woman whom readers will remember from earlier books in the series. Their united efforts, plus a bit of good luck, solve a case that has repercussions delicate enough to leave Joe wondering if he still has a job when it is all over.
Not My Blood has a lot going for it - intricate plot, entertaining characters, and intense atmosphere, among its strong points. Too, the rural English setting Cleverly creates combines with the atmosphere of the period to give the book an ominous feel right from the beginning because readers sense that World War I has already stolen the world’s relative innocence – and we all know what is coming just down the road.
(Review Copy provided by Publisher)
Rated at 3.5
Not My Blood is set in 1933, a time far enough from both the past horrors of World War I and the future ones of World War II that people are still easily surprised by crimes against children. And what Scotland Yard detective Joe Sandilands uncovers at one English boarding school shocks him to his core.
Joe spent time in India on assignment to the British Foreign Service but has been back in England now for several years. When the young son of a British couple he befriended in India flees his Brighton-area boarding school and seeks shelter with Joe in London, Joe is drawn into an investigation at the school that unexpectedly has the potential to shame members at the highest levels of British society and government. His determination to protect the little boy is intensified when Joe sees things in Jackie Drummond that convince him that Jackie could be the illegitimate son whose existence he never suspected.
A professor at Jackie’s school has been murdered, and Joe and the local police are charged with the responsibility of bringing the killer to justice. When the investigation reveals that the murdered man was investigating the disappearance from the school of almost a dozen young boys over a period of several decades (only one of whose parents ever showed any concern about a missing son), and fearing that Jackie might be targeted as the next victim, Joe turns up the heat. His efforts are ably assisted by a local cop and by Dorcas Joliffe, a headstrong young woman whom readers will remember from earlier books in the series. Their united efforts, plus a bit of good luck, solve a case that has repercussions delicate enough to leave Joe wondering if he still has a job when it is all over.
Not My Blood has a lot going for it - intricate plot, entertaining characters, and intense atmosphere, among its strong points. Too, the rural English setting Cleverly creates combines with the atmosphere of the period to give the book an ominous feel right from the beginning because readers sense that World War I has already stolen the world’s relative innocence – and we all know what is coming just down the road.
(Review Copy provided by Publisher)
Rated at 3.5
christinereads0's review
2.0
Purplemanatees.org
Title: Not My Blood
Author: Barbara Cleverly
Pages: 345
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Adult Fiction
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
This is actually a book that I did not finish (DNF'd) last year and decided to come back to finally. Following Joe Sandilands, we are introduced to his friend's son who is in danger. Being a top detective, this was the perfect opportunity to solve another crime. We then follow Joe on his quest to solve this mystery. This is a regular crime mystery novel so if following a ragtag detective is your thing, then look no further.
Oh No's
I don't understand why they went on a wild goose chase looking for a hospital they didn't know and only ended up going to one then giving up. It was the stupidest waste of time in my opinion. Of course, that one was where everything was happening though right?
They just totally forgot about the kid, Jack Drummond. For some reason, halfway through they just dropped the main plot and took off with a totally different mystery with the school. And even still, I feel the full mystery wasn't solved. This was extremely confusing, especially since I stopped this book for a year. I took to other reviews and found my excuse would not hold up. There really are two whole parts of this book.
And just one more thing. There was way too much running around and not getting any closer to the plot. Circles and circles of useless dialogue that lead to nothing. Only some info once every 30 pages was relevant.
Yay's
Jack was a great character who was important for literally only half of the book. The author just tossed him to the side. I really enjoyed his interactions with Joe and wish he could have continued in the mystery instead of being left at school. Unprotected.
Finally,
Yeah, that was kind of the only good thing about the book. It was another run of the mill detective solving a crime mystery novels. These are nice to read if you're into the mystery and a reoccurring main character.
A few recommendations for this novel would be How it Happened by Michael Kortya and Two Days Gone by Randall Silvis.
Favorite Quote
"Anyway I'm mad. Officially mad. What are they going to do? Send me to a loony bin?"
Pg. 326
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Title: Not My Blood
Author: Barbara Cleverly
Pages: 345
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Adult Fiction
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
This is actually a book that I did not finish (DNF'd) last year and decided to come back to finally. Following Joe Sandilands, we are introduced to his friend's son who is in danger. Being a top detective, this was the perfect opportunity to solve another crime. We then follow Joe on his quest to solve this mystery. This is a regular crime mystery novel so if following a ragtag detective is your thing, then look no further.
Oh No's
I don't understand why they went on a wild goose chase looking for a hospital they didn't know and only ended up going to one then giving up. It was the stupidest waste of time in my opinion. Of course, that one was where everything was happening though right?
They just totally forgot about the kid, Jack Drummond. For some reason, halfway through they just dropped the main plot and took off with a totally different mystery with the school. And even still, I feel the full mystery wasn't solved. This was extremely confusing, especially since I stopped this book for a year. I took to other reviews and found my excuse would not hold up. There really are two whole parts of this book.
And just one more thing. There was way too much running around and not getting any closer to the plot. Circles and circles of useless dialogue that lead to nothing. Only some info once every 30 pages was relevant.
Yay's
Jack was a great character who was important for literally only half of the book. The author just tossed him to the side. I really enjoyed his interactions with Joe and wish he could have continued in the mystery instead of being left at school. Unprotected.
Finally,
Yeah, that was kind of the only good thing about the book. It was another run of the mill detective solving a crime mystery novels. These are nice to read if you're into the mystery and a reoccurring main character.
A few recommendations for this novel would be How it Happened by Michael Kortya and Two Days Gone by Randall Silvis.
Favorite Quote
"Anyway I'm mad. Officially mad. What are they going to do? Send me to a loony bin?"
Pg. 326
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