There’s something about thrillers that completely absorb you. And that was the case with Blood Will Tell. I began this one before I went on vacation and had to bring it along. While the build up felt a bit slow, I ended up reading the last 20% in one sitting. Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
Schoolteacher and single mom Frankie Barrera has always been fiercely protective of her younger sister Izzy—whether Izzy wants her to be or not. But over the years, Izzy’s risky choices have tested Frankie’s loyalty. Never so much as on a night five years ago, when a frantic phone call led Frankie to the scene of a car accident—and a drunk and disoriented Izzy who couldn’t remember a thing.
Though six friends partied on the outskirts of town that night, one girl was never seen again . . .
Now, an Amber alert puts Frankie in the sights of the local police. Her truck has been described as the one used in the abduction of a girl from a neighboring town. And the only other person with access to Frankie’s truck is Izzy.
This time around, Frankie will have to decide what lengths she’s willing to go to in order to protect Izzy—what lies she’s willing to tell, and what secrets she’s willing to keep—because the dangerous game that six friends once played on a warm summer night isn’t over yet . . .
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
It’s been a while since I’ve read a mystery, but Blood Will Tell began with immediate intrigue. The mystery was obsessive. Combined with quick chapters and flashbacks to five years ago, the suspense easily built up. With a mystery, of course you have to have that compulsively readable quality. But I think my favorite element had to be the sister relationship between Frankie and Izzy. Secrets always have a way of coming out. And in Blood Will Tell, I loved how Chavez explores this idea of family.
The title has so many different interpretations. Is the blood evidence which will expose the killer? Will our blood, our family, turns us in? Or will the familial ties we have unlock the mystery? In Blood Will Tell, we aren’t sure what’s real and what’s not. This line of reliability is as fallible as our own memories combined with the memory loss of time and alcohol. What will we do for our family? Chavez examines these sacrifices in a variety of different characters and situations.
Is Frankie destined to always clean up after Izzy? These relationships are not only complex, but often full of confirmation bias. What is the line between protection and becoming an accessory? We can think we’re doing what’s best for the ones we love, but where’s the line? Blood Will Tell is certainly a mystery, but it’s also a story about loss and grief. How we process our pain and unanswered questions which weigh heavily. If you love mysteries, I cannot recommend this more. And if you love sister/complex family stories, even better! Find Blood Will Tell on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.