Nick Noelle, Thicker Than Blood by A. R. Baumann
Book stats:
Genre(s): Mystery, thriller
Medium: Print
Number of pages: 268
Publish date: September 10th, 2018
Purchase: Barnes & Noble
Set in the steamy, gritty city of New Orleans in 1971 where the mob ruled, Nick Noelle, a newly retired detective from Houston, returns home to settle his affairs with his dying mother. Already bored with retirement, he stumbles upon an unfolding serial killer case darker and more sinister than any he had known. While visiting his departing mother, he finds a disturbing set of diaries that recorded her tragic life. Horrified by what he reads, he is stricken with guilt, fear, regret and despair which lure him into a pit of self-destruction. As he struggles with addictions to alcohol and gambling in a city that thrives on vices, he is in danger of losing his wife, his mind and worse, his own life.
Since 90% of the TV shows I watch are some form of police/detective procedural, this book definitely looked interesting to me. I did enjoy the twists and turns, even if I did pick up on hints about the ending before I actually finished it.
The main reason I wasn’t super in love with this book, however, had to do with the protagonist. There was just something about Nick that I couldn’t get into his perspective with. Perhaps it was the inclusion of harsher language that put me off, but either way I’d rather have read a similar plot line with a different main character. Also, do take that as a warning about foul language in the book, if that’s the kind of thing you’re not a fan of. I can’t say it was out of place, but there was quite a bit included.
Overall, not a bad book. There was some good worldbuilding and the actual storyline was interesting, but the protagonist kept me from fully enjoying it and rating the book higher.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
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