Reviews

Better the Blood by Michael Bennett

mbest75's review against another edition

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challenging medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

shksprsis's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

bantwalkers's review against another edition

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5.0

This is a tense thriller with some thoughtful commentary.

speasyspice's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

roxanne_blythe's review against another edition

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It’s not the right time for me to read this…. I’ll finish it later

dvallee's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

esilly12's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

emilyb_chicago's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional informative tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Police procedural’s are not normally my preferred genre, but this book was exceptional. 

Our main character is an experienced Maori cop in Auckland, New Zealand. She is great at her job, has an 18 year old daughter and a great relationship with her ex-husband. On so many levels I knew nothing about this world going in - but the story is so vividly real and the characters all so very smart. The pacing is constant pressure without being overwhelming. Through the whole book, I was figuring it out alongside our main character. 

There are trigger warnings for all things violence, including generational trauma associated with the centuries of suppression of the Maori. Despite that, or perhaps because of that unflinching inclusion of real trauma, the story is touching in a completely unexpected to me wag. The story was so well crafted that during the mayhem of the climax, I found myself crying. 

Do yourself a favor - find this book to read. 

The audio version is wonderfully done. I had never heard te reo spoken before and it was perfectly included in the book.

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emilyb_chicago's review against another edition

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5.0

Police procedural’s are not normally my preferred genre, but this book was exceptional.

Our main character is an experienced Maori cop in Auckland, New Zealand. She is great at her job, has an 18 year old daughter and a great relationship with her ex-husband. On so many levels I knew nothing about this world going in - but the story is so vividly real and the characters all so very smart. The pacing is constant pressure without being overwhelming. Through the whole book, I was figuring it out alongside our main character.

There are trigger warnings for all things violence, including generational trauma associated with the centuries of suppression of the Maori. Despite that, or perhaps because of that unflinching inclusion of real trauma, the story is touching in a completely unexpected to me wag. The story was so well crafted that during the mayhem of the climax, I found myself crying.

Do yourself a favor - find this book to read.

The audio version is wonderfully done. I had never heard te reo spoken before and it was perfectly included in the book.

tifscatku's review against another edition

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informative mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25