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  • A Line of Blood

  • By: Ben McPherson
  • Narrated by: Peter Noble
  • Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (46 ratings)

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A Line of Blood

By: Ben McPherson
Narrated by: Peter Noble
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Summary

A chilling psychological thriller about family – the ties that bind us, and the lies that destroy us. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train and I Let You Go.

You find your neighbour dead in his bath.
Your son is with you. He sees everything.

You discover your wife has been in the man’s house.
It seems she knew him.

Now the police need to speak to you.

One night turns Alex Mercer’s life upside down. He loves his family and he wants to protect them, but there is too much he doesn’t know.

He doesn’t know how the cracks in his and Millicent’s marriage have affected their son, Max. Or how Millicent’s bracelet came to be under the neighbour’s bed. He doesn’t know how to be a father to Max when his own world is shattering into pieces.

Then the murder investigation begins…

©2015 Ben McPherson (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
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Critic reviews

‘I read this in one sitting, gripped from the opening page by the twisty plot and a family so damaged I couldn't bear to leave them’ Clare Mackintosh, author of I LET YOU GO

‘Ben McPherson has a very distinctive voice, and A LINE OF BLOOD is cleverly put together’ Val McDermid

‘McPherson displays a rare skill for creating characters with depth in a world that is splintering around them’ Daily Mail

‘A chilling and compelling read, beautifully written…’
Renee Knight, bestselling author of DISCLAIMER

‘Gripping from the get-go, A LINE OF BLOOD will have readers wondering what they might be capable of in the face of the terrible isolation of self within a family running off the rails’ Tami Hoag #1 New York Times bestselling author of COLD COLD HEART

‘It is both an extraordinary novel and thriller, and brilliantly written’ Claire Kendal, bestselling author of THE BOOK OF YOU

‘A beautifully-written psychological thriller’ Mark Edwards

‘A tense, touching, smartly written thriller with a very clever twist. McPherson is an impressive new voice’ Tim Lott

‘A hugely impressive debut, well written and psychologically acute; a devastating depiction of a family tearing itself apart’ Paul Johnston

What listeners say about A Line of Blood

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Where does A Line of Blood rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This belongs to the style if gone girl. Very interesting take on the story told in the first person. Unfolds very interestingly by getting to know the characters intimately. Like them or loath them, the psychological profiles are understandable. . No unnecessary waffle. The story is well paced. I'm nearly finished it but still can't predict how it will end

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Line of Blood?

There are several moments when background information just decloaks, blink and you'll miss them.. You can't afford to fast forward, not that you'd want to. This is a new writer I believe. Could be wrong about this but I can't wait for the next book. Sad to be ending this book. It's a psychologically deep insight into flawed characters that you may not like. Very original take on story telling. I enjoyed the tone and atmosphere of the book

What about Peter Noble’s performance did you like?

Perfect narration. Great match for the lead character. Quirky. Would definitely listen to him again

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not really as the characters neither evoke loathing, admiration, or pity. They are not particularly likeable but this does not detract from story. The narration sets the scene,

Any additional comments?

I loved it and will be hard pressed to pick a next book that equals this. Worth a credit for sure

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

This is a work of art

Wow- this is not just a story - this tangled web is a fantastic observation of life. Beautifully and skilfully written and narrated. Strong hints of Ian Mcewans Enduring Love. I was literally transfixed from beginning to end.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An excellent listen

What did you like most about A Line of Blood?

A gripping thriller which keeps you hooked

Which character – as performed by Peter Noble – was your favourite?

Non really

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Who do you know?

Any additional comments?

Narrator very good - more please of the author and narrator.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

About as exciting as paint drying

Any additional comments?

The characters are just awful, you dont like them, care about them and they appear completely absorbed in their own little lives. The narrator just adds to the blandness. I just want the book to end and move to something which actually comes to life.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not very exciting

I was disappointed by this title and found the story slow and plot predictable. I'm afraid I couldn't recommend it.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Horrible characters boring story.

Any additional comments?

There was not a single character that I could emphasise with. All were selfish, self absorbed and were not even believable in their actions. By the end of the book I did not care what happened to any of them.

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