As seen on my blog: 
 What a metaphorical roller coaster of a book, and while I do enjoy me some great metaphors, AND roller coasters, I had a hard time appreciating this book for it's tone and style. Ben McPherson chose to highlight the emotional and mental state of trauma in 
 A Line of Blood 
 . The details of betrayal and death, background noise to the poetic and foggy dialogue. I like my mysterious a lot less about human discord, and more about fact finding and analyzing. Nevertheless, the narrative held my attention, in that "I could care less for the characters, but I need to know how this turns out" kind of way. 
 It begins with death. Alex and his son Max make their way through the neighbours house in search of their cat, only to find said neighbour in a very compromising state of dead. What at first glance seems like a suicide, the story continues in the obvious way, with a suspicion of murder instead, a new suspect every few chapters, and a million questions that not everyone involved wants answers to. Who had the most to lose? To gain? To be angry enough about, or regretful for? Through a slow progression, Alex Mercer plays victim to his own mind, and to the minds of two people he mistakenly thought he knew best. 
 A Line of Blood 
 was comprised of infuriating dialogue that attempted to answer questions with more questions. Where characters were in a constant competition of "who can beat around the bush the longest?".The narrative void of any direct feeling, or thought, or realistic reaction-I wanted to throttle someone, or at least ask if they were even human. The subject matter itself, however, was brilliant, big screen worthy even-the very idea of the event sequence made reading until the end worth it. I suppressed skipping to the end to find out who's mind was disturbed enough to commit such a heinous act, and who's heart would be broken the most by the discovery. When the end did finally come, I could have never predicted that the outcome would be so disturbing, the culprit so unashamed of their act. 
 McPherson's writing was unapologetic, but left so much to be desired in the way of facts and reason. 
 A Line in Blood 
 was too much drama, and too little mystery for my taste, but overall, a good fiction debut for the author. 
 Recommended for Fans of: Mystery, Suspense Contemporary, Drama, 
 Gone Girl 
 by Gillian Flynn.