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Blood Men

3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 · rating details · 240 ratings · 55 reviews

Edward Hunter is a family man with a beautiful wife and daughter, a great job, a bright future, and a very dark past. Edward's father is a man of blood. He's been in jail for twenty years and he's never coming out. Edward has struggled his entire life to put that all behind him, but it's hard when everybody knows you're the son of a serial killer. Then, a week out from Chr...more

Paperback, 328 pages

Published February 19th 2010 by Random House NZ (Black Swan imprint) (first published 2010)

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Mar 17, 2013 Eddie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Edward Hunter; a figurative train wreck. Just like the train before the wreck, it had a destination. A purpose. That dedication and purpose was his family and also keeping his dark past from haunting him, He was a devoted family man who deeply loved his wife and daughter. But murderous events of, first, his wife, whom Eddie (my name) loved deeply, was murdered in a bank robbery and then later, by the same people who robbed the bank, his lovely young daughter caused Eddie to derail his destinatio...more

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Mar 04, 2013 Max Read rated it 4 of 5 stars

“A psychological thriller, the monster inside”

In 2011, Paul Cleave was nominated as a finalist in the Ngaio Marsh Best Crime Novel Award, alongside fellow authors, Neil Cross, Paddy Richardson, and Greg Mckee aka Alix Bosco. Paul won the award for the book “Blood Men” which was released in 2010. Cleave’s crime novels are dark and gory works with fictional monsters that are chilling and on the black and bloody side; not reading for those weak of heart!

Paul’s story takes place in Christchurch New...more “A psychological thriller, the monster inside”

In 2011, Paul Cleave was nominated as a finalist in the Ngaio Marsh Best Crime Novel Award, alongside fellow authors, Neil Cross, Paddy Richardson, and Greg Mckee aka Alix Bosco. Paul won the award for the book “Blood Men” which was released in 2010. Cleave’s crime novels are dark and gory works with fictional monsters that are chilling and on the black and bloody side; not reading for those weak of heart!

Paul’s story takes place in Christchurch New Zealand, the favored situational destination for his criminal exploits. When talking about setting his books in Christchurch in an article in “Crime Time” magazine, Cleave said: "Christchurch is a great setting for crime – it has two sides to it, there's the picture perfect setting you see on postcards everywhere, but there's also a dark, Gotham City feel here which has, sadly, turned this city into the murder capital of New Zealand. I love making Christchurch a character for the books, creating an 'alternate' version of the city, where the main character often muses that 'Christchurch is broken'."

It was almost Christmas, Edward Hunter and his wife Jodie are at the bank for an interview for a loan that would put them into their first home together; Edward, Jodie and daughter Samantha. Suddenly, masked gunmen storm the bank and Edward Hunter’s world is turned inside out. A gunman points a shotgun at the young teller, about to pull the trigger when Edward calls out – the teller is spared but much to Edward’s terror, his wife Jodie is instead taken by the gunman. Thus begins a tale of misery, revenge and redemption born of a tragedy that causes Edward to descend into a hell he thought he had escaped many years ago.

This is a very intense crime mystery novel with graphic gory scenes and mesmerizing detail of mental psychotic perversity and death. Whimsical readers should be forewarned! For those others, they should find a mostly fast paced intriguing mystery laced series of misdeeds that will keep you on the edge of your seat through to the conclusion. Cleave weaves his characters with sometimes chilling and sometimes sympathetic traits providing a conflict of emotional attachments for the reader – all contrasted by the frustration derived from the ineffectiveness of the police.

All and all I thought the composition was quite good. It certainly kept me reading into the wee hours. The writing style is good, easy to absorb and for the most part the tale was revealed in the first person by the main character.

So if you are looking for a “bite your nails” crime mystery novel, you have arrived with “Blood Men”. I highly recommend you add it to your reading list.
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Dec 23, 2012 Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Author: Paul Cleave
Title: Blood Men
Description: The main thing you need to know about Edward Hunter is that his father is in jail for murdering prostitutes—lots of them. Edward has tried to move on from his father’s arrest and the subsequent destruction of his family, and has created a nice, normal life with a wife who he loves and a little girl. Then he and his wife accidentally end up in the middle of a bank robbery, and his wife becomes an innocent victim. Frustrated by the seeming indifferen...more

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Apr 10, 2011 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime, new-zealand

It always amazes me, how Paul Cleave can start out with a scenario that somehow seems quite normal and "expected" and then make it all go very very good weird, and you don't even notice that it's happening until you finish the book, turn all the lights back on the in house and take a big deep breath. And check the locks.

I'm very very partial to Paul Cleave's books and BLOOD MEN was no exception. Noir doesn't really cut it when you're describing these books, they are dense, intrinsically, fundame...more

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Sep 23, 2010 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Crime/Thriller lovers

Blood Men is a pretty sick book. And I don't mean sick is an awesome cool way. The way the author, Paul Cleave, explains the landscape of Christchurch in New Zealand shows there is very ominous dark side to his writing.

The main character, Edward Hunter, is a family man with a beautiful wife and daughter, a great job, a bright future, and a very dark past. His father was a serial killer. And Edward has had to live with this all his life.
So when a week out from Christmas his life is changed fore...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Adam Leask rated it 5 of 5 stars

I’ve just finished reading the book ‘Blood Men’, by Paul Cleave. I must say that this book was something that I was quite excited about, as after reading his previous books, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on his latest creation. Most people, when looking at this type of book, always expect the same ending. I’m not going to ruin the ending of this book for you, but Paul has somehow managed to trick the reader once again, by creating a storyline that’ll never be guessed.
It took me around three si...more I’ve just finished reading the book ‘Blood Men’, by Paul Cleave. I must say that this book was something that I was quite excited about, as after reading his previous books, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on his latest creation. Most people, when looking at this type of book, always expect the same ending. I’m not going to ruin the ending of this book for you, but Paul has somehow managed to trick the reader once again, by creating a storyline that’ll never be guessed.
It took me around three sittings to get this one done, and should really have taken less. The first two, I only ended up doing about 50 pages. On the third sitting, I was really only planning to do another 50 pages, give or take, as I had to be up early the next morning. Once I got started though, I just literally couldn’t put the book down, even to the final chapter, I was mesmerised. I know this may sound cliché, as every major book reviewer will put out a one-liner saying ‘I couldn’t put it down’, but in this case it’s true.
My congratulations go out to Paul, as unlike so many other books that I’ve read in the past few weeks (e.g. Breathless – by Dean Koontz), Paul managed to tie up all the loose ends, nothing was left hanging. Yes, I know that sometimes it is good to leave the reader to form their own opinions on what happened, but in Paul’s case, I’m so pleased he did, as it was far more creative and unexpected than what I could have ever dreamed up.
The only thing out of the entire book that I could pick a hole with was him using the phrase ‘Armed defenders squad’, many times in the book. I don’t have a problem with him using this phrase, it just would have been nice if he had of done a little further research into this. I know that most people call them the ‘armed defenders’, but this is not actually their name. They are known as the ‘Armed Offenders Squad’. I know that this is petty and not even worth mentioning, but it was just annoying every time I read those words throughout the book.
I would definitely read this book again and honestly can’t wait to see what Paul releases next. It’s good to see a New Zealand author with so much talent and skill!(less)

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Aug 20, 2010 Jason Abay-abay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Awesome book if you like your action bloody! The story line had several twists and surprises that I did not want to put it down.

The book basically asks the question of what would you do if your family has been harmed but with a twist. The twist being the central character (Edward) has kept his homicidal urges in check throughout his life until a major trauma happens to him that breaks the barriers he has built up to keep the urges in check. Most people would let the law run it's course but if y...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Rick Soper rated it 4 of 5 stars

Some books are just wrong. You read them and afterwords you're sitting their numb and feeling empty because the author has done such horrible things to his characters that it's almost too much to bare. Cleave takes you down that bad road, he turns you around corners you don't want him to take, and he leaves you battered and beaten. Trust me when I say that this was a tough book to read, not because it was bad, but because Paul Cleave is too good at making his situations seem too real, too terrif...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Papalodge rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really like the way Eddie expresses himself.
Schroder is a good straight man, letting Eddie bounce his thoughts off of him. Sets his verbal trap then Eddie navigates around it. The give and take works throughout the story.

Personally having been present during a bank robbery, I wasn't even aware it was taking place. The tellers counter blocked my view. No one was shot and the guy got away on foot. You can do that in Philly.

Watched Cleave's video...now I understand where he's going. Don't unders...more

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May 02, 2011 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own-book-form, thrillers-susp

It's ironic I ended up bringing this won book on a won trip. We had won an all paid for vacation to the Texas Frightmare Movie Convention, courtesy of the amazing Rue Morgue Magazine. Yes, really, we won the grand prize last year! I also won this book, Blood Men, through a Goodreads giveaway. We wanted to bring a book with us for downtime in the hotel room and on the plane trip over.

I made a mistake of bringing such a riveting book with me! Because, folks, it's one of those. The plot is tragic a...more It's ironic I ended up bringing this won book on a won trip. We had won an all paid for vacation to the Texas Frightmare Movie Convention, courtesy of the amazing Rue Morgue Magazine. Yes, really, we won the grand prize last year! I also won this book, Blood Men, through a Goodreads giveaway. We wanted to bring a book with us for downtime in the hotel room and on the plane trip over.

I made a mistake of bringing such a riveting book with me! Because, folks, it's one of those. The plot is tragic and like watching a train wreck, you don't want to put it down. You're on the edge of your seat wondering, hoping, watching, thinking of all the possibilities that might happen next. You just NEED to keep reading. The bank robbery at the beginning was horrifying and sad, and once you've forgiven the book for some tears, it really grows on you and flys off.

The middle was strongly written and riveting. I was anxious to see what would happen to the main character Edward and find out all the revelations about his father in prison. Cleave takes you step by step through different situations that are either heart-wrenching or heart-stopping. The suspense is brutal and this is why I struggled putting it down.

Characterization clearly worked amazingly well. All characters were very life-like and realistic, making it easy to care about what disasters than ran into, hoping they'd avoid the ultimate meltdown. I even cared about the "bad guys" because they fascinated me so much. Not sympathetic exactly, but you still ended up caring about the events surrounding them. The psychological twisting, growth, and angst was extreme.

I ended up loving this dark, intricate book. It pushes the boundaries of normalcy and sets the reader into a troubled seat, witnessing horrifying but realistic events unfolding. You fall into the minds of the character so well you feel his pain and angst as he struggles to stay above the water line. I'll definitely have to check out more of Cleave's work. I did end up giving four stars rather than five, surprising myself, because at the end the book started letting me down a bit with some of the actions and turnabouts that took place.

Brilliantly written with an addictive pace, amazing characterization and heart-wrenching scenarios, highly recommended for all readers. The darkness will speak to those who like horror, the suspense and thrills are high enough for any suspense fan, even mystery fans should like wondering what will happen next, and there's a high amount of drama infused within to satisfy drama buffs as the story is quite emotional. (less)

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Dec 21, 2011 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

I've been a fan of Paul Cleaves since before I even read any of his books. Does that even make sense? You know when you hear about a book and it peaks your interest so much that it becomes almost an obsession. I must read this book, I have to have it, have to know what happens.

This happened to me when I first heard about Jeff Lindsays book Darkly Dreaming Dexter. Since then Jeff Lindsays Dexter has become a phenomenon. Everyone likes him he's the anti hero the serial killer who kills other seri...more I've been a fan of Paul Cleaves since before I even read any of his books. Does that even make sense? You know when you hear about a book and it peaks your interest so much that it becomes almost an obsession. I must read this book, I have to have it, have to know what happens.

This happened to me when I first heard about Jeff Lindsays book Darkly Dreaming Dexter. Since then Jeff Lindsays Dexter has become a phenomenon. Everyone likes him he's the anti hero the serial killer who kills other serial killers. Hell I even have it on my myspace profile - I want to meet serial killers but only nice ones like Dexter. Which now that I think about it may explain why I end up contacted by pervs non stop on there. That or all the 13 year old girl are now in their 20's and on facebook and I'm the only one who still logs in from time to time. I would like to point out that I knew about and had read Dexter before it became huge. Just saying and yes I'm happy with myself :)

The point being that some times you are gripped by the sound of a book, the synopsis appeals to you so much that you just can't get it out of your head. Well Paul's book The Cleaner did just that to me. Sadly while Paul in published internationally in the US only one of his books is out and that is Blood Men.

Blood Men is about a family man. He has a wife and a little girl who he loves, who are his life. Poor Edward did not grow up with the same loving family his father was a serial killer caught and taken away when he was 9.
It's hard for anyone growing up but being the son of a serial killer makes it harder everyone looking at you wondering if you will be the same. You are the same blood so everyone wonders will you to be a blood man.

Edwards perfect life is shaken one normal average day by an act of violence that brings his fathers past that he has tried to push away to the forefront. A sudden presence in his life that is devastating in many ways to him and those around him.

How will Edward handle it, will he be the man he has lived his life as or will he become what people have suspect of him? Will he be his fathers son a man of blood?

I enjoyed this book immensely. It flowed so well and you really take to Edward. When the book starts so simple describing a normal day that we all have had and then this sudden shock that comes so expectantly you wonder what the hell.
A gripping thriller for sure and one I hope more will go out and read so Paul's publisher will put me out of my mystery and release The Cleaner here. Yes I know I'm obsessed must keep in mind Paul has other books as well. I want those too lol

The book sets up perfectly so smoothly flowing that when the shockers come it's like a slap in the face.
My only issue is that one major person featured that was meant to be a mystery I had figured out way early on. Not sure if it's that my mind is in sync with someone not all there or Paul's or both lol but I did have that figured out almost right off.
Course something else happened, another shocker came along that I did not see coming and I gasped and kept saying no no no no
That one I for sure didn't see coming and had the desired slap in the face feel and reaction.

I highly recommend this book and encourage others who are looking for a great thriller to check out Paul and his work.(less)

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Sep 20, 2010 Wayne Wilson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great thriller. The protagonist is the son of a serial killer and his father was arrested when our protagonist was a boy. He has grown up living under the cloud of suspicion that he might become a killer as well. As a boy he was Jack Jr. but as an adult he goes by the name Edward and he is an accountant married to an accountant with a 7 year old girl.

This happy life unravels in an instant when his wife is killed during a bank robbery. Edward decides to get vengeance on the robbers. Edward gets i...more

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Aug 02, 2010 Craig Sisterson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Christchurch novelist Paul Cleave doesn’t write boring stories, that’s for sure. His taut tales told through the eyes of deeply troubled ‘heroes’ have broken the mould when it comes to local crime and thriller writing, becoming international bestsellers.

In Blood Men, his fourth novel, Edward Hunter is a happily-married family man with a great life but a very dark past; he’s the son of a notorious serial killer who’s been in prison for 20 years, and will never be coming out. The son of a man of...more

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Apr 11, 2011 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime, new-zealand

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Sep 11, 2011 Craig Sisterson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime, new-zealand, thrillers, award-winners

Paul Cleave doesn’t write boring stories, that’s for sure. His taut tales told through the eyes of deeply troubled ‘heroes’ have broken the mould when it comes to New Zealand crime and thriller writing, becoming international bestsellers.

In Blood Men, Edward Hunter is a happily-married family man with a great life but a very dark past; he’s the son of a notorious serial killer who’s been in prison for 20 years, and will never be coming out. The son of a man of blood. When tragedy strikes, Edwar...more

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Sep 16, 2010 Rusty Merz rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'd have to say a majority of the book was quite suspenseful. In one hand, you have Eddy, this ridiculously reckless man who seems to have the most coincidental luck and circumstantial knowledge for the situations he gets into, but on the other you can't help but empathize with him and silently cheer him on. A story of a broken man with a storyline that is more believable than most suspenses, Blood Men was everything I wanted it to be, except I couldn't help but feel for Eddy. Damn this book was...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Alejandra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Became a fan of Paul Cleave with Collecting Cooper. He certainly delivers with Blood Men. This one is a tad gruesome; but nicely done. Edward Hunter is the son of a convicted serial killer; not an easy childhood, but he manages just fine. Along comes life and plays a dirty trick on him and takes his wife in a bank robbery gone awry. He spends the next few days searching for the men responsible for his wife's death and finds himself contacting his father and getting involved in some seriously wro...more

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Mar 15, 2013 Deborah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Ok so I've read over half of the book. I skipped quite a few parts here and there because of just tooooo much description. I at first thought the author was talking about a church group but as I got further into the book I looked up Christchurch and found it in New Zealand. The temperature also threw me off. I will finish the book rather quickly to get through it to see how it ends, but I am glad I only spent $1.04 on it.

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Aug 26, 2012 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, thriller

When you read Paul Cleave's novels, you're thrown into the dark world of Christchurch, New Zealand, and its city of crime. In Blood Men, we're introduced to Edward Hunter. A typical family man who loses everything with a tainted bloodline. We enter his world and see how his world crumbles like a cookie. We meet the people he meets and how it lost it all. In a race against time, he takes Christchurch by storm, when he demands answers and revenge. This is dark, hard core and a bit gritty. Hold ont...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Enjoyed this...partly because I enjoy grisly, bloody, thriller reads, and partly because it was set in Christchurch. What I didn't enjoy was the insertion of American terminology in a book written by a Christchurch, New Zealand author and set in Christchurch. There were too many references to sidewalks, trash and elevators for my liking! If we have to translate Americanisms into our own vernacular in 99% of the books we read, why can't they translate back the other way occasionally?

Also...since...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Happygirl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Third read for this author and my favorite of his so far. This was the first of the three that I really got involved in the story right from the very beginning. Full of thrill and suspense, with a bit of humor thrown in for good measure!! The ending is worth the read--takes a very interesting turn. 8 out of 10 for me on this one!!

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Mar 29, 2013 Marie Sexton rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a hard one for me to rate. Right up until the end, I might have given it a 4.5. I like the writing, and the great twists. But the ending is just too bleak and depressing for me. The entire story is incredibly dark, which I anticipated, but somehow I still hoped for a more satisfying ending.

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Sep 20, 2011 Lois rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Very creepy, very violent....didn't like it as much as "Collecting Cooper", which was my first Paul Cleave book. To his credit, tho, I don't read too many "thriller" books, and he did get me to read two of his in a row. I may try another of his eventually, but right now I need to read something a bit lighter, with no serial killers involved....

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Aug 14, 2010 Lucinda Mcintyre rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 15, 2010 Hilary Carter rated it 5 of 5 stars

I found this book to be just the kind of dark mystery I go for. If you like a psychological thriller in a unique setting you won't regret reading this. The pacing was great throughout and all plot lines finished up nicely. There was just enough detailing to propel the story, without erroneous back filler, my favorite kind!

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Mar 25, 2013 Alison rated it 4 of 5 stars

Okay, wow! I did not expect this book to grab me like it did! I get bored with stories easily and I read this one front to back very quickly. The story takes place in New Zealand which is an interesting twist to it. You won't be disappointed if you give this book a shot!

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Mar 27, 2013 Josh Lowery rated it 3 of 5 stars

Not usually my type of book. Honestly bought it because it was $0.99. Psychological thriller. A little too gruesome for me at times. Nevertheless, I couldn't put it down.

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Jul 25, 2011 Rich rated it 2 of 5 stars

It starts off with a very compelling story, but degenerates into garuitous violence and the final revelation about his father makes absolutely no sense.

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Jun 23, 2011 Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Harter Stoff, nichts für zartbesaitete Gemüter, aber wer einiges an Blutzoll und die Beschreibung, wie er zustande gekommen ist, abkann, wird mit einem zwar monströsen, aber spannendem Buch, welches sich tief in die menschlichen Abgründe begibt, belohnt. Gelegentlich übertreibt es Paul Cleave zwar mit den Ereignissen etwas, aber insgesamt kann man sich seiner suggestiven Schreibweise, dem Spannungsaufbau, der Vielschichtigkeit des Geschehen und der ordentlichen Portion sehr schwarzen Humors kaum...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Although I admit I did skim and skip parts of this book when I felt it dragged a bit, I was really sucked into the main character's life and circumstances. Loved the ending!

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About Paul Cleave

Paul Cleave lives in his home city of Christchurch, where all his novels are set. His books have become international bestsellers, with The Cleaner being the top-selling crime/thriller title for 2007 on amazon.de in Germany.

Cleave has been shortlisted for the Australian Ned Kelly Awards for Crime Writing, and has made The New Zealand Listener 100 Best Books of the Year list several times. Blood M...more

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