Blood Rose

Paul Devlin #1

by William Heffernan

Former New York City Detective Paul Devlin seeks safety in his new job as chief of police of a small Vermont town and finds a murder case hitting close to home when a serial killer targets the woman he loves. Reprint.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction

448 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1992

About the author

William Heffernan, a three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, is the author of eighteen novels, including such bestsellers as The Corsincan, The Dinosaur Club (a New York Times bestseller), The Dead Detective, and Tarnished Blue (winner of an Edgar Award). Heffernan lives outside of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Reviews

[Wil]

I was certainly not expecting such a GRAPHIC book. The detail of the murders, the candor of the sex act, the utter honesty with which everyone seemed to regard everyone else... even when they thought they were hiding their feelings. At times, it added to a really emotional read, if only because I could not control what I was being made to feel. But more than the actual descriptions themselves, it was that they seemed relatable and real. That alone made me really like it, though it felt dated and provincial at times. A good read for a boring rainy weekend (preferably one spent in a cabin in the woods, passing time, wondering if someone is out there...)

[Niko D]

I’d give Blood Rose a 2.5 out of 5 stars. While it has its moments, it’s a mixed bag overall. The opening portion of the novel feels slow-paced and difficult to engage with. It takes a while for the story to pick up steam, but as the characters become more familiar, the narrative does improve. Among the cast, my favorite standouts are Jubal and Phillipia. They bring a certain depth and nuance that held my interest, even when the main plot occasionally dragged. That said, Phillipia’s dialogue was a bit jarring. She’s written in a way that doesn’t feel age-appropriate for a 7-year-old, making her somewhat unbelievable at times.

Jubal and Gunter’s storylines were, in my opinion, the most compelling aspects of the book. Unfortunately, they don’t get enough focus until the latter part of the story. This imbalance detracts from the overall narrative, as the main cast, who dominate much of the earlier sections, didn’t feel as engaging to me. I kept wanting to get back to Jubal and Gunter, which made parts of the book feel like a chore to get through.

One area where the book shines is in its portrayal of the killer’s story. The scenes depicting the murders are vividly detailed and disturbingly visceral. Heffernan does an excellent job of capturing the horror and intensity of these moments. However, the killer’s character becomes a bit too cartoonish during the climax, which diminishes the sense of dread that had been so effectively built up earlier in the story. This shift felt out of place and detracted from the overall tension.

Despite these flaws, *Blood Rose* isn’t without its merits. It’s a decent read if you’re looking for something to pass the time, but it doesn’t stand out as a must-read in the genre. I do think William Heffernan is an underrated author, as he clearly has talent for creating dark, atmospheric scenes and memorable secondary characters.

Overall, while I didn’t love this book I wouldn’t dismiss it entirely. It’s worth exploring if you’re a fan of crime fiction and want to check out Heffernan’s work, but it’s not a book I’d find myself revisiting or strongly recommending.

[Basma Abubakr]

I always say "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything"

With that said, here's my review for Blood Rose:

[gabriella]

not the worst but reeeally couldn’t stand how this author wrote the women of this book which unsurprisingly made it hard to read lol.

[Misbah]

A woman comes to a small town to escape from an abusive relationship and ends up the target of a serial killer who leaves roses as his calling card. She also starts a romance with the sheriff. That serial killer ends up being someone from her new group of friends.
I was so enticed by this book because this was one of the first "adult" books I read. There wasn't any combing over the gory details, all the bloody murder was on full display.
I think this is when I realized my morbid fascination with serial killers.

[Beth Dufraine]

Attention Goodreads Librarians:
I have the book still, so I copied the dust jacket image and uploaded it to my flickr account.
The image can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarcoo...

[Cws]

M Hef

[Tina]

This book was a good mindless free time read,but pretty predictable: I knew the ending more or less halfway in.

[Ellen]

Annoying but finished it