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Oxford Blood
The next gripping, must-read, YA crime mystery for readers of Holly Jackson and Karen McManus, and fans of The Secret History and Ace of Spades.
Eva has set her sights on studying English at Oxford University. Atmospheric old libraries; secret societies; eccentric professors – it’s the stuff of her dreams.
When she and her best friend (who she’s also secretly in love with), George, are invited to Interview Week, it seems like those dreams are coming true.
But only a day in, George is found dead on the steps of a university statue. And it is Eva who finds him.
All eyes are now on her as she races to clear her name, uncover the truth – and take back her future.
Eva has set her sights on studying English at Oxford University. Atmospheric old libraries; secret societies; eccentric professors – it’s the stuff of her dreams.
When she and her best friend (who she’s also secretly in love with), George, are invited to Interview Week, it seems like those dreams are coming true.
But only a day in, George is found dead on the steps of a university statue. And it is Eva who finds him.
All eyes are now on her as she races to clear her name, uncover the truth – and take back her future.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 13, 2026
93 people are currently reading
15149 people want to read
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July 16, 2025
As a lifelong lover of dark academia, I’m always drawn to that heady mix of beauty and menace—where ivy-clad halls hide ancient secrets, ambition walks a knife’s edge, and candlelit libraries whisper of danger. Oxford Blood delivers all of that and more, plunging us into the shadowy, high-stakes world of Beecham College with a murder mystery that cuts as deep as the expectations placed on its brilliant young characters.
For Eva, Oxford isn’t just a goal—it’s her way out. A chance to rewrite her story, to prove herself on her own terms. But that dream fractures fast when her best friend George is found dead just days into interview week. The official word is accident. Eva knows better. And as suspicion begins circling her like vultures, her fight for a future becomes a fight for the truth—and for survival.
What starts as a story of ambition quickly spirals into a taut, razor-sharp thriller. The anonymous gossip forum Oxford Slays adds an unsettling digital layer—where every rumor, misstep, and crack in Eva’s composure is dissected in real time. The pressure is relentless, and the privilege on display is both dazzling and suffocating.
Rachael Davis Featherstone’s writing is magnetic—smart, immersive, and emotionally raw. Eva’s perspective is deeply compelling, shaped by a quiet love of literature and a sharp awareness of the class and cultural codes she’s navigating. Her longing to belong, without losing herself, hit hard—and made her journey all the more gripping.
The mystery is twisty and well-paced, but what kept me fully invested was Eva herself. Her grief, her fury, her grit. The supporting cast is rich with moral gray areas and hidden motives, heightening the suspense and emotional stakes at every turn.
If I had one wish, it would be for more depth in the early pages of Eva and George’s friendship—a few more moments or memories to make his loss land even harder. Still, that’s a small note in a story that otherwise fires on all cylinders.
Oxford Blood is haunting, timely, and razor-edged—a dark academia gem wrapped in velvet and laced with menace. A stellar debut, and the start of a series I’ll be following closely.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Wednesday Books for the chance to read this gripping, unputdownable thriller in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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For Eva, Oxford isn’t just a goal—it’s her way out. A chance to rewrite her story, to prove herself on her own terms. But that dream fractures fast when her best friend George is found dead just days into interview week. The official word is accident. Eva knows better. And as suspicion begins circling her like vultures, her fight for a future becomes a fight for the truth—and for survival.
What starts as a story of ambition quickly spirals into a taut, razor-sharp thriller. The anonymous gossip forum Oxford Slays adds an unsettling digital layer—where every rumor, misstep, and crack in Eva’s composure is dissected in real time. The pressure is relentless, and the privilege on display is both dazzling and suffocating.
Rachael Davis Featherstone’s writing is magnetic—smart, immersive, and emotionally raw. Eva’s perspective is deeply compelling, shaped by a quiet love of literature and a sharp awareness of the class and cultural codes she’s navigating. Her longing to belong, without losing herself, hit hard—and made her journey all the more gripping.
The mystery is twisty and well-paced, but what kept me fully invested was Eva herself. Her grief, her fury, her grit. The supporting cast is rich with moral gray areas and hidden motives, heightening the suspense and emotional stakes at every turn.
If I had one wish, it would be for more depth in the early pages of Eva and George’s friendship—a few more moments or memories to make his loss land even harder. Still, that’s a small note in a story that otherwise fires on all cylinders.
Oxford Blood is haunting, timely, and razor-edged—a dark academia gem wrapped in velvet and laced with menace. A stellar debut, and the start of a series I’ll be following closely.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Wednesday Books for the chance to read this gripping, unputdownable thriller in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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September 14, 2025
Rachael Davis-Featherstone’s compelling, insightful murder mystery centres on fictional Oxford college Beecham. Prospective students Eva and boyfriend George are there for a weeklong series of interviews and college tours. At first Eva is overawed by the stately setting, the massive rooms, the ancient architecture, the rituals of college life. However, from the start there are signs this place isn’t quite as gracious or benign as it might appear. The exterior is overshadowed by a massive statue of Sir H. C. Glanville, representative of the Glanville family whose large donations have benefited the college, and the university, since the 1800s. But Glanville made his fortune through enslavement and profits from sugar plantations. For many he’s a reminder of histories they’d rather not talk about. But, for Eva who’s mixed-race Black British, the thought of being confronted with his image on a daily basis is deeply, deeply uncomfortable. With the arrival of a group of obnoxious, male candidates known as “Reapers” after their ultra-exclusive public school Reapington, Eva’s discomfort intensifies. The Reapers clearly despise Eva, their attitudes combine racism with misogyny and snobbery. Eva’s from an inner-city, state school, so not the kind of person the Reapers want around. Then a body’s found splayed at the foot of the Glanville statue and suddenly Eva’s prime suspect in a likely murder. Her background as daughter of a renowned police inspector forces her to realise that, in a city like Oxford, the only way she’s going to survive is if she launches her own investigation.
Davis-Featherstone draws extensively on her personal experiences of Oxford as a mixed-race Black undergraduate from a working-class background. Woven into her narrative are thinly-disguised elements of real-world, Oxford life. The Reapers read like the products of elitist schools like Eton, and the secretive, all-male society Rex Factorem they’re desperate to join is a version of the infamous Bullingdon dining club – featured in the film The Riot Club based on Laura Wade’s play Posh. Debates around whether or not the Glanville statue should be removed rework the “Rhodes Must Fall” campaign and the ongoing controversy surrounding Oxford’s statue of Cecil Rhodes - it’s positioned so it’s almost impossible to avoid for Oxford students. Although Davis-Featherstone’s references to sugar plantations also implicate the Tate family central to yet another shameful chapter in British history.
Davis-Featherstone’s novel wears its heart on its sleeve – it’s not desperately subtle. But I’m not sure that matters. Davis-Featherstone’s take on the intricacies of mixed-race identities is convincing as is her general indictment of racism, privilege and England’s class-ridden society. Eva’s a sympathetic character, the style’s unfussy and the plot’s engaging. My main gripe is that I wasn’t totally persuaded by the way things play out at the very end or Eva’s ultimate choices.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Walker Books
Rating: 3/3.5
Davis-Featherstone draws extensively on her personal experiences of Oxford as a mixed-race Black undergraduate from a working-class background. Woven into her narrative are thinly-disguised elements of real-world, Oxford life. The Reapers read like the products of elitist schools like Eton, and the secretive, all-male society Rex Factorem they’re desperate to join is a version of the infamous Bullingdon dining club – featured in the film The Riot Club based on Laura Wade’s play Posh. Debates around whether or not the Glanville statue should be removed rework the “Rhodes Must Fall” campaign and the ongoing controversy surrounding Oxford’s statue of Cecil Rhodes - it’s positioned so it’s almost impossible to avoid for Oxford students. Although Davis-Featherstone’s references to sugar plantations also implicate the Tate family central to yet another shameful chapter in British history.
Davis-Featherstone’s novel wears its heart on its sleeve – it’s not desperately subtle. But I’m not sure that matters. Davis-Featherstone’s take on the intricacies of mixed-race identities is convincing as is her general indictment of racism, privilege and England’s class-ridden society. Eva’s a sympathetic character, the style’s unfussy and the plot’s engaging. My main gripe is that I wasn’t totally persuaded by the way things play out at the very end or Eva’s ultimate choices.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Walker Books
Rating: 3/3.5
July 3, 2025
🎓 Welcome to Oxford: where secrets run deep, privilege rules the halls… and someone isn’t leaving alive.
Oxford Blood is a deliciously twisty YA thriller that had me hooked. Think A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder meets Ace of Spades, but set in the elite, tradition-soaked world of Oxford interviews—where getting in is murder. 🔪📚
As someone who studied at Oxford (and is still traumatized by the interview process 😅), this book felt scarily real. From the overwhelming pressure, to the quiet privilege of private school kids who speak Latin like it’s a party trick—it was like being back at Balliol (minus the murder, thankfully).
🕵️♀️ Enter Eva: a smart, working-class state school student with one dream—attending Oxford. She’s determined to prove she belongs, but when her best friend George turns up dead during interview week, her future starts to unravel fast. The police say it’s an accident. Eva knows better.
Between cryptic posts on the elite gossip account OxSlay, a cast of rivals who all have something to hide, and secrets George took to the grave, Eva’s fight for her future becomes a fight for the truth.
✨ What worked:
— A sharp, voicey protagonist you’ll root for
— Elite academia + murder mystery = a total win
— Class tension and academic pressure that feel real, not romanticised
— Enough twists to keep you up turning pages
❗If you like your dark academia with layered social commentary, and a heroine who’s not afraid to dig deep (even if it means getting her hands dirty), you’ll want to add Oxford Blood to your TBR immediately.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Gripping, clever, and painfully relatable. A YA murder mystery for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider in a world that wasn’t built for them.
Oxford Blood is a deliciously twisty YA thriller that had me hooked. Think A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder meets Ace of Spades, but set in the elite, tradition-soaked world of Oxford interviews—where getting in is murder. 🔪📚
As someone who studied at Oxford (and is still traumatized by the interview process 😅), this book felt scarily real. From the overwhelming pressure, to the quiet privilege of private school kids who speak Latin like it’s a party trick—it was like being back at Balliol (minus the murder, thankfully).
🕵️♀️ Enter Eva: a smart, working-class state school student with one dream—attending Oxford. She’s determined to prove she belongs, but when her best friend George turns up dead during interview week, her future starts to unravel fast. The police say it’s an accident. Eva knows better.
Between cryptic posts on the elite gossip account OxSlay, a cast of rivals who all have something to hide, and secrets George took to the grave, Eva’s fight for her future becomes a fight for the truth.
✨ What worked:
— A sharp, voicey protagonist you’ll root for
— Elite academia + murder mystery = a total win
— Class tension and academic pressure that feel real, not romanticised
— Enough twists to keep you up turning pages
❗If you like your dark academia with layered social commentary, and a heroine who’s not afraid to dig deep (even if it means getting her hands dirty), you’ll want to add Oxford Blood to your TBR immediately.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Gripping, clever, and painfully relatable. A YA murder mystery for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider in a world that wasn’t built for them.
January 13, 2026
The first book in a brand-new YA series, Oxford Blood took dark academia and brought it to a whole other level. Filled with a complex mystery on top of thought-provoking themes, it had me absolutely dazzled from beginning to end. You see, not only did the whodunnit aspect of this murder mystery engage my armchair sleuthing brain, but the incisive social commentary also made me think long and hard. Exploring sexual assault, class, racism, and privilege in an eye-opening way, it was both hard to look at yet crucial to see. Best of all? While it was a timely and necessary look at some increasingly important topics, the themes weren’t the only things I loved about this novel. After all, Eva was a dynamite main character—root-for-able, spunky, compelling, outspoken, and smart—and the plot equaled her in nearly every way.
Twisty, well-paced, and with a rising level of tension, the storyline was one heck of an immersive experience. Taking me back to my own prep school experience in many ways, I could feel the authenticity wedged against the need to suspend disbelief. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy to do it. After all, between the morally gray antics, long-buried secrets, and well-disguised motives, the high stakes in this debut easily kept me turning the pages. Add a secret society into the mix, and I knew I was going to be a one-sitting read. I mean, how could one not love a book that combined A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Ace of Spades? So, despite a slow start and some immature characters, I highly recommend grabbing this one now. Insightful yet fun, it’s a thrilling read perfect for both teens and adults alike. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Eva has one dream: to study English at Oxford University. Not only will she receive a world-class education – getting into Oxford is a path to freedom.
But when Eva and her best friend George are invited to interview week, they find themselves in the cutthroat ultra-competitive world of elite academia, and at the center of gossip on anonymous student forum Oxford Slays. When Eva finds George dead near the steps of a statue in the college, she knows he’s been murdered – but all eyes are now on her. Can she clear her name, catch the true killer and win her place at Beecham College?
Eva has one week to prove her innocence, and Oxford Slays will be watching.
Thank you Rachel Davis-Featherstone and Wednesday Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 13, 2026
Content warning: murder, blood, racism, sexual assault, drug use, violence, bullying, mention of: death of a parent
Twisty, well-paced, and with a rising level of tension, the storyline was one heck of an immersive experience. Taking me back to my own prep school experience in many ways, I could feel the authenticity wedged against the need to suspend disbelief. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy to do it. After all, between the morally gray antics, long-buried secrets, and well-disguised motives, the high stakes in this debut easily kept me turning the pages. Add a secret society into the mix, and I knew I was going to be a one-sitting read. I mean, how could one not love a book that combined A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Ace of Spades? So, despite a slow start and some immature characters, I highly recommend grabbing this one now. Insightful yet fun, it’s a thrilling read perfect for both teens and adults alike. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Eva has one dream: to study English at Oxford University. Not only will she receive a world-class education – getting into Oxford is a path to freedom.
But when Eva and her best friend George are invited to interview week, they find themselves in the cutthroat ultra-competitive world of elite academia, and at the center of gossip on anonymous student forum Oxford Slays. When Eva finds George dead near the steps of a statue in the college, she knows he’s been murdered – but all eyes are now on her. Can she clear her name, catch the true killer and win her place at Beecham College?
Eva has one week to prove her innocence, and Oxford Slays will be watching.
Thank you Rachel Davis-Featherstone and Wednesday Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 13, 2026
Content warning: murder, blood, racism, sexual assault, drug use, violence, bullying, mention of: death of a parent
August 27, 2025
huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a advanced copy in exchange for a honest review, all opinions are my own
⋆ i love dark academia. i love smart characters. i love a murder mystery. and this novel had all of those things. except, i had the HARDEST time getting into it. it had so much going for it but it had the slowest beginning which made it really hard for me to get hooked on what we were going for.
⋆ i would have loved to connect more to the characters but i loved our topics of interest such as eqaulity, racism, discriminiation, and equity. they were handled super well (from my pov) and tied in nicely instead of feeling like an afterthought !!
⋆ overall a fun murder mystery with a hea and a solid cast of characters. i loved how there wasn't really romance (or from my memory, lowk...blanking) but it truly focused on the death of our fmc's best friend who she has feelings for. instead of making her have a love interest and that just sometimes bothers me in books.
pre review
another arc down for the count !! so pumped to read this (lowk wish it was autumn haha)
⋆ i love dark academia. i love smart characters. i love a murder mystery. and this novel had all of those things. except, i had the HARDEST time getting into it. it had so much going for it but it had the slowest beginning which made it really hard for me to get hooked on what we were going for.
⋆ i would have loved to connect more to the characters but i loved our topics of interest such as eqaulity, racism, discriminiation, and equity. they were handled super well (from my pov) and tied in nicely instead of feeling like an afterthought !!
⋆ overall a fun murder mystery with a hea and a solid cast of characters. i loved how there wasn't really romance (or from my memory, lowk...blanking) but it truly focused on the death of our fmc's best friend who she has feelings for. instead of making her have a love interest and that just sometimes bothers me in books.
pre review
another arc down for the count !! so pumped to read this (lowk wish it was autumn haha)
Currently reading
January 10, 2026Pre-Read Thoughts: Back to dark academia, which is exciting. I have read two that were either YA or NA so my next dark academia book gonna be full adult (is that the level up from NA?).
September 28, 2025
What a great book. A real page turner. The author does a great job developing the mystery aspect. There are a small group of suspects but no obvious one throughout. It ebbs and flows with who seems to be guilty and there are twists and turns that catch you off guard. False trails are laid, red herring crop up, there are clues but putting them together is truly a difficult task. If you love mystery you will love this book. Highly recommend.
August 16, 2025
Oxford Blood by Rachael Davis-Featherstone
★★★★★
Eva and George’s dream is to get accepted into Oxford University. When her best friend George is found dead during interview week her goals are shattered. Eva immediately looks suspicious as gossip on a student forum begins to circle accusing her of being a murderer. Eva has one week to find out what happened to George, clear her name and stay away from the lethal competition.
YA | Thriller | Mystery | Dark Academia
I started this book one morning and I did nothing but finish it that same day. I could not put it down! Oxford Blood is well written and captivating.
Eva stopped at nothing to uncover the truth about her friend. She was brave, determined, and willing to risk everything for justice, even when the odds were stacked against her.
The plot twists kept coming, each one more surprising than the last, and the final reveal of the murderer completely caught me off guard. It was tense, atmospheric, and layered with the perfect amount of dark academia drama.
This is the kind of book that keeps you glued to the page, desperate for answers, and leaves you thinking about it long after you’ve finished.
🩸🔪🏫🖊️
Thank you to @walkerbooksaus and @tandemcollective for a copy of this book.
💭 What’s your favourite YA book?
Pour a hot drink, it’s book talk time.
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★★★★★
Eva and George’s dream is to get accepted into Oxford University. When her best friend George is found dead during interview week her goals are shattered. Eva immediately looks suspicious as gossip on a student forum begins to circle accusing her of being a murderer. Eva has one week to find out what happened to George, clear her name and stay away from the lethal competition.
YA | Thriller | Mystery | Dark Academia
I started this book one morning and I did nothing but finish it that same day. I could not put it down! Oxford Blood is well written and captivating.
Eva stopped at nothing to uncover the truth about her friend. She was brave, determined, and willing to risk everything for justice, even when the odds were stacked against her.
The plot twists kept coming, each one more surprising than the last, and the final reveal of the murderer completely caught me off guard. It was tense, atmospheric, and layered with the perfect amount of dark academia drama.
This is the kind of book that keeps you glued to the page, desperate for answers, and leaves you thinking about it long after you’ve finished.
🩸🔪🏫🖊️
Thank you to @walkerbooksaus and @tandemcollective for a copy of this book.
💭 What’s your favourite YA book?
Pour a hot drink, it’s book talk time.
TikTok
July 6, 2025
Oxford Blood is a YA thriller with a dark academia setting, a murder mystery at its core, and a cast of characters that are both likable and frustrating.
We follow Eva, a mixed-race state school student interviewing for a place at the elite Beecham College in Oxford. When her best friend and kind-of boyfriend George is found dead, no one believes her when she says it was murder. So Eva starts digging for the truth herself, uncovering secrets about George and the college that some would rather keep buried...
Honestly, this was such a fun and easy read! The short chapters made it really quick to get through, and while I guessed who the murderer was quite early on, I still think the twist was well done and the reveal landed. I also thoroughly enjoyed the Dark Academia setting (mysterious underground elite groups included).
While I didn’t feel hugely connected to any of the characters, I still really enjoyed reading this. It’s entertaining, keeps you engaged, and has just enough commentary on racism and privilege to add weight without slowing the pace.
It sits just under some of my more memorable four-star reads, but it’s definitely more than three, so I’m settling on four stars for now!
Would recommend it to all fans of A Good Girls Guide to Murder!
We follow Eva, a mixed-race state school student interviewing for a place at the elite Beecham College in Oxford. When her best friend and kind-of boyfriend George is found dead, no one believes her when she says it was murder. So Eva starts digging for the truth herself, uncovering secrets about George and the college that some would rather keep buried...
Honestly, this was such a fun and easy read! The short chapters made it really quick to get through, and while I guessed who the murderer was quite early on, I still think the twist was well done and the reveal landed. I also thoroughly enjoyed the Dark Academia setting (mysterious underground elite groups included).
While I didn’t feel hugely connected to any of the characters, I still really enjoyed reading this. It’s entertaining, keeps you engaged, and has just enough commentary on racism and privilege to add weight without slowing the pace.
It sits just under some of my more memorable four-star reads, but it’s definitely more than three, so I’m settling on four stars for now!
Would recommend it to all fans of A Good Girls Guide to Murder!
September 1, 2025
Eva and her friend George get invited for interviews at Oxford University. George is murdered in front of a statue in front of the college. Eva looks into his tragic death and suspicion falls on her.
This was an intricate story that I enjoyed reading.
Thanks NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this eARC that will be released January 13, 2026!
This was an intricate story that I enjoyed reading.
Thanks NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this eARC that will be released January 13, 2026!
July 16, 2025
Wow, this one was… not for me. I picked this up expecting a dark academia YA mystery. I will say that I didn’t vibe with the writing and characters, but I don’t necessarily view that as a fault of the novel. However, I think what doesn’t make it into the description is that this book contains a fair amount of discourse surrounding privilege and how academia can be so prejudiced against minorities. While unexpected, I was pleasantly surprised and partially kept reading for this aspect of it. Unfortunately, I think it ended up containing some pretty problematic aspects, which I will detail after a brief review of the rest of the book.
If you’re after a quick, plot-driven YA mystery read set at a storied university, this may be for you.
What worked for me:
- The concept of the students-only social network was fun and I liked the posts scattered in the chapters to break up the story and make it more immersive
- I liked the setting and getting to dive into the drama and politics of a (fictional) college at Oxford.
- While the writing wasn’t my speed, I can recognize that it’s a pretty easy read and the chapters aren’t too long.
What didn’t work for me:
- I think my biggest problem was that characters were pretty one-dimensional and nobody really seemed to grow or develop throughout the story, despite opportunities for it. I was especially not a fan of the MC, who came off self-righteous and arrogant.
- I found the writing repetitive at times and dragged out. I would say the mystery doesn’t properly start until about halfway through.
What really didn’t work for me:
I am not at all trying to put this book on blast, but ultimately I decided it was important for readers to know what they’re in for and maybe throw a different perspective in. For a story about a diverse character written by an author who shares similar identities, I was put off by how poorly the rest of the diversity in this book was handled. There is a lot of identities represented, but they were used either as plot points or the characters were portrayed negatively. There seemed to be an underlying message that Eva was “more” disadvantaged than every other character.
The way the other biracial girl is continuously made out to be the worst and the other low-income character is invalidated at times, while the story continues to martyrize the rich, white boy was… not it for me. It even goes as far as acknowledging how difficult it is for a woman to get a powerful position in law enforcement, and then only ever portrays said woman as being incompetent and spiteful as she bungles a murder case. Meanwhile, the MC’s dad appears to be the best and most famous detective in the country. The one time Eva is confronted with her own privilege (in that her dad is on the police force and will come rescue her if needed) by another character, she denies it, saying she’s uncomfortable that somebody would suggest she has any advantage. She even says “it’s not a privilege to have police officers take you seriously”. Maybe my US is showing but yes, it absolutely is?
My biggest issue was with the entire story arc involving Tessa (cw: sexual assault)
I’m not sure if this just hit too close to home for me as someone is deep in the trenches of real academia and as a person who might not be where I was today if not for programs that help marginalized students, which the MC seems to be both for and against. At the end of the day, this is a book and anything that is in it is there by choice. If you are going to take the step to include diverse characters with minority identities (POC, LGBT, low-income) and to breach big topics like privilege and equity, I find it a bit irresponsible not to take the extra step to do it respectfully. I'm happy that this book clicked for others, unfortunately it just didn't sit quite right for me.
A big thank you to St.Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you’re after a quick, plot-driven YA mystery read set at a storied university, this may be for you.
What worked for me:
- The concept of the students-only social network was fun and I liked the posts scattered in the chapters to break up the story and make it more immersive
- I liked the setting and getting to dive into the drama and politics of a (fictional) college at Oxford.
- While the writing wasn’t my speed, I can recognize that it’s a pretty easy read and the chapters aren’t too long.
What didn’t work for me:
- I think my biggest problem was that characters were pretty one-dimensional and nobody really seemed to grow or develop throughout the story, despite opportunities for it. I was especially not a fan of the MC, who came off self-righteous and arrogant.
- I found the writing repetitive at times and dragged out. I would say the mystery doesn’t properly start until about halfway through.
What really didn’t work for me:
I am not at all trying to put this book on blast, but ultimately I decided it was important for readers to know what they’re in for and maybe throw a different perspective in. For a story about a diverse character written by an author who shares similar identities, I was put off by how poorly the rest of the diversity in this book was handled. There is a lot of identities represented, but they were used either as plot points or the characters were portrayed negatively. There seemed to be an underlying message that Eva was “more” disadvantaged than every other character.
The way the other biracial girl is continuously made out to be the worst and the other low-income character is invalidated at times, while the story continues to martyrize the rich, white boy was… not it for me. It even goes as far as acknowledging how difficult it is for a woman to get a powerful position in law enforcement, and then only ever portrays said woman as being incompetent and spiteful as she bungles a murder case. Meanwhile, the MC’s dad appears to be the best and most famous detective in the country. The one time Eva is confronted with her own privilege (in that her dad is on the police force and will come rescue her if needed) by another character, she denies it, saying she’s uncomfortable that somebody would suggest she has any advantage. She even says “it’s not a privilege to have police officers take you seriously”. Maybe my US is showing but yes, it absolutely is?
My biggest issue was with the entire story arc involving Tessa (cw: sexual assault)
I’m not sure if this just hit too close to home for me as someone is deep in the trenches of real academia and as a person who might not be where I was today if not for programs that help marginalized students, which the MC seems to be both for and against. At the end of the day, this is a book and anything that is in it is there by choice. If you are going to take the step to include diverse characters with minority identities (POC, LGBT, low-income) and to breach big topics like privilege and equity, I find it a bit irresponsible not to take the extra step to do it respectfully. I'm happy that this book clicked for others, unfortunately it just didn't sit quite right for me.
A big thank you to St.Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2026
I flew through this book and was engaged right from the start.
Private school, shady business, a death that could be a murder and a MC trying to find their own place in life.
Did I mention there is a secret society?
Yeah, this book had me all in!
Much love to Wednesday Books, Macmillan audio & NetGalley for my for my ARCs.
Private school, shady business, a death that could be a murder and a MC trying to find their own place in life.
Did I mention there is a secret society?
Yeah, this book had me all in!
Much love to Wednesday Books, Macmillan audio & NetGalley for my for my ARCs.
April 18, 2025
this was fun! Feeling lucky to work for a publisher and being able to read this so early (: I'll post more of my review by the time book releases, (if i remember) but I know a lot of you will loooove this <3
August 3, 2025
| ARC Review |
Oxford Blood is a captivating YA thriller set in Oxford that delves into racism, corruption, and dark academia. It is perfect for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. It focuses on Eva, who is a mixed-race interviewee trying to earn her place at a prestigious university dominated by the elite and privileged. After her best friend, George, is found dead during interview week, Eva sets out trying to uncover the killer as the truth leads her deeper into the dark secrets that plague Oxford.
I haven’t read a thriller in a while, so I’m happy this is the book that brought me back. At first it was hard to get through and I didn’t really feel an emotional pull towards George, but I liked how I got to see more of his character even after he died. I liked how I was able to empathize with him, which made it really easy to feel invested into the story and the mystery of who killed him.
I also loved the themes this book explored, such as racism and the social hierarchy that has enabled people to cheat the justice system. I recommend this book to those who love dark academia with powerful social themes and mystery. This was such a compelling read, and I loved the characters introduced—I think my favorite character has to be either Xander or George, they were both so sweet! I can’t wait for book 2—I just want more of these characters!
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Rachael Davis-Featherstone for granting me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Oxford Blood is a captivating YA thriller set in Oxford that delves into racism, corruption, and dark academia. It is perfect for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. It focuses on Eva, who is a mixed-race interviewee trying to earn her place at a prestigious university dominated by the elite and privileged. After her best friend, George, is found dead during interview week, Eva sets out trying to uncover the killer as the truth leads her deeper into the dark secrets that plague Oxford.
I haven’t read a thriller in a while, so I’m happy this is the book that brought me back. At first it was hard to get through and I didn’t really feel an emotional pull towards George, but I liked how I got to see more of his character even after he died. I liked how I was able to empathize with him, which made it really easy to feel invested into the story and the mystery of who killed him.
I also loved the themes this book explored, such as racism and the social hierarchy that has enabled people to cheat the justice system. I recommend this book to those who love dark academia with powerful social themes and mystery. This was such a compelling read, and I loved the characters introduced—I think my favorite character has to be either Xander or George, they were both so sweet! I can’t wait for book 2—I just want more of these characters!
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Rachael Davis-Featherstone for granting me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 6, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ When I saw a new dark academia, murder mystery book, I was stoked! Oxford Blood has all of the ingredients to make a new favorite for dark academia lovers. Sadly, I didn’t love it as much as I anticipated.
Oxford Blood is a young adult book, and I should’ve known my taste better. As I get older, I lean away from young adult because I always end up disappointed. A large portion of why I didn’t love this book is due to the YA aspects. Everything about this book is inherently YA. I would recommend it to middle schoolers or maybe adolescents beginning high school. I don’t believe it would be enjoyable for anyone older than that age group.
While I can take some YA elements, it was too juvenile. I didn’t like the terminology at all. It felt awkward and misplaced at times. The book had way too many capitalized words. It started to feel overdone and unnecessary as it continued throughout the story.
The Oxford setting was great! This was my favorite part of the book. Slightly disappointing that we didn’t get more of it. It felt skipped over, and I wasn’t able to imagine it well during the entirety of the plot.
The murder mystery aspect hooked me in the beginning. It started to slowly unravel in terms of entertainment as I continued. After halfway, I stopped caring about it. I think it was the elements I mentioned prior that made me lose interest, rather than the plot itself.
The author did a phenomenal job in bringing diversity and real issues up in a fiction story. The main character was an African-American female. She was strong and stood up for herself. She wasn’t afraid to call people out for microaggressions, blatant racism, etc. This is an important message for adolescents.
Thank you NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Rachael Davis-Featherstone for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Oxford Blood is a young adult book, and I should’ve known my taste better. As I get older, I lean away from young adult because I always end up disappointed. A large portion of why I didn’t love this book is due to the YA aspects. Everything about this book is inherently YA. I would recommend it to middle schoolers or maybe adolescents beginning high school. I don’t believe it would be enjoyable for anyone older than that age group.
While I can take some YA elements, it was too juvenile. I didn’t like the terminology at all. It felt awkward and misplaced at times. The book had way too many capitalized words. It started to feel overdone and unnecessary as it continued throughout the story.
The Oxford setting was great! This was my favorite part of the book. Slightly disappointing that we didn’t get more of it. It felt skipped over, and I wasn’t able to imagine it well during the entirety of the plot.
The murder mystery aspect hooked me in the beginning. It started to slowly unravel in terms of entertainment as I continued. After halfway, I stopped caring about it. I think it was the elements I mentioned prior that made me lose interest, rather than the plot itself.
The author did a phenomenal job in bringing diversity and real issues up in a fiction story. The main character was an African-American female. She was strong and stood up for herself. She wasn’t afraid to call people out for microaggressions, blatant racism, etc. This is an important message for adolescents.
Thank you NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Rachael Davis-Featherstone for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
January 17, 2026
the dark academia aspect delivered... can't say the same about anything else
January 14, 2026
When a story sticks with me, I can’t resist revisiting it in a new format.
As promised (to myself), I picked up the audiobook after enjoying this one so much and was curious to see how it translated.
As always, Macmillan Audio did a fabulous job with the sound engineering. I especially loved the music that opens and closes the book—it perfectly sets the mood and frames the listening experience.
Dédé Davi delivered a fantastic narration. Her age-appropriate British vocals added so much to the prose and genuinely elevated my enjoyment of the story. This was my first time listening to her, but I’ll absolutely be seeking out her future projects. She feels particularly well suited to academia-based YA titles.
I was thrilled when this became available on NetGalley. Even though it doesn’t release until 2026, I immediately moved it to the front of my list—and then promptly devoured it the day I started. It was well worth postponing other reads; the experience was that enjoyable.
This book checks all of my favorite boxes: YA, dark academia, a British setting, thriller elements, and secret societies. Those themes are expertly woven together into a gripping story filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout.
I also appreciated the thoughtful representation and the way racism and bigotry—issues that can still plague historically white institutions—were handled. While the Oxford college featured here is fictional, it clearly draws from real-world institutions that exist and thrive today.
Another aspect I loved was the balance in the family dynamic. While we have an older teen taking initiative and investigating, she isn’t operating with a conveniently absent parent. Her father remains appropriately present (for a YA thriller), and the skills he’s taught her lay believable groundwork for the choices she makes.
This book releases on January 13, 2026, and I enjoyed it enough that I’ll absolutely be revisiting it again in audio form—so stay tuned for an update.
I’m grateful to have received a complimentary eARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave this review.
Final thought: smart, atmospheric, and completely bingeable—this one earned its spot at the top of my YA list for 2026.
As promised (to myself), I picked up the audiobook after enjoying this one so much and was curious to see how it translated.
As always, Macmillan Audio did a fabulous job with the sound engineering. I especially loved the music that opens and closes the book—it perfectly sets the mood and frames the listening experience.
Dédé Davi delivered a fantastic narration. Her age-appropriate British vocals added so much to the prose and genuinely elevated my enjoyment of the story. This was my first time listening to her, but I’ll absolutely be seeking out her future projects. She feels particularly well suited to academia-based YA titles.
I was thrilled when this became available on NetGalley. Even though it doesn’t release until 2026, I immediately moved it to the front of my list—and then promptly devoured it the day I started. It was well worth postponing other reads; the experience was that enjoyable.
This book checks all of my favorite boxes: YA, dark academia, a British setting, thriller elements, and secret societies. Those themes are expertly woven together into a gripping story filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout.
I also appreciated the thoughtful representation and the way racism and bigotry—issues that can still plague historically white institutions—were handled. While the Oxford college featured here is fictional, it clearly draws from real-world institutions that exist and thrive today.
Another aspect I loved was the balance in the family dynamic. While we have an older teen taking initiative and investigating, she isn’t operating with a conveniently absent parent. Her father remains appropriately present (for a YA thriller), and the skills he’s taught her lay believable groundwork for the choices she makes.
This book releases on January 13, 2026, and I enjoyed it enough that I’ll absolutely be revisiting it again in audio form—so stay tuned for an update.
I’m grateful to have received a complimentary eARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave this review.
Final thought: smart, atmospheric, and completely bingeable—this one earned its spot at the top of my YA list for 2026.
January 13, 2026
"This. This is my worst nightmare."
Their worst nightmare, but my favorite kind of read!
Who knew higher education was so cutthroat.
This YA dark Academia, murder mystery is perfect for those who couldn't put down books like Ace of Spades and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. I equally love both of those, so I was stoked to recieve an early copy.
Eva is so close to achieving her dream, studying English at Oxford. Her and her more than a "friend", George have been invited to the campus to conduct their interviews. Everything is going perfect, until George is found dead.
Ruled as a terrible accident, something just doesn't feel right to Eva.All to quickly, Eva is blamed for George's murder and she is in a race against time and secret cults to find the killer, clear her name, and get ready for classes.
Absolutely bingeable.
Their worst nightmare, but my favorite kind of read!
Who knew higher education was so cutthroat.
This YA dark Academia, murder mystery is perfect for those who couldn't put down books like Ace of Spades and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. I equally love both of those, so I was stoked to recieve an early copy.
Eva is so close to achieving her dream, studying English at Oxford. Her and her more than a "friend", George have been invited to the campus to conduct their interviews. Everything is going perfect, until George is found dead.
Ruled as a terrible accident, something just doesn't feel right to Eva.All to quickly, Eva is blamed for George's murder and she is in a race against time and secret cults to find the killer, clear her name, and get ready for classes.
Absolutely bingeable.
October 18, 2025
on one hand, i finished this book is a couple of hours and was never bored and did enjoy it aswell as the story and the meaning about inequality in a bunch of forms and how it’s imbedded in our society in ways we might not even notice
and then on the other hand there was a part of me that wishes some parts of this book were handled differently. Nothing massive to the point of it that it making me dislike this book but for example a part of me wishes Tessa and her story was handled differently. but other than that this was a good book
and then on the other hand there was a part of me that wishes some parts of this book were handled differently. Nothing massive to the point of it that it making me dislike this book but for example a part of me wishes Tessa and her story was handled differently. but other than that this was a good book
December 10, 2025
Oxford Blood
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5 stars୨୧
Would recommend if you like:
🕵️♀️Nancy Drew vibes
📖A Good Girls Guide to Murder
🎓Dark Academia esq setting
Eva & George are best friends who both have the same goal in life: to be admitted into their dream Ivy League school. Unfortunately for them, a week of interviews at Oxford will result in them being caught up in a whirlwind of lies, family secrets, & even a murder mystery.
What I liked:
-The mystery/crime element of this book is intriguing, & the writing style is very bingeable.
-The Author incorporates important topics & themes such as racism, classism, & sexism with care.
What I didn’t like:
-The beginning & middle portion of this book felt a bit aimless. Some scenes were all over the place, & didn’t elevate the storyline much.
Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press & Netgalley for the arc🫶🏼
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5 stars୨୧
Would recommend if you like:
🕵️♀️Nancy Drew vibes
📖A Good Girls Guide to Murder
🎓Dark Academia esq setting
Eva & George are best friends who both have the same goal in life: to be admitted into their dream Ivy League school. Unfortunately for them, a week of interviews at Oxford will result in them being caught up in a whirlwind of lies, family secrets, & even a murder mystery.
What I liked:
-The mystery/crime element of this book is intriguing, & the writing style is very bingeable.
-The Author incorporates important topics & themes such as racism, classism, & sexism with care.
What I didn’t like:
-The beginning & middle portion of this book felt a bit aimless. Some scenes were all over the place, & didn’t elevate the storyline much.
Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press & Netgalley for the arc🫶🏼
July 25, 2025
I liked the setting: dark, atmospheric, and moody. Perfect for this mystery.
Insensitively of tragedy and trauma: As someone who has dealt with loss, I couldn’t get over how Eva and the school handled George’s death. Eva lost her best friend and boyfriend, and continues on with her life without missing a day. It felt extremely out of touch, not to mention unhealthy. It minimizes grief and shows an unrealistic level of functioning after an intense and unexpected loss. I don’t think it’s sensitive at all. As Eva uncovers more about George, she starts to feel like she never really knew him, which is totally valid. But then she has thoughts like “I’m so mad and insecure right now, I would kill him if he were still alive.” Again, I really couldn’t get past how death was handled in this book. The plotline involving rape could have benefited from more depth and emotional nuance. It felt underdeveloped to me, considering the gravity of the topic
It had some elements of zodiac academy. The mean entitled boys who run the place (and like ZA, there were so many of them, I couldn’t keep track). Also the school having a social media platform where everything posted is emphasized too much and full of bullying.
I’ve read and enjoyed YA, but here I couldn’t get past the immaturity and silliness of certain characters and plot points. I wasn’t emotionally attached to anyone, and the ending left me unsatisfied.
Thank you Net Galley for the advanced reader copy of Oxford Blood!
Insensitively of tragedy and trauma: As someone who has dealt with loss, I couldn’t get over how Eva and the school handled George’s death. Eva lost her best friend and boyfriend, and continues on with her life without missing a day. It felt extremely out of touch, not to mention unhealthy. It minimizes grief and shows an unrealistic level of functioning after an intense and unexpected loss. I don’t think it’s sensitive at all. As Eva uncovers more about George, she starts to feel like she never really knew him, which is totally valid. But then she has thoughts like “I’m so mad and insecure right now, I would kill him if he were still alive.” Again, I really couldn’t get past how death was handled in this book. The plotline involving rape could have benefited from more depth and emotional nuance. It felt underdeveloped to me, considering the gravity of the topic
It had some elements of zodiac academy. The mean entitled boys who run the place (and like ZA, there were so many of them, I couldn’t keep track). Also the school having a social media platform where everything posted is emphasized too much and full of bullying.
I’ve read and enjoyed YA, but here I couldn’t get past the immaturity and silliness of certain characters and plot points. I wasn’t emotionally attached to anyone, and the ending left me unsatisfied.
Thank you Net Galley for the advanced reader copy of Oxford Blood!
Read
September 8, 2025Ok, idk what to say about this. I love dark academia and murder mysteries, but something just felt missing to me? Although, I have to admit, reading this at the same time as Babel was probably very unfair to it. I haven't finished Babel yet, and I have some mixed thoughts on it, but regardless, it's kind of occupied my brain A LOT. The fact that there is some overlap between the two doesn't help either. So, yeah, a bit of a disclaimer there. XD
This tackled issues of racism, equality, and equity, and I think it did a pretty good job with that. I loved the more nuanced look on things, showing the cons of the Access Scheme was not something I was expecting for some reason, but I was glad to see that. Like Eva says, the scheme is set up in order to even the playing field, but it ends up drawing another divide. Because maybe Lily, who's on the Access Scheme, doesn't have an advantage over the nepo babies, but in a way, it puts Eva, who isn't on the Scheme, at even more of a disadvantage. Also, the way it dealt with classism both in tandem with racism, and apart from it. Like the super classist people don't just have issues with people of other races, but also just other classes. And yk, just the fact that it didn't portray practically all white people as racist? I can't really help but compare it to Babel here, and honestly, in some ways, when it comes to nuance, I think this does a better job. Of course, I know this is a contemporary novel, while Babel is set in the 1830s, and we've come a long way since then, but still.
However, I didn't really connect to the characters much. This does seem to be a common theme for me with a lot of YA lately tho, so maybe that's a me problem. I will say, I had a hard time keeping some of the characters straight, and there were several that I would just totally forget until they were mentioned again, and then be like, "Wait, who were they again?" Which didn't really help with solving the mystery lol. Which I didn't, btw. I feel like I mostly just read this without really trying to figure it out tho?
Something about the emotions just really didn't hit, either. Sometimes things struck me as too dramatic. Which, I mean, her bf has been murdered, obviously she's going to be upset. Other people too. And goodness knows I can be dramatic over far FAR lesser things. But for some reason it didn't feel real to me. Also, there was a ridiculous amount of exclamation points used. Honestly, if you use that many exclamation points, it just feels cringy. Although, considering this was an ARC, maybe that's something that will get changed in editing. I feel like it would have to be, because I've never seen a published book with that many exclamation points.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This tackled issues of racism, equality, and equity, and I think it did a pretty good job with that. I loved the more nuanced look on things, showing the cons of the Access Scheme was not something I was expecting for some reason, but I was glad to see that. Like Eva says, the scheme is set up in order to even the playing field, but it ends up drawing another divide. Because maybe Lily, who's on the Access Scheme, doesn't have an advantage over the nepo babies, but in a way, it puts Eva, who isn't on the Scheme, at even more of a disadvantage. Also, the way it dealt with classism both in tandem with racism, and apart from it. Like the super classist people don't just have issues with people of other races, but also just other classes. And yk, just the fact that it didn't portray practically all white people as racist? I can't really help but compare it to Babel here, and honestly, in some ways, when it comes to nuance, I think this does a better job. Of course, I know this is a contemporary novel, while Babel is set in the 1830s, and we've come a long way since then, but still.
However, I didn't really connect to the characters much. This does seem to be a common theme for me with a lot of YA lately tho, so maybe that's a me problem. I will say, I had a hard time keeping some of the characters straight, and there were several that I would just totally forget until they were mentioned again, and then be like, "Wait, who were they again?" Which didn't really help with solving the mystery lol. Which I didn't, btw. I feel like I mostly just read this without really trying to figure it out tho?
Something about the emotions just really didn't hit, either. Sometimes things struck me as too dramatic. Which, I mean, her bf has been murdered, obviously she's going to be upset. Other people too. And goodness knows I can be dramatic over far FAR lesser things. But for some reason it didn't feel real to me. Also, there was a ridiculous amount of exclamation points used. Honestly, if you use that many exclamation points, it just feels cringy. Although, considering this was an ARC, maybe that's something that will get changed in editing. I feel like it would have to be, because I've never seen a published book with that many exclamation points.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 22, 2025
I thought this was a solid read! I really enjoyed the Oxford school setting and how the story wove in important topics like race, colorism and diversity/inclusivity at a school not exactly known for that. Following Eva and learning her motivations for wanting to attend Oxford while getting tangled up in a murder investigation and secret cults was engaging. The story was fast paced and the mystery went in a direction I didn’t quite see coming. While it didn't leave a huge lasting impression, I would still recommend!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review
November 22, 2025
3,75 ⭐️
This book had so many good quotes but I didn’t connect to the characters as much as I would’ve hoped. The story was overall good and I was excited to continue reading.
This book had so many good quotes but I didn’t connect to the characters as much as I would’ve hoped. The story was overall good and I was excited to continue reading.
December 30, 2025
I guessed who did it pretty early on, so that was a bummer. And the writing at times felt unnatural and kind of took me out of the story. But this was still an entertaining YA thriller with multiple plot points that I found interesting. I also really appreciated the discussions about race, equality vs equity, and privilege in an academic space.
August 17, 2025
I have to say I had a really hard time getting into the book. The atmosphere was there, but the plot was mismatched with romance.
October 24, 2025
Thank you Goodreads, author and publisher for this book. Good story, written well and fun to read. 4 stars
Stacey Bankey
Stacey Bankey
July 1, 2025
Oxford Blood is described as A Good Girls Guide to Murder meets The Secret History. I have read The Secret History and absolutely adored it and it occupies a space that makes any comparison to it an extraordinarily tall task. Oxford Blood ultimately does not live up to the expectations set by that comparison but that isn’t a negative reflection on the book in any way shape or form.
Oxford Blood is a wonderfully addictive YA murder mystery thriller with some dark academia vibes. I read the first 20% prior to work yesterday and then on my day off today flew through the remaining 300 or so pages. It is the kind of book that holds your interest and makes you want to keep reading more and more. It took me embarrassingly long to figure out who the killer was but on reflection I do believe that it was sufficiently misdirected enough to keep you on your toes and make it harder to guess. There is nothing worse than a mystery where you are able to unravel it within the early stages, it rips out the tension and suspense and kills my interest usually.
Oxford Blood is set almost entirely in the fictional Beecham College at Oxford University and focuses on the interview week for the highly prestigious English and Classics intakes. Disaster strikes though and one of MC Eva’s best friend George turns up dead in the middle of the night. What follows is a whirlwind of murders, attacks, police investigations, amateur sleuthing, secret societies, and college interviews all accompanied by a constant flurry of online hysteria on the anonymous college messageboards.
Eva is a great MC, she is confident in her abilities and knows she belongs and is willing to fight for her place in the face of the systematic prejudice of an old stuffy institute like Beecham College. Simultaneously she is flawed though and is balancing the pressures of living up to her wish to her dying mother and the pressures of her slightly overbearing but ultimately wellbeing and loving father. Eva is pushed to the very edge throughout this week (understandably) and comes across as a very real character. People dealing with grief don’t always just curl up and cry, sometimes they carry on as best they can and keep plugging on before the grief floods them later on. Eva is so preoccupied with everything going on, with investigating the murder of her best friend, with trying to achieve her dream of getting into Oxford, of trying to deal with the various pressures on her shoulders. She does not have time to grieve in the moment and this accounts for erratic decision making at times.
The author does a great job developing the mystery aspect. There are a small group of suspects but no obvious one throughout. It ebbs and flows with who seems to be guilty and there are twists and turns that catch you off guard. False trails are laid, red herring crop up, there are clues but putting them together is truly a difficult task.
The author also takes time to layer in and approach a lot of more sensitive and serious topics. The most prevalent being systematic racism and the continued glorification of a colonial history that a lot of these institutes still engage in. Oxford Blood points out the hypocrisy of some of the affirmative action schemes in place and how they are simply papering over the cracks and not addressing the actual systematic issues in place. There is also commentary on class divides, nepotism, incompetent policing practices, the toxic nature of social media, how rumours can get out of hand, and sexual harassment and assault.
For what is a YA book (and does read in the tone of a YA book) Oxford Blood is staggeringly consistent with approaching complicated and important issues and I commend the author for doing such a fantastic job balancing these contrasting tones.
Oxford Blood is a wonderfully addictive YA murder mystery thriller with some dark academia vibes. I read the first 20% prior to work yesterday and then on my day off today flew through the remaining 300 or so pages. It is the kind of book that holds your interest and makes you want to keep reading more and more. It took me embarrassingly long to figure out who the killer was but on reflection I do believe that it was sufficiently misdirected enough to keep you on your toes and make it harder to guess. There is nothing worse than a mystery where you are able to unravel it within the early stages, it rips out the tension and suspense and kills my interest usually.
Oxford Blood is set almost entirely in the fictional Beecham College at Oxford University and focuses on the interview week for the highly prestigious English and Classics intakes. Disaster strikes though and one of MC Eva’s best friend George turns up dead in the middle of the night. What follows is a whirlwind of murders, attacks, police investigations, amateur sleuthing, secret societies, and college interviews all accompanied by a constant flurry of online hysteria on the anonymous college messageboards.
Eva is a great MC, she is confident in her abilities and knows she belongs and is willing to fight for her place in the face of the systematic prejudice of an old stuffy institute like Beecham College. Simultaneously she is flawed though and is balancing the pressures of living up to her wish to her dying mother and the pressures of her slightly overbearing but ultimately wellbeing and loving father. Eva is pushed to the very edge throughout this week (understandably) and comes across as a very real character. People dealing with grief don’t always just curl up and cry, sometimes they carry on as best they can and keep plugging on before the grief floods them later on. Eva is so preoccupied with everything going on, with investigating the murder of her best friend, with trying to achieve her dream of getting into Oxford, of trying to deal with the various pressures on her shoulders. She does not have time to grieve in the moment and this accounts for erratic decision making at times.
The author does a great job developing the mystery aspect. There are a small group of suspects but no obvious one throughout. It ebbs and flows with who seems to be guilty and there are twists and turns that catch you off guard. False trails are laid, red herring crop up, there are clues but putting them together is truly a difficult task.
The author also takes time to layer in and approach a lot of more sensitive and serious topics. The most prevalent being systematic racism and the continued glorification of a colonial history that a lot of these institutes still engage in. Oxford Blood points out the hypocrisy of some of the affirmative action schemes in place and how they are simply papering over the cracks and not addressing the actual systematic issues in place. There is also commentary on class divides, nepotism, incompetent policing practices, the toxic nature of social media, how rumours can get out of hand, and sexual harassment and assault.
For what is a YA book (and does read in the tone of a YA book) Oxford Blood is staggeringly consistent with approaching complicated and important issues and I commend the author for doing such a fantastic job balancing these contrasting tones.
August 7, 2025
First things first, and as per usual, thank you to St Martin's Press and Goodreads for providing me with an Advance Readers' Edition of 'Oxford Blood', by Rachel Davis-Featherstone, to be published on January 2026.
This was a solid read, broadly described as dark academia mostly because of the setting of the story (that beautiful, almost-breathing-out of the page Oxford that could be even highlighted as another character), but much more accurately compared to 'A Good Girl's Guide to Murder' when it comes to vibes and atmosphere.
The plot blends your usual crime investigation lead by a teenager (who happens to be a DI's daughter) with some interesting topics about discrimination, racism, equity and equality in the college world, providing the reader with some light food for thought, even if the murder part is the more prominent as a whole.
The actual case itself was really well constructed, complex enough to make it compelling and multi-layered, without being too convoluted or hard to follow. But, as a result, I felt the character development wasn't always as successful, which it is understandable considering how many different personalities we have to deal with here.
Actually that's the main reason why 'Oxford Blood' doesn't get higher marks from me, as I would have loved to be able to connect more with some of the characters, and for the emotional part of the story (Eva's notwithstanding) to have more of an impact. But, you know, just a matter of personal taste.
4.25 over all, and highly recommended for the subgenre lovers (YA Mistery/YA Crime).
This was a solid read, broadly described as dark academia mostly because of the setting of the story (that beautiful, almost-breathing-out of the page Oxford that could be even highlighted as another character), but much more accurately compared to 'A Good Girl's Guide to Murder' when it comes to vibes and atmosphere.
The plot blends your usual crime investigation lead by a teenager (who happens to be a DI's daughter) with some interesting topics about discrimination, racism, equity and equality in the college world, providing the reader with some light food for thought, even if the murder part is the more prominent as a whole.
The actual case itself was really well constructed, complex enough to make it compelling and multi-layered, without being too convoluted or hard to follow. But, as a result, I felt the character development wasn't always as successful, which it is understandable considering how many different personalities we have to deal with here.
Actually that's the main reason why 'Oxford Blood' doesn't get higher marks from me, as I would have loved to be able to connect more with some of the characters, and for the emotional part of the story (Eva's notwithstanding) to have more of an impact. But, you know, just a matter of personal taste.
4.25 over all, and highly recommended for the subgenre lovers (YA Mistery/YA Crime).
September 14, 2025
If you want dark academia, a twisty thriller and an intriguing murder mystery, do I have the book for you! Rachael Davis-Featherstone has written a pacey and exciting YA novel with 'Oxford Blood' as we follow Eva during her interview week for Oxford University.
Not only do we have class and racial conflict sparking almost immediately between the interview candidates, this metaphorical 'Oxford Blood', but very soon, we have literal blood spilled in the quad. Did Eva's best friend George meet an unfortunate accident? Or is something more sinister at play here?
I enjoyed how the narrative unfolded, seeing some of the twists coming but not guessing every nuance. The twists were satisfying and Featherstone depicts Eva's grief in a convincing way. Her transition from desperate literature nerd willing to push herself academically to the limits to get into Oxford, to badass detective and calling out injustice, is a brilliant arc.
I look forward to seeing what this author does in the future! This book is a great start.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Not only do we have class and racial conflict sparking almost immediately between the interview candidates, this metaphorical 'Oxford Blood', but very soon, we have literal blood spilled in the quad. Did Eva's best friend George meet an unfortunate accident? Or is something more sinister at play here?
I enjoyed how the narrative unfolded, seeing some of the twists coming but not guessing every nuance. The twists were satisfying and Featherstone depicts Eva's grief in a convincing way. Her transition from desperate literature nerd willing to push herself academically to the limits to get into Oxford, to badass detective and calling out injustice, is a brilliant arc.
I look forward to seeing what this author does in the future! This book is a great start.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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