The Blood Strand

Praise

“The Blood Strand despite the gory title, is understated, quiet and modest.” - Reviewing the Evidence

“UK screenwriter and novelist Ould weaves family loyalties, human nature, and old secrets into a compelling and tightly crafted work. For fans of Ann Cleeves’s mysteries set in the Shetland Islands, this excellent atmospheric series launch is a natural complement.” – Library Journal 

“The plot takes many unexpected twists en route to the satisfying ending.” – Publisher’s Weekly 

“This one is a winner for fans of both Scandinavian and British procedurals: the exotic, little-known Faroese location lends a Scandinavian feel without the forbidding atmosphere, and Ould brilliantly plunges intuitive, straightforward detectives Jan and Hjalti into a complicated tangle of secret motivations that fans of Henning Mankell and Elizabeth George will appreciate.” - Booklist Starred Review

“the author keeps us constantly hungry for more” - Mysteries in Paradise

“Absolutely must read. From the bleak atmosphere to the realistic characters and procedure to the perfect slow increase of tension across the piece, THE BLOOD STRAND abandons the usual overblown nature of a thriller to create an incredibly satisfying, subtle read.” - The Crime Review

“The story moves along well and is a very enjoyable read.” - Whodunit Canada 

“A nuanced look at an unusual, fascinating and really cold culture.” - Seattle Times

“Reminded me a lot of Henning Mankell’s Wallander books, both in terms of place and the characters… I like the feel of the book, the sense of remoteness not just of the place but the people and the way Ould’s put it all together.” - Lit Reactor

“A marvellous setting” - Kittling Books

“A tense crime thriller woven around a captivating family mystery. Super characters and authentic dialogue. Detective Reyna will run and run.” Paul Finch, No. 1 bestselling author of STALKERS

“Bleak and beautiful, with a poignant mystery at its heart.” Fergus MacNeil, author of EYE CONTACT

“Not only great atmosphere, but is set in an interesting location with characters who have depth and tremendous presence.” - Manhattan Book Review 

“Ould did an excellent job in describing the remoteness of the Faroe Islands and the distinct customs and idioms.” - Project Fandom

 “Compelling” - October Country 

“For those who like their mysteries bleakly atmospheric, as aware of cultural intricacies as they are the working of the police system, The Blood Stand is a winning opener in what promises to be an engaging trilogy of crime novels.” - BlogCritics