Blood Rituals: Boston Preternatural Investigations Unit, Book 1

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 464 ratings

Price: 21.83

Last update: 12-22-2024


About this item

Boston Homicide Detective Caitlin Reagan walks a razor's edge, propping up her life on emotional constructs designed to help her manage grueling PTSD. She keeps her mother, boyfriend, and work separated and controlled, all in service to one horrible, tragic act she committed amid the Iraq war.

But when the murder of a charity worker brings her face to face with the beautiful and charismatic philanthropist, Marcella Carson. Cait is unable to deny the attraction and finds everything she thought she knew about her world, her life, and her very identity called into question as Marcella draws Cait into her dark world.

Sliding inexorably into an unsuspected Boston subculture, where creatures of myth and nightmare struggle to survive in a world of fading magic and proliferating public surveillance, Cait must face down her inner demons, rediscover her lost past, and catch an undead serial killer.

In her first novel, Aoibh Wood explores a dark urban fantasy world through the eyes of a woman struggling to come to terms with Post Traumatic Stress, personal trust issues, and the belated realization that she is a lesbian. On the way, we meet a colorful cast of characters, from a Latino cowboy cop with a love of country music to a ruthless vampire assassin and a retired serpent goddess with a passion for science.

This book is intended for adult listeners. It contains scenes of an intimate sexual nature, as well as themes and depictions of violence, sexual assault, and death.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Linbee
    5.0 out of 5 stars This nail biting story.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024
    I never read so many twists and turns in scenes in one story. It's some times tragic, sad, humorous, and thrilling story to read. The main character, Detective Caitlin Reagan, homicide unit story is shrouded in so many secrets that are kept from her by her mother, coworkers and the woman she falls in love with. I liked how the author attention to detail of the various emotions from Caitlin when she was trapped in the tunnel, or struggled in her dreams, or the banter with her fellow detectives, or Marcella Carson. I also liked all the other characters in the story. I was shocked of the secrets that Marcella Carson the vampire who falls in love with Caitlin instigated several of those secrets that eventually are revealed to Caitlin toward the end of the story that were sad and pulls them apart. I really liked all those exciting scenes throughout the story. I'm a slow reader so I spent the whole night through morning until I fell asleep and went to work. This book is so exciting I found myself ending my work to read the remaining chapters before heading home. Also, I found it some what confusing when the author would switch back and forth the vampire's name from Elizabeth to Liz and vise versa. I thought the author was referring to two separate people and It took awhile to realize it was the same person. Though this book had no happy ending unless having Caitlin back to normal per say is a happy ending which I thought it was. Yet I found it strange that Caitlin afterwards never mentioned about finding her sister. I really am excited about reading book two. I truly enjoyed reading this book and whole heartily recommend this book to everyone.
  • D
    4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant Surprise
    Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2022
    I never thought I would like a vampire book. Perhaps it’s because I am a soldier I really enjoy reading books about people who are prior service, in fact anyone who does civil service work. I enjoyed the twist on Cait‘s character not being typically American Irish, not that I know anything about the Irish culture, I found it gratifying to read. I was definitely placed in another world, love the character development, and did not expect the ending! …. which is rare for me I usually see an ending coming. Read this if you enjoy an intellectually stimulating book (like, I think I’ve expanded my vocabulary reading this) with supernatural tendencies. ;)
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars full of action and heart
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2024
    Simply put a very good read- the hear in the bed room was there as well as the plot. The angst between the lovers I felt really went no where. They were mad one moment then good next as if it wasn’t a big deal. It got a little annoying but there was so much food about the book that it became such a small issue.

    The only other thing is the lack of follow through by the author of big revealing moments- meaning the reader feels the climax, something is building, then it’s not revealed or it’s pushed off again and again. I felt by the end of the book I had more questions then answers to even some of the basic questions, and the main character was just cool with it.

    With all of that being said, I would definitely recommend this book if you love things that go bump in the night, f/f, romance, action, and simply good writing.
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2022
    This book was fantastic. The writing quality is much higher than usual for the genre, and it's got no fluff. It has the feel of a gritty cop cop drama, but with the supernatural mixed in. It's dark, full of potential triggers for anyone who's dealt with PTSD, depression, suicidal ideation, gas lighting, or sexual assault. Think Jessica Jones. If you could handle at least a season of that show, you can handle this book.
    The last twenty percent of the book was a little confusing at points, and I was left with some questions. There are a lot of open ends as well for book two, so hopefully those more confusing points will get cleared up. Mainly the world building when it comes to the supernatural needed some work, but maybe that will be book two. This one was pretty character development focused, which is not a bad thing at all.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars compelling!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2024
    Really enjoyed it. Difficult topics and also surprising plait turns I enjoyed. Great character development. Different take on the supernatural that was intriguing.
  • bunn3h
    3.0 out of 5 stars An okay read
    Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2022
    ***Spoiler Warning***

    The story was alright and I feel like there was a lot of potential left unused. Some of the story dragged on and other parts felt very rushed. The ending left me disappointed as did the handling of the portal. The runaway nudist colony line had me laughing out loud though. Definitely want my own Jabba because the big boned cat might just be my favorite character in the book.

    I almost deducted a star because a name was used that I associate with a great deal of mental and emotional trauma from my past and I nearly quit reading the book on the spot because of it. I powered through my own mental gymnastics to finish the story and now I have to wait until the next book comes out to maybe find a satisfactory conclusion. Not really sure how I feel about it given the way things left off between Cait and Marcella and now the addition of Morgan to the mix? Meh to Cait being cured too.

    I’m feeling more 2.5ish about this the more I think about it but my initial thoughts were a 3 so I’m going with that for now. I’m hoping the next book knocks my proverbial socks off to make up for my mixed feelings on this one.
  • A. Colon
    4.0 out of 5 stars Vastly different…thank God!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2023
    This was a great adventure. The scenes were realistic to where I felt I was watching a movie in my mind. Everything flowed so well.
    Only a few issues I found were homophone mistakes such as ‘taught’ when the word ‘taut’ (for tight or firm) should have been used. There was another but I can’t remember it at the moment. Also dialogue between two characters should be separate, not joined in the same paragraph. That confused me often, making me have to reread the previous lines to figure out exactly who was speaking.
    Otherwise, it was not the typical vampire tale. There are other elements thrown in that I haven’t seen in other works which made this story refreshing.
    I hope Ms. Wood continues to practice at the craft of writing as I can only see her growing as an author.

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