Blood makes you related. Loyalty makes you family.In the underbelly of Soho’s organised crime ring, everyone knows that retired boxer Harry Woods is not one to mess with. And that goes double for his family.Harry has it all: the big house, the flashy cars, and an abundance of wealth. As much as money talks in his world, Harry knows deep down the only thing that really counts is family. Haunted by … counts is family. Haunted by the sudden death of his wife, he’ll do anything to protect his children, but truth is a heavy burden and hidden secrets can unravel even the strongest of bonds…
Without loyalty, family are bound together only by blood. Bad blood.
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I would like to start out saying that besides the fact that this was a reread so that I could give a fresh review I haven’t really read much in the hard-boiled criminal/mafia genre. At least not from the perspective of the crime family. Nor have I watched many of those styles of movies, I mean I’ve never even seen The Godfather movies. This is also the only thing I’ve read by Casey Kelleher, though I do look forward to reading more of her work. If you have issues with extreme violence I would avoid this book. Though if you can over look it as the fiction it is then go ahead and pick it up, I’m sure you will enjoy it. It’s no worse than an episode of Criminal Minds or shows like it. I should also note that it is written in the British vernacular with lots of British slang. It’s not something I mind but some do.
Bad Blood is about Harry Woods’ family, his long time friend and business partner Raymond Marks and their criminal activity. Harry is a retired boxing heavy weight champion. The prologue is of Harry’s fight where he won his heavy weight title. His wife is in the crowd and they had just found out that she was pregnant with their first child. As the story begins it has been seven years since Harry’s wife died. When she died their youngest and fourth child was just nine years old. He never remarried he only wants to care and provide for his family. Family and loyalty are everything to Harry and no one better mess with either.
Raymond Marks is Harry’s best mate and long time business partner. He runs a few brothels and a couple of casinos in the Soho area. He will always have Harry’s back even if he might not completely agree with what he’s deciding.
Harry’s eldest child is Kelly Stranks she has been estranged from the family since shortly after her mother’s death. She had meet and fell in love with Terry Stranks, a deadbeat that is close to the same age as her father Harry. Since Harry believed she would never be happy and that she was making a mistake he tried to forbid the marriage this only caused Kelly to run towards Terry more. They have two children together and are in debt to loan sharks, Jimmy and Micky O’Shea, minor characters that are second rate criminals compared to her father’s organization.
The second child is Nathan Woods, of the children he seems to be the most level headed. His dream is to break free from his father’s criminal business. He plans to go into real estate and make a clean living. He has a girlfriend named Cassie Wright she is a nurse at a hospital working with sick kids many of which are dying from cancer and other diseases.
The third child is Christopher Woods, he seems to be the most volatile of the children. He took after his father and became a boxer. Though due to an explosive temper he ruined his career before it even started. Now he only fights in underground matches that his father sets up. He also has a drug problem that is only getting worse.
Fourth is Evie Woods, again she was only nine years old when her mother passed away. At that time Harry felt it best to put her into Walborough Girls’ Boarding School. For seven years she has been teased, bullied and tormented by the other girls at the school.
The story follows their lives the good, bad and down right ugliness of it. Follow along as this family finds that crime has a dirty side and that secrets can’t stay buried forever.