Bloodroot

by Bill Loehfelm

Book Overview

"Both a suspenseful crime story and the saga of a troubled Irish- American family... Superb." (Associated Press) Kevin Curran was ready to give up on his younger brother, Danny, who is lost to heroin... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399155929
• ISBN13: 9780399155925
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Tense and moving

It's wonderful to see an author with a stunning debut novel follow it up with another superb work. "Bloodroot" is a complex tale that is part chilling thriller, part relationship study, part hero (or anti-hero) seeking himself and part morality poser. Loehfelm's deft writing style continues here, as in "Fresh Kills," for a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience. I highly recommend it.

Very interesting put!

Okie so lately I'd been reading thrillers and mysteries but this one is by far my favorite, it has all of the elements a good thriller needs to have. A good storyline, unforgettable characters, and last but not least some romance. The storyline was very interesting, throughout the entire novel, I could see why certain things were written a specific way. I also enjoyed a quote Danny said while speaking to his brother Kevin on page 66, "He murders because he's afraid of the future, of worlds and people he'll never understand and never be a part of. We call them terrorist because they cause terror but it oughta be because that's all they feel". That quote literally game me chills, because I feel the same way concerning terrorist. Moving on to characters, we have Kevin, the "scardy cat" a teacher who lost the fun of it all and lives a boring life, Danny, the ex drug user who comes back clean and sober without much explanation, and last but not least Kelsey, the strong female character who gets Kevin out of his shell. The characters were totally unforgettable. My favorite was definitely Danny. He was a tough kid who's determined to turn his life back around regardless of the consequences. Ah now it gets good, the love. Okie I'm a sucker for some good loving in a book, I was rooting for those two since day one. The romance didn't interfere with the main point of the book, which I found so refreshing. It didn't consume every page but there was enough in there that made me very happy. Bill is also the author of Fresh Kills, which I noticed was mentioned briefly in this novel. I can not wait to read the Fresh Kills! Overall I give this novel 4.5 out of 5 paws!

Excellent

Kevin has always been the responsible one, the one who feels protective of his more volatile younger brother, Danny. It is particularly devastating for Kevin when Danny becomes a heroin addict, dropping only briefly and occasionally into Kevin's life, leaving heartbreak in his wake. It has been years since Kevin last saw his brother, and he's given up hope that he will ever see Danny alive again, when Danny suddenly reappears. He's well dressed and clean, and swears that he hasn't used drugs in a long time. Kevin finds himself hoping again for the relationship he's always wanted with his brother. There is always complexity when it comes to Danny, though. He seems particularly well-off, and it soon becomes clear that his new job is a dangerous one. Kevin doesn't approve, but he also doesn't want to drive his brother away and lose him again. I loved the relationships between the characters in this book. I liked the complexities of Kevin's family, and found the ways in which they each dealt with Danny's addiction to be believable. It was easy to see how Kevin was willing to let his own life be destroyed in order to cling to the hope that his brother was finally out of the grips of heroin. Danny's own story and the way he chose to face his demons was fascinating, and the story dropped some nice hints along the way to keep the ending from being a huge shock. This was truly a riveting tale, and one I couldn't stop reading.

Couldn't Put it Down

I just adopted a puppy, so my reading time has been significantly less (read: none). However, Bloodroot really got me back in the fold and I could not stop reading it. For those of you who know how time consuming a puppy is this should mean a lot. Bloodroot examines the idea of brotherhood and what people would go through in order to save those closest to us. Bloodroot follows Kevin who has recently come back in contact with his recovering heroin addicted brother, Danny. All seems well until Kevin gets involved in some of Danny's "business ventures" which begin to unravel the past to the harrowing end. How far will Kevin go to help his brother and his family? Does he have it in him to do what is necessary, no matter how right or how wrong it seems to him? Bill Loehfelm has crafted a magnificent tale of family and brotherhood, with darkness around every corner. The plot may seem to some to move slowly at times, but in these moments are the most significant in terms of character development and personal insight. Following Kevin and Danny is a journey into the heart of family values, brotherhood, and sacrifice with stops in the darkest corners of their souls. The way Loehfelm unravels these characters is nothing short of perfect, weaving a tale that is impossible to resist. If you liked Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley then you will most certainly enjoy Bloodroot. Good reading, J.Stoner

Compelling and disturbing.

Bloodroot is a story about a family, particularly two brothers, and how what happened in the past and what will happen in the future hinges on what will happen in the present. The happiness - and safety - of the family depends on the actions of troubled Danny and the lengths his brother Kevin will go to for Danny's sake. I found this to be a well written book, hard to put down, and thoroughly disturbing. Danny is a man who has turned to drugs to escape his demons. He becomes alienated from his family, though whenever he shows up, out of the blue, at Kevin's door, Kevin does all he can for Danny. Their parents want nothing to do with him, having been hurt too much in the past. There is a lot that unfolds in the story and I don't want to give it away. Some of the story is shocking and disturbing, but essential to the horrors of the story. In my opinion, if you are a person who can get through raw and horrible details, this is a compelling book, a great story. Sensitive readers should avoid this book.