Best Books like Bad Blood (2026): 5 Thrillers Compared

The best books like Bad Blood keep the tension high and the pages turning late into the night. We compared the thrillers in this roundup on page count, series position, publication date and what each description promises. These are the five that fit best, with three more below.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Bad Blood by Barnes	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Blood in the Bayou by Sutter	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Bad Blood by Keillor	9.4/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Bad Blood by Decker	9.3/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Bad Blood by Rain	9.3/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Bad Blood by Barnes

Jennifer Lynn Barnes·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The actual Bad Blood: teen FBI profilers hunt a secret killer society.

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Pros

• Reading age 14+ (from customers) and grade 7 and up agree.
• 528 pages, the longest here, in a New edition dated May 2, 2023.
• Book 4 of 6, so the series has room to grow in both directions.

Cons

• Reading age marked as from customers, not the publisher.
• It is Book 4, so start earlier in the series for the full story.
• The teen-protagonist angle will not suit every thriller reader.

2

Blood in the Bayou by Sutter

C. M. Sutter·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

An FBI agent hunts a serial killer through the Louisiana bayous.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 16, the longest-running series here, dated April 10, 2021.
• 299 pages, a quick read for a thriller.
• Starting at Book 1 means no catching up.

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated.
• The description centers on a serial killer; not for squeamish readers.
• No newer edition is stated beyond the 2021 publication.

3

Bad Blood by Keillor

Alexandra Keillor·9.4/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A human dragged into a vampire clan murder in London.

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Pros

• Published June 22, 2024, the newest pick here.
• 402 pages, Book 1 of 3, so the series starts here.
• The fated-mates romance angle differs from the procedurals.

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated.
• The description notes steamy scenes and violence; check before gifting.
• Vampire romance will not suit straight crime-thriller readers.

4

Bad Blood by Decker

Dan Decker·9.3/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A fugitive takes on a drug lord with terrorist ambitions.

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Pros

• Book 2 of 4 in an ongoing thriller series.
• Published November 18, 2021.
• The fugitive-on-the-run setup differs from the FBI picks.

Cons

• No page count is stated in the listing.
• It is Book 2, so Book 1 comes first.
• No reading age or grade level is stated.

5

Bad Blood by Rain

J.R. Rain·9.3/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A vampire hero for hire takes on a cult leader.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 3, so the trilogy starts here.
• Published September 27, 2011.
• Supernatural noir is the most different flavor here.

Cons

• No page count is stated in the listing.
• The 2011 publication is the oldest here; no newer edition stated.
• No reading age or grade level is stated.

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More picks to compare

• Bad Blood by LillymanEpic London gangster saga spanning thirty years.Check on Amazon
• Bad Blood by TannerMedical thriller with a 16 to 18 reading age.Check on Amazon
• Bad Blood by StanecekDark drama about a dysfunctional family, Book 1 of 4.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 22 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level. Only one pick lists a reading age. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best books like Bad Blood

Check the series position first

Two picks drop you mid-series: The Naturals Bad Blood is Book 4 of 6 and the Jason Maxfield one is Book 2 of 4. The three Book 1 picks need no catching up.

Pick your flavor of Bad Blood

These split into FBI procedurals and vampire stories. Also see our best thriller books like Verity and best thriller books like Freida McFadden lists.

Before you buy

• Confirm the series position; two picks are mid-series.
• Note the subgenre: vampire romance and FBI procedural are different reads.
• Check the page count where stated; two listings state none.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these all the same Bad Blood?

No. Four different authors use the title, so check the author name before buying.

Which Bad Blood should I start with?

For the FBI thriller, start with The Naturals Book 1, since this Bad Blood is Book 4. The three Book 1 picks need no prior reading.

Which one is the newest?

Bad Blood by Alexandra Keillor, published June 22, 2024.

Still deciding? Our top pickBad Blood by Barnes

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