Blood Ransom by Sophie McKenzie

Contains spoilers for Blood Ties

From Amazon:  Clones Rachel and Theo now live thousands of miles apart. They keep in touch, but things just aren't the same. When Rachel discovers that evil scientist Elijah is still working in secret for a section of the government and about to murder Daniel, she sets out to rescue the little boy, but her plans backfire with disastrous consequences. Across the Atlantic, Theo becomes suspicious when Rachel misses their weekly internet chat. He discovers a report online saying she's killed herself and travels to Scotland to find her, certain that she has been kidnapped. A clue leads him to Elijah's mysterious clinic, where the sinister Aphrodite Experiment is underway. But what is Elijah really planning? Why does he need to track Rachel down so badly? And will Rachel and Theo be able to pay the ultimate ransom that he demands?

I was completely blown away by Blood Ties so I could not wait to read this one.  I literally picked it up as soon as I'd finished the first!   I was so taken with Rachel and Theo I had to know what happened next.

The story picks up nine months after the end of Blood Ties.  Not able to see each other, but communicating every week through chat rooms Theo becomes concerned when Rachel misses one of their meetings.  Convinced something is wrong he comes across an article online claiming she has committed suicide.  Not believing this to be the case, Theo teams up with Lewis to find her.

Again we get the dual narrative that I enjoyed in the first book and it works just as well here.  I think it adds to the 'action-packed' feel of the book by not letting it get stale.  It's really interesting to be able to get the story from both points of view and to see how they view each other too.

The characters had all grown in the nine months and this time I really liked Theo.  Rachel is also much more confident - although I thought she was a little too trusting in the beginning of this story but I can understand why.  I was also very glad Lewis was back - and that his feelings toward Elijah for what he did (in Blood Ties) were explored.

I wasn't sure how Sophie McKenzie would be able to come up with a story that would match the excitement levels of Blood Ties but she has managed it.  It felt like a progression of the first book - and is a great way to conclude the overall story.   There wasn't a dull moment so I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute.  I also really liked how it ended - but I am still holding out hope that we may get more! 

Now, where is my copy of Girl Missing?

Extract: Blood Ransom by Sophie McKenzie

Blood Ransom is the sequel to Blood Ties and is published on 1 October 2010. Thanks to Simon & Schuster I have an extract for you all to enjoy...

Rachel
My mouth was completely underwater now, so I was breathing through my nose, my whole body shaking with cold.
And then my legs stopped moving altogether. I flailed with my arms, panicking, tipping my head back. Mouth above water. One last yell.
And then I sank beneath the water.
The shock of the water on my face roused me for a second. Enough to register that I had to move.
Swim, my brain screamed at my limbs. Swim.
Somewhere, somehow I managed to move, clawing back the water, fighting the urge to sleep. I was running out of breath now.
Give up, said a little voice in my head. It’s the easier choice.
No. My hands banged the side of the tunnel. I reached along the mossy wall, pulling myself through the water. Which way was up? I couldn’t breathe.
And then a huge hole appeared in the wall. I could feel it with my hands. The water was even colder here.
Swim there, my brain shrieked at me.
I had no idea if I should. I’d lost all sense of where I was or who I was or what I was doing here.
All I knew was that I had to keep moving.
My lungs were going to burst. I kicked myself into the hole. Another kick. Darkness forcing itself into my closed eyes.
And another. The darkness was overwhelming.

Sound good?  Here's the synopsis:

From Amazon:  Clones Rachel and Theo now live thousands of miles apart. They keep in touch, but things just aren't the same. When Rachel discovers that evil scientist Elijah is still working in secret for a section of the government and about to murder Daniel, she sets out to rescue the little boy, but her plans backfire with disastrous consequences. Across the Atlantic, Theo becomes suspicious when Rachel misses their weekly internet chat. He discovers a report online saying she's killed herself and travels to Scotland to find her, certain that she has been kidnapped. A clue leads him to Elijah's mysterious clinic, where the sinister Aphrodite Experiment is underway. But what is Elijah really planning? Why does he need to track Rachel down so badly? And will Rachel and Theo be able to pay the ultimate ransom that he demands?

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