Blood and Secrets

Cassie Hobbes, a teenage profiler in the FBI's Naturals program, sits across from Daniel Redding, a notorious serial killer and the father of her boyfriend, Dean. She's desperate for information about her mother, long believed dead but now known to be alive and held by a secret society of serial killers called the Masters. Redding toys with Cassie, confirming the existence of the Masters and hinting at their rituals—nine victims every three years, each kill steeped in symbolism and pain. Cassie's resolve hardens: she will do anything to bring her mother home, even if it means making deals with devils and letting darkness seep into her own soul. The emotional cost of this quest is already mounting, and Cassie senses the wheel of fate turning, drawing her deeper into a world of blood and secrets.

The Devil's Bargain

Cassie's interrogation of Redding is a psychological chess match, each move calculated to extract the truth. She sacrifices her own comfort and Dean's privacy, feeding Redding intimate details about her relationship to get him talking. Redding reveals the Masters' recruitment of killers who crave belonging, their rituals, and the central role of a woman—the Pythia—who judges worthiness. He hints that Cassie's mother, after years of captivity, may have become as monstrous as her captors. Cassie leaves the prison shaken, haunted by the knowledge that to save her mother, she must understand the minds of monsters—and risk becoming one herself. The line between hunter and hunted, victim and survivor, blurs as Cassie steps further into the darkness.

Patterns in the Ashes

The Naturals are called to investigate the disappearance of Celine Delacroix, a girl from Michael's past, on a date matching the Masters' killing pattern. The crime scene is soaked in kerosene, and the evidence suggests a ritualistic abduction. The team's personal stakes are high: Michael's abusive father is involved, and Sloane, still grieving her brother's murder, is desperate to prevent another loss. As they profile the scene, Cassie and Dean realize the abductor is inexperienced—a first-time killer, not a seasoned Master. The case's emotional toll exposes the team's vulnerabilities, and Cassie's need for control clashes with the chaos of the unknown. The countdown to the next Fibonacci date—and the next potential victim—begins.

The Birthday Countdown

Michael's eighteenth birthday approaches, symbolizing freedom from his father's control. The team's dynamic is strained: Michael and Lia's secret relationship is revealed, Sloane's trauma resurfaces, and Cassie's guilt over her mother's fate intensifies. The investigation into Celine's disappearance becomes a crucible for the Naturals, forcing them to confront their own histories of abuse, abandonment, and survival. The Masters' pattern—nine kills, each on a mathematically significant date—hangs over them like a curse. As the next date nears, the team races against time, knowing that failure means another life lost and another scar added to their collective psyche.

Missing and Marked

The team's profiling leads them to suspect that Celine staged her own abduction, using her artistic skills to create a convincing crime scene. Michael's connection to Celine is deeper than he admits, and Lia's jealousy exposes the tangled web of relationships within the group. The investigation reveals that Celine is Michael's half-sister, the product of his father's affair. The Masters' influence is everywhere—ritual, secrecy, and the manipulation of pain. Cassie's obsession with finding her mother blinds her to the needs of those around her, and the cost of her single-minded pursuit becomes painfully clear. The wheel of fate turns, marking each of them in ways they cannot yet see.

The Art of Deception

As the team unravels the layers of Celine's deception, they confront their own capacity for self-delusion. Lia's history in a cult mirrors the psychological games played by the Masters, and Sloane's reliance on numbers is both a shield and a prison. Cassie's guilt over her willingness to use others for her quest is sharpened by Dean's unwavering support. The Masters' rituals are revealed to be as much about psychological domination as physical violence. The Naturals' greatest strength—their ability to see into the minds of others—becomes a double-edged sword, threatening to consume them from within.

Family Ties Unravel

The investigation in Gaither, Oklahoma, uncovers a web of generational trauma. Cassie's mother once lived in the town, and the Masters' influence stretches back decades. The team discovers that Nightshade, a captured Master, was groomed for violence by his own grandfather, Malcolm Lowell, who is revealed to be Nine—the bridge between generations of killers. The cult next door, Serenity Ranch, is run by Holland Darby, whose own family secrets mirror those of the Masters. Kane Darby, Cassie's mother's former lover, is implicated in a decades-old murder, and the truth about his twin brother's crimes comes to light. The past refuses to stay buried, and the Naturals must confront the reality that evil is often born, not made.

The Cult Next Door

Lia infiltrates Serenity Ranch, reliving her own childhood trauma in the process. The cult's leader, Holland Darby, is a master manipulator, and his son Kane is haunted by guilt over his twin's crimes. The discovery of hidden rooms and long-dead bodies beneath the chapel reveals the extent of the cult's depravity. Lia's self-destructive tendencies come to the fore, and Sloane's unwavering logic is both a comfort and a curse. The team's unity is tested as they navigate the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator, faith and fanaticism. The Masters' reach is everywhere, and the cost of survival is higher than any of them imagined.

Poisoned Roots

The investigation into the Kyle murders reveals that Malcolm Lowell, Nightshade's grandfather, is the true architect of the Masters' current generation. He grooms his grandson for violence, orchestrates murders, and manipulates those around him with chilling precision. The discovery of a hidden basement, marked with the Masters' symbol, cements the connection between past and present. Cassie realizes that the search for the poison Master was a red herring—the real power lies with Nine, the eternal bridge. The team's understanding of the Masters' structure deepens, but so does their sense of helplessness. The roots of evil run deep, and the poison seeps into every corner of their lives.

The Game of Nine

As the team races to identify the remaining Masters, Cassie's cousin is murdered, sending a clear message: the Masters will do anything to protect their secrets. Cassie is lured into a trap by Ree, a trusted figure from her past who is revealed to be a Master and Nightshade's mentor. Poisoned and near death, Cassie is saved only by the intervention of the FBI—an intervention orchestrated by Director Sterling, who is himself a Master. The game of Nine is revealed to be a cycle of violence, manipulation, and sacrifice, with Cassie and her family at its center. The cost of knowledge is pain, and the price of survival is blood.

The Pythia's Chains

Imprisoned in the Masters' underground arena, Cassie is forced to fight her own mother, now the Pythia—a role that has shattered her psyche and split her identity. The Masters' rituals demand blood, and the only way to save Laurel, Cassie's half-sister, is for Cassie to kill her mother. The moment is both brutal and tender, a final act of love and mercy. The wheel turns, and Cassie is left holding the knife, her hands stained with the blood of the woman who made her who she is. The chains of the past are broken, but the scars remain.

The Monster Within

The aftermath of the final confrontation leaves Cassie and the Naturals forever changed. Dean, Lia, Michael, and Sloane rally around Cassie, offering love and support in the face of unimaginable loss. The FBI, now led by Briggs, works to dismantle the remaining Masters and protect the next generation. Laurel, traumatized but alive, becomes a symbol of hope and resilience. Cassie grapples with the knowledge that she is both victim and survivor, hunter and hunted. The monster within is not vanquished, but understood—a part of her, but not the whole.

The Wheel Turns

Cassie buries her mother and chooses to stay with her family, both blood and found. The Naturals program is reborn, with new members and a renewed sense of purpose. The scars of the past are acknowledged, but they do not define the future. The wheel of fate continues to turn, but Cassie and her friends are no longer powerless. They are survivors, warriors, and healers, united by the knowledge that home is not a place, but the people who love you—forever and ever, no matter what.

The Price of Survival

In the aftermath, Cassie and the Naturals confront the emotional toll of their journey. Each carries scars—visible and invisible—but together, they find strength in vulnerability and hope in connection. The lessons of the past are not forgotten, but transformed into wisdom. The price of survival is high, but it is paid willingly, for the sake of those they love and the future they choose to build. The story ends not with triumph, but with the quiet resilience of those who refuse to be defined by their pain.

The Final Judgment

The Masters are brought to justice, their secrets exposed and their power broken. Cassie's act of mercy—killing her mother to save her sister—becomes a final judgment on the cycle of violence that has haunted her family for generations. The Naturals, once defined by their trauma, become agents of change, using their gifts to protect the vulnerable and bring light to the darkness. The story closes with a sense of closure and possibility, the promise of healing, and the knowledge that the wheel, though it turns, can be steered by those brave enough to seize it.

Home Isn't a Place

Cassie, Dean, Lia, Michael, Sloane, and Laurel find a new home together, bound not by blood or fate, but by choice and love. The Naturals program continues, offering sanctuary and purpose to those who need it most. The past is honored, the future embraced, and the present lived fully. Home, Cassie realizes, is not a place—it is the people who love you, forever and ever, no matter what. The story ends with hope, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds of chosen family.

Characters

Cassie Hobbes

Cassie is the heart of the Naturals, a teenage prodigy whose gift for profiling is both a blessing and a curse. Driven by the trauma of her mother's disappearance and the need for answers, Cassie is relentless, willing to sacrifice her own well-being—and sometimes her morality—for the sake of those she loves. Her relationships with Dean, Michael, Lia, and Sloane are complex, marked by loyalty, guilt, and the shared scars of survival. Cassie's journey is one of self-discovery, as she confronts the darkness within herself and learns that strength lies not in control, but in vulnerability and connection. Her final act—killing her mother to save her sister—cements her as both victim and survivor, a symbol of hope and resilience.

Dean Redding

Dean is the son of a serial killer, forever haunted by the fear that he might become like his father. His relationship with Cassie is intense and grounding, offering both of them a lifeline in a world defined by violence and loss. Dean's struggle with his own darkness is a central theme, and his ability to empathize with killers is both his greatest asset and his deepest wound. He is fiercely loyal to the Naturals, especially Lia, and his journey is one of learning to accept love and forgiveness. Dean's presence is a constant reminder that the past does not define the future, and that healing is possible, even for those who have seen the worst of humanity.

Michael Townsend

Michael's ability to read emotions is both a shield and a weapon, honed by years of abuse at the hands of his father. His humor and bravado mask deep pain, and his relationships with Lia and Celine reveal his longing for connection and acceptance. Michael's journey is one of self-acceptance, as he learns to trust others and himself. His willingness to sacrifice for the team, and his fierce protectiveness of those he loves, make him a vital part of the Naturals' found family. Michael's story is a testament to the power of empathy, resilience, and the courage to break the cycle of abuse.

Lia Zhang

Lia's gift for detecting lies is matched only by her ability to tell them. Raised in a cult, Lia's childhood was marked by manipulation, isolation, and the need to perform for survival. Her relationship with Michael is a dance of vulnerability and deflection, and her bond with Dean is that of chosen siblings. Lia's journey is one of reclaiming agency, learning to trust, and finding value in her true self. Her willingness to confront her past, and her fierce loyalty to the team, make her both a formidable ally and a deeply human character. Lia embodies the struggle to reconcile the masks we wear with the truths we hide.

Sloane Tavish

Sloane's genius with numbers is both her superpower and her coping mechanism, a way to impose order on a chaotic world. Traumatized by her brother's murder and her father's neglect, Sloane is the most vulnerable of the Naturals, but also the most resilient. Her innocence and honesty are a balm to the team's cynicism, and her friendship with Celine offers hope for healing. Sloane's journey is one of learning to trust, to feel, and to accept that being different is not a weakness, but a strength. She is the team's conscience, reminding them—and the reader—that logic and compassion are not mutually exclusive.

Lorelai Hobbes / The Pythia / Cassandra

Lorelai is the emotional core of Cassie's quest, a woman forged in trauma and transformed by captivity. As the Pythia, she is both judge and prisoner, forced to sanction the Masters' killings or suffer endless torture. The psychological toll splits her identity, creating Cassandra—a persona born to survive at any cost. Lorelai's final act, urging Cassie to kill her to save Laurel, is both a mercy and a tragedy. She embodies the cycle of abuse, the cost of survival, and the enduring power of love. Her story is a warning and a promise: that even in the darkest places, the capacity for sacrifice and hope endures.

Malcolm Lowell / Nine

Malcolm is the true mastermind behind the Masters' current generation, grooming his grandson Nightshade for violence and orchestrating murders with chilling detachment. As Nine, he is the bridge between generations, the keeper of rituals, and the enforcer of tradition. His influence is pervasive, shaping the destinies of Cassie, Nightshade, and countless others. Malcolm's character is a study in the banality of evil, the power of legacy, and the dangers of unchecked authority. He is both a symbol and a warning: that the roots of violence run deep, and that the cycle can only be broken by those brave enough to confront it.

Director Sterling

The director of the FBI is a study in duality—public servant and secret Master, father and manipulator. His ambition and ruthlessness are matched only by his capacity for deception, and his role in the Masters' hierarchy is both a source of power and a fatal flaw. His relationship with his daughter, Agent Sterling, is fraught with betrayal and longing, and his ultimate downfall is a testament to the corrosive nature of secrets. Director Sterling embodies the dangers of institutional corruption, the cost of ambition, and the inevitability of justice.

Celine Delacroix

Celine is Michael's half-sister, a gifted artist whose ability to reconstruct faces from bones proves crucial to the investigation. Her own history of abandonment and self-reliance mirrors that of the Naturals, and her relationship with Sloane offers hope for healing. Celine's journey is one of self-discovery, as she learns to trust, to belong, and to use her gifts for good. She is both a mirror and a foil to the team, reminding them—and the reader—that family is not defined by blood, but by choice.

Laurel Hobbes

Laurel is Cassie's half-sister, born in captivity and raised to be Nine—the next bridge between generations. Her innocence is both a shield and a vulnerability, and her survival is a testament to the power of love and sacrifice. Laurel's story is a warning about the dangers of legacy, but also a promise that the cycle can be broken. She is the hope of a new beginning, the possibility of healing, and the embodiment of the future the Naturals fight to protect.

Plot Devices

Ritualistic Structure and Generational Trauma

The story's central plot device is the Masters' ritualistic cycle: every three years, nine victims are killed according to a mathematical pattern, each murder a test of worthiness and a demonstration of power. This structure creates a relentless sense of urgency and inevitability, as the characters race against time to prevent the next kill. The generational aspect—Masters choosing apprentices, the Pythia passing judgment, Nine bridging the gap—underscores the theme of inherited trauma and the difficulty of breaking cycles of abuse. The narrative is layered with foreshadowing, flashbacks, and psychological games, blurring the line between victim and perpetrator, past and present. The use of multiple perspectives, unreliable narrators, and shifting identities deepens the sense of uncertainty and suspense, keeping the reader—and the characters—off balance until the final, devastating confrontation.

Analysis

Bad Blood is a masterclass in psychological suspense, using the framework of a serial killer thriller to explore the deepest wounds of family, identity, and survival. Jennifer Lynn Barnes crafts a narrative that is as much about the scars we inherit as the ones we inflict, weaving together themes of trauma, resilience, and the search for belonging. The Masters' rituals serve as a metaphor for the cycles of abuse and violence that haunt generations, and the Naturals' journey is one of breaking those cycles through love, sacrifice, and the courage to face the darkness within. The novel's emotional core is Cassie's relationship with her mother—a bond tested by unimaginable pain and ultimately redeemed by an act of mercy. The story refuses easy answers, acknowledging the cost of survival and the complexity of healing. In the end, Bad Blood is a testament to the power of chosen family, the necessity of vulnerability, and the hope that even in the darkest places, the wheel can be turned toward light.

Last updated: September 24, 2025