Oxford Blood: A gripping YA murder crime thriller

By Author / Illustrator

Rachael Davis-Featherstone

Genre

Suspense & Thrillers

Age range(s)

14+

Publisher

Walker Books YA

ISBN

9781529519846

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

28-08-2025

Synopsis

For fans of A Good Girls Guide to Murder and The Secret History, this riveting murder mystery thriller from a brilliant new voice in YA fiction explores themes of privilege, prejudice and identity.

Eva has one dream: to study English at Oxford University. Not only will she receive a world-class education - getting into Oxford is a pass to freedom. But when Eva and her best friend George are invited to Interview Week, they find themselves part of a kill-or-be-killed competition on an anonymous student forum, Oxford Slays. When Eva finds George dead on the steps of a statue in the college, she knows he's been murdered - but all eyes are now on her. Can she clear her name, catch the true killer and win her place at Beecham College? Eva has one week to prove her innocence, and Oxford Slays will be watching.

Ace of Spades meets The Secret History in this riveting murder mystery thriller, full of narrative twists and turns, complex and appealing characters and a captivating, authentic setting - set against the backdrop of an important message about the true cost of privilege. "A smart, captivating murder mystery, packed full of twists and turns, with a courageous and fiercely intelligent heroine." The Bookseller (Book of the Month)

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Reviews

Rachel

Your best friend dies in mysterious circumstances; you uncover a secret society which has prejudice, racism and misogyny at its heart; oh and your dream of being interviewed for a much sought after place at one of Oxford's leading colleges is the next day!

Such is the plot behind this gripping new YA thriller, Oxford Blood. It's fast moving, full of twists and ultimately very dark. I loved it.

Eva has longed to read English at Oxford, not least because it was a dying wish of her mother's and with her best friend George also being interviewed for a place, all her wishes come true. Sadly, George dies soon after arrival (no spoilers) and despite her police inspector father trying to persuade her to return home, Eva remains to discover what really happened to George.

There is much for YA readers to relate to here: themes of prejudice, identity and class are explored alongside the conflicting feelings of grief that Eva battles with. This is a very powerful novel but maybe best read after your university place has been secured!

352 pages / Reviewed by Rachel Bolton