Oxford Blood - by Rachael Davis-Featherstone (Hardcover)

About the Book

High-achieving Eva dreams of attending Oxford, but her dream turns into a nightmare when her friend George dies during interview week and suspicion falls on Eva.

Book Synopsis

The first in a series of compelling and skillful dark academic thrillers from a brilliant new voice in YA fiction.

Love, Lies, Legacy...

Eva has one dream: to study English at Oxford University. Not only will she receive a world-class education - getting into Oxford is a path to freedom.

But when Eva and her best friend George are invited to interview week, they find themselves in the cutthroat ultra-competitive world of elite academia, and at the center of gossip on anonymous student forum Oxford Slays. When Eva finds George dead near 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.

Oxford Blood is a riveting murder mystery thriller, packed with narrative twists and turns, complex and appealing characters and a captivating, authentic setting in its searing examination of the true cost of privilege.

Review Quotes

"Satisfying and briskly paced action enlivens the novel's smooth plotting" --Publishers Weekly

"Readers who love Holly Jackson, Karen McManus, and E. Lockhart will find this book difficult to put down." --School Library Journal (starred review)

"This is a dark academia mystery as well as social commentary.. Readers will find a quality whodunit that also dares to confront the legitimacy of the social hierarchies created when not everyone was afforded human dignity." --Booklist

"Eva's character is written with introspection and nuance.. Compelling, while a wide cast of characters--each with a distinct voice--draws readers in, whether to cheer for their triumphs or anticipate their downfalls." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

About the Author

RACHAEL DAVIS-FEATHERSTONE is a mixed-raced, Black-British, multi-award-nominated author, literary agent, and cofounder of Creative Roots Studio. She grew up in a low-income, single-parent family and studied mathematics at Oxford University before receiving a master's in English literature at Surrey University. Rachael has published more than twenty books, ranging from picture books to commercial fiction, and her works have been translated into seven languages. I am NOT a Prince, illustrated by Beatrix Hatcher, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. Rachael was also longlisted for the Diverse Book Awards and shortlisted for the Inclusive Books for Children Awards. Rachael champions diversity in literature and was a judge for the inaugural Jericho Prize. She is a non-executive director for ALCS and a trustee for English PEN. In 2024, Rachael cofounded Creative Roots Studio which helps writers and illustrators build sustainable careers.