Oxford Blood: Gripping YA crime thriller – a twisty Oxford University dark academia murder mystery about ambition, privilege and deadly secrets perfect for armchair detectives

*A BOOKSELLER BOOK OF THE MONTH*

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)

The next gripping, must-read, YA crime mystery for readers of Holly Jackson and Karen McManus, and fans of The Secret History and Ace of Spades. Eva has set her sights on studying English at Oxford University. Atmospheric old libraries; secret societies; eccentric professors – it’s the stuff of her dreams. When she and her best friend (who she’s also secretly in love with), George, are invited to Interview Week, it seems like those dreams are coming true. But only a day in, George is found dead on the steps of a university statue. And it is Eva who finds him. All eyes are now on her as she races to clear her name, uncover the truth – and take back her future. Oxford Blood is already captivating readers on Netgalley:“Haunting, timely, and razor-edged – a dark academia gem wrapped in velvet and laced with menace. A stellar debut, and the start of a series I’ll be following closely.”“Gripping, clever, and painfully relatable. A YA murder mystery for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider in a world that wasn’t built for them.”“A captivating YA thriller set in Oxford that delves into racism, corruption, and dark academia. It is perfect for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.”And the book trade:“A smart, captivating murder mystery, packed full of twists and turns, with a courageous and fiercely intelligent heroine." The Bookseller (Young Adult Book of the Month)

• | Author: Rachael Davis-Featherstone
• | Publisher: Walker Books Ltd
• | Publication Date: Aug 28, 2025
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language:
• | Binding: Paperback / softback
• | ISBN-13: 9781529519846
• | ISBN-10: 1529519845