What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBlood Test
Jonathan Kellerman · Book · 1993
If you loved Blood Test, start with The Good Son (Joseph Ruben, 1993) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 2 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Blood Test across media.
If Blood Test hooked you with its blend of psychological insight and the unsettling intersection of medical ethics and deviance, these titles await.
Films on the same thread
Santa Sangre
Alejandro Jodorowsky · Film · 1989
Shares 2 threads with Blood Test: Cults, Psychological Thriller.
Like the cult dynamics in Blood Test, this film explores the toxic influence of religious fanaticism and the horrific consequences when family secrets collide with a bizarre, isolated belief system.
The Good Son
Joseph Ruben · Film · 1993
Shares 2 threads with Blood Test: Family Secrets, Psychological Thriller.
The unsettling focus on child endangerment found in Blood Test is mirrored here, as you confront the chilling reality of a child whose psychopathic behavior threatens everyone close to him.
Dead Ringers
David Cronenberg · Film · 1988
Shares a thread with Blood Test: Psychological Thriller.
Fans of the medical ethics dilemmas in Blood Test will appreciate this exploration of identity and codependency, where the professional boundaries of medicine are blurred by deeply disturbing personal obsessions.
Blood Work
Clint Eastwood · Film · 2002
Explores: Second Chance, Cardiac Health, Organ Transplant.
If the medical mystery at the heart of Blood Test kept you turning pages, this investigation will satisfy, as it pivots on a health crisis that reveals a serial killer.
Series on the same thread
Wire in the Blood
Series · 2002
Shares a thread with Blood Test: Psychological Thriller.
Much like Alex Delaware in Blood Test, Dr. Tony Hill uses his background in clinical psychology to navigate the minds of criminals, often at the expense of his own peace.
Cracker
Jimmy McGovern · Series · 1993
Explores: Flawed Genius, Criminal Psychology, Moral Ambiguity.
The psychological investigation style that defines Blood Test is captured perfectly here, as a brilliant but deeply flawed psychologist uses his insight to solve complex crimes and confront inner demons.
Podcasts on the same thread
CounterClock
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2025
Explores: unsolved homicide, seeking justice, historical mystery.
The dedication to uncovering the truth behind a hidden, historical mystery in this podcast echoes the investigative drive found in Blood Test as a journalist digs into cold cases.
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
Those drawn to the exploration of family secrets and strange societal pockets in Blood Test will find this deep dive into a man's life and his isolated town equally compelling.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Blood Test a standalone novel or part of a series?
Blood Test is a novel featuring the character Alex Delaware. While it is a specific entry within the broader Alex Delaware series written by Jonathan Kellerman, it functions as a standalone mystery involving the disappearance of a child named Woody Swope.
Who is the main protagonist in Blood Test?
The protagonist of Blood Test is Alex Delaware, a child psychologist who is described as young, burned out, and semi-retired. He works alongside his friend Milo, a police officer based in Los Angeles, to investigate the disappearance of a young patient.
What is the central conflict in Blood Test?
The central conflict in Blood Test involves a gravely ill child named Woody Swope. His parents, who belong to a sect called the Touchers, oppose his medical treatment and disappear with him, leaving behind a bloodstained motel room that triggers an investigation by Alex Delaware.
When was Blood Test originally published?
Blood Test was written by Jonathan Kellerman and originally published in 1993. The narrative focuses on the investigation into the disappearance of Woody Swope after his parents threaten to remove him from the hospital against medical advice.