Greil Marcus, writing in Rolling Stone, argued that "from the beginning of this tale through to its aftermath, the people caught up in its momentum are thrown back on themselves.

That is what makes the story Bad Blood has to tell so terrible, and so compelling"[4] Kirkus Reviews wrote that it was a "chilling, fascinating reconstruction" and "a first-class study of a set of American dreams gone wrong.

"[2] The New York Times, while slightly less enthusiastic, praised "the richness of its detail and the remarkable intimacy with which we get to know its characters.

He continued his education at the Russian Institute of Columbia University, where he received a Master of Arts degree in Slavic languages and literature in 1966.

Levine is married to educator and writer Lucille Lang Day, and they live in Oakland, California.