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a] fast-paced whodunit.... NOT A HAPPY FAMILY works well as a crime novel, and there are some fun surprises. Overall, Lapena has produced another engaging and entertaining read."
The Mertons, a wealthy couple from upstate New York, are brutally murdered in their palatial home after hosting a contentious family Easter dinner. Not a Happy Family is a perfect description for Shari Lapena’s latest thriller. Whew!! “Not happy” is putting it mildly. Fred Merton– the wealthy, malicious, manipulative and controlling patriarch of the family. He made his fortune at his Robotics company. His is an egotist who is disappointed in all three of his children.
Shari Lapena
Superbly, I did not happen upon ONE mistake, and trust me, I'd have spotted it lurking if it was there. This for me always affords an author an extra * or 2 in and of itself, cos' it's so bloody rare to see it with digital books. They're usually FULL of errors and I find that pretty depressing. So very well done to all concerned-you're in a teeny-weeny little club that have managed to get it perfectly presented, trust me !! They were never a happy family, thanks to their capricious father and neglectful mother, but perhaps one of them is more disturbed than anyone knew. Did one of them snap after that dreadful evening? Or was it someone else that night who crept in with the worst of intentions? It must be. After all, if one of your siblings was a psychopath, you’d know. I rarely DNF books, and I almost never do it when I get a review copy, but I completely understand why one would chose not to finish this novel, as it was too repetitive with all the he said she said parts that it became boring. Or are they? They each stand to inherit millions. They were never a happy family, thanks to their vindictive father and neglectful mother, but perhaps one of the siblings is more disturbed than anyone knew. Did someone snap after that dreadful evening? Or did another person appear later that night with the worst of intentions? That must be what happened. After all, if one of the family were capable of something as gruesome as this, you'd know. She’s hiding some family secrets, including the fact that Fred killed his own father and staged it to look like suicide. As she’s snooping around about the murders, someone breaks into her house and tries to poison her.
I've read quite a few Shari Lapena books now, and I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with them. I think I've finally figured out that I adore her mysteries (someone is killed and there are multiple suspects), while I don't like her domestic thrillers (husband or wife could be lying, so are they or aren't they). This mystery definitely goes onto my list of favorites from her.Not a Happy Family is a dysfunctional family whodunit mystery. I'm really digging these plots right now. No, this story isn't very original and reminds me of the movie "Knives Out", but I'm still entertained from start to finish. The family in this story, the Mertons, although wealthy, are not a happy family. Their holiday dinners get very messy indeed. Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life” by Helen Fisher – Book Review @RandomTTours #BlogTour #BookReview @simonschusterUK #JoeNuthinsGuideToLife @HFisherAuthor November 20, 2023 I listened to this one as an audiobook, and from the beginning, I just couldn't stop listening. It is divided into short sections, which made me compulsively keep listening as more clues were uncovered.
Top Five Tuesday: 5 books that I’m thankful for in 2023 #Top5Tuesday #TuesdayBookBlog @MeeghanReads#TopFiveTuesday November 21, 2023 While I understood that each of the children had motive and that could've made a good red herring, having it end up still be one of them felt like a cop-out, because there were so many other characters that also motive, means and opportunity.
Lapena’s latest another chilling thrill ride…All those clichés about being unable to put down a book, for once they’re true.” Underneath” by Anne Goodwin – Book Review #NovNov23 #novella @inspiredquill #Underneath#BookReview November 22, 2023 The story is told with serpentine twists throughout. You literally don’t know whether you’re coming or going. The novel is told via multiple viewpoints, so you get to discern a little of what is going on in each of their minds. This is an addictive whodunit featuring a seriously dysfunctional family. It would make a fantastic movie. Highly recommended! This review was featured on Twinkl as part of their Literary Lovers campaign. On the plus side, this really did keep me guessing. The information kept coming, and everyone – the Merton’s three children, their other relatives, the housekeeper — were plausible suspects.
We start off knowing that Fred and Sylvia Merton are dead. Who killed them and why is the central mystery. Well, pretty much everyone who was related to them had a reason to, as Fred was a first class jerk to his three children and Sylvia stood by and let it happen. The Mertons are uber-wealthy and each of the three children (as well as Fred's sister and another surprise person) are due to inherit a great deal of money from the estate. The police aren't buying that the brutal murders were a robbery gone wrong, yet they can't seem to come up with evidence as to who committed the crimes. Each of the children have motive and possible opportunity. Secrets upon secrets are revealed as they try to piece together the solution. Audrey, Audrey, Audrey. She was such an annoying character. We're supposed to root for her, but her constant narration going on about "those kids are spoiled they don't deserve Fred's money, I deserve it cause I helped him cover a murder for 50 years!" I wanted to believe she was an unreliable narrator, and I thought it would've made sense. I thought it would've been more interesting if it turned out she was the one that killed her and Fred's father and that whole "he was gonna give me half his money" was all just a lie she made up, and the things she said about the kids were all made up or exaggerated to make herself look innocent cause she hated the kids already, why not frame them? I would hate to see an innocent person framed, but if anybody would end up the killer, I'd rather it be her. The patriarch of the Merton family, Fred, seems to take great pleasure in making his three adult children, Catherine, Dan and Jenna, miserable. It's like he is actively trying to make their lives more difficult. The short, alternating chapters, made it an incredibly fast read and I was fully engaged. After each perspective, I was sure I had it all figured out.
About Fictionophile
Rose Cutter is Catherine Merton’s best friend and she is under stress. She works as an attorney and has recently done something she deeply regrets. A mistake that she must find a way to remedy herself…
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