Not a Happy Family
A Novel
-
-
4.0 • 2.5K Ratings
-
-
- $8.99
Publisher Description
“Lapena’s books are addictive!”
—Freida McFadden, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Housemaid
“In this fast-paced, twisted family saga, Shari Lapena keeps you guessing until the very last page...” —Paula Hawkins
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
Another thrilling domestic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door
In this family, everyone is keeping secrets—even the dead.
Brecken Hill in upstate New York is an expensive place to live. You have to be rich to have a house there, and Fred and Sheila Merton certainly are rich. But even all their money can't protect them when a killer comes to call. The Mertons are brutally murdered after a fraught Easter dinner with their three adult kids. Who, of course, are devastated.
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.
Wouldn't you?
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
In Shari Lapena’s devilish mystery, the members of the wealthy Merton family are secretly delighted when a vicious crime hits close to home. Nasty patriarch Fred has been lording his success over his three kids: high-achieving Catherine, floundering Dan, and rebellious Jenna. Meanwhile, the siblings’ spineless mom, Sheila, and watchful housekeeper Irena sit silently by while vindictive aunt Audrey meddles behind the scenes. So when a double murder tears the family apart, everyone is a suspect. Not a Happy Family moves effortlessly between murder investigation and family melodrama, with Lapena letting the wild secrets and shocking revelations rip. Peppered with lots of razor-sharp dialogue and one fantastically chaotic funeral scene, the novel kept us guessing through every page. This deliciously tart read about rich-people problems is one of the most purely enjoyable mysteries we’ve read in a minute.
Customer Reviews
Ending
I was really into this book but the ending disappointed me.
Pretty good
Not the most interesting twists and turns but I did want to find out who the murderer was and it was pretty suspenseful.
Not worth the time
Decent setups, with no pay out. The reveal of the mystery isn’t earned, there’s no twist, and felt lazy and rushed.