Keep It in the Family

I’m in complete and utter shock. John Marrs is an incredible storyteller. The twists and turns had me gasping out loud, and I’m pretty sure I’ve just found my new favorite thriller author. This book is deeply disturbing in the best way and nearly impossible to put down. Keep It in the Family absolutely turned my world upside down! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! 5 stars!!!!

This was my second John Marrs novel and while I didn't love it as much as the first(What Lies Between Us). It was still enjoyable for what it was. I mean I binged it in one day so...enough said. The book starts out strong and pulling me in completely with its alternating timelines and POVs. Very early on the book you can tell that something is not quite right with this family and there's a sense of foreboding lurking on the pages of this book. They were some twists and turns early on in the book that kept me intrigued and unable to look away. I also really appreciated the fact that the author didn't to go into too much detail with the murders. Most of the victims were children so I'm really glad when a lot of it was left to the imagine and it wasn't in gory detail. I didn't care for any of the characters, they were all pretty unlikable but that wasn't a huge issue for me because I was engrossed in the story. The book features a lot of back and forth, you're led to believe one thing and then it takes a whole different direction-keeping me on my toes at all times. However, there is a section of this book that was a bit boring for me. I think one major event happened too early on causing the author to use a lot of fluff to fill out the pages. This is just my opinion. The ending was a little too drawn out for my liking as well, but also in another breath, I'm glad he didn't leave any stone unturned. Having said that, that epilogue chilled me to the bone. I mean talk about twisted, sick and demented. If the ominous endings is something I can look forward to with this author then I am all for his work. . . . They're many trigger warnings in this book such as; Infanticide, miscarriages, my least favorite trope of all(CHEATING), child abuse, kidnapping, murder, mentions of self harm and anorexia. An enjoyable thriller filled with betrayal, lies, a twisted family and lots and lots of killing. I will never look at another suitcase the same way again.

Very rarely have I read a thriller that truly kept me guessing until the VERY end; this, however, was one of those books. If you are in any online “booktok” spaces, you have probably seen a reference to Finn’s iconic Chapter 39 (if not, no worries, you will know it when you get there!). This single chapter is what enticed me to read this book, but boy, I was not prepared for all of the twists and turns that would be thrown at me. This novel employs three different perspectives. We get to see both Mia and Finn’s points of view, a happily married couple who are renovating their first home and navigating unexpected parenthood, along with an unnamed narrator who previously committed horrible crimes in the aforementioned home. Identifying this narrator and their connection to the family home drives the mystery. It kept me guessing throughout the entire novel; just when I thought I had connected all the dots, something would come to light and prove me wrong. The twists kept on twisting! I wish I could say more, but I truly believe that going into this novel blind made it all the better. The adrenaline from this book made it hard for me to sit still! I wasn’t just on the edge of my seat- I spent the majority of my time audibly gasping and pacing the floor (literally). *** SPOILER/TRIGGER WARNING AHEAD!!!!! *** While most thrillers are, well, thrilling, I must warn readers that the “traumatic discovery” is the murder of multiple children. This isn’t a topic that is just briefly mentioned once or twice; it is a motif throughout the book, up until the very end. I know that the death of children can be particularly triggering for some readers, especially when the main character is a pregnant wife/new mother who is struggling with the transition to motherhood. The description of the crimes was not gruesome, but the plot does heavily rely on victimized children.

I read this book because it was so extremely highly recommended in a Facebook group I’m in. Review after review calling it amazing, shocking, incredible, etc. Obviously, this is a book a lot of people loved, and you might, too. However, I found it to be enormously overrated. It was interesting enough that I kept reading because I wanted to know what happened, but there were so many things I was unsatisfied with. I don’t want to give any major spoilers because the only redeemable thing about this book is its twists, but I will say that eventually I got so fed up with everything that did not make sense that I started keeping a list. By the end of that book, the list was 5 pages long. The biggest complaint I have is that the book is riddled with plot holes, or at the very least, plot points that only make sense if you assume that every single character is a complete idiot. If a single character had even a sliver of common sense, none of the plot would work. The next biggest problem I have ties into the first - the whole book hinges on the mental illness of the narrator of the unnamed narrator, but the more it delves into why this person is the way they are, the more unrealistic it becomes. The motivations are a huge stretch and the psychopathology is a desperate attempt to make actions that make no sense make sense. I also found the characters to be flat, and their relationships to be boring and forced. Everything felt two-dimensional. Overall, it was an interesting book with a number of faults. However, my opinion seems to be an outlier, so take it with a grain of salt.

John Marrs has once again delivered a chilling and masterfully crafted thriller with Keep It in the Family. This book is a haunting exploration of secrets, lies, and the devastating ripple effects they can have on a family. The story begins with an eerie discovery in a newly purchased home, and from there, the tension only escalates. Marrs does an incredible job of weaving multiple perspectives, each contributing to the growing sense of unease. The twists and turns are brilliantly executed, keeping me guessing right until the very end. What I loved most about this book was how Marrs delved deep into the psychology of his characters. Each member of the family has their own burdens and motivations, making them feel real and relatable, even when their actions were shocking. The way the layers of the mystery are peeled back is nothing short of genius. The pacing is perfect, with a balance of suspense and emotional depth that makes it impossible to put the book down. It’s a dark and unsettling story, but it’s also incredibly compelling and thought-provoking. Keep It in the Family is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. Marrs has proven yet again that he’s a master of the genre, delivering a story that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page.

The book starts with a thrilling, dramatic prologue, keeping the readers hooked right from the beginning. Keep It In The Family is a fast paced, disturbingly twisted tale yet one that keeps you hooked through the jaw dropping finale. The characterisation is outstanding, each powerful and complex. From Finn to Mia to Dave to Debbie, each has a personality that is raw, complex, realistic and captivating. John Marrs's writing is powerful that despite of certain chapters that makes you cringe, you still feel compelled enough to read it till the end. He has manages to portray the complexities of families, the relationships, values ingrained and how we justify our actions and the deep potential for evil that exists in the most unsullied of characters. I do recommend to read 'Keep It In The Family' if you love brilliant writing, jaw twisting plotlines and love reading multi-person narration alongwith some surprise elements. My rating: 5/5

What kind of family is this???? When it gets to the point where you think you’ve got it all solved, the author surprises you even more. It it goes on and on til the last page.

I have never been more flabbergasted

Read it in two days. You won’t see the last turn coming, and it’ll leave you wondering forever. I’m for sure going to read more of Marrs, since he writes flawlessly and really makes you dive into the story.