Keep It in the Family
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Synopsis
In this chilling novel from bestselling author John Marrs, a young couple’s house hides terrible secrets—and not all of them are confined to the past.
Mia and Finn are busy turning a derelict house into their dream home when Mia unexpectedly falls pregnant. But just when they think the house is ready, Mia discovers a chilling message scored into a skirting board: I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC. Following the clue up into the eaves, the couple make a gruesome discovery: their dream home was once a house of horrors.
In the wake of their traumatic discovery, the baby arrives and Mia can’t shake her fixation with the monstrous crimes that happened right above them. Haunted by the terrible things she saw and desperate to find answers, her obsession pulls her ever further from her husband.
Secrecy shrouds the mystery of the attic, but when shards of a dark truth start to emerge, Mia realises the danger is terrifyingly present. She is prepared to do anything to protect her family—but is it already too late?
Synopsis source: Goodreads
Review
Genre(s): Mystery/Thriller, Horror
HB&W Rating: 5 stars
View on Goodreads
Buy on Barnes & Noble, Amazon
Holy wow, this book. This book is so trippy. It kept me guessing from the get-go! The twists just kept coming and while I was able to guess who the murderer was, I feel like so many of the other reveals were only predictable within moments of the reveal. John Marrs is an absolute master.
I first heard about this book when I went to hear Lisa Jewell talk and she referenced the infamous Chapter 39. One of the friends that went with me to see her mentioned it was a really good book and that I should give it a try. Then I kept seeing people talking about this book online. So when I realized it was on Kindle Unlimited for both eBook and audio, I knew it was a sign.
My poor friend. I ended up texting her every single holy cow moment as I read this book, of which there were many. I threw all of my theories at her, she confirmed none and simply kept telling me to keep listening. Each new revelation elicited the strongest reactions, even when I saw them coming. Just, wow.
The subject matter isn’t easy (serial child-killer) and there are some horrifying descriptions, but nothing too depictive or gruesome. I would probably classify this as horror-lite. It straddles the line between suspense and horror and tips over the line just enough to entertain in a fiendishly grim sort of way.
Like I mentioned, I was able to read this with my Kindle Unlimited subscription, which included both the eBook and audio versions. I ended up listening to the majority of this one simply because I had to keep going in the story, laundry, driving, and other chores be damned. The audio was fantastic. They use four different narrators to tell the story, which really brought those different POVs to life.
If you enjoy dark and twisty stories that keep you guessing, give this enthralling story a listen.
Until next time,
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