A fast-paced, entertaining, page-turning domestic suspense novel! What could be better than a holiday dinner with family? It was the only book from BOTM Ive actively disliked. //]]>.
Then his father sold the company, leaving Dan with no job and no future prospects. I am so glad you stopped by. He deeply resents his father for selling the company. Thanks to a foolish investment, Dans savings are tied up and hes pushed the limit of all his credit cards trying to stay afloat.
And they don't come much richer than Fred and Sheila Merton. The story is told with serpentine twists throughout. To say that the narrative is stripped down is an understatement. She is a physician who has retained her maiden name. This is one novel where I have to say that I didnt much care for any of the characters. I think for the sake of keeping the mystery alive, this book really suffered. Even though the plot of her books are always fast paced, the dialogue is stilted and when not invested in the characters it is very hard to really enjoy the story.
This makes the third book of hers that I rated 3 stars, and I rated one 1 star so this will probably be the last Lapena book I will read for a while. LaPena is amazing. This is an addictive whodunit featuring a seriously dysfunctional family. Fred is such a nasty man, I would have wanted to do him in.
His sister? Jenna has zero desire to see her family, but she lives off a stipend her parents provide and has no choice but to go when they demand it. All pictures, and other items, etc. Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena (Author), Ellen Archer (Narrator), Ok, so I definitely predicted who the killer was, but. She is expecting a windfall. A windfall she feels she is owed, since she has kept the family secrets for all these years.
The kids dont spend much time with their folks, but holiday gatherings are a mandatory event, and Easter Sunday morning finds all three Merton offspring getting ready for dinner at their parents house.
The author does a nice job of showing how basic investigative work begins to unravel the Merton siblings alibis. }}(document,'script','twitter-wjs'); Not a Happy Family is bestselling author Shari Lapenas new suburban domestic thriller.
Id love a spoiler free (obviously) review.
I read the whole book in half a day, the ending was a little rushed but as a whole it was worth it!
Avarice is rampant.
I didn't figure it out at all either. Her children hold little respect for her because of her weakness. And she, not their mother, loves them and knows them better than anyone.
I have to say guessing what a secret will be uncovered next was so much fun. Id definitely recommend reading it. But even all their money can't protect them when a killer comes to call. The real story begins when Irena goes to the Merton residence on the Tuesday after Easter to clean the house. The reason? Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
I enjoyed the way the story was told giving perspectives of all the characters. Her husband Ted doesnt want to attend. It would make a fantastic movie. What a page turner! Change).
I agree the ending did feel a little rushed but I really enjoyed the story all the way through. One of his three children that he psychologically tortured, especially at that last dinner? She was a lawyer and an English teacher before turning her hand to fiction. I say four because Irena, too, is caught up in everything that is happening.
She lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Excellent review Lynne. Oh, what a deliciously wicked mystery.
Just like he sold the business so that Dan couldnt have it., Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Mystery & Thriller (2021). We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. I think after 5 books I finally figured out why I am middle of the road when it comes to reviewing her books: it is that her books read like a Wikipedia version of a good thriller. It was a fast read and the way the story is broken up helped it be a fast read.
That is a ridiculous number of attempts considering that the only book I liked was The Couple Next Door.
Plus, Lapena does live in Toronto. Fiction reviews, Bookblogger, Fiction book reviews, books, crime fiction, author interviews, mystery series, cover, love, bookish thoughts. By the end of the novel, we have four very viable suspects for murder.
. I did not like the ending, but obviously won't spoil anything.
While looking for who killed a rich couple their secrets and their kids secrets slowly unfolds.
All other in soft focus.
//
Who could it be?? And Irena, the childrens beloved former nanny who now works two days a week as housekeeper, will earn her dinner by helping set up and clean up the meal. They all went directly back to their own homes after dinner and stayed there all night.
I've been an avid reader since 2nd grade and discovered romance when my cousin lent me Lord of La Pampa by Kay Thorpe in 7th grade. Family begins with the murder of Fred and Sheila Merton (who are despised by their kids) which causes them all to become suspects based on their lies, suspicious actions and motive to get their hands on their several million dollar inheritance.
Refresh and try again. To all the people who picked and have read Not a Happy Family, how was it? She finds both Fred and Sheila Merton brutally murdered. A fact they all try to hide from the police when Fred and Sheila are violently murdered later that night. We meet the Merton family assembled all together to have Easter dinner. Welcome back.
It is she who finds the bodies and she whose alibi for the night in question is the weakest. 4+ stars!
Jenna Merton the youngest child is a sculptor. At this tense and uncomfortable feast, Fred Merton announces that they are selling their home and downsizing.
She loves the lavish estate with its beautiful furnishings, tasteful and expensive artwork, elegant, pricey dishware and costly antiques. I don't think Jenna makes sense as the murderer. I read The Couple Next door recently, by the same author and I wasnt crazy about it.
She would want her daughter to have her fair share, something she could never give her, as much as she wanted to.
His is an egotist who is disappointed in all three of his children. (LogOut/ This announcement cuts Catherine to the quick.
Its not because of the upkeep. Audrey becomes determined to prove that the children are responsible for the crime and begins to tell the police some damning family secrets. Everyone but Audrey (who has the flu) duly shows up, and everything goes as badly as they expect it to.
It is definitely difficul, 3.0 stars Not a Happy Family is the fifth book I have read by Shari Lapena. I also like Lapenas writing. ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDNo copyright infringement intended. What a bunch of duplicitous and narcissistic individuals!
Meanwhile, his father having no respect for his abilities, sold the company. Sometimes I can be a really slow learner. This sounds like a really solid mystery and something I would enjoy reading. I loved it!! Audrey ended up buying the house where Jenna buried the bloody suit. Who would want to kill Fred and Sheila Morton?
Also, she would hate Fred for obvious reasons.
Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The author just does a fantastic job of showing how ordinary lives can be filled with extraordinarily complex and violent undertones. The Mertons are all personalities that pepper everyday life in the U.S. and yet they are also all folks who prove to have a very dark side indeed.
I currently read approximately 150 books a year, comprised of a mix of Young Adult, romance, mystery, women's fiction, and science fiction/fantasy.
All of the Merton siblings are harboring long-standing secrets. Press J to jump to the feed. I have a review on the site of The End of Her where I mention that if you can listen to the audio, you should. First time reading a Shari book, but I really enjoyed my reading experience.
Audrey Stancik is Fred Mertons sister. The Merton adult children have lost their parents to a gruesome murder and they cannot get their stories straight. They sure were Nicki.
He prides himself on his work-life balance.
(LogOut/ To see what your friends thought of this book. Fred Merton the wealthy, malicious, manipulative and controlling patriarch of the family.
Rose Cutter is Catherine Mertons best friend and she is under stress.
This is a real who did it book. I agree with some of the other poster's saying that the ending felt rushed because that's EXACTLY how I felt about it. Dan Merton married to Lisa. Dan is the middle child. Fred has a knack for crushing peoples hopes and at the dinner he tells Catherine hes selling the house, tells Jenna hes cutting off her allowance, and advises Dan there will be no loan.
This makes the third book of hers that I rated 3 stars, and I rated one 1 star so this will probably be the last Lapena book I will read for a while.
The Merton siblings are shocked when they hear the news.
Skimmed to end.
If you continue reading, you will be exposed to spoilers about the above book. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. There is another party in this pressure cooker as well.
I finished it, but only really to say I did.
I would have preferred a different ending. I am not surprised this one was a page turner, I do enjoy Lapenas books.
So glad.
Letting In Light by Emma Davies Book Review #LettingInLight @EmDaviesAuthor @AmazonPub #BookReview, "Still Life" by Sarah Winman - Book Review, Kindlepreneur - and why Book Reviews matter @DaveChesson #BookReviews #Kindlepreneur, "Misery Bay" by Chris Angus - Book Review @simonschuster #MiseryBay @YuccaPublishing #BookReview, "The Keeper of Stories" by Sally Page - Book Review, #BookRecommendations with titles that start with the letter 'T' #GreatReads #ReadingForPleasure, "The Floating Girls" by Lo Patrick - Book Review, "The Murder Rule" by Dervla McTiernan - Book Review, "The First Day of Spring" by Nancy Tucker - Book Review, "Not A Happy Family" by Shari Lapena - Book Review. Its the Tuesday after Easter; an Easter that was a contentious family gathering. But more than that they are RELIEVED! She missed attending Easter dinner because of a nasty flu bug.
Ellen Cutter, Roses mother is worried about her daughter.
However, based on the problems I addressed above I just couldnt get fully involved with the story or characters so 3 stars it is, If youre the type to play detective, this will be the book for you! https://allaboutromance.com/the-agora-at-aar/profile/mboyd/, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
When her parents die, Catherine plans to take the house as her inheritance and let her younger siblings have all the cash.
3.0 stars Not a Happy Family is the fifth book I have read by Shari Lapena.
I really enjoyed it.
The person who least wants to attend this little get together is Dan, the middle child. The fact that we have a plethora of possible killers is another factor that really drives up the suspense in the tale. Brecken Hill in upstate New York is an expensive place to live. js.src='https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';
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There will be two other guests at the dinner. . I mean, Im glad that I got it, but it wasnt as good as some of Lapenas other work, IMO. Will be adding to my reading list.
Youngest daughter Jenna is the family wild child. (LogOut/ I think a better choice would be Lisa, Dan's wife. Matriarch Sheila has survived her marriage by drawing completely into herself.
Please post a comment and let me know what brought you to my corner of the web.
Lies and deception abound. Highly recommended!
The narrator really brings the villain to life and it adds something special to the reading experienced.
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Glad you enjoyed Lynne!
[CDATA[ Shari Lapena is the internationally bestselling author of The Couple Next Door, A Stranger in the House, An Unwanted Guest, Someone We Know and The End of Her. i noticed in another book i read by this author that the plot twists at the end arent very twisty and in both books it was pretty obvious who it was and it was like the author was trying to throw you off on who it was, with both books. All of the characters are suspects and the author does a great job of keeping the reader guessing til the end. Although the ending of, the plot twist wasnt that good, it was pretty predictable which sucks because i spent the entire book being so shocked by the twists and turns just to get to the end and be let down. I really liked it. Id skip it. I think after 5 books I finally figured out why I am middle of the road when it comes to reviewing her books: it is that her books read like a Wikipedia version of a good thriller. I couldn't finish it.
Before dessert is even put on the table, the guests all leave angry.
She also does a great job of slowly peeling away the layers of their personalities so that we get to know the real people beneath the sympathetic facades. Proceed with caution. It is definitely difficult to connect to any of the characters when all you get is the briefest snapshot of their lives. Unbeknownst to the others, someone behind the scenes has been a part of all the recent family drama. While I was reading this, I thought the exact same thing. She works as an attorney and has recently done something she deeply regrets. She prides herself on her unpredictability and likes to shock her parents with myriad partners and a somewhat bohemian lifestyle. She doesn't deserve half. if(!d.getElementById(id)) I came straight here to see what you thought of this one! He hates that he will have to ask his father for a loan or face the fact that he and his wife Lisa will be in deep financial trouble without it.
I decided to wait a bit before ordering my August box because I havent been having much luck with my picks for the last couple of months. Start by marking Not a Happy Family as Want to Read: Error rating book.
In this family, everyone is keeping secrets--especially the dead. Im sure you wont be disappointed. It was an easy read and kept me really engaged. im also confused on why the person killed the. I just finished the book and I wonder if I missed a clue. Lisa, Ted, James and Irena are forced to sit as awkward witnesses to both Freds cruelty and the fallout. She never challenges Freds abuse and is concerned only with what their equally rich neighbors think of them. I expected more resolution from a couple of the sorta subplots. [Not really. Pingback: Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena Book Review @doubledayca #NotAHappyFamily @sharilapena #NetGalley #BookReview Book Library, Pingback: Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena Book Review @doubledayca #NotAHappyFamily @sharilapena #NetGalley #BookReview Imobiliare 24. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account.
To annoy her dad, she brings along James, a young artist she recently met, and the two of them smoke pot on their drive to upstate New York from the city, giggling over the fact that they will reek of marijuana when they arrive. Also, she low key resented Audrey for her entitlement and selfishness. SPOILERS for 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard, SPOILERS for Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams, SPOILERS for For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing, SPOILERS for Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena. You have to be rich to have a house there. A mistake that she must find a way to remedy herself.
Werent they an awful family! im also confused on why the person killed the Shelia and Fred, like it was explained in the book it just wasnt good enough imo. {js=d.createElement(s); Many thrillers are lauded for their twists and turns, and this book is no exception. Catherine, the eldest, is a successful doctor married to an equally successful dentist. I am on hold at the library for the audiobook, but it is a long wait, so I may give up and read it, it sounds like one I will really enjoy. Audrey, Freds sister, joins the family for all their celebrations even though the kids and Sheila cant stand her.
SPOILERS for After Anna by Lisa Scottoline, SPOILERS for Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell, SPOILERS for The Good Liar by Catherine McKenzie, SPOILERS for The Haunting of Brynn Wilder.
What a scandalous bunch of liars!! Congratulations for being nominated as one of the best thrillers for Goodreads Choice Awards! This is not a dark psychological thriller, but it is more a family drama psychological thriller. This is a Psychological Thriller. She is conservatively elegant and dresses in a classy manner.
This is my 6th try with this author. They are riddled with mistrust and suspicion. Let us know whats wrong with this preview of, Published As she lies in bed, she is happy despite her illness.
Hated it! Thanks for commenting.
, Count me in as a fan!! Just finished this one. Fictionophile has read 83 books toward her goal of 120 books. Detective Barr is single, thirty years old and Reyess partner.
All three of the Mertons did go out that night and asked for alibies from their significant others. The book starts with the murdered bodies of Fred and Sheila Merton. Irena is also the person most likely to lie or kill for the Merton children.
Would've been interesting if she resented Sheila for having the life she never did and for not caring for her kids like Ellen cared for Rose, and guilt for not being able to give Rose all the advantages they the Merton kids had. I loved this book so much, and I really enjoyed how this book kept me guessing.
We're here to share our enthusiasm and discuss the month's picks, judges, etc. And the houseshes furious theyre selling it.
Audrey tells her that Fred is changing the will to give his sister half, which would reduce Rose's portion immensely. They stand to inherit millions or could lose everything.
Enjoy .
Thats whats exceptional about Lapenas work her ability to craft believable villains out of ordinary humans.
All the characters felt pretty flat, the plot felt pretty thin (I think I needed a subplot or something) and the resolution left me wanting. I thought Ellen Cutter would've made sense. They all will all have a big surprise when their parents wills are read.
i noticed in another book i read by this author that the plot twists at the end arent very twisty and in both books it was pretty obvious who it was and it was like the author was trying to throw you off on who it was, with both books. You literally dont know whether youre 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. It was like rubbernecking at a train wreck You just HAD to find out who murdered Fred and Sheila Merton!
Though quite talented, she still depends on her father to subsidize her financially. Will definitely be picking this one up.
The writing was pretty stilted and wooden and lifeless, the characters werent interesting, and it was predictable.
Poison her iced tea, which she would be able to do, since as her best friend, she would have access to her apartment. Ellen is a good friend of Audrey Stancik. Another driving factor in the tale is Audrey.
You have to be rich to have a house there. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Being pleased that someone is dead isnt something you admit to.
He earned his MBA with the goal of one day taking over the family business from his father. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. by Pamela Dorman Books. I can't tell if this is a me problem and I'm burned out, or if it's a book problem, so no rating.
The Mertons are brutally murdered the night after an Easter Dinner w. In this family, everyone is keeping secrets--especially the dead. See all 12 questions about Not a Happy Family, 2021: What Women Born In The 1970s Read In 2021, 2022: What Women Born In The 1970s Have Read So Far This Year, 72 of the Most Popular Mysteries and Thrillers of the Past Three Years.
The Book of the Month Club is a United States subscription-based book club that offers a selection of new books each month to members. There are a lot of different perspectives in this book (like ten) and a couple of them should have just been cut out.
it just feels really repetitive.
This is my third novel by Shari Lapena and I really enjoy her writing style.
So the question is, who murdered them? My favorites are An Unwanted Guest, The End of Her and this one.
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He made his fortune at his Robotics company. But even all their money can't protect them when a killer comes to call. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Mix (Opens in new window). As the title suggests, the wealthy Merton Clan is not a happy family.
This book was definitely one of the best reads of the year!
And they don't come much richer than Fred and Sheila Merton. Log in. They know of no one who would be angry enough with their parents to do this. This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Doubleday Canada via NetGalley. But could one of them have commit such a brutal crime? To say that the narrative is stripped down is an understatement.
What's the harm in taking time and adding an additional 100 pages?
Is this a mystery that I could have figured out? Follow Shari Lapena on Twitter @sharilapena, Pingback: #BookRecommendations with titles that start with the letter N #GreatReads | Fictionophile, Pingback: Fictionophiles Top Reads of 2021 #BookRecommendations #GreatReads | Fictionophile. A group for reviewers and book bloggers who review titles from Edelweiss.
I have read some the authors other books and enjoyed them more.
The only thing she looks forward to that day is being in the family home. Was it worth it? Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. But all fairytales are tinged with darkness., father doesnt know that, but he might have guessed. Hes so cruel, she thinks, and so adept at finding vulnerabilities. belong to their rightful owners. His father hates him the most and has made no secret of that. And finally, the police detectives investigating the double homicide: Detective Reyes is married with children.
But Not A Happy Family was a winner in my book! The narrative fairly races along as the Merton siblings fall into dissension. Lisa, Ted and James find themselves asking the same question. The question is, just how far would she go for them? , Brecken Hill in upstate New York is an expensive place to live. July 27th 2021 The only real clue was that the author focused on everyone but the killer for most of the book.
No come on, own up, who killed Fred Merton. Her books are all quick reads and are rivetting!
The Mertons are brutally murdered the night after an Easter Dinner with their three adult kids.
And his wife was the total wuss, letting him get away with all his nastiness. She weaves fantastically complicated, intricate personas out of our typical suburban characters.
Hes selling it so that she cant have it. She, not their mother, raised them. Wed love your help. , Pingback: Fictionophiles SEPTEMBER 2021 Reading Wrap-Up #MonthlyWrapUp | Fictionophile, Pingback: Links Ive Enjoyed This Week 19/09/2021 #WeeklyRoundUpPost #SecretLibraryBookBlog Secret Library Book Blog, Glad you were tempted Katherine.
The family presents a united front to the detectives investigating the crime. Irena Dabrowski formerly the family nanny is now the part-time housekeeper. He knows Fred will start an argument with someone and doesnt want to get caught in the middle of it, but Catherine pushes him into going. She aspires to one day inherit the beautiful family home when her parents pass away. As the police close in, that figure must determine what they can and will do to survive. All my books come to me, first of all, as a character in my mind and as a story that I want to tell.
I am so glad you enjoyed this! Alluding to the fact that Jenna was going to be caught. Each new piece of information yanks us in a different direction. Publication date: July 27, 2021 Publisher: Penguin Random House Canada, ISBN:9780385695046 ASIN: B08V4TQ98H 368 pages. It felt so short! I am starting it today! That didnt stop be rapidly turning pages though.
Lapena is a master of that sub-genre, and this is a not-to-b- missed read for fans of those books.
So many shady and unpredictable characters to choose from.
Sheila Merton the matriarch of the family has little backbone when standing up to her domineering husband. Open book in the hands of a mature man. fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs); 2007-2022 Lynne LeGrow
I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good mystery. I've only just started reading, but does anyone else feel that this might have been inspired by the murders of Barry and Honey Sherman? Fred had told her prior to that fateful dinner that he will be leaving half his money to her and the other half is to be divided up amongst his progeny, and when she learns that is not actually the case, shes furious. She's interfering in the investigation? An artist who specializes in sculptures of female genitalia, she spends most of her time partying in New York City. Dan worked for his father for years, putting up with being insulted and berated on a regular basis by holding on to the dream that he would eventually inherit the family business.
!function(d,s,id) Selective focus on the edge of book and page edges.
The dinner was pleasant, and everyone got along.
the plot twist wasnt that good, it was pretty predictable which sucks because i spent the entire book being so shocked by the twists and turns just to get to the end and be let down.
And who killed Sheila?
Early reviews are loving this and I've enjoyed the author in the past, but I was bored to tears. This sounds very similar in style to Christies family murder mysteries, which I love. I was really leaning towards Katherine! Although at first it was thought the double murder was a robbery/home invasion, the spotlight quickly turns to the Merton offspring as there are millions of dollars to be split between them. Or someone else? Who, of course, are devastated.
It could be anyone they all have motives, and below their average, seemingly normal benign veneers they all have the hard, cold core it would take to see the job done.
it just feels really repetitive.
Catherine Merton the oldest child, is married to Ted.
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