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bea_reads_books's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, Blood, Dementia, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Car accident
kristenreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Infidelity
Minor: Blood and Dementia
infjkiki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Car accident and Classism
savvyrosereads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Told in a multi-media format styled after a true crime documentary, MURDER IN THE FAMILY follows six experts trying to solve the cold case murder of Luke Ryder, who was killed in the garden of his expensive estate twenty years prior.
This was the May pick for my book club, and for some reason I was really hesitant to pick it up—probably because it wasn’t a book that was on my radar before it was chosen. Fortunately, once I finally read it I was pleasantly surprised! I found this one super enjoyable and entertaining the whole way through, LOVED the format (though heads up that I feel like this one would be VERY difficult to follow on audio and I’m glad I went with the ebook), and overall got relatively invested in the story.
I did feel like parts of the plot were very predictable and I saw all of the twists coming. I also thought the ending was a bit too “easy”—and honestly I wrote an entire alternate whodunit in my head that I like more.
Still, if you want a fun quick mystery, I would recommend this one, and I’m looking forward to discussing it with book club!
CW: Death/death of parent/murder; statutory rape; mentions of hate crimes, racism, and homophobia
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Hate crime and Racism
Minor: Homophobia
beccaand's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Racism, Dementia, and Car accident
starglitters's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Still pretty enjoyable.
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Infidelity
Minor: Racism
vikart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Personally, I enjoyed this book a lot. However, I can't say it's a perfect read (for me). This is possibly due to my lack of attention, but I found myself getting lost between who is who whenever speech is delivered at a later date as it does unravel rather quickly. On the other hand, the plot involves a lot of twists and you are allowed, along with the characters within the book, to get lost in the thread before recollecting and finding a proper string to tug on.
Now, if the question is "should I pick up this book?", then I'd answer you this.
Pick it up. It's an unique experience compared to other books, but beware. This is not everyone's go to due to the writing and presentation. You may like it or you may not. That is up to personal preference.
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Alcoholism
minimicropup's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
- Metafiction true crime meets reality TV docuseries melodrama
- Whodunnit cold case puzzle, sleuthing alongside investigators
- Screenplay style writing where we are watching a TV show via novel
- Light themes around secrets, true crime, family dynamics, money can’t buy happiness, ambition, and conceit
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Suicide and Violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, and Car accident
mikaiten's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Car accident, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and War
brandilovesbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The reason I only rated it 3 stars was the unconventional format. Murder in the Family does not read like a normal story. Each "chapter" is a transcription of a broadcast of the show "Infamous- Who Killed Luke Ryder?" There are also e-mails between people involved on the show, voice-mail message transcriptions, screenshots of a reddit group discussing each episode, and text messages.
I read books for all of the stuff that goes on between the dialogue. For the point of view that allows insight into thoughts, feelings, observations, and memories. This book didn't have that. You were forced to read between the lines. Cara Hunter did a great job with this chosen format, but it wasn't my cup of tea.
Recommended for people who like true crime and people who don't mind the unconventional format.
My content warnings include - cursing, murder, and graphic detail of the body.
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail