mtnest's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Violence, Infidelity, Bullying, Blood, Kidnapping, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, and Mental illness
Minor: Death of parent
syellico's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a riff on an Agatha Christie type mystery - a family on a secluded island with a murderer in their midst. While I did enjoy the story and there were plenty of characters to suspect of being the murderer, it didn’t quite live up to some of the rave reviews I’ve seen. There were so many similes that were cheesy, and the detectives backstory was revealed a bit too slowly for my taste. In addition, the narrator was a miss for me. I may have liked this in print better than audio. I’m not sure if I’ll continue the series but it’s a possibility.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Mental illness, and Murder
bibliomania_express's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Gun violence and Mental illness
Minor: Racism
j_squaredd's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, and Drug use
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
thrillofthepage's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert is a great locked room mystery set on isolated Tern Island in the middle of a raging storm. We are introduced to Shana Merchant as she investigates a classic whodunnit with a lot of family drama thrown into the mix!
I loved the secluded island setting because it magnified the idea of being stranded with an unknown killer and cast everyone in a suspicious light. Like Shana, I suspected every member of the Sinclair family and didn’t trust anyone’s account of the events of the prior evening. I really enjoyed how Wegert crafted motives for everyone, but none of the red herrings unlikely or exaggerated. The family drama and secrets brought to light provided an additional layer to the plot.
Shana Merchant is a great character! She recently “recovered” from a traumatic experience during her time working in law enforcement in New York City. She is attempting to start fresh in a small town with a new police force in hopes that the dark crimes of NYC are behind her. Throughout the story we are granted glimpses into Shana’s past and how it impacts her actions, thoughts, and investigative skills in the present. As a result of her past trauma, Shana is somewhat of a loose cannon, but it made the story all the more interesting.
I highly recommend Death in the Family for fans of Agatha Christie and Ruth Ware. This is the first book in the series and I’m excited to see what’s next for Shana Merchant!
I loved the secluded island setting because it magnified the idea of being stranded with an unknown killer and cast everyone in a suspicious light. Like Shana, I suspected every member of the Sinclair family and didn’t trust anyone’s account of the events of the prior evening. I really enjoyed how Wegert crafted motives for everyone, but none of the red herrings unlikely or exaggerated. The family drama and secrets brought to light provided an additional layer to the plot.
Shana Merchant is a great character! She recently “recovered” from a traumatic experience during her time working in law enforcement in New York City. She is attempting to start fresh in a small town with a new police force in hopes that the dark crimes of NYC are behind her. Throughout the story we are granted glimpses into Shana’s past and how it impacts her actions, thoughts, and investigative skills in the present. As a result of her past trauma, Shana is somewhat of a loose cannon, but it made the story all the more interesting.
I highly recommend Death in the Family for fans of Agatha Christie and Ruth Ware. This is the first book in the series and I’m excited to see what’s next for Shana Merchant!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
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