Reviews tagging 'Death'

Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena

28 reviews

brookey8888's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This was entertaining, but I’ll never think of it again. It had a lot of reveals throughout which I didn’t see coming and I wanted to know what happened. As for who did it,it didn’t shock me. This was fine, if you like this author or if this sounds good pick it up, but if not your not missing anything amazing in my opinion. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Gaslighting, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Violence

rochelleisreading's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Infertility and Infidelity

danajoy's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Bullying

Minor: Infidelity

sefrahudman's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

I would give this book like a 4.25 stars! I really really enjoyed it, and I felt like it was super well written, and kept me mostly guessing until the end! I thought I had figured it out and then I question to myself, and then I was right originally, but it was that doubt that made me really like this book, the only thing I did not love, was how much cursing there was.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death of parent, Murder, and Death

jaimee_readss's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This is a good mystery book. It kept me on my toes the entire time. I literally couldn’t guess who it was at the end. However it is kinda slow in the middle/end of the book so it got kind of repetitive but I still think it’s a good book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, and Death

tspice24's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, and Pregnancy

Minor: Cancer and Infidelity

axkerti's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Bullying, and Death

Moderate: Infertility and Emotional abuse

jesscoast's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

In classic Lapena form, the suspense and reveals were built on such an arc that this was impossible to put down. I was nervous that the book was a hasty post-pandemic project that rushed to print half formed. Although the writing itself did contain some typos, the story was layered and fully fleshed out. My expectations were low which might be reflected in my high rating, but for a pretty shaky premise (who killed rich mom & dad and a cast of abhorent suspects) I found the read quick and fun and totally enjoyable after the first chapter or two.

I will say that my track record of guessing twists isn’t perfect, and my theory was actually perhaps darker than the actual denouement. The characters gave plenty of red herrings to string a theory between, and it was fun to evolve my guesses as new information came to light. Overall, a satisfying classic whodunnit following the mystery formula in a new way. I’ll continue to read Lapena because of her reliable, clever, twisted plots. If an intricate investigative thriller where everyone’s a suspect and no one is trustworthy is what you’re after, I would always recommend Shari Lapena.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, and Murder

chloe_may's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness

leahvanert's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Unfortunately, I did NOT like this one. It was your standard family member murdered, someone else in the family did it but we don't know who and they all have a reason to and no alibi. It would have been good if ANY of the characters were likeable, but all of them were selfish, angry, compulsive liars, and hateful toward each other. The other books I've read of Lapena's have been good, but this really fell flat for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, and Death