Reviews tagging 'Death'

Keep It In The Family by John Marrs

78 reviews

kristinauria's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

This was a really good story with an apt title. The pace started slow (minus a quarter star), but got really good at the halfway-ish mark where a major event happens, and continued to be good until the end. After that event, there is so much left to read that you wonder what possibly could be left?? The story being told in multiple POVs helps you get to know everyone and really understand how uniquely messed up everyone in the family is. None of the characters were likable, so at times I was struggling to be immersed in the actual plot (minus half a star). I actually feel sad for everyone involved. It all pays off, however, and although I had guessed “whodunnit” I was never 100% sure. I appreciate that there were additional layers to the story on top of just figuring out who did it. Any story that makes me go “Yooooo…. wut???” is a winner in my book. I recommend it if the trigger warnings don’t bother you.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic

estimpert's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Animal cruelty, Infertility, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Car accident, and Pregnancy

yinzer_barbie'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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, and Pregnancy

stephanieluxton's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

This book is really fast paced and it definitely keeps you interested in the mystery.

The characters are fairly generic. The plot is revealed through multiple points of view and flashbacks. I genuinely had fun reading this book - I just didn't like some of the reveals. This was one of those situations where the twists felt so forced that it pulled me out of the story a bit.

Is it worth the read? Sure! If you're in the mood for a popcorn thriller, you'll probably love this. This is my second John Marrs book and I feel like her just set the bar super high for me after The One!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Infidelity

beccah9191's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

Good book but I had figured out some of the storyline from chapter 9 so was a bit predictable but overall it was a good story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Infertility, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

libbijade13's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

I loved this book so much and am so glad I finally got the chance to read it. The only thing stopping me from giving 5 stars is just because some of the chapters were a little confusing timeline wise (however I know this was a part of the book that added to it's suspense).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Infertility, Miscarriage, Car accident, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Eating disorder and Self harm

cbbyles07's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This was the most insane twisty thing I've read to date but I couldn't stop reading it. The premise is horrific, but I had to know what was going on. I swear ever three chapters my jaw was on the floor or I was saying wtf?! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Infertility, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Classism

Minor: Miscarriage

I don't know that I would read this if you're pregnant or just had a child. It will give you nightmares.

lisabarso's review against another edition

dark lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

brookes95'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Eating disorder, Infertility, Miscarriage, Self harm, and Grief

rachel_jones03's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic