Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Keep It In The Family by John Marrs

22 reviews

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.

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

nscheuermann's review against another edition

challenging dark tense

4.0

Wow. Has anyone checked on Mr. Marrs? He writes some intense books. This was hard to get through at times due to the topic and how triggering it is.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Torture, Kidnapping, and Murder

ileanxulean's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Abandonment

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Torture

stayceee24's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I don’t have enough adjectives to describe this book. It was equal parts messed up and thrilling all at the same time. Marrs has a way of making you not want to look away. I wish I could but it was too good!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

the_bookish_babee's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Infertility, and Pandemic/Epidemic

k8lynn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

cbressler80's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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

4.75

This book is pretty dark.  I read a lot of thrillers and will need a palate cleanser or maybe 3 before another thriller.  Just when I thought the book was going to end more kept coming.  The ending was so disturbing.  I be sure to check trigger warnings on this book before reading it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

ellaticonstellation's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This book is pretty interesting. The characters are fully flawed. I love how John showed the intense insanity and rationalization of characters like Debbie and Finn. Debbie is delusional and I love how far she can believe that she's in the right. Come on, woman, you killed a lot of kids. Kids! I can't believe my eyes when I read about the kids. It's horrific and sadly abuse happens in real life. I feel for those parents and kids who are victims of kidnapping and abuse. 

Whoa! A lot had happened and I was at the edge of my seat, especially the last 30%. It must be so hard to grow up in chaos. It's difficult to escape and end the cycle. So, yeah, the ending made me a bit sad because the cycle continues. 

Finn's true colors and intentions gave me chills. I mean, he is a product of traumatic experiences caused by adults, but is it not possible to change and have a better life?

Don't get me wrong, John did an amazing job with the characters, but it's scary to think that people like Debbie and Finn are with us and can choose to ruin our lives if we trouble them one way or another. It's vile really. 

Oh, about Mia, I thought she was hiding something dark as well, but turns out to be post partum depression. I also experienced this and it's heartbreaking. 

Anyway, John, thank you for this book! I'll read more of your work.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Pandemic/Epidemic