Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Keep It In The Family by John Marrs

131 reviews

mel_is_sa_ledgend's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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

4.5

Very dark, good twists even though I managed to guess one. The story line is so dark that even if you predict what’s going to happen it’s still shocking. Slow in the beginning and then gripping throughout. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Infertility and Infidelity

mjs_busyreading's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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

4.0

Bodies tucked into suitcases are found in the attic of a couples new home. How did they get there and who is in them is only the tip of the iceberg. This just got more unhinged with every page! Characters that you love to hate because not one of these characters had an enjoyable personality 😂 but it worked! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Kidnapping, and Murder

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.

---

Content Warnings

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

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

nburkk's review against another edition

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Murder

sjexley'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I'm rounding up to 5 stars bc I can't remember the last time a book made me gasp out loud bc of a twist.  I had to put the book down and gather my thoughts!  If you want twists and turns, John Marrs is your guy.  This book follows a couple that buys a house sight unseen (sure?) and uncovers a million family secrets in the process.  There is a lot of disturbing stuff in here (e.g. murder), but I could not look away.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Infertility, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

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

---

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

mrsa118'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? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was a crazy ride! Literally twists and turns up until the very end. Truthfully, there were many times that this book and the drama and revelations were never going to end. 

I will absolutely recommend this to anyone who wants a good mystery/thriller that they can't put down. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Kidnapping, and Murder

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

---

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

literarypenguin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

3.0

This was my first John Marrs book and if I am being honest it was kind of a letdown. It wasn't a bad book by any means, it just wasn't amazing. Didn't really capture my attention like other thrillers I have read. 

The characters was the strongest part of the book, they were all flawed and their morals laid in a middle type of grey area. Nobody was perfect and I liked that. It made them more believable and you could relate to the struggles they were going through. I was a bit disappointed in the end with one of the characters Finn. That he made a choice that I was expecting him to go against or turn out differently. I guess when I think about it more it does make sense for the book in this case. The family did feel very dysfunctional and I got unsettled a couple of times when reading certain parts of the book.  

The plot of a decades old string of child murders being unsolved only for it to be brought out into the spotlight once again when bodies are found. It does show people's obsession with mysteries and how the press can be like vultures just to find the story even at the expanse of other people's lives. I do like that this book covers the publics obsession with those true crime stories that it sometimes overshadows the victims in the crimes themselves. 

This wasn't a bad book but I am still glad that I got to add this one into my rotation of thriller books for my reading. Maybe I can read more of his well received books that he has written next time.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, and Kidnapping

Minor: Infertility, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic

onyxburst's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-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? Yes

3.75

Really snappy read with a lot a twist and turns.   The horror is built well, and the characters are believable for the most part.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt