Scan barcode
A review by lovelymisanthrope
Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I was excited to pick up this book after I had seen some reviews about it on TikTok.
"Murder in the Family" is a fictious true crime book that follows the famous murder of Luke Ryder. In 2003, Luke Ryder was found murdered in his backyard. He was Guy Howard's, a famous filmmaker, stepfather. Now, on the twenty-year anniversary of the crime, Guy wants to create a new show in which he assembles the world's best team to finally solve the case.
One aspect that really appealed to me about this book, and something I really enjoyed, was that the story was told in a mixed media format. The majority of the book is interview style, that follows the experts as they sit at a round table to discuss the case. There are also emails, voicemails, and other different forms of communication that help to make this story come to life.
I think the premise and idea for this mystery is interesting, and the ultimate reveal of the killer was intriguing, but for the pieces that led to the reveal, I felt like it was easy to predict. I knew from very early on that one person was involved, so when it was revealed that they were indeed a part of this murder, I was slightly disappointed. The actual killer was not surprising, but it was not my first suspect either. I did enjoy playing along and trying to solve the case before the experts did.
I kind of wish this was a true crime show, because it would make for a very captivating show. The way it is written and the way things are cut and revealed in each "episode" was genius.
I think this is a very fun, differently written book that will captivate any true crime fan.
"Murder in the Family" is a fictious true crime book that follows the famous murder of Luke Ryder. In 2003, Luke Ryder was found murdered in his backyard. He was Guy Howard's, a famous filmmaker, stepfather. Now, on the twenty-year anniversary of the crime, Guy wants to create a new show in which he assembles the world's best team to finally solve the case.
One aspect that really appealed to me about this book, and something I really enjoyed, was that the story was told in a mixed media format. The majority of the book is interview style, that follows the experts as they sit at a round table to discuss the case. There are also emails, voicemails, and other different forms of communication that help to make this story come to life.
I think the premise and idea for this mystery is interesting, and the ultimate reveal of the killer was intriguing, but for the pieces that led to the reveal, I felt like it was easy to predict. I knew from very early on that one person was involved, so when it was revealed that they were indeed a part of this murder, I was slightly disappointed. The actual killer was not surprising, but it was not my first suspect either. I did enjoy playing along and trying to solve the case before the experts did.
I kind of wish this was a true crime show, because it would make for a very captivating show. The way it is written and the way things are cut and revealed in each "episode" was genius.
I think this is a very fun, differently written book that will captivate any true crime fan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content