A review by abi0188
The Family Reunion by Karen King

mysterious 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

2.0

 

This psychological suspense novel has readers guessing until the end who is creating havoc in Mary's life. 

There is a lot going on in this book. Mary was raised by a strict father. She fell in love with Robbie and got pregnant at 16. When Robbie ends up in jail, she gives birth and leaves her newborn daughter, Hope, in a phone booth. Flash forward to the future where Mary is recently widowed and is still feeling guilty for this act of abandonment (she never told her husband of decades about Hope), she sends a message out onto the internet hoping to find her long lost daughter. Miracles upon miracles, Hope (now called Cathy) responds.

This novel follows the direct months after Mary and Cathy reconnect. We get to watch the two get to know each other, or so they think. Cathy is rather suspicious, the readers knows she is lying and keeping secrets from Mary. Mary is also now strangely now losing things, becoming forgetful and worrying for her safety. Is Cathy to blame? I thought this was a great set up and was suspicious of Cathy from the beginning. The dark secretive vague information available about her father, Robbie, was also very intriguing. 

However, Cathy is not the only suspicious character. Mary has two grown children from her happy marriage: Joanne and Jason, who are both married (neither happily) with two children each. Joanne resents Jason (and now Cathy) and she seems to have a drinking problem. Jason's wife is cheating on him and he seems to be constantly pushing his mum to downsize her home to get money from her (he has past money issues - and maybe current ones). 

My main issue with this book was that I didn't like a single character. All of Mary's kids were really annoying and I felt like every single one clearly just wanted money from her. I think the vulnerable forgetful older woman role was a little too played upon, I would have liked this to have been more subtle. The push from all three kids to make Mary move into a smaller home started to feel repetitive. The intrigue and dark past of Robbie also fell a little flat for me when the truth came to light.

The epilogue was a total curveball and kind of random, but the best "wtf" moment of the book.