Keep It in the Family

Product Information

The new house needs so much work that Finn and Dave take on the bulk of it, and the couple moves into an annexe to the parents’ house. Not only does this mean more frequent interactions between the two women, but closer quarters intensifies their animosity towards one another. It’s hard to decide which of them is the more unreasonable. Neither can do anything the other doesn’t object to or take out of context. This is the kind of difficult family relationship we all hope and strive to avoid, not always successfully.

i was expecting something more suspenseful and thrilling like THE ONE or THE PASSANGERS but this was far from it. from the synopsis, i was expecting a haunted house vibe like HOME BEFORE DARK or THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS but when the plot got going, it gave me THE WHISPER MAN and PRETTY GIRLS vibes… if ya know what i mean 🫣😅🫠😦😱🔪 Secrecy shrouds the mystery of the attic, but when shards of a dark truth start to emerge, Mia realises the danger is terrifyingly present. She is prepared to do anything to protect her family—but is it already too late? Fabulous characters, brilliantly intense story I can’t praise it enough …for me it’s a perfect thriller and one I can highly recommend.

Customer reviews

I loved “The Good Samaritan” and I am always captivated by the Dystopian World which John Marrs has created (The One, The Passengers, and The Minders) so you can be sure that I will still be auto-requesting his next, despite not being quite as enamored with this story. I did enjoy the excerpts of newspaper clippings, and podcasts sprinkled throughout, which helped to fill in details of the story. There was even one from a YOUTUBE SERIES by ex police detective and crime thriller author, Caroline Mitchell which was a fun touch! 😉 I still have most of John Marrs' book in my TBR, but this one, unfortunately, just didn't hit the mark with me. This is one messed up family saga. One thing I love about John Marrs is that he always brings originality to every book he’s ever released. I’ve read a few of his books so far and each one feels so completely different in the best way possible. With Marrs’ latest novel, KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY, the story focuses on Finn and Mia, a couple purchasing a fixer-upper to finally call their own. After living with Finn’s parents, Debbie and Dave, the couple is ready for their new chapter. Almost immediately after purchasing this home, Mia discovers she’s pregnant and finds a chilling message saying “I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC.” This house is hiding secrets, and you’ll never see it coming!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and John Marrs for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 10.18!** Some of his other books, I occasionally have problems with. One of the things I don’t enjoy is the consistent use of female infertility as a plot point. It seems to be a part of almost every book. Just when you think it’s about as bad as it could be, there’s a new twist in the plot that makes their situation even more untenable. It’s hard to feel sympathy for any of them, trapped in sins of their own commission, omission, or both.Of course the media have lapped up this juicy news of the "Babes in the Attic" as the police tear down their newly renovated home in search of clues as to who these children are and how they got there in the first place. And instead of leaving it to the police, Mia decides to do some investigating of her own...which can only have dire consequences.