Status
Available
Call number
Description
Fiction. Literature. Suspense. Thriller. HTML: AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! Another thrilling domestic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door �??Lapena is a master of manipulation. With her latest page-turning thriller�?� she is once again at the top of her game.�?� �??USA Today �??In this fast-paced, twisted family saga, Shari Lapena keeps you guessing until the very last page...�?� �??Paula Hawkins In this family, everyone is keeping secrets�??even the dead.Brecken Hill in upstate New York is an expensive place to live. You have to be rich to have a house there, and Fred and Sheila Merton certainly are rich. But even all their money can't protect them when a killer comes to call. The Mertons are brutally murdered after a fraught Easter dinner with their three adult kids. Who, of course, are devastated. Or are they? They each stand to inherit millions. They were never a happy family, thanks to their vindictive father and neglectful mother, but perhaps one of the siblings is more disturbed than anyone knew. Did someone snap after that dreadful evening? Or did another person appear later that night with the worst of intentions? That must be what happened. After all, if one of the family were capable of something as gruesome as this, you'd know. &#… (more)
Publication
Pamela Dorman Books (2021), 368 pages
User reviews
LibraryThing member Twink
II've enjoyed each and every one of Shari Lapena's suspense novels. I was eager to read her newest - Not A Happy Family. And like the ones gone before, I tore through it in two days!
Check out the synopsis below - you'll be hooked!
"Brecken Hill in upstate New York is an expensive place to live. You
Or are they? They each stand to inherit millions. They were never a happy family, thanks to their vindictive father and neglectful mother, but perhaps one of the siblings is more disturbed than anyone knew. Did someone snap after that dreadful evening? Or did another person appear later that night with the worst of intentions? That must be what happened. After all, if one of the family were capable of something as gruesome as this, you'd know. Wouldn't you?"
Lies. Secrets. Greed. Conniving. Scheming. Murder. Each and every character is unlikable and yes - detestable in one way or another, even the spouses of the Merton adult children. But it is Catherine, Dan and Jenna that are truly unbelievable. Their blatant desire to know how much they're going to inherit is brought up even before the funeral arrangements have been discussed. There are quite a few other players added to the mix - all with ties to the deceased Mertons. It did take me a bit of back and forth to keep track of who was who. But I loved having so many suspects. Kudos to Lapena on her characterizations.
Lapena lays a bread crumb trail of dropped hints, twists and turns on the way to the final whodunit. There's absolutely no way to predict the final aha moment. But I had a lot of fun guessing and re-guessing. Not A Happy Family had a bit of an Agatha Christie feel for me. (a good thing!) I really enjoyed this latest!
Check out the synopsis below - you'll be hooked!
"Brecken Hill in upstate New York is an expensive place to live. You
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have to be rich to have a house there, and Fred and Sheila Merton certainly are rich. But even all their money can't protect them when a killer comes to call. The Mertons are brutally murdered after a fraught Easter dinner with their three adult kids. Who, of course, are devastated."Or are they? They each stand to inherit millions. They were never a happy family, thanks to their vindictive father and neglectful mother, but perhaps one of the siblings is more disturbed than anyone knew. Did someone snap after that dreadful evening? Or did another person appear later that night with the worst of intentions? That must be what happened. After all, if one of the family were capable of something as gruesome as this, you'd know. Wouldn't you?"
Lies. Secrets. Greed. Conniving. Scheming. Murder. Each and every character is unlikable and yes - detestable in one way or another, even the spouses of the Merton adult children. But it is Catherine, Dan and Jenna that are truly unbelievable. Their blatant desire to know how much they're going to inherit is brought up even before the funeral arrangements have been discussed. There are quite a few other players added to the mix - all with ties to the deceased Mertons. It did take me a bit of back and forth to keep track of who was who. But I loved having so many suspects. Kudos to Lapena on her characterizations.
Lapena lays a bread crumb trail of dropped hints, twists and turns on the way to the final whodunit. There's absolutely no way to predict the final aha moment. But I had a lot of fun guessing and re-guessing. Not A Happy Family had a bit of an Agatha Christie feel for me. (a good thing!) I really enjoyed this latest!
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LibraryThing member SimplyKelina
Shari Lapena is one of my favorite authors and a must buy from me. I was so excited to jump into this one and started it the day it came in the mail.
This starts off introducing so many characters. Different sections are told from a different character; however, once sorting out the characters it
The ending was a little rushed and the twist was not a very large twist at all. I wanted and needed more all around on this one. So yes, I was a little disappointed as I expected more from one of my favorites. I know they can not all be amazing winners though and this one just fell flat.
This starts off introducing so many characters. Different sections are told from a different character; however, once sorting out the characters it
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was pretty easy to follow. There were some twists and turns along the way to keep pushing through, but overall this one was just lacking. Everything was so nonchalant: around the murders, the twists, the evidence. There was no emotion around anything it was all just very stoic for me.The ending was a little rushed and the twist was not a very large twist at all. I wanted and needed more all around on this one. So yes, I was a little disappointed as I expected more from one of my favorites. I know they can not all be amazing winners though and this one just fell flat.
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LibraryThing member clamato
I really like Shari Lapena's books and have read them all. I wait patiently for her next release, gobble it up and then wait again! I like her style of writing and really enjoyed the story but I too was a bit surprised by the ending and who 'dunnit'. There were plenty of "Oh &@$% Noooooo!!! moments
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and crazy characters and i could not put it down but the ending left me hanging a bit. Sorry!! Show Less
LibraryThing member kulmona
Wealthy couple Fred and Sheila Merton are dead. Brutally murdered in their own home. Their three children -- Catherine, Dan, and Jenna -- are unsure of how they feel. Shock and grief are expected. And they ARE shocked. But, grief -- not so much. As the title suggests, they were Not a Happy Family.
Fred Merton, the authoritarian patriarch, was a very successful businessman. But he had a mean streak. He always took sadistic pleasure in mistreating and humiliating his children at every opportunity. Provoking them. Pitting them against each other from the start. All three hated him for their own reasons. Sheila Merton, his weak, spineless wife, unable and unwilling to take a stand against her domineering husband, even to protect her children. All three resented her. Irena, the nanny/housekeeper essentially raised them from birth. Despite of her dedication, Fred and Sheila still treated her as what she was hired for, the domestic help. But the children loved her.
Audrey, Fred's sister, sidelined by her brother's children. Ellen Cutter, his former personal assistant, and her daughter, Rose. All are affected by the deaths in profound ways.
So many secrets and lies. So much animosity. Everyone is a suspect. And, as often happens when money is involved, greed and betrayal. Relationships fracture when suspects and those in their circle -- be they family, friends, acquaintances, or colleagues -- start turning on one another.
Detectives Reyes and Barr have to follow every lead. Deceipher every clue. But, they are tenacious and they will. They do.
I LOVED this book! Although all of the author's books are on my to-read list, this is the first of hers I read. I regret waiting so long. I was hooked from the first page. Alternating third-person perspectives, short chapters, three-dimensional characters, and unpredictable plot made for a captivating read.
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Dysfunctional, yes.Fred Merton, the authoritarian patriarch, was a very successful businessman. But he had a mean streak. He always took sadistic pleasure in mistreating and humiliating his children at every opportunity. Provoking them. Pitting them against each other from the start. All three hated him for their own reasons. Sheila Merton, his weak, spineless wife, unable and unwilling to take a stand against her domineering husband, even to protect her children. All three resented her. Irena, the nanny/housekeeper essentially raised them from birth. Despite of her dedication, Fred and Sheila still treated her as what she was hired for, the domestic help. But the children loved her.
Audrey, Fred's sister, sidelined by her brother's children. Ellen Cutter, his former personal assistant, and her daughter, Rose. All are affected by the deaths in profound ways.
So many secrets and lies. So much animosity. Everyone is a suspect. And, as often happens when money is involved, greed and betrayal. Relationships fracture when suspects and those in their circle -- be they family, friends, acquaintances, or colleagues -- start turning on one another.
Detectives Reyes and Barr have to follow every lead. Deceipher every clue. But, they are tenacious and they will. They do.
I LOVED this book! Although all of the author's books are on my to-read list, this is the first of hers I read. I regret waiting so long. I was hooked from the first page. Alternating third-person perspectives, short chapters, three-dimensional characters, and unpredictable plot made for a captivating read.
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LibraryThing member Marse
The idea behind this book is good and intriguing, but the writing is so-so. The wealthy parents of three adult children are found murdered in their house two days after an unpleasant Easter dinner. Who did it? One of the children of course, but which one?
You keep reading because you want to know
You keep reading because you want to know
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who did it, and how--but the writing is so bland. The two detectives are hardly more than stick figures, seeming to rush to conclusions at the least discovery and then tell each suspect what they know every time they meet with them. The only character that is really developed is the sister of one of the murder victims. The best part is not the ending when you find out who did it, but the epilogue. Show Less
LibraryThing member Romonko
I have never read a Shari Lapena book, and that's a real shame as her writing is very engrossing, and she's a Canadian author which is always a queue for me to pay attention. I've fallen away from thrillers lately because they are so predictable, and usually so easy to figure out. This book is a
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little different. Although I was aware that there was going to be an unreliable narrator, I wasn't prepared for the numerous unreliable narrators in this book. I don't remember when I've read a book that had so many noxious, hateful characters in it as this one does. But Ms. Lapena handles them all ably, and the story is a not-put-down able story from the get-go. I did enjoy the story despite the despicable characters, and I thought that this was more like what I wanted thrillers to be like all the time. I don't want to say too much about the story as it is hard to say anything without spoilers. You need to read this book yourself if you like literary, intelligent thrillers with believable characters and a very eye-opening plot. This was a good book and I would gladly read more from Ms. Lapena again. Show Less
LibraryThing member ewhatley
Quick, easy read. If you prefer your thrillers with complex, intricate plots that require some thinking on your part, this is not for you (or me). Good light reading for a day at the beach or by the pool.
LibraryThing member pdebolt
I have rated the previous books written by Shari Lapena with 2 or 3 stars. This novel is no exception. It is a quick, light read with no unexpected twists or turns. The characters are mostly unlikeable, and the plot centers around the murders of two savagely murdered parents who have three adult
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children, each with a motive to kill them. It took forever to reach the end, and I am still wondering why I finished it. Show Less
LibraryThing member suzanne5002
An Easter holiday dinner with the family is supposed to be a happy and joyous occasion. Not this time. The adult children decide to leave without having their dessert. They are upset and disappointed. They do not tell their parents the reason why. What went wrong on this day? What is the outcome of
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this supposedly beloved family? Show Less
LibraryThing member twinkley
I really have to stop reading this author because this is the third one in a row that I did not care for. I thought maybe this one would be like the earlier books because of the positive reviews but not for me. Once again, because the characters were so two-dimensional and mostly unlikable, I
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didn’t really care who was responsible. The author is very good with pacing though so while I didn’t enjoy this, I wasn’t bored. Show Less
LibraryThing member Carol420
To say this family was not happy is the understatement of the year. We meet them at a family dinner that was more like World War III. The entire Merton family is dysfunctional as well as extremely wealthy. The parents, Fred and Sheila Merton were brutally murdered in their home the night after this
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disastrous Easter dinner with their adult children, Catherine, Dan and Jenna. The police begin their investigation, and of course they obviously start with the children, who stand to inherit millions and who each had a motive for wanting their parents dead. Catherine is the oldest and knew that she would be inheriting the family home one day, that is until their father announced at Easter dinner that he was selling the house. Dan has never had a good relationship with his father. He expected to take over the family business, that is until his father sold it because he didn’t think Dan would be able to run it. Dan has made a few bad investments and now needs money. Dad says no way to his request for a loan on the night of the dinner. Jenna is an artist that likes to sculpt images of women’s anatomy, much to her parents’ disapproval. She gets a monthly allowance from her parents...but you guessed it...not anymore. The father and the mother were never going to win "parent of the year". Fred, the father, got a great deal of pleasure in causing emotional pain to his children, and Sheila, the mother, was a mother in name only and left the "mothering" task to their housekeeper, Irene. It was not very surprising that the children were not overly devastated by their parents’ death. All three had alibis...well according to each of their spouses, but those alibis are soon unraveled. I really liked how Shari Lapena ended the story. If you like murder mysteries and stories that keep you guessing, then this will be perfect for you. Show Less
LibraryThing member rmarcin
Quick read about a wealthy family with 3 children. The parents, Fred and Sheila Merton, have invited their 3 children for Easter dinner. Catherine, a physician, and her husband, Ted, Dan, unemployed, and his wife Lisa, and Jenna, an artist, and her friend Jake, all attend dinner, but it is a tense
The next day, the parents are found dead in their home, and the children will inherit millions. Fred's sister, Audrey, claims Fred was changing his will to give her more, and there is another surprise, too. Catherine's friend, Rose, is also included, as well as the maid and former nanny, Irina. All had a motive to kill the Mertons, but who did it? One of Lapena's better novels, in my opinion.
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affair. The father, having sold his business so Dan couldn't get it, is now planning to sell the house, which Catherine wanted. Fred tells them all how disappointed he is in them. The next day, the parents are found dead in their home, and the children will inherit millions. Fred's sister, Audrey, claims Fred was changing his will to give her more, and there is another surprise, too. Catherine's friend, Rose, is also included, as well as the maid and former nanny, Irina. All had a motive to kill the Mertons, but who did it? One of Lapena's better novels, in my opinion.
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LibraryThing member burritapal
3.5 stars
This is not literary mystery; it's a best-selling whodunit. The extra half-star is for the skill with which the author keeps the reader guessing to the very end.
This is not literary mystery; it's a best-selling whodunit. The extra half-star is for the skill with which the author keeps the reader guessing to the very end.
LibraryThing member zmagic69
Wow! No one writes about twisted psychotic characters like this author does.
Easter dinner with mom and dad and the 3 adult children and their partners plus the cleaning woman/ nanny.
Dad is a vindictive hateful bastard and mom is a doormat.
By the next morning they are dead.
Who killed them?
Read the
Easter dinner with mom and dad and the 3 adult children and their partners plus the cleaning woman/ nanny.
Dad is a vindictive hateful bastard and mom is a doormat.
By the next morning they are dead.
Who killed them?
Read the
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book it could be anyone. Show Less
LibraryThing member CandyH
Another book to devour by this author. Lapena books truly are thrillers!!
LibraryThing member FerneMysteryReader
In early 2020, I read "An Unwanted Guest" and knew I wanted to read more titles by this author. At that time, I began my review with these words, " Mesmerizing Murder Mystery Reading" and those words begin my thoughts as I write this review too!
A family dinner on Easter hosted by the parents for
Shari Lapena's writing provides page-turning suspense even with a seemingly small cast of suspects. I changed my mind multiple times as new clues were provided and by the reveal never once had I suspected the individual that committed the crime.
I will not hesitate to read another novel by this author and highly recommend her writing especially if you have not yet added one of her titles to your tbr list. Don't hesitate! Do it now! Or even better, choose one of her novels as your next reading selection.
My sincere appreciation as a winner of this GoodReads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
A family dinner on Easter hosted by the parents for
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their 3 grown children, 2 daughters and a son, their significant partners, and the children's nanny when they were small that has continued as the part-time housekeeper. As the murder investigation begins it has the earmarks of the locked room scenario by classic mystery writers as it seems evident that although the murder didn't occur during Easter dinner conversations that gathering sparked the motive for murder.Shari Lapena's writing provides page-turning suspense even with a seemingly small cast of suspects. I changed my mind multiple times as new clues were provided and by the reveal never once had I suspected the individual that committed the crime.
I will not hesitate to read another novel by this author and highly recommend her writing especially if you have not yet added one of her titles to your tbr list. Don't hesitate! Do it now! Or even better, choose one of her novels as your next reading selection.
My sincere appreciation as a winner of this GoodReads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member GeauxGetLit
4.5 stars! On Easter, 3 adult children and spouses, go to their wealthy parents house for dinner. The parents bodies were found murdered in their home by the maid on Tuesday. With inheritance on the line, the kids become prime suspects.
The characters annoyed me because they all lied. It was like
The characters annoyed me because they all lied. It was like
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putting a puzzle together, trying to figure which piece fits where. Highly recommend especially if you enjoy family drama. Show Less
Call number
G > Fiction
Collection
Awards
Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence (Shortlist — 2022)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
368 p.; 9.45 x 6.38 inches
ISBN
1984880551 / 9781984880550