Monday, November 4, 2019

Review: The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

Title: The Family Upstairs
Author: Lisa Jewell
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Published By: Atria (November 5, 2019)
Source: ARC Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
My Rating: 4 Stars


Book Description:
From the New York Times bestselling author of Then She Was Gone and Watching You comes another page-turning look inside one family’s past as buried secrets threaten to come to light.

Be careful who you let in.

Soon after her twenty-fifth birthday, Libby Jones returns home from work to find the letter she’s been waiting for her entire life. She rips it open with one driving thought: I am finally going to know who I am.

She soon learns not only the identity of her birth parents, but also that she is the sole inheritor of their abandoned mansion on the banks of the Thames in London’s fashionable Chelsea neighborhood, worth millions. Everything in Libby’s life is about to change. But what she can’t possibly know is that others have been waiting for this day as well—and she is on a collision course to meet them.

Twenty-five years ago, police were called to 16 Cheyne Walk with reports of a baby crying. When they arrived, they found a healthy ten-month-old happily cooing in her crib in the bedroom. Downstairs in the kitchen lay three dead bodies, all dressed in black, next to a hastily scrawled note. And the four other children reported to live at Cheyne Walk were gone.


In The Family Upstairs, the master of “bone-chilling suspense” (People) brings us the can’t-look-away story of three entangled families living in a house with the darkest of secrets.







This was my first Lisa Jewell book even though I have heard tons about this author, for whatever reason I had yet to pick one of her books up. 

I am so glad I finally did and also kicking myself for waiting so long to do so.

This book was so much fun! And while it was a tiny bit slow to start, once it did pick up it was pretty hard to put down.

There is just something fascinating about mysteries isn't there? When done right, in multiple point of views with characters that can't be trusted, they really do stand out and make a fun read that is constantly not only leaving you turning the pages, but guessing at what will happen next, who the bad guys are, who the good guys are and even if such a thing exists in a story like this one. 

I loved the bizarre life these children had and how their story, their horrors slowly unfolded and all came together. I love how that ending totally messed with my head and left me with even more questions than what I started out with and even wanting a very short sequel, to see what would happen next. 

Truly an exciting read that was well written, well plotted out, and just so entertaining. I will definitely be picking up more of this author's work in the future. 








*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*




21 comments:

  1. Great review Kindlemom. I've never heard of her but this looks like something I can sink my teeth into. Thanks

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  2. I'm a fan of Jewell! She writes a mean mystery novel! I'm glad you enjoyed your first book from her. I'll definitely be trying this one out.

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    1. I agree, I can't wait to try more from her! Any recs?

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  3. I'm glad this was a win for you, especially since you hadn't read the author before. I read Watching You recently and it was a slow start too, but I did like it.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  4. I haven't read a book by this author, but I've heard great things.

    I'm especially curious about this one!

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    1. It was pretty good and not what I was expecting at all.

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  5. I've read a couple of Lisa Jewell's stories and they are captivating. They don't always end in a nicely wrapped bow, though, so that can be unsettling. I'll have to check this one out. :)

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    1. Yeah I wouldn't say this was a neat bow either but a satisfying ending. ;)

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  6. I'm glad this story picked up and was unable to captivate you. I enjoy unreliable narrators as well, and bizarre mysteries are fun. Wonderful Review Ali :)

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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    1. Unreliable narrators are the best in mysteries!

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  7. Ooh I need to get this! I've read a few of her books now and other than one that didn't really wow me I've loved them all!

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    1. That is so good to know Greg, I will definitely read more!

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  8. yes, there is something very fascinating about mysteries.i love 'em and you sold me on this one
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. They really are one of my most favorite genres!

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  9. I am planning to listen to this one. I am so curioua. Great review!

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  10. I might have to add this to my wish list because it sounds like a good one.

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  11. This one sounds good. I love these types of mysteries. I recently picked up a few of her books and now I'm eager to dig in! Great review!

    Simply Angela

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