Not a Happy Family: A Novel
The new domestic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door and Someone We Know who has sold more than 7 million copies of her books worldwideIn 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.
Wouldn't you?
In Shari Lapena's captivating novel, "Not a Happy Family," we are introduced to the dysfunctional Peterson family, whose seemingly perfect life unravels when their patriarch, Fred, is found dead in his study. Fred's death exposes a web of secrets, lies, and long-held resentments that have been simmering beneath the surface for years.
The story revolves around Fred's three adult children: Brett, Amanda, and Jenny. Each sibling has their own unique relationship with their father and their own reasons for harboring ill feelings towards him. Brett, the eldest, is a successful businessman haunted by memories of his father's harsh criticism. Amanda, the middle child, is a recovering alcoholic struggling to maintain her sobriety while dealing with her own family issues. Jenny, the youngest, is a free-spirited artist who has always felt like an outsider in her own family.
As the investigation into Fred's death progresses, secrets begin to emerge, casting doubt on every family member. The siblings find themselves entangled in a psychological game of cat and mouse, unsure of who they can trust and who may have killed their father. The line between truth and lies blurs, and the family's past is laid bare, revealing a history of abuse, neglect, and manipulation.
"Not a Happy Family" is a gripping mystery that explores the dark side of family dynamics and the lengths people will go to protect themselves. Lapena skillfully weaves together the perspectives of the three siblings, creating a multi-faceted narrative that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. With its sharp observations about family relationships and the human psyche, "Not a Happy Family" is a thought-provoking and unsettling novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
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