Not a Happy Family

2.75/5

Fred and Sheila Merton are wealthy. Living in an exclusive area for the elite, they have raised their three grown children and are now enjoying their wealth as empty-nesters. One Easter Sunday, they make an announcement to their children that isn’t received very well. The next day, they are found brutally murdered. Who would kill them? A robber aware of the riches in their home or someone closer to the family? 

Not a Happy Family started out as a strong thriller mystery and then began to fissile out around the 70% mark. I was drawn in by underlying tension in this family. They had their secrets and motivations and it soon became clear that they were willing to do anything to get what they wanted. 

The pacing was good. The chapters would switch and follow different characters that were all somehow involved with the Merton family. Often, the chapters would end on cliffhangers and then switch characters so I was always wanting to read further. Once I figured out who had killed the Mertons, I began to lose interest. I didn’t find any of the plot twists very surprising and I kept hoping for a final twist that would really add to the thrill. It never came. 

Overall, this was a good domestic thriller. I would’ve enjoyed more suspense and shocking twists that I have found in Lapena’s previous books, but for a mystery, Not a Happy Family is a quick and intriguing read.