This was the first book I read by Megan Collins and it definitely won't be the last! This book is perfect for anyone fascinated by true crime. It's so wild and out there yet somehow completely works. I have never read a book like this and hope I enjoy her other novels just as much. I was entertained from the first page all the way to the last sentence and found it completely diverting and fun. If you're a mystery lover, you should definitely pick this one up!

I really enjoyed The Family Plot. Though most members of the Lighthouse family were infuriating, especially the oblivious mother, Collins created a really interesting cast of characters and an un-put-down-able mystery. I connected to Dahlia and her connection to her brother. I enjoyed all the references to serial killers and the fictional killer of Blackburn Island and -creepily enough- found even the descriptions of the murder scenes interesting and easy to read. As a true crime junkie, I like the modern twist on the instafamous Tate with her #behindthecrimescene series and her detailed dioramas. I’d probably follow her in real life. Overall, the scenery of the island and the history of the family was really well done and the twists were excellent.
I’d recommend this one to fans of true crime, serial killers, family dramas, and thrillers/suspense.

This one might just be my least favorite book by Megan Collins. However, it was not THAT horrible lol. Give it a shot and form your own opinion. Thankful to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this title.

This book was a trip. A trip into a family that has serious issues. Many places in the book I actually thought they were mentally disturbed and perhaps I’m not far off.

This is a family doesn’t think like a typical family unit does. The Townspeople hate them. The police are continually at their home. A true house of horror! Murder surrounds them and the town they live in.

The author tells the story from the daughters point of view; the only one who seems rather balanced, whatever that means. But the further we get into the story the more unbalanced this story and murder mystery seems.

The author pulls no punches and the story is disturbing in many ways. It’s not just the murders but the entire story surrounding this family will put you on edge. They are in no way typical and in no way do you feel comfortable with the truth, especially the ending. Collins layers it up with unbelievable twists that are astounding.

This author is a first time read for me but she has definitely made a mark with her bold and brave storytelling. Gripping and dark, this one may leave you a bit troubled and wondering – what the hell did I just read?

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Storygraph!

This is a dark and twisty thriller that will be perfect for fans of true crime. Good mystery and a creepy setting keep the reader wondering what the truth is behind the killings that haunt the Lighthouse family. A family who has been homeschooling on murder and named after victims of serial killers, this was a mystery that reads quickly. Thank you netgalley for this arcnij exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was sooo good! I loved how it revolves around two mysteries in a way. The author’s plot was so easy to follow. I could not put it down!

26 year old Dahlia Lighthouse comes from a very unusual family, obsessed with true crime and raised in what neighbors called the Murder Mansion. She has been living alone for a few years now, but spending all her time trying to track down her twin brother Andy who went missing their 16th birthday. The family reunites when their father dies, but when it comes time to bury him, Andy's remains are found in their father's plot. The book follows Dahlia and her deeply dysfunctional family all processing their grief in different ways. Dahlia wants to track down her brother's killer, while the rest of her family does their own thing.

I am struggling with words here to review this. I just finished, maybe I should take more time to process. I really enjoyed this book, I did not want to put it down. I had an idea about the killer, but didn't guess completely right. I was more just fascinated by how messed up this family was. Makes me feel lots better about my own family drama for sure! I think the ending was wrapped up a little too clean, but that's my only complaint. 4.5, rounded to 5. Thanks so much Atria and NetGalley for the eArc!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ★★★★★/5
TWs: Death, some gore, mentions of cancer.

Dahlia Lighthouse and her 3 siblings grew up in an...interesting household, to say the least. Their mother has immortalized her murdered parents through an insane amount of photographs hanging on the walls in their creepy, dark Blackburn island mansion, they were all named after murder victims, and their homeschool curriculum includes writing theories on cold-case murders. To top it all off, Blackburn island is also home to an infamous serial killer.

Years after all of the Lighthouse siblings leave home, their father's death prompted their return to Blackburn Island. The only one who doesn't return is Andy, who has been missing for over a decade after writing a note to his family saying that he was leaving. When the family goes to bury their father, they find Andy's body in the plot instead. This shocking discovery leads to plenty of twists and turns, uncovering secrets of Blackburn Island and some of the quirky families that inhabit it.

This thriller was extremely well written and was riddled with so many plot twists that once I thought I had it all figured out, I was proven wrong yet again. The family dynamic in this book is dysfunctional, entertaining, and somehow gave me Umbrella Academy vibes (if the Umbrella Academy's superpowers were knowing everything about true-crime). This was such a quick read for me and even got me out of an impending reading slump (I felt one coming on last week).

This is an adult mystery/thriller, but it would be appropriate for many YA readers as well (check trigger warnings).

In particular, YA mystery lovers who enjoyed We Were Liars would LOVE this book.

This is also the perfect fiction novel for fans of true-crime due to all of the references to popular true-crime cases.

This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time and I definitely recommend it to anybody who loves a good mystery.

This was a dark and twisted thriller. I absolutely loved the premise—the strange family was giving me big time Shirley Jackson vibes from the get go. Even though it was hard to relate to such an odd and quirky main character, and a very unique family situation, this one had me turning the pages all night long. This was definitely a book I read in one sitting. I thought the central mystery had enough threads to keep suspicions going throughout the book, and I liked all the disturbing details about the Lighthouse family’s lives and all the little clues littered through the story.

Even though it was extremely gripping and very readable, I did have a couple little issues throughout the book. I would’ve like to see a little bit more about the mother’s backstory and see a little more depth given to her development. Since we don’t see a lot of the characters as children or in the past it would’ve been nice to have a little more woven into the present so we could understand a little more what their life was like. Especially since such a big part of the hook is that the family is raised in such an interestingly murderous way. I also thought the ending was a bit of a stretch and was looking for a little more from such a promising read.

But this was definitely a unique read and if you’re looking for a twisted family thriller, you can’t get much more twisted than this! Definitely give it a look.

Dahlia is returning to her home after her father's death, and she must face the lies her family has hidden when a dead body shows up in the grave meant for her father. Dahlia comes from a unique family that honors murder victims not only in their actions but also in their children's names. Her twin brother Andy (named after Lizzie Borden's father) ran away when he was sixteen and left her with two remaining siblings Tate (name after Sharon) and Charlie. I was immediately drawn into this family's odd family dynamic that plays across this book, wanting to know the truth about what really happened to her brother Andy. Well done, Ms. Collins, and I can not wait to read your next book!

I loved the premise of this book, so I had to request an ARC! Dahlia's mom is obsessed with true crime, and uses murders to frame the home school curriculum she uses to teach her 4 kids, all of whom are named for the victims of famous murderers. They are shunned by the rest of the island, Dahlia returns for her dad's funeral as an adult. A body is discovered, and even more secrets are revealed. I really enjoyed the mystery, but it seemed like the family dynamics were more the focal point of the story. It gave an interesting view of how crimes can affect the whole family, and Dahlia is forced to choose between right and wrong, and reexamine everything she knows about her family.

The Family Plot was a page turner of a book. The Lighthouses are a notorious family on a small island so obsessed with murders and their victims that when one of their own is found murdered, 10 years after disappearing, they handle it incredibly differently. The eccentric family was captivating. And Megan Collins truly made it hard to trust anyone. Collins took you along for the ride with Dahlia. I felt like I was figuring things out with her and even though I feel like I had guessed the twist, Collins surprised us with a second one that spun my head around. Although this book is about a murder, in fact several murders, it is also about family, friendship, trust, loyalty and not ever really knowing everything about the people you love. This is the first book I’ve read by Megan Collins but I will definitely add her to my must read authors list from here on out.

“But don’t we all have darkness? Pitch-black parts of ourselves that even those who love us can’t see?”
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy. When a family that is based on darkness and horror stories soon starts to find themselves dying, they must face themselves, their pasts, their evils, and their secrets. This was a wonderful read, beautifully written and filled with depth. Surprising twists as a family grieves the lose of a brother and a father, and through that grief discover themselves. Well developed characters, especially Dahlia, that you can’t help but getting attached too, root for, and struggle with.

“..but when there’s a hole blown open inside you, bubbling with acid at the edges, burning through you more and more each moment, it’s hard to notice the pain of a paper cut.”

I loved the true crime feel but this book just didn’t totally do it for me. I was a big fan of Megan Collins previous books but this one fell flat toe me with the characters and the plot. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.


2.5/5

Unfortunately I couldn’t get into this domestic thriller. These styles of books should hook you from the first 30 pages and I didn’t get a hooking feeling from this book.

In a world where the world is obsessed with true crime this is a great time to publish this story. Dahlia is 26 and grew up in a family that is obsessed with true crime. Soon they discover a second body in her fathers grave. The character development is solid and I wasn’t sure if this book was for me but it was almost impossible to put down, highly recommend!

Wow! This was certainly a twisted book!
The family is dealing with so many secrets.
Their whole life has been pretty messed up.
This book was full of surprises. I enjoyed it
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

Wow. What an interesting premise with good twists and turns. This family! The author did a wonderful job of developing the characters so the reader easily gets invested and cares about them.; I felt empathy for them as I read the story. The irony was not lost on me.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review.

Most true crime novels, that I have read, pretty much delves in every facet of the human experience you can think of and at times, you don’t necessarily want to explore too much. Or do you? The criminal mind is shocking and heinous and does not limit itself to one shape, color or size.

What of the people who are obsessed with those stories? The ones who investigate, write those books or portray them in some form of medium? How do they live their lives? Like in The Family Plot, dioramas portraying crime scenes. Author Megan Collins gives her readers a chilling story of one family’s life centered around their own obsession of true crime. Not only that, but strange events and a horrible and unspeakable crim quickly becomes uncovered at their own door.

The Lighthouse family is certainly strange, twisted and creepy, wrapped up in their own secrets, lies, pain and eccentricity. Their odd behavior and unorthodox ways, has the local town leery of them to say the least!
Dahila Lighthouse seems to be the only one with a touch of reality as she ventures to uncover the crime that is discovered among them. Her siblings and mother are out of touch or basically wanting to stay in their bubble. It is safe there for them, or so they think. Though, who can really fault them? Especially the brothers…Imagine a lie, like a seed, being planted and taking root so deep, that one feels they can never unbury the truth. It is too ugly and disturbing. Imagine having to live with that lie in fear and pain growing up as a kid. No child should ever go through what the Lighthouse brothers did. Or what anyone of them had to for that matter.

I must say that I have never read a story quite like this one and I am absolutely delighted I chose to read this book. The story build-up was strong, great scenes, complex and frightening characters, and a solid plot. Though, I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed with the ending. That said, I highly recommend this book to people who love reading about crime, family secrets and mystery.

Stephanie Hopkins