Dahlia grew up in a family obsessed with true crime. When she reluctantly returns to the family home on Blackburn Island after the death of her father, the discovery of a body in the plot he was to be buried results in terrifying and creepy discoveries.

This book is unputdownable! It is truly a thriller that takes readers on twists and turns that will keep them guessing until the end.

Thank you Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Lighthouse siblings return to their childhood home on Blackburn Island because of the death of their father but when the burial plot is opened, the remains of their brother, Andy, that disappeared ten years earlier is found there. Not only that but his skull has been split open with an ax. The dysfunctional family, the horrors of murder and the grief of the family all make this a great read. This is my second book by Megan Collins and I'll keep her on my radar.

I was sucked into this macabre book from the first page. It’s like The Addams Family meets true crime television. It contains all the elements to draw a reader in. A mother’s obsessive grief leads her to actions that scar her family forever, leaving them dysfunctional on many levels. She homeschools them with a curriculum of her own devising: true crime. Stir in a secluded existence on a gloomy atmospheric island in a home called “Murder Mansion” by the locals, the disappearance of the protagonist’s sixteen-year-old twin, and a series of unsolved murders by a serial killer, and you have the bare bones of The Family Plot.

The protagonist, twenty-six-year-old Dahlia, returns to her island home after her father’s death. When the grave is dug in the nearby family plot, a body is already there—and DNA testing proves it to be her missing twin who’d been struck in the head with an axe. Dahlia, to deal with her own grief, decides to find out who murdered her brother. Her endeavors reveal more than anyone in the family suspected and threaten to tear the family apart.

The Family Plot is definitely twisted, dark, macabre, and filled with juicy tidbits about true crime deaths. If you favor dark thrillers, this one will fill the bill.

Dahlia Lighthouse grew up in a home named The Lighthouse but to locals its The Murder House. Her twin brother Andy disappeared on their 16th birthday and she has spent the last ten years waiting for him to come home. She has two older siblings as well. They grew up on a remote island with a mother obsessed with true crime, each of them was named after a famous murder victim. They have returned home after their fathers death and a shocking discovery is made when his burial place is excavated. This brings police to their door and suspicion and scrutiny regarding a serial killer whose victims often ended up on the beaches of their small island.
Each of the remaining family members has a different way of coping with the upheaval - Charles is determined to create a family memorial victim and open the house to show there is nothing to the rumors, Tate is creating another of her dioramas depicting murder victims, their mother is obsessively baking and Dahlia begins to uncover the secrets both her family and the house have kept hidden.
This was very well written and a very welcome change to the missing wife/evil husband trope. While I didn’t relate to any of the characters or agree with the resolution, I was drawn in to the story and the plot is really bonkers in a good way. I loved the tie in of real life murder cases and admit to stopping to look up a few. Yay for reading that makes you want to read more!
This one is scheduled for release on August 17th. Thank you to #netgalley and Atria publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ahhh such a great book for a murderino! I wasn't sure what to expect because of some of the reviews but I am so glad I gave it a chance, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

There is not too much to say without giving away spoilers but this book has some awesome elements. Great twists, some weird characters, mistrust, family secrets and to top it off....a family obsessed with murder.

I definitely recommend this one!

Lots of skillful misdirection in Collins’s THE FAMILY PLOT, which kept me up well into the night reading “just one more chapter.” This book isn’t just about a creepy, dysfunctional family obsessed with true crime; it’s about the loss and grief for family and friends left behind after a murder. I’m sure some readers might like a nice, tidy ending, but that’s not life. I’m glad Collins ended the book where she did, which wasn’t exactly what I expected but yet felt appropriate for Dahlia and her family.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Dahlia has come home to the small island where she was raised alongside her siblings for her father’s funeral. Even though her twin brother has been missing for the last 10 years since they were 16 years-old, she is hopeful he’ll show up or at least reach out and make contact. Instead, he turns up dead and buried in the plot that was meant for her father. I wanted to like this book so much; a mix of true crime stories and a family thoroughly absorbed in them. Unfortunately, some tighter editing could’ve really been helpful. Lots of repetitive explanations for how and why Dahlia and her siblings were raised, unnecessary “leads” that really don’t go anywhere, and some characters that aren’t all that likeable. This one took me awhile to get through and, sad to say, I don’t think the payoff was really worth it in the end.

Special Note: Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. Gorgeously wrought and deliciously creepy, The Family Plot is a twisted delight. Evocative prose and skillful misdirection propel the reader through the story, keeping them glued right up to the shocking conclusion. Perfect for true crime fans—and anyone looking for a gripping, vividly drawn suspense novel!

A solid thriller with an unconventional ending. For fans of true crime documentary and podcasts. The family's obsession with crime gives them a unique twist.

A message to Megan Collins.... YOU ARE AWESOME.

I just needed to say that. This book has it all. A dysfunctional family, a serial killer and a ton of WTF moments!

I read a lot of thrillers. Like a lot and its not often that I find my heart pounding as I am reading a book. I can count on one hand how many times that it has happened. Well, after reading this book, its now two hands.

Let me also say, that I am a true crime lover (and have a group text going with a bunch of girlfriends who love true crime as well). So reading a book about a girl who was raised by True Crime fanatics was right up my alley. Although it has to be said that I am not as obessed with True Crime as her parents were. Although this book does have me re-evaluating some life decisions :) lol.

So many twists and turns and as I said early so many 'WTF" moments!

Thank you so so much to Atria Books and #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

True crime lovers, Murderinos, Crime Junkes of all sorts are going to like this story of a family who has spent their lives studying and honoring the victims and also residing on an island that has had a string of murders. Specifically, Blackburn Island, home of the Blackburn Killer, the serial killer of three women who is still at large! I immediately noticed and loved how each sibling in the Lighthouse family has a murder-themed name: Charlie, Tate, Andy, and Dahlia. I also really loved how they were homeschooled and got to learn all about True Crime and killers. I would've never missed school if I had been able to learn these things!

The story centers mostly around the disappearance of Andy, His body is discovered buried in their father’s plot in the family cemetery after his disappearance when he was 16. Suddenly, everyone Dahlia grew up around is a suspect. Honestly, the book started a little slow and I thought I might even be close to a DNF, but then it picked up just as quickly! The characters were well developed and the plot was smart and gripping. I don't want to say much more because the killer is quite a shock and I want you to enjoy it like I did. Great Book! Love the author! Thank you for the ARC- these opinions are my own!

many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

A dysfunctional true crime obsessed family that lives on a secluded island mansion... THE FAMILY PLOT was definitely what I was looking for to read & help me out of a slump..now, some parts did lack a bit for me. But I absolutely love Collins' writing style. I don't know, a little something was just missing for me tho. I do wish we got more info when true crime cases came up. And a bit more suspense perhaps.

Now, for anyone that reads alot of thrillers + crime novels, this one will be predictable but I didn't really have a problem with it. It was still unique and so enjoyable. The plot and all the obsession with serial killers, murder, and death was creepy + compelling. Tho I think it could've been a bit more of both those things. Oh, let's not forget about all the secrets and lies too. Love a book filled with them

This book had a lot to do with grief + family dynamics (a very fascinating one). I'd love to be able to interact with these characters/ get more on them, especially charlie and with all his dark humor, sarcasm, and more! (I can just picture a true crime doc on investigation discovery or Netflix about this family if they were real)

If you're interested in a slow burn murder mystery with a bit of a theatrical writing style filled with true crime, this could be great for you! It's moody, dark, and so unique. It reads so well. Structured wonderfully and though I have slight problems (I also wasn't a fan of how it ended), I absolutely devoured this and I'm so so happy I got approved for it on @netgalley (and thank you @atriabooks ) as well. Pub date is 8.17.21... 4🌟 for me! Please write more like this @megancollinswriter I'm so ready ❤️
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Review posted on my bookstagram @fortheloveofcrime

Dahlia Lighthouse returns home to her family's isolated mansion on a small island to bury her father. Dahlia and her siblings (Tate, Charlie, and Andy) had an atypical upbringing. The Lighthouse kids were all homeschooled by their mother who was obsessed with murder and taught them they are never safe out in the world. When Andy disappears and a note is found saying he needed to get out, Dahlia is shattered. She and Andy are twins and she feels alone and can't find peace until he is found. Returning home and revisiting the house she left years ago conjures up too many painful memories and heartache. When another body is found in her father's plot, the family faces further scrutiny from the islanders who have never been comfortable with the Lighthouse family and they murder and true crime obsession. Digging further into the past Dahlia discovers that the answers to her brother's disappearance may have been in front of her the whole time.

3 Stars for this new book by Megan Collins. I have read her other two books and while I do enjoy her writing style, this book never really took off for me. It had great potential with the true crime spin and I definitely did some googling after I was done reading (Kitty Genovese, anyone?). It would have been interesting for more background on some of the names that were mentioned that the children learned about growing up. Maybe a paragraph before each chapter of a well known (or not so well known) murder. I felt like there wasn't enough suspense or build up to what was a pretty predictable plot line. I still enjoyed it, and will continue to read books by Collins, this one was just missing a little something for me.

Would I read more by this author? Yes , because I've read her other 2 books The Winter Sister and Behind the Red Door and just like one they was both 5 star reads for me .
First off I want to say a huge thank you to the publisher Atria Books- Simon & Schuster , the author Megan Collins and to NetGalley for inviting me read and review it, as soon as I saw it there was non ands , ifs or buts , no second guessing myself at all I knew that I was going to say yes because I love Megan Collins and I knew that she would not let me down ,and she didn't , plus a big thank you to my friend Louise-Ellen for picking for me to read ( ok so let me explain what I mean by that , so I do this thing where I pick so many of my NetGalley ARCs, take a snapshot of them and then post them in one of my chats and then I let my friends pick 1 to 2 of them for me to read and she picked that one , which was a great choice to pick ). This book was everything I was hoping it would be and so much more , I loved how the author set the story up around true crime and a serial killer , plus I also loved how she named her characters after famous murder victims and ones I actually knew about, other one win was how the setting of the story give it a creepy and twisted atmosphere that brought it life even more so. So if your wanting a book that has a creepy and twisted atmosphere , secrets , and lies , an island that you just don't want to live on or even visit , then this is the one for you.

TRUE CRIME ENTHUSIASTS ARE GOING TO LOVE AND DEVOUR THIS BOOK.

This was one of the of the most unique thrillers that I have ever read. I cant honestly say that I have never read anything quite like it.

I was immediately hooked, drawn into the creepy plot and the lives of the strange, macabre family unusually obsessed with serial killers, death, and true crime. The fact that the children of the parents in this story are named after murder victims was intriguing and I was hooked and curious before even getting into the plot.

The writing is amazing and flows easily. Despite the fact that there are quite a few things going on throughout the novel, the author managers to effortlessly and meticulously weave together a plot filled with more than one mystery, without making it confusing. It was harrowing, macabre, and eerie and I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entirety of the story.

I wanted to meet each and every member of this family, in hopes of garnering more information into their fascinating (and okay admittedly strange and unusual) lives. And I most definitely wanted to tour their house, see all of their true crime memorabilia, and explore the grounds. (Particularly the shed, which plays a major role in the story) and the family graveyard/plot.

This story dealt with loss and grief, suspicious sinister characters, a serial killer, and a family dynamic that will have you intrigued. There is murder (serial killer aside), secrets, etc. The family alone is enough to keep you wanting to keep flipping the pages and know more. Their relationships with each other are enough to keep you interested, as this family is definitely bizarre and dysfunctional.

The drama and mystery keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the theatrical writing just adds to the dark mood and intensity.

Aside from the writing other sinister happenings of this book (you know, like murder and such) the characters definitely steal the show. Their interactions with each other, the secrets they keep from each other, and (I know i’m repeating myself) could be a novel in itself; a character study, really. Their lives, despite being more than a bit disturbing, are one of the most unique things i’ve come across in a novel and as you get to know more about them individually, it’s hard to not take sides and favor one over the others. I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS TRUE CRIME OBSESSED FAMILY OKAY.

The only thing I wasn’t too thrilled about was the fact that many of the shocking plot twists weren’t in fact, very shocking at all. But still, despite my feelings about that, it didn’t take away from my reading experience. This book was just too unique and thrilling.

This book was sinister, atmospheric, had heart, and mystery. The creep factor was real with this one!

Fans of true crime: I definitely urge you to add this to your TBR lists!!

Highly recommend!

Love Megan Collins and her latest, The Family Plot did not disappoint! It’s a very unique and different plot than most thrillers and it hooked me from the very start. Highly recommend!
Thank you to netgalley for the the arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 STARS

Showcasing a uniquely creepy premise, I could not help but want to delve between the pages of Megan Collins’ latest book, “The Family Plot.” While I cannot claim that there were a lot of surprises hidden within these pages, I did find it to be quite an interesting read. Between the bizarre teachings and rituals, and the secrets they hold close, this family truly gives new meaning to the term “dysfunctional.” Sometimes I crave a story that is outside the norm, and (for me) “The Family Plot” definitely boasts a premise that checks that particular box.

I'm a big Megan Collins fan. Behind the Red Door was one of my favorite reads last year, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one once I saw the cover reveal. I was thrilled to be approved for an eARC and quickly dove in.

To everyone else on the island, the Lighthouse family is weird. They're homeschooled, reclusive--and they spend the majority of their time studying old murder cases. For an island plagued by its own serial killer, this is enough to give them permanent outcast status. As the now-grown up children return home to mourn the death of their father, they are shocked to discover that the body of Dahlia's twin brother, Andy, is buried in their father's grave. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery of what happened to Andy the night he went missing all those years ago, Dahlia is willing to do whatever it takes for the truth.

I loved this book.

First, while more of a slow-burn theatrical style with most of the action happening off-screen, the murder mystery was well-structured and executed beautifully. From the death of the father reuniting the siblings, to the discovery of the body, to the slow reveal of the Blackburn serial killer, the horrific details fuel the tension while also providing fascinating examples of the Lighthouses' life growing up. We get a stark portrayal of an obsession and the ways in which it feeds a toxic cycle of ruin.

What really steals the show, though, are the characters. For all the murder and mayhem wreaked on the island, this book is about family, and if you liked the sibling relationships in Flanigan's Hill House on Netflix, you are going to love this. More than the mystery, Collins examines the intricacies of their relationships and how the consequences of their decisions echo through the years. Grief and identity are central here, but coping with depression and mental health are also important to the characters, and I was glad to see the quiet communication evolving throughout the character arcs.

As the audience learns more about the family, we're essentially taking sides, solving the mysteries and using the limited knowledge to form opinions about the reliability of the narrator. And by establishing the Lighthouses as a spectacle, we're also forced to confront our own biases about that which we see as weird. I appreciated the fallout focus rather than the gratuity of violence; it felt like a realistic way to deal with extreme circumstances--a narrative choice that made this book all the more complex and interesting.

Overall, The Family Plot is a layered family mystery with resonating themes and heart. I'd recommend to fans of Collins' other works, fans of Hill House/Bly Manor, or drama-forward suspense with familial implications. Out in August, add this to your TBR asap!

Big thanks to Atria and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

I received an ARC of this title via NetGalley (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.
If you are a fan of true crime, this book is for you. If you aren’t a fan of true crime but are a fan of just mysteries this book is not for you. While the characters in the book sometimes took an extra amount of suspending belief the book was a great deal of fun to read. Murder, family drama, serial killer history, a strange upbringing, together create a create plot for true crime fans to enjoy a fictional novel that has the ambience of a cult classic.