After an especially tense Easter dinner with their three adult children, Fred and Sheila Merton are found murdered in their mansion. Fred has always been a somewhat cruel father. He seems to enjoy upsetting his children with unexpected and disturbing news. Recently, he has sold his company for millions, even though he was already very wealthy. The sale meant that his son Dan, who had been expecting to take over the company, has suddenly become unemployed and thrown into financial turmoil. HIs daughter Catherine is stunned when at the dinner her father announces that they are going to be selling the family home. Catherine, as the oldest daughter, has always expected that she will inherit the house when her parents died. Youngest daughter Jenna is something of a wild child who has been supported her whole life by her parents -- but that support is about to be cut off. When the police begin to investigate the murders, they encounter another possible motive: Fred had indicated to his sister that he was going to change his will to make her a major beneficiary. While he hadn't gotten around to it before he was killed, this could be another motive for any or all of his children to kill him. The action is very fast-paced, with the children all revealing different motives and suspicions of each other as the events unfold. I enjoyed being led to first one suspect and then another only to have a new surprise unveiled when I thought I had it all figured out!

NOT A HAPPY by Shari Lapena
Thriller fiction
352 Pages

In Shari Lapena's newest book we meet the Merton family. Father Fred, mother Sheila,  and their three children Catherine,  Dan, and Jenna. The story is based on who murdered Fred and Sheila. Their three children stand to inherit millions on their parents death. These three children aren't as innocent and angelic as they perceive themselves to be. Nothing is ever as it seems to be in the wealthy peoples lives though. Who killed Fred and Sheila Merton???? Read this book to find out......

I didn't know what to expect starting Shari Lapena's newest book. I did expect it to be great because I am a huge fan and have read all of her previous books.  I did not know what I was getting into when I started it though. Shari Lapena is one of those authors for me who I don't even read the sypnosis because I know I'll enjoy it. This book is so good I flew through it in one work day(8hrs).  It has her signature style of thrilling, twisted storytelling.  You never know what to expect but you know it is gonna be a great read.  I promise if you're a thriller fan you will be on the edge of your seat with this one
I highly recommend this book.

I love Shari Lapena's books and this one did not disappoint. There were so many great twists and turns that this book kept me guessing. The characters aren't exactly likable, but I feel like in a book like this it works. When a horrible father says awful things at Easter and then he and his wife turn up dead a few days later, it seems like any of their children could have done it. Will the dysfunctional children band together or will they turn on each other? I really liked this book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Another fabulous read by Shari Lapena. A fascinating story of a wealthy family with a penchant for lying, this kept me interested right to the end.

While I could definitely see the ending coming, Lapena keeps you guessing right up to the end.

If you enjoy tense family suspense thrillers, definitely pick this up. I’ll be recommending to my patrons!

Thanks to PRH International and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Who killed the Mertons? After a not so quiet Easter Sunday dinner with their kids, Fred and Sheila Merton are found murdered but, who killed them? After sudden revelations during dinner, was one of their children angry enough to murder them?

This was such an entertaining domestic suspense. The Merton family is not a happy family but do you know what they are? Despicable! Each and every single one of them are terrible people so there’re suspects aplenty. It’s been a while since I read a book were almost every character was absolutely loathsome (and I loved it!).

The story moved at a super quick pace. With such a dysfunctional family the secrets and revelations kept coming, making you doubt all the characters. Even though I suspected all of them at a certain moment I didn’t know who the culprit was until it was revealed. So many millions, so many motives!

Although it was more plot than character driven, with just a few brush strokes the author drew perfectly all the Merton kids.

The ending felt a bit rushed and incomplete but after the last couple of lines I shouted “yes, damn it!”, so I can say I was truly satisfied (also, I can see a follow up there).

Shari Lapena is one of those authors who books I impatiently await each year. The only negative point is that I devour them and the wait for the next one is even longer.

this story started off strong and kept you turning the pages as you tried to guess which horrible offspring killed their parents. The parents were written in such a way that readers should have little sympathy at their demise. The story fell apart at the end but that shouldn't prevent anyone from enjoying this suspenseful tale.

A great read - what we have come to expect from Lapena. Family tale of discontent, suspicion, greed and abuse that takes you on twists and turns that keep you guessing. This one didn't disappoint.

Shari Lapena is the queen of domestic suspense and her newest novel Not a Happy Family does not disappoint!
It is a fast-paced who-done-it written in typical Shari Lapena style. I haven't read a novel by this author that I didn't like and this is no exception!

Fred and Sheila Merton are found murdered in their home 2 days following an Easter dinner attended by their 3 children and their spouses/significant others and their long time housekeeper, Irena. The Merton's are extremely wealthy and their children-Dan, Catherine, and Jenna- each stand to inherit an absurd amount of money at the time of their parents deaths. We get to know the family and are made privy to their secrets and they are some doozies! This is the most dysfunctional family EVER and not one of them has any redeeming qualities, including the dead parents! I usually don't like to read about characters that I can't connect with at least one of them, but for this book it was perfect. It's safe to assume that one or more of them is a cold blooded killer, and I suspected them all at some point, including the housekeeper and Fred's sister Audrey. I really did not know the who-done-it until it was revealed because these characters were all terrible people. The conclusion was a bit rushed but I found it satisfying and I cannot wait until Shari Lapena writes her next book!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! I highly recommend!

3.5 stars
I had mixed feelings about this thriller. It was fast paced so I read it quickly, and the epilogue created a great ending to the story. However, none of the characters were likeable, there was no big twist, and the pace was very choppy - it seemed like the character point of view was switched every paragraph.

Follow the lives of five families living in an upscale cul-de-sac. Each house harbors someone with their own dreams, challenges, and secrets.

I do really like this author but this one wasn’t my favorite. I felt like it dragged in some places and just not a lot happened overall. Sorry, hopefully others enjoy it more than I did!!

Who killed the parents of the dysfunctional Merton family? Their three terrible children are all suspects, and the author did a good job of dropping clues that could point to any of them as the culprit. The action kept me engaged with the plot, and I went back and forth between thinking who the killer was until it was revealed. I read every book that Shari Lapena put out and this one did not disappoint!

I really like Shari Lapena's loosely connected series; this one was particularly good. Very Christie-esque and twisted, a perfect summer mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of Not A Happy Family.

I’ve read most of Shari Lapena’s novels and love how she spins a mystery that constantly changes. Every time you think you’ve figured it out, she makes you second guess yourself in the next chapter. Not A Happy Family was no exception. Typical whodunnit, a wealthy couple is murdered in their home on Easter Sunday. Told in alternating perspectives of their adult children and family, we learn about family secrets, and honestly, I’m surprised he wasn’t murdered sooner. What a horrible man. Easy, quick read, I was enthralled until the end!

Great mystery that will keep you guessing as to "who dunnit!" Another "must read" from Shari Lapena!

What a family!  Dysfunctional doesn’t even begin to describe the Merton family.  When the mom and dad are viciously murdered on Easter after a family dinner, the lying and backstabbing begins.  The Merton children (all adults) are only worried about getting their hands on the inheritance .  All of the characters are so unlikeable ( greedy and  dishonest) but somehow or other it seems to fit in the plot very well.  A definite page turner that will keep you guessing till the very end.  I would recommend this to anyone wanting an engaging murder mystery with lots of twists and turns.

The Merton family is assuredly "Not a Happy Family"! Shari Lapena has done it again; she has a knack for creating characters and these gaslighting Merton siblings are no different! Catherine, Dan, and Jenna grew up with wealth and Irena, their nanny, but not involved, loving parents. Parents Fred and Sheila played favorites, hurled insults, and made it perfectly clear that they were disappointed in all of their offspring. So when a typical, unhappy Easter celebration ends early due to offended children, none of them seem surprised. That is, until two days later when Irena goes into the home and finds her longtime bosses murdered. Did a business enemy kill them? Maybe a sibling? What's in their will? What ensues is well-crafted, organized chaos on Lapena's part!

The moment I see a book from this author I know I need to read it NOW.
Not a happy family is difficult for me to review as I realize many at my library will claim that it is the best book they have ever read (and it just may be). But for me, I have come to expect greatness from this author and this one was not!
I do not want to dissuade others from reading this book by listing my issues with it because this is an amazing author and I have loved her other works.
Thank you netgally for the advanced opportunity to read this book

I will always read anything Shari Lapena writes, and while Not A Happy Family was not my favorite of her books, it was still a great mystery.
When Sheila and Fred Merton are murdered the night of Easter Sunday, investigators know one of the three children must have committed the crime. All three stand to inherit a huge amount from the estate, so it seems obvious. But which one? Catherine, the oldest seems unlikely, she has a successful dermatology practice and is married to a dentist. But she is lying about going to her parents house that evening. Dan, the middle child, seems to have the most to gain from his inheritance. He has been unable to find work since his father sold his business and left Dan without a job. Jenna, the free spirited artist. also seems unlikely. But why is she lying about spending the night with her boyfriend? As investigators work to unravel the truth, more lies are exposed to make this an extremely unhappy family.
While the ending picked up, I found some of the middle part of the book to drag. However, the ending was well done and I always enjoy a twisty thriller.

Plot: the parents of three adult children are found murdered after a tense Easter dinner. Was it a robbery or was it a quick way to receive your inheritance. This was a quick read. There were lots of twists and turns. All the characters were equally unlikeable--but that was a good thing. Recommended.