This is the fifth book in the DCI Jonah Sheens series and I had to pick it up as I've followed this series from the beginning. This book can easily be read as a stand alone, though with any series it's always good to have the backstories of the characters. I do enjoy good detective series and Jonah Sheens has become a favorite, although this book is more about their team effort with Juliette and Ben more upfront.

Description:
A woman uploads her DNA online, searching for her father--but the man who contacts her is Detective Chief Inspector Jonah Sheens. From the acclaimed author of Little Sister, this endlessly twisty crime novel asks: What might a family do to protect or expose a serial killer in its midst?

When the police found the first body, left on a bonfire in the fields, they worried it had the hallmarks of a serial killer.

Now, as they find the second, they know for sure.

Panic about the "bonfire killer" quickly spreads through the sedate, suburban area of Southampton. Women are urged not to travel alone at night, and constant vigilance is encouraged among the local residents. But single mom Aisling Cooley has a lot to distract her: two beloved teenage sons and a quest to find her long-lost father, whom she hasn't seen since she was a teenager growing up in Ireland.

After much debate she decides to upload her DNA to an ancestry website, and when she gets a match she is filled with an anxious excitement, that her questions about her father's disappearance from her life might finally be answered.

But to her horror, it's not her father who's found her. It's a detective.

And they say her DNA is a close match for the bonfire killer...

My thoughts:
This is a fast-paced, well-plotted police procedural which provides satisfying tension and the investigation progresses. This one kept me guessing and I kept on being wrong. And dang - there's quite a cliffhanger! I love the way Jonah, Ben and Juliette work together so seamlessly and their friendship. I recommend to anyone who likes a good detective/police procedural with lots of twists and surprises.

Thanks to Random House through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on August 8, 2023.

I was so excited when I was invited to read Gytha Lodge’s latest; A Killer in the Family. This book is everything I look for in a thriller; tense and dark atmosphere, lots of twists and mystery. Each time I thought I knew where this book was heading, it twisted again. If you have enjoyed the other books in the Jonah Sheens series, you will love this one too.

I will say this; the ending left me with some serious whiplash! I literally gasped out loud. What a way to end this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC.

This is a perfect example of how to grab your readers attention and hold it throughout the book. I didn't know this was part if a series but I don't feel it affected the story for me at all. This was a very gripping tale and kept me guessing throughout.

Will definitely need to check out the other books in the series.

**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**

Wow! This was a great suspense read. The family drama and in-depth look in their history makes it hard to put down. Even though this is a series, this is the first one I have read. I’m looking forward to starting from book one.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The ability to log and track your family's DNA on a public forum since it became a thing has fascinated me. I’ve heard of, and know of, a few entertaining (and embarrassing) revelations based on this public test site.
Gytha Lodge’s new novel, following DCI Jonah Sheens, is a new angle on the results of DNA testing. Aisling Cooney would love to find her biological father for several reasons, but she’s shocked to be contacted by a DCI instead of a potential father donor. DCI Jonah Sheens is following up on a lead from the Bonfire Killer, who has struck twice and will definitely strike again if given the time. Aisling’s shock quickly turns to horror when her two sons are arrested and highly suspected of the crime.
The pace moves quickly as the investigation continues, and the murders continue unabated. I love being able to follow the details of life and criminal investigations in Britain. Their laws differ from American laws. The police appear to have much better manners and stricter procedures that they must follow and I’m fascinated by this. That’s why I love Ms. Lodges’ books about DCI Sheens: he’s an interesting character, and her knowledge of police procedurals is in depth. I can live vicariously through her books; she keeps the tension high, the characters believable, and the plots are always hard to guess.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group- Random House for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date is August 8, 2023.

"A Killer in the Family" is a really well written detective mystery. I have not read any of the other books in the Jonah Sheens series but I was still able to enjoy this. While the family tree/DNA storyline got a bit confusing at points I really liked all the characters and the story was very interesting with a good pace.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.

A totally gripping story that left me winded from lack of sleep. It is unlike any novel I’ve read before so, I’m at a loss to compare it to anything else. This book is both a new author and series for me. I’ve read and watched stories about the results of wonderful family reunions from DNA discoveries. The unexpected criminal relative in your family tree is also a possibility. Which one will be the outcome for Aisling as she tries to locate the father who’d walked out on her long ago? His betrayal still stings and she wants answers from her childhood in Ireland. Aisling Is divorced, raising two teenage sons. She’s big on honesty, sharing, communication and openness with them. They have no idea her past is built on omissions, secrets and dark truths. It isn’t the truth that hurts, it’s all the lies it takes to conceal the truth. I found the sons relatable and believable. There are many characters involved in the plot. There is DNA, a serial killer, an estranged father and law enforcement scrambling to piece a complicated array of evidence into a prosecutable case. It’s a tangled web of family dynamics, theories and hypothesis regarding the suspected identity of a killer. Even the DCI’s have considerable amounts of domestic drama in their lives. There are many, many twists in this story. About half way through I stopped guessing who the villain was, too many false leads and red herrings. Dare I say almost too many revelations and twists to be believable. That didn’t keep me from enjoying the plot and I would read more in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy of “A Killer in the Family” DCI Jonah Sheens Detective Series #5, by Gytha Lodge and to the publisher Penguin Random House. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

A Killer in the Family by Gytha Lodge is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The novel opens with a chilling discovery - a body left on a bonfire in the forest, raising concerns of a potential serial killer on the loose.

As the police uncover a second victim, the fear intensifies, and the atmosphere in the tranquil suburb of Southampton becomes tense and fearful. Amidst this turmoil, Aisling Cooley, a single mother, is determined to find her long-lost father, a mystery that has haunted her since her teenage years.

The plot takes an unexpected turn when Aisling uploads her DNA to an ancestry website, hoping for answers about her father. Instead, she is confronted with a shocking revelation about her DNA match. This twist throws Aisling's life into disarray, and the suspense escalates as she seeks to prove her innocence and uncover the truth.

Gytha Lodge skillfully weaves a complex web of suspense, mystery, and family secrets, drawing readers deeper into the story with each page. The pacing is masterful, keeping the tension high and the reader guessing until the final, unexpected conclusion.

With well-developed characters and a riveting plot, A Killer in the Family earns its five-star rating, delivering a thrilling and thought-provoking read that will stay with readers long after the last page is turned. Gytha Lodge's writing prowess shines brightly, making this book a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and murder mysteries

Aisling Cooley would have never dreamed that submitting a DNA sample to try to find her father would turn into a nightmare.

The Bonfire Killer was on the loose, and unknown to Aisling someone whose blood type matched blood at the newest murder scene belonged to a close relative of hers. It could be her father, brother, or son.

A KILLER IN THE FAMILY has a bit of a slow start, but as the tension grows, as we wait for the results of the DNA samples from Aisling’s sons, and as surprises pop up, you will be glued to the pages.

The premise for this book really captured my attention, and the opening chapter opened with a huge bang and really had me hooked. From there, it just went downhill for me. I didn't realize this was a series of sorts, however it is reported to read ok as a stand alone novel. Even though I was able to follow what was going on, I felt like I missed out on a lot of background information and character building. I also think it made it harder for me to follow along and keep each character straight. The story really dragged for me and I had a hard time staying interested, If you have read prior books in this series, I'm sure you would enjoy the continuation of this detective story, however if you are a newcomer like me, I don't think I would recommend jumping in here.

I haven’t read any of the other books in this series. The premise sounds great but the way it was executed was not. I’m kind of tired of the DNA trope. I just read another book about that.

It takes real skill to keep interest piqued when DNA analysis narrows the suspect list to only three possible candidates- and all from the same gene pool to boot. Thankfully Gytha Lodge has this skill in spades and uses it to our great advantage in A Killer in the Family. More than just a murder mystery-A Killer in the Family explores the ties that bind, but can also tear people to shreds. When two women are murdered in similar circumstances the police suspect a serial killer-and fear more deaths will follow. DNA blood evidence found at the second murder site points to a close male relative of Aisling Cooley-and since she has no siblings the blood could only come from her father or two sons. But Aisling's father has been missing for decades, and she's certain neither of her sons could be a killer. By necessity the plot of A Killer in the Family goes into scientific detail that is both essential and distracting. And the story becomes somewhat convoluted when dealing with what led to Aisling's father's disappearance. There's also a subplot involving a stalking ex boyfriend of one of the detective's assigned to the murder investigation. Taken individually the multiple layers of A Killer in the Family seem disjointed, but they blend together beautifully into an intense and satisfying story. A Killer in the Family is the 5th installment in the DCI Jonah Sheens series, but it can be read as a stand alone novel. And that ending...bring on the 6th book quick!!

Okay, I was super excited to get approved for this one but it just kind of fell a bit flat for me if I’m being honest.

A methodical police procedural that starts slowly but exponentially picks up speed about halfway through. This is the fifth book in the Jonah Sheen series and I have enjoyed the evolution of the characters and the significant changes in their personal lives. Due the the personal issues faced by some of the characters, this one didn't have the same decree of light banter between them that I've come to expect from these novels, although it wasn't completely absent. It can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend starting with the first book, She Lies In Wait, and reading them in order. Strongly recommended

In this installment, DCI Jonah Sheens and his team are trying to track down a serial killer. Dubbed the 'bonfire killer' because of the circumstances in which the victims are found, the killer shows no signs of slowing down. Thanks to a DNA registry compiled via a UK-based ancestry website, the investigators have a strong lead. It takes them to the doorstep of single-mom, Aisling Cooley. The events that happen next will leave both the investigators and Ms. Cooley scratching their heads. Is there a murderer in the family??? I got invested in this book and read it in one day! This was my first book by Gytha Lodge and now I will go back and read the others. #NETGALLEY #AKILLERINTHEFAMILY

Yearning to reunite with her long-lost father, Aisling Cooley submits her DNA through an online ancestry website. She gets more than she bargained for when local law enforcement suspects one of her sons a serial killer. As the investigation broadens, buried family secrets surface that turn Aisling’s world upside-down.

An intriguing premise, though some readers may find the pacing too slow, the distinction between the minor characters lacking, and a few too many breadcrumbs sprinkled along the way–resulting in a disappointingly premature resolution for diehard mystery fans. I found A KILLER IN THE FAMILY much better suited for those who enjoy family drama and a slow-build mystery, and I'm delighted to see so many enjoyed it!. Much appreciation to the author, Random House, and NetGalley for the ARC, granted in exchange for my honest opinion.

This blurb had me hooked instantly, but the book kind of fell flat for me. Maybe if I had read the previous books in the series, it would have made more sense. But I feel like the author gave us a good bit of info to catch us up if we hadn't, so I don't know. I do know the premise of this book was 5 stars. However, the execution was not.

I felt like there were too many characters - who were sometimes called by their first names and other times by their last names, with no real clarification as to why this switch up happened. And I wouldn't have considered Jonah the main character of this book. I would have bet it was equally about all of the detectives if I hadn't seen that the series is named after him.

Yet despite the confusion I felt throughout a lot of the book, I did keep reading. I wanted to know who the Bonfire Killer was. How he was related to Aisling. And there were twists that I didn't see coming (all of them really). I just wish the writing had been a bit more organized or clear. But that ending. Goodness. It left me wanting me more...in a good way!

**Thank you @netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second book from this series, as I DNFed book 1. I did not even realize this was book 5 in a series. Though there were some things happening that I had to infer on, it did not take away from the main plot/mystery.

What I liked:
The overall plot was well thought out. There were enough twists that you had to piece things together and the end result was satisfying. I like the team of officers in this series and found myself really enjoying the time we were with those characters the most. In part 2 of the book the plot picks up tremendously and that is what kept me in.

What I didn't: Just like the first in this series, there are times when the storytelling drags. Over descriptions at times, and to be honest I did not like Aisling. Her characters choices-- especially at the end of the book-- were just ridiculous. I am tired of the I have a secret past and no one can find out trope that is used to cliffhang chapters. Listen we all are going to find out, so just tell us in less pages.

I have read all five of the D.C.Inspector Jonah Sheens police procedurals. I admire the way they describe a detailed police investigation. They show the painstaking, skillful, and tedious work involved by a dedicated, cooperative team leading to a successful conclusion and justice. This was a more complicated crime case than in the previous books in the series, where the crime was more straightforward. The premise of using a genealogical DNA site to trace family members after the regular method of DNA analysis failed to find a match in the database was unique.

This was a very tangled story of family secrets and dynamics. The plot was complex and somewhat convoluted, with a vast array of characters. Some characters are adopted and unaware of their biological origins or have changed their names in the past. The story introduces us to siblings, half-siblings, estranged fathers, unacknowledged biological fathers, adoptive fathers, adopted children, a missing baby, and cousins. This twisted, complicated plot must be untangled to solve the murder mysteries. There is plenty of misdirection and twists to keep the reader guessing.

Aisling Cooley submits a sample of her DNA to an Ancestry site in an effort to locate her father, who vanished years earlier. She lives with her two beloved teenage sons and believes she forms a close unit with them. However, she withholds a secret from them. The DNA test fails to locate her father but leads to the police showing up at her home.

The police are searching for a killer who burned a woman's body on a pyre. Then another woman was murdered, her body placed on an unlit pyre where blood was found and analyzed for DNA. Both women were loners and in their 40s. From the test results, Aisling's father and her two sons are suspects in the police investigation because of the blood match. Aisling fiercely defends her two sons but is worried because they are keeping something important from her. Next, a mare is found burned on a pyre at a place where horses are bred and raised. This leads us to the owner, his two sons, and hired help who would know their way around the stables and grounds. Has someone been practicing burning bodies? Aisling is relieved when her two sons and father are ruled out as suspects.

The search is now on to identify and locate other blood relatives, and the search becomes more detailed and intricate. There is plenty of twists and misdirection to keep the reader guessing during the untangling of family secrets and dynamics.

The mystery plot works well as a stand-alone, but the detectives' personal problems are continued from previous books. To understand these, the reader should have read earlier books and remembered their problems outside their work. These diversions can be ignored as unnecessary to the unravelling of the mystery. The conclusion was a shocking cliffhanger, and I am waiting impatiently for the next book in the series.

This was a solid 3.5 Star book for me. I thought it was better than a 3, and have raised it to 4 Stars despite some reservations due to its complexity. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the exciting and fascinating early digital ARC. Publication is due August 8.

A Killer in the Family is a fast paced detective novel, following multiple POVs and leaving the reader guessing until the end. As a novice when it comes to murder mysteries, I may have an uneducated opinion, but I did not see the final reveal coming and was intrigued as each potential killer was crossed off throughout.

I found the writing to be clean and direct, and it kept the action moving along at a great pace. Even with so many characters, each one was unique and had details revealed that made them feel like real people. This was the part I liked the most and sets this book apart from other murder mysteries.

The only part I struggled with was the technical aspects of DNA tracing. As it was part of the plot and outcome, it was important to understand, and I was left more confused about how it all worked.

Overall, I thought this was an engaging and well written story!