Gytha Lodge does not disappoint! I’ve enjoyed all the books in this series and A Killer in the Family continues great characters and story lines..

I love the premise of this, since its not something i have read in a lot of other books! and it is something that you see starting to happen in real life. so super relatable to the times-ish. could not put down!

Unfortunately, this title is one that I could not get to. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity.

This is my first book by this author. I did not know it was part of a series until I was finished with the book. It flows that seamlessly.
I don't normally do the cop books but this was okay. I was really into the story.
It is creepy and interesting.

WOW what a book! This kept me guessing the entire time! I thought I knew what was going to happen but I didnt and was suprised throughtout this entire book! It has a very psychological thrill aspect of the book and really did have that aspect. I thought it was captivating too and did that from the start and stayed that way throughout the entire novel.

This was an excellent read! I have read Lodge's work before and loves it. The description hooked me right away. The DNA matches you to a serial killer? Yes please!! One twist after another this read kept me on my toes and reading way past bedtime. Highly recommend

This is probably my favorite of the series. I have absolutely enjoyed the thrills that DCI Jonah brings with every new addition.

This procedural focuses on genetic genealogy, such a popular topic in both fiction and nonfiction right now for its complications, legal challenges, and the potential for case solving. It has some shocking reveals and twists, and a nice balance of investigative work with character development for both the family that finds itself embroiled in the case and the team of investigators, advancing storylines for the series. While this is part of a series, I have only read the first book in the series years ago, and this one works fine as a standalone.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley! This was a mystery surrounding a single mom who uploads her DNA to a site and finds out she is related to a serial killer hating her town. This book was a little slow for me, taking about a quarter of it to pick up speed. The twist was very easy to see early on, leaving me not too excited to finish the book. The detectives were also not very good making it almost unbearable to watch their investigation.

This book will appeal to some. I have a difficult time with books that area slow to start and this one was. I hung on and finished it. I liked the plot. It was different and the characters were appealing but I would have liked to have been clued in a little sooner on the rest of the story. Thanks to #NetGalley#A KillerintheFamily for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I enjoyed this thriller. There was a lot of potential and I enjoyed the read. It had a unique plot line to it and I was super excited for it, but I'm just not a fan of slow burn so this wasn't for me.

I liked this! A solid thriller with a great twist. I found the character development to be strong, and enjoyed how it kept my attention the whole way through.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed all the twists and turns and turns in this book! I never really knew what was coming and love guessing who the murderer is! I didn’t realize initially when I started this book that it was the fifth in the series but it read well as a standalone and I didn’t feel like I was missing any information. It was suspenseful and at tines heartbreaking but I felt it wrapped up perfectly! if you like mysteries and police procedurals, be sure to check this book out!

I'm not sure why I didn't love this one. It has everything in it that I enjoy, a serial killer, DNA evidence, etc...I didn't really connect with the characters, and the part I struggled with the most was covering up for your child. In a small incident, absolutely. Something major like this? Nope.

A Chilling Tale of Secrets and Betrayal

In Gytha Lodge's gripping novel, A Killer in the Family, we are drawn into a tangled web of secrets and lies that threatens to tear a family apart. When the body of a young woman is discovered in a remote forest, Detective Chief Inspector Jonah Sheens is called in to investigate. As he delves into the victim's life, he uncovers a trail of deceit and betrayal that leads him to suspect a member of her own family.

Aisling Cooley, a single mother and game developer, is haunted by the disappearance of her father, who abandoned her and her mother years ago. Desperate for answers, she uploads her DNA to an ancestry website, hoping to find him. But instead, she receives a call from Detective Sheens, who informs her that her DNA matches a sample found at the crime scene.

Aisling's two sons, 17-year-old Liam and 15-year-old Sean, are also caught in the whirlwind of suspicion. Liam is a troubled young man with a history of violence, while Sean is a quiet and introverted teenager. As Detective Sheens investigates further, he begins to question the loyalty of everyone in the Cooley family.

A Gripping Mystery with Twists and Turns

Lodge masterfully weaves together the perspectives of Aisling, her sons, and Detective Sheens, creating a suspenseful and multilayered narrative. We are kept guessing until the very end, as Lodge skillfully drops clues and red herrings along the way. The novel is full of unexpected twists and turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

A Compelling Exploration of Family Dynamics

At its core, A Killer in the Family is a story about family dynamics and the secrets that can fester within them. Lodge delves into the complex relationships between parents and children, siblings, and spouses, revealing the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary lives.

A Must-Read for Fans of Psychological Thrillers

With its well-developed characters, intricate plot, and suspenseful atmosphere, A Killer in the Family is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. Lodge's masterful storytelling will keep you hooked from the very first page until the shocking conclusion.

Aisling Cooley is desperate to find her father, who disappeared years before, and she decides to send a DNA sample to an ancestry site, hoping that her father had done the same. Aisling did get a match, but it wasn’t to her father. It was to the Bonfire Killer, someone who had the residents of Southampton terrified, after two murders where the women’s bodies were set on fire. Based on the DNA results, Aisling is convinced her father has become a serial killer, and is hopeful for the first time in years that Dara Cooley is still alive somewhere.

This book just fascinated me! Gytha Lodge has illustrated so many ways your DNA can be somewhere you are not, and I never considered any of them. I liked Aisling, with her very modern occupation, and felt it would make sense for her to consider a modern technique for finding Dara. Her deep love for her sons was evident in everything she did, even though she had not been honest with them about her early life. I really enjoyed this journey through Southampton and was surprised by both the killer and the family.

3.5 Stars

The characters were intriguing and the premise was exciting. Although I had not read any of the other books in the DCI Jonah Sheens series, I did not feel lost. It would be nice to read the others for more background on the characters, but the author provides enough details so that each book can be read as a standalone. Police crime dramas are not my favorite genre, but I still enjoyed this one. The plot got a little convoluted towards the end and the police work was questionable at times. However, if you are a fan of the series and police procedural mysteries, then you will definitely like this book!

Thank you, NetGalley for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Fast paced and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

DNF this title. I gave it two different tries and I just cannot get into it. The first time I felt there were too many people to follow along. The second time I followed a bit better but I’m 20% in and it just is not holding my attention. To see I still had so much left (over 7 hours) of book, I just felt it was time to give it up. I think there is potential and definitely some hidden pasts that you want to uncover and find how everything is connected, but for me I have to pass.

This book was fantastic I can’t recommend it enough. All the twists and turns the author takes you on is amazing. And then ending was AMAZING