Thank you #NetGalley and #Bookouture for letting me read this book.I was gripped from the very first page.As the story went on, the more I was sucked in.

Good thriller that keeps you on your toes and questioning every single person - EVERYBODY is keeping secrets. The author did a good job at keeping each character with enough uncertainty that I truly didn’t know who was responsible for what until it was revealed.

Some of the characters got on my nerves (looking at you, Natalie), but that was her character to play. There was also aspects of the story that weren’t really closed or had any realistic consequences (that’s all I will say without giving spoilers)

The story was a bit far fetched with how messy everything was and how it played out in the end, but hey, that’s the sometimes the point of fiction books isn’t it??

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An excellent book with all the required elements for a good crime thriller. Recommended.

3.5/5 stars - Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to review this book! While I had some issues with uneven pacing and the believability of the story, I did enjoy this read. The end was especially satisfying. Hallie was a flawed main character, but her story was interesting and there were enough twists and turns to keep this one fun.

What to expect if you pick this up: I felt that this book was longer than it needed to be. The pacing was a bit off. It moved along well in places and dragged on others. The premise was interesting if a little far-fetched - a down-on-her-luck young woman gets a chance to spend some time with her long-lost father and his family in Lake Tahoe, where she ends up cooking in his restaurant despite having no real culinary background. If you can get past the fact that they invited a virtual stranger to spend two weeks in their home without knowing anything about her, then you might enjoy this book. There were other choices made by the characters that didn’t seem likely to me, but I’ll leave this review spoiler-free. There are a few twists and turns, but I mostly had things figured out.

You’ll like this if: you can suspend disbelief and you enjoy a good redemption story.

I went back and forth while reading. Who was telling the truth? Who was lying? There was more to Hallie than meets the eye and she’s had a tough life, some due to her own actions.
DNA analysis and reuniting lost kin is a gold mine fir stories and Kane plays it up nicely.
However, the more I learned about Hallie’s new found family, I think she would have been better if she stayed lost.
My favorite character was Nick because I think he was the most authentic.
I liked the Lake Tahoe setting too.

Overall I really enjoyed this story. By the halfway point I didn't trust any of the characters, including our main one. There were a couple of really great twists that kept me guessing. I loved the ending! My biggest complaint is that what could have been a very suspenseful twist is given away in the blurb. That left me waiting throughout the read for it to be revealed and took away the tension.

"𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩."


So, I was craving a mystery-thriller fix, and guess what? This book totally delivered! Right from the start, it had me hooked. Okay, I'll admit, the beginning took a bit to rev up, but once it got going, it really took off. The second half? I couldn't put it down.

Now, Hallie is the main character, and I was seriously rooting for her. Her backstory and how she handled all the chaos? Impressive stuff. Usually, I'm not a fan of third-person storytelling, but this one had me forgetting about it.

And that climax? I couldn't help but grin like crazy during the big showdown. Yeah, I might've gotten some looks, but the book had me seriously invested.

Compelling Characters? Check. Story? Absolutely. This book had me hooked. And yeah, when I hit that last page, I wanted more – more from the characters, more from the story. But even with that, I closed the book feeling pretty satisfied.

Bottom line, "The Wrong Family" satisfied my mystery-thriller craving perfectly. If you're into mysteries or thrillers, give this one a shot. It's worth it.

Great read!

This book keeps you on your toes. It’s hard to know who are the bad guys out of all the characters. Lots of twists and turns.

I would definitely recommend it 4.5stars.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When reviewing this book on NetGalley I was excited to read it, overall it was ok. I was expecting more of a thriller and it ended up being a predictable story. It was a boring story, it had such good potential. An overview, a woman does a DNA test then a random wealthy man shows up to invite her to stay at his house. The woman thinks this is her father, plot twist...it's not. This may be a good book for you, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Hallie finds her paternal father after a genetic dna match,
she gets in touch with him and her invites her to stay with him
and his family in his Lake Tahoe home.
Following her arrival strange things start to happen
In the house and fingers are being pointed at Hallie.
Can Hallie find out what is going on before it is way to late.
Given we know Robert is not Hallies father that took away
some of the shock value but this is a really good read.

Hallie has not had an easy life. Her mother was a drug addict who never provided a life of stability. She passed away in a car accident when Hallie was young. She then had to endure an unstable life in foster care. She has never known who her father is.

She provides dna to a genetic testing site. And wrote many letters to people named Robert Thompson trying to find her dad. Years later she receives an email with a paternal match. She meets her father and he invites her to visit with his family at their lake house for two weeks. Considering she’s just been evicted & gotten fired from her job, not to mention committed a crime, she agrees.

But since Hallie has arrived at her dad's house strange things keep occurring and she always seems connected to them in some way. She begins to realize this family is not as perfect as they appear to be.

There were a lot of things I liked about this book. All the characters seemed suspicious at certain points throughout. I also really liked the letters and emails she got in response to the letters she sent out. I was really surprised at the twist at the end.

I have to say though, that I really didn’t like the book description. For one thing, why give away what could have been a shocking reveal towards the end of the book? Also, a lot of it was just really misleading & really could use a rewrite. Despite these couple issues, and what ended up being a kind of unsatisfying ending, I really did enjoy the book & would recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advanced copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book! A storyline about a woman finding her father through a family DNA site and then meeting him and his family, is a great concept for a mystery/thriller. The pacing of this book was great. I was never bored, I was constantly wondering what would come next and where the story would go. All the characters tried to appear “perfect” so as to impress each other and make a good impression, but as the story goes on this slowly unravels and peoples secrets start to be revealed. The more you learn the more you want to know, keeping you hooked the whole time. There were quite a few unexpected twists and while I pieced together/predicted some things, I was mostly surprised by the ending. All the major points of the storyline were wrapped up, but the story definitely ended slightly open, with the possibility for a sequel. I am satisfied with how things ended (I’m not left with a bunch of questions), but if there turns out to be a follow up to this book and the story continues, I will definitely read it! All in all, I think this was a great book!

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mystery Level: ❓❓❓

The Wrong Family by Ellery A. Kane is a mystery that takes you along for a ride. Hallie Sherman trying to find her father with only a name her mother cursed throughout her life, Robert Sherman. On her 28th birthday, Hallie decides to find her father after all these years. Finally weeks after DNA testing, she is given a match and one special Robert Thompson invites her up to Lake Tahoe to spend two weeks with her newfound family.

However, the picturesque Thompsons and their perfect life in Lake Tahoe is not what it seems to be at all. Strange and creepy things start to happen when Hallie arrives. As the newcomer who doesn't quite fit in, fingers start to point to her. Will Hallie find out who the real culprit is before time runs out?

~~~

Just a quick note for readers: Don't read the official summary for the book and just go by what I've written because it gives away a pretty big twist of the book. Going in blind will definitely enhance your reading experience!

For the publishers/whoever is in charge of the summary: Adding the twist in the synopsis and the way it was written, led me to believe this was going to be a very different book and more sinister. That being said I did enjoy it as its own thing! However, I do think the misleading summary could lead to potential readers being disappointed.

All that aside, let's get into my thoughts! As thrilling as this was a mystery, at the heart of it it explored family bonds, what it means to find your roots and be in a family. I loved how much of a character exploration book this was, it really added to my reading experience.

Ellery did a great job of balancing the mystery along side the family aspect. It was like a family epic wrapped up in a mystery thriller and you don't quite realise it until after.

Let's talk about the mystery:
As any good mystery does, it opened up many intriguing questions that pointed fingers at different characters They kept my on my toes. I was always trying to figure out an explanation and who was causing the trouble. Easily one of the best page turners I've read.

Onto The Identity, Knowing Your Roots:
It was just a realistic portrayal (albeit a rich white family) of what it means to be in a family. Especially a dysfunctional one with secrets and it felt very universal. It was something I could relate to despite having nothing in common with the Thompsons. This storyline also had a lot of heart to it. How Hallie felt cast out was written in a way that hit really close to home.

Favourites:
Without giving away too much, the ultimate antagonist was honestly one of my favourite characters. Their arc was so compelling and I really enjoyed reading their relationship with Hallie. It's just how they ended up connected to everything gave layers to their previous scenes. It made this book reread-able. I love when books uncover layers with each reread. If Ellery is up for expanding this series, I would love a future book about them and their life.

My favourite part has to be the letters that Hallie sends out to various Robert Thompsons in the area in hoes of finding her father. They're fun interludes between every few chapters detailing the replies. It was a good breather after tense moments and had great foreshadowing towards the end. Ultimately, it was so amusing to read about the different types of men and how they turned out.

Overall this book is going onto my list of favourites. It had been a while since I thoroughly enjoyed reading a novel, thought about for days and have much to say on. Definitely recommend it for fans of mystery, with a bit of slice of life and those who would like to examine what it means to belong. Happy reading!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ellery A. Kane and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love thrillers, and from the start, this one was fun and fast paced. It was easy to jump into. I really enjoyed the emails included throughout. The twist in this was great, though I did figure it out immediately. I enjoyed the story in this book. This was more than just your average thriller and it worked pretty well.

(Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC!)

Another outstanding story that will have you wondering what could possibly happen next. Intriguing, suspenseful with great characters that draw you in.

This book is about a girl that lost her mother in a car accident at the age of 9. Her father was never around, so she was placed in foster care and placement and so on. One day she decides to write to a bunch of men that have the same name as her dad, in hopes that they will take a DNA test. She gets lucky one day and gets a response back, and decides to spend 2 weeks with her new family. Well things keep going wrong while she is there, and it turns out to be totally opposite of what she expected. I really liked how the book had different letters written to hallie from the potential fathers. The book was pretty good, and has a great twist at the end.

I loved the concept of the book - what if genealogical sites were hacked or giving out incorrect information? What if we couldn't trust what is supposed to be rock solid? The protagonist named Hallie (suffering from maybe a bit of daddy issues) jumps right on in incorporating herself into an effluent family living in Lake Tahoe who offers her two weeks to meet her long lost family when DNA results proclaim one man as her dad. Which is surprising considering she's supposed to be a 28 year old street smart kid (and I say kid because honestly she's written very similarly to my 14 year old daughter), but we will chalk up her psychological immaturity to the fact that she grew up with an addict of a mom and bouncing among temporary families. I thought we were heading toward a supernatural vibe with some mysterious occurrences from the onset, but those faded quickly. Hallie's new half-sister is a 22 year old insufferable brat and the wife of her newfound dad seems to have an issue with boundaries as she rummages through Hallie's things. As more strange things occur, culminating in a murder, all fingers point to Hallie. I will give some points to the "twist" at the end and I loved the way the author interspersed letters and emails from other potential fathers who answered Hallie's desperate pleas to all men with her father's name to take the DNA test and see if they are a match. All in all, perhaps Hallie *should* have been written as a teenager bumbling her way through life and it may have been more plausible.

"The Wrong Family" by Ellery A. Kane is a heart-pounding psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the very first page. The story follows a young woman's journey to connect with her biological father, only to find herself entangled in a web of deception and danger that threatens to unravel her life.

The author masterfully crafts a suspenseful atmosphere, drawing readers into the opulent world of the Thompson family. As the protagonist navigates the intricacies of her newfound family dynamics, the tension steadily mounts as strange and inexplicable things happen. Kane expertly plays with the reader's perceptions, creating an eerie sense of unease as the line between reality and deception blurs.

The characters in "The Wrong Family" are richly developed and layered, each with their own secrets and motives. The protagonist's vulnerability and determination make her a relatable and engaging lead. The interactions between the characters are full of suspicion and hidden agendas, adding to the overall sense of foreboding.

The pacing of the novel is skillfully orchestrated, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the final page and allowing room for a promising sequel. Kane weaves a complex tapestry of mystery, psychological manipulation, and unexpected revelations that will leave you breathless.

As the protagonist delves deeper into the dark secrets of the Thompson family, the tension builds to a chilling climax that delivers both emotional impact and a satisfying resolution with plenty of questions for the future. "The Wrong Family" is a gripping tale that showcases Kane's ability to create a suspenseful and immersive reading experience.

If you're a fan of psychological thrillers filled with twists and suspense, "The Wrong Family" is a must-read. Ellery A. Kane's storytelling prowess shines through in this captivating novel that will have you questioning everything until the very end.

I am a huge fan of Ellery Kane's writing. Her Doctors of Darkness series was amazing and Shadows Among Us (#4) was dark and twisty and one of my all time favorite books. It had real raw emotion, can't turn the page fast enough suspense, unpredictable twists and a memorable plot. The Good Wife and The House Sitter were also twisty and fabulous though not as dark.

This novel was good but sadly it was not my favorite. It felt more Young Adult than what I'm used to reading from this author. Another big issue is that whoever wrote the blurb on the back of the book gave up one of the biggest twists. Robert not being Hallie's father isn't revealed until about 80% of the way through the book. Why include such a huge spoiler in the synopsis?!

One thing I liked was how the author kind of brought us along Hallie's search for her father. Hallie submitting her DNA to Family Ties and then wrote to hundreds of Robert Thompsons asking them to submit theirs to see if it's a match. We are treated to intermittent response letters from wide variety of personalities.

The overall plot of finding out what the Thompsons were hiding and finding out who was responsible for the murder was well done.

Unfortunately, Hallie's character didn't quite ring true. She lost her job and was essentially broke and homeless when she went to stay her "father" for 2 weeks to get to know him and his(/her) family. She left behind trouble with the law, which she's no stranger to. She previously pushed a lady, who accidentally fell down the stairs, and spent 5 years in juvie, until age 21. She gets out and works at a diner but assaults an a-hole customer and then robs him, which is how she lost her job. Yes he was a jerk, but tons of customers are jerks. Did 5 years (and the need to pay your bills) not teach you to watch your temper? When all is revealed and she's kicked out of Robert's house, she has to go back to where she came from and face her legal issues. We're supposed to believe that she gives the $5k she won in a contest to a friend she just met, who owns a vehicle, has a place to live and a job, because he needs it more? Likewise, she's working in a soup kitchen doing community service for the assault and robbery, and she decides to sell the one thing of value her dead mother gave her, that she has always cherished, and gives the money to charity. It is a nice sentiment, but she is hardly in a position to keep giving money away. She's got herself to support while spending her time on community service, and most likely would have been ordered to pay restitution to the guy she robbed (i.e. pay him back).

My review seems to be in the minority, so please be sure to read the more favorable reviews as well. Thank you NetGalley, Ellery Kane and Bookouture for the ARC.

This book is about a young woman named Hallie and her attempt to contact her long lost father through the means of letters and emails and through an ancestry website.
Once found, her supposed family have some serious suspicions around her and her background.
Throughout the two weeks that she spends living with her new “family” strange things start to happen like a family portrait getting torn up and a gun going missing.
All suspicions point to Hallie as the culprit, but is there something her family isn’t telling her?
I found this book really easy to read, fast paced and left me surprised at the end of every chapter. I would recommend this book to people who are fans of stories with a wide cast of characters and love mysteries