When the publisher offered me a widget for an arc of this new thriller via NetGalley, I accepted with delight because I enjoyed Jamie Day's previous book, The Block Party. This one I had mixed feelings about however as I read. It's part family drama and part mystery but I feel like I've read so many of these 'locked room' mysteries set in remote locations cut off from civilization by Mother Nature with a murderer in their midst. Although the characters are interesting with all their flaws and secrets, the plot itself just didn't seem all that fresh to me.

This story is set in a vintage family-owned hotel called the Precipice, situated on the coast of Maine. George Bishop, the long-time owner, has died suddenly and his three daughters, their spouses and children, along with the family lawyer, are all coming for the reading of the will. But also heading towards them is Hurricane Larry.

The story is told mainly from the pov of the 19-year-old chambermaid named Charley who has been living in a closet-sized room at the hotel free of charge for the past two years. She is desperately trying to earn enough money to keep the grandmother who raised her in eldercare. But the rates keep going up so Charley is not above doing a little pilfering from guests to make ends meet. And when a woman named Bree approaches Charley, asking if she can hide in the hotel to escape her abusive boyfriend, Charley sees an opportunity to earn some extra cash under the table.

As soon as the sisters and their families arrive, the bickering begins. One big happy family alright, with lots of secrets and grudges. Not long after the will is read, someone dies. Is it a natural death or is there a murderer in their midst? And of course, as the problems escalate, they realize it's too late to leave and they are cut off from any help.

This is entertaining for a quick summer read but Jamie Day didn't knock it out of the park for me this time around.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is an unusual novel. The novel starts out with some background and then pops right into the present day. The novel goes back and forth in time to highlight different memories of the sisters or of the present occupants. The premise is an old inn in Maine on the cliffs looking out to the sea. The owner has died and asked that the will be read while his children are at the inn. There is a hurricane coming up the coast and is going to hit the inn in a number of hours. However the wind has already done damage and trapped them all at the property with so many large trees blocking the road. To top it off, in a fit of rage, one of the sisters ripped the modem from the wall and shot it so it would no longer function.

The Bishop sisters, Iris, Vicki, and Faith, arrive at the inn with their children and the lawyer who is going to read the will. Meanwhile the cook has taken off as has the front end manager leaving Charley (the maid) as the last worker. On top of that Charley has hidden Bree (an abused girlfriend) at the inn.

Everyone at the inn has hidden secrets and information that they should share. There are betrayals, more betrayals and even some surprises that no one expects. There is a hidden painting worth millions. On top of that there are weapons brandished at a whim, kitchen knives, and lots of alcohol. As the storm rises as does all the tempers and stories, until various people have been killed or tried to be killed or actually were the killers when help eventually arrives. It is a mess that you can not put down!

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is not about one big happy family, but about betrayals, lies, affairs, hatred and good old fashioned murder. It is hard to put the book down and stop reading it.

What better setting for a mystery/thriller than an old hotel in remote Maine where dysfunctional family members come home to hear their father's will - amid a hurricane! Three hotel employees greet the Bishop sisters and their families, but two leave to check on their own families, leaving behind 19-year old Charley - the maid. Unbeknownst to the family -Charley has agreed to secretly shelter a young woman, Bree, from an abusive boyfriend until the storm is over, planning to move her from room to room to keep her out of sight. Putting all the characters together, which includes Vicky's husband, who has secret history with both of her sisters, Faith and Iris, Faith's partner Hope and their son Oliver, and Vicky and Todd's son, Quinn. Remarkably - each person in this group has a secret involving someone else within the Bishop family. The tortuous interactions of family members reveal both loyalty and hate. As Charley and Bree play "mediators" in family gatherings, haunting poems appear with dire predictions leading to murder and mental unraveling! Secrets spill out and Charley is caught in the middle, fearing for her own life as she tries to figure out just who she can trust in Hotel Precipice. This story keeps the reader trying to guess just who is the most evil of all - capable of revenge and violence. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #OneBigHappyFamily

I won't repeat the publisher's book blurb here because they do a great job of summarizing the overall plot of the book. I believe my job as a reviewer is to give my opinion as to whether the book lives up to the description which made us decide to read the book.

There are many things to like about this book. Day does a great job of setting atmospheric tension with the ever-nearing hurricane, and the dysfunctionality of the sisters' relationships with one another. One would be hard pressed to find a more dysfunctional family, and they seem eager to prove it. Chapters are short which propels the reader onward. There's just something compelling about a "locked door" mystery. There are plenty of twists, though not all of them are unexpected. All of these things make this read an enjoyable diversion.

It falls short for me because the abundance of personal flaws in the characters make it difficult for me to relate to them and/or care what happens to them (other than wanting to know how it all works out in the end). I personally don't think this book is as good as the author's previous book The Block Party.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to access a DRC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given. Publication is 7/16/24.

Family drama and great suspense! This book will take you on a ride. Filled with twists and turns, It is fun getting to know the Bishop sisters. This is a locked room mystery with the reader guessing till the end! There are 3 sisters with secrets, a hurricane, and a murder.

This book is fun and unique. All the sisters are different with Vicki being the craziest and most unpredictable!

Heart-Throbbing, Great Setting and Fun Characters! 3 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy! Grab a copy of this book on 7/16/24.

Nineteen year old Charley has essentially been on her own for the past two years, Her father has never been in the picture, her mother has died of a drug overdose, and her beloved grandmother is in a care facility with dementia taking her farther and farther away. With a room and board position at a remote coastal Maine hotel she’s had to endure the owner, George Bishop, who has a history of getting physical with attractive young staff, but now he’s dead of apparent heart troubles so his three daughters and their various family members have come to hear the reading of the will. The author starts the story in the midst of an approaching hurricane, Charley soon finds herself trapped in the old hotel with the Bishop family, a lawyer and a young woman fleeing an abusive boyfriend. The family interactions with each other are at the center of the story, secrets and guilty consciences push them beyond normal behavior. I enjoyed the atmosphere, and the story being told from different points of view, especially Charley when she speaks to us in the first person. She’s a great character, a smart, hardworking young woman who isn’t above taking chances to be able to pay for her grandmothers care. The plot kept me guessing as secrets are revealed, the final reveal of the culprit and there motive was definitely a surprise,
Thanks to author Jamie Day, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy, I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys locked room mysteries, and stormy atmospheric settings.

Reading this book took me back to my teen years when I was drawn to gothic mysteries such as those by Mary Stewart. If all references to cell phones were removed, I could have easily believed I was reading one of my favorite novels from back then. It appears that novels centered around housemaids are a popular trend these days. Besides cleaning skills, the maid should be able to solve murder mysteries. I could envision this story being made into a movie because of all the twists and turns along with a great deal of family dysfunction. Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Publishing and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

Packed to the gills with family dysfunction, sordid secrets, and over-the-top fun, One Big Happy Family was nothing like what I expected but everything that I wanted. From the Agatha Christie-esque atmosphere to the setting so vibrant it felt like a character, this locked room mystery was a masterful whodunnit…mostly. After all, there were a few teeny, tiny issues that irked me just a bit. Did they ruin this fast-paced, twisty book? Thankfully, not in the least.

The plot was certainly something to behold. Told in four parts from a (mainly) omniscient perspective, I was pulled into the action right from the start. And what a start that it was. The only section narrated in the first-person, Charley won me over hook, line, and sinker. Kind-hearted and endearing, she had quite the introduction to the nutty clan of Bishops. They, however, were quite possibly some of my favorite personas. Eccentric and quirky, there was a definite Alice Feeney feel to them all mixed judiciously with a delicious Kaira Rouda crazy train vibe.

There was, unfortunately, quite a bit of unnecessary melodrama running throughout. In the beginning, I was utterly enthralled by each OTT moment, but by the second half, it became a bit much. Especially given the long-winded climax that required a definite suspension of all disbelief. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy each and every word. It just felt as though the two halves didn’t quite match. Perhaps some editing could have rectified it. But then, that’s just this non-writer’s extremely humble opinion.

All in all, though, with gripping flashbacks and giggle-worthy humor, Day crafted a novel that I felt was even better than his debut. A mystery/thriller chocked full of multi-dimensional characters and dark secrets, I simply flew through the pages. And when I got to that finale that left me in tears? Well, what can I say—few books can muster what this author delivered. So if you love a good locked room mystery or toxic family drama, this book is for you. Just maybe be prepared for an over-the-top feel. Rating of 4 stars.

Thank you to Jamie Day, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

A thriller that had more than a few twists and turns that will keep you on your toes. When you think you figured out the Bishop sisters you find yourself wrong. And the mysterious guest in the hotel is just that- mysterious. An overall good book. The plot was great and the flashbacks were aptly situated in the book and still gave nothing away.

I really enjoyed the Block Party so I was excited to get this one. I read most of it on audiobook and it wasn’t until the last 15 percent or so that I became impatient enough to switch to kindle to get through it faster. I found the twists and turns to be pretty predictable once they came and I do wish the book had moved a little faster. I thought the characters were interesting and I loved the way the narrator brought them to life. Charlie works as a maid with an old closet for a room as part of her wages. She struggles to get enough money each month to support her Nana who has dementia and is in assisted living. The likely new owners of the hotel, three sisters, are coming for the will reading after their father dies despite the fact that hurricane is on its way in. Soon the three sisters, the attorney, Charlie, her friend Bree, and the sisters’ families are trapped in the hotel, but there are a lot of secrets and not everyone is ok with them all being kept. I enjoyed this book a lot even if it was a little more drama and not quite as many twists and turns as I was hoping for.

The title is something of a misnomer. This family is in no way happy. Not in the childhood of the three sisters and not in novel present day. Charley’s story isn’t any better.
The outcome of the book was interesting.
The narrator did a good job.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press and MacMillan Audio for the chance to read this book.

“This crew makes the Addams Family seem like the Brady Bunch.”

🔎Toxic family dynamic
🔎Complex unpredictable characters
🔎Locked door thriller
🔎Who-dunnit mystery

This was my first book by Jamie Day and I enjoyed it. It felt like I was in a toxic, drama filled game of Clue…who murdered who, in which room, and with what weapon? It is safe to say, this is not One Big Happy Family.

Like most thrillers, there is a large cast of complex characters, each with secrets of their own, who could all be possible suspects. The story was a little predictable but there were still a few twists that I didn’t see coming. I really liked the first part of the story that was told through Charley’s POV. She is probably the only likable character. She is young, resilient, and works incredibly hard in order to support her grandmother.

The pairing of the epub and the audiobook made for a great immersive experience. Saskia Maarleveld gave each of the characters their own unique voice making them easy to distinguish, not an easy task when there are so many characters, delivering an impressive performance throughout the entire book.

Thank you @NetGalley, @stmartinspress, and @macmillanaudio for the #gifted ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I’d like to thank Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read One Big Happy Family before its release on July 16th. This was an atmospheric, locked room mystery. This book was an easy read and held my interest, but I guessed the main twist pretty early on. On top of that, some of the characters were just downright ridiculous and had me rolling my eyes. This was my first novel by Jamie Day, and I definitely plan on picking up the Block Party at some point. Giving this title 3 stars and would recommend to fans of locked room mysteries.

I loved this one! I like the thrill and mystery of the plot , the characters were written well : can’t wait to read more by this author

This locked room mystery was intriguing. The premise of the book was good and drew me in. Although I figured out who it was, it didn’t take away from the story. Overall, I enjoyed the story.

One Big Happy Family

Suspend belief and you’ll enjoy this ride. I wouldn’t call this a complex read but rather quite complicated family dynamics and a lot of drama. There were at least a couple characters that were good at their core and that helped balance the absolutely crazy ones. I loved the audio because it was Saskia Maarleveld and ended up doing the majority that way and with short chapters and clear character timelines it was a very easy book to follow even with a heap load of characters.

If you enjoy over the top stories with mildly insane characters while also dealing with a hurricane then this will be right up your alley!

3/5⭐️

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the alc and St. Martin’s Press for the arc via Netgalley.

A hurricane on the way at a Maine hotel is the perfect scene for an awkward family reunion as the patriarch passed. You suspect everyone you meet and aren't sure who to believe - the sisters, their spouses, their children, the housekeeper, the hidden guest, the disgruntled hotel administrator - and it's fun to read as the narrative unwinds.

Sprinkle in multiple POVs and timelines, and it keeps you guessing!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC.

I enjoy a locked-room mystery, especially if it is atmospheric, and this one was definitely atmospheric! The small hotel on the rocky coast of Maine, with a hurricane bearing down, power outages, etc., gave the story a feeling of chaotic isolation as the secrets of this dysfunctional group came dripping out. There is a lot of family drama among some pretty shady characters, and it reaches a fever pitch. All the while, they are trapped because of the storm, with a killer among them. The setting was my favorite part of the book, as the intriguing family-owned small hotel was almost a character in itself. And, Day did a good job of making the coming hurricane feel urgent, adding to the story's tension, suspense, and feeling of impending danger. This is told in four parts, and for me, the pacing was kind of slow for the first two parts, and some of the twists were predictable, though not all of them. Overall, I enjoyed this, though perhaps not quite as much as her debut, but I look forward to reading what the author writes next. And I love this cover!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the free book!

*3.5 rounded up

Set on a cliff’s edge during a severe storm, with a cast of characters with questionable motivations, sets this story up. I thought I knew what was more than likely going to happen. Other than one small guess, I was wrong with everything else. From the beginning there was nothing but one unexpected twist after another. The characters took me by surprise just as much as the storyline. When I wasn’t reading this, I was thinking about it and angsty to get back into it. This author is quickly making their way onto my favorites list.

What's scarier than a closed room mystery? How about a hotel on a cliffside (aptly named The Precipice), with a hurricane coming, and a murderer on the loose!

Charley is a maid in a desperate situation - she can't afford a place of her own and her Nana's care fees both, so she's lucky she has a free room (well, closet) at the hotel. But the owner has died - will the new owners be as generous? Day has done an excellent job of showing us the characters of each of the three Bishop sisters and their partners who come to stay for their Dad's funeral. And then there's the guest Charley is hiding from an ex-boyfriend. She's protective of Charley, but can they trust her ex not to find her? Everything is precarious, not just the hotel, and it is all leading up to a crazy night of flickering lights, horrendous rain, and (dun dun dun)....murder.

I flew through this book in a day, and now I'm going back to read The Block Party!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy of this thrilling read.