![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/a15cb8542c/images/icons/nav_back_xs.png)
Member Reviews
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/a15cb8542c/images/profile-placeholder-micro.png)
Great read! I was completely captivated with this story from the beginning. I kept coming back to it and saying “one more chapter.” Although I wanted more from the ending, I really enjoyed this book.
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/a15cb8542c/images/profile-micro.png)
Thank you to NetGalley for a advanced readers copy of this book! I don't want to say much about this one because I feel like the less you know going in the better.. I did enjoy it! It is super creepy and pretty graphic. Really good story but I will admit I did get a little scared. I highly recommend this one to all of those enjoy mysteries and thrillers!
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/a15cb8542c/images/profile-micro.png)
I love books with twists and turns that you can never quite figure out. Some books can be so predictable but this definitely was not! I enjoyed the writing and the characters but did feel it dragged on at a few points. Aside from that, I absolutely loved it!
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar1459345-micro.png?1725759857)
I honestly don't know where to start with this novel. I guess, I just didn't like the main character. She was always so fearful & scared of what seemed to be EVERYTHING. Also, she continuously repeats herself and says the same things over and over again. I mean, the premise was good. The twists were there... I just really couldn't stand behind Iris-- or any of the characters for that matter. I LOVE a good psych thriller but this one just was not for me.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar613071-micro.png?1725759857)
This is definitely a thriller filled with twists and turns! While the story takes a bit before it picks up and becomes interesting (around 30% into it) I did find it to be a good read once things started happening. However, I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style. For me there was a lot repetitive and ranting dialogue that over explains things we already know. I enjoyed that the story kept me guessing and the twists were well done. If you enjoy a good thriller I would say give this one a try.
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/a15cb8542c/images/profile-micro.png)
Life has been difficult for Iris lately. Three years ago, she lost her husband. His murder remains unsolved. Now, she's lost her job and has no idea how she will pay her mortgage or provide for her teenage daughter, Ellory. Luckily, Iris' new boyfriend, Hugh, saves the day. On the brink of being homeless, Hugh offers Iris and Ellory a new home. The catch? It's his mother's home and a bunch of his siblings are staying there as well, to assist with much=needed renovations. Nonetheless, Iris is thrilled to move into the old mansion. Things quickly take a turn. Firstly, the house is creepy. And it seems that the family is burying secrets that they don't want Iris to find out. And what's the real reason that Iris and Ellory were invited to stay?
Wow, what a twisty read! I honestly was shocked with the turns that the story took. I love a book that makes my mind hurt when I realize what happened. One of those books that you will be thinking about after you are done.
This book is impossible to put down. Super well written and mind bending. The creepy house was the perfect backdrop for the story - it added an extra element of suspense. Well done, Katie Garner! This was my first read by her and I am beyond impressed!
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar1256348-micro.png?1725759857)
Lots of crazy twists and turns in this thriller. Iris and her daughter Ellory find themselves in a spooky house that is the perfect setting. Also the peculiar family that live there make it known right away that things are going to go off the rails. I gave it three stars instead of four because sometimes it was all bit confusing. There were maybe too many characters and the different timelines got blurred. But overall a good spine tingling read!
Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC to read and review.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar940478-micro.png?1725759857)
Iris Blodgett’s husband was murdered 3 years ago leaving behind Iris and her now 18-year-old daughter’s life in shambles. Since his unsolved murder, Iris has incurred an enormous amount of debt, having to start over, and daughter Ellory becoming increasingly unruly and hostile each day.
Iris’s home she shared with husband Jack and Ellory is now facing foreclosure and her new boyfriend of a few months, Hugh, surprisingly offers his family’s home since he recently moved back in to renovate it for his mother. Iris reluctantly accepts and she and Ellory arrive at the house only to discover several siblings living there as well in addition to Hugh’s mother.
Almost as soon as they move in, several unsettling events begin happening to and around Iris. She begins to wonder if this is a weird coincidence or is there something more sinister at play?
This was a 3.5*read, thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the E-Arc and the chance to review it!
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar1197214-micro.png?1725759857)
This is my first book by this author and I am in awe! Are all of her books like this? Because if so I have to go read them all ASAP!
There were so many twists and turns in this book I almost couldn't keep up. When I would gather my thoughts on what was going on, she would send me reeling in another direction. Iris and Ellory are evicted from their home just a few short years after Iri's husband is murdered. She has found a new guy recently and he is so kind to offer them a place to stay at his mother's house while he helps with renovations. But the family within this is house is something she never would expect. But the family inside isn't the only family with secrets.
I couldn't put this book down, except for the moments my mind was blown with what was happening that I didn't see coming. This is a definite thriller you won't want to miss out on when it is released in January!
Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar1463392-micro.png?1725759857)
I enjoyed this short book, as it’s nice to take a break from long in depth books, with many character plots. It was enjoyable even with unrealistic situations, it’s a great distraction kinda book!
It had some great plot twists that I didn’t see coming and some others that I was left a little unsure about! Overall I think the author did a great job!
Thank you Katie Garner, Harlequin & NetGalley for allowing me to read this Arc.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar1104008-micro.png?1725759857)
This was an insane book! So many surprises and creepy characters. It was twist after twist after twist! Don’t even try to figure out what’s going on, just read and let the mystery unfold. Excellent book and I cannot wait to read more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/a15cb8542c/images/profile-micro.png)
I thought this was a really creative story with some very unexpected twists. Parts of the story were a little far out, so you really have to suspend belief with some of the plot twists.
I enjoyed putting all the pieces of the story together as I was reading, and how all of the characters connected.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy to read and review!
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/a15cb8542c/images/profile-placeholder-micro.png)
This was cheesy and very slow paced in the beginning. But I am glad I pushed through it was a good read. The book follows Iris and her daughter after the murder of her husband, evicted and left with noting but Iris' seemingly perfect boyfriend. He welcomes them into his perfect home he shares with his mother. But what all glitters isn't gold, the chaos and the mayhem and the twists kept me going at the very end. While it was slow going, it didn't turn around about half way through the book! I'm glad I powered through! I can't wait for it's release so I can recommend others read it too!
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/a15cb8542c/images/profile-micro.png)
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for the eARC.
Wow, this was a knuckle bitter, very tense and even scary (in a good way).
The story features a mother and daughter who have been evicted from their home and end up living with the mother's fiance and his creepy family. Things don't go well and the daughter runs away. The nightmare begins!
A very good story with a lot of twists and a satisfying ending. Highly recommended!
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/a15cb8542c/images/profile-micro.png)
The Family Inside is a thrilling novel about a family who goes to a house in order to seek safety, but the house isn’t quite as safe as they thought. Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy!
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/a15cb8542c/images/profile-placeholder-micro.png)
A psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The twists and turns are so unexpected that just when you think you figured it out, BAM!, something completely unexpected happens. This is probably one of the best books that I've read all year.
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/a15cb8542c/images/profile-micro.png)
The Family Inside explores the relationship between Iris and her new boyfriend Hugh. After becoming a widow, Iris meets and starts dating the elusive Hugh and due to some life circumstances she quickly moves into a home with Hugh and (surprise!) his entire family too! You will hear perspectives from two people throughout this book, Iris and Ellory. Shortly after moving into this old, dilapidated home Iris becomes increasingly paranoid about what she is seeing and hearing. This is exasperated by her teenage daughter going missing. As you turn the pages and the mystery surrounding Hugh and family unfolds, the web starts to unravel little by little. Be ready for some quick bombs to drop! If you are a fan of twisty page turners, this is the book for you.
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/a15cb8542c/images/profile-micro.png)
The first 30% or so, I was ready to DNF mainly due to it being very cheesy. Decided to push through and it actually ended up being super twisty and crazy, with everything coming together in crazy ways by the end. However, I still think it was pretty cheesy overall and many of the things that happened were too unrealistic. The writing style and dialogue felt a little immature and geared towards younger readers but there is also some content that is pretty dark/not exactly fit for YA, so it was kind of a weird in between.
What I liked:
- So many twists
- Everything is not what it seems
- Satisfying ending
What I didn’t like:
- Cheesy
- Unrealistic
- Some plot holes and things that didn’t get explained or tie up nicely
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar1362968-micro.png?1725759857)
After her husband was murdered three years ago, Iris’ misfortune continues as she loses her home and job at the same time.
Fortunately, her new boyfriend, Hugh, allows Iris and her 18 year old daughter, Ellory, to move in to his mother’s enormous old home that needs a lot of work and requires his help.
But Ellory runs away after Hugh proposes and Iris finds herself looking for her daughter and navigating the truth about Hugh’s family.
Overall, I thought this was a great story, but some things (no spoilers, so I won’t elaborate) just didn’t add up and the very end felt thrown together and lazy. I actually had to go back a reread that last few pages to make sure I didn’t completely miss something.
I would recommend this to anyone that likes a fast paced-easy read thriller, as the very last little twist at the end did surprise me a little.
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/a15cb8542c/images/profile-placeholder-micro.png)
Katie Garner brings us the story of Iris and her daughter Ellory. They are in a tough spot when Iris is fired from her job and must leave their home after it has been sold after not being able to keep up with the mortgage. Her new relationship with Hugh offers her a respite when he offers them to stay with him at his family home while he is renovating it for his mother. Thankful, they go with Hugh to their new home. They are met by a dark and looming home with siblings she knew nothing about. As each day passes, Iris starts to think that perhaps the seemingly perfect boyfriend and his family are not quite what they appear to be. She must race against time to figure out the secrets the house holds before it is too late for her to get out.
Katie Garner shares with us Iris' journey from struggling mother to detective. We follow along as Iris finds clues hidden in the family mansion and tries to figure out how all the pieces fit together. We also join Ellory's journey when she leaves home bound for California with her boyfriend and how her story is connected to the rest of the characters in the story. You keep turning the page to see what happens next and how their stories will unfold.
I have read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for this privilege.