just wasn't for me and was not a book I personally enjoyed. I know there will be other readers out there that this will fit their style a lot better.

I really have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the twists and turns and the WTF moment I had with it as I was reading going did I miss something. But I also felt it to be slightly different! The whole family house was just weird to me. You knew something was going on but it’s not till close to the end you go WTF.
If you like a good mystery where you really didn’t see that coming this might be a book for you. It’s not really fast paced but it’s not exactly a slow burn either. It’s just a bit strange. But I would recommend it.

One of the most dark and twisted thrillers I've read this year! This story has a lot of moving parts and at first I couldn't understand how things were related, but as the story unravels everything comes together perfectly. This one will give you whiplash from all the twists. I absolutely loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I heard about this book on the Thoughts From a Page podcast and I heard the magic words. “A good twist that readers didn’t see coming.” Say no more! I’m always on the lookout for a thriller that has a twist that I don’t see coming!

Rarely does a twist in a book actually surprise me, but holy cow author Katie Gardner you did it!

I went into this book completely blind, and I think I would recommend doing the same, but in a very brief synopsis: this is a book about a woman who has tragically lost her husband, but recently found the new love of her life. Unfortunately, she ends up losing the house that she and her daughter live in and her boyfriend invites them to come live with his family… DUN DUN DUN.

The structure of this novel was so well done. It wasn’t the most propulsive at the beginning, but once I got into the story, I was fully in. Also great atmosphere and vibes.

Some of the writing did feel a little bit clunky to me in places but honestly, it might’ve just been a me issue because I was reading so fast so so take that with a grain of salt!

I love when I can find a new thriller to recommend that actually tricks me and I can’t wait to recommend this one!

Whew! The Family Inside absolutely blew me away. I could not put this book down! It's full of family lies and secrets which I love! Thank you NetGalley and HTP for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

The family inside was so intriguing ! When I saw this book recommended for people who enjoyed “knives out” and “ready or not” (both of which I LOVED!) I just knew this book would be filled to the brim with creepy dysfunctional family dynamics, some sort of large estate inheritance and a suspicious murderous plot and this book delivered on all accounts!

The plot follows Iris and her teenage daughter Ellory. Three years since the unfortunate passing of their husband / father they are in the terrible predicament of losing their house and becoming homeless.

That is when Iris dashingly handsome new boyfriend swoops in and offers them a place in his family home which he is renovated for his old aged mother. Only when she accepts Iris doesn’t realize the entire family siblings and spouses included are all living there, and there’s something just .. off .. about them all.

I could not keep from turning the pages I absolutely ate this book up! I love these kind of tropes and the suspension and mystery had me on the edge of my seat.

I would definitely recommend this read!

Thank you to HTP Publishing and Katie Garner for the EARC!

Publish date: feb 11th 2025

This was one of the best thrillers I have read in awhile! The characters were complex, the dialogue, believable, and the twists and turns were just perfect!

This book was a little confusing. It jumped around a lot and I wasn’t sure how all of the different stories would end up coming together but it did! It reads like YA which I don’t usually enjoy but this book kept pulling me in. I wasn’t sure I would finish it, it seemed to start a little slow but then something else would happen and I couldn’t put it down. I gave it 5 stars because it is a good story and kept me guessing.

Garner has quickly become an auto read author for me. Her first book absolutely knocked my socks off and this one was no different. I actually messaged the author on instagram (we’re mutuals) to tell her how shocked I was by it. Highly recommend

Title: The Family Inside
Author: Katie Garner
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing – MIRA
Pub Date: January 28, 2025
My Rating: 3.4 Stars
Pages: 336

Iris Blodgett a grieving widow and is trying to support herself as well as her eighteen year old e daughter Ellory. The struggle is real and her is debt is mounting since she is recently and unemployment and ends up living in her car.
Hugh Smoll is an architect who cares about her. He suggests she and Ellory stay in his mother’s old mansion Ravencliff that is in need of renovation. Since she is homeless it sounds better than her current situation.
When Iris and Ellory arrive at Ravencliff, it appears Hugh’s siblings are also living there.
The old mansion seems to be filled with secret rooms as well as family secrets.
Additionally Ellory has a secret as she is seeing a mysterious boyfriend.

I started to really struggle with this story as it became so disjointed.
However, I read enough thrillers that I know to hang in there that all will be resolved.

True the ending clarified it but it truly was bizarre.
When I finished I said out loud - "Author Katie Garner certain is a clever writer!!"

Want to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 28, 2025.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC! This is a decently paced thriller regarding the twists and turns in the life of Iris Bloggett after the murder of her husband and subsequent eviction from her home. This was a good read with several unexpected turns. I will definitely be reading this author again

I couldn’t get enough of this book! Iris Blodgett’s life is already falling apart after her husband’s unsolved murder, and just when she thinks moving into her boyfriend Hugh’s old mansion might be the perfect escape, things take a dark and creepy turn. The suspense builds slowly as Iris and her daughter Ellory uncover one terrifying secret after another about the house and Hugh’s strange family.

The atmosphere was so eerie, and I loved how the mansion itself became almost like a character in the story. The twists were spine-chilling, and every time I thought I had things figured out, a new dark revelation pulled me back in. It’s definitely one of those reads that keeps you on edge until the very end!

You wanna talk about a twisted ending! You will never see it coming. Every twist and turn I thought I knew what was happening and I was thrown for a loop every time! Great book!

Katie Garner’s "The Family Inside" is a gripping psychological suspense novel that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Told through the alternating perspectives of Iris and her daughter Ellory, the story dives into the unsettling dynamics of their new life.

Iris, struggling with significant debt following her husband’s death, makes the decision to move in with her affluent architect boyfriend, Hugh Smoll. Their new home is a grand, gothic manor that, while initially promising a fresh start, soon becomes a source of escalating tension. Iris and Ellory quickly discover that Hugh’s family also resides in the manor, adding layers of complexity to their new living situation.

As they settle into their new environment, strange and disturbing events begin to unfold. Ellory and Hugh’s sister-in-law go missing, deepening the sense of unease and mystery that permeates the manor. Garner masterfully layers the narrative with unexpected twists and turns, each revelation complicating the plot further and challenging the reader’s assumptions.

"The Family Inside" excels at maintaining suspense and intrigue, with its well-crafted plot twists ensuring that just when you think you have the mystery figured out, something new emerges to keep you guessing. Garner’s skillful storytelling makes this novel a captivating read, and I’m eagerly looking forward to exploring more of her work.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to snag this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.