Keep It in the Family

I bumped this one up to the top of my reading pile as I just love John marrs books, the one and the passengers being favourites. I love the way he writes I really get invested in the characters and he always write a gripping read. This was also exceptional what a family of twisted minded individuals. I loved Mia’s characters and I enjoyed all the twists and turns. Trying to figure out who were the baddies and who were innocent. I do recommend you read this book. I could not put down and devoured in one sitting. I absolutely recommend this book. Be ready for an afternoon or evening of completely neglecting any chores as this one will have you hooked within the first chapter. I live for books that leave me speechless and this book did just that. I actually feel quite sorry for the next book that I read because there is no way it be able to compete with this twisty gem.

Keep it in the family by John Marrs.
 A young couple’s house hides terrible secrets—and not all of them are confined to the past.
Omg what a jawdropping read. This blew me away. Twisty and dark and tense. Absolutely brilliant. Definitely recommend. 5*.

finished this in a little over a day. I did enjoy it and I thought the story was dark and interesting. the only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because it was super predictable I guested every twist with ease

I love John Marrs...and this book definitely deserves all the praise!!!
I dropped everything to devour this book.
I heard myself gasp a few times outloud.
Great execution...great characters..
And fantastic storyline.
Wow maybe he should dteam like this a bit more.

Thank to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

This is probably John Marrs darkest book,as always it is a good story but this time we meet a couple who move into their newly acquired home only to discover their attic has a secret room….what they discover in that room is so hideous it changes their lives….forever
This book is full of twists and turns and the nearer to the conclusion it gets the cleverer the fooling of the reader is until we realise just exactly what has happened and how the effects of it will last….. for a long time…..I want to say more but wont,trust me it will make you shudder!
Great characters to love and hate and a fantastically woven story make this as always with this author a book you wont forget for a long time

10/10
5 Stars

What a fantastic book! The twists were mind bending; I was literally going “wait, what?!” And rereading parts in disbelief. Such great storytelling. The characters were well developed and some were pure evil. Highly recommend!

John Marrs has done it again! His books just get better and better! This is darker than his usual books, but was a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of Keep it in the Family.

I read this twisty, spooky thriller in two days. It definitely kept my attention focused on what was going to happen next. While I enjoyed this author’s previous books more, this one will appeal to horror/thriller fans!

WOW! Okay. I was not expecting all of the emotions I felt while reading this book. I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn't put this one down. This one will likely be a 2022 favorite still at the end of this year. The book opens with a quote from Ted Bundy, which should've clued me in to how crazy, twisted and mind-blowing this chilling story was going to be.

Mia and Finn purchase a new house that they plan on having to fix-up quite a bit. What they didn't expect was to find the dark secrets that the house is holding from the past. That's all I'll say about the plot because you just have to read it! Twist after twist, multiple twisted points of view including a mystery narrator, and details so expertly placed that various plot-lines mesh together in a deliciously disturbing way. This book is DARK, twisted, and just what I needed. Marrs, chef's kiss!

What a great book, I could not put it down once I started it, I was nearly checking out my own attic after reading it as it spooked me so much but fantastic read I have to say ..

A dark and twisty story with lots of secrets and while I haven’t gotten around to reading all of John’s books yet, this one has me glued from the start and there were a lot of moments where I had no clue how it was going to finish.. A cleverly written book that deserves more than 5 stars

I was so excited when I saw Marrs’ new book available for request on NetGalley because I loved THE ONE! Unfortunately, there was something missing for me in his latest thriller. I kept expecting it to come full circle for me, and it sadly never did.

Synopsis: Mia and Finn are a young couple who take a leap of faith and purchase a home that basically needs a head to toe makeover. They take on the challenge and while in the middle of renovating, Mia finds a disturbing message scratched into one of the bedroom walls: I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC. They soon discover that their home used to be a literal house of horrors. The history of the home quickly becomes national news and an obsession for Mia, and as she works tirelessly to uncover the truth about what took place within the walls of her now home — and the truths she will uncover will be devastating.

The book started off with a lot of promise, but for a book centering the plot on such strong, intense content (TW galore in this one ⚠️) — it was really lacking that ominous inner dialogue of a really deranged serial killer. I felt that this book could have really soared if it wasn’t lacking in that way. The characters were really underdeveloped (even at 60-70% through) and I had a hard time connecting to the story.

The overall plot was GOOD, but there was a lot missing for me to make it GREAT. 😕

That being said, I literally hate writing negative reviews even though it’s part of reviewing books (I can’t five star everything shockingly 😂) so I think you’d enjoy this book if you enjoy any of the following:

🗝 dysfunctional families
🗝 serial killers
🗝 alternating past/present timelines
🗝 multiple POVs and short chapters

📚 Book review 📚
Keep it in the family
John Marrs
5/5

Wow what a read, if you like psychological thrillers then you don't want to miss this one.
The suspense just carried on from the beginning right to the very end. The story is based around the bodies of children found in the attic of a home that a couple has just bought to renovate. Suddenly their present seems to be linked to these past crimes. I don't want to tell anymore of it and give any spoilers away but the twists just kept going throughout. This was a five star read for me and I have to say probably one of the best thrillers I've read so far. I was so lucky to recieve an early copy of this on netgalley. Sometimes I feel like some books deserve six out of five stars, this is one of them.

An unforgettable thriller! One of the best twisty crime novels I’ve read for a long time, I could not put this book down!

Mia and Finn are trying to get on the property ladder and are desperate to move out of Finn’s parents house. When a run down house goes to auction they decide to take the plunge without viewing the property and having no idea what state the property was in and what is inside… After moving in they make a gruesome discovery that will rip their family and marriages apart forever.

I really don’t want to write more about the story line in this review, it was so so good you’ll just have to read it! I loved the multiple POVs and timelines it added to the tense mystery in this book and kept me guessing until the end!

I’m a huge fan of John Marrs, with The One being one of my favourite books I had high hopes. Keep It in the Family did not fallen short and was an easy 5 star read for me! Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this!

Absolutely brilliant! Just when the story has reached what seems the pinnacle of twisted, another dark turn is taken and it is done so credibly and cleverly. John Marrs never disappoints and this is another sterling example of his work.

This author never fails to disappoint. What an interesting plot, well rounded characters, and that ending is just superb. Well done!

A dream home becomes a nightmare for a young couple expecting a child in this thriller. Finn and Mia have their hands full restoring a crumbling house and dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Mia finds a creepy message carved into a mopboard “I will save then from the attic”, that sends the couple to the attic where they uncover the horrific truth about their new homes past. When the baby comes, Mia becomes obsessed with the horrors that occured in her home in the past, she becomes distant with Finn, who believes she’s overreacting. But Mia is right to be scared, because the danger in her home is very much in the present

3.5⭐( rounded up)
I really enjoyed this new thriller. It had creepy killer POV, creepy house, messed up characters. This was almost a four star read for me. It didn't quite make it, however, as a new favorite. I like the " messed up people, doing messed up things" trope in my thrillers, but I feel this one was a little drawn out for my tastes. While the writing was well crafted, the story was well planned, I really feel like chapters ran a little long, and the whole story could possibly have been cut by 50-100 pages.
The atmosphere, hostility, and drama really works for this story. You get back and forth POVs, and duel timelines. It keeps you turning the pages to figure out how it will end. I will definitely be picking up more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There is one thing I know for sure and that is John Marrs knows how to write a twist suspense novel that will keep you guessing until the very end of his book. John Marrs newest book Keep it in the Family, is no different. I literally gasped out loud twice in this book and it had me questioning every piece of information given. Keep it in the Family is a book following married couple, Finn and Mia, who purchase a run down house with the plans to remodel it to make it their own. They struggle with infertility and things are not going as they dreamed. During their remodel,Mia finds the words, I will save them from the attic scratched into the floor boards of the house. This prompts them to go up into the attic to find unimaginable horrors. I feel like I can not give any other information without giving any more away. What a ride this book was!

Thanks netgalley for the opportunity to read this book! I was highly disappointed in this one. It just really fell short for me. The character connection just wasn’t there and I was hoping it would have more suspense.

Keep it in the family by John Marrs
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Young couple Finn and Mia set out to pave their own paths decide to purchase a 'fixer-upper' and make it their home . Shortly after Mia becomes pregnant and its just then that they start to find that their dream home, may actually be a house of horrors. Starting with a note scratched into their new babies nursery Mia hadn't noticed ealier .." I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC " . What follows is an accident that leaves her in a state of mental duress, and unable to cope with her miracle baby- the in laws are quick to move in and help out . But her life is upside down and shes falling deeper into this rabbit hole of a house . She needs to know .. what does the message mean .

This book was all kinds of what the hell . I loved it from the first page to the last . And though I had feelings about the outcome. I could have never actually guessed what the ending of this book would bring. I was in absolute shock the entire time I was reading this book . I couldn't put it down, wouldn't you know it . Another question, another solution. Another damn twist that had me deciding that midnight was NOT the time to stop reading .

I cannot wait to read The Passengers, and all the other books by @johnmarrs.author !

An absolutely brilliant, thrilling, edge of your seat catastrophe you need to read right now .

Thank you @netgalley for providing me with an arc of this tantalizing story!

I have loved all of John Marrs books but this is definitely his best one yet. It’s deliciously dark, fast paced, well written and has a fabulous twist at the end.
I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it.
It’s definitely worthy of 5 stars.

Wow! I have devoured every John Marrs book as soon as it is released and this one was no exception. The prologue alone is devastating! Would it be more twisted than What lies between us? Yes it is. The darkest of subject matter and genuinely disturbing. Many different points of view and many unreliable narrators. Mia and Finn are renovating a new property and it holds the most terrible secrets. Truly something to read in one sitting. Fabulous

An extremely dark and entertaining thriller by one of my favorite authors!

Mia and her husband, Finn, have just bought a house…site unseen (can anyone say red flag?!). It’s derelict and old, but they intend to fix it up and turn it into their dream home. Over the next few months, they slowly but surely make updates, while Mia finds that she’s unexpectedly pregnant. All is fine and dandy until one day when Mia makes a discovery underneath the old wallpaper in one of the upstairs bedrooms…in a child’s handwriting:

I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC.

What they find in the attic is terrifying and downright macabre.

Now that Mia has given birth to a baby boy, she can’t stop thinking about the crimes that have occurred in her home. But her obsession with it could prove to be deadly.

John Marrs is a phenomenal writer. I’ve loved all of his books, and this is no exception. It’s unputdownable, disturbing, tense, and atmospheric…all the things I love in a dark thriller.

One minor irritation is that I figured out a lot of the twists from the get-go. I can’t even hint as to why I was able to figure them out, because I’m sure other readers would too. However, I was pleasantly surprised by some surprises towards the end that I definitely didn’t see coming.

A twisted and deliciously unnerving read that makes me wonder what else goes on in the mind of Marrs.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 10/18/22.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

Everyone needs to be reading John Marrs! I’ll open with that. This is my fifth book by him & I can honestly say he NEVER lets me down.

This one starts as a domestic mystery & then quickly turns into a thriller & quite chilling to say the least. The discovery of the bodies in the attic & what comes after, completely held my attention & I just wanted to read the whole book asap. There’s a plethora of twists & secrets revealed along the way. Some I guessed but I truly wasn’t sure of the solution most of the book & the ending was a fantastic one! Marrs has a uniquely talented way of getting into the messed up minds of people while still making them fully realised characters. There’s so many plot twists you won’t be disappointed. It’s definitely worth a read!

It should be the best time in Mia and Finn’s lives - they have a much wished for baby on the way and they have just collected the keys to a new family home. Life is good …until they start renovating and discover a hidden message in one of the rooms “I will save them from the attic”. This is followed by a deeply disturbing discovery in the attic and before you know it life will never be the same. Now their new home isn’t a dream home, it’s a house of horrors. But what is the horror isn’t confined to the past? What if it’s much closer than they think?

Nevermind the ancient mysteries of the world, the magician’s secrets or this week’s lottery numbers …. Instead I want to know how EXACTLY how John Marrs does it. Just when you think he can’t top his last brilliant book, he knocks it out of the park.

If you read a lot of thrillers, not only do you start to become suspicious of every character you come across, you also don’t shock easily. That is, until Keep It In The Family, which is the creepiest, most chilling book I have read in a long time, if not ever.

Keep It In The Family should be your next read if you love thrillers, unreliable narrators, unhinged characters, despicable motives, nature vs nurture,twists and spine chilling revelations. All that with clever, enthralling storytelling, compulsive page turning, dark humour and a pitch perfect ending. Once again, John Marrs has nailed it.

Thank you to John Marrs, Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book.

I went into this book blind, because I know if it's a John Marrs book, it's going to be awesome and I don't even need to know what it's about! This book doesn't have the usual shocking twists that a lot of his other books have (though there ARE definitely lots of surprises throughout the book!), but it may be his darkest one yet. The prologue will immediately grip you and you won't want to put this book down! Another fantastic book by John Marrs!

Keep It in the Family by John Marrs is only the third book that I have read from this author, and I can safely say that I will be adding many, many more. This one pulled me in from the start and did not let go, and I was kept guessing until the very end. Brilliant.

Mia and Finn are in the process of converting a derelict house when Mia unexpectedly finds herself pregnant. As the renovations progress, a shocking and chilling discovery is made in the form of a message that has been carved into a skirting board. Upon investigating their attic, a grisly find reveals the couple's future dream home to be a house of horrors. Decades old secrets will be revealed, and Mia wonders just how close the danger lies in the here and now.

John Marrs is an author who can always be relied upon for a wallop of a read, and once again he delivers the goods. Pick this one up, you will not be disappointed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC.

John Marrs is amazing!!!
What a gripping mystery

This was a very disturbing but good read.

Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish and could not get enough of.

This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good thriller!!

This story is nuts. And I mean really nuts.
I’ve read many of the author’s books in the past and I knew what to expect in part from him and the way his stories are told and how they make me feel. But this one stepped to a new level and I loved it!
I’m not saying anything but Read It!


Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

Wow! I love John Marrs and he just keeps proving how masterful of a storyteller he is. This is definitely one of his darker books but didn't stop me from turning the pages. I will say that I figured out one of the twists pretty early on, but there were many more that surprised me and kept me reading late into the night.

Thanks to NetGalley and John Marrs for an advanced copy.

I love John Marrs. He is one of my two favorite authors. I know he has a following with his sci-fi books, but I really love his domestic thrillers. And this one didn’t disappoint. Already ordered my finished copy.

WARNING! This thriller is extremely dark! I LOVED IT !

Mia and her husband Finn have just bought their dream home its a 'doer upper' but once the renovations begin that's when things get creepy !
Loved all the characters and trying to figure out who was the villain.
A chilling menacing read which I devoured in one sitting.
Mr Marrs does it again !

Wow I don't know how John Marrs does it but his books just get better and better. I thought after reading his last book, how can he top this one but he has. From the first chapter you just want to keep reading. There is no 'give it time to get going' as it hits you from the start. This book has a very dark storyline which is what I like about John's books. I enjoyed the way it switches between the characters and you are just waiting for the next twist.
I won't give away much about the story, all I will say is get the book to the top of your reading list.

Thank you netgalley for letting me review this book, as always a pleasure to read and review a John Marrs book

Mia and Finn have brought a house it’s a bit spooky and needs to be fixed up which they hope will turn into their dream house and Mia finds herself unexpectedly pregnant and while the building renovation is underway Mia finds a message written into the skirting boards I Will Save Them From The Attic but when Mia starts investigating it the couple starts to uncover something truly horrific they make a gruesome discovery that their dream home was once a house of horrors in the wake of their traumatic discovery Mia is haunted by the terrible things she saw and she is desperate to find answers and her obsession starts to pull her further from Finn
I love how this book starts with a quote from Ted Bundy it was a dark twisted mind blowing chilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat this nail biting suspense is a definite must read
Thank You NetGalley And Amazon Publishing Uk
I just reviewed Keep It in the Family by John Marrs. #KeepItintheFamily #NetGalley

This isn't a family you would want to be around!

John Marrs always writes in such a way that once I start reading his books I can't put them down and Keep it in the Family was no exception. Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time because once you start you aren't going to want to stop until you get to the end.

I won't give away any spoilers about the book because it twists and turns along the way. Even if you work out who has done what you won't feel cheated because the way it unravels is just so good!

Also, as a member of TBC on Facebook I have to say I think this is my favourite Tracy Fenton cameo to date.

As always John Marrs kept me entertained and in suspense for the entire book. He is one of my go to favorite writers who can always have some crazy and wild things happening in his mysteries. It was a pleasure to read this and I cannot wait to recommend it.

Mia and Finn purchase a decaying home to fix up to make a home for themselves. While falling pregnant, they unearth a horrible discovery within the attic. Mia cannot let go of what’s happened there and it seems her in laws and husband are keeping secrets. But is the danger only in the past or is it in the present and is she far more entangled in it than she knows?

Hold on to the edges of your seats because you will not want to miss this house of horrors mystery. The evil lurks closer than you know.

Worth more than 5 stars this book was fantastic... His best yet, As soon as I was approved I dropped everything and bumped this right to the top of the pile...

I am a big fan of John Marrs and was super excited for a new book and this book was just so so good so many twists and turns I Feel Dizzy!!

Every moment I thought I had this figured out I just got spun around and just left it shocked when the next major twist happened. I was up way into the night getting this book finished and even reading while walking to work just could not put it down. My only complaint is I finished it too quickly it was that good!

I highly recommend this book who are already fans of John Marrs But if this is your first then please make sure you buckle up for a thrill ride and be warned this book is a great distraction from any housework you may need to do!

Thanks so much and I can't wait for the next book all I can say is I hope your next dream is this exquisite!

I bumped this book up to the top of my To Be Read list because it was John Marrs. I've enjoyed all of his books that I have read so far, particularly enjoying his latest forays into the world of speculative fiction. Despite that, unfortunately this one just didn't hit the mark for me.

Mia and her partner, Finn are moving into a fixer upper, the perfect place to raise their new baby that is due in the next few months. Mia's relationship with Finn's mum, Debbie, has always been strained but despite that they are all living together while Finn and his Dad work on their new home. During the renovations they make a grisly and traumatic discovery and find that sometimes evil lurks too close for comfort.

The premise was a really good one, and there were numerous twists and turns along the way that kept the reader engaged despite the bleak subject matter . However, for me the characters lacked the depth needed to allow me to engage with the subject matter. There were a lot of themes to contend with including generational trauma, child abuse and murder, postnatal depression and terminal illness and it felt as though the characters experiences only skimmed the surface leaving the situations the characters were facing feeling like plot devices.

Overall this was a quick and engaging read, that did have some surprises along the way but the characters and the storyline just didn't ring true to me.

My thanks to Amazon Publishing, John Marrs and Netgalley.
I've not read Marrs more futuristic stories. I just don't care. But, he once wrote a book about the most messed up family. I loved it! So, I'd been waiting for something new. Something that didn't involve technology.
This book sounded right up my alley! Oh, it was up something I suppose.
Wasn't a good time.
Also, if you can see the twists coming, they aren't really twists.
Such a major disappointment.

On the 18th October, 2022, get ready for a chilling, unhinged, fun, bat-shit crazy read!

3.5 rounded up to 4.

The isolated, two-storey, five-bedroom Victorian house has sat empty for nearly forty years.

Until 2018, when first-time home buyers, married couple Mia and Finn, see it’s potential, and purchase it for a steal.

Renovations are well underway when an ominous message etched into the skirting board of one of the bedrooms, leads Mia, Finn, and Finn’s parents Dave and Debbie, to investigate the attic space more closely. Behind a false wall they make a horrific, macabre discovery – that sees their dream home become the site of a historical crime scene.

Following a very disturbing prologue, voiced by an unknown child narrator, things kind of slowed down, with the first 30% focusing on family drama, as Mia and Finn were forced to move back in with Finn’s parents following the grisly discovery in the attic. Having said that, I very much enjoyed that section – never fully realised the psychological and physical toll, financial ramifications, and media attention this couple would receive simply because they happened to buy the wrong house. I warmed to all four characters – Mia, Finn, Dave, and Debbie – even though I was certain they were all hiding a lot more than they were sharing. Of course I’m not going to divulge whether or not I still felt that way about them by the end…

Throughout the novel were chapters from an unidentified psychotic individual, beginning in the present and working backwards – one year, three years, etc. The insertion of intermittent interviews and news articles as a way of providing information essential to the plot gave ominous tantalising glimpses into what was to come. And what was to come was insanity times infinity, and exactly what I’ve come to expect from the dark, twisted mind of John Marrs. Even though I have used the word “fun” in my tagline, content wise there were some distressing passages involving children which could be upsetting and triggering. Anyone who has read a psychological thriller by this author should know exactly what to expect, but just to prepare you.

What let this novel down though was that a couple of the twists I could see coming a mile away, and I think most readers will too. Therefore, I’ve had to mark it down accordingly. That’s not to say there weren’t some good shocks, surprises, and chapter cliff hangers, but compared to the unhinged bizarreness of What Lies Between Us and The Good Samaritan, Keep It in the Family just wasn’t as unique or clever. Still a well above average domestic thriller though that I highly recommend.

I’d like to thank Netgally UK, Amazon Publishing UK, and John Marrs for the e-ARC.

Mia and Finn are rehabbing an old neglected home into their dream home when they find a disturbing message carved into the woodwork. It says, “I will save them from the attic.” The couple now discovers that their home was once the location where some horrible events took place. Mia becomes obsessed with uncovering the full history of the crimes that took place here. Are all of the dangers really still in the past?

I am a big fan of author, John Marrs. This book was excellent, just like all of his previous works. The premise in this story is very original, but dark and disturbing as well. Plenty of twists and turns to keep you fully engaged throughout the book. If you are a fan of John Marrs, you will likely love his newest work, KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

Wow what a book !!! This is everything and more you would want in a thriller dark, uncomfortable and addictive !
It’s told from the perspective of a family and each have their own chapters throughout !
It starts with a brilliant , nasty opening and I loved it ! Every twist and turn is just perfection !!! John marrs you are the best ! Go and read it you will not regret it !
Unputdownable from start to finish ! Thank you for the chance of reading this in advance ! Brilliant

I am a huge John Marrs fan, I love that all his books have so many twists and turns in them, you never know what’s going to happen next and this absolutely did not disappoint!

I loved that all the characters had so many of their own issues that were deeply rooted and in turn presented a lot of behaviours and thoughts that you were constantly questioning. I was always trying to work out each characters motivations and I loved that they all seemed so unreliable and untrustworthy.

The story is extremely dark but absolutely full of atmosphere and tension. It genuinely does grip you so much you just can’t stop reading until problems get resolved and then straight away something else will happen and you’ll think “oh I’ll just read on and see what happens with this” .. before you know it you’ve finished it in a day..

As ever with a John Marrs book, you don’t get just one twist you get quite a few which was just brilliant. One of them especially I absolutely didn’t see coming. It was such a brilliant turn. The ending was great. Again, I thought it would take a different turn but I’m glad it went where it did. The pace was really well done, I often think the end of thriller books are rushed but I didn’t with this one.

I loved the whole psychological element to this, I loved the chapters were split into different timelines and also the little break ups with the interviews and article snippets.

Creepy, dark and extremely gripping with so many twists and turns, and throw in a lot of manipulative, unreliable characters.. what else could you ask for in a thriller?

✨Book review✨
Keep It In The Family
By John Marrs

Just when you think it can’t get any darker…..it does.

Much different than any other book Marrs has created, but I loved every word of this book.

It was eerie, twisted, and just messed up. There were parts in this story that I tried to pull my eyeballs away from the pages, and I couldn’t. The characters were so well done, and just so tragically full of their demons!

I won’t lie, this one had me having crazy dreams at night. It was a lot to take in and deal with. Many sensitive subjects dealing with children, abduction, and murder. Not for the faint of heart!

Really enjoyed seeing this side of Marrs, he is such an amazing story teller, and once again proves it to all.

Highly recommend you go check this one out…..if you think you can handle it…….
Pub date is October 18th!
📷: attic city

Thanks so much to @netgalley @amazonpublishing for the copy of this E-Arc in exchange for my honest review.
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Just finished 'Keep It in the Family' by John Marrs. We all know what a brilliant writer he is, and this book is no exception. What a sick f*ck. Absolutely loved it. 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

John Marrs is one of my favourite authors and i’ve read every one of his books! This one didn’t disappoint! I page turned and gasped in equal measures, as it twisted and turned its way to the very unexpected end! 10/10 for me

my first book buy this author and very much enjoyed. Mia has had enough living with her husband' Finns parents Dave and Debbie as Finn a mummys boy. a house comes up for auction and Mia wants it but so does Debbie but they let Finn and Mia bid for it and they get the house but a lot of work needs doing now Mia is a city girl a bit of a celebrity as had famous ex boyfriend but what Mia would love to have is a baby but told cant. they start work on the house with Dave s help. then Mia finds out she is pregnant. they need the house done she is doing the nursery when she spots writing on the skirting board and wants Dave and Finn to look in attic and there they find the suitcases. this book has it all secrets lies deceit the author has a very dark mind i so recommend this book.you will never want to go in an attic ever again

I've loved all of the books by John Marrs so far but this is on another level. Lots of suspense, loads of twists and completely gripping. Most definitely a 5 star read

Mia and Finns' plans of turning their new house into a dream home turns into a thing of nightmares when Mia discovers a horrifying message on a skirting board ... 'I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC'. Looking into the attic, they find a wall hiding a devastating secret, true horrors of past events in the home. As Mia becomes further obsessed with the horrific crimes, she begins to find chilling secrets lying close to home. The danger might not be gone... in fact it could be closer than she thinks.

A chilling book that kept me on the edge of my seat, dreading what is to come yet not wanting to look away. The book is devastating, with horrific crimes inside. Yet is wrote in such a way that had me unable to put the book down, needing to see what happens next.

John Marrs is an incredible author, ever since I read When You Disappeared and The Good Samaritan I just know each story is going to have a twist that leaves me shaken. Brilliant story, I could have gone on reading this for so much longer.

Another fabulous read by John Marrs!

Whenever I pick a book up by this author I just know I’m in for something dark, something tense, and something that makes me question every main character!

Each chapter just drags you deeper and deeper into the story that you feel that immersed that you get such a clear image of what’s going on, which in this case, it’s pretty dark and gruesome.

What I love about the way John Marrs writes is the way he dedicates chapters to individual characters and leaves each chapter making you want to know more and more about them and which direction their character is going in, which just keeps you reading on and on and on.

This is yet another fabulous book by a fabulous author which I’d highly recommend!

Marrs outdone himself again. He is such a brilliant writer. It kept me on my toes until the very end. It's one of he darker books. There is abuse in it so if people don't like tha maybe shouldn't read. But I would definitely recommend it. I would say 5 out 5 stars. It's his best book yet.

Another brilliant book from John Marrs! This is dark and twisted and I sped through it as I just wanted to unravel the story.

John Marrs is a favourite author for many, I'd only read The One previously so was eager to read more.

Mia and Finn are a young couple who have just bought a ramshackle old house at auction. A gruesome discovery awaits, revealing their dream home as a nightmare house of horrors.

This is just the start, as a history of terrible crimes is gradually uncovered.

Told from the perspectives of Mia, Finn, and Finn's parents Debbie and Dave it gets off tho a cracking start. We also get chapters from an unidentified character who lived in the house in the past and witnessed some of the cruelty and crimes that happened there.

It is very dark book, children are the victims.

The characterisation is excellent, with plenty of detail and history. The writing style involves lots of thoughts and inner-dialogue and we share their fears and dreads.

There are plenty of reveals, and some big twists, one of which left me gasping with the shock.

The final section went on a little bit too long for me, and the inner-dialogue style can slow things down a little. This is a crafted and very detailed novel, with a lot of layers and history to be discovered.

This is dark and deep and really quite scary, but very good at what it does.

Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing

Woah, I really don't think I'm ready for the upcoming nightmares from reading this.
John Marrs writes some of the darkest thrillers I have ever read. What Lies Between Us is still one of my go to recommendations in the genre, even now years after reading it.
But Marrs has surpassed his standards with this one. Put it this way, every time I have seen or heard the word 'child' since finishing the book, I have got shivers. I genuinely feel traumatised from what happened.
The characters were all creepy too, which just added to the tension. I love Marrs' speculative fiction novels too, but I live for these disturbing messed-up reads.
The ending has had me thinking of little else, and I know the book hangover will last a while with this one.
Intense, crazy, and so compulsive!

This is one of the craziest, hideous and obscene books I‘ve ever read and I still liked it. My jaw dropped so many times, because I couldn’t believe the horrible occurrences these poor little children had to endure and how remorseless some people could be. But I couldn’t put the e-book down it was so captivating and thrilling. I read 3 books by John Marrs and will definitely keep up with his work / sick mind ;). I think the blurb should contain a trigger warning hence the murder of children.

Thank you NetGalley & Amazon Publishing UK for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve started a review on this at least three times now & I’m at a loss for words, or I have too many words & don’t know how to properly get my thoughts out on “paper”. As a whole I really dug this book, if I had a do-over I would still read it! This is also my first book by Marrs & certainly won’t be my last. This was a super easy read (in a good way) that made for an easy cruise through the book..I read it in over the course of roughly two days with many (many! haha) interruptions😜

Creative storyline. Characters that were kind of awful, but not in a way that made me dislike it, but more in a way that worked for the story to where the characters matched with what was taking place between this messy secretive family.

At times some of the book was imo predictable but maybe the author didn’t necessarily try to make it less obvious? I also had a feeling who the villain was early on but maybe all these suspense books are giving me a better intuition. I think the things that bothered me most (about the writing not the story because in general this is a dark story) was some of it seemed like filler, like instead of being actual dialogue it was more read out like a journal entry by the character so it was not necessarily boring but lacking..lacking in excitement I felt. The ending was satisfying & complete which is always appreciated😜

If you have this in your tbr read it! If not you’re probably not really missing out on a must-read but I did enjoy this book, it just wasn’t one that left me feeling wowed to where I will be telling my fellow readers to go read it.

Thank you to NetGalley & Amazon Publishing UK, so appreciative for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review!!

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Another great book by John Marrs! This one was all over the place (in a VERY GOOD way)…and it really had me thinking. I would make predictions and think “Nah! That seems too obvious so it can’t be that person” but then I had a pretty good suspicion who the killer was. (Especially since my friend and I were buddy reading it and we put our heads together making guesses…FYI this is a fantastic book to buddy read or add to a book club). I don’t really know how to explain my feelings about the characters without giving away spoilers. All I can really say is that I didn’t like any of them 😂 BUT it didn’t affect my feelings on the book or storyline itself. I can’t go into detail or I’m afraid it will sway your opinion before you even start the book.

This one was really hard to put down. It was very twisted and disturbing!! The ending was satisfying BUT there were a few parts in the ending that annoyed me or seemed a bit “over the top”. It’s hard to say what they are without giving anything away. This book is definitely one that you should go into blindly with no hints of what happened. I understand WHY the author ended the way he did (the epilogue) and it was a total “WTF ending” BUT part of me wishes it would have ended slightly different….but absolutely no complaints on my end! This was a great book! It comes out in October and I HIGHLY recommend picking up a copy!!

The reason I gave it 4.5 stars (rounded down) was strictly due to the couple things that I felt were unbelievable. I mean the whole story is absolutely CRAZY but was so well written that you just wanted to keep reading, so for that alone it deserves the 4.5 stars!! This is the 3rd book I’ve read by John Marrs and he is a fantastic author!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

To see other reviews I’ve left, check out my Instagram and Goodreads pages:
*Instagram - bookworm_traveler808
*Goodreads - Cherihy808

John Marrs is a favorite author of mine. This book was absolutely fan-freaking-tastic! There are so many twists and turns and secrets you’ll have whiplash by the time you get to just 50%! I don’t think I’ve ever read that much suspense in one book prior to getting to the 50% mark. Normally 50% is when the good stuff starts happening but this book is so jam packed from page one until the-very-end! Wow! Totally recommend! I love how each character had their own chapter so we knew what was going through their mind! 10 stars!

Is there a mistake in chapter 43 which notes 39 years ago? I think the chapters of 38 and 39 years ago are flipped…someone is “gone” in the 39 year chapter but the 38 year chapter tells that story of how. Which is backwards, looking back in time.

As a major John Marrs fan this book I struggled with this book. It was way too long rambled way too much and the plot drawn out making it unbearable to read.

My all-time favorite John Marrs book is THE GOOD SAMARITAN, and while this one didn't have that same level of darkness, it was still a twisted, creepy read!

Mia and Finn are desperately looking for a place to call home. Mia's in-laws had plans to buy a derelict house with the intention of rehabbing it and selling it, but they graciously backed off and allowed the couple to bid on it, sight unseen. After seeing the house, the couple is quite uneasy, but after finding out that Mia is pregnant, they are more determined than ever to make their project into a home...until they find out what's in the attic.

Told in alternating timelines from differing points of view, we are brought back to the house's dark history and the people who lived there. The twists were plentiful, and this was an excellent exploration of "nature vs. nurture." Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this early read. KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY will publish October 18, 2022.

This is my third John Marrs book but probably my least favorite one. I guess because I love his writing so much, I had high expectations from this book. I grabbed an advanced copy of the book from Netgalley as soon as John announced it's availability on his Insta page. Reading the first few chapters of the book I thought it would take a paranormal twist in the plot. I did enjoy reading the book and there were enough surprising reveals to keep the reader interested but somehow the wow factor was missing. When I read 'What Lies Between Us', I just couldn't believe how twisted the characters were and the plot was brilliant. But in this book I just couldn't make myself invested in the characters.

Mia and Finn have just bought an old and rundown house, even without checking out its current state. When they reach the place, they are appalled at how much renovation would be required to make it habitable. They live with Finn's parents and its quite apparent from the very outset that Mia and Finn's mother, Debbie, don't get along with each other. Finn's father, Dave, is a handyman and along with him Finn starts the long and arduous task of repair and reconstruction of their house. Meanwhile, Mia falls pregnant and the couple are overjoyed because they've been trying for quite sometime.

During the reconstruction they come across a horrible, nightmarish secret that the house withholds in a hidden room in attic. The nature of the crime that's discovered is shocking and gruesome and the lives of the four people in the family will never be the same.

I like how John writes his characters because most of them are morally gray. They can never be categorized as right or wrong. Since the chapters are written in multiple first person narratives, the reader can see how every character justify their deeds. The shifting narration does get confusing at times and add to that the jumping of time periods whenever there is a chapter narrated by the killer, I had to sometimes look back to the beginning of the chapter to see who was narrating it.

I still have most of John Marrs' book in my TBR, but this one, unfortunately, just didn't hit the mark with me.

Thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing and John Marrs for the advanced e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Finn and Mia buy a fixer upper from an auction without ever laying eyes on it. When they see it in person, they realize it is a nightmare and will take a lot of time to fix. During the renovation, Mia finds out she is pregnant, then shortly after, they find bodies of dead children in suitcases in the attic. Mia delivers the baby early and then finds that she can't let go of what was found in their attic and begins to investigate to the dismay of those around her.

4.5 stars.

This book was dark and I enjoyed it. I read it in about a day. There were enough new revelations throughout the book to hold my interest and when I thought I had it all figured out there was still more to the story. I like this one about as well as What Lies Between Us. I look forward to this author's next psychological thriller.

Unbelievably Menacing…
Dark, chilling and unbelievably menacing. A derelict house becomes a dream house for Mia and Finn. Or does it? In fact, it’s soon to become the stuff of which nightmares are made when the young couple make a very gruesome discovery indeed. With more twists than you can shake a stick at, an underlying terrifying menace and with a carefully crafted cast this is, perhaps, the darkest yet.

I like John Marrs, mostly, as an author. The One and Passengers are really great, and I loved What Lies Between Us so much.
Some of his other books, I occasionally have problems with. One of the things I don’t enjoy is the consistent use of female infertility as a plot point. It seems to be a part of almost every book.
Perhaps John Marrs has had this happen in his life, in which case, I’d love to read about it from a male perspective. But for me, I’m a bit sick of thrillers where the woman can’t get pregnant and it negatively affects her entire life.
Another trope I can’t stand is when the woman who can’t have kids, magically gets pregnant when she’s been trying for ages and now she stops trying, suddenly it happens. This is way too played out.

With this being said, and with these issues in the book, you’re probably reading this thinking, ‘well, you sound like you hate it but you gave it 4 stars?’
And that is true. I liked it enough to give it 4 stars. This was dark, I think the author’s darkest book so far! It kept me on my toes, and I really enjoyed the horror aspect of this book and that it wasn’t afraid to go where it did. It made me realise, all the way through the book, that literally anything could happen. Nothing was off the table. And I found the story satisfying - an understatement, I found it enjoyable.

I will yet again keep John Marrs as an auto-read. I can’t wait for another book from him. How they keep to this standard!!!

I am a huge John Marrs fan and was delighted to get an advance copy of this novel. John Marrs is a master of thrillers. Keep It In The Family had so many secrets, so many twists and turns and packed with intrigue to keep the reader turning the page. The first few chapters are slower paced I feel to his previous novels but as soon as the pace quickened I couldn't stop reading and raced through the book.

Another winner from John. I can't wait to read another!

4 stars

Mia and Finn have just bought a do-er upper to finally get them out of living in the in-laws annexe, unfortunately in the renovations they uncover some secrets, some closer to home than expected.

I love John Marrs and enjoy his dark thrillers and his style of writing from multiple perspectives, in which this did not disappoint.

I see other reviews saying they figured out the 'twist' early on, but I do think that if you read a lot of this kind of book you tend to have so many theories going around in your head you're bound to get it right - at least that's what happened with me! Some of the events and twists and turns are so so dark you have to wonder how he comes up with this stuff!

I felt like I wanted to know a bit more of the history of this story, I feel there was a lot alluded to but not explicitly described.. my mind takes these things to the darkest corners! Kept me up at night thinking over what may have happened in those rooms...

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

John Marrs you absolute sicko! In a good way of course!
This is John Marrs at his finest and I would say his best book so far. I don’t want to use the obvious phrase ‘twists and turns’ but there were so many that I couldn’t guess what was going to come next.
I don’t know how he does it so well but let’s crown John Marrs the king of psychological thrillers!

Okay so I am a dedicated reader of all John Marrs' books. So I was really happy to get my gands on this one.
Keep it in the family is the story of Mia and Finn a couple that is about to start a family, move houses and be happy.... or not???
Well maybe yes if it weren't for lots of baggage (spoken literally) from the past!!!
Lean back and enjoy this story!
Thank you #NetGalley #Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC

First of all thank you to NetGalley and John Marrs for the chance to read this ahead of its release in October.

Just when I thought John Marrs books couldn't get any darker than his previous books I've read, it does!

Keep it in the family is a very twisted tale and the secrets this family harboured are so dark and creepy!

I thought I had guessed the twist at the half way mark but I was wrong and that's what I like with John Marrs he always has you guessing until the very end when all is revealed!

I enjoyed the writing style with the multiple perspectives and alternating time lines and felt it was done really well!

This book comes with lots of trigger warnings so please look into these before reading!

I've given it a three star because it was an uncomfortable read!

Thought this was fantastic, creepy and amazing. It kept me engage throughout. I look forward to more from this author.

Another excellent chilling thriller from John Marrs.
Mia and Finn are busy turning a derelict house into their dream home when Mia unexpectedly falls pregnant. Mia discovers a chilling message scored into a skirting board: I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC. Their dream home was once a house of horrors.
Who killed all the children? John takes us on a spine tingling journey to find out!

Wow! What a twisty book which is impossible to out down.
Totally hooked but this book which is in the style of narrated by the different characters.
I enjoyed trying to predict which character was the anonymous narrator.
John Marrs is an author whose books are amazing and to look out for on the shop bookshelf. However, I’’m not sure how the next book can live up to this one!!

What an absolutely disturbing book (disturbing in a complimentary way)
I saw a few of the ‘twists and turns’ coming but not others especially not the end !!
Such a good book. If I had children I really don’t think I would be able to read this book. I spent much of the time shocked and the rest of the time reminding myself that it isn’t real!
Although the topic is heavy, the style of writing makes it easy to read through the story. The short chapters in different views make you want to read more and more. I did stay up until the early hours saying “just one more chapter”

Thank you to netgalley for the advance copy of the book

Thank you so much to NetGalley and John Marrs for this e-arc! I screamed when I saw this was available on NetGalley.

This rating pains me. I'm so sorry if you ever see this, John 😭 I'm one of his biggest fans and will forever recommend The One, but this book was just a miss for me.

What I love about John is that he comes up with original ideas and intertwines them with great research, good writing and little excerpts of articles that make the whole story feel realistic.

I wouldn't refrain anyone from reading this book at all. I think I'm just very seasoned in true crime stories as of late and this didn't interest me the way I wanted it to.

The only thing I definitely was not a fan of, was the Shakira reference 😂 it made me cringe so badly.

If you like the nature vs nurture thriller trope, this one is definitely for you!

Wow! This book is ridiculously gripping and darkly thrilling. I spent most of the book guessing what could be on the next page and then savouring the delightful twists. It is so cleverly done. Nobody could be trusted!I have fallen in love with with this author and am now off to read his past books.

How has such a nice family man got such a dark, twisty brain? His nightmares must be something else - which is why he is able to see into our souls and bring out something to really creep us out! Well done John Marrs, another triumph!

Mia and Finn are living with Finn's parents but are desperate for a home of their own. When Finn's parents find a derelict house that they want to do up and flip on, Mia and Finn decide that they should buy the house and do it up for them to live in. This unlocks a chain of events that there is no coming back from.

Told in various voices, on different timelines, this story carries you along throwing boulders in your way every so often upsetting what you thought you knew and taking you along a different track completely. A dark, disturbing, twisty novel that will haunt you for a long time.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4785170724

Whenever I see a new book from John Marrs, it automatically moves up on my reading pile list. Now usually I could guess what would happen in his book but this time he completely changed the plot and twisted in such a way that I was left spellbound. John has the knack of surprising you when you least expect it and Im so glad that this book proves yet again that he is a masterful storyteller and that I wouldn't want to ever get on his wrong side! A great read and I really recommend that people should just pick up his books without reading reviews as you really don't want to spoil the fun at all in any way.

What a story! Another crazy ride of creepiness, all so real thanks to brilliantly developed characters with the added bonus of having different voices in different chapters. Worked well to see both sides of what was going on.
Do you know what’s happening in your house, what’s already happened, what your family is capable of? Can you trust anyone or is that niggling suspicion worth following?
This story is so twisty-turny you’re never sure what’s about to happen - true to life, intense, unputdownable, thrilling. Another awesome John Marrs creation 5*

3.5 ⭐️

The last sentence of the opening prologue gave me chills!

An unnamed narrator confessing to being the BAIT that lured unsuspecting children to a home where they would end up dead and placed in suitcases in the attic.

The suitcases won’t be found for 39 years.

Finn and Mia have purchased a fixer-upper and they are hard at work trying to turn the derelict house into a dream home, before the birth of their first son. But, when Mia uncovers a message scored into a skirting board, she follows the clue into the attic, and finds the carefully arranged, dusty suitcases with their secrets still intact.

I thought perhaps the author was flirting with horror, this time, and I was ALL IN!

But, although John Marrs is a favorite author of mine-this one wasn’t a favorite of his-for me!

Finn and Mia will have to move in with his parents, Dave and Debbie, while the detectives investigate and try to give names to the skeletons of the missing children from many decades prior.

The TITLE gives us a clue of what to expect-this is a DYSFUNCTIONAL family drama as much as it is a psychological thriller, and, if you know me-dysfunctional families are not a favorite of mine!!

So when the story moved in this direction, it dragged a bit for me.

I did enjoy the excerpts of newspaper clippings, and podcasts sprinkled throughout, which helped to fill in details of the story. There was even one from a YOUTUBE SERIES by ex police detective and crime thriller author, Caroline Mitchell which was a fun touch! 😉

I loved “The Good Samaritan” and I am always captivated by the Dystopian World which John Marrs has created (The One, The Passengers, and The Minders) so you can be sure that I will still be auto-requesting his next, despite not being quite as enamored with this story.

Surprisingly-the creepy EPILOGUE actually earned the final half star!

Thank You to Thomas and Mercer for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

AVAILABLE October 18, 2022! (I know! It’s a long wait, but I couldn’t resist reading it early!)




I

I have always given John Marrs book a 5* and I absolutely loved The Passengers and banged on about it to anyone who would listen. Although I enjoyed Keep it in the Family I didn't find it amazing, I found the characters a little irritating and didn't gel with any of them. There is an almighty twist at the end that I didn't see coming and this has elevated my overall rating to a 4*

The saying goes you can’t choose your family - or can you? As you are ‘entering’ the dark mind of the marvellous John Marrs aka Mr Twisty himself, then anything is possible! It starts with a scare and there isn’t much let up until the bitter end. In 2018 Mia and Finn buy a doer-upper in Stewksbury , Bedfordshire. The house is neglected and definitely creepy but does it have a past?? Well, obviously it does if you’ve ever read the author before!! A chilling message in childlike writing is discovered above a skirting board followed by harrowing discoveries in the attic which implodes Finn and Mia’s world. The story is told by the young couple and by Finn’s parents Dave and Debbie, interspersed with podcasts, interviews and news clippings.

How do I categorise what I’ve just read? How about highly entertaining and bonkers which is just about my favourite combination! The characterisation is excellent and the author will confound your expectations on a few occasions. The impact of all that unfolds is done exceptionally well although Mia does sometimes wade in with both feet. I daresay we wouldn’t have such a hood story if she didn’t! Her guilt, fear and anxieties are described with real empathy and you do sympathise with her and understand her obsession with getting to the truth. It becomes ever more dangerous and she is put through the mill on several occasions. This is certainly a rollercoaster ride of a read with the shocks and twists keeping on coming especially as secrets come bubbling up to the surface. There are very good cliffhangers and some tantalising snippets of information that send your mind spinning in a multitude of directions.

However, it isn’t too hard to figure out at least two of the twists but I can say with certainty that some you do not! There’s me thinking my mind has a tendency to flit to the dark side but this is next level! This is dark, intense, disturbing and hard to put down as you’re desperate to unearth the truth and so you willingly board the train to crazy town! It’s another winner for me!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Amazon Publishing U.K. for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

My track record with JM's books is mixed. I'm obsessed with his sci-fi thrillers, but his more traditional mystery/thrillers have always been a miss for me. But today, that pattern has been broken! Because there's no sci-fi element to this story, but I actually really enjoyed it!

And it wasn't necessarily the twisty nature of the story that had me hooked. The reveals and misdirections along the way did nothing for me because I knew exactly what was going on from about the 40% mark. So instead, I was much more interested in the characters. These characters are fascinating. The lengths they will go to do something, all because they have an idea in their head, is crazy. I really found the characters’ layers to be the most interesting part of this story - it makes for a great case study!

So this is a win for me! Would I have loved this more if it had a sci-fi element? Probably, but only because I think those are the stories JM writes best. But this is still a very entertaining read.

John Marrs is one of my favourite authors that I don’t even need to know what the book is about, I buy it regardless as I know I am in for a treat!
Another great storyline that has you hooked from the very start and carries you through the night without even blinking.

Mia and Finn are turning a derelict house into their dream home when Mia finds a message carved into a baseboard: I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC. Following the clue, they discover the remains of seven children hidden away. When shards of dark truth begin to emerge, Mia realizes danger is still terrifyingly present. What will she do to protect her family... or is it already too late?

YAY:
- Multiple POVs and timelines
- Dark and gritty

NAY:
- Telling vs. showing
- Lack of voice
- Predictable twists

I've struggled all month on how to rate and review this book.

It centers around the one thing I will not read: child abduction and murder. Had its blurb made this clear, I would have steered clear. But it didn't, so I snatched up an eARC, thrilled to be among the first to read the latest from one of my favorite authors. When I realized what it was about, I would've DNFed it had it been any other author... but I can't DNF John Marrs! It was as painful to push through as I'd expected, but it wouldn't be fair to rate it one star based on personal triggers when I chose to read it regardless of them. Instead, my rating and review are objective.

I've read five of his previous books and rated them an average of 4.4—clearly, I adore his writing. However, I don't think Keep it in the Family is up to par with his other work. Whereas he's usually masterful with exposition, here we're being told what's already happened, as if they're writing in a diary: "Here's what happened last week; here are my thoughts and feelings about it; here's what I'm going to do next." I also had trouble remembering whose POV I was reading due to a lack of distinction between their voices. Most disappointing of all, I saw each of the twists coming a mile away—a far cry to literally shouting out "WHAT?!" many a time while reading his other books.

I'll continue reading everything John Marrs writes, but this book sadly missed the mark for me.

This is not usually John Marrs's style of writing. This book does not have multiple strange characters that somehow end up connected to each other lives in any sort of way. This is just as the title stated, it's regarding a family. Although, when I read it, it's obvious that the voice from the past has to be connected to the present somehow. That's the mystery. However, I did guessed who that voice from the past is. I think because I know the way Marrs write, that it makes me pay extra attention to this character; therefore, guessing it was the easy part. Even though this is not his usual style of writing, it does not in any way bad. It's definitely different. The story was still good overall, but not as floor dropping as his other books.


Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This may be predictable but it’s another John Marrs book that gets a five star rating from me.

I can’t read one of his books and not rate it this because with every new book he continues to exceed my expectations.

With each new book I expect a tense opening chapter that throws you many questions which you want immediately answered, but, of course it’s this which pulls you into the story in the first place. He delivers a novel that you feel bereft and resentful when you put it down, often to carry out those mundane tasks, but you’re itching and can’t wait to pick it up which is down to those short snappy chapters that each end with another question or cliffhanger.

John Marrs novel are never predictable, because every novel is very different to the previous but it’s his ability to create new unique storylines which always pull out something new.

This novel is and will always be one of my favourites. It’s dark, it’s shocking and it’s delightful all in equal measure. I loved the depravity and shock it brings. The character gets are as always so well created you want to go on the journey with them. Again not because I’m twisted and love reading that extra level of darkness, but because he dares to go that step further and push boundaries.

Overall another fabulous novel which I’m left intrigued by how he will top it with his next… yet I know he will.

I completely adore John Marrs book but I couldn't love this one as much as usual. It kind of bored me unfortunately and all I wanted to do was skipped to the end, The characters for me were not very likeable and I didn't really care for any of them. I felt like this was the same formula he uses in all his books and Im gutted I have to even write this

Finn and Mia purchase a run down house for a steal and get busy fixing it up. What they find hidden behind the walls is unspeakable, and it all isn't confined to the house. Keep it in the Family was quite disturbing, but oh so fantastic! Just when you get to what you think is the end, I can practically hear Mr. Marrs yelling "but wait, there's more!". And boy is there ever! You've been warned!

Excellent read. John Marrs does not miss a beat in this twisty turny thriller with surprises around every corner. I highly recommend this book.

John Marrs' psychological thrillers are one of my favourite things to read - this man's mind is a dark and fascinating place to be.
Keep it in the family ensured I was up till past midnight two nights in a row as i just couldnt wait to find out if my theories were right. Its dark, disturbing, and packed full of secrets and lies.
One thing I love about Marrs is that he isn't afraid to shock.

Mia and Finn Hunter are the new owners of a run down property, they begin to renovate as they find out they’re pregnant with their first child. But their happiness is short lived as they discover bodies in the garden and in the attic! The pace is fast and intense, it’s a crazy story! Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a gifted copy.

Dark, fantastic novel that I absolutely could not put down. Married couple Mia and Finn are busy rehabbing their new home when they learn they are expecting a baby. This news combined with a horrific discovery in the attic of their new home throws the couple into a tailspin. As the couple learns of the scope of the crimes committed in their new home, they take refuge at Finns parents house, much to Mia’s chagrin. But living with her in-laws may be just as dark as living in their own house which has become a crime scene. I have read all of Marr’s previous novels and this one was excellent just as all the rest have been.

3.5 dark and chilling stars

This book will keep you up at night! Filled with a sinister house, suitcases, and lies – I found myself wondering just what I had gotten myself into with this one!

Mia and Finn have embarked on rehabbing a home until several unsettling things are discovered. It turns out that the house has horrible secrets. As a surprise baby adds to the mix, things are on shaky ground with Mia and Finn.

Will the truth be discovered about the house and the suitcases? I wanted to scream at Mia to take the baby and run very far away!

This author does a terrific job with surprise twists, and I was wrong on several points. This one has a rarity too, an excellent epilogue! This family drama was well paced and creepy.

I love a John Marrs books and this one does not disappoint. The characters get under your skin, it twists and turns and keeps you reading ‘just one more page’. Highly highly recommended

Finn and Mia have outbid his parents Dave and Debbie on the purchase of a Victorian five bedroom house standing alone but relatively near the local village. The house has been empty for forty years and the once pristine garden is now surrounded by tall weeds, self-setting bushes and wild flowers. The property itself needs lots of work doing to it and the couple intend to complete most of the work together. Dave is a builder and has lots of contacts should Finn need help. Mia and Finn have been trying to start a family and with all the excitement of the house purchase she is surprised to discover she is unexpectedly pregnant.
Time goes by with Dave helping Finn when he can. The house is taking shape and they will soon be able to move in before the baby is born. Then one day they inspect the attic and find some very pricey suitcases. Dave and Finn decide to look inside. Meanwhile Mia finds a curious child-like message etched into a bedroom skirting board. It reads ‘I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC’. Mia is shocked and climbs up the ladder to pop her head inside, impatient to see what is inside. She soon wishes she had not seen what was there, for inside each case is the body of a young child. Mia is haunted by the tiny bodies and tumbles down the ladder and hurts herself badly. An ambulance is called and when she wakes up in her hospital bed her child has been born. They name him Sonny. It is a miracle they both survived the fall and Mia is severely wounded.
Meanwhile Finn and Mia are still living in his parents annex with baby Sonny. Debbie is a Godsend if truth be told and suddenly Mia and Debbie’s relationship changes from very bad to good. Debbie is keen to help and is wonderful with Sonny. Mia cannot do much because of her injuries and sadly has trouble bonding with her baby. She has post-natal blues and becomes obsessed with the babes in the attic. The police investigation is ongoing and work on their new home is impossible. With time on her hands she starts an investigation of her own, looking at old newspaper articles. YouTube and even a crime writer’s take on what happened to the lost children.
I knew from the Prologue that this novel was going to be dark, twisted and chilling. An anonymous narrator hints at their evil baiting act for the murderer. However I was unready for exactly how gruesome the story would become. The story is well told and the set of envisaged characters eclectic and skilfully nurtured. There are the really good and the terrifically monstrous. The murderer is convinced that the manner of the deaths was driven by saving the children from neglectful or evil parents, therefore morally good. However my take on that point is that the predator is unhinged, lustful and totally abhorrent. I did find some parts of the narrative confusing – jumping from one time to another. More than once I had to check back who was actually narrating the story. There were plenty of red herrings and blind alleyways, tension and mystery. The family were definitely dysfunctional; there were unreliable narrators, and disturbing news from the cold case investigators. The ending was catastrophic, unexpected and deeply horrific.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Thomas & Mercer through my membership of NetGalley. These are my own honest opinions without any outside influences. It’s an exciting read and it’s a 3.5* review from me for the reasons I have given.

4.5 stars, but I'm rounding it up to 5 because...well it deserves it! Frickity frack this was pure, delightful, full on crazy!! I thought my mind was a scary place to live, but if I was sharing space with John Marrs, I'd be casting him some serious side eye and sleeping with many weapons within easy reach - and I mean that all as a compliment!! The twists just kept on coming with this one. I suppose if you've read a lot of this genre, you might spot them coming a mile away, but it didn't change my enjoyment in any way. If you wish to be seriously creeped out and love a good mind @#$%, then pick this one up as soon as you can!!!

John Marrs has done it again! Keep It in the Family (out October 18) was the twisty, turny thriller I hoped it would be! While it was a little long, causing the story to drag on a tad, this story still delivered the wild ride of intensity we have come to expect from JM.

Told via multiple POVs, timelines, and with the addition of articles/interview excerpts/etc., we meet the royally f*cked up Hunter family and are dropped into what appears to be a decades long murder spree. The Hunters are all very unlikable, and that’s what really drives this story because while you really want to know what’s going on, you’re not reeeeeally rooting for anyone. Mia, who I would call our main MC, was my favorite of the bunch, probably because I liked her snark and her sarcasm. 😂 My least favorite, for all the obvious reasons when you read this, was Debbie. A character has not given me such anxiety and unnerved me quite like her, lolol. While the characters move the story along, the actual plot was still awesome. It had my true crime sense tingling and I was hooked the whole time. Even though I did figure one of the twists out, it didn’t deter my enjoyment and there were plenty I didn’t see coming.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the advanced copy of this ebook because I’m am THRILLED that I got to read it early. At this point I will read anything John Marrs puts out. He has a forever fan in me and will collect my dollars with each new release. If you’re a JM fan, or even just a thriller fan in general, you’re going to love this. 🖤

Mia and Finn, a married couple struggling to get pregnant, buy an abandoned house and start to do renovations. Shortly after they start the reno, Mia finds out she is pregnant. They think that everything is going to be amazing, a new house and a baby. What could go wrong? Until they discover a cryptic message etched into the baseboard “I will save them from the attic”. That leads to the discovery of 7 suitcases, each of which contain a terrible secret.

This was the type of fast paced, devour in one setting that i expect of John Marrs. I love the short chapters and the multiple points of view and time lines. The twists and turns will keep you guessing until the very end!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Mia and Finn are remodeling a house to update, then Mia falls pregnant. When they think the house is ready Mia discovers a chilling message scored into a skirting board: I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC.. Mia and Finn find that their dreamhouse is a house of horrors. After Mia has her baby she gets fixated on what happened in the attic, the truths start to appear..
Great book, love John Marrs , this is considered to be another one of my favorite from him.
Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas and Mercer, and the author in exchange for a review.
Publishing Date: Oct 18, 2022.

Well this one was truly disturbing and not at all surprising for a Marrs book. To start off, I was struggling a bit to keep up with the timelines, the POVs and the little excerpts in between. If I was physically reading this I don't think it would have been an issue but as it was on my kindle...going back and forth is not easy without completely losing your place. But, even though it jumped around, it added so much extra depth to the plot. The reader was getting glimpse into things the MCs haven't experienced. AND there was the murderer POV which I always am a fan of. This allowed for such an awesome twist that literally left my jaw on the floor. I thought I knew who it was. Wrong. And there were so many other layers to just how effed up this family is. And boy does Marrs know how to write truly hateable characters. I didn't love to hate them. I truly hated them. Debbie. Dave. Finn. Even Mia was hard to get on board with. Again, each step of the way I thought I had it figured out and BAM something else was added. Ugh. And poor George. He deserved better. Was some of it far-fetched? Sure. Did I care? Absolutely not. Give this one a read if you want a disturbing read and be mindful of the trigger warnings.

I have read several of the novels by this author, and have very much enjoyed them and this is certainly no different. The author has a real gift at coming up with a unique storyline, and this is difficult as for readers like myself who read a lot of books within this genre that is a real challenge. This book had me gripped from the first page and it was so cleverly done that it almost read like a true crime novel. I do not want to give too much away, however I would say read this as you won't regret it.

Absolutely loved it! So many twists that I didn't see coming- it kept me guessing right 'til the end Definitely 5/5!!
**Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book**

Keep it in the family is yet another dark psychological thriller by this fabulous writer. Mia and Finn have found their dream home and are busy with renovations in expectation of the arrival of their baby. However, Mia finds a message etched into the into the skirting boards “I will save them from the attic”. Then a gruesome discovery is made in the attic and life for Mia is turned inside out and she has no idea who to trust or who is telling the truth.
This novel had me both terrified and enthralled all at the same time and I could not put it down. John Marrs’s writing has you hooked from the moment you read the first page and leaves you guessing right till the final page .

I literally don't think that John Marrs can write a bad book.

I loved everything about this one, from the characters to the mind blowing events that happen throughout.

It's sick and twisted and will keep you up at night.

I have been a huge fan of John Marrs' books. I tried with this one but I couldn't finish it. The writing style felt off to me and the story felt tedious.

I enjoyed this book. I can not wait for more by this author! Thanks to publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this book!

A great family-based thriller with well-developed characters and lots of twists - some which I saw coming and some I didn't.

Very enjoyable, but slightly too long for me: I could quite happily have had a different (shorter) ending to the book with 1 or 2 fewer twists. By the end it felt vaguely like a fable passed down through the generations, with people adding their own extra 'surprises' to the end over time... I think I just prefer John Marrs's brilliant near future thrillers (The One (book not terrible TV adaptation); The Passengers; The Minders) much more than these more domestic noir standalones.

When reflecting on the above, please do also hear me when I say it was engaging and fun to read, and I would certainly recommend it to other crime thriller readers.

I love John marrs books, he is such an amazing writer. He creates stories and characters that keep you captivated from start to finish.

4.5 Stars

‘Everyone except their families soon forgets about a missing child. And me. I remember every one of them. Because I am the bait that lures them here.’

John Marrs is one of our favourite Authors; he has been since picking up our first book by him, over five years ago. From then, he has continually wowed us with his compelling, future predicting, dark and thrilling stories. All very uniquely him and all somewhat dark, twisted, and disturbing. John Marrs is such a lovely bloke and family man, how on earth do these stories live in his head…. we’d be scared to fall asleep! But hey, we ‘re not complaining because this latest instalment had us up reading way past our bedtime, wait, strike that, readers don’t have bedtimes, right?! The prologue is one of the most powerful and gripping prologues we’ve read in a while, and we were filled with nervous anticipation at just what we were in for.

‘Even though I haven’t set foot under the roof in decades, I am forever part of its fabric. I’m the mortar that binds the bricks together, the pipes linking each tap, the wooden beams that hold up the roof. I have never truly been able to escape it. I am it and it is me.’

We could not put Keep it in the Family down, such was the grip it had on us in all its horrific, manipulative, twisted and macabre glory. Complex relationships, a history of horrors, mounting dead bodies and a huge emphasis of the nature versus nurture debate running commentary in the background. In some respects, we felt as if we were watching a true crime documentary on Netflix. This one felt a bit different to what we normally experience with a John Marrs novel. The writing style seemed more simplistic in its execution. This is not a negative though as we feel it suited the narrative and ensured a sense of the ordinary which is anything but. A seriously messed up family dynamic and characters we didn’t like very much, but then we’re not sure we were meant to.

‘I’ve grown to realise that when I don’t have blood on my hands, they are uncomfortably dry.’

The twists…. oh, the twists!!!!!!! You know the Author has nailed it when you have to reread the same sentence a few times to make sure you read what you think you read and then loudly exclaim…” now that’s bloody clever John!” John Marrs did it again. What a wonderfully gifted storyteller!

As always with John Marrs, you’re in for a treat. One of the best authors out there now. Make sure you’ve not missed any of his other books. Brilliant!

So happy to get to read the new John Marrs book so early and it did not disappoint.

Mia and Finn are busy turning a derelict house into their dream home when Mia unexpectedly falls pregnant. But just when they think the house is ready, Mia discovers a chilling message scored into a skirting board: I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC. Following the clue up into the eaves, the couple make a gruesome discovery: their dream home was once a house of horrors.
In the wake of their traumatic discovery, the baby arrives and Mia can’t shake her fixation with the monstrous crimes that happened right above them. Haunted by the terrible things she saw and desperate to find answers, her obsession pulls her ever further from her husband.
Secrecy shrouds the mystery of the attic, but when shards of a dark truth start to emerge, Mia realises the danger is terrifyingly present. She is prepared to do anything to protect her family—but is it already too late?
I have really enjoyed all the John Marrs books, I’m a massive fan so was excited to read this one. I find his books have really varied topics and story lines but always strong characters and a great plot that twists and turns and pulls you in. This psychological thriller really gets you thinking and wondering what happened back in the past and what is happening now. So hard to put the book down and sleep! Although not my favourite novel from him I feel the bar is really high and I still loved it.
I’d really recommend readers try all his books as they are fabulous – and all deserve to be made into films.

Thanks for NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
#KeepItintheFamily #NetGalley

Another solid read by John Marrs. I thought I had the whole thing figured out but I definitely did not. I like when a book keeps me guessing until the end. John Marrs never disappoints!

Wow, wow, wow. Evil as evil can be. This guy knows how to write a book that will keep you reading till it’s finished. So many curved balls, breathtaking moments. I loved it. Makes you wonder how nurture overtakes nature. If you want a good thriller this is the one to read.

I inhaled Keep It In The Family in a single day, I was completely drawn in to the pages, and didn’t want to leave the book until the last page had been turned.

From the very start, I thought it was an interesting, but yet a very familiar family dynamic. Mia and Finn are desperate to buy their first house together. Mia more so than Finn, so she can escape her overbearing Mother-in-law, who likes to demean her at every possible opportunity. Their dream house doesn’t turn out to be quite as they were hoping for, in fact, it is a deadly nightmare. The house has been keeping very disturbing secrets, within it’s run down walls.

There is so much tension within the pages. Not just tension from the story, but also from the fraught relationships between the characters. The Ted Bundy quote at the start of the book, should give the reader a clue that they are not in for a gentle ride.

This is a dark, intense and twisty thriller, that kept me totally gripped. I found myself so drawn in, I didn’t want to leave the book for even a moment. When you think the book has given away it’s secrets, it has more awaiting you. I have heard so much praise for John Marrs’ writing, and I now regret leaving it until now to read one of his books. I look forward to reading his back catalogue.
In case you can’t tell, I loved this 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ chilling read. I highly recommend reading it yourself, but maybe not if you are renovating an old house.

“It won’t be long until the latest disappearance is made public…Everyone except their families soon forgets about a missing child. And me. I remember every one of them. Because I am the bait that lures them here.”

On a scale of 1 to 10, how disturbed are you after reading that quotation? Wrong! The correct answer is 11. Your level of disturbance is off the charts.

Stay with me for a minute: what if I told you that there’s a book (psst, this one) about a couple who buys a fixer-upper house only to discover that the house used to be a torture chamber? Now, glance back up to that quote. I’ll wait while you piece it together. Yes, two plus two does equal four. Hey! Where are you going? To the bookseller of your choice to buy this book? That’s what I thought. Carry on.

In this one, Mia and Finn win an auction and find themselves the new owners of one hot mess of a house. During the renovations, Mia becomes pregnant (pause here to glance back up at that quote—just to properly establish the book’s mood and tone), and soon finds an ominous message etched into the wall: “I will save them from the attic.” Whoa! Wow! What the heck, huh? You should read it to find out.

The story is told from different perspectives and through additional sources, like podcast episodes, and each chapter does a brilliant job of increasing tension and upping the stakes. The pacing is faster than the quickest bolt of lightning, and the characters are both complicated and relatable.

In short, Marrs has penned yet another book that should be on everyone’s Must List. With its gripping plot and shocking twists and turns, this dark and deeply unsettling book is the perfect way to spend a day. Cancel you plans. Prepare to embrace the obsession. Your evening is booked.

I was in a bit of a reading slump when I started reading this book, so I picked it up with some trepidation , I have read and enjoyed all of John Marrs previous books ,and I am so glad that this book got me out of my reading slump ,and then some.. I loved it ,it kept me page tapping on my kindle, and I couldn't read it fast enough. I thought it was darker than some of his other books, almost going into CJTudor, territory ,I liked the darkness and the fact that there were so many twists., it was great, definitely a winner for me. Cracking book by a writer on top of his game.

Another amazing John Marrs book. Full of twist and turns and left me open mouthed at some points. It was another book that I struggled to put down and read it within a day. John Marrs definitely has the recipe to hook the reader every time. Highly recommend to all John Marrs fans and those new to his books.

I am a huge John Marrs fan and this book did not disappoint! This is a dark and twisted family thriller with so many twists and turns it kept me guessing until the end! Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this arc!

I stumbled across one of John Marrs’ books several years ago. I read it and immediately searched his back list. Every book has been different, and everyone (to me) was a page-turner. Getting the chance to read an early copy of his upcoming October publication was like winning the book lottery.
When Mia and Finn buy their first house it seems like the worst thing that will happen is the amount of time and money this fixer-upper will need. That is the least of their problems since what they find in the attic makes this house a crime scene.
Mia and Finn seemed to be affected very differently. They move in with Finn's parents, and without saying too much, we learn what stays within this family. Some great characters, a horrific mystery, numerous twists, and turns, and even when I thought, I knew them all, the author had one more ‘what’ moment in store for Keep It In The Family.

As if this book was going to be anything other then exceptional?!! Thrilling, gripping, twisted and just plain amazing! Couldn’t put it down!

I love a creepy John Marrs suspense tale!! Keep it in the Family is definitely the darkest of the books I’ve read by the author and it kept me on the edge of my seat. Wickedly suspenseful!!

Mia and Finn have bought a house that needs full renovation but repairs are soon curtailed due to a gruesome discovery in the attic. Suffering after a traumatic birth and PTSD, Mia is detached from modern life and becomes obsessed over what she saw. But it seems that what happened in the house may not just be from the past.
A dark, chilling twisted disturbing read that I couldn't put down. Sure to be another bestseller

Keep it in the Family
By John Marrs
Release date 10/18/2022

From the book 📖:

their dream home when Mia unexpectedly falls pregnant. But just when they think the house is ready, Mia discovers a chilling message scored into a skirting board: I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC. Following the clue up into the eaves, the couple make a gruesome discovery: their dream home was once a house of horrors.

From me 💀:
There’s not one sane person in Mia's husband's family. Each one has its darkness, all different, and just messed the hell up. When Mia and Finn find 7 bodies in a suitcase while remodeling their new home, it sends them into a downward spiral. Each being affected differently but one is no worse than the other. The secrets from that house are dark and intense and I am here for it
I’m a huge John Marrs fan, I’ve devoured all of his books, and each one I read I love. They are all packed full of suspense and chapters with different pov.
5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟S҉҉T҉҉A҉҉R҉҉S҉҉


#johnmarrs #thomasmercer #netgalley #netgalleyreader #suspensebooks #thrillerreads #bookshelves #bookblogging #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #igreads #instareads #5starbook #pageturner #amazonpublishing

This is my first John Marrs book and now I know what the hype was all about! WOW! This story is dark, twisty, and turny. I thought I had this one all figured out, but I was dead wrong! The more pages I turned, the darker the story got, and I devoured every word of it. I could NOT put this one down. So creepy and disturbing, right up until the very end.

Highly recommended for fans of thriller and horror novels, serial killers, dysfunctional families, unreliable/multiple narrators. Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me an advance copy of this book.

A very easy 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Wow! One of the best twisted thrillers I have read.

This was a fast read, had some creepy characters all with a fantastic storyline which kept me engrossed from the very first line until the last one.

Told in different peoples words, also in different timelines, with the odd newspaper report thrown in all makes for a brilliant read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

A young couple buy an old house that needs extensive renovations.
While they are working on the house they discover something that is hidden in the attic that will have serious consequences for them.
A chilling dark story that I couldn’t put down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and John Marrs for the advanced copy of Keep it in the Family in exchange for my honest review.

I am feeling really conflicted about this one. Was it predictable? Yes. Was it super fast-paced? Also yes. Do I wish it would've ended a number of chapters early? Yeppers. I really did not love Part Four of the book, and I kind of wish it had just been left out entirely with a different ending.

Regardless, John Marrs is definitely one of my favorite thriller writers and I'm always immediately sucked into any book he writes. I will be anxiously awaiting his next novel.

Keep it in the Family is out in the US on October 18!

I am a huge John Marrs fan so I was surprised to feel a bit flat after finishing this book, which was odd because it had the same good writing and dark twists that I love in his stories. I think it was because the title gave too much away before I'd even started reading, so although there were twists they were ones that I was expecting and therefore lost some of their punch. It was still a very good read, but with a different title the twists would have been genuine surprises.

“This place could be good for us, I tell myself. It could be just what we need.”

Married couple, Finn and Mia, buy a fixer-upper in order to turn it into their dream home. While the work is being done, they are living with Finn’s parents, Debbie and Dave. Mia can’t wait to move out, as she doesn’t get along with her overly critical mother-in-law.

When Mia learns she is pregnant, she can’t believe her good fortune, as she has been unable to carry a baby to term. However, this miracle baby couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Mia’s happiness is cut short when she uncovers a cryptic message on a skirting board in their new house.

“I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC.”

Mia insists on searching the attic for answers.

…but some secrets are not meant to be found.

Mia and Finn are the new owners of a house of horrors.

Since reading What Lies Between Us, I have been anxiously awaiting John Marrs’ next dark and disturbing psychological thriller.

While I enjoyed the writing, I had issues with some inconsistencies as well as repetition. Each chapter is told through a different character’s perspective, oftentimes replaying the same events through a different viewpoint.

The plot is definitely disturbing and Marrs is not afraid to delve into darkness. However, I was able to figure out most of twists before they happened.

Nevertheless, kudos to Marrs for finding a successful way to set this book during the current pandemic! This is not an easy feat which many authors are still struggling to work out.

Unfortunately, Keep it in the Family doesn’t measure up to What Lies Between Us, one of my favorite reads of 2020. Regardless, I still mostly enjoyed this dark psychological thriller.

Trigger warning: child abuse

3.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 10/18/22

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of Keep it in the Family in exchange for an honest review.

Wow !! So many twists this took me by surprise time after time I just loved it.
John Marrs is an amazing author that consistently writes 5 star novels which in itself is fantastic but what I admire also is the fact that all his books are so different and this latest one is no exception.
So Mia and Finn buy a n old abandoned house set on renovating it but of course things never go plan and when investigating a strange message saying “ I will save them from the attic “scratched into the woodwork of a bedroom they have to investigate and oh boy what they find is not at all what they expect and from then on in this story is filled with twist after twist that I can only say is you need to Read THIS BOOK it’s amazing it completely blew me away !!
Fabulous characters, brilliantly intense story I can’t praise it enough …for me it’s a perfect thriller and one I can highly recommend.
My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved this book!!! I could not help pondering the state of the author for dreaming this up (literally, the idea started with a dream he woke up from), but then also the state of me, for reading this for enjoyment! Are you looking to read about a messed up character? Look no further, this book is full of them!!

Mia and Finn have just purchased an old house that needs a lot of work when Mia unexpectedly becomes pregnant. Everything seems to be coming together until Mia uncovers a message carved into a baseboard: I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC. And when she climbs up to investigate, her whole world starts teetering over... starting with the ladder holding her up.

I really don't want to give anything away, but there was a place in this book where I could almost physically feel my brain shift. I will read absolutely anything that John Marrs writes!!

Public announcement: I think we may have just found my new favourite book of 2022! And I'm so happy that it's by the brilliant John Marrs, cementing his place as one of my favourite authors!

Disturbingly dark, deliciously sinister and intensely entertaining, Keep It In The Family is a twisted and compulsive dark psychological thriller that will leave you sleeping with the light on (and checking your skirting boards for hidden messages!).

This is exactly the kind of story that I love to devour. A chilling house, a family with secrets, a mysterious figure lurking behind closed doors. Give me more! Marrs gave so much detail and context to this decades-old story that I felt like it was true. And as soon as I finished it, I suddenly had the urge to find a true crime documentary based on the story to indulge in more.

The one thing I expect from a Marrs book is unpredictable twists and plenty of cliffhangers, and they are in abundance here. Yet again, I was absolutely hooked from the beginning, and I already want to go back to the beginning and enjoy it all over again!

This one will give you a serious hangover, but I know it's going to be a standout read for many this year!

My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for a copy of “ Keep It In The Family “ for an honest review.

I’ve read ,and enjoyed, all of John Marr’s previous books and this latest is no exception.
His style of writing , and characterisation is really good .and draws you in
Even though the subject of this book is very dark , and disturbing I was hooked.This might put some off reading the book but I’m definitely recommending this to anyone who appreciates a well told psychological novel

Well this was certainly dark! Domestic noir at its finest with some seriously twisted characters - each one worse than the other. I liked the multiple points of view but wanted to get into the heads of the characters who started off the chain of events a bit more, although to be honest with who I think they are based on perhaps it's a good thing we didn't get to know them too well. Instead it focuses on the effects on the next generations of the family and this was very cleverly done.
Disturbing and dark and another great read from John Marrs.

A dark and chilling mystery centred on a derelict house. I have enjoyed the authors previous novels and this was a slight departure from his speculative fiction. However, this novel.was uncomfortable reading, the subject matter of missing and dead children quite disturbing. I failed to finish..

Mia and Finn are a newly married couple that decide to put all there money into a fixer-upper they have never seen but bought at auction. When they arrive at the property both are worried that they've made a huge mistake but rather than voice their concerns they plaster on fake smiles and move ahead in their commitment.

Months into the renovation a discovery is made in the attic: The bodies of seven children packed into suitcases.

Renovations and money worries are no longer their only concern because things are about to get much worse. Dun. Dun. Dun.

I have such a rollercoaster reading relationship with this author. The Good Samaritan blew my mind and I also enjoyed What Lies Between Us. All of his other books have been a DNF - yes, even The One. The One being the book that is probably raved about the most on Goodreads in this genre and I hated it. So how did I fare with his latest?

Meh.

I didn't DNF this though I considered it on several occasions so there was something here that was keeping me going even if it was only fleeting. The writing, to be honest, just wasn't that impressive. The storyline was OTT implausible. The ending was a whole big "What the fuck?" and not in the good way. He took an already implausible story and made it even more unbelievable and I was left scratching my head with the turn of events. Still, I finished this, so that's something but I can't really think of anything to praise about it either. 🤷‍♀️ 2 stars!

I'll leave you with this gem of a quote and for context I'll tell you that Mia is, I believe, 8 months pregnant:

"Then he starts massaging my shoulders before his lips brush my neck and ear. I'm tired and I ache and I want to protest but he knows exactly the right buttons to press no matter how shattered I feel. And before I know it, the iPad falls to the floor and despite my considerable size I'm straddling him and my hips are moving like Shakira's."

Cringe much. Eww. 🤢

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my complimentary copy.

This book absolutely blew me away! I read this book quickly because I had to find out what was happening. It is a dark and twisted book and I loved it. It is truly a jaw dropper. I liked the different POVs telling the story. I liked seeing it from different people's perspective. It hooked me from the very beginning and didnt let go to the very last page. Definitely pick this one up!!! The expected publication date is October 18, 2022.

4.5⭐️

The author is a favourite as he great at coming up with unique concepts for his novels. I was excited to read this one. Considering how dark it is, it’s cleverly written and remains very low on the gore score.

In the prologue we hear of events that went on at a house 39 years earlier. What a hook! Very dark. I got me on board for what I hope is a thrilling journey.

Then the dilapidated house is bought by young couple Mia and Finn. In the mix are Finns parents Debbie and Dave who also wanted to buy the house as a renovation flip.

The lead up story is told by Mia, Finn, Debbie, and an unnamed voice. Transcripts from various sources give shocking details of present events. They are intertwined which really add to the suspense as the story unfolds.
The time frame moves from the present to varies stages of the past to unfold the story.

Non of the characters are likeable, but they are totally engrossing.
The pace is great, with plenty of revelations along the way which kept me riveted. It’s dark and gritty which is right up my street.

I was absolutely loving it until it took a different direction towards the end that I didn’t gel with. I also felt that it lost its pace at the end.

So very nearly a 5⭐️ if you love dark gritty psychological thrillers this is one you won’t want to miss.

Finn and Mia Hunter are a young couple currently living at Finns parents’ house. When they decide to buy a house that hasn’t been lived in for quite some time and needs a lot of work done to it.
When Mia strips some wallpaper of the wall, she finds a message ‘I will save them from the attic’. This leads them to find out more sinister and more horrors in the house after further discovery in the attic. The media finds out what has gone in the house. Which stars Mia off in an obsession of what went on in the house. Which puts pressure on her marriage and bonding with her son when he is born.
Thank you, Amazon publishing, for a copy of Keep it in the family by John Marrs. I am a fan of the authors work and his stories always blow me away. This this is a dark disturbing tale about one family and their secrets and found it a little bit cringe worthy. Especially Debbie with her twisted and sick mind and what ever she did, she didn’t think that she was doing anything wrong and that she was saving people. The story is told by different points of view in each chapter, and I had to keep going back just to check which character it was referring too. I did enjoy this creepy thriller from John Marrs. The story is very good, and I recommend reading it. But for me it didn’t blow me away as other books that I have read from this author has done. 4 stars from me.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing for my digital ARC copy.

John Marrs' writing is fantastic. I've literally just finished this and didn't want it to end.

To be honest I didn't like any of the characters, especially Mia and Finn. But maybe we're not supposed to?
I've heard this has Flowers in the Attic vibes so I'm off now to give that a go...
Rating:4/5

I have only read one other book by John Marrs (The One) and this one was soooo different. It was creepy with serial killers so a bit more on the horror side than thriller IMHO. There were two twists that I figured out early one but there were quite a few more that I didn't! And that jaw-dropping ending!

Twisty, disturbing, unreal. Just a few words I would use to describe this new thriller from Marrs. I will admit this is my first book by him but I had heard great things and I currently have others on my TBR. I was surprised by some of the twists in this book and it was a fast-paced read.
With all that being said, I didn’t love this book. I felt like the constantly switching POV messed a bit with my connecting to any one character and left me disliking all of them. I think this story would have been much better had it been told from one or two POVs and spent time getting me to sympathize or at least get attached to one of them. I felt detached the whole book and toward the end found myself rolling my eyes at the sheer amount of reveals that kept getting thrown in.
I gave this three stars because it was a fast read and kept me entertained.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Keep It In The Family by John Marrs
I give this book 4.5 stars


Mia and Finn are busy turning a derelict house into their dream home when Mia discovers a chilling message scored into a skirting board: I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC. Following the clue up into the eaves, the couple make a gruesome discovery.
She is prepared to do anything to protect her family―but is it already too late?

WOW!
This authors ability to weave a dark and disturbing plotline is undeniable.Pick this up and be prepared to be shocked….. each chapter is told from one of 4 main narrators giving you their perspectives (unreliable maybe) lts also crammed full of twists and turns.News articles interspersed add to the suspense as does a unidentified narrative.There is no let up during this relentless read and it kept me guessing the whole time unable to put it down (who needs work,sleep or food) Looking for a chiller psychological thriller go grab your copy you won’t be disappointed !
With thanks to Netgalley,John Marrs and Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas and Mercer for my chance to read and review this book

Keep it in the Family

Mia and Finn have finally gotten pregnant and are attempting to renovate an old home so they can move out of Finns parents house, of whom Mia has never gotten along with.

During renovations they unearth what the home has kept hidden for decades and all of their lives begin to spiral out of control because of a connection to the old home.

As the investigation into the house grows so do the lies.

Someone is a third generation serial killer and is doing everything in their means to keep it in the family for generations to come.

This is a multiple POV storyline of which you get Mia, Finn & both Finns' parents, Dave & Debbie, voices. There is also a 5th voice that gives you glimpses into the past. For the longest time I kept going back and forth over who it was and was shocked when it finally clicked.

The chapters are short which of course makes it almost entirely un-put-down-able.

Even once you feel like the main plot and secret has been revealed there's still 25% of the book left and the author just slings more at you from all corners until your mind kindly asks for it to be over with.

This might be my new favorite of the books of his I've read!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this in exchange for my review.

Talk about dark and twisted - my goodness John Marrs! If you have ever read anything this author has written, you will know that the twists keep coming. Keep It in The Family was no different.

I feel it is best to go into this book without knowing too much about the plot. You will want to be surprised - trust me on that. What I will tell you is this:

Mia and Finn are excited to buy their first home. It needs work, so much work. Lucky Finn and his father are tradies. They are nearing the point where they think they can move in, when they discover a secret room in the attic. What they discover in there is shocking. This gruesome finding will change all of their lives forever, and not in a good way. You will have to read it to find out more.

Thanks to Amazon Publishing for my advanced copy of this book to read on Netgalley. Published October 18th

Dysfunctional families are always fascinating to read about, and this family certainly fits the bill! Add to this an abandoned & isolated house, and you have the makings of a creepy story. I really liked how something so simple as buying a house turned into the catalyst for so many secrets to be revealed and for so many lives to be destroyed. I thought that Mia, Finn, Debbie and Dave were great characters - they played off each other well and there was a degree of unlikability to them all. I did find that the pace fell off at times & my attention wandered, but the twists were well placed & I found myself eagerly turning the pages. Some of the twists & cliffhangers had me muttering WTF to myself! This was a dark, creepy & addictive read that I enjoyed.

I thought the pacing of this book was so solid - I kept turning the pages - and I loved all the twists and turns. Every time I thought I had the full story, something new and unexpected came into focus. As expected, this was a pretty dark story - I think a good comparative would be Karin Slaughter’s Pretty Girls. My only real quibble with the novel is that I found myself wanting to connect better with or understand Mia’s character - or really any character - but I had trouble liking them or sympathizing with them. At the same time, I can see how this might have been deliberate on the part of the author, since the organization of the book meant that the reader also felt just a little off kilter and unsure. Definitely a good read and I thank you so much for the advanced copy!

Keep it in the Family || John Marrs

Keep it in the Family is a standalone domestic/psychological thriller by best-selling author, John Marrs. This was my first book by this author. I picked it up as I’ve long heard about John Marrs books and thought this one looked particularly promising.

The story follows couple, Mia and Finn who purchase a home with plans to renovate it. Only their dream home holds a traumatic past, the bodies of missing children. Told in alternating POV and across multiple timelines, this domestic thriller will have you questioning what really went on in this house of horrors. While a little predictable in places, this doesn’t stop this chilling story from being a joy to read. A fast-paced, difficult to put down psychological thriller that asks questions about nature, nurture and how well we really know those closest to us.

I look forward to reading more by this author. Thank you to Netgalley, John Marrs and Amazon Publishing UK for an advanced copy of this novel.

It’s no secret that I consider John Marrs to be one of my absolute favorite authors, and I always feel a little giddy inside whenever a new title becomes available. I knew that I simply HAD to read Keep It In The Family even before I knew what the story was going to be about… But once I learned about the house of horrors and serial killer angle, I was even more excited to read it. And I definitely liked what I found! True, it’s not my favorite story of his and there were a few things that niggled me, but there is no doubt that Keep It In The Family is a dark thriller that will chill you to the bone.

I’m going to keep this review short to avoid spoilers, because this is one of those thrillers where it’s best to go in blind for maximum impact. What I can say that Keep It In The Family most definitely tips its toe in the horror genre, and things will get very dark and twisted indeed before you reach that final page. The plot is build out of different layers, and each time you think you have the story all figured out, something new and equally shocking is revealed. True, I did guess some of the twists right, but somehow this didn’t influence the impact of the plot twists and you will be left with your jaw on the floor as you wonder how on earth all of that was actually happening for that long.

There is just something about the way John Marrs writes that is extremely engaging, and this story is no exception. I was hooked as soon as I started reading, and the story kept me on my toes as new information popped up. True, the flashback chapters going back to different points in time are a tad annoying to pinpoint without a name to connect them with… But then again, this is all due to one of the major twists. The story itself is hard to place into one neat little genre box; some parts are dark crime thriller, bordering on horror, while other sections of the story had a domestic thriller vibe instead… All packed with unreliable narrators and glimpses inside a serial killer’s head, and you are left wondering what is the truth behind it all and who the flashback chapters actually refer to.

I mentioned at the beginning of this review that there were a few things that niggled me, and that includes the main characters. They are not exactly likeable, and I’m not sure up to what point certain actions are exactly credible. They do play their roles in the plot well, but there was something about them in general that made me enjoy the story less than expected. And then I’m not even talking about the whole cheating/love triangle element, which put a bit of a damper on things. Still, the plot and plot twists themselves are cleverly developed, and I never guessed the full horrific truth behind it all.

All in all Keep It In The Family turned out to be a more than solid and engaging serial killer/domestic thriller hybrid, and the plot went so much further than I thought it would go. Recommended if you like your thrillers on the dark side.

Mia and Finn are busy turning a derelict house into their dream home when Mia unexpectedly falls pregnant. But just when they think the house is ready, Mia discovers a chilling message scored into the skirting board: I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC. Following the clue up into the eaves, the couple make a gruesome discovery.: their dream home was once a house of horrors. In the wake of their traumatic discovery: the baby arrives, and Mia can't shake her fixation with the monstrous crimes that happened right above them. Haunted by the terrible things she saw and desperate to find answers, her obsession pulls her even further from her husband,

Told in alternating timelines this story is told from Mia, Finn, and Finn's parents Debbie and Dave's perspectives. There are also chapters from an unknown character who had previously lived in the house and had witnessed some of the events that had taken place there. The premise is original but it's a disturbing and dark read. With lots of twists and red herrings, there's more than enough to keep your attention throughout.

I would like to thank #NetGallet #AmazonPublishingUK #Thomas&Mercer and the author #JohnMarrs for my ARC of #KeepItInTheFamily in exchange for an honest review

Marrs does it again!!! I always know I’m in for a ride with John Marrs and the twists and turns and surprises got me each time again. Told from multiple viewpoints, this is a story of family and the ties that literally bind us. Throw in a little nature versus nurture here and you’re in for a thrill !

This was my frist John Marrs book and I was not disappointed and will surely read more of him.
The best part of this book, in my opinion, is the fact that it has several POV. Four that we know of and others that are unnamed. So it keeps you guessing for a long while. And in between, we also have scraps of papers, interviews, etc.
I must admit that I did see many plot twists coming. But, at the same time, for me, it didn't take away the overall enjoyment of the book and its mystery.

I have read and loved all of John Marrs’ books to date, and Keep It In The Family is so deliciously dark!

Mia and Finn have brought a derelict house and are busy turning it into their dream home when Mia discovers, unexpectedly, that she is pregnant. During an already stressful and emotional time, Mia discovers a chilling message scratched into a skirting board: “I will save them from the attic”. Upon following this clue, a gruesome sight awaits her and Finn, and it’s clear their new home was once a house of unimaginable horrors. In the wake of this traumatic discovery the baby arrives, but Mia cannot stop being fixated by the monstrous crimes that happened in their house. Haunted by what she saw in the attic, her obsession pulls her away from her husband. And when little glimpses of a dark truth start to emerge, Mia realises the danger is terrifyingly present. She will do anything to protect her family, but could it already be too late?

I loved the different chapter perspectives of Mia, Finn and his parents Debbie and Dave and also the unnamed character from the prologue who had chapters interspersed throughout. This character added so much horror as more about them was revealed and it was clear they were linked to the house from the prologue, which was set 39 years earlier. I had a gut feeling about who this character was right near the beginning and couldn’t believe it when this was revealed at the end of part 2 and I was correct! There was so much though after this point that I just didn’t see coming at all! The shocks and surprises were fantastic and I couldn’t read the chapters quick enough to see what would be uncovered next! The final chapter was so chilling too! I didn’t stop thinking about it long after finishing the book.

It’s hard to say any more about this book without giving something away but it is such a compelling and addictive story, and I cannot recommend it highly enough!

The title is very apt. A great story. Gripping, dark and twisty. A fast paced read with a clever plot.

I had previously loved John Marrs's other novels (particularly The One) but this one felt like a standard popcorn thriller, which was very disappointing.

This is the 3rd book that I have read from this author and so far he can do no wrong. I am becoming a huge fan of his.

Mia and Finn, with the help of his parents Debbie are Dave, are busy fixing up their dilapidated house before the baby arrives. Mia discovers a chilling message scrawled into the skirting board: I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC. As they search the attic they make a gruesome discovery: their dream home was once a house of horrors.

This book is dark, twisted, and full of surprises. As soon as I thought I knew where the story was headed it would take an unexpected turn. I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and John Marrs for an ARC of "Keep It In The Family" in exchange of an honest review.

This was quite a dark read, with some unexpected twists along the way. Everytime you think you have it worked out something happens to reveal another twist.
Definitely a must for readers who enjoy a pschological thriller, this will blow your mind!

Thank you to Netgalley, Amazon Publishing UK and John Marrs for the chance to read this ARC in return for an honest review.

"I will save them from the attic."

Wow! I'm speechless. Seriously speechless! Where do I begin to review a book like this? Ok, first think of Fred and Rosemary West combined with Ian Brady and Myra Hindley...and multiply them a couple of generations! Then you have John Marrs' latest and probably darkest thriller yet KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY.

So Marr's is known for some really dark psychological thrillers. I've read two previously - "The Good Samaritan" and "What Lies Between Us" - and loved them despite how dark and twisted they were. But this one takes things to a whole new level of disturbing. I think it's the type of victim in this story that makes it all the more chilling. Don't worry, it's not graphic. Just...chilling.

Mia and Finn have just bought the house of their dreams...or it will be, once they've finished renovating it. A gothic Victorian five bedroom detached house that has stood derelict for four decades. Finn's parents Dave and Debbie had originally intended to purchase the property, renovate it then flip it but Mia had her heart set on it. Renovating is going to be a tall order but Dave is a builder and Finn is a plumber so between them, and their contacts in the trade, the men intend doing most of the work themselves.

And no sooner has work begun, than Mia suddenly discovers she is pregnant. The couple can barely believe it. And Debbie is excited at the prospect of a grandchild, despite the fact she and Mia have never gotten along. So it's decided the renovation will be undertaken in stages with the first stage ready for completion by the time the baby is due.

Then one day as Mia is surveying what will be the nursery, she discovers seven words etched into the skirting in a childish scrawl.

"I will save them from the attic."

Save who? And from what? All at once Mia sends Finn into the attic with Dave to take a look to see what is hidden up there. In her impatience she climbs the loft ladder to see for herself...and wishes she hadn't. For laid out are seven suitcases and inside each one of them is the body of a child. Shocked by the discovery and at seven months pregnant, Mia falls from the ladder breaking several bones and inducing a labour that would have her son prematurely born by caesarian. It's a miracle they both survived. But not completely unscathed. Almost every waking moment, all Mia can see are those dead children and so instills an even greater fear that she must protect baby Sonny from at all costs.

Of course the media have lapped up this juicy news of the "Babes in the Attic" as the police tear down their newly renovated home in search of clues as to who these children are and how they got there in the first place. And instead of leaving it to the police, Mia decides to do some investigating of her own...which can only have dire consequences.

And THAT is only a tip of the iceberg that sunk this tale of Titanic proportions! To find out what happens and where it leads you're going to have to find out for yourself because in all honesty, that's really the only way to experience a thriller as dark, disturbing and as chilling as this. Hearing about it is not believing...only seeing for yourselves can you really believe what you are reading. And there is no truer title than the one given to this story.

I knew from the very beginning when I read the opening prologue that this was going to be a dark and twisted read. Penned by an anonymous narrator who pops up throughout the story tells of the part they played in the abhorrent and chilling murders, the story then begins with Mia and Finn's respective narratives, also interspersed with Debbie and Dave's. We are also given excerpts of transcripts, interviews, newspaper articles and reports throughout at just the right time before lunging deeper into the past under the guise of the anonymous narrator. It is eye-opening, insightful and at times heartbreaking. The entire story is dysfunctional, as is the family it portrays, but it's the ending that is just too sad.

The story itself is filled with twists and red herrings that will keep you guessing - is it or isn't it? - leaving you wondering if you are able to figure them out. I did work out who the anonymous narrator was through a few drip-fed clues and things that were left unsaid. But that wasn't the only twist to be revealed...there are plenty more to come!

KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY is a twisted and delicious dark unnerving read that is chilling to the core. It makes you wonder what goes on in the author's mind to be able to conjure up such macabre plots! He did say in his note at the end that this story was the result of a dream and that you wouldn't want to be inside his head at the best of times let alone at night!

This is one of the most disturbing, tense and completely unputdownable thrillers I have read. It is atmospheric and addictive and oh so chilling. Everything I love in a dark thriller...and Marrs excels in this genre. I'm not a fan of sci-fi so I don't read those of his but these dark and twisted thrillers are right up my alley! I thought "The Good Samaritan" was dark and then "What Lies Between Us" which had echoes of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?", a very dark movie for its time...but this one? It knocks those out of the ballpark! The entire story was oh so twisted and the epilogue was chilling.

But oh! What a read!!

I would like to thank #JohnMarrs, #NetGalley and #AmazonPublishing for an ARC of #KeepItInTheFamily in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Oh dear. I’m on a bad run of reads and this one I had high hopes for.

Young couple buy their ideal doer upper house but soon discover mysterious secrets in the attic that link to dark secrets in the families past and perhaps present.

The spiel sounded really interesting and the book is by John Marrs, an author I have read and enjoyed in the past.

The problems with this one were many.

The format. Told in the first person from different view points, there’s a real abc type of narrative here, almost a childish style of storytelling that didn’t work at all for me.

The characters. A bunch of vacuous and unlikeable ones that make ridiculous decisions purely for the author to move the story on. I didn’t care about any of them. They weren’t even interesting in an unlikeable way. They were just nasty wafer thin and silly.

The story. What unfolds is pretty silly(and nasty). A ludicrous premise, we have twist and turns that add nothing to the story and don’t misdirect as it was obvious to me from very early on what was going on.

The ending. If the book itself was bad, the ending was beyond awful.

The only surprise in this book is the authors name. How the same man who wrote The One can write this trash is beyond me.

One of the silliest, wafer thin, poorly written and thought out novels I’ve read in a long time.

I’m sorry but a hard miss from me.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.

✔️this one kept me entertained and guessing - I read it in less than a day - definitely hard to put down . I saw some of the twists coming but definitely not all, and the ending was a surprise

Whewwwww!!! This one is going to take a lot to unpack in my mind for quite awhile! This was such a dark and twisted book full of shocking twisty turns that just keep coming and coming right up until the very last page! Nonlinear timelines that jump back making me think and clue after clue working backwards had me furrow my brow in concentration many times! This was by far my favorite Marrs book!

This is a very dark psychological thriller that definitely held my attention.
Mia and Finn are excited to buy their first house but it needs a lot of work.
Whilst the renovations are underway a disturbing message is discovered which leads them to find dead bodies in their attic.
With Mia heavily pregnant events go against her and the baby is born early whilst the Police investigate the house.
I can’t say too much more as there’s lots of twists and turns and you need to discover these for yourself.
This is a dark and slightly disturbing book but one that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Mia and Finn haven't been married very long and are living with Finn's parents, Debbie and Dave when they buy their dream home in an auction. They know it needs a lot of work doing to it, but Finn and Dave will do the majority of the renovations. Not long into the refurb, and after many failed attempts, Mia is surprised to discover she's pregnant, so it's even more important to get the house finished. When she's seven months into the pregnancy, she discovers a sinister message on one of the skirting boards; I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC, intrigued as to what it means they venture up there and the discovery they make turns their dream into a nightmare.

Keep It In The Family is told from the perspectives of the four main characters; Mia, Finn, Debbie and Dave with interspersed chapters from the killer and random podcast/news reports, and goes back and forth between different timelines. It’s a tense and disturbing plot, the chapters are short, just how I like them, and the characters are authentic. Marrs knows how to do dark and twisted, and this one is all of that and so much more, I was drawn in from the prologue and taken on a rollercoaster ride of gruesome discoveries right till the very end, and oh what an ending it was! If you like a creepy read with lots of twists then this one is for you.

I’d like to thank Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

everything i’ve read from Marrs thus far has been 4-5 stars so i was obviously eager to get my hands on this one. unfortunately this didn’t quite live up to my expectations but i’m kinda finding it hard to pinpoint exactly why i didn’t LOVE it. there are some good reveals in here (he does family thrillers really well) but i felt like it was all a bit low-stakes until the last 20% or so of the book so i found it meandering and overly long at times

Disturbing to the max! Dark and wickedly entertaining. The ending though. Don’t know that i 100% saw that coming. Did I say disturbing. Fast paced and flipped through this book in 2 days. If you like disturbing, this one’s for you too!

I'm a thriller author, so it takes a lot to creep me out, but this book managed to do that. The book opens with a Ted Bundy quote, so I immediately knew it was going to be a crazy book. Until about the halfway point, I was sure I knew where the story was going, but I was pleasantly surprised and caught off guard by one of the plot twists. Besides the big twist, I was captivated enough to stay up way too late last night to finish reading it.

This book is dark, chilling, and twisted in all the ways a thriller should be. It's the first book I've read by Marrs, but I'm definitely going to read his other books now.

If you like dark serial killer thrillers and don't mind a bunch of trigger warnings (child abuse, child death/murder, kidnapping, etc.), you'll enjoy Keep It In the Family!

*I received a free ARC, but this is my honest opinion. Thank you to the publisher, John Marrs, and NetGalley for the ARC!

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this very disturbing book

i think i am scarred for life after reading this haunting book, in one way or another its going to stay with me for a long time

mia and finn have bought a house that needs extensive work done on it to make it habitable and along the way mia finds out she is pregnant

but its the attic that holds the secrets of the house and mia and finn are about to find out in the most shocking of ways.....

oh man i will never look at another suitcase again without thinking about this book...its going to haunt me for a long time

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and John Marrs for an ARC of this book!**

Did you ever forget you had an assignment until the absolute LAST minute?

I'm talking two hours before, no chance for an extension, and your grade counts on handing something, ANYTHING, coherent in by the deadline....even if all you think you'll manage to squeak out is a 'D'?

THIS kind of book from an author as capable and talented as John Marrs....was sadly VERY reminiscent of that type of last-ditch effort that just went nowhere.

Mia and Finn are ready to make their new house a home. Sure it needs some upgrades, but they feel lucky they avoided being gazumped (yes, the use of this word was one of the high points of my reading experience) and ended up with the house. To cap off their happiness, Mia is pregnant and the timing seems perfect. UNTIL one day in the attic Mia notices a disturbing message on the skirting board up above: "I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC." Naturally, she and her husband are horrified...and the problems multiply when the two, with help from Finn's parents Dave and Debbie, EXACTLY what that message means...and the disturbing tragedies that took place there. Have Finn and Mia been harboring something dangerous under their own roof? And have they put their precious new baby DIRECTLY in harm's way?

Although I've said it once, it bears repeating: I had a hard time even believing this book was written by John Marrs. To start, things weren't so terrible, although they were a bit slow, with lots of set-up and drama involving the house buying and drama between Mia and Finn's parents.

But then Marrs got into discussing Mia's pregnancy...or rather, discussing what HE thinks apparently takes place during pregnancy...and I started to realize everything was going to come crashing down around me pretty quickly. I understand not knowing the ins and outs, but Marrs is usually reliable when it comes to his research...but not this time. An intruder pops in on sleeping Mia and this narration takes place: "Now I am standing over her, my face, directly above hers, my mouth next to her nose. I gently exhale so that she breathes me in and I become the oxygen that fills up her lungs and feeds her baby."

Uh...okay.

(Not to mention that a few pages earlier, Mia is fourteen weeks pregnant and has to ANNOUNCE it because she isn't showing...and yet, when this intruder arrives, they talk about her "swollen belly' etc.) I could go into more, but I'd rather not revisit it. Suffice it to say, there is example after example of weird idiosyncrasies that don't make a lot of sense. Mia is also purported to have postnatal depression...but instead of being treated for it or helped in any way, everyone around her sort of ignores the 'problems' to her face and berates her behind her back. Which brings me to my next point...

ALL OF THESE CHARACTERS are unlikable. (Except Mia and Finn's baby, I guess...we don't really get enough info until the very end for that to matter.) If you can't stand a thriller where everyone is awful, terrible, and no-good, this is NOT the book for you. This is also not the book for you if you can't stand reading about horrific things being done to children. In all honesty, I was able to remove myself from the gruesome bits being discussed throughout the book and not let that get to me, but I'm not sure how...I think because the quality of the writing was so meh, I was able to distance myself emotionally and at times mentally, because I was just struggling to make it to the end in one piece.

Marrs also slips in fake news articles, etc. throughout to sprinkle in clues (?) to help you solve the mystery, but the whole thing was just so unbelievable and over the top, they didn't particularly help me maintain any sort of interest. Unlike the page-turning, gripping suspense of What Lies Between Us, this one ran out of gas early and I simply couldn't wait for it to end.

I had figured after a couple of misses with Marrs' tech/sci-fi leaning books that a dive back into the psychological thriller realm simply couldn't miss. But after two thriller books revolving around the attic (one hit and one miss) perhaps all Marrs needs before his next is some fresh air...down on the ground floor.

2.5 stars

When Mia and Finn buy the ultimate fixer-upper for their first family home, they are excited to get started on making it their own. What they could never have anticipated was the grim secrets they were about to uncover and how they were going to affect their entire family.

That is all you are getting plot-wise, but if you are in the mood for a dark and twisty tale with some great characters (to love and to hate!) With a big chunk of family drama, this is the one for you!

Brilliant!

Another dark, chilling read from the master of warped minds - John Marrs.

This book is told by several narrators, each giving their own unique spins. The unknown person telling the story from a variety of times in the past helps complete the reader’s understanding of the plot and adds a really dark dimension and real fear in the present. Be prepared for parts that haunt you!

It seems strange saying I ‘enjoyed’ this book due to its chilling nature, however I will say I read compulsively to unwrap the plot. There are times when I suspected everyone, and also times when I wanted to scream at Mia!

The derelict house is a perfect scene for the monstrous crimes committed there and even the annexe at the in-laws doesn’t feel ‘safe’. John Marrs has a real skill for matching the settings with the ‘feel’ of the book.

The pace of the book increased as the story progressed and the ends all begin to come together. A great (chilling) haunting plot and another unnerving read!

You can count on John Marrs to never disappoint.

This is a dark, gripping read that had me hooked from the very first pages. The writing is compelling and gives each character their own personality, it really feels like you are able to see them interacting and can get an idea of what they are thinking, how they will react, etc...

I read other books by Marrs and this is definitely the darkest he's written so far. There's almost nothing positive happening, and every time you think it possibly couldn't happen anything worse... well, it does. I don't mind dark books and I really enjoyed it, but just a warning that this is a bit different from his other books.

My only criticism is that, although full of twists, the plot was a bit predictable and I was able to figure it out quite early on (all except one twist, which was maybe the most important, so that was a very nice surprise!).

Definitely a book to read if you like dark mysteries, serial killers, and want to be drawn in a very twisted story.

Thank you NetGallery and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A bleak and heavy book about generational trauma, abuse and serial killing cycle that never seems to end and the impact unhealthy parenting has on children.

What warped perceptions from some of the narrators, truly chilled me to the bone and made me feel more than uncomfortable.

It is hard to describe what strong feelings this book brought but none of them were good.

Powerful writing and a twisty and warped story, which was ever so sad and heartbreaking.

Overall, it was a tough read on the emotional side but executed brilliantly. I will definitely be following this author.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

Keep It In The Family by John Marrs ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mia and Finn buy a fixer upper to turn into their dream family home and get away from her interfering mother in law, but during the building work they make a truly horrific discovery in the loft.

Understandably Mia is traumatised by the experience and becomes determined to uncover the mystery, even if it creates a divide between herself and Finn, and their new baby boy.

This was a brilliantly written story and loved the distinctive voices from the four main characters, as well as a splattering of police and newspaper reports. The twists just kept coming and certainly kept myself and my fellow buddy readers guessing

I’ve really loved my other, more dystopian feeling reads by Marrs and this rating is based purely on the disturbing nature of the book which is one I would usually avoid, rather than the writing itself.
I’d say that if you enjoy your thrillers on the darker side you should definitely give this one a go.

This book was so disturbing and so good! It’s told in multiple timelines and POVs with so many dark twists and turns. Highly recommend grabbing a copy of this one!

⭐️ 2.5 ⭐️
Rounded up to 3 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I’ve read lots of rave reviews for this one so I’m definitely in the minority with my thoughts on it, but here goes…

I enjoyed the beginning of Keep it in the Family but after the first few chapters my interest waned. I thought the characters were one-dimensional and I disliked them all — usually when I dislike a character I can still connect with them in some way, but on this occasion I honestly didn’t care what happened to any of them.

I guessed the ‘twists’ quite early on and I nearly DNF a couple of times because I just wasn’t invested or immersed in the story. I expected the book to be atmospheric, eerie and chilling but for me it was none of above, I thought the atmosphere felt flat and even though the subject matter is gruesome, disturbing and shocking I didn’t think it felt in any way creepy or scary.

The book is well-written and there are some aspects of the story that I enjoyed, but overall, sadly it just wasn’t for me.

Another fantastic book by John who is a phenomenal writer and one of my favourite authors. This was a very dark and disturbing read but it kept me hooked from start to finish. Amazing twists and a great ending

Finn & Mia are delighted when they buy a run-down old house at an auction. Finn's parents are a bit put out as they had planned on doing it up & selling it on but are quite keen to help. Mia & Finn have longed for a family but have had many setbacks. so when Mia becomes pregnant it seems they will have all they want. However this is not happy families! A sinister message is found scratched into the skirting board of what is to be the nursery- what on earth can 'I will save them from the attic' mean? When investigating Mia has a fall from the attic ladder & goes into labour. In spite of having the longed for baby she cannot forget the attic.

This tory is told from five points of view- each adds something to this twisty tale. None of the characters are particularly likeable but that doesn't stop the reader from wanting to find out exactly what is going on & John Marrs is an expert at tying his readers in knots! This was a great read, thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

This is another deliciously macabre mystery thriller from the wonderfully disturbed mind of John Marrs. In this story a married couple buy an old house and in the course of the renovations they discovery something horrifying hidden in the loft. The twists in this book are dizzying and I even guessed some of them. After reading so many John Marrs books I almost feel that I am becoming an expert and have an idea as to how his mind works, God help me! A thoroughly entertaining read, as always, and I cannot wait until the next one.