The Family Remains (The Family Upstairs #2) by Lisa Jewell (2022)

 

                          #TheWriteReads #BlogTour for #TheFamilyRemains

                                                Penguin Random House Ireland

From the blurb:

PREPARE TO BE HOOKED! IT'S LISA JEWELL'S NEW THRILLER. . .

LONDON. June 2019: on the foreshore of the river Thames, a bag of bones is discovered. Human bones.

DCI Samuel Owusu is called to the scene and quickly sends the bag for forensic examination. The bones are those of a young woman, killed by a blow to the head many years ago.

Also inside the bag is a trail of clues which lead DCI Owusu back to a mansion in Chelsea where, nearly thirty years previously, three people lay dead in a kitchen, and a baby waited upstairs for someone to pick her up.

The clues point forward too to a brother and sister in Chicago searching for the only person who can make sense of their pasts.

Four deaths. An unsolved mystery. A family whose secrets can't stay buried for ever ...

A cleverly crafted, tense, and twisty tale.

Jumping timelines and person points of view adds mystery for the reader puzzling to piece together the events of the past. We are drip-fed information making this story a nail-biting and suspenseful read. 

This is the first time I've found myself with all fingers crossed that a killer would get away with it and that 'bad things would happen to bad people.'

I got completely immersed in this book as soon as I opened it. I connected with all of the characters and I just had to find out what happened next. Phin was the only character who was an enigma to me. Even though I was apprehensive about what Henry would do I eagerly followed the breadcrumb trail along with him to unravel the riddle of Phin.

The author ties events and people together very inventively. Rachel's story, in particular, concludes in a very satisfying way as does the police inspector's investigation into Birdie's murder.

This book works brilliantly as a standalone. It's easy to follow and the snappy chapters make it a quick read. 

The Family Remains is out now in all formats and from all good bookshops.

Look out for more reviews on the #BlogTour and let us know what you think of Lisa Jewell's new book.