Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

13 reviews

ashsupahfire's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

It took me some time to finish the first 40% of the book. Same with most thrillers, it’s a slow start where we set the scene. I finished the rest of the book in one sitting. 

I also would not call this a thriller as there was no stakes, just a mystery in an old house. 

If they would have keep the mystery of the lurking person in the house going on longer, or connected the ex husband to the mystery, or expanded on the being locked in Henry’s room thing longer, maybe

All of the subplots felt forced but the narrator of the 1990s cult section is what we really kept me sprung on this book as a habitual DNF’er. The present day storyline does get its big twist but I will still say the cult storyline is where I intensively read. 

Would have been nice if they expanded more on the two siblings clearly having the murder gene. Sure both were accidentally but neither felt phased by it. Or maybe that was an oversight of the author or not having them display any empathy for their dead parents. In a way I can see how all 3 deserved to die but both went immediately into clean up and escape mode. Clemency seems to be the only one traumatized.

I could read a second book where they learn more about the children of the cult 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia and Stalking

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Animal death and Vomit

themoodreader's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, Animal cruelty, Miscarriage, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Chronic illness

denlia's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Vomit

norwegianforestreader's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deportation, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Drug use, Physical abuse, Body horror, Grief, Alcohol, Animal death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal cruelty, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Cancer, Cursing, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Homophobia, Infidelity, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Torture, and Toxic relationship

thehmkane's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, Animal death, Misogyny, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Death, Rape, Infidelity, Death of parent, Murder, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Suicide, Body shaming, and Gaslighting

Minor: Homophobia, Medical content, Stalking, and Medical trauma

sabbcm's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Death of parent, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Torture, Confinement, and Miscarriage

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Trafficking, Stalking, Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy

lorzosaur's review

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death of parent, Medical content, Miscarriage, and Stalking

dorsetreader's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Child death, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Violence, Animal death, Miscarriage, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

frantically's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i love reading about fucked up rich people

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Murder, Drug use, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Stalking

Minor: Medical content and Animal death

mmikadze's review against another edition

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Stalking, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Sexual violence