Scan barcode
booknerd315's review
2.0
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication: March 7, 2023
When I saw the premise to this book, I was excited to dive into it. As someone who has a degree in psychology, this seemed right up my alley. I figured this book would be similar to "Where'd You Go Bernadette?", a character study with a unique take.
Unfortunately, I could not get into this book. All the characters sounded the same within the story plus there are a lot of characters to keep track of. I really enjoyed Birdie because she did her own true crime podcasts which drew me in.
Overall, an amazing idea that just didn't solidify for me within the book.
Publication: March 7, 2023
When I saw the premise to this book, I was excited to dive into it. As someone who has a degree in psychology, this seemed right up my alley. I figured this book would be similar to "Where'd You Go Bernadette?", a character study with a unique take.
Unfortunately, I could not get into this book. All the characters sounded the same within the story plus there are a lot of characters to keep track of. I really enjoyed Birdie because she did her own true crime podcasts which drew me in.
Overall, an amazing idea that just didn't solidify for me within the book.
nataliagubinski's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
allieveryday's review
3.0
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!
The Family Bones had a really interesting premise but it ultimately fell flat for me. I couldn't get behind or into Olivia from the start, I was with Birdie until the end (not worth risking your life!), and the journal entries oddly written.
Dialogue often felt fake, and there was too much on psychopathy (if I had a dollar for every appearance of that word) that felt borderline like textbook entries.
Too many characters to keep track of. The big reveal gave me nothing and left me confused (see: too many characters).
Again, very cool premise but not a fan of the execution.
The Family Bones had a really interesting premise but it ultimately fell flat for me. I couldn't get behind or into Olivia from the start, I was with Birdie until the end (not worth risking your life!), and the journal entries oddly written.
Dialogue often felt fake, and there was too much on psychopathy (if I had a dollar for every appearance of that word) that felt borderline like textbook entries.
Too many characters to keep track of. The big reveal gave me nothing and left me confused (see: too many characters).
Again, very cool premise but not a fan of the execution.
trisha_thomas's review
4.0
This was an excellent audiobook! It starts with a family reunion. Olivia isn't excited to go and, as you get to know the family, it's easy to understand why. And the bodies start to pile up pretty quickly. And wow, were there a lot of suspects!
But there are 2 other perspectives to this story. One is a journal - telling the struggles of a new relationship and worries. The other is of a armchair sleuth that is mother by day, true crime hound at night. I loved the different perspectives. At first they were confusing but I liked how it broke up the tension by flipping to another POV. It rounded out the story and didn't slow down the pacing of the mystery. I have to be honest and say I had no idea who was doing what. I was completely sucked into the family drama and the unsolved crimes. I liked the detective and the tenacity of the amateur sleuth.
As soon as I started this one, I was sucked in. So glad I flipped to audio. The narrator did a great job, really adding flavor to the story!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
But there are 2 other perspectives to this story. One is a journal - telling the struggles of a new relationship and worries. The other is of a armchair sleuth that is mother by day, true crime hound at night. I loved the different perspectives. At first they were confusing but I liked how it broke up the tension by flipping to another POV. It rounded out the story and didn't slow down the pacing of the mystery. I have to be honest and say I had no idea who was doing what. I was completely sucked into the family drama and the unsolved crimes. I liked the detective and the tenacity of the amateur sleuth.
As soon as I started this one, I was sucked in. So glad I flipped to audio. The narrator did a great job, really adding flavor to the story!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
glendareads39's review against another edition
4.0
TW: unplanned pregnancy, strangulation, incest, death by gunshot, poisoning, mention of a controlling relationship
The Family Bones is a locked room mystery about a true crime-loving, family reunion of psychopaths. Meet the Eriksons: a family with twisty, dark secrets and past who spends a vacation in a cabin in the woods. From narcissists to out-and-out murderers, Graduate student Olivia Erikson is writing on her dissertation to find out if nature or nurture is the reason behind psychopathy.
Olivia and her fiancée attends a family reunion in an isolated cabin at a mountain resort. just hours after arriving, Olivia's cousin is found floating dead in a lake. Strange things start happening. Followed by the disappearance of another family member. In addition, a violent storm comes in trapping everyone at the resort. Twisted family dynamics was the main thing that got me hooked on reading this book. The family bones as a rollercoaster of suspense. Told in the point of view of both Olivia and true crime podcaster Birdie Tan, along with journal entries and newspaper articles. Birdie Tan investigates a cold case of a missing woman. I really enjoyed this book, looking forward to reading more books from this author.
The Family Bones is a locked room mystery about a true crime-loving, family reunion of psychopaths. Meet the Eriksons: a family with twisty, dark secrets and past who spends a vacation in a cabin in the woods. From narcissists to out-and-out murderers, Graduate student Olivia Erikson is writing on her dissertation to find out if nature or nurture is the reason behind psychopathy.
Olivia and her fiancée attends a family reunion in an isolated cabin at a mountain resort. just hours after arriving, Olivia's cousin is found floating dead in a lake. Strange things start happening. Followed by the disappearance of another family member. In addition, a violent storm comes in trapping everyone at the resort. Twisted family dynamics was the main thing that got me hooked on reading this book. The family bones as a rollercoaster of suspense. Told in the point of view of both Olivia and true crime podcaster Birdie Tan, along with journal entries and newspaper articles. Birdie Tan investigates a cold case of a missing woman. I really enjoyed this book, looking forward to reading more books from this author.
bethany6788's review
3.0
This certainly was an interesting book. It’s told in alternating viewpoints between Olivia (a graduate student) and Birdie (a true crime podcaster). There are also journal entries from a unknown source (until the end).
It revolves around a family of psychopaths and a missing woman. I don’t want to get too into the book and say any spoilers, but I will say while it was an interesting take on psychopathy, the end was predictable. It did get me turning pages about 40% in to see the pieces come together.
I did like the author’s style and I thought it was an ambitious undertaking. I’d read another book by this author.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It revolves around a family of psychopaths and a missing woman. I don’t want to get too into the book and say any spoilers, but I will say while it was an interesting take on psychopathy, the end was predictable. It did get me turning pages about 40% in to see the pieces come together.
I did like the author’s style and I thought it was an ambitious undertaking. I’d read another book by this author.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
books_by_the_bottle's review against another edition
5.0
Psychology student Olivia has been studying what makes someone a psychopath: nature or nurture? She knows first hand, from her family, that both can play a role and she has kept her distance for years. But when she is invited to a family reunion, she reluctantly agrees to go.
A reunion in the middle of no where with a family of psychopaths: what could possibly go wrong?! I loved the premise of this book - one individual studying about mental disorders that just happen to run in her own family. We also get the perspective of Birdie, a podcaster studying a cold case she believed to be connected to this family, and there is a third perspective of journal entries by another individual. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I found the psychological thriller aspect of this spot on too - I had to reread one part to make sure I didn’t as understanding it correctly! I had an inkling of where it was going to go, but that did not stop me from enjoying it in the slightest. Another solid story from Elle Marr - she is quickly becoming one of my favorites!
Thank you to Netgalley, Elle Marr and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC! “The Family Bones” releases March 7th.
This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly
A reunion in the middle of no where with a family of psychopaths: what could possibly go wrong?! I loved the premise of this book - one individual studying about mental disorders that just happen to run in her own family. We also get the perspective of Birdie, a podcaster studying a cold case she believed to be connected to this family, and there is a third perspective of journal entries by another individual. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I found the psychological thriller aspect of this spot on too - I had to reread one part to make sure I didn’t as understanding it correctly! I had an inkling of where it was going to go, but that did not stop me from enjoying it in the slightest. Another solid story from Elle Marr - she is quickly becoming one of my favorites!
Thank you to Netgalley, Elle Marr and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC! “The Family Bones” releases March 7th.
This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly
pandasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
The Family Bones is a psychological thriller by author Elle Marr.
This one is a twist filled mystery which asks the age of question about nature vs nurture. Murder and psychopathy runs in Olivia's family, and as she nears her next birthday she starts to wonder if murder runs in the blood. Attending a family reunion with her boyfriend, what follows is a locked room style murder mystery as Olivia and her relatives are stranded on an island where the bodies start to pile up. Alongside this we also get chapters from another character, Birdie who is investigating a missing woman and has her own podcast. As well as interspersed journal entries from an unnamed woman. It's not initially obvious how these three plots intertwine but as the story progresses you will be treated to some mindblowing twists and reveals. I didn't love the character of Birdie and felt this plot line was quite slow and not as interesting as Olivia's. I liked how it all wrapped up. Overall I really enjoyed this one and will keep an eye out for new releases by this author.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an arc of this book.
This one is a twist filled mystery which asks the age of question about nature vs nurture. Murder and psychopathy runs in Olivia's family, and as she nears her next birthday she starts to wonder if murder runs in the blood. Attending a family reunion with her boyfriend, what follows is a locked room style murder mystery as Olivia and her relatives are stranded on an island where the bodies start to pile up. Alongside this we also get chapters from another character, Birdie who is investigating a missing woman and has her own podcast. As well as interspersed journal entries from an unnamed woman. It's not initially obvious how these three plots intertwine but as the story progresses you will be treated to some mindblowing twists and reveals. I didn't love the character of Birdie and felt this plot line was quite slow and not as interesting as Olivia's. I liked how it all wrapped up. Overall I really enjoyed this one and will keep an eye out for new releases by this author.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an arc of this book.