Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

207 reviews

sksumbera's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Biphobia, and Blood

readwithev's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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? No

4.25

This book sucked me in. I love all the clues Libby and Miller find that unlocked pieces of their Chelsea house history. Having three characters’ perspectives was great. It called into question how accurate each characters’ memory is/isn’t. how do they perceive and process their trauma? How does it affect them as adults?
Moreover, I enjoyed Henry’s perspective. He’s an enthralling complicated mix of a traumatized child, suppressed gay man, dark sociopath, self aware yet unapologetic, but also a manipulative narcissist. I feel connected to him, but also disgusted.
I did particularly predict some of the mystery and twists but some of them I didn’t due to the characters’ varying accounts. That is why the book doesn’t get a full 5 stars. Overall, really enjoyed it.

The book ends on a nail biting cliff hanger which I enjoyed but it also left me feeling tense.
I didn’t really enjoy the addition of Libby and Miller’s love story. It was subtle but I thought it was unnecessary. However, I did like that Libby’s adoptive mother had a chaotic lifestyle, and death of her adoptive father left her with anxious tendencies.
Though Lucy gets away with murder, it’s also closure for her. I feel okay with it even though murder is wrong. Her ex was trying to rape her, he was physically and emotionally abusive, and he was a criminal. In a sick way, it’s justice for Lucy and signals the end of her terrible life in France.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Torture

tiff_reads_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Rape, and Murder

Moderate: Incest

luelle_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

ralla95's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Murder

lucyrudd's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

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

butilikeit's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Alcohol

atelopxobia's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Abandonment

jeevash's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Murder