Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

184 reviews

ajay913's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Death of parent, Child abuse, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Miscarriage, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, and Homophobia

jfarmer18's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Child abuse, and Miscarriage

crystalsparkles's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Is there a sequel? 

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Content Warnings

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

lenaricharz's review

dark mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Murder, Pedophilia, Violence, Physical abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, and Child death

antireading'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? Yes

3.0

I saw most of the twists coming but there was one in particular that got me good.

I enjoyed the cult aspects and the storytelling style

but I do not understand the narrative device of

Henry's narration. He is writing to Libby yet he is mentions the lies he told her at the end. And I couldn't tell if it was a journal or what the framing of it was.

I was enjoying it up until around 80ish% when we find out

Henry has been lying about most things.

While I figured that was the case, I didn't like the extent to what it was,

and hate the fact that the villain is a predatory gay man. That is an overdone and harmful trope and the fact that Henry assaults and harasses Phin and how that is the source of the conflict is gross.

It's a shame because before that, I would have rated it MUCH higher. After reading the description of the next book, I don't think I will continue with the sequel. I don't really care for that mystery to be solved knowing who did it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Torture, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Pregnancy, Abortion, Blood, and Miscarriage

littlepelkey20's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Murder, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Confinement

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Pregnancy, Suicide, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, and Child abuse

Minor: Sexual assault, Abortion, Infertility, Miscarriage, Animal death, and Rape

readingwithel's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I have mixed opinions about this book. I found it a bit boring to start with and got so confused as to who everyone was, however as the plot got more dark and twisted I started to get into it a bit more as I was more interested. The plot twists were good but I do think there were a few to many that the overwhelmingness (not a word I know) of it took away a bit of the marvel as there was like three plot twists in one chapter about

who's the baby was.

That brother was a bit odd and I'm excited to see what he does in the next book. Overall, wouldn't be a book I would be excited to recommend, but I still enjoyed it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Suicide, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty

katdid's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense

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

3.5

3.5 stars? 4? My favourite Jewell so far! although I didn't really get a sense of who Libby was (and I wouldn't have minded more time with Dido). Strike/Robin vibes from the pairing of Libby/Miller (weirdly I just read two books back to back with prominent characters called Miller).

But c'mon now, adult Henry is creepy af, why would you even want a relationship with him? And Lucy knows he put a tracker on Libby's phone, wouldn't she say something about that?

I thought she actually did well with the ending here! but I'm nervous to see there's a sequel.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Rape

Minor: Child abuse and Miscarriage

hollymileham's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

very weird book and what on earth was that ending, definitely enjoyed some parts more than others but overall this was very freaky

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Murder, Death, and Rape

jabnole1's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Not the best. Will probably still listen to The Family Remains. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Rape, and Murder