Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

186 reviews

syd_syd's review against another edition

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: Child abuse, Child death, and Murder

Minor: Misogyny, Confinement, and Death of parent

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

bookmark3brodi's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Miscarriage, Car accident, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Child death, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Body horror, Kidnapping, Blood, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Bullying, and Pedophilia

sophieamreacher's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Brilliant, read it all in one day. Ending disappointed me a little and lost the creepy feeling I had the whole way through. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Rape, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Animal death, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Minor: Vomit and Homophobia

sylvestra'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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Confinement

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Miscarriage, Alcohol, Drug use, and Murder

pibbit's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Abortion, Rape, and Sexual assault

chauck12's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Murder, and Violence

itskay24's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Violence

Moderate: Murder and Adult/minor relationship

matcha_pages's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder and Child abuse

Minor: Violence, Miscarriage, and Pedophilia

lizwarnerr's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

3.0

Libby inherits a house from her dead parents when she turns 25, and learns her dead parents died of a suicide pact while they were in a cult. 

The plot was very intriguing at first — I was interested to learn about the cult, why it happened, etc. I appreciated the twists and turns. But the multiple POVs, different time eras, and multiple characters left me confused and a very slow burn. 

The cult thing really kept me in for the long haul and then it was just disturbing (as most cults are). IMO, the ending made the entire book be worthless. It made me wondering “so what?” I appreciate that everything was wrapped up neatly with a bow, but why were they (specifically Henry) anxiously waiting her return if not to kill her and get the house? I feel like Henry had some vengeance he wanted from Phin, and that is why he lured her back to the house, tracked her, etc. 

 

I am going to read the second book solely bc I am very interested in the spin off, and this one definitely had me want to keep reading — I’m just disappointed at how it wrapped up, and it was a bit too confusing to follow, which is why it gets 3 stars. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Abandonment, Miscarriage, Murder, Suicide, and Rape