Liz is a curious woman living in Brooklyn with her cousin Andie. When Andie gives her a DNA ancestry kit for her birthday, Liz's work turns upside down. Not only is she adopted, she has a serial killer in her biological family. Now, Liz wants to reconnect with her bio family and also find out the true identity of the Tri-State Killer. But sometimes, things are better left untouched.

I really liked this book. Not only was the storyline super creative and well thought, but also the POV, and the way it was written, was unique. Alternating between Liz's and past victims' perspectives, The Family Tree tells us a gripping and thrilling story. There were only two things that kind of bugged me. First, Liz's behavior is, most of the time, of a very irresponsible person. I don't care you're a very curious person, I am too. You don't go running after a serial killer known for taking and murdering girls with your exact profile especially after the FBI told you not to. Second, the identity of the killer left a little to desire. It was nothing shocking. However, I guess this can be excused with the very ending. Overall, I really liked this book. I will definitely recommend it whenever someone asks me for a good mystery and thriller. 4/5 stars!

*This is an ARC. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of this title. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Liz Catalano and her cousin Andie take a couple of DNA tests in ancestry kits just for fun - but Liz's world is about to change dramatically. Discovering she is adopted is distressing enough, but when her DNA links her to the notorious Tri-State serial killer her whole world begins to tilt on its axis. Any description beyond this would contain spoilers, so I won't go any further!
This thriller is pacy and written in a style designed to keep you turning the pages. I read it very quickly and have only dropped one star from my score as I worked out the twist before the end. Definitely worth a read.

Liz is shocked to receive her DNA results and finds out that she is adopted. She feels that her family have been lying to her all her life.
She sets out to find her birth parents using her DNA matches. This puts Liz in a dangerous situation.
I enjoyed this book and read it in one day.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed “the family tree” it was an interesting idea using the background idea of DNA testing kits which is what Liz & her cousin Andie do, but when Liz’s results come back she finds that her and Andie aren’t related and her parents have to tell her she’s adopted, reeling in shock she tries to track down her biological family but then she has another bombshell when the FBI contact her and inform her that she has a family match to a DNA sample they hold for a suspected serial killer. What does this mean for Liz?

This would of been a 5 star novel as it kept me interested and guessing at who it could be, but I’ve marked it down 1 star as I did find Liz, super annoying, she needlessly ignored everyone and constantly put herself in danger which I got really irritated with, so much so my husband was constantly muttering “it’s just a book, it’s not real lol.

First of all, thank you Netgalley, Avon Publishers and the authors for inviting me to review this ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

And....WOW!! What did I just read? What would happen when you suddenly discover through your DNA test that one of your family members is a serial killer?? And not just an ordinary serial killer but someone who has been wanted by FBI for almost a decade? That's what happened to Liz Catalano.

When Liz does DNA family tree test with the urge of her cousin Andie, she finds out that that she was adopted as she did not have any Italian family background like she should be having. Desperate to find more information about her biological family, she uploads her DNA family test into a government site, as apparently her mother did some time for possessing drugs. Then comes the surprise when two FBI agents knocks on her apartment and tells her that from her mother's side of the family, there's a serial killer in the family who has been terrorizing the Tri State area for decade. Now Liz desperately wants answers and finds two of the male relatives from her mother's side who is still alive--her grand uncles Cris who is a vet and Adam. Could one of them be the killer?

This story left me breathless! From the first page onwards, I was hooked into the story and stayed up all night to finish the book! The story is mainly told from Liz's point of view though there were chapters of the victims of the Tri State Killer, starting from 1974 recounting their final hours in the hands of a demented killer. I couldn't simply put this book down and shared the same frustration with Liz at her desperate quest to find the answers. The story was unpredictable, with twists and turns and a fast paced--all those qualities of a good thriller book! The authors did a good job drawing the reader into the story. The ending was unpredictable and I truly enjoyed reading the book.

Overall, this book gave me a roller coaster ride with twists and turns you didn't even expect, staying up all night finishing this fast paced thriller that left me breathless--looking forward to read more from this duo and worth five stars!

Chilling, dark & absolutely unputdownable! This was a wild ride from start to finish & I enjoyed every minute of it. I really enjoyed Liz's journey through the book, from finding out that she is adopted to finding out that one of the people she is just getting to know could be a serial killer, and not knowing who to trust. I thought the tension in the book was raised with each chapter with the victims, and seeing them at different stages of captivity. I can't wait to read more from Steph Mullin & Nicole Mabry - this was the perfect book to binge read!

I can honestly say I loved reading every page of this book,it was so well written.
From the terror stricken individual girls and their ways if dealing with what's going to happen to us,never graphic but enough hinted at to fire one's imagination to the main character in the story and the mounting sense if unease as each secret is revealed and what will she do next?
Brilliant

After completing a DNA kit, Liz finds out that not only is she adopted, but her DNA is related to one of the biggest at large serial killer cases spanning years. Being a writer and journalist herself, Liz finds it hard to take a back seat during the investigation. As she’s trying to connect with her bio-family, she has to face the fact that someone could be the tri state killer.

I liked the writing style, fast paced and kept me interested. I found it took a little while for the fbi to inform Liz about the DNA connection, and all that time we are reading her story line, and the story line of missing girls, so there was some disconnect. I loved how we saw the story of the murders, beginning with the first pair of girls, we hear about their kidnapping, the story is the continued on with the next set of girls and so on, each new pair containing the story of their captivity.

It was one of those books where although I liked Liz as a character and enjoyed her story,I hated her choices and could get on board with her complete lack of respect for authority. When people completely take the law into their own hands, without even trying to inform the police, I can’t stand it. It’s unrealistic.

Liz Catalino lives with her cousin Andie. So, when she buys her a present of a DNA ancestry kit from 23&me website, she gets more than she bargains for.
As she does a search, she finds out that she is adopted. She is angry at first at her parents that they never told her after all these years. Which spurs her on to find out who her biological parents are. The only finds results for a grand uncle and aunt and agrees to meet them to find out about her mother and the rest of her family. When she meets her Grand uncle, he tells her about her mother but unfortunately her father wasn’t on the scene and also wants to find out more if there are any other relatives she is yet to meet. Liz also wants to build relationship with her uncle. The first meeting goes well and agrees to meet again soon.
When she gets home, she is contacted by the FBI to say that her details have come up and that she may be related to the Tri-State killer. Her whole world is suddenly turned upside down. Is her Grand Uncle the Tri-State Killer? Naive woman that she is. She must find out whether she can carry in her relationship with her new family or are they the Killer that the FBI is trying to catch?
Thank you, Avon, for a copy of ‘The Family tree’. I have read a lot of crime novel about serial killers but, I found this to be a new fresh intake of a thriller. I found it quite intriguing, and I liked how the chapters alternated between Liz’s story and the killers’ activities. I did find the main protagonist was quite naive in thinking that she can put herself in harms way and there wouldn’t be any consequences. 4 stars from me.

If you aren’t ready to find you have skeletons in your closet then don’t ever do an online and do an ancestry test. Liz Catalano Received the results of her test. Firstly she hand to take on board the news that she was really adopted.
She is contacted by someone from the ancestry site who believes they are related. Suddenly Liz discovers there’s a whole family out there she never knew about. Just as she’s getting to know one of her new relatives, the FBI come knocking. Her DNA has shown that she is related to The Tri State Killer.
For many many years he has been abducting women in pairs and holding them hostage. Eventually, killing and disposing of them. There are also two women who are still out there.
Liz tries to uncover who her murderous relative is. However, will she also become a victim and has time already run out for the killers latest victims.
Loved the fact the story was told was Liz. In between we glimpsed the stories of the women in captivity.
A wonderful read that didn’t disappoint. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the ARC

Liz Catalano didn’t know she was adopted until she was given a DNA kit by her cousin; not only that, but she was related to a killer. Trying to get her life sorted out, she is drawn deeper in to the puzzle when the FBI call.

This is such a well written, well plotted and engrossing story. It’s got a topical theme with the DNA testing, as this has become very popular over the last few years, and it’s plausible that you could have someone in your family tree who was a criminal, but preferably not a serial killer. It’s also nice that the author didn’t become too graphic with what happens to the victims. Less is definitely more in this case. And just when you think you know who the killer is, it’s all turned on it’s head. Great twist.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

So clever!
Every single character in this book plays their part and are real and well written. I liked the flashback chapters from he point of view of the victims of the TSK and the way each new pair found evidence of those who has gone before in the hell hole of a room they are locked in. The emotional torture they go through had me agonising along with them and the attempts at escape have you rooting for them every step of the way.
The suspects are many and it is impossible to determine who to suspect the most so the reveal at the end remains a surprise.
fantastic read!

Sometimes I want to read a crime novel and just be taken away by the darkness of the events and know it’s ‘usually’ going to be okay! ‘Family Tree’ does a good job of a unique plot, that’s fast paced and with interludes between each chapter that help to build a picture of the events. One issue that left me frustrated - the constant reference to 23 and me! It’s integral to the plot but, at some point, it felt a little like an advertisement for the service instead. So, ultimately, a good thriller with a frustrating product placement.

A solid 4 star read for me! The dual POV aspect is one that kept the intrigue going and one perspective in particular gave me strong Criminal Minds vibes. I found one aspect to be extremely interesting and unique as it follows the past victims and breaks up the ‘main story’ making it very easy to digest and breeze through, The story was gripping and the characters were well developed. I found that the cousin of the main character grated on me a little and it did take me a minute to warm to Liz when the story was just getting started but after the first couple of chapters I enjoyed her as a protagonist and found her quite relatable. Overall it was a gritty and twisty thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat and eager to continue until the very end. The end also did surprise me which is always a massive plus for me when reading thrillers, a no brainer 4 star. Thank you to NetGalley and to Avon Books UK for giving me the chance to read the book in exchange for my honest review.

I think it must be very difficult to come up with a new slant on the long term serial killer storyline. This book has certainly achieved that. I really enjoyed it although some of the flashbacks were a little on the harrowing side at times but nevertheless necessary to reinforce the story.
Liz proves to be a likeable lead character and is someone you can get to understand and become involved with. To move the story along she has to do some 'no sensible person would do that alone' actions.
The book structure is primarily chapters in time sequence with smaller chapters about each pair of kidnapped women intermixed. There are not a lot of apparent options for unmasking the actual killer(s) but the Epilogue does provide a pretty good ending to a very good book.

I read a lot of thrillers and this really was a fresh take on the genre which was refreshing to read. The intensity of the twists and turns had me hooked from the very first page and I couldn’t put it down. It was expertly paced and a thriller I can’t wait to recommend widely!

"The Family Tree" by Steph Mullin and Nicole Mabry is a delightfully morbid addition that challenges the norms of how the crime fiction genre is written. Readers are drawn into a tightly wound tale of suspense and murder as a woman searches for her biological family and discovers its disturbing history.

Unlike a traditional crime novel, this story belongs purely to an ordinary citizen named Liz Catalano who discovers the large, loving family and Italian culture she grew up with are not her own. Feeling like a fraud, Liz uses an ancestry website to search for members of her biological family to gain a grasp on who she is and where she has come from.

When the police get in touch and Liz learns her DNA may be connected to the several missing and murdered victims of the Tri-State Killer, she believes it's her responsibility to find her family and figure out which one of them is capable of being a serial killer. Otherwise, more will fall victim to someone Liz may know and it will be her fault for not stopping them in time.

As far as crime fiction goes, this was a relatively fresh take on hunting down a serial killer. There aren't many in novels in which the average person takes on the responsibility of finding a murderer and bring them to justice. Usually, the story centers around a detective or police officer. In this circumstance, it's Liz who the story centers around, and her desire to become close with her biological family despite the dark history which surrounds them.

The story keeps the audience locked in suspense, never knowing who is committing the crimes. There are glimpses into the victims and the suffering they were forced to endure before their end, but it centers mainly on Liz's determination to uncover her family's secrets. Sometimes it can be frustrating to follow Liz on this dangerous journey because it doesn't feel as though she understands the danger she's getting herself into. Yet it becomes clear her relation to the killer bounds her to their victims and places a responsibility on her to save others from harm, which felt like enough justification for dismissing people's claims "to be careful."

One aspect of the story I felt could've been expanded on was the family Liz did get to meet. It felt like her suspicions were centered on one person with the possibility of two others. If she had gotten to meet more members on her biological side, there would've been a stronger sense of claustrophobia, paranoia, and just general fear of being surrounded by people who might be a killer. Instead, the options were very limited.

"The Family Tree" was a hectic read of high tension as Liz heads down a path she may not come back from and will make audiences wonder if connecting with her biological family is worth the risk. Look for this book when it hits the shelves on its expected publication date: June 10th, 2021.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for providing me with a free e-arc of this story and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.

I received an advance copy of, The Family Tree, by Steph Mullin: Nicole Mabry. Imagine you take a dna test, and find out your adopted, Crazy right, and then you find out you have a serial killer in your family. This book was so good.

This book has left me divided in my opinion. Yes it is a good storyline and the returning to past periods to determine how the taken girls felt and what happened to them was interesting. However the main character Liz was so annoying I almost gave up reading solely because of her unrealistic behaviour. FBI agents do not give away information regarding an ongoing case and then the person they give this information too, just decides to share it with a journalist and the they decides to ignore the agents warning and decides to catch the criminal themself. This was just to unbelievable and ruined what could have been an outstanding book.

You cannot rely on what you think you know, the shocks and twists hit you full force even though you’re expecting one to come and I defy you to be able to put this down once you’ve started!