Ooooh, but I do love this author's writing! I'm not used to audio books, this is probably one of ten I've ever listened to, all the others being Ruth Rendell's Inspector Wexford or Agatha Christie (who is brilliant in any format, if you ask me!) Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The narrator took a bit of getting used to, but I suspect that that is merely because the format is new.

About the book. Wow, what a family. It's amazing how people hide things, from those closest to them especially. I liked the nanny/maid Erenya the most (although I'm not 100% sure of the spelling of her name), and how I would love for the ending to be just a little longer, a fly on the wall in an artist's studio somewhere... Or perhaps a law office.

Thanks to Net Galley, Shari Lapena and Penguin Random House Audio for my ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House and Shari Lapena for this ARC in return for my honest review. I loved all of Shari's previous books so I was delighted to get my hands on this one. A pacy read that grips from the opening pages as we're introduced to three children of wealthy parents who are later found brutally murdered. All the way through the novel it was hard to guess who the murderer was. It could have been any one of them to be honest. Filled with twists and turns and with a cast of horrible and despicable characters, I found it hard to connect with. One disadvantage was the narrator, there was very little difference between tones for one character and the next, I found her somewhat robotic.

I’m a massive Shari lapena fan and as usual she delivered. This is an amazing thriller that will keep you guessing till the end.

3.5

Shari Lapena was one of the very first thriller writers that I got into. I always enjoy her whodunnit style books. This book was written in her usual style, a cast of characters, a murder and everyone has a motive but you need to work out who did it. I had a suspect from the start but I was wrong! Shari did a great job of constantly making me change my mind and I think at one point I suspected all of them. This was a fast paced read for sure!

Wow what a story - Shari did not disappoint.
Amazingly complex and spoilt famil.
A great who-dunnit.
Can't wait for her next book
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this ARC for an honest review

Yeah ... This family sure have mine beat. I mean - we had some interesting discussions about money and all that when the folks passed, but thankfully it never went this far. Then again, in our case it was all natural causes and the inheritance was never really going to lead to the kind of, how should I put this, *complications* that seem to plight the Merton family. What a bunch. And I mean that in a completely derogatory, hope I never meet anyone like them kind of way. This is one Easter they won't forget in a hurry.

This is a complex and yet completely engrossing story which looks into the difficult and twisted familial relationships of the Mertons, father Fred, mother Sheila and their three adult children, Catherine, Dan and Jenna and the extended pool of family of friends that inhabit their world. As a lesson in psychology, this would be the unit 'Dysfunctional Families 101', and if I'm being honest I would struggle to name one redeeming quality about any of them, with the very possible exception of the poor saps who married into the family, Ted and Lisa. Yes - at a push you could argue that the children are a product of their environment, and the more we learn about the victims, the more understandable their ultimate destiny becomes, but still ... They are merciless, often cold, definitely capable of dark deeds. Shari Lapena has done a superb job of creating a kind of tension, a situation in which you may find yourself despising each person in turn and yet still be completely one hundred percent invested in the story, in needing to find out what happened. To being privy to the gossip, the speculation. The suspicion.

This is like a bit of a Netflix docu-drama, a fly on the wall look into the lives of some very twisted and potentially damaged individuals. The result of creating such a divisive and almost repulsive bunch of individuals is that the idea of guilt, and the finger of suspicion, is smashed from one person to the other like a long volley in a game of tennis. It's hard to know exactly who might actually be the guilty party as it could literally be any of them. The more we discover courtesy of the Detectives, the more confused I found myself and the more uncertain I was about who really was behind the heinous murders. One of the children? A member of the extended family? The former Nanny turned housekeeper? Just when I thought I had a handle on what was happening, the author smashes that preconception right off the court, leaving me waiting, one the edge of my seat, for the next mighty serve. You just know there is going to be one.

This is a brilliant study in character. The murders themselves are almost secondary to the dissection of the very complicated lives of the Merton family. The book shifts in point of view between all of the children, and their Aunt, their father's sister, in turn, and with each chapter we learn something new, some startling revelation, about the siblings and the lack of trust that exists between them, emulating the lack of trust that grows between them and the reader too. It's very clever, very addictive and very complex plotting, keeping the reader in suspense and drip feeding new bits of vital information at just the right time. You can feel the tension ooze from the page, the pacing just right to keep you alert and to move the story on. No matter what you know, there will be a new surprise just a page turn away and whilst there is a resolution, and we do find out what really happened, it still might not be quite what you were expecting.

If you like to read a strong, family/character driven psychological thriller, full of tension and with the ability to make even the most fractured of families seem normal (and bear in mind we are talking levels of dysfunction here that even the Royals might struggle to emulate) then this book is definitely recommended. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Ellen Archer, who did a brilliant job of bring out all the nuances in the characters and the growing tension between them. I'm off now to look up more of the author's books. She has found a new fan right here.

I'm a big Shari Lapena fan, so for me her latest book had nothing to prove, and everything to lose!

I was so excited for her latest book and binge-listened over 24hrs. It DID NOT disappoint!

'Not A Happy Family' is descriptive understatement in the extreme. The wealthy, yet toxic Merton family, headed by a tyrannical father, with an acquiesent mother and three adult children and their partners, plus the family nanny, meet at their family home/mansion, for their annual Easter Sunday dinner.

Later that evening, both parents are murdered in acts of heinous violence. The story then expands with a classic 'whodunnit' tale, full of twists and turns, and I was hooked from the very beginning.

All three Merton children have their own reasons for wanting their parents dead, and their histories are expertly woven, with those of other characters within the families circle, to create a tense, suspenseful and layered narrative, that left me repeatedly changing my mind, about who was responsible for the crimes.

Lapena's characterisation is largely spot on.
Powerful sibling rivalries and alliances, fluctuating and changing, are at the very forefront of this story. There is little humility. The extended Merton family give off 'Roy family vibes' (from Sky Atlantic's brilliant drama series 'Succession'), with not one you really feel you can warm to. However, my dislike of these characters, didn't lessen in anyway the enjoyment of, or intrigue within, the book.

The police investigation forms a significant part of the book, and this is where I felt the novel fell a little short. The key family members, and other suspects, are so fully fleshed out, that by comparison, the police officers often feel 'underdrawn' as characters. We know barely anything about them or their lives, outside of the Force and, given their profile within the book, I wanted a bit more 'background info'!

Lapena has been described as a "Queen of the domestic thriller". With 'Not A Happy Family', she ensures her Crown is not going anywhere!!

Thanks to @netgalley and Penguin Random House UK Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this great audiobook.

This sounded great in the blurb and I thought it was an interesting intertwining plot. I was enjoying it till about halfway but I found myself getting bored. The pace was good but could have done with a little more action. Such unlikeable characters other then the detectives who we don’t really know much about. The suspense builds and there are some twists and turns but they were lacking and with such building suspense the outcome was so underwhelming. I liked the narration.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this ARC thats due to be published on the 27nd of July.

I received this in Audiobook format and enjoyed the option of being able to listen, rather than read, although I did struggle to maintain track of all the many characters in this complex family drama.

It's very well constructed by this clever author and the narrator worked well for me.

An incredibly dysfunctional family meet for an Easter meal and not long afterwards the mother and father are found murdered. Anyone in this horrible bunch could be guilty and the book twists and turns through each relationship as it comes to a satisfying conclusion.

I'd highly recommend listening to this and many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Transworld Digital for the opportunity to preview in this format - thoroughly enjoyed it.

#NotAHappyFamily #NetGalley
Shari never Disappoints. Excellent.
Fred and Sheila Merton certainly are rich. But even all their money can’t protect them when a killer comes to call. The Mertons are brutally murdered after a fraught Easter dinner with their three adult kids. Who, of course, are devastated.
Or are they? They each stand to inherit millions. They were never a happy family, thanks to their vindictive father and neglectful mother, but perhaps one of the siblings is more disturbed than anyone knew. Did someone snap after that dreadful evening? Or did another person appear later that night with the worst of intentions? That must be what happened. After all, if one of the family were capable of something as gruesome as this, you’d know.
Wouldn’t you?
I devoured it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK Audio for giving me an advance audiobook of this.

4.5 stars!

An über wealthy couple, parents of three maladjusted adult children, are found dead in their home. But who killed them? This is my fave book by Lapena HANDS DOWN and I’ve read them all. I loved this miserable, toxic ass family and all their secrets and lies. I was hoping for a big twist that didn’t come. It wasn’t that type of story, but one where you learn more and more, the longer you read, finally revealing whodunnit.

It was one of, if not THE best, domestic thriller I’ve listened to all year. Another great performance, this time from Ellen Archer. Some thrillers don’t quite work too well on audio but this was a great one. Brava! Not a Happy Family by @sharilapena is out on the 27th of July. Thank you so much to Penguin Random House UK Audio and to Netgalley.

Fred and Sheila Merton live in a big house in upstate New York. Fred has been a successful businessman and following tradition the pair have invited their three adult children, and partners, around for an easter dinner. It turns out be a fraught affair as Fred imparts some unwelcome news on his offspring – each will be affected in a different way but none are happy with this particular festive gift. Shortly after, both Fred and Sheila meet a grisly end - murdered in their own home. Could it be that one of the dinner guests perpetrated this crime? The children all have motive, but as we learn more about the circle of people surrounding this family it seems that others might be similarly inclined.

The children are a pretty mixed-up bunch: a grasping daughter desperate to get her hands on the family pile, another daughter whose rebelliousness makes her something of a black sheep and a son who is suffering from money problems and mental health issues. Then there is Fred’s sister, a bitter old crow whose dislike of all of the children is unhesitatingly reciprocated. There are others too, lining up to be included in a lengthy list of possible suspects. It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out, so bring on a couple of punchy, provocative detectives and let’s have at it.

It’s good fun, if all a little unlikely, as the siblings and partners lie and cover-up whilst also suspecting each other of potentially being the murderer. The best character, though, is Fred’s vitriolic sister who has no end of run-ins with the family group. The whole thing lights up whenever she’s on the scene. There are plenty of twists and it’s practically impossible to guess whodunnit as all seem to have both the motive and the means.

A pretty decent and undemanding mystery that kept me guessing and – just about – held my interest throughout. I listened to an audio version which was capably narrated by Ellen Archer.

After reading and loving The Couple Next Door by the same author, I jumped at the chance to listen to Not A Happy Family.  It unravels the story behind the brutal murder of a wealthy couple and is told from multiple points of view.  At times, and this is unusual for me, I found myself getting confused as to whose point of view I was listening to, although I think that was down to the fact that I was listening to this as an audiobook rather than reading.
I enjoyed this and had a few theories going through my head as to who the killer was and why, and i did end up guessing the culprit in the end
There were a few times I was left with my mouth hanging open and my hands still in the washing up bowl, but I definitely think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it.
I rate 3.5⭐ for an enjoyable, suspensful and recommended read.

"Not a happy family" is one helluvan understatement. There is actual loathing aplenty in this fabulously wealthy but highly dysfunctional family, and when a bloody, gory double-murder takes place after a fraught family dinner on Easter Sunday, it is no surprise that suspicion falls upon the three children of strangled Sheila and slain Fred Merton of New York State. All three kids (aged 27-33, or thereabouts) stand to inherit many millions of dollars each which is a good enough reason for a murder, should he/she/they get away with it, given there is truly no love lost between parents and children - or among the siblings.
All characters were despicable, excluding the former nanny now housekeeper, but even she cannot be fully trusted considering she found the bodies on Tuesday morning and decided to clean and put away the murder weapon... mmmmh.

This is a "whodunnit" with all the possible "whos" pointing fingers at each other from the get-go. It reminded me quite a bit of the film "Knives Out" but without the humour - but still written as if it were just waiting for a TV adaptation; a screenplay with a lot of dialogue and returns to the same characters and locations (murder scene, oldest sister Catherine's house, Dan's place and the police station). Aunt Audrey, another beneficiary and murder suspect, is so unpleasant that I found myself rooting for her to be killed or be the killer. Ha!

A fast-paced read, not as predictable as it seems, and with obvious potential for that screen adaptation.

Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for this advance audio copy in return for an honest review.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my audio version of Not a Happy Family. What an understatement that title is! What a bunch of extremely unpleasant characters we meet throughout the book, not a redeeming feature between them!

I felt that the story lagged in places and there were than a few happy coincidences used to move the plot forward. Whilst listening I struggled to work out who had murdered the Mertons but apparently even the police couldn't decide beyond all doubt. Having said that it wasn't an unsatisfactory ending.

I liked the narration very much, I don't enjoy listening to readers 'putting on' unconvincing voices and it really isn't too difficult to know the characters without them being given 'voices', it is a book reading after all, not a play.

Decent narration that leaves the story to the words. That's always a good thing.
This is a real rollercoaster ride of a story where the ending was a surprise in that it actually was one of the people you thought committed the murder.
These people are all absolutely vile but looking at their bloodline that's hardly surprising. A good read that keeps you guessing

Thanks to NetGalley and the Penguin Random House UK Audio for an audiobook ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely I loved this book and I was gripped throughout. The story was about a dysfunctional relationships between the family members, in which the truth was revealed gradually and I would say it's hardly to guess till the end. Secrets, lies, greed, jealousy revenge etc were getting my full attention and I was mesmerized in it. A lot of great twists and turns interweaved along the book and you’re never really sure what happened next. The narrator was brilliant and the author is so genius at weaving a tense plot that hooked me and kept me hanging in suspense. Definitely it's great audiobook because the narrator preformed excellent and appropriate. Overall, I
was really enjoy and lost myself in listening.

A sensational book! Not a short one by any standards, the story of the vicious murder of a couple kept me on tenterhooks. All of their adult children were under suspicion, plus a couple of other relatives... None of the chapters were likable, but it did not take away from my enjoyment!

I was drawn to this book by the author, having read a few of her titles but never listened to any of the audiobooks. I really enjoy an audio book where each character/chapter is narrated by a different person so at first I found the narrator a little drone and boring. However the story of the Mertons and their parents murder had me enthralled. I listened solidly for 2 days - the quickest I’ve listened to an audiobook as I was so intrigued.

A brilliant whodunnit!

#NotAHappyFamily by #ShariLapena is another #thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. I’m glad this was an audio book as I would have been too tempted to flick to the end to find the big reveal. At varying points I suspected each and every character – this shows just how great the author is. The story takes places on Easter Sunday and reveals a truly dysfunctional family. As the story progresses some truly reprehensible characters are portrayed, all of which are very believable. True sociopathy, greed and self preservation. This was a listen in one sitting for me.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #penguinrandomhouseukaudio for gifting me this #ARC in exchange for an honest review.