Keep It in the Family

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 43,736 ratings

Price: 3.99

Last update: 08-19-2024


About this item

In this thrilling novel from bestselling author John Marrs, a young couple’s house hides terrible secrets—and not all of them are confined to the past.

Mia and Finn are busy turning a derelict house into their dream home when Mia unexpectedly falls pregnant. But just when they think the house is ready, Mia discovers a shocking message scored into a skirting board: I WILL SAVE THEM FROM THE ATTIC. Following the clue up into the eaves, the couple make a gruesome discovery: their home was once a real-life murder house, with the evidence still concealed within the four walls.

In the wake of their traumatic discovery, the baby arrives and Mia can’t shake her fixation with the monstrous crimes that happened right above them. Tormented by the terrible things she saw, she is desperate to dig into the past to find answers.

Secrecy shrouds the mystery of the attic, but when shards of a dark truth start to emerge, Mia realises the danger is terrifyingly present. She is prepared to do anything to protect her family—but will the previous tenants stop her from discovering their secret?


From the Publisher

Cover image of Keep It In The Family. Quote: "Evil lived in this house - but what traces remain?"

Top reviews from the United States

Anjela Waterman
5.0 out of 5 stars Hooked
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2024
This was my first John Marrs book and it did not disappoint! I recently started exploring other genres and wanted a really good psychological thriller. The pacing for this book was perfect and I was so excited each time I went to read more. I absolutely love the way this book was written. There were so many twists and turns throughout that I couldn’t wait to read the next page! There was a lot of content that I did not see coming, and I like to think that I am good at foreshadowing. As I said before, this was my first Marrs book— and I will be reading all of them! Highly recommend this author and this book, I’m hooked!
Cherise Isabella
4.0 out of 5 stars A bingeable domestic thriller.
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2024
This was my second John Marrs novel and while I didn't love it as much as the first(What Lies Between Us). It was still enjoyable for what it was. I mean I binged it in one day so...enough said.
The book starts out strong and pulling me in completely with its alternating timelines and POVs. Very early on the book you can tell that something is not quite right with this family and there's a sense of foreboding lurking on the pages of this book. They were some twists and turns early on in the book that kept me intrigued and unable to look away. I also really appreciated the fact that the author didn't to go into too much detail with the murders. Most of the victims were children so I'm really glad when a lot of it was left to the imagine and it wasn't in gory detail.
I didn't care for any of the characters, they were all pretty unlikable but that wasn't a huge issue for me because I was engrossed in the story.
The book features a lot of back and forth, you're led to believe one thing and then it takes a whole different direction-keeping me on my toes at all times.
However, there is a section of this book that was a bit boring for me. I think one major event happened too early on causing the author to use a lot of fluff to fill out the pages. This is just my opinion. The ending was a little too drawn out for my liking as well, but also in another breath, I'm glad he didn't leave any stone unturned. Having said that, that epilogue chilled me to the bone. I mean talk about twisted, sick and demented.
If the ominous endings is something I can look forward to with this author then I am all for his work.
.
.
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They're many trigger warnings in this book such as;
Infanticide, miscarriages, my least favorite trope of all(CHEATING), child abuse, kidnapping, murder, mentions of self harm and anorexia.
An enjoyable thriller filled with betrayal, lies, a twisted family and lots and lots of killing.
I will never look at another suitcase the same way again.
M. Blazer
5.0 out of 5 stars Just when you think it’s over????. There’s more. Much more. Keep going til the very end!
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2024
Keep It In The Family by John Marrs
Honest review:
It was good enough that I kept going back to it even when life threw curveballs.
Once I reached a certain point, it felt like the story could’ve ended. But it didn’t. And honestly, I was hesitant to keep going because I felt the rest would be unnecessary fluff.
It wasn’t.
It was basically a whole other story at the end lol. Then when it could’ve ended, it didn’t. lol
And while I easily could’ve thought the rest is just fluff; I had a feeling I’d be wrong again lol.
It wasn’t fluff. It was basically a whole other little short story lol
Then when it could’ve ended, it didn’t.
There was still an epilogue. I know some don’t read prologues and epilogues. I do.
And man. I’m glad I do.
Because that was basically a whole other short story and what the actual hell on that epilogue?!
The story was great.
But that epilogue really drove it home for me.
Great author.
Good character build up.
Not a complex plot but did have multiple layers and I love that! Also, this author is not overly descriptive and I really appreciate that. Especially in regards to things that have no bearing on the story.
This book isn’t just a snack in between meals.
Enjoy this hearty meal. Savor it. It’s good!
I don’t get triggered but if you do, in regards to children, beware.
On the aphantasia scale, I’m a 5. (I share this because ever since I learned about aphantasia, it was a huge epiphany for me. I believe it’s a big reason why some people rave about a book and others don’t.). On this note…I can’t imagine being a 1 and reading(vividly experiencing) this book.
Customer image
M. Blazer
5.0 out of 5 stars Just when you think it’s over????. There’s more. Much more. Keep going til the very end!
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2024
Keep It In The Family by John Marrs
Honest review:
It was good enough that I kept going back to it even when life threw curveballs.
Once I reached a certain point, it felt like the story could’ve ended. But it didn’t. And honestly, I was hesitant to keep going because I felt the rest would be unnecessary fluff.
It wasn’t.
It was basically a whole other story at the end lol. Then when it could’ve ended, it didn’t. lol
And while I easily could’ve thought the rest is just fluff; I had a feeling I’d be wrong again lol.
It wasn’t fluff. It was basically a whole other little short story lol
Then when it could’ve ended, it didn’t.
There was still an epilogue. I know some don’t read prologues and epilogues. I do.
And man. I’m glad I do.
Because that was basically a whole other short story and what the actual hell on that epilogue?!
The story was great.
But that epilogue really drove it home for me.
Great author.
Good character build up.
Not a complex plot but did have multiple layers and I love that! Also, this author is not overly descriptive and I really appreciate that. Especially in regards to things that have no bearing on the story.
This book isn’t just a snack in between meals.
Enjoy this hearty meal. Savor it. It’s good!
I don’t get triggered but if you do, in regards to children, beware.
On the aphantasia scale, I’m a 5. (I share this because ever since I learned about aphantasia, it was a huge epiphany for me. I believe it’s a big reason why some people rave about a book and others don’t.). On this note…I can’t imagine being a 1 and reading(vividly experiencing) this book.
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Customer image
Elizabeth Hammond
3.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended but not worth the hype
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2023
I read this book because it was so extremely highly recommended in a Facebook group I’m in. Review after review calling it amazing, shocking, incredible, etc. Obviously, this is a book a lot of people loved, and you might, too.

However, I found it to be enormously overrated. It was interesting enough that I kept reading because I wanted to know what happened, but there were so many things I was unsatisfied with. I don’t want to give any major spoilers because the only redeemable thing about this book is its twists, but I will say that eventually I got so fed up with everything that did not make sense that I started keeping a list. By the end of that book, the list was 5 pages long.

The biggest complaint I have is that the book is riddled with plot holes, or at the very least, plot points that only make sense if you assume that every single character is a complete idiot. If a single character had even a sliver of common sense, none of the plot would work.

The next biggest problem I have ties into the first - the whole book hinges on the mental illness of the narrator of the unnamed narrator, but the more it delves into why this person is the way they are, the more unrealistic it becomes. The motivations are a huge stretch and the psychopathology is a desperate attempt to make actions that make no sense make sense.

I also found the characters to be flat, and their relationships to be boring and forced. Everything felt two-dimensional.

Overall, it was an interesting book with a number of faults. However, my opinion seems to be an outlier, so take it with a grain of salt.

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