Keep It in the Family

Keep It In The Family by John Marrs: Completely pulled my husband and I in from the very first chapter and did not let go. Just when we thought we had things figured out, another twist came out of nowhere and left us stunned. This book is a perfect example of psychological suspense done right!! Dark, gripping, and deeply unsettling in the best way. The storyline is brilliantly layered, with secrets unfolding at just the right pace to keep you hooked. I loved how the tension kept building, making it almost impossible to stop reading “just one more chapter.” The characters felt real and complex, and the eerie atmosphere stayed with us even after we finished the book. John Marrs has a unique way of exploring the darker side of human nature, and this story truly delivers. If you enjoy thrillers that shock you, keep you guessing, and leave your jaw on the floor, this is a must-read. Highly recommend, easily one of the most gripping thrillers we’ve read.

What a great read! It certainly kept me on my toes and waiting for the next shoe to drop with twists I didn't see coming. I won't give any spoilers so just do it!!! Read the book.

First thing, I would like to thank Amazon.com for offering samples of books for prospective customers to read which removes the fear that a reviewer (or high school type book report writer) will give away plot points without entering a *spoiler alert.* This applies to professional reviewers as well--please do not post too many plot points so we can better enjoy the book. I read the posted sample chapters and promptly downloaded the book to Kindle. Minor rant over--now to the review. John Marrs said the plot to this book, "Keep It in the Family," came to him in a dream. In that case may I give him permission to dream every night for this book is non-put-downable!! As to genre, perhaps a psychological thriller/mystery? The story develops through the characters each having a labeled chapter of his/her own. The flashback chapters are also labeled thereby making it easy for those who prefer a linear story to keep up. Developing the story in this way is a great story telling device since the character's thoughts and actions move the story along. Others have described plot points so be aware the story is filled with surprises, none of which are easy to guess. It is a dark story no doubt but consider that each of us is a sum total not only of all our actions but also from those around us. We pick up stuff without always being aware of doing so. IMO the story is believable especially to those who have read psychological backgrounds of some of our most prolific killers but whether believable or not it is one well put together story. If there is a lesson to be learned it would be we should consider how our own actions can/will/and does affect our spouses, our neighbors and even strangers but especially our children who absorb like a sponge without the experience or knowledge to put things into proper prospective. If they think it is wrong, then why do the parents approve and so on? I just considered such ideas while reading this great book. To conclude, the ending is a really big surprise on top of all those other surprises throughout the book. I actually whispered a big "oh boy" at the end. I was totally caught off guard, wow, just wow!! Pick up a copy of "Keep It in the Family" by John Marrs. Those enjoying a good story with great character development will not be sorry. A five star read. Now I am off to check out his other books.

⭐⭐⭐✨ 3.5/5 I almost gave up on this book because it took a very long time for the story to really get moving. The first half felt slow, repetitive, and more disturbing than suspenseful. I kept waiting for the mystery to come together, and for a while, it felt like nothing important was happening. Once the family secrets finally started unraveling, though, the book became much more interesting. I loved trying to figure out who the unnamed narrator was, how the victims were connected to the family, and who was truly controlling everything. The reveals involving Debbie were twisted, but the epilogue was on another level. That ending was completely unhinged. Just when I thought the truth had finally been exposed and the cycle might be over, the epilogue revealed how deeply the violence, manipulation, and secrecy had been passed down through the family. It made the title Keep It in the Family feel disturbingly perfect. The final pages were sick, shocking, and easily the strongest part of the entire book. I’m giving it 3.5 stars because the payoff was wild and memorable, but it took far too long to reach that point. A faster pace and fewer slow chapters would have made this a much stronger read for me. Slow beginning, disturbing family secrets, and an absolutely unhinged ending.

So I found this story to be truly chilling and disturbing. It is most definitely a horror story about a serial killer. There are certainly twists in here but as you read along they come to be expected. And I guess that is what makes the story so very disturbing. So this is the tale of a woman named Mia and unfortunately for her she gets involved with the wrong man and the wrong family. At the start she is in pretty awful shape but she snaps out of it to grow into a rather strong character. And yes she is snooping. And unfortunately the things she is finding out is truly awful. The title I think hints at the truth: she has married into a family where insanity and bloodlust reigns supreme... But that is only the beginning of her problems.. It took me a few days to read this one, mainly because I have been very busy. And it is a rather dark dreary story. But it's not actually suspenseful. There are no thrills or scares. Its rather matter of fact. There are even views from the killer's viewpoint. Of course you can try to guess who the killer is... I do feel that part of the book did drag a bit which is why I rated it 4 stars and not five. The end was much better. I did struggle a bit through it but I am unsure if its the fa of the book or if its just because I am rather busy at the moment with a big project? But I do think it could be the book... I did not find myself relating to any of the characters which is a problem. I wonder if the thing described in this book could actually be possible and someone could actually get away with it? I mean in order to really get wrapped up in a story you need to suspend your belief and believe in the world created by the author. I wonder if that is part of my problem with reading this? That I don't actually believe the serial killer in here can do all of this stuff and get away with it for so long??! Yet I have no problems believing in dragons, wizards, aliens and all sorts of things. Hmmm..... The more I think about it, the killer in here is doing some mighty risky, dangerous stuff. Stuff that could lead to him \ her (yeah I will not say who it is) getting caught! And why risk that?! Makes no sense... Its still a decent story with a chilling end. In fact the end is actually one of the most disturbing things I have read in I don't know how long. But this is not your average story about a serial killer. There is no cop or FBI agent hunting the person. No profiling. Just a woman finding her own power as she realizes the ugly truth about the family she has married into. I think I may be thinking about this for awhile.... I do recommend this book! Its definitely more slow horror than fast suspense.

Very rarely have I read a thriller that truly kept me guessing until the VERY end; this, however, was one of those books. If you are in any online “booktok” spaces, you have probably seen a reference to Finn’s iconic Chapter 39 (if not, no worries, you will know it when you get there!). This single chapter is what enticed me to read this book, but boy, I was not prepared for all of the twists and turns that would be thrown at me. This novel employs three different perspectives. We get to see both Mia and Finn’s points of view, a happily married couple who are renovating their first home and navigating unexpected parenthood, along with an unnamed narrator who previously committed horrible crimes in the aforementioned home. Identifying this narrator and their connection to the family home drives the mystery. It kept me guessing throughout the entire novel; just when I thought I had connected all the dots, something would come to light and prove me wrong. The twists kept on twisting! I wish I could say more, but I truly believe that going into this novel blind made it all the better. The adrenaline from this book made it hard for me to sit still! I wasn’t just on the edge of my seat- I spent the majority of my time audibly gasping and pacing the floor (literally). *** SPOILER/TRIGGER WARNING AHEAD!!!!! *** While most thrillers are, well, thrilling, I must warn readers that the “traumatic discovery” is the murder of multiple children. This isn’t a topic that is just briefly mentioned once or twice; it is a motif throughout the book, up until the very end. I know that the death of children can be particularly triggering for some readers, especially when the main character is a pregnant wife/new mother who is struggling with the transition to motherhood. The description of the crimes was not gruesome, but the plot does heavily rely on victimized children.

Wow! This one was a page-turner! I give it 4.5 ⭐️. So many twists and turns.

So many twists and turns! Just when you think you got it all figured out, the author throws you in another loop. Great book!

What kind of family is this???? When it gets to the point where you think you’ve got it all solved, the author surprises you even more. It it goes on and on til the last page.

It is safe to say that John Marrs has a mind that works differently than most. His storytelling is beautifully twisted, and for those of us who enjoy diving into the darker corners of fiction, his style is a perfect match. I am once again blown away by how he manages to keep you on the edge of your seat from the very first page until the final sentence. Marrs is a master of the "unexpected." While reading, you might feel clever and think you’ve caught onto one of his secrets, but don't get comfortable. Just as you think you have a handle on the truth, he hits you with a wave of reveals that you could never have guessed in a million years. The sheer number of plot turns he throws at you is incredible; they hit fast, hard, and right when you least expect them. I won't say a single word about the plot itself. This book doesn't just ask for your attention—it grabs you with both hands and refuses to let go. Whether you read the summary or go in completely "blind," nothing can truly prepare you for the journey ahead. The story is so gripping that you won't be able to look away. My Advice: Clear your schedule and turn off your phone. Grab a cup of your favorite drink. Wrap yourself in your comfiest blanket. Prepare to be stunned. This is a near-perfect thriller that proves once again why John Marrs is in a league of his own.

I have never been more flabbergasted

Read it in two days. You won’t see the last turn coming, and it’ll leave you wondering forever. I’m for sure going to read more of Marrs, since he writes flawlessly and really makes you dive into the story.

Great writing