The Family
Thriller
Grand Central
February 2, 2021
Paperback
384
Free from publisher
Laura is grieving after the sudden death of her husband. Struggling to cope emotionally and financially, Laura is grateful when a local community, Oak Leaf Organics, offer her and her 17-year-old daughter Tilly a home.
But as Laura and Tilly settle into life with their new "family," sinister things begin to happen. When one of the community dies in suspicious circumstances Laura wants to leave but Tilly, enthralled by the charismatic leader, Alex, refuses to go.
Desperately searching for a way to save her daughter, Laura uncovers a horrifying secret but Alex and his family aren't the only ones with something to hide. Just as Laura has been digging into their past, they've been digging into hers and she discovers the terrifying reason they invited her and Tilly in, and why they'll never let them leave...
My review:
Have you ever wondered how seemingly normal people get sucked into a cult like community? Or even if you already know, this thriller will suck you in. Recently widowed Laura and her teenage daughter Tilley are completely down on their luck, with absolutely no money and nowhere to go. That is until a kind stranger who works at a community garden offers them a place to live, and to belong. The creepy vibes start early with this one, as a powerful sense of foreboding unfolds. Told in three voices (Laura, Tilley, and community leader Alex), it seems everyone has secrets they are not revealing. The atmosphere was a key element in this book, and there was even one scene (thankfully very short) that bordered on what I would consider horror. The setup was skillfully done, and although I felt that this dragged a bit in the middle, the ending more than made up for it! Things were revealed so fast that my head was spinning, and what I thought I knew was not at all what occurred. It also leaves a major plot point wide open at the end, which only served to increase the creepy vibe!
With a great buildup to a highly climactic ending, this thriller is not only a story of secrets and lies, but also a commentary on the mother/daughter bond, and what exactly a family means.
