Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. As always, my reviews are honest.
Writing: 3/5 | Plot: MIA/5 | Ending: Needs a Rewrite/5
SYNOPSIS
Frankly, the synopsis itself is a struggle. Henry Lamb’s pursuit of Finn escalates into full-blown stalker territory. Meanwhile, Lucy and her children attempt to intervene. The discovery of bones in the infamous House of Horrors hints at the exposure of some dark secrets.
MY OPINION
Okay, folks, let’s get into it. Brace yourselves; this might be a bumpy ride.
Confession time: I went into this without reading book #1. Yes, I committed the cardinal sin. However, to avoid complete bewilderment, I did delve into a spoiler-filled review of the first installment to grasp the backstory. My rating is solely based on this book and is not influenced by my unread status of the predecessor. So, preemptively, let’s kindly sidestep the “You MUST read book one!” comments.
Now, where to even begin with this? After the initial bone discovery, it essentially vanishes from the narrative for a substantial hundred pages or so. The focus jarringly shifts to Henry’s increasingly unhinged actions, racking up a frankly comical number of illegal activities. One might grudgingly admire his sheer audacity, the way he acknowledges his own outlandish behavior yet confidently strides into Chicago, interrogating hundreds about Finn’s whereabouts. This man’s ability to approach strangers on his stalker escapade (yes, let’s coin that term: stalker escapade) is honestly aspirational for those of us who find ordering takeout over the phone a daunting task.
Up until the final quarter, the book hovered around the realm of ‘tolerable.’ I was almost ready to bestow a lenient three-star rating, caught up in the sheer drama unfolding. But then, as if on cue, Lisa Jewell seemingly decided to throw caution to the wind, sending this narrative plummeting into one-star territory with breathtaking speed.
Here’s where the real issues lie:
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The Redundancy of Rachel: Rachel’s character felt utterly superfluous. Lucy’s significant secret could have easily been revealed through flashbacks or internal monologue. Rachel’s sole purpose appeared to be delivering a somewhat out-of-place exposition on BDSM and marital rape. She echoes the narrative function of Lowen in Verity – present, but ultimately unnecessary.
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Detective Sam’s Bizarre Vibe: Detective Sam radiated an unsettling weirdness. Throughout my reading, I couldn’t shake the image of Slender Man. His peculiar aversion to a dog due to its “long body” – not overall size, just body length, specifically of a Terrier – was utterly baffling. Was there some profound symbolism intended with this canine critique? The relevance remained elusive. And let’s not forget his investigative prowess, declaring “I KNOW someone died here” based purely on… vibes. No evidence, just pure, unadulterated “vibras.” It was unintentionally comedic.
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Lisa Jewell’s Sharon Bolton Imitation: It must be said: Lisa Jewell feels like a budget version of Sharon Bolton. Bolton excels at crafting eccentric, memorable characters (think the gypsy family in Dead Woman Walking) and sharp, distinctive dialogue. Jewell, in comparison, attempts a similar quirky characterization but falls flat. The execution simply isn’t there.
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Stretching the Bounds of Fiction (Too Far): While fiction allows for creative liberties, some plot points in The Family Remains strayed into cozy mystery territory, undermining any sense of realism. It became too fictional, if that makes sense. When an author aiming for suspense and intrigue neglects basic plausibility, it detracts from the reading experience. If this book were intentionally campy, like a “2 Hot 2 Handle” scenario with a cat, lasagna, and poison, the over-the-top drama might be forgivable, even enjoyable.
SPOILER TERRITORY AHEAD. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
Expanding on point #4… The one-star rating became cemented when Henry and Lucy re-entered the UK using fake passports after Interpol had already located them and they had been questioned by the police. Seriously? We are asked to believe that Interpol wouldn’t be awaiting their arrival on the tarmac to immediately seize their fraudulent documents and arrest them? Instead, Henry casually reasons that “they need us here, so of course, they still work!” This is simply illogical. Such a plot device might be acceptable in a farcical cozy mystery, but in a book attempting a semblance of seriousness, it’s nonsensical. Committing a serious crime and then wandering free because a local detective wants to “keep an eye on you” is utterly unbelievable.
- The Enigma of Henry: What was Henry supposed to be? Protagonist? Antagonist? Some twisted anti-hero? His behavior spirals into utter madness, and his supposed redemption arc hinges on connecting Finn with his daughter. Okay… and what about the blatant stalking, the implied intent of non-consensual romantic pursuit of Finn? Are we just meant to ignore that?
In conclusion, I’ll cut myself off here before this turns into a novel itself. Clearly, I’m an outlier in my opinion (hardly a new development). However, the narrative of The Family Remains undeniably unravels in its final 25%, making it impossible for me to justify a rating higher than a single star.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: The initial three-quarters of the book were somewhat engaging.
Cons: The concluding quarter was so profoundly disappointing that it dragged the entire book down to a one-star rating.
