Not a Happy Family: A Novel
“Lapena’s books are addictive!”
—Freida McFadden, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Housemaid
“In this fast-paced, twisted family saga, Shari Lapena keeps you guessing until the very last page...” —Paula Hawkins
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
Another thrilling domestic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door
In this family, everyone is keeping secrets—even the dead.
Brecken Hill in upstate New York is an expensive place to live. You have to be rich to have a house there, and 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?
—Freida McFadden, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Housemaid
“In this fast-paced, twisted family saga, Shari Lapena keeps you guessing until the very last page...” —Paula Hawkins
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
Another thrilling domestic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door
In this family, everyone is keeping secrets—even the dead.
Brecken Hill in upstate New York is an expensive place to live. You have to be rich to have a house there, and 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?
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Community Reviews
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✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *Not a Happy Family* by Shari Lapena is a gripping, fast-paced domestic thriller full of jaw-dropping twists and dark family secrets. Many...
Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena is a gripping domestic thriller that dives into the twisted dynamics of the wealthy Merton family. After a bitter Easter dinner filled with tension, Fred and Sheila Merton are found murdered in their home. Their three adult children—each resentful, entitled, and now very rich—quickly become suspects. As detectives dig deeper, long-held secrets, lies, and betrayals begin to surface, making it clear this family was anything but happy.
It’s been over a year since I read Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena, and I still think about it. The eerie atmosphere, the jaw-dropping twists, the utterly dysfunctional family—I devoured it in one sitting and it’s lived rent-free in my brain ever since. Shari Lapena has done it again. She’s one of my go-to thriller authors, and her books never fail to deliver those shocking, “wait… what just happened?!” moments. Her storytelling is sharp, suspenseful, and always perfectly paced.
In this one, a wealthy couple is murdered just after a tense Easter dinner with their children—and let’s just say, everyone has a motive. The secrets that unravel are so wild, you’ll be flipping pages well into the night.
This one is for fans of twisty domestic thrillers, unreliable characters, and stories where literally no one can be trusted. If you love a book that keeps you guessing until the last page—this one’s it.
I’m a Shari Lapena fan, so no surprises about me enjoying this novel. I love the psychological interplays between the characters (family members), each attempting to out-spite the other, all in the name of inheriting wealth. Lots of twists along the way and an ending one might not have suspected.
If you like a true mystery, you will enjoy this read. The author does a great job of making you believe each character could’ve been the murderer.
Wasn’t a fan of this one by Shari lapena. I felt the writing style was a bit choppy and the ending a bit underwhelming.
I've read several books by this author, but this was my 1st audio book ever and it definitely kept me entertained on a long car drive. This is a story made up of selfish, greedy liars. I didn't care for any of the characters because they are all so awful. The Merton's are dead, and their dysfunctional family wants to grab their inheritance as quickly as possible. All three adult children have motive as well as the sister of the deceased Mr. Merton.
The chapters are quick, jumping from one POV to another. I liked the audiobook. It was a good page and just enough of a cliffhanger at the end of each chapter to keep listening. 3.5 stars
The chapters are quick, jumping from one POV to another. I liked the audiobook. It was a good page and just enough of a cliffhanger at the end of each chapter to keep listening. 3.5 stars
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