The Family Home by Miranda Smith
Published: October 3, 2022
Bookouture
Pages: 320
Genre: Psychological Thriller
KKECReads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Miranda Smith writes psychological suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations, complicated women, and dark impulses.
I wake on the sofa, my head throbbing. How did I get here? In the darkness, I make my way to my bedroom. I turn on the lights. And then I scream.
There’s a body in my bed. And I know this man: we went on two dates together. Who could have killed him? And how did he get in? Only two people have a key to the house: me and my ex-husband Matthew.
I trust Matthew. With what we’re hiding, I have to. And I can’t risk the police digging into our past, or learning about the night when we drank champagne on the cliff and ruined everything.
Someone knows our secret. We have to find out what they want. But am I wrong to believe Matthew, when I know how well he can lie? And how can I save myself, when the truth might destroy me?
“Who, really, can live like that?”
Lillian and Matthew have an unconventional divorce. They still live together, though they alternate staying at an apartment. While they are both rebuilding their romantic lives, they do have rules for keeping things neat. When a person is murdered in their apartment, a secret from their past is revealed, which could ruin everything.
I did not see the twists in this novel coming. Holy cow! I enjoyed the alternating narration and the way the timeline flowed.
The characters were solid. I liked Lillian a lot. She was a devoted mother and tried to be a good friend. She was fair and considerate of her ex-husband as well. Matthew was also likable, though he had more demons than Lillian.
The side characters all added a lot to the plot, and I applaud Miranda Smith for how she handled the scene where Blair confessed to Lillian that Richard abused her. When Lillian’s initial thought was, “why didn’t you just leave” but then followed up with how that is easier thought than a practice, I found that exceptionally well placed.
There were so many themes in this book. Trust, loyalty, family, friendship, love, and secrets, to mention a few. I loved how the dark themes were handled, and I enjoyed the way things played out.
The twists in this book will give you whiplash. When things happen, they happen quickly, and the truth is revealed in the most explosive way I’ve seen in a thriller.
This was a beautifully written novel, with raw emotions and the devastating weight of guilt. I enjoyed Miranda Smith’s writing style, and I look forward to reading more of her work.