Thrillers & Suspense
![Shari Lapena - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_shari_lapena.jpg)
Not a Happy Family: A Novel
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
Another thrilling domestic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door
"Lapena is a master of manipulation. With her latest page-turning thriller… she is once again at the top of her game." -USA Today
"In this fast-paced, twisted family saga, Shari Lapena keeps you guessing until the very last page..." -Paula Hawkins
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?
Another thrilling domestic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door
"Lapena is a master of manipulation. With her latest page-turning thriller… she is once again at the top of her game." -USA Today
"In this fast-paced, twisted family saga, Shari Lapena keeps you guessing until the very last page..." -Paula Hawkins
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?
Editorial Reviews
Praise for Not a Happy Family:
"Who wouldn't be drawn to a book called Not a Happy Family? . . . Like [her] earlier best sellers. . . Not a Happy Family splashes into a stew of nightmares."
-The New York Times
"Lapena is a master of manipulation. With her latest page-turning thriller, . . . she is once again at the top of her game. . . Lapena does what she does best, so much so that trying to put the book down is futile. Once you start reading, you won't want to stop."
-USA Today
"A quintessential ‘beach read,' I half expected sand to fall out of it. This one brings lurid family mayhem to the Hudson Valley [and] plausible suspects. With her cascading short chapters and teasers by the dozen, you stick with Lapena eagerly."
-The Washington Post
"In this fast-paced, twisted family saga, Shari Lapena keeps you guessing until the very last page..."
-Paula Hawkins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Train
"Another edge-of-the-seat ride that left me breathless."
-Fiona Barton, New York Times bestselling author of The Suspect
"Domestic thriller fans rejoice! Shari Lapena is back with another book that will make you question everything you think you know about your partner."
-Book Riot
"[A] fast-paced whodunit. . . Not a Happy Family works well as a crime novel, and there are some fun surprises. Overall, Lapena has produced another engaging and entertaining read."
-Bookreporter.com
Praise for The End of Her:
"Shari Lapena's la...
"Who wouldn't be drawn to a book called Not a Happy Family? . . . Like [her] earlier best sellers. . . Not a Happy Family splashes into a stew of nightmares."
-The New York Times
"Lapena is a master of manipulation. With her latest page-turning thriller, . . . she is once again at the top of her game. . . Lapena does what she does best, so much so that trying to put the book down is futile. Once you start reading, you won't want to stop."
-USA Today
"A quintessential ‘beach read,' I half expected sand to fall out of it. This one brings lurid family mayhem to the Hudson Valley [and] plausible suspects. With her cascading short chapters and teasers by the dozen, you stick with Lapena eagerly."
-The Washington Post
"In this fast-paced, twisted family saga, Shari Lapena keeps you guessing until the very last page..."
-Paula Hawkins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Train
"Another edge-of-the-seat ride that left me breathless."
-Fiona Barton, New York Times bestselling author of The Suspect
"Domestic thriller fans rejoice! Shari Lapena is back with another book that will make you question everything you think you know about your partner."
-Book Riot
"[A] fast-paced whodunit. . . Not a Happy Family works well as a crime novel, and there are some fun surprises. Overall, Lapena has produced another engaging and entertaining read."
-Bookreporter.com
Praise for The End of Her:
"Shari Lapena's la...
Readers Top Reviews
The Cookster @ R
Rating: 2.0/5 The blurb positions this as a domestic suspense novel. In reality, it is simply an unlikely and uninspiring murder mystery, with a bit of gloss and glitz, that just becomes increasingly silly. I wondered for a time whether this was a intentional tongue-in-cheek attempt to produce something akin to the film "Knives Out". Certainly, anyone who has seen that film will immediately see clear similarities between the two storylines. However, whereas "Knives Out" is a deliberate, but affectionate parody of murder mysteries that are full of ridiculously twisty plots, this is just a decidedly mediocre murder mystery. If anything it bears more resemblance to the lightweight and predictable American tv mysteries that are often aired in the afternoon or early evening. On the plus side, the narrative is occasionally fun, but it is also quite repetitive and spends a lot of time not going very far. The cast of characters is fairly large and the author doesn't make a great job of giving each character a distinctive voice. However, with the plot not being particularly complex, it isn't too difficult to keep track of who is who. If you are simply looking for a disposable read to kill a few hours without taxing your brain cells too much, then this may well fit the bill. Otherwise, I suspect you are likely to find it a bit disappointing.
Mae ClairLulu Mop
This is a good murder mystery with plenty of subjects. Fred and Shelia Merton invite their three children, along with their spouses (or in the case of the youngest, a boyfriend) to Easter dinner. The next morning both Fred and Shelia are found dead, Fred’s murder particularly gruesome. Because the Mertons were extremely wealthy the case is thrust into the spotlight, along with the surviving children, each of whom (along with others) has motive to want their parents dead. The premise is great, and the pace is swift but be prepared the characters are highly unlikable, especially the parents. Unlikable characters aren’t always a problem for me when I read a book, but the more this one progressed, the more frustrated I grew with the behaviors of each. If you enjoy a soap-opera type book with greedy, money-hungry siblings (and others), this is for you. The title speaks volumes about the family and the resulting relationships. There was really no “oomph” when the murderer is unmasked, but that revelation is followed by a quasi-clever twist which makes the ending a bit more satisfying. I will continue to read anything Shari Lapena writes, but this particular book didn’t resonate with me.
P.JaneMae ClairLu
I absolutely loved this book! It is well-written and keeps you guessing until the very end. I kept changing my mind on who I was sure was the killer, and the narrative kept my interest the whole time. I read a lot of psychological thrillers, and this one is in my top ten--highly recommend!
JUJUP.JaneMae Cla
I have all of Shari's books and just like all the others, I read this one in one sitting. Book is very well written, suspenseful, and just when you think you've got it all figured out, you realize you never did. Great read. Now I'm just sad I have to wait maybe another year for the next book! Worth the wait though! Keep them coming, Shari!! :)
Kindle JUJUP.
The short chapters make for a quick read, however the storyline becomes very repetitive. The detectives calling in the same suspects and having the same dialogue over and over. At times it’s a little unbelievable, usually when you request a lawyer you stop speaking, however in all instances the suspects continue to speak and implicate themselves with their lawyers present. Almost all of the characters were unlikable and the reveal was quite anticlimactic. Very abrupt and left me feeling unsatisfied.
Short Excerpt Teaser
1
Twenty-four hours earlier
Dan Merton shrugs on a navy blazer over an open-necked, pale-blue dress shirt and a smart pair of dark jeans. He studies himself critically in the full-length mirror in the bedroom.
Behind him his wife, Lisa, says, "Are you okay?"
He smiles wanly at her via the mirror. "Sure. Why wouldn't I be?"
She turns away. He knows she doesn't relish the prospect of Easter dinner at his parents' house any more than he does. He turns around and looks at her-his pretty, brown-eyed girl. They've been married four years, and in that time there have been challenges. But she has stood by him, and he knows he's lucky to have her. She is his first experience of unconditional love. Unless you count the dogs.
He tamps down a twinge of uneasiness. Their financial troubles are a source of stress, a constant subject of discussion. Lisa always talks him around, though, and makes him believe things will turn out all right-at least while she's still in the room. It's when she isn't there that the doubts creep in, the crippling anxiety.
Lisa comes from hardy, middle-class stock-that was a strike against her from the outset, but he didn't care; his parents are snobs, but he is not-so she never had great expectations. When they met, she didn't even know who he was, because they didn't travel in the same circles.
"She's the only one who will have him," he overheard his younger sister, Jenna, say to his older sister, Catherine, when they didn't know he could hear them.
Perhaps that was true. But his marriage, at least, has been a success-they have all had to admit it. And his family has grown fond of Lisa in spite of themselves and their prejudices.
"Are you going to try to talk to your father?" Lisa asks now, apprehension on her face.
He averts his eyes, closing the closet door. "If the opportunity presents itself."
He hates asking his father for money. But he really doesn't see that he has any other choice.
Catherine Merton-she did not take her husband's surname-looks forward to Easter dinner at her parents' place every year. And all the other occasions when they gather to celebrate holidays at the lavish house in Brecken Hill. Her mother will get out the special plates and the silver, and there will be a huge bouquet of fresh-cut flowers on the formal dining table, and it will all make Catherine feel elegant and privileged. She is the firstborn, and favorite, child; they all know it. She is the high-functioning one, the only one their parents are actually proud of. A doctor-a dermatologist rather than a cardiac surgeon-but still, a doctor. Dan has been a bit of a disappointment. And Jenna-well, Jenna is Jenna.
Catherine puts in a pearl earring and wonders what surprise Jenna might have in store for them today. Her little sister lives in a small, rented house on the outskirts of Aylesford and travels into New York City frequently to stay with friends. Her lifestyle is something of a mystery and causes their parents considerable distress. Dan says Jenna is out of control, but Catherine knows better. Jenna uses her lifestyle as a means of control. She has the power to shock and she doesn't mind using it. Jenna is certainly not well behaved, like Catherine. Not respectable or predictable. No, she is an outlier. When they were kids, she would do anything on a dare. Now, their father is always threatening to cut off Jenna's allowance, but they all know he won't do it because she'd move back home and they'd never be able to stand it. The family suspects drugs and promiscuity, but they never ask because they don't really want to know.
Catherine looks up from the seat at her mirrored vanity as her husband, Ted, walks into their bedroom. He's been rather subdued all day-his subtle way of showing his displeasure, although he would never admit it. He doesn't want to go to Easter dinner at her wealthy parents'. He chafes at their expectation of it, every holiday. He doesn't like the tension rippling beneath the surface during these meals. "God, how can you stand it?" he always says as soon as they're in the car heading back down the driveway.
She defends...
Twenty-four hours earlier
Dan Merton shrugs on a navy blazer over an open-necked, pale-blue dress shirt and a smart pair of dark jeans. He studies himself critically in the full-length mirror in the bedroom.
Behind him his wife, Lisa, says, "Are you okay?"
He smiles wanly at her via the mirror. "Sure. Why wouldn't I be?"
She turns away. He knows she doesn't relish the prospect of Easter dinner at his parents' house any more than he does. He turns around and looks at her-his pretty, brown-eyed girl. They've been married four years, and in that time there have been challenges. But she has stood by him, and he knows he's lucky to have her. She is his first experience of unconditional love. Unless you count the dogs.
He tamps down a twinge of uneasiness. Their financial troubles are a source of stress, a constant subject of discussion. Lisa always talks him around, though, and makes him believe things will turn out all right-at least while she's still in the room. It's when she isn't there that the doubts creep in, the crippling anxiety.
Lisa comes from hardy, middle-class stock-that was a strike against her from the outset, but he didn't care; his parents are snobs, but he is not-so she never had great expectations. When they met, she didn't even know who he was, because they didn't travel in the same circles.
"She's the only one who will have him," he overheard his younger sister, Jenna, say to his older sister, Catherine, when they didn't know he could hear them.
Perhaps that was true. But his marriage, at least, has been a success-they have all had to admit it. And his family has grown fond of Lisa in spite of themselves and their prejudices.
"Are you going to try to talk to your father?" Lisa asks now, apprehension on her face.
He averts his eyes, closing the closet door. "If the opportunity presents itself."
He hates asking his father for money. But he really doesn't see that he has any other choice.
Catherine Merton-she did not take her husband's surname-looks forward to Easter dinner at her parents' place every year. And all the other occasions when they gather to celebrate holidays at the lavish house in Brecken Hill. Her mother will get out the special plates and the silver, and there will be a huge bouquet of fresh-cut flowers on the formal dining table, and it will all make Catherine feel elegant and privileged. She is the firstborn, and favorite, child; they all know it. She is the high-functioning one, the only one their parents are actually proud of. A doctor-a dermatologist rather than a cardiac surgeon-but still, a doctor. Dan has been a bit of a disappointment. And Jenna-well, Jenna is Jenna.
Catherine puts in a pearl earring and wonders what surprise Jenna might have in store for them today. Her little sister lives in a small, rented house on the outskirts of Aylesford and travels into New York City frequently to stay with friends. Her lifestyle is something of a mystery and causes their parents considerable distress. Dan says Jenna is out of control, but Catherine knows better. Jenna uses her lifestyle as a means of control. She has the power to shock and she doesn't mind using it. Jenna is certainly not well behaved, like Catherine. Not respectable or predictable. No, she is an outlier. When they were kids, she would do anything on a dare. Now, their father is always threatening to cut off Jenna's allowance, but they all know he won't do it because she'd move back home and they'd never be able to stand it. The family suspects drugs and promiscuity, but they never ask because they don't really want to know.
Catherine looks up from the seat at her mirrored vanity as her husband, Ted, walks into their bedroom. He's been rather subdued all day-his subtle way of showing his displeasure, although he would never admit it. He doesn't want to go to Easter dinner at her wealthy parents'. He chafes at their expectation of it, every holiday. He doesn't like the tension rippling beneath the surface during these meals. "God, how can you stand it?" he always says as soon as they're in the car heading back down the driveway.
She defends...
