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خانه جای مردگان است
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2024)«بهترین داستانها از زبان کسانی نقل میشوند که حقیقتاً فروپاشیده و پر از کاستیاند. کسانی که آزمونها و محنتها را تاب آوردهاند. کسانی که با دنیا روبهرو شده و از انتهای آن سر درآوردهاند. فقط آنها میتوانند داستانهایی بگویند که ارزش شنیدن دارند، زیرا آنها بیشتر از یک شروع داشتهاند، بیشتر از یک میانه که خودشان را تا آنجا کشیدهاند و بیشتر از یک پایان... و با وجود تمام این چیزها، داستانشان ادامه دارد. اسم من نیکول توماس است. عنوانهای زیادی دارم ـ یک معتاد سابق، خواهر بزرگتر یک قاتل، خواهر کوچکتر یکی از شجاعترین زنهایی که میشناسم، دختر پدر و مادری پر از عیبونقص که بچههایشان را بینهایت دوست داشتند، خالۀ خواهرزادهای که در بدترین شرایط مرا دیده است و با این حال دوستم دارد، خالۀ خواهرزادۀ دیگهای که امیدوارم آن بخش از وجودم را نبیند، دوستی خوب و دوستی بد، یک دروغگو و یک آدم رکوراست، اما مهمتر از تمام اینها، من یک قصهگوام. این قصۀ من است و از خانه شروع میشود... چون خانه جای مُردگان است.»
270 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2024
9974 people are currently reading
344009 people want to read
About the author
Jeneva Rose
17 books39.9k followersJeneva Rose is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including The Perfect Marriage and The Perfect Divorce. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages and optioned for film/tv. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her husband, Drew, and her stubborn English bulldogs, Winston and Phyllis Vance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30,143 reviews
May 3, 2024
*Pinches bridge of nose in stress*
hooooooooo my gawd... are you actually kidding me!?
I don't even want to spend to long on this, but lets go! (proceeds to write a dissertation)
Home Is Where the Bodies Are is about three siblings reuniting back in their small home town after their mother passes. The eldest daughter Beth was with her mum right until her last breath and the mother's parting words are 'Don't Trust...'
Dun Dun Dun! Ooooh looks like we have a mystery to solve Scooby!
While the three siblings are sorting out the estate they stumble upon old VHS home videos of their childhood and on one of the videos there's a shocking scene of the siblings father covered in blood and making a shocking announcement. 🙄
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Very easy simplistic writing
➽ Short Chapters
➽ Can binge in one sitting
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDNT LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ THE WHOOOOOLE PLOT!
➽ Predictable AF
➽ Boring cliché one dimensional characters
➽ The 4 POVS was so unnecessary. The eldest daughter and the mums POV would've sufficed
➽ Absolutely no effort, to be original in any sense of the word.
➽ No suspense, no atmosphere... just dry
➽ Having to wait till the last 20% for a smidge of predictable action
➽ Was the Thriller and the Mystery in the room with us?????????
WOW! Nothing hurts more than when an anticipated reads flops and sinks deeper than the Titanic! It's time's like this i am so grateful i make use of my library, because this would have pained me sooo much more had i spent my hard earned coins on this debacle!
The pain in my chest when i guessed where this book was heading in like the first few chapters is outrageous, and only for it to then be confirmed...💔.
Dare I say the predictability of this book is borderline offensive!
The last book i read from the author was 'You Shouldn't Have Come Here' (utter mess) and you know what you're right Jeneva! I should have just sat here and minding my damn business. But the cover art of this book was too damn alluring and i have to give her major props on that!
I'm looking at that current rating on this book and its sitting on a 4.06... so clearly i am an outlier here, but nope! This was just not it for me and too see that some of my favourite authors co-signed this book...😢 (bombastic side eye)
Ummm would i call this a palette cleanser? hmmm if you like. It's one of those ones you could just listen to mindlessly while doing a bunch of chores or stuck at your office desk i guess?
1.5 ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
YOU have no idea how much I have been anticipating this read since i saw the cover!
The cover alone is worthy of at least2 stars!⭐
Fingers crossed this gets the full 5 stars! ⭐🤞🏾🖤
hooooooooo my gawd... are you actually kidding me!?
I don't even want to spend to long on this, but lets go! (proceeds to write a dissertation)
Home Is Where the Bodies Are is about three siblings reuniting back in their small home town after their mother passes. The eldest daughter Beth was with her mum right until her last breath and the mother's parting words are 'Don't Trust...'
Dun Dun Dun! Ooooh looks like we have a mystery to solve Scooby!
While the three siblings are sorting out the estate they stumble upon old VHS home videos of their childhood and on one of the videos there's a shocking scene of the siblings father covered in blood and making a shocking announcement. 🙄
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Very easy simplistic writing
➽ Short Chapters
➽ Can binge in one sitting
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDNT LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ THE WHOOOOOLE PLOT!
➽ Predictable AF
➽ Boring cliché one dimensional characters
➽ The 4 POVS was so unnecessary. The eldest daughter and the mums POV would've sufficed
➽ Absolutely no effort, to be original in any sense of the word.
➽ No suspense, no atmosphere... just dry
➽ Having to wait till the last 20% for a smidge of predictable action
➽ Was the Thriller and the Mystery in the room with us?????????
WOW! Nothing hurts more than when an anticipated reads flops and sinks deeper than the Titanic! It's time's like this i am so grateful i make use of my library, because this would have pained me sooo much more had i spent my hard earned coins on this debacle!
The pain in my chest when i guessed where this book was heading in like the first few chapters is outrageous, and only for it to then be confirmed...💔.
Dare I say the predictability of this book is borderline offensive!
The last book i read from the author was 'You Shouldn't Have Come Here' (utter mess) and you know what you're right Jeneva! I should have just sat here and minding my damn business. But the cover art of this book was too damn alluring and i have to give her major props on that!
I'm looking at that current rating on this book and its sitting on a 4.06... so clearly i am an outlier here, but nope! This was just not it for me and too see that some of my favourite authors co-signed this book...😢 (bombastic side eye)
Ummm would i call this a palette cleanser? hmmm if you like. It's one of those ones you could just listen to mindlessly while doing a bunch of chores or stuck at your office desk i guess?
1.5 ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
YOU have no idea how much I have been anticipating this read since i saw the cover!
The cover alone is worthy of at least
Fingers crossed this gets the full 5 stars! ⭐🤞🏾🖤
April 25, 2024
With publication day for 'Home is Where the Bodies Are' fast approaching, I wanted to share a little insight on some of the heavy topics in this novel. Although, this is a fictional story, it's a deeply personal one for me as I was able to write about things I've personally dealt with in my life, through the characters of Beth, Nicole, and Michael. Addiction, death, and grief are heavy themes in this book, and they've also been themes in my personal life for a long time now. It was cathartic to write Beth, for I have felt like Beth when it comes to dealing with a person suffering from addiction. Through her, I was able to express a fraction of the emotional toll it's taken on me, while also allowing myself a little grace for the guilt I endure in still having been unsuccessful in helping them to recover. It was also cathartic to write Nicole, to put myself in the shoes of said person with some of their insights guiding me and giving me a glimpse at life from their point of view. I'm grateful for having the opportunity to write this book, and I thank you for reading it.
May 7, 2024
I will accept no slander on this one. If life didn’t life I would have read in one sitting. Loved the POVs, unreliable characters & that every theory I formed was wrong.
May 5, 2024
I enjoyed the audiobook of this a lot! Quick popcorn thriller you could easily read in a couple sittings. It wasn’t suuuper original in my opinion but I still had fun with it overall.
November 12, 2025
The writing wasn't bad but the plot wasn't good.
I thought I knew what had happened very early in the story, and by the 50% mark, I was sure I knew whodunnit. The answer was just glaringly obvious, and the only thing left was to sort out the details.
And that's a loooooong time to wait around on scraps.
There are 4 POVs in the story. The 3 siblings and then the voice of their now-deceased mother.
The skinny gist is the whole family was basically shattered when their father up and left for no discernible reason, never to be heard from again.
The children don't have good relationships with each other as adults, and were apparently not even close when they were younger.
And the bare bones of the siblings look like this:
Michael left their small town to become a successful tech entrepreneur, and both of his sisters are jealous of him. Beth stayed, got a job at the factory, has a grown daughter she's not close with, and took care of her mother until her dying breath.
Meanwhile, Nicole became a drug addict and wrecked her life. She and Beth have a strained relationship due to the whole crazy addict shenanigans.
Ok.
While going through their mom's things, they find an old VHS tape and pop it in. Their mother was one of those who always had that giant camcorder on her shoulder, recording everything.
But on this evening, she forgot to press stop and ended up recording her husband frantically telling her they had to get rid of the body of their neighbor's little girl, who had gone missing earlier that day from the town fair-thing.
Aaaaand away we go!
Except not really.
Because once you get to know the characters just a little bit, the motivations just click (or in this case, clunk) into place.
We eventually find out that the little girl was not the only person to go missing around that time. And piece by slow piece, the story of what happened is revealed.
The bottom line is that the mystery wasn't a mystery.
So what you're left with is a story about a bunch of sad, fucked up people spinning their wheels and whining about their shitty lives.
Recommended for fans of family drama.
I thought I knew what had happened very early in the story, and by the 50% mark, I was sure I knew whodunnit. The answer was just glaringly obvious, and the only thing left was to sort out the details.
And that's a loooooong time to wait around on scraps.
There are 4 POVs in the story. The 3 siblings and then the voice of their now-deceased mother.
The skinny gist is the whole family was basically shattered when their father up and left for no discernible reason, never to be heard from again.
The children don't have good relationships with each other as adults, and were apparently not even close when they were younger.
And the bare bones of the siblings look like this:
Michael left their small town to become a successful tech entrepreneur, and both of his sisters are jealous of him. Beth stayed, got a job at the factory, has a grown daughter she's not close with, and took care of her mother until her dying breath.
Meanwhile, Nicole became a drug addict and wrecked her life. She and Beth have a strained relationship due to the whole crazy addict shenanigans.
Ok.
While going through their mom's things, they find an old VHS tape and pop it in. Their mother was one of those who always had that giant camcorder on her shoulder, recording everything.
But on this evening, she forgot to press stop and ended up recording her husband frantically telling her they had to get rid of the body of their neighbor's little girl, who had gone missing earlier that day from the town fair-thing.
Aaaaand away we go!
Except not really.
Because once you get to know the characters just a little bit, the motivations just click (or in this case, clunk) into place.
We eventually find out that the little girl was not the only person to go missing around that time. And piece by slow piece, the story of what happened is revealed.
The bottom line is that the mystery wasn't a mystery.
So what you're left with is a story about a bunch of sad, fucked up people spinning their wheels and whining about their shitty lives.
Recommended for fans of family drama.
July 21, 2024
truly one of the most boring “thrillers” i’ve read
May 9, 2024
R.I.P. SUBTEXT. This book is drowning in exposition. Every time a metaphor floated down, and I started to think “hey that’s nice,” I got suplexed by EXPLANATION.
Example: in the small town bar, the clock is 45 minutes behind. That, on its own, is good writing. I understand what’s Unsaid. But immediately after that great detail is a four-sentence-long explanation including “A place like this would never be ahead.” And now I’m mad!
Less. Is. More. The writing is clumsy, the emotional conflict is so heavy-handed. I felt awkward, like I shouldn’t be here, because no work was left for the reader.
Example: in the small town bar, the clock is 45 minutes behind. That, on its own, is good writing. I understand what’s Unsaid. But immediately after that great detail is a four-sentence-long explanation including “A place like this would never be ahead.” And now I’m mad!
Less. Is. More. The writing is clumsy, the emotional conflict is so heavy-handed. I felt awkward, like I shouldn’t be here, because no work was left for the reader.
March 14, 2025
I hurled my documents strewn on my work table the moment publishers rejected my request for an early copy of this book, whining gibberish like a bodybuilder who skipped a few protein meals, or a viewer who witnessed Rose leaving Jack to freeze in the ocean when there was enough space to share with him! (Painful whining, as you might imagine.)
But I’m thankful because these brilliant hard copies, positioned inside VHS cassette player covers, are a perfect idea for readers, and I’m so happy to have one! I just wish the book inside was as good as its cover idea. Honestly, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed “You Shouldn’t Have Come Here.”
Here are my reasons:
I equally disliked the three siblings and couldn’t find it credible that they grew up together and shared a bond. They were like players whose backstories were written on cue cards, just going with the flow. Beth, a widow estranged from her daughter, took care of their demented mother and is full of hatred and resentment, pouring out her negative energy every time she opens her mouth. Nicole, a recovering junkie, acts like an unpredictable teenager, risking everyone’s lives, and I didn’t fully buy the reasoning behind her turning to drugs. Michael, a rich, arrogant, cold, calculated jerk, acts like he’s better than everyone, and both of his sisters envy him. I didn’t like the characterization or the siblings' so-called family connection.
They acted like three random people stuck in a house to discover an ugly truth via VHS cassette players.
The big mystery is extremely predictable, and I figured out the perpetrator, what really happened to Emma Harper (the missing girl), and where their estranged dad is before I reached the halfway point. There were no earth-shattering revelations or shocking conclusions.
There were so many angsty, repetitive conversations between the siblings, criticizing each other over and over: “You’re a vengeful widow with a miserable life,” “You’re a useless junkie putting others’ lives in danger,” “You’re a pretentious jerk who left his family without looking back,” and so on. I felt like I was reading a dysfunctional family drama with a bunch of unlikeable characters instead of a riveting mystery!
The only two things I enjoyed were Nicole’s final words summarizing the entire story and the riveting pacing of the book that pushed me to reach the end faster without getting bored. But I mostly found this book mediocre and will probably forget the unlikeable characters as soon as I close the book and start another thriller. I was expecting a little more from the author, considering this book is one of the most highly anticipated thrillers of the year and made it to The NY Times Bestsellers List. I honestly got a little disappointed as a devoted fan of the author.
Of course, I will continue to devour any future works she releases, but I decided to give this book a solid three stars—I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t much enjoy it either.
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But I’m thankful because these brilliant hard copies, positioned inside VHS cassette player covers, are a perfect idea for readers, and I’m so happy to have one! I just wish the book inside was as good as its cover idea. Honestly, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed “You Shouldn’t Have Come Here.”
Here are my reasons:
I equally disliked the three siblings and couldn’t find it credible that they grew up together and shared a bond. They were like players whose backstories were written on cue cards, just going with the flow. Beth, a widow estranged from her daughter, took care of their demented mother and is full of hatred and resentment, pouring out her negative energy every time she opens her mouth. Nicole, a recovering junkie, acts like an unpredictable teenager, risking everyone’s lives, and I didn’t fully buy the reasoning behind her turning to drugs. Michael, a rich, arrogant, cold, calculated jerk, acts like he’s better than everyone, and both of his sisters envy him. I didn’t like the characterization or the siblings' so-called family connection.
They acted like three random people stuck in a house to discover an ugly truth via VHS cassette players.
The big mystery is extremely predictable, and I figured out the perpetrator, what really happened to Emma Harper (the missing girl), and where their estranged dad is before I reached the halfway point. There were no earth-shattering revelations or shocking conclusions.
There were so many angsty, repetitive conversations between the siblings, criticizing each other over and over: “You’re a vengeful widow with a miserable life,” “You’re a useless junkie putting others’ lives in danger,” “You’re a pretentious jerk who left his family without looking back,” and so on. I felt like I was reading a dysfunctional family drama with a bunch of unlikeable characters instead of a riveting mystery!
The only two things I enjoyed were Nicole’s final words summarizing the entire story and the riveting pacing of the book that pushed me to reach the end faster without getting bored. But I mostly found this book mediocre and will probably forget the unlikeable characters as soon as I close the book and start another thriller. I was expecting a little more from the author, considering this book is one of the most highly anticipated thrillers of the year and made it to The NY Times Bestsellers List. I honestly got a little disappointed as a devoted fan of the author.
Of course, I will continue to devour any future works she releases, but I decided to give this book a solid three stars—I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t much enjoy it either.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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March 9, 2024
Three estranged siblings (Beth, Nicole, Michael) reunite at their childhood home after the death of their mother. As they go through her belongings, they find a box of home videos. How wonderful to be able to look back in time, to see their family happy and all together. But then one of the videotapes shows something disturbing - their father with blood on his clothing and their parents making a pact to get rid of the body! Holy Crap! Reeling with shock, they want answers!
What happened all those years ago? Did one or both of their parents kill someone? Was the body they were talking about getting rid of Emma, the girl who went missing and was never found? What should they do? How many secrets did their parents have?
This book proved to be a fast, riveting and gripping read. The mystery of a missing girl and what their parents may or may not have done was enticing. Like the siblings, I wanted answers and kept turning the pages to find out!
I enjoyed learning about the characters and the struggles they had in their lives. There is a lot of tension and testy exchanges between them. I enjoyed how authentic this felt. I also enjoyed that we got the POV of each of them. As they began to delve deeper into their mother's belongings, they had a lot of questions. As they began to slowly pull back the layers of family secrets, the tension and suspense began to mount!
This book played out like a movie in my mind as I read. I enjoyed the mystery and have to say that I did not figure out whodunit. I love it when that happens. Jeneva Rose delivered a strong, captivating, and dramatic mystery!
#HomeIsWhereTheBodiesAre #JenevaRose #BlackstonePublishing #NetGalley
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
What happened all those years ago? Did one or both of their parents kill someone? Was the body they were talking about getting rid of Emma, the girl who went missing and was never found? What should they do? How many secrets did their parents have?
This book proved to be a fast, riveting and gripping read. The mystery of a missing girl and what their parents may or may not have done was enticing. Like the siblings, I wanted answers and kept turning the pages to find out!
I enjoyed learning about the characters and the struggles they had in their lives. There is a lot of tension and testy exchanges between them. I enjoyed how authentic this felt. I also enjoyed that we got the POV of each of them. As they began to delve deeper into their mother's belongings, they had a lot of questions. As they began to slowly pull back the layers of family secrets, the tension and suspense began to mount!
This book played out like a movie in my mind as I read. I enjoyed the mystery and have to say that I did not figure out whodunit. I love it when that happens. Jeneva Rose delivered a strong, captivating, and dramatic mystery!
#HomeIsWhereTheBodiesAre #JenevaRose #BlackstonePublishing #NetGalley
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
May 1, 2024
The way that Rose portrays addiction in this book is incredibly problematic. That’s it. That’s the review.
April 30, 2024
I read this a few weeks ago and can't remember anything except the sibling relationships. Those I could write dissertations about. But the plot? No clue. Never heard of her.
What I know:
It's two sisters and a brother. The older sister, our MC, gave everything up to provide for her younger siblings and is justifiably bitter about it. The brother left town asap and miraculously got rich and well connected, thus alienating him from their small town mentality. The younger sister was more promising and intelligent than either of her siblings but got caught up in drugs and alcohol and fell swiftly into addiction. She is now bitter and butt hurt because she should be the star, but her brother got all the glory.
I remember all of that but ZERO about the mystery.
I legitimately couldn't tell you a single thing about the supposed 'crime'. Not who, how, when, where or why.
I feel like that probably says everything that needs to be said.
What I know:
It's two sisters and a brother. The older sister, our MC, gave everything up to provide for her younger siblings and is justifiably bitter about it. The brother left town asap and miraculously got rich and well connected, thus alienating him from their small town mentality. The younger sister was more promising and intelligent than either of her siblings but got caught up in drugs and alcohol and fell swiftly into addiction. She is now bitter and butt hurt because she should be the star, but her brother got all the glory.
I remember all of that but ZERO about the mystery.
I legitimately couldn't tell you a single thing about the supposed 'crime'. Not who, how, when, where or why.
I feel like that probably says everything that needs to be said.
June 3, 2024
Let’s start with the good news first- “Home Is Where the Bodies Are” was better than last year’s disastrous “You Shouldn’t Have Come Here”, by this author. This newest release also has a cool cover, so there’s that. Now for the bad news- in my personal opinion, I still didn’t find it to be as great as everyone else seemed to think it was. It was very predictable from the first page, and it seemed as if it could have been written for a YA audience. 🤷🏻♀️ (maybe I’m just getting too old).
In this story, we have three siblings who come together after their mother passes away. Beth, the oldest, has never left their small town and has been taking care of their mother until the minute she passes away. Nicole, the middle child, has been addicted to drugs her whole life and misses the passing of her mother. Michael, the youngest sibling, has moved to California and is doing very well for himself. In fact, he is doing so well for himself that he hasn’t been back home in seven years to even see his mother or sisters. He even likes to show off his fancy clothes and all his money.
While going through their parents personal belongings (because their dad disappeared years ago as well), they come across some old VHS tapes. They decide to watch a tape from June 15, 1999, and on this tape they witness a dead body on their property 🫣 From there things start to go a little crazy as they try to uncover the truth as to what happened on that long ago day in 1999. Were their parents killers? And how about all the other people that disappeared in their small town? Where are they now?
So yeah… I had high hopes for this book, and I really wanted to give this author another chance- but this book just didn’t work for me. I really loved the author’s debut novel “The Perfect Marriage”, and her Detective Kimberley King Books, but unfortunately I think it’s time for me to cut ties with this author as we are no longer a perfect fit 😕 There’s many people that enjoyed this book more than I did, so I say give it a chance!
(2.5 stars- rounded up)
In this story, we have three siblings who come together after their mother passes away. Beth, the oldest, has never left their small town and has been taking care of their mother until the minute she passes away. Nicole, the middle child, has been addicted to drugs her whole life and misses the passing of her mother. Michael, the youngest sibling, has moved to California and is doing very well for himself. In fact, he is doing so well for himself that he hasn’t been back home in seven years to even see his mother or sisters. He even likes to show off his fancy clothes and all his money.
While going through their parents personal belongings (because their dad disappeared years ago as well), they come across some old VHS tapes. They decide to watch a tape from June 15, 1999, and on this tape they witness a dead body on their property 🫣 From there things start to go a little crazy as they try to uncover the truth as to what happened on that long ago day in 1999. Were their parents killers? And how about all the other people that disappeared in their small town? Where are they now?
So yeah… I had high hopes for this book, and I really wanted to give this author another chance- but this book just didn’t work for me. I really loved the author’s debut novel “The Perfect Marriage”, and her Detective Kimberley King Books, but unfortunately I think it’s time for me to cut ties with this author as we are no longer a perfect fit 😕 There’s many people that enjoyed this book more than I did, so I say give it a chance!
(2.5 stars- rounded up)
June 11, 2024
Love love loved this one! Such a great thriller with characters you will love. Plus it’s a crazy family dealing with more drama than yours so it’s a break from reality.
You always think you know someone- that is until they die and their secrets are shared. When three siblings lose their mom it brings them all back to their childhood home. As they are going through their mom’s possessions they come across a videotape that holds secrets. Bad secrets. Life changing secrets. Secrets that send them on an adventure with an ending that no one could predict!
You always think you know someone- that is until they die and their secrets are shared. When three siblings lose their mom it brings them all back to their childhood home. As they are going through their mom’s possessions they come across a videotape that holds secrets. Bad secrets. Life changing secrets. Secrets that send them on an adventure with an ending that no one could predict!
August 4, 2024
After their mother passes, three estranged siblings reunite to sort out her estate. Beth, the oldest, never left home. She stayed with her mom, caring for her until the very end. Nicole, the middle child, has been kept at arm's length due to her ongoing battle with a serious drug addiction. Michael, the youngest, lives out of state and hasn't been back to their small Wisconsin town since their father ran out on them seven years before.
While going through their parent's belongings, the siblings stumble upon a collection of home videos and decide to revisit those happier memories. However, the nostalgia is cut short when one of the VHS tapes reveals a night back in 1999 that none of them have any recollection of. On screen, their father appears covered in blood. What follows is a dead body and a pact between their parents to get rid of it, before the video abruptly ends.
Beth, Nicole, and Michael must now decide whether to leave the past in the past or uncover the dark secret their mother took to her grave.
If you love dysfunctional families, dark secrets, and multiple POVs, Home Is Where the Bodies Are is most definitely for you. Starting off slow with a plot that felt decidedly more family drama than thriller, I was nevertheless wrapped up in the sibling rivalry and small town problems. Fear not, however, because it didn’t take long for the pace to pick up and some monstrous lies to be revealed. Needless to say, the distrust among these three siblings was palpable and it thankfully leaked onto the pages and directly into my bloodstream.
The characters themselves sucked me right into the story. While perhaps not fully fleshed out or particularly well-developed, the flaws to their personalities made them wholly believable. Layered with realistic problems that could’ve easily been caused by trauma, I felt for this broken family as they gathered following the death of their mother. At the same time, the further that I read, the more I gave them ALLthe side-eye. Even the character I was rallying behind. In my book, that is the mark of quite the talented author.
With an adrenaline-pumping climax and a soul-satisfying conclusion, this Jeneva Rose book was one heck of an introduction to her writing for me. Filled with ever ratcheting tension, plot charging drama, and an IV drip of revelations, it was a masterful slow burn of a whodunnit until it exploded into action. All I know is that it won me over thoroughly enough that I’m now looking forward to diving into Rose’s backlist ASAP. After all, I’ve heard nothing but good things about quite a few of them. So I ask you… Where should I start? Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Jeneva Rose and Blackstone Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: April 30, 2024
Trigger warning: death of a parent, terminal cancer, drug addiction
While going through their parent's belongings, the siblings stumble upon a collection of home videos and decide to revisit those happier memories. However, the nostalgia is cut short when one of the VHS tapes reveals a night back in 1999 that none of them have any recollection of. On screen, their father appears covered in blood. What follows is a dead body and a pact between their parents to get rid of it, before the video abruptly ends.
Beth, Nicole, and Michael must now decide whether to leave the past in the past or uncover the dark secret their mother took to her grave.
If you love dysfunctional families, dark secrets, and multiple POVs, Home Is Where the Bodies Are is most definitely for you. Starting off slow with a plot that felt decidedly more family drama than thriller, I was nevertheless wrapped up in the sibling rivalry and small town problems. Fear not, however, because it didn’t take long for the pace to pick up and some monstrous lies to be revealed. Needless to say, the distrust among these three siblings was palpable and it thankfully leaked onto the pages and directly into my bloodstream.
The characters themselves sucked me right into the story. While perhaps not fully fleshed out or particularly well-developed, the flaws to their personalities made them wholly believable. Layered with realistic problems that could’ve easily been caused by trauma, I felt for this broken family as they gathered following the death of their mother. At the same time, the further that I read, the more I gave them ALLthe side-eye. Even the character I was rallying behind. In my book, that is the mark of quite the talented author.
With an adrenaline-pumping climax and a soul-satisfying conclusion, this Jeneva Rose book was one heck of an introduction to her writing for me. Filled with ever ratcheting tension, plot charging drama, and an IV drip of revelations, it was a masterful slow burn of a whodunnit until it exploded into action. All I know is that it won me over thoroughly enough that I’m now looking forward to diving into Rose’s backlist ASAP. After all, I’ve heard nothing but good things about quite a few of them. So I ask you… Where should I start? Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Jeneva Rose and Blackstone Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: April 30, 2024
Trigger warning: death of a parent, terminal cancer, drug addiction
December 20, 2023
Home is Where the Bodies Are is a fast-paced and suspenseful domestic thriller about family and hidden secrets. This is the first book I've read by Jeneva Rose and I wasn't at all disappointed – she's obviously a talented writer, somewhat reminiscent of Lisa Unger or Sally Hepworth.
The premise of this book is definitely original and kept me turning the pages. When estranged siblings Beth, Michael, and Nicole stumble across a video tape that possibly implicates their father in a crime that occurred years prior, they start to uncover family secrets that might be better left buried. I correctly guessed the twist pretty early on (probably around the 20% mark), but it didn't particularly take away from my enjoyment of the story. I knew the who but not the how or why, so I was eager to continue reading to find out all the details … and it was certainly a wild ride!
The murder mystery itself (what happened to Emma?) was well-written and suspenseful, although certain parts of the big reveal were very much resolved via a deus ex machina that neatly summed everything up for the siblings toward the end.
Like a lot of thrillers, it was a little too melodramatic for my tastes at times, but not ridiculously so. I enjoyed “watching” the siblings navigate their fractured relationships, and the budding romance between Beth and Lucas wasn't too obnoxious as far as those sort of things go. None of the siblings were all that likeable – there was a lot of squabbling and pettiness from each of them – but I suppose that's to be expected considering the circumstances. I couldn't help but feel for Nicole, though, with everyone constantly cutting her down due to her past addictions (Beth in particular was extra judgy and mean).
Oh, and I definitely appreciated the pop culture references in the flashback chapters. I'm not much older than Beth, the oldest of the siblings, and can totally relate to teenage years involving Nirvana t-shirts, Sony Discmans, and crimped hair.
Overall, this was an exciting read that kept me reading well into the night, long after I should have been in bed. It wasn't perfect but it was certainly entertaining, and I look forward to reading more by Jeneva Rose in the future.
Final rating: 3.7 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
The premise of this book is definitely original and kept me turning the pages. When estranged siblings Beth, Michael, and Nicole stumble across a video tape that possibly implicates their father in a crime that occurred years prior, they start to uncover family secrets that might be better left buried. I correctly guessed the twist pretty early on (probably around the 20% mark), but it didn't particularly take away from my enjoyment of the story. I knew the who but not the how or why, so I was eager to continue reading to find out all the details … and it was certainly a wild ride!
The murder mystery itself (what happened to Emma?) was well-written and suspenseful, although certain parts of the big reveal were very much resolved via a deus ex machina that neatly summed everything up for the siblings toward the end.
Like a lot of thrillers, it was a little too melodramatic for my tastes at times, but not ridiculously so. I enjoyed “watching” the siblings navigate their fractured relationships, and the budding romance between Beth and Lucas wasn't too obnoxious as far as those sort of things go. None of the siblings were all that likeable – there was a lot of squabbling and pettiness from each of them – but I suppose that's to be expected considering the circumstances. I couldn't help but feel for Nicole, though, with everyone constantly cutting her down due to her past addictions (Beth in particular was extra judgy and mean).
Oh, and I definitely appreciated the pop culture references in the flashback chapters. I'm not much older than Beth, the oldest of the siblings, and can totally relate to teenage years involving Nirvana t-shirts, Sony Discmans, and crimped hair.
Overall, this was an exciting read that kept me reading well into the night, long after I should have been in bed. It wasn't perfect but it was certainly entertaining, and I look forward to reading more by Jeneva Rose in the future.
Final rating: 3.7 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
May 23, 2024
Home movies have a whole different vibe in this twisty family murder saga. Imagine popping in an old VHS and seeing your mom film a corpse!
That camp-tastic cover might give off the wrong tone, though, because despite the presence of found-footage and found-bodies, this is more of a straight-forward thriller. Characters are simple and easy-to-digest, with emotions that never surprise and dilemmas that feel familiar. The prose is a pleasant, no-frills kind of experience. No wheels are reinvented, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Twists are aplenty, but there's only one or two possible solutions. So when the one is revealed, it's kinda like "Yeah, I figured it'd be either this or that."
In the end, it was an easy breezy read that I enjoyed but will ultimately forget by tomorrow afternoon.
That camp-tastic cover might give off the wrong tone, though, because despite the presence of found-footage and found-bodies, this is more of a straight-forward thriller. Characters are simple and easy-to-digest, with emotions that never surprise and dilemmas that feel familiar. The prose is a pleasant, no-frills kind of experience. No wheels are reinvented, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Twists are aplenty, but there's only one or two possible solutions. So when the one is revealed, it's kinda like "Yeah, I figured it'd be either this or that."
In the end, it was an easy breezy read that I enjoyed but will ultimately forget by tomorrow afternoon.
August 7, 2025
Home Is Where The Bodies Are should be mandatory reading for anyone who wants to become a writer, particularly in the mystery and thriller genre, as it’s a perfect guide on what you should avoid when writing a book.
Unlikeable main characters: obviously characters need to have flaws in order to be relatable to the reader, but they should have positive attributes as well. When your characters’ traits of whiner, dickhead, junkie, and loser are more memorable than their names you’ve messed up. The book jumps between POVs constantly which could’ve worked well, but the lack of depth gives us four shallow protagonists who all feel like they were rough drafts of actual characters.
Pretentious Writing: The writing style here doesn’t fit the story, genre, or setting at all. While some of the details are commendable, a lot of it is way too detailed for its own good. So much so that the actual story being told is lost in murky slop and cliches about what death is like, from unfinished last words to how cold a body is.
The plot: Speaking of cliches, the story is full of them. While I don’t want to spoil it here in case someone actually does want to read the book, I’ll say that one of the key elements of success when it comes to thriller novels and books about murder in particular is the suspense. Even books written in the American Plain tradition, such as Dexter, do this very well by setting up each character with at least a few different traits. This book, however, seems to think the way to tell a story is by screaming the twist ending from every page to the point where, by the time the end does come, the reader gets no joy from having deduced the twist and any shock value is lost.
What a waste of an Audible credit this was.
Unlikeable main characters: obviously characters need to have flaws in order to be relatable to the reader, but they should have positive attributes as well. When your characters’ traits of whiner, dickhead, junkie, and loser are more memorable than their names you’ve messed up. The book jumps between POVs constantly which could’ve worked well, but the lack of depth gives us four shallow protagonists who all feel like they were rough drafts of actual characters.
Pretentious Writing: The writing style here doesn’t fit the story, genre, or setting at all. While some of the details are commendable, a lot of it is way too detailed for its own good. So much so that the actual story being told is lost in murky slop and cliches about what death is like, from unfinished last words to how cold a body is.
The plot: Speaking of cliches, the story is full of them. While I don’t want to spoil it here in case someone actually does want to read the book, I’ll say that one of the key elements of success when it comes to thriller novels and books about murder in particular is the suspense. Even books written in the American Plain tradition, such as Dexter, do this very well by setting up each character with at least a few different traits. This book, however, seems to think the way to tell a story is by screaming the twist ending from every page to the point where, by the time the end does come, the reader gets no joy from having deduced the twist and any shock value is lost.
What a waste of an Audible credit this was.
December 25, 2025
You would think I was obsessed with death. Is it my lifelong love of murder mysteries, or my recent diagnosis of cancer that has me ruminating about it these days? I don’t know. I actually feel quite calm and hopeful and grateful that living in the moment brings such a love of life to me.
Still, there is something to be said about this kind of a book that gets one wondering about how one contemplates death and living in the moment, in the same breath. Especially when the first line declares…
“Nothing brings people together better than death. …Death reminds us that life isn’t infinite and that one day, our time will come, too.”
If nothing else about this story appeals to readers, please know this…I really loved that line in this book.
What exactly is in store for readers between these pages? Maybe we should take the title of this book literally?!
Let us start with Mom Laura who passes away and leaves her things to her adult children who have been rather estranged from each other. She after all is one of the POV’s. The other POV’s are the daughters, Beth and Nicole.
As they are going through those things, what should they discover but an old VCR tape which reveals more than they had ever expected to learn about their mother and their “missing” father who had “supposedly” left many years earlier without any explanation.
“They say the truth will set you free, but they don’t tell you it can set you free in the same way death does.”
So, what really happened in this story? What is the big reveal? (No spoilers from me.)
To be honest, the premise of this book was promising, but as it progressed it was hard to enjoy. The characters weren’t particularly likable and the plot became rather predictable. And, to top it off, the end was anticlimactic. All and all…Family dynamics at its worst.
3.5 stars rounded down
Still, there is something to be said about this kind of a book that gets one wondering about how one contemplates death and living in the moment, in the same breath. Especially when the first line declares…
“Nothing brings people together better than death. …Death reminds us that life isn’t infinite and that one day, our time will come, too.”
If nothing else about this story appeals to readers, please know this…I really loved that line in this book.
What exactly is in store for readers between these pages? Maybe we should take the title of this book literally?!
Let us start with Mom Laura who passes away and leaves her things to her adult children who have been rather estranged from each other. She after all is one of the POV’s. The other POV’s are the daughters, Beth and Nicole.
As they are going through those things, what should they discover but an old VCR tape which reveals more than they had ever expected to learn about their mother and their “missing” father who had “supposedly” left many years earlier without any explanation.
“They say the truth will set you free, but they don’t tell you it can set you free in the same way death does.”
So, what really happened in this story? What is the big reveal? (No spoilers from me.)
To be honest, the premise of this book was promising, but as it progressed it was hard to enjoy. The characters weren’t particularly likable and the plot became rather predictable. And, to top it off, the end was anticlimactic. All and all…Family dynamics at its worst.
3.5 stars rounded down
March 25, 2024
I gotta think about this. But proof I shouldn't be trusted reading a jeneva rose book. Lol
UPDATE: I'm ready to review. First, one star for the cover alone. That ish is FIRE. 10/10
Unfortunately, we have to actually talk about the book, which is just .... underwhelming. For such an amazing premise, I was so BORED. I started strong, excited, loved the character story telling .... and then it just went downhill at like 25%. To the point I already knew what was going to happen, who it would be, and was just going through it just to prove myself right.
And did we NEED 4 POVS????? Especially when 3 of them are together all the time? Like damn, just have one of you tell me whats going on. Like you can just read Beth & Mom POV and get to the end quicker. But it would still take longer than needed.
ALSO. JENEVA, STOP PUTTING BLOOD ON COVERS IF BODIES ARENT EXPLODING IN EVERY OTHER CHAPTER.
UPDATE: I'm ready to review. First, one star for the cover alone. That ish is FIRE. 10/10
Unfortunately, we have to actually talk about the book, which is just .... underwhelming. For such an amazing premise, I was so BORED. I started strong, excited, loved the character story telling .... and then it just went downhill at like 25%. To the point I already knew what was going to happen, who it would be, and was just going through it just to prove myself right.
And did we NEED 4 POVS????? Especially when 3 of them are together all the time? Like damn, just have one of you tell me whats going on. Like you can just read Beth & Mom POV and get to the end quicker. But it would still take longer than needed.
ALSO. JENEVA, STOP PUTTING BLOOD ON COVERS IF BODIES ARENT EXPLODING IN EVERY OTHER CHAPTER.
July 8, 2024
Oh my, this book is depressing.
Death, grief and nostalgia. This is more like a family drama than a thriller. I pretty much had an idea of what happened 50% into the book. Red herrings and obvious clues were thrown in so it didn't take me a long time to figure it out.
I didn't like any of the characters. The three siblings were all problematic. Beth is miserable, Nicole is an addict and Michael is a narcissistic asshole. I didn't really care about any of them. They were all broken, anyway.
I feel bad for the parents, for the lives destroyed because of one mistake. How far will a parent could go to protect their child.
Death, grief and nostalgia. This is more like a family drama than a thriller. I pretty much had an idea of what happened 50% into the book. Red herrings and obvious clues were thrown in so it didn't take me a long time to figure it out.
I didn't like any of the characters. The three siblings were all problematic. Beth is miserable, Nicole is an addict and Michael is a narcissistic asshole. I didn't really care about any of them. They were all broken, anyway.
I feel bad for the parents, for the lives destroyed because of one mistake. How far will a parent could go to protect their child.
May 13, 2024
:::possible spoilers:::
Yet another generic and predictable "thriller."
None of the characters was likable, and none of them was anything more than a birth-order cliche: the oldest child in the role of caretaker, the middle child in the role of troublemaking addict, and the youngest child in the role of spoiled brat. That's it. I didn't give a shit about any of them.
This book is fraught with platitudes that are clearly intended to add depth to a story that is as shallow as a puddle on the sidewalk. It was almost a DNF halfway through - but then I decided to have some fun by dog-earing every page that included one of the banalities. I stopped once I realized every single page was dog-eared. Glad I didn't turn it into a drinking game or I'd have ended up in the hospital.
For example:
"Some things you have to wear, like guilt and grief and old jackets left behind by loved ones who've passed."
"When his fingers slip away, I can still feel them cradled in mine like a phantom limb."
"He obviously wants to change the topic of conversation. Death is an easier subject than the unknown."
"Life is a countdown, but it doesn't end at zero."
...and on and on and on. (That was over the span of 4 pages, and I didn't include all of them.) Sometimes those platitudes were within dialogue which was even cringier: "Sometimes the simplest things are the most complicated" and "I can't believe this is what we're reduced to when we die - ashes." Be for real... nobody talks like that.
The writing itself was also very immature; it's a "thriller" for adults but reads like a middle-grade novel which just adds another layer of cringe to the clumsy, faux-philosophical platitudes.
There's also zero nuance or redirection - you can spot the "twist" plain as day within the first 10 pages of the book.
One star for the packaging - the marketing department gets an A+.
Yet another generic and predictable "thriller."
None of the characters was likable, and none of them was anything more than a birth-order cliche: the oldest child in the role of caretaker, the middle child in the role of troublemaking addict, and the youngest child in the role of spoiled brat. That's it. I didn't give a shit about any of them.
This book is fraught with platitudes that are clearly intended to add depth to a story that is as shallow as a puddle on the sidewalk. It was almost a DNF halfway through - but then I decided to have some fun by dog-earing every page that included one of the banalities. I stopped once I realized every single page was dog-eared. Glad I didn't turn it into a drinking game or I'd have ended up in the hospital.
For example:
"Some things you have to wear, like guilt and grief and old jackets left behind by loved ones who've passed."
"When his fingers slip away, I can still feel them cradled in mine like a phantom limb."
"He obviously wants to change the topic of conversation. Death is an easier subject than the unknown."
"Life is a countdown, but it doesn't end at zero."
...and on and on and on. (That was over the span of 4 pages, and I didn't include all of them.) Sometimes those platitudes were within dialogue which was even cringier: "Sometimes the simplest things are the most complicated" and "I can't believe this is what we're reduced to when we die - ashes." Be for real... nobody talks like that.
The writing itself was also very immature; it's a "thriller" for adults but reads like a middle-grade novel which just adds another layer of cringe to the clumsy, faux-philosophical platitudes.
There's also zero nuance or redirection - you can spot the "twist" plain as day within the first 10 pages of the book.
One star for the packaging - the marketing department gets an A+.
May 3, 2024
I love Jeneva Rose, like she is not only an amazing author, but she’s hilarious. I’ve watched her reels, and lives and she is so funny (okay Drew is too), and that certainly adds to my enjoyment of her books. I love getting to know authors more as people because it really just adds so much to their books for me and adds a lot of character.
Okay, so this is probably my favorite book of hers yet. I think with each book she gets a little twistier, but all her books have been fun and enjoyable. I loved how the cover of this book played into the story. Another thing I love is when covers play into the story, it’s like a fun little easter egg.
Getting four points of view was a little daunting at first, but it was well worth my initial struggle. I felt most connected with Beth because I’m also the oldest, though the other characters were relatable and well written as well.
I didn’t want this book to end, but I also needed to know how things were going to play out.
Anyway, you should read this book, it’s a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it.
Oh, and I own three copies of this book because there are apparently three versions. Don’t tell me if there are more because three is plenty.
Okay, so this is probably my favorite book of hers yet. I think with each book she gets a little twistier, but all her books have been fun and enjoyable. I loved how the cover of this book played into the story. Another thing I love is when covers play into the story, it’s like a fun little easter egg.
Getting four points of view was a little daunting at first, but it was well worth my initial struggle. I felt most connected with Beth because I’m also the oldest, though the other characters were relatable and well written as well.
I didn’t want this book to end, but I also needed to know how things were going to play out.
Anyway, you should read this book, it’s a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it.
Oh, and I own three copies of this book because there are apparently three versions. Don’t tell me if there are more because three is plenty.
February 21, 2024
So incredibly honored and thankful to receive this hardcover print ARC from author Jeneva Rose!! Thank you!!!!
I really enjoyed this! I wouldn’t call it a thriller necessarily but a domestic mystery. Some may disagree with me on that and that’s okay but that’s how it felt to me and I loved it.
3 estranged adult siblings are reunited after going their own ways after their father up and left their family without any clues or reasons why. Brought together after the death of their mother, they must sort through her belongings and prepare for a funeral to say their goodbyes. As they dig through their mother’s belongings they find their well documented childhoods in a series of VHS tapes. One tape, dated Summer 1999 shows their father covered in blood, and their mother attempting to help him dispose of the body. Now the siblings must decide if they want to pursue the truth and expose the sinister story behind the tape.
This story is revealed in a fun, multiple POV/dual time line way, which I so enjoy. I love that style of writing and I love a slow burn. I also enjoy the late 90s nostalgia!
Recommend this book if you love Jeneva or if you just love a good mystery!
I really enjoyed this! I wouldn’t call it a thriller necessarily but a domestic mystery. Some may disagree with me on that and that’s okay but that’s how it felt to me and I loved it.
3 estranged adult siblings are reunited after going their own ways after their father up and left their family without any clues or reasons why. Brought together after the death of their mother, they must sort through her belongings and prepare for a funeral to say their goodbyes. As they dig through their mother’s belongings they find their well documented childhoods in a series of VHS tapes. One tape, dated Summer 1999 shows their father covered in blood, and their mother attempting to help him dispose of the body. Now the siblings must decide if they want to pursue the truth and expose the sinister story behind the tape.
This story is revealed in a fun, multiple POV/dual time line way, which I so enjoy. I love that style of writing and I love a slow burn. I also enjoy the late 90s nostalgia!
Recommend this book if you love Jeneva or if you just love a good mystery!
May 9, 2024
What would you do if you discovered a dark family secret? This is the dilemma facing estranged siblings Beth, Michael and Nicole. Of the three, Beth is the only one who remains close to the family home in Wisconsin and she’s the one that hears their dying mothers incomplete deathbed confession. Michael arrives first from San Jose, having stayed away for years, whilst addict Nicole is in a mess in more ways than one. Later, when the will is read they’re all in for a number of surprises. Not only that but in a desperate attempt to recapture some nostalgia from happier times, they watch some videotapes. They choose one from 1999 which shockingly shows their father covered in blood and there’s even worse to come. Does this have anything to do with the disappearance of their father seven years ago? Whatever will the three of them do?? The story is told in dual timelines and in four narratives.
I’ve been curious about Jeneva Roses’ novels for a while and I’m impressed, especially with the quality of the characterisation. All of them are flawed to a greater or less a degree and therefore not necessarily likeable but that does add another dimension to the tone of the novel.
There are several layers to the story telling such as the relationship between the siblings and the family dysfunction as well as the mystery of the confession and what’s on the tape. This family are the very epitome of dysfunction and this is a very effective part of the plot.
The storytelling is lively and visual, in fact, this would make a great movie or miniseries. The four points of view and the dual timelines work really well allowing secrets to bubble to the surface organically, deepening the intrigue. It’s all told at a quick pace, it’s easy to read with plenty of dramatic tension. There are some twists which pull you up sharply and which I don’t foresee. The conclusion is good, perhaps a tad overdramatic but it is exciting and that’s what counts.
Overall, my curiosity is more than satisfied and I’ll happily read other books by this author.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
I’ve been curious about Jeneva Roses’ novels for a while and I’m impressed, especially with the quality of the characterisation. All of them are flawed to a greater or less a degree and therefore not necessarily likeable but that does add another dimension to the tone of the novel.
There are several layers to the story telling such as the relationship between the siblings and the family dysfunction as well as the mystery of the confession and what’s on the tape. This family are the very epitome of dysfunction and this is a very effective part of the plot.
The storytelling is lively and visual, in fact, this would make a great movie or miniseries. The four points of view and the dual timelines work really well allowing secrets to bubble to the surface organically, deepening the intrigue. It’s all told at a quick pace, it’s easy to read with plenty of dramatic tension. There are some twists which pull you up sharply and which I don’t foresee. The conclusion is good, perhaps a tad overdramatic but it is exciting and that’s what counts.
Overall, my curiosity is more than satisfied and I’ll happily read other books by this author.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
July 5, 2024
I had a lot of fun with this one! It captured my attention immediately and I probably could have read it in one sitting if I didn’t have other things to do. I will say it was a little predictable for me, but I still really enjoyed it!
September 14, 2024
4⭐
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ Wisconsin
Publication date ~ April 30, 2024
Est Page Count ~ 295 (p+ 48 chapters)
Audio length ~ 8 hours 27 minutes
Narrator ~ January LaVoy, Cassandra Campbell, Brittany Pressley, Andrew Eiden
POV ~ multiple 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ old secrets
Siblings Beth, Nicole & Michael reunite again after their mother’s death. Right before passing she says to Beth ~ "Your father. He didn't disappear. Don't trust..." Dun dun dun...
We have a couple of chapters from their mom, Laura, that brings us back to 1999.
As the story slowly unfolds through the multiple POV’s it’s not difficult to figure out the reasoning for a coverup. I was still quite pleased with how it all played out. Overall, an enjoyable read full of family drama.
Hub's in depth review:
Had an inclination of who the killer was halfway through. I was right. Good book.
Narration notes:
Hallelujah for 4! And well seasoned ones at that.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ Wisconsin
Publication date ~ April 30, 2024
Est Page Count ~ 295 (p+ 48 chapters)
Audio length ~ 8 hours 27 minutes
Narrator ~ January LaVoy, Cassandra Campbell, Brittany Pressley, Andrew Eiden
POV ~ multiple 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ old secrets
Siblings Beth, Nicole & Michael reunite again after their mother’s death. Right before passing she says to Beth ~ "Your father. He didn't disappear. Don't trust..." Dun dun dun...
We have a couple of chapters from their mom, Laura, that brings us back to 1999.
As the story slowly unfolds through the multiple POV’s it’s not difficult to figure out the reasoning for a coverup. I was still quite pleased with how it all played out. Overall, an enjoyable read full of family drama.
Hub's in depth review:
Had an inclination of who the killer was halfway through. I was right. Good book.
Narration notes:
Hallelujah for 4! And well seasoned ones at that.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
August 4, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I have been seeing this author’s TikTok and Instagram reels the last few months and I’ve been dying to pick up one of her books because she seems to be a super funny and great person. I remember seeing this book when it first came out in Barnes & Noble, where it had the VHS cover sleeve and I thought that that was one of the coolest cover designs I’ve seen in a long time. This was a very interesting read, and I haven’t read a mysteries/thriller like this before. I really enjoyed the multiple point of views as well as the multiple timelines that this story was told in. I also enjoyed the different types of media outlets that was also used throughout, like home movies, newspaper articles, and case files. I really did enjoy the cast of characters as well as narrators. They really brought the story to life. I think one of the main reasons why I didn’t rate this book higher was because it didn’t truly feel like a mystery/thriller until the end of the book. You find out early on the premise of what’s gonna happen in the book and what the cold case they were trying to solve. I think that this book should’ve been marketed as a mystery and not a thriller, and I think that’s what kind of threw me off. But this book had more to do with family relationships than it did anything mystery-esk . I did really enjoy the writing style and the little movie Easter eggs throughout the book. I definitely want to read another one of her books sometime in the future!
Spice: .15🌶️ (briefly talked about then kinda fade to black)
I have been seeing this author’s TikTok and Instagram reels the last few months and I’ve been dying to pick up one of her books because she seems to be a super funny and great person. I remember seeing this book when it first came out in Barnes & Noble, where it had the VHS cover sleeve and I thought that that was one of the coolest cover designs I’ve seen in a long time. This was a very interesting read, and I haven’t read a mysteries/thriller like this before. I really enjoyed the multiple point of views as well as the multiple timelines that this story was told in. I also enjoyed the different types of media outlets that was also used throughout, like home movies, newspaper articles, and case files. I really did enjoy the cast of characters as well as narrators. They really brought the story to life. I think one of the main reasons why I didn’t rate this book higher was because it didn’t truly feel like a mystery/thriller until the end of the book. You find out early on the premise of what’s gonna happen in the book and what the cold case they were trying to solve. I think that this book should’ve been marketed as a mystery and not a thriller, and I think that’s what kind of threw me off. But this book had more to do with family relationships than it did anything mystery-esk . I did really enjoy the writing style and the little movie Easter eggs throughout the book. I definitely want to read another one of her books sometime in the future!
Spice: .15🌶️ (briefly talked about then kinda fade to black)
July 29, 2024
Let’s just go ahead and piss everyone off this morning, shall we?
I’ve tried to read Jeneva Rose three times now and am convinced I need to stop myself from reading more before I turn into . . . .
In my defense the first one had potential – it just needed some work. The second and third both had great covers and I got them before Colleen Hoover’s name and blurb was plastered all over the front to serve as a warning for me. Rose’s stuff is the truly the literary/writing equivalent of CoHo’s style – only in the form of “thrillers” rather than romance. If that’s your jam, then she’s your gal.
I’ve tried to read Jeneva Rose three times now and am convinced I need to stop myself from reading more before I turn into . . . .
In my defense the first one had potential – it just needed some work. The second and third both had great covers and I got them before Colleen Hoover’s name and blurb was plastered all over the front to serve as a warning for me. Rose’s stuff is the truly the literary/writing equivalent of CoHo’s style – only in the form of “thrillers” rather than romance. If that’s your jam, then she’s your gal.
September 27, 2024
I liked this one well enough for the first half but after that I thought it just went on for way too long (surprisingly because it isn't a long book by any means) and the for how depressing the book was.
May 1, 2024
{Loved it}
Jeneva has done it again! Her writing just draws you in. Keep 'em coming girl!
Jeneva has done it again! Her writing just draws you in. Keep 'em coming girl!
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