One of the Family

by Mark Edwards

The “so clever and fresh” (Lisa Jewell, #1 New York Times bestselling author) author of The Wasp Trap returns with a novel best described as Succession set in the Scottish Highlands where a plot to murder the patriarch’s younger fiancée entangles an innocent outsider in a nest of deadly secrets.

A week in paradise—with the family from hell.

When Patrick is invited by his girlfriend to join her and her family on a luxury holiday in a remote and beautiful part of Scotland, he has no idea that he is about to be plunged into a nightmare of a family, sinister behavior…and a plot to murder the patriarch’s younger fiancée.

Arriving at the house, Patrick meets Holly’s dad, self-made-millionaire Charles, along with her brother Lewis and older sister Miranda. Also on the trip is the widowed Charles’ bride-to-be, Jasmine, who—in her early forties—is around the same age as the three siblings. Lewis and Miranda are horrified by their dad’s impending marriage to this younger woman. Surely, she is just after his money—and is going to steal their inheritance from them. To make things worse, Jasmine is an almost exact doppelganger of their mother before she got sick and died at forty-two.

Patrick finds himself in the middle of this viper’s nest, trying to keep out of the family crosshairs. He starts to suspect that Lewis has dark plans for Jasmine—putting himself in peril as a potential witness who could mess up his scheme. Perhaps more than one person won’t escape this family of snakes…

Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Scotland, Suspense

336 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 4, 2026

About the author

Mark Edwards writes psychological thrillers in which scary things happen to ordinary people.

He loves hearing from readers and always responds. Mark can be contacted in the following ways:
Email: mark@markedwardsauthor.com
Twitter @mredwards
Facebook/Instagram: @markedwardsauthor

You can download a free box set of 'Short Sharp Shockers' by visiting www.markedwardsauthor.com/free

Mark has sold over 5 million books since his first solo novel, The Magpies, was published in 2013 and has topped the bestseller lists numerous times. His other novels include Follow You Home, Here To Stay and The Psychopath Next Door. He has also published six books co-authored with Louise Voss. His next novel, The Wasp Trap, will be published in the UK/Australia in July 2025 and the US/Canada in September 2025.

Mark lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children, two cats and a golden retriever.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick’s girlfriend Holly invites him to spend New Years at her family’s vacation home in Scotland so that she can introduce him to her family.
What sounds like a relaxing holiday turns into pure hell for Patrick.
He meets Miranda, Holly’s bitchy older sister, her odd and cold husband, Zack, and Holly’s brother, Lewis.
Then Charle’s, Holly’s self-made millionaire father arrives with his new fiance, Jasmine, who happens to be two years younger than Holly.
To make things even more odd, Jasmine looks nearly identical to Elizabeth, Holly’s deceased mother (the term “doppelgänger” was used a few times in the book).

This book felt like what you’d get if you combined Meet The Parents with Succession and thew it into a remote town in Scotland with some frigid and snowy weather.

There are some extremely unlikable characters in this book and screwed up family dynamics that will definitely make your family seem normal at Thanksgiving this year.

Like many thrillers, the last 20% of the book is without a doubt the best part.
As I was reading along I was thinking to myself that it was going to be pretty predictable based on its description (and some parts were), but there were enough twists and surprises towards the end to satisfy my need to be surprised in books like this.

One thing I can tell you is that not everyone who you meet in this book will make it to the end alive.

This was my first book by Mark Edwards and it definitely won’t be my last!

Thanks to Atria Books and Mark Edwards for proving me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Pub Date: August 4, 2026

[Sarah Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy of One of the Family by Mark Edwards.

This was my first experience reading Mark Edwards, and it certainly won’t be my last. From the very first chapter, the story is saturated with lies, deception, and relentless twists that keep the tension dialled high throughout. Just when I thought I had a handle on where the plot was heading, another turn completely shifted my perspective.
What stood out most was the character development. Edwards crafts a cast that feels layered and unpredictable — I found myself loving, hating, tolerating, and even adoring different characters as they evolved across the narrative. My loyalties constantly shifted, which made the reading experience even more immersive.
A gripping psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the final pages. Highly recommended for fans of dark domestic suspense

[Simone (mysterypageturners) Ketchum · Rating 5 out of 5]

‼️‼️🚨 5 STAR ALERT 🚨 ‼️‼️

📖BOOK REVIEW 📖

Thank you to Atria Books for providing me this gifted ARC! Thank you to NetGalley and author Mark Edwards.


📚Book: One Of The Family
✍🏻Author: Mark Edwards
🌀Genre: Psychological Thriller
📃Pages: 336


One Of The Family by Mark Edwards is a psychological thriller novel.
A week in paradise—with the family from hell. When Patrick is invited by his girlfriend to join her and her family on a luxury holiday in a remote and beautiful part of Scotland, he has no idea that he is about to be plunged into a nightmare of a family, sinister behavior…and a plot to murder the patriarch’s younger fiancée, Jasmine, who—in her thirties—is around the same age as the three siblings. Perhaps more than one person won’t escape this family of snakes…



💜What I Loved:
👀Multiple POV’s
🌪️BIG Twists
⏱️Dual timelines
📕Unputdownable
💨Fast paced
🧐Not predictable
🤪Toxic family


💔What Didn’t Work For Me:
👍🏻 Nothing


📖 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

👩🏼‍⚖️Final Word:

‼️‼️🚨 5 STAR ALERT 🚨 ‼️‼️
WOW, this book is on 🔥🔥
Do you think you have a toxic family or in-laws⁉️⁉️ Well, I’m pretty sure they are no where close to the toxicity of the Grants!!! I love this book!! It’s fast paced and so twisty, I never saw the twists coming! Those characters… some you love and some you love to hate!! One Of The Family is on my list for one of the best books from 2026!! If you like twisty reads, toxic family drama, secrets, lies and shocking storylines, this book is for you!!!! Bravo 👏🏻 👏🏻👏🏻

[Liana Gold]

Scottish Highlands, luxury holiday with the girlfriend turns into a week in paradise..but with a family from hell.



Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author, Mark Edwards for sending me an early ARC.

Publication date: August 4th, 2026

[Sarah Dacombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to NetGalley for the arc I received in exchange for my review.

This was definitely a fast paced read & I completed this in 3 days. There were a lot of characters to get to grips with & I didn’t feel like I really knew any of them enough, they weren’t described enough or it felt that way to me at least. Patrick is the main character, he heads up to Scotland to meet his girlfriend’s family & that’s where it all begins. There are a few twists & turns but in all honestly it didn’t wow me, it seemed like there was too much going on & I didn’t find the big reveal all that great! I didn’t see the twist at the end from Jasmines character but again that didn’t really wow me. That being said, this was my first read by this author & I would read another one if it came recommended.

[Whitney Villmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Atria and NetGalley for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mark Edwards is an auto-buy author for me and this book is yet another example of why. His writing is so smooth, the words flow in such a way that it's easy to devour it and lose track of time.

As a fan of the TV show Succession, I loved the similar family dynamic playing out in this locked room mystery. I read so many thrillers that it's not as easy to shock me these days. Well these twists sure did! The way everything unfolded at the end was absolute perfection.

I also really enjoyed just how much each character changed and grew (or didn't) throughout the book. Holly, in particular, had so much depth. It would be easy for these characters to fall into stereotypes and they never did. They were all surprising and complicated in the best ways.

As you can see, I truly loved this book and will be pre-ordering so that I can have a physical copy as soon as it's released.

[Zoe Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all I’d like to thank NetGalley for letting me receive the ARC for this book!

What a wild ride it was, I fully enjoyed this book was such a good read & the twists and turns I didn’t guess at all.
I loved that the whole family was based on lies too!

The characters were very likeable to me & I even liked Charles considering the way he is. It was overall such an easy great read!!

I love marks books, he’s such a brilliant psychological thriller writer and you just know you’ll be in for a great ride! I recommend you pre order this book as you are 100% going to want to read it!!

[Christopher Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was delighted to be able to get an advanced copy of “One Of The Family” by my favourite author, Mark Edwards. I’ve often said that whenever I start reading a book by Mark, I wonder what situation is he going to drop me in this time. While there are always characters at the centre of the story rather than making you, the reader, the protagonist, he has this knack of making the situations, at least at the start of the story, seem so relatable. And that’s often what makes them so tense and engaging. This one was no different – this was classic Mark and I would say that it’s one of my favourites by him.

The setting is Scotland and primarily around Hogmanay. While I read the book in late February, I don’t think the season you read it will particularly matter – though I can imagine reading it during a cold winter with snow falling outside could add something to the experience.

The protagonist is a man travelling with his girlfriend to meet the family for the first time. All quite relatable. That’s the Mark-Edwards-trap. You can relate to the situation. Some/much/all of what follows, I hope, is less relatable. I won’t say more on the actual story as I don’t want to ruin it for you. But let’s just say that death, as is often the case in such books, is not far away.

There were a few lines that paricularly stood out for me. I really like the following one which helps show the connection between the protagonist and his girlfriend,
'I had begun to experience something that had only happened once or twice before. The sensation of meeting a kindred spirit. We liked the same music and books and food. Hated the same things, too – from virtue-signalling to the word ‘nom’ – and agreed about politics.'

I also like this one,
'She had an energy – an optimism – that was infectious and that made me think that yes, if I worked hard I could achieve anything.'
I think being able to have at least one such a person in your life is really important. I also found the following relatable in some ways – or at least what I have strived for in my non-fiction writing,
'You have ambition. But you’re motivated by something pure, aren’t you? By wanting to know the truth.'

Finally, I really loved the following description of a site that plays a key role in the story,
'There was something mesmerizing about it, despite its simplicity. Or perhaps because of its simplicity.'

As noted above, I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.

See also https://hoodcp.wordpress.com/2026/03/...

[David Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know what you're going to get with this kind of book, and it does it well, plenty of mystery, cliff hanger chapter endings followed by flashbacks so you're left wondering a little longer how things resolve. It's a fast paced, easy read that keeps its secrets while dropping enough clues to figure things out if you want to.

When the main plot is some kind of extreme crime (kidnapping, plane hijack, espionage) you expect things to be a bit far fetched but still enjoyable. Here, the main plot is more intimate, family secrets and broken relationships, and yes there's murder involved, but it all feels like it should be a bit more realistic given the scale of the drama that's going on.

The narrator character is full of contradictions - a documentary maker with a journalistic talent for seeing the truth, and yet pretty ineffectual in day to day life. He's presented as possibly a bit of a failure, having left his first documentary open-ended, not yet started on his second, and still working a day job dreaming of success, so perhaps that's the point, but I couldn't really bring myself to believe his relationship with the daughter of this elite family. Many of the characters are painted with broad strokes. They're given appropriate backstories to explain their motivations, but there are often moments where something incredibly shocking happens, and the characters present don't bat an eyelid. Again, that may be the point, these are meant to be narcissistic characters who care only for themselves, and we're given detailed explanations of why they don't react to things, but it doesn't quite ring true.

Everything feels a bit too extreme without fully connecting to reality, and we shouldn't have to have character behaviours explained after the event in order to make sense, the behaviour should just come naturally out of the characters. That said, it has its own sort of logic that holds together when everything is revealed, so it comes to a satisfying conclusion, and it's a quick, easy read that will keep you entertained without taxing your brain too much. Sometimes, that's exactly what you want.

With thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for a pre-publication copy in return for an honest review.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the Family is the kind of book that starts as a glass of mulled wine by the fire and ends with your hands gripping the arms of the chair. Mark Edwards lures you in gently... a new relationship, a nerve-wracking first meeting with the girlfriend's family, the particular social awkwardness of being an outsider trying to belong and then, quietly, pulls the rug from under you.

Patrick can't quite believe his luck. Holly is funny, beautiful, and altogether out of his league. Her father, Charles, is the sort of imposing, successful man who makes you want to justify your existence at the dinner table. The setting is a Scottish mansion over Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) all frost and festivity and the kind of isolation that you really should have seen as a warning sign. There are whispers in hallways. Talk of a body found nearby the previous year. Something not quite right about Charles' new American girlfriend. Patrick tells himself to keep his head down and survive the holiday.

The novel takes its time, and Edwards builds unease the way a good host builds anticipation: through small gestures, odd silences, details that don't quite add up. When the tension finally cracks open, the pace shifts completely, and the pages start turning faster than you planned for.

"She said that a family is like a spider's web. Almost impossibly intricate and strong. A kind of miracle. But all it takes is for one part of the web to be torn and the whole thing falls apart."

That image sits at the heart of the story. One of the Family is, underneath the twists and the body count, a novel about how much pressure a family can absorb before it becomes unrecognisable. And whether Patrick is already too entangled to escape.

This was my first book by Mark Edwards, and on this evidence, it won't be my last. If you enjoy atmospheric, slow-burn thrillers that reward patience with genuine payoff, this one is well worth your time... ideally read in one long sitting, which is less a recommendation than a warning.

Thank you to Mark Edwards, Michael Joseph, and Penguin Random House for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Debbie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: One of the Family by Mark Edwards
Rating: ★★★★★
If you’ve ever felt awkward meeting your partner's parents for the first time, Mark Edwards is here to make you feel a whole lot better about it. This book is essentially *Succession* dropped into the middle of the moody, isolated Scottish Highlands, and it is absolutely relentless.
What I Loved
The Atmosphere:The setting is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. A "luxury holiday" in a remote location is the perfect pressure cooker for a thriller. You can practically feel the damp mist and the claustrophobia of being trapped in a house with people who clearly want each other dead.
The "Viper's Nest" Energy:Charles’s kids, Lewis and Miranda, are delightfully loathsome. Their obsession with their inheritance and their visceral hatred for Jasmine—who happens to be a dead ringer for their late mother—creates a tension that you could cut with a knife. It’s messy, psychological, and deeply uncomfortable in the best way possible.
The Outsider Perspective:Writing this through Patrick’s eyes was a brilliant move. He’s just a guy trying to survive a vacation with his girlfriend’s family, but he ends up becoming a dangerous witness to a murder plot. You feel his desperation as he realizes he’s stepped into a trap he can't easily exit.
The Specifics
The "Doppelgänger" Twist:Usually, the "evil stepmother" trope feels tired, but Edwards adds a layer of psychological horror by making Jasmine look exactly like the siblings' deceased mother. It turns a standard greed-driven plot into something much more twisted and grief-warped.
The Pacing:Edwards is a master of the "just one more chapter" hook. Once Patrick realizes Lewis has dark plans for Jasmine, the book shifts into high gear and doesn't stop until the final, brutal payoff.
Final Verdict
This is easily a 5-star read for anyone who loves domestic noir or "rich people behaving badly" thrillers. It’s cynical, fast-paced, and serves as a great reminder that sometimes, being an "outsider" is the most dangerous position to be in. If you want a book that makes you want to lock your doors and never go on a group vacation again, this is the one.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, I want to say a huge thank you to MJ books for sending me a proof copy of Mark Edward’s new book ‘One Of The Family’. You have made me very, very happy. Secondly, I want to thank Mr Edwards for yet another stellar book. It’s brilliant from start to finish, and I really don’t even know where to start with this review except to say… WOW. Even the dogs have been invested (if not a little frightened) by my reactions reading this, particularly with the little Easter egg that is thrown in… I definitely let out a little scream, and I’m intrigued to see if anybody else picks up on it.

I guess it can always be a little awkward and daunting when you meet a partner's family, but ‘One Of The Family’ takes that to a whole other level of awkward and then some. It had me hooked from page one, and I was on the edge of my seat throughout. There’s just something about Marks' writing which grabs your attention from the get-go, which is why he is easily one of my favourite authors in the physiological thriller genre. I just always know I’m in for a wild ride when I read one of his books.

If you are a fan of Succession, you’re going to eat this book up. It’s filled with plenty of family drama, sibling rivalry, lies, deceit and secrets. I genuinely did not know which way this book was going to go from one moment to the next (believe me, I tried to figure it out). I do love to be surprised and proven wrong (despite what my husband may say). Mark has written fascinatingly complex characters which are frustratingly relatable even if they are on the unsavoury side, which has certainly made ‘One Of The Family’ so damn unputdownable. Family, lies and secrets. What’s not to love? All I can say is that I’m glad I married into a relatively normal family!!

Lastly, like Mark, I am also a midlands' lad, and I am always so excited to see Birmingham represented in books through its characters and various places that are mentioned. It definitely added to my love of this book.

‘One Of The Family’ is out June 18th, and you HAVE TO pre-order it immediately. You’ll be sorry if you don’t. Take my word for it.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the Family is a wonderfully tense, atmospheric thriller that takes the classic “meet the parents” setup and twists it into something far darker and far more addictive. From the moment Patrick arrives at Charles’ remote Scottish mansion, there’s a delicious sense of unease — the kind that creeps in quietly, settling into the walls, the hallways, the strained smiles around the dinner table.

Patrick is such an engaging narrator because he’s both hopeful and deeply out of his depth. He wants so badly to be accepted, to prove he’s worthy of Holly, that he keeps brushing off the oddities around him: the whispers he can’t quite catch, the strange tension between family members, the unsettling rumours about a body found nearby the year before. And then there’s Charles’ new girlfriend, whose presence feels just a little too polished, a little too wrong.

The novel thrives on that slow, simmering dread. The mansion becomes its own character — isolated, imposing, full of corners where secrets can hide. As the New Year’s celebrations unfold, the atmosphere thickens beautifully, and every interaction feels loaded with something unsaid. When the first body appears, the shift from discomfort to danger is sharp and satisfying, and Patrick’s dawning realisation that he may not make it out of this holiday alive gives the story a gripping urgency.

What makes the book so compelling is the way it blends dark humour, sharp character work, and genuine suspense. Every member of the family has something to hide, and watching those threads unravel is pure fun. It’s twisty without ever feeling overdone, and the final reveals land with that perfect mix of shock and inevitability.

A clever, unsettling, and thoroughly entertaining thriller from an author who knows exactly how to keep readers turning pages long into the night.

With thanks to Mark Edwards, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Stephanie Bull · Rating 4 out of 5]

'One of the Family' follows Patrick as he travels to a remote house in the Scottish Highlands to spend Hogmanay with his girlfriend Holly's family. Meeting them for the very first time and keen to make a good impression, Patrick is both nervous and hopeful as he prepares to meet Holly's very rich, enigmatic father and her siblings. However, from the moment he arrives there is an unsettling atmosphere, something about the family dynamic feels off. As the celebrations draw closer, tensions simmer beneath the surface and long-buried secrets begin to emerge. What should be a festive gathering soon turns into something far more sinister, leaving Patrick questioning who he can trust.

Right from the get-go this clever psychological thriller is full of secrets, lies, deceptions and ever changing family dynamics. Everyone seems to have something to hide which creates an immediate sense of unease that runs throughout the novel. Mark Edwards is brilliant at developing multi-layered and unpredictable characters, and this skill is on full display here. It adds real depth to the story while making it incredibly difficult to second guess the direction of the plot. There are plenty of red herrings woven into the narrative, expertly leading the reader down the wrong path and making the eventual reveals all the more shocking for it. Just when you think you have a handle on what is happening, another twist pulls the rug from under you.

The clever use of an occasional dual timeline enhances the drama and keeps the suspense building, gradually revealing more about the siblings and their pasts. It is a technique that works seamlessly to heighten the tension and keep the reader fully engaged.

Another entertaining and entralling read - tense, twisty and gripping and one which I recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for my advance reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the Family, is the new novel by Mark Edwards, a claustrophobic thriller set in the remote beauty of Scotland.

Patrick is invited by his girlfriend, Holly on a luxury holiday with her family. But the offer is too good to be true, as soon as he steps into their palatial Scottish retreat, the “luxury” is overshadowed by a palpable, sinister tension.

Charles, a self-made millionaire who has recently become engaged to Jasmine. The issue is that Jasmine is in her early forties, almost the same age as Charles’s three adult children, Holly, Lewis, and Miranda. Even more disturbing is the fact that Jasmine bears a striking resemblance to their late mother.

Lewis and Miranda are convinced Jasmine is a gold-digger out to strip them of their inheritance. The sibling resentment runs deep, but as Patrick watches from the side, he realises this isn’t just a family squabble. He begins to suspect that Lewis is planning something permanent for his future stepmother.

It is not long before Patrick finds himself a target, he is the only person with a conscience, putting him in a very dangerous position. Every member of the family is distinct, deeply flawed, and harbouring their own secrets. Everyone is a suspect. The remote Scottish landscape provides a perfect “closed-circle” environment, with nowhere for Patrick to run when the plot finally turns lethal.

One of the Family is a clever, unsettling, and thoroughly entertaining read. Full of twists and a very good read.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Michael Joseph for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Alyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever story, that is dark and gripping with a build up of tension and enough twists that it is impossible to guess which way it is going. I found it a bit slow to get into this story because I didn't find any of the main characters particularly likeable, not even Patrick, the main narrator who wants nothing more than to be accepted by his girlfriend Holly's family when he goes to visit their house in Scotland for Hogmanay. He appears somewhat out of his depth amongst the clever and calculating Grant family and his desperation to prove he's worthy means he mistakes all sorts of things he hears.
There is no love lost between the other members of the family. Holly's sister Miranda and her husband Zack argue constantly, while her brother Lewis is supercilious and arrogant. The locals loathe the family because of promises made in the past which were not carried out and the discovery of two bodies in the past still remains a mystery and a curse that hangs over the community.
As the story gets going is becomes quite dark as people turn on each other and none appear to be trustworthy. As Patrick becomes a target with everyone wanting to take shots (literally) at him, he doesn't know who he can trust. Even Holly waivers over her trust of him. I became rather frustrated by him putting himself in danger all the time, but it kept the story moving.
A very twisty story, which became increasingly addictive as it went along. Even the ending came as a final twist, which redeemed a couple of the characters for me.
With thanks to the author, Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an early copy in return for an honest review.

[Rach Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
#NetGalley #MarkEdwards #OneOftheFamily #PenguinMichaelJoseph

A first time visit to meet the family. A LOT of secrets. A protagonist with a preclusion for research, documentary and suspicion... A formula for quite the suspenseful story. The premise of Edwards' novel is following the journey to rural Scotland with Patrick and Holly, to meet her family and introduce her new boyfriend to the fold.
What follows in short is the unravelling of a family - starting small and then snowballing, as the most famous family in town suddenly become the pinch point of secrets and lies both domestically and publicly.

This is a dark and twisty thriller which is scaffolded adeptly alongside a healthy dose of family drama.
Edwards has procured the perfect balance required of a domestic thriller in that there is excellent drive from both the enigmatic claustrophobia of how he utilises the setting and premise for pace and suspense; but also with the externally placed narrator of Patrick, who is not yet part of the family. Equally the external forces of business and keeping up appearances create a dark undertow. This mix of characters then succinctly forms the knotty, twisty and engaging formula leading this to be quite the page turner.

Impressive and with some great use of character trajectory that means, however dislikable, each person in the cast of the family has a point of empathy from which readers can feel their motives and contributions to the climaxes of the narrative are warranted, founded and, thus, believable.

Satisfying, gripping and a masterclass in contemporary popular thriller storytelling.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In general I have stepped away from psychological thrillers, but as a fan of this author I was excited to read this one.

Patrick, an aspiring documentary maker, is invited to Scotland by his girlfriend Holly to spend New Year with her family. Keen to make a good impression, he hopes her family will accept him. Holly’s father is a wealthy businessman, and it quickly becomes clear that the family is not quite as welcoming as Patrick had hoped. Before long, he realises that beneath the polished surface the family is hiding more than a few secrets.

The story created an uneasy feeling for me from quite early on, even before much had really happened. I found it very entertaining and appreciated that the plot constantly surprised me. One of the reasons I stepped away from psychological thrillers is that I had started to find them predictable, so it was refreshing to read one where I genuinely didn’t know what was coming next.

I did find myself frustrated with the protagonist at times, particularly when he placed himself in situations that felt unnecessarily risky. However, that is something I often feel when reading thrillers, as those decisions are usually what push the story forward and increase the tension.

Overall this was a gripping and fast-paced read that kept me turning the pages. While I did have a few frustrations along the way, I enjoyed the experience of reading it and found it an engaging and entertaining thriller.

[Sam Burgess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was genuinely excited to receive this ARC. An avid thriller reader, a Scottish Highlands setting, a family holiday descending into something sinister. It had all the ingredients.

It didn’t quite deliver for me, though.
The opening was slow to hook me, which for a thriller isn’t ideal. I kept waiting to feel that pull, the one that makes everything else feel like an inconvenience until you’ve finished. It never fully arrived. The characters felt one dimensional, and I struggled to invest in them. Holly particularly puzzled me; the flashbacks make it clear she’s approaching forty, but she reads like someone at least fifteen years younger. I only fully clocked her age when I’d finished the book, which felt like a missed opportunity.

The twists were signposted early enough that they didn’t land with much force. Paradoxically, the detail around them was sometimes hard to follow, and I found myself rereading passages trying to work out what I’d missed. There’s also a timeline issue in one scene that pulled me out of the story entirely; the clock simply doesn’t add up to what’s being described.

That said, the Scottish setting is genuinely well rendered. Applecross and the Highlands feel lived-in rather than decorative. And the car chase sequence is properly gripping. My heart rate genuinely picked up. That’s what this book can do when it gets out of its own way.

This is my first Mark Edwards, and despite my reservations here I’d read him again.
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher.

[Keeley Ribchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found One of the Family to be another seriously gripping read from an author who I always come back to and once again didn’t disappoint. I went in expecting tension and twists and it absolutely delivered that addictive, “just one more chapter” feeling.
Set over a claustrophobic New Year’s break in a remote Scottish mansion we follow Patrick as he steps into his girlfriend Holly’s wealthy complicated family and quickly realises he may be in over his head. From the start there’s an unsettling edge with whispered secrets, strange behaviour, a lingering mystery from the past and then the situation spirals when a body is found!! What follows is a tense, twisty unraveling where no one seems entirely trustworthy.
The strength of this book lies in that constant sense of unease. Patrick’s desperation to belong clashes with his growing fear that this family is hiding something far darker and the deeper he gets, the harder it is to know who to believe. The isolated setting and the power dynamics within the family, and the mounting paranoia all work together to create a properly atmospheric thriller.
Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Lucy Foley and Alex Michaelides
It’s fast paced, twisty and tense, with enough reveals to keep you hooked right to the end. While a couple of moments felt slightly over the top for me it didn’t take away from how compulsively readable it was.
A dark and addictive thriller that’s perfect for a binge read and I flew through it📚✨

[Saleha Tabassum · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the Family by Mark Edwards had me completely hooked from the very first page. Set against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of Scotland during Hogmanay (New Year), the story follows Patrick as he steps into Holly’s world—an ultra-wealthy, powerful family that seems perfect on the surface but hides something far darker underneath.

What starts as an exciting family gathering on a scenic hill slowly turns unsettling. The Grant family, with all their influence and secrets, gives off an eerie vibe from the beginning—and once the first dead body is discovered, the tension skyrockets. From that moment, it’s not just about uncovering truths, but about survival.

This book delivers everything a gripping domestic thriller should:
- Morally grey characters you can’t fully trust
- A complicated, layered family dynamic
- Multiple POVs that keep shifting your perspective
- Dual timelines that slowly piece together the bigger picture
- And twists—so many jaw-dropping twists that genuinely made me pause and process

The pacing is intense, the atmosphere is chilling, and the storytelling keeps you constantly on edge. I found myself completely glued to the pages, unable to put it down. It’s divided into three parts, each escalating the suspense even further.

This was my first read by Mark Edwards, and it definitely won’t be my last.

⭐️ If you love atmospheric thrillers with shocking twists and dark family secrets, this one is a must-read!

[Sydney Darwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Edwards does such a wonderful jobs of writing layered characters and difficult family dynamics. I’m just a fan of his, and One of the Family was no exception.

One of the Family is like a soap opera on steroids. It was the perfect storm of a psychological thriller.

Our main character Patrick is dating a woman named Holly, who just so happens to be the daughter of an uber wealthy, uber dickish man named Charles Grant Charles is a self made millionaire who lost his wife to cancer years ago.

Holly has brought Patrick along to meet the rest of her family at their holiday home in a beautiful yet isolated town in Scotland. But Charles has a surprise up his sleeve. He’s brought along Jasmin, a 30 something woman who is the same age as his children.

Worse still? She looks exactly like their dead mother.

We come to find that the Grants aren’t well loved in this small town, and Patrick seems to have uncovered a horrible plot being hatched by one of the siblings.

This just kept getting crazier and crazier. The pacing was great and I so appreciated how much the stormy, isolated setting contributed to the overall uneasiness of the plot.

The ending shocked me quite a bit— because, well… I really thought Patrick was different! The Grants really are one F’ed u family!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review! ☺️

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good, twisty read—and exactly why I keep picking up Mark Edwards books.

What starts as a simple “meet the girlfriend’s family” trip turns into something way darker, way faster than I expected. The whole setup already feels uncomfortable—wealthy family, remote Scottish Highlands, everyone a little off—but once you realize what’s actually going on beneath the surface, it just keeps spiraling.

I love a locked-room style thriller, and this one really delivered on that. The isolated setting, the weather, the tension of everyone being stuck together… it created that constant uneasy feeling where you know something bad is coming, you just don’t know when or from who.

The family is honestly a mess—in the best way for a thriller. These are not people you’re meant to love, but they kept me completely invested. The dynamics are toxic, layered, and full of secrets, and it made trying to figure everything out even more fun.

There were a couple slower moments while everything was being set up, but once it picked up, I flew through it. The twists kept coming, and just when I thought I had it figured out, it shifted again. The ending especially pulled everything together in a way that made it worth it.

Overall, this was dark, atmospheric, and seriously addictive. I read it so fast and genuinely didn’t want to put it down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 rounded to 5
Highly recommend if you love twisty, family-centered thrillers with that locked-room feel.

[Wioletta Maj · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the Family by Mark Edwards reminded me exactly why he's one of my favorite authors. Every time I pick up one of his books, I tell myself I'll read "just one more chapter".. and suddenly it's way past bedtime.

The story begins with a familiar situation — meeting your partner’s family for the first time. Patrick travels to Holly’s remote Scottish estate to spend New Year’s with her wealthy family, and although everything appears welcoming on the surface, there’s a quiet sense that something feels slightly off.

I loved how uncomfortable and tense the atmosphere felt. The family dynamics are layered, sharp, and full of secrets. No one feels entirely trustworthy, and every conversation seems to hide something beneath the surface. Just when I thought I had worked things out, the story twisted again. And again.

The pacing is addictive, the characters feel complex rather than flat, and the tension builds so naturally. It's not just about shocking twists - it's about paranoia and how well we truly know the people closest to us. Another brilliant, gripping thriller from Mark Edwards. If you love psychological suspense with family drama, secrets and twists you won't see coming, this one is a must-read!.

Thank you to the Publisher Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the advance copy.
#OneoftheFamily #NetGalley

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of ‘One of the Family’ by Mark Edwards, due to be published on 18 June 2026 by Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House.

Patrick is apprehensive on his way to meet girlfriend Holly’s family for the first time, the wealthy Grant’s who own big tech company, Gravitas. The meeting is like no other, a week at the family home in scenic Scotland for Hogmanay - complete with all Holly’s dysfunctional relatives in one place.  

When dad Charles sweeps in with his new girlfriend, the much younger Jasmine, Holly and her siblings Miranda and Lewis are stunned by the sight before them, leaving Patrick confused as to what is going on. When all becomes clear to him, together with the news that last year a body was found further along the cliffs, Patrick’s natural investigative side comes to the fore, leading him to search for answers and finds him facing a life or death situation of his own.

This was another brilliant book by Mark Edwards.  The descriptions of the Scottish Highlands is eerie and atmospheric.  The location’s claustrophobic and unsettling.  Characters are well developed, their secrets and the lengths they are prepared to go to in their quest to keep them hidden are well written with bundles of tension and suspense.  A delightfully twisty and unnerving psychological thriller that is a highly recommended read.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick is a bit overwhelmed meeting his girlfriend Holly’s family for the first time on a trip to Scotland. The Grants are immensely wealthy and used to getting what they want. And now the patriarch, Charles, is getting a new wife. A wife who is younger than Holly and her siblings. So, of course, they worry she’s only with him for his money, and they’re not even subtle about it. But Patrick soon fears that the siblings are up to something more than just snide comments. How far are they willing to go to ensure that the inheritance stays with them and not their new stepmother? How does Patrick fit into their plans? And does he even want to be part of this family anymore…assuming he still has a choice.

There are some good surprises in this story that will keep you on your toes. Even though it’s only their vacation home, the Grants have made plenty of enemies over the years in their holiday town. So we get some flashbacks to the siblings as teenagers and the tragedies they suffered that inevitably shaped their futures and those of others around town. The siblings are some slimy characters, I don’t think any of them were particularly likeable, even Patrick’s girlfriend, Holly.

It’s the kind of story that makes you realize that at least your family isn’t THAT bad!

My thanks to NetGalley Atria Books for the free advanced reading copy of this book.

[Carrie Shields · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑾𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑾𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒄𝒚. 𝑵𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕.

Patrick can’t believe his luck when Holly falls for him and invites him to spend New Year’s at her father Charles’ sprawling mansion in Scotland. Patrick is mostly focused on one thing: being accepted. But almost immediately, the atmosphere feels wrong. There are rumors of a body found nearby the year before and something unsettling about Charles’ new, much-younger girlfriend. What should be a cozy holiday escape quickly turns into a tense fight for survival when another body appears and Patrick realizes he may have walked into something far darker than family awkwardness.

Mark Edwards is undeniably good at creating that creeping sense of dread, and the setting here does a lot of heavy lifting in the best way. The isolated mansion and the feeling of being trapped with people you don’t fully understand all builds a strong foundation for suspense. The plot keeps moving, and there’s that familiar Edwards ability to make you question what’s real, what’s rumor, and what’s about to explode.

Sadly, this one was just ok for me, mostly because the characters felt a bit flat, which was also my main issue with THE WASP'S NEST. I wanted more depth and emotional sharpness from the people at the center of the story, something to make the tension hit harder. What’s strange is that I’ve truly loved other Mark Edwards books, especially the ones that dig into the dark hearts of seemingly normal people, and I can’t quite pinpoint why his more domestic thrillers don’t hit the same way for me. Still, even with my reservations, I think longtime fans will find a lot to enjoy in the unsettling atmosphere and the steadily escalating stakes. Many thanks to Penguin/Random House Canada for this early copy that will publish July 7, 2026.

[Lovetoread2023 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I love about Mark Edwards’ writing is that you know something is going to happen—you just never quite know when. The tension slowly builds and builds, and just when you start to think you’ve got a handle on things… bam, it hits you. One of the Family is another great example of how he does this so well. The pacing keeps you hooked and there’s always that sense that something isn’t quite right. It was great the way the secrets were gradually revealed throughout the story. Just when you think you know what’s going on, another surprise pops up. There are twists and revelations all the way through, which made it a really addictive read for me I didn’t really take to Patrick and Holly—they annoyed me for some reason—and to be honest most of the characters were quite unlikeable. But that actually worked for the story because it felt like everyone had something to hide. The amount of covering up that goes on to protect all the secrets within one family is incredible, and it really keeps the tension high.
This was a great, intriguing and cleverly plotted read that kept me turning the pages. Mark Edwards is always a reliable author for a gripping thriller, and this one definitely didn’t disappoint.

[Nerys Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the week between Christmas and New Year and Patrick Davies has accompanied his girlfriend, Holly Grant, to her family's holiday home in the Highlands of Scotland. It will be the first time he will meet her family; her father Charles, sister Miranda and her husband Zach and brother Lewis. Someone else will be meeting the family for the first time too; Jasmine, Charles' new fiance. Jasmine's appearance is a shock to the siblings and soon the atmosphere int he house is very uncomfortable.

As a documentary film-maker Patrick becomes interested in the story of a young man who had died on the outskirts of the village a year earlier. No one knew who he was or how he got there and he had been found dead of hypothermia as he was not dressed for the wintry conditions. Patrick hopes that this story will restart his film-making career but has an inkling that Holly's family may be involved somehow.

The atmosphere in the house continues to be tense and when a death occurs and another member of the party goes missing suspicions are aroused and accusations start to fly.

Greed, jealousy and family secrets intertwine in a really great read.

Thanks to Netgalley UK, Michael Joseph and Mark Edwards for the eARC of this book in return for an honest review.

[Paula Sterling-Stead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of Mark Edwards will love this tale of secrets, lies, and a web of corruption. It opens with a couple, Patrick and his girlfriend, traveling to Scotland to meet her wealthy family for the first time. Patrick already feels apprehensive, as he is a struggling filmmaker while she is extremely rich.
From the outset there is a hint that the family is not particularly liked or welcomed at their annual retreat, and soon Patrick is warned to watch out for himself. As a documentary filmmaker, he takes a keen interest in two unsolved deaths that appear to be linked to the family. Can he solve the mystery and escape with his own life intact?
When Charles, the domineering father, arrives with his new American fiancée, the family is horrified to discover that she is the spitting image of their deceased mother in her younger days. Naturally, all hell breaks loose. Slowly the family image begins to shatter.
Mark really knows how to feed tiny nuggets of information through his writing to keep you utterly engaged and constantly questioning who is trustworthy and who is playing a part. The atmospheric setting is perfect for this chilling, slow-burn thriller.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication