That Other Family

by Lis Angus

"A nail-biting cat-and-mouse thriller." — Katie Tallo, international bestselling author

Julie Walker thought she knew her life: three teenagers, a husband, and her job at the Ottawa library. But when a stranger confronts her with a shocking claim about her late father, everything she believed about her family is thrown into question.

At first she struggles to know what to believe. But once the truth is revealed, a series of unsettling incidents escalate into real danger: her family has become the target of someone with resources she cannot match and few limits to what they might do. Drawn into a web of menace and betrayal, and uncertain who to trust, Julie must find the strength to confront an enemy she doesn’t fully understand.

Layered with dread and emotion, THAT OTHER FAMILY is a domestic thriller about fractured loyalties and one mother’s fight to keep her family safe.

Genres: Suspense

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 29, 2025

About the author

Lis Angus is a Canadian suspense writer. She has always loved reading and writing; by the time she was six, she often sat at the kitchen table writing stories while her mom cooked supper. At age nine, she spent a summer writing a novel in her cousin’s hayloft.

Originally from Alberta, she has also lived in Germany and Toronto. Before turning to fiction, she worked with children and families in crisis, and later as a business writer, conference organizer, and policy advisor.

Her debut novel, Not Your Child, was a finalist for the 2021 Daphne du Maurier Award and was published in 2022. That Other Family is her second novel.

She’s a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers of Canada, Capital Crime Writers, and the North Grenville Writers Circle. She now lives south of Ottawa with her husband.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was so much fun, in a suspenseful way. I could picture the twins being a handful, and Olivia being a sullen teen. Through the story I kept having to rethink "who dunnit". And added bonus, as an Ottawan, were all the familiar locales.

[Melanie Ollila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book by Lis Angus. I enjoyed her first novel Not Your Child, so I was excited to dive into her second book.

Like the first, strong character development and an intriguing plot. What would you do if you found out your father had a second family, and yours was the second family?

But let’s up the ante, the first family is a crime family, “enforcers” from northeastern United States. Strange “accidents” start to happen, you hide you family in seclusion but then your family disappears, …

Julie, the FMC, was my favorite character. I felt like she had the right level of paranoia for her situation. The author did a good job throwing some red herrings out there with reactions by other characters.

The ultimate instigator was a little predictable for me, but that did not take away from the intrigue, it became more the why and how or when once I felt like I knew the whodunnit was gonna be.

Solid, mid paced thriller with likable characters!

[Susan McAulay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a slow burn thriller with an eerily beautiful cover that made me with I had a hard copy instead of a kindle version of the book. While the suspense is brought on little by little, that is not to say that nothing happens at the beginning; we learn immediately that the protagonist, Julie Walker’s father who just died had a second family that her did not know about. That is actually starting off the novel with a bang. However, such an event could have easily been the start of a purely dramatic work of literary fiction rather than suspense. I have actually read other novels starting off with this kind of action but which went in a totally different direction. I have even known of this occurring in real life. Since this sort of plot device has been done before, turning it into a thriller is clever. In addition, I loved the setting, Ottawa, Canada, admittedly not one I am intimately familiar with.
Julie investigates this shocking news, finding it hard to believe that her father had another family, which is when the suspense slowly builds. As a librarian with three children, Julie is an unexpected protagonist here. She is an ordinary person experiencing some extraordinary events which makes her relatable. The story is told from multiple perspectives, which makes things more interesting because we do not just see things from Julie’s point of view. There is an obvious antagonist however the author throws us some curves and at the end, things were not what they seemed. In other words, we were kept guessing, which is a good characteristic of a suspense novel. I would say that the pacing became a little slow and uneven at times in the middle of the book, but all in all, this was an enjoyable (not sure that is exactly the right word for a thriller) and fast read (no thriller should ever take that long to read). I plan to investigate other novels written by this author and hope to read her future ones.
Thanks to the author, Liz Angus, The Next Chapter, and Partners In Crime for providing me with an ARC of this novel. All of the opinions herein are my own.

[Ashley Kanazawich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love domestic suspense psychological thrillers, and this one sounded really good and was highly recommended, so I was excited to pick it up as part of a Partners in Crime book tour.

I ended up reading this very quickly. A lot of psychological thrillers can feel a little slow because of extra buildup around the edges, but this one didn’t really have that, which I found really refreshing. Everything you read is directly tied to the story, and every chapter brings something new, whether it’s a lead, an event, or a twist. Once you start, you’re kind of just whooshed along until the end.

The story moves between multiple points of view, but Julie is the one I trusted the entire time. She felt grounded and reliable, and I always knew where she stood. Frances and Dominic, on the other hand, made everything feel uncertain. A lot of what we know about Dominic comes secondhand, which made it hard to tell what was actually true. I didn’t trust Frances at all, and I found myself questioning several other characters as well. I also really liked having Olivia’s perspective. It added something different to the story to see how everything was affecting the family through her eyes.

At its core, this story is about family, betrayal, and what happens when everything you thought you knew about your life changes. It becomes a constant question of who you trust and what you do when no one else seems to be taking the situation seriously.

I will say I wish we had gotten more from the grandmother, since she was such a central part of everything. It would have been really interesting to hear directly from her.

Overall, this was suspenseful, intriguing, and very easy to get pulled into. There were some twists I really enjoyed, and I definitely had a few moments where I was suspicious of the right people.

[Bibliophile Foodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a tense and absorbing read. Julie Walker’s life seems ordinary, she’s a librarian, married, with three kids, but everything changes when a stranger approaches her claiming her late father had another family. At first, Julie doesn’t believe it, but as she starts digging into the past, she uncovers secrets that shake the foundation of everything she thought she knew.

Her fear for her children and her determination to protect them made the story feel very real. The way the suspense built slowly, with small unsettling incidents that grew into something much more dangerous, kept me on edge.

The multiple perspectives added depth, showing how different people were tied to the mystery.

What stood out most was how the thriller was grounded in family dynamics. Love, betrayal, loyalty, and secrecy all collided in ways that felt both believable and terrifying. The twists were clever.


A chilling domestic thriller that blends family drama with psychological suspense. It’s emotional, twisty, and impossible to stop reading.

[Wall-to-wall books - wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS -
Oh, my goodness, this book was so good—incredibly suspenseful. The tension just kept building and building throughout the whole book.

By the time I was around 90%, I honestly had no idea what to believe anymore. Who were the good guys and who were the bad guys? Who was lying and who was trying to help? I genuinely could not tell!

The character development was excellent. I became so attached to this family that I actually felt scared for them and feared for their lives. I love books like this. Books that keep you on your toes and that are so character driven that you feel a part of the family.

This was my first book by this author, but now I am definitely thinking I need to read more!

I voluntarily posted this review after receiving an e-copy of this book from Partners in Crime Tours. Thank You!

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of the novel is a slow build. About half way through the threat materializes and the psychological suspense increases. There is a good red herring that leads to a twist and suspense near the end.

I was a little unsure about the plot, one man having two families, but Angus made it reasonable and deftly had it lead to suspense. The villain was not entirely a surprise but leading up to the final reveal was good. I really liked Julie's twins and how they thoughtfully helped their mother when she was in danger.

This is a good mystery for readers who like an unusual plot, likable characters and a suspenseful resolution at the end.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Tammy Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second Lis Angus book after Not Your Child, which I liked very much. This one was a real page-turner for me, and I came close to finishing it in one day. It was easy to identify and empathize with the main character, Julie, as she found herself in an unusual predicament. The events that unfolded in Julie’s life had me on the edge of my seat, pulling fiercely for her family’s safety and protection amid the newfound chaos of their lives. I liked the details of the setting, even though I’m not very familiar with Canada. After finding out the details of the plot against Julie’s family, a “be careful who you trust” warning is certainly in order! Great book!

[Bonny Beswick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dog's okay!

I just finished Lis Angus' recent book, and recommend it for an easy read and enjoyable read. The protagonist's (Julie's) family felt normal -- the two boys bickering, the teenage daughter stressing over a final exam, and a husband that's going along with the flow. Just going about their business, until Julie finds out her dad had a secret life and it's about to upend hers.

I thought the obvious villain was too...obvious...so I cast my eye for another more likely candidate. I wasn't totally wrong, but I wasn't totally right, either.

The ending was totally satisfactory and I recommend reading That Other Family. It has me wondering how many "other families" are out there...?

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler-free review.

This is the second novel by Canadian author Lis Angus. And like Not Your Child, this book was so full of twists and turns that it has your head on a swivel almost the whole time!

I love reading books that take place in different settings, and although many of the places mentioned are fictional, they are referenced from real Ottawa-based locations. And the MC is a librarian! What's not to love about that!

Julie has been contacted by someone who knows a secret about her family. And it has put her in grave danger. At first, the plan was just to scare Julie and her family, but as things start to escalate, the stranger has hitched herself to a runaway train. And when you have a secret like this one, who can you tell? Who can you trust?

Thank you to the author and Next Chapter for a complimentary copy!

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine growing up you thought you were your father’s only family but find out that he had a second family. This is the premise of That Other Family.

The title of That Other Family rather than The Other Family sets the tone for this book. It sets tension and animosity that carries through out the book but under the surface. Told in multiple POV we hear from different characters and get their side of the story.

[Maria Vickers - MysteryLFL · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid domestic thriller! The premise is fantastic, and the plot really delivers. This book gives you high suspense, and enough twists to keep you guessing. The pacing felt a bit off, things escalated quite abruptly, but the story as a whole still worked well for me. I loved the short chapters, and the alternative POV. I do wish one of those POV had been from grandma though! Overall, a decent read.

[Ange · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to see what was next after Not Your Child. That Other Family is another Ottawa mystery centred on family, but this time with non-stop dramatic, visual action.

It's a fast-paced, cinematic read that feels like it’s unfolding on screen. There are twists on twists and tense moments on tense moments. I gasped aloud multiple times.

Can't wait to read what Angus puts out next!

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book had a slow burn to begin but kept reading until three quarters of the way through it got really good I didn't know who was who and who did it always a good sign to keep it enjoyable and worthwhile to keep going until the end.

[Avis Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lis Angus’s new release, That Other Family, delivers a terrifying crime/thriller that will keep readers turning pages into the night. Angus introduces Canadian, Julie Walker, a librarian at the Ottawa Public Library, whose life is turned upside down by a woman with a secret to expose.

            Julie, a married mother of three, agrees to meet with Francis Boyle, an American who is looking for information. Julie’s father died when she was a child, but all her memories of him are of a man who loved her and her brother, and especially her mother. When Francis explains that her mother was married to Julie’s father, Julie scoffs. The claim is outrageous.

            Julie begins her own research into Francis’ claims. She doesn’t want to believe it, but Francis seems so convinced. Julie locates one of her father’s best friends Ron Barber, a pleasant older gentleman living in downtown Ottawa. Their visit goes well until she asks about the other family. Ron cuts the meeting short, and Julie is left with misgivings. It is time to question her mother and confide in her husband before things go terribly wrong.

            Angus masterfully introduces Julie’s mother’s compliance in the illicit marriage and polygamy, a ruthless mob family who doesn’t believe in divorce, and a brother who may believe he must avenger his mother’s honor. 

            That Other Family delivers a punch with a smart but inexperienced woman who goes toe to toe with a mob family. Julie questions everything including the very nature of her father’s death so long ago. With plot twists and slow reveals, Angus writes her characters into danger and delivers a thriller that will satisfy avid thriller fans.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happily stayed up late, needing to know what would happen next!

From page one, That Other Family grabbed my attention and ran! So many surprises, I stayed up way late, riveted to the pages and wondering when the next shoe would drop and what it would be.

Librarian and mother Julie Walker is approached at her job by a stranger, a woman who claims that Julie’s father, who died when she was only eight, had also been her father and had kept two separate families: Julie’s in Ottawa, Canada, and hers in New Jersey. It seems the woman, Frances Boyle, found some letters from her father to her mother when she was clearing out her recently deceased mother’s home, and they seemed to tell a very bizarre story. A private investigator had followed up on clues to the identity of the Canadian family, and here Frances was in Ottawa to speak with Julie’s mother, Sharon, the only parent still living who could answer the big question: “Why?”

What an amazing, compelling, unputdownable tale! Julie Walker and her family are such nice, normal people, a nice family, with a daughter ready for her first year at college and two rambunctious teenage twin sons. Even Julie’s mother, Sharon, the woman with the answers, makes what happened all those years ago sound normal. But nothing could be further from the truth, especially where the Boyle family is concerned.

The plot is so well-paced, with scenes of normality interlaced with moments of suspense and terror. The story unfolds from multiple points of view, so readers are privy to several perspectives. From the shocking, initial pronouncement to its twisty conclusion, I was glued to the book, needing to know how this would all fall out.

I highly recommend THAT OTHER FAMILY to readers of thrillers and suspense.

[Sherry Cammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lis Angus has written another great psychological thriller. This book tells the story from many view points. The main character is Julie Walker. She works at the Canadian Library. She has a beautiful family, husband Matt; and three children. One day a woman named Frances reaches out to her. She has information she would like to share. The story that Frances tells her is so shocking she can't comprehend or believe it. She thinks this information could destroy her family. Julie soon comes to realize that her parents kept many secrets from her, and she's shocked when it all comes to light. She is not sure who she can trust anymore as the secrets unfold.

Frances's ties to Julie could be very dangerous. Frances comes from an Italian family that are involved in organized crime. And she tells Julie they could destroy everything and everyone she loves. Along the way Julie meets an old friend of her father's. He seems to want to help her in any way he can.

This book will keep you reading non-stop because there are so many twists and turns, you have to keep reading. I will admit I guessed partially some of the ending, but not completely. The author definitely knows how to pull you into a story and never let go until the very end. It reaches a shocking climax at the end. I'm already looking forward to the next book from this author. The author provided an ARC for an honest review.

[Jen Gilroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

With twists and turns that kept me guessing, "That Other Family" is a compelling domestic thriller I highly recommend.

This fast-paced story gripped me from the first page to the last and I was quickly drawn into what, on the surface, is an ordinary and relatable family—but one with a potentially deadly secret.

A multi-layered story, told from multiple points of view, "That Other Family" is well-crafted, clever and convincing. I also enjoyed the true-to-life family dynamics, especially the resourceful teenagers.

As a Canadian, a special bonus for me was the Ottawa and Eastern Ontario cottage country setting, both of which I know well. However, as Angus depicts them, even the most tranquil places can have menacing undercurrents. Reading much of the book at my own, somewhat isolated, cottage, I felt an extra chill as the story developed and checked to make sure the doors and windows were secure!

As well as being an "edge-of-your-seat" and tautly written thriller, I was also invested in "That Other Family’s" underlying moral questions—why people make the choices they do and why trust and betrayal are not always as straightforward as we might think.

[Smith Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

That Other Family is a gripping domestic thriller that builds tension through emotion, secrecy, and the terrifying realization that the people we trust most may be the ones who place us in danger.

Julie Walker’s ordinary life begins to fracture when a revelation about her late father forces her to question everything she thought she knew about her family. What follows is a slow-burning descent into menace, where unsettling incidents escalate and the threat feels both personal and inescapable. The danger isn’t loud or flashy it’s patient, well-resourced, and frighteningly close to home.

What makes this novel especially effective is its emotional grounding. Julie’s fear for her children, her uncertainty about whom to trust, and her determination to protect her family give the story real weight. The suspense is layered with moral ambiguity and betrayal, creating a constant sense of dread that carries through to the final pages.

A compelling read for fans of domestic suspense and psychological thrillers that explore the dark consequences of hidden truths.

[Alis Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Other Family by Lis Angus was a psychological thriller that drew me in with its structure straight away. The chapters were told from multiple perspectives, which gave me a wider, more layered view of the story. The chapters were also fairly short, and this worked brilliantly to build tension — starting steadily as the scene was set, before quickly ramping up and delivering the pace I look for in a thriller.
I did work out who the enemies were fairly early on, though I read a lot within this genre, so I tend to spot patterns quickly. At times, it also felt like a slightly softer psychological thriller, with some characters remaining a little too calm in situations where I expected more intensity. However, this never pulled me out of the story or lessened my overall enjoyment.
What stayed with me was the controlled, deliberate tension and the way the different viewpoints kept the narrative engaging. Even when I anticipated certain elements, the unfolding drama and pacing held my attention, making this a solid and compelling psychological thriller.

[Christine Choptovy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic mystery and suspense novel by Angus. Julia faces the shock of her life when she’s contacted by a woman named Frances Boyle contacts her. When they meet up, Frances lets Julie know that they share the same father. Julie insists that Frances is wrong; there’s no way it’s possible. Then France’s shows pictures of her family and James Boyle looks exactly the same as James MacMillan. Making matters worse, Frances tells Julie that her brother Dominic is a mobster and if he finds out about the existence of the “other” family, their lives could be at stake.
The book explores what it would be like to find out that your Dad was living a double life. A life that could put one family at risk. I would have given the book a 5* rating but there were certain things that the reader learned sooner than they ought to have which eliminated some of the mystery. Regardless, a book worth reading.

I received an ARC and this review is my personal opinion.

[Debbie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if yours was 'that other family'?
A visit by a strange woman who ends up being the protagonist's half sister unravels a mystery that Julie worries could upset her whole family...only to find out her mother already knew of it!
Strange, threatening things start happening and Julie and her family must watch out for each other while they fight for the Ottawa police to believe their unusual story. But who can they trust? Who from that other family is out to hurt them, and who might help them?
Once again, an extremely well-written thriller that pulls you in and doesn't let you go, with twists and turns to delight the reader. And the Ottawa / Ontario setting is unusual and rewarding.

[Rose Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

That Other Family is a well-crafted domestic thriller that takes readers from the heart of Ottawa to tranquil cottage country and back again to Ottawa.
Julie Walker has to dig deep to keep her family safe and figure out who she can trust. People around her are keeping secrets and she needs answers. Her life and that of her family’s depends on it.
The setting is the city of Ottawa and nearby cottage country. The descriptions do both areas justice. I felt like I was in Ottawa and then at the cottage.
The plot flows seamlessly throughout, and then there’s a twist!
Don’t start this book before bed; you’ll want to stay up to finish it.
I give this book a 5 star rating.

I received an eARC from the author and am providing this review voluntarily.

[J.L. Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie is married with three kids, working as a librarian in Ottawa. A pretty typical life until she’s approached by a woman claiming her father—who died when Julie was a child—has a secret family in America. Unsure what to believe at first, Julie begins uncovering a family history she never expected and secrets she wishes she’d left buried. Angus’ novel starts as a found family story, but as Julie learns more from her half-sibling, her “typical life” becomes a dangerous game of survival. That Other Family is a twisty thriller about loyalty and what happens when a discovered history alters relationships forever.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the Spaniel's Tale Bookshop for suggesting this title. It fit the bill perfectly. There's a mystery - I enjoy a good mystery. The setting is Ottawa, where I have lived for many years. And that meant I was at home - no need for any imagining to sett the scene - I know that street, that building, that library. And that meant my brain felt clear to concentrate on what was happening and not worrying about where it was going on. And lastly, I have just begun transcribing the family tree my mother worked - so I am in the mood to be thinking about families, and secrets, and even new cousins. An ideal read.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel about a Canadian woman who discovers that her deceased father actually had another family in the US after she is approached by a half sister she didn’t know she had, is very fast paced and action packed and proved difficult to put down. A thriller with twists in the tale told from a number of perspectives starts as a family drama which escalates into a vengeful crime spree involving the threat of a dangerous crime syndicate in the US. I finished the book in a few hours of reading due to its pace and need to know what was coming next . Would recommend!

[Iris Goebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this new book, That Other Family! And I loved the Canadian/Ottawa setting!
Lis Angus' book has a fresh/unique plot that is full of twists and turns and unimagineable surprises, with constant suspense building as the storyline progresses. The protagonist Julie quickly captured my emotions as her harrowing circumstances increased, sending (almost real ) shivers of fright throughout my body as I continued reading.
The book ends with a tantalizing, possible new mystery for Julie (and readers!) to consider - very clever!
Quite a thriller !

[Vontel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thriller! Twists and turns in the plot and action to the end. Characters and settings were believable(as much as I know of organized crime from much reading, movies) although who knows how many "other family" arrangements such as this one exist. I made the mistake of starting the book last evening; did manage to put it down for the night, but was right back to it this morning until I finished it. Quite a different situation, & intensity from her first novel, although the theme of threat to the family, with action/response being led by mother, are similar.

[Meredith Rankin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific suspense novel.

Told in both first person (Julie) and other characters in third person, the story slowly reveals the family secrets, with some great plot twists. The characters are relatable, so I felt invested in their lives as they (especially Julie) wrestled with how to handle these revelations about their beloved family. It left me wondering, what would I do if ...? (And being thankful that I wasn't faced with a similar situation!)

[Terry Segan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, twisty thriller that keeps the reader guessing. The story is told from altering points of view giving insight to many of the characters. While the beginning gives the appearance of a straight-forward drama, it quickly escalates into a dangerous tale of a family’s survival. Blind trust and betrayal go hand-in-hand until the very end. You won’t want to put this book down!