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One of the Family
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…
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…
Hardcover
First published August 4, 2026
About the author
Mark Edwards
36 books6,258 followersMark 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.
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.
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August 4, 2026
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⭐⭐⭐1/2
One of the Family
Mark Edwards
Publication Date: August 4th, 2026
Atria Books
336 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers
This book wasn't bad at all. It's a psychological thriller set in the Scottish Highlands about Patrick, just a normal guy with a wealthy girlfriend named Holly. Patrick heads to Holly's family estate for the holiday season to meet her family, but things quickly go sideways.
Holly's dad, Charles, is a widower who arrives at the home with his new fiancée, Jasmine. Charles' family isn't impressed—Jasmine is much younger than Charles and closer in age to his kids than to him. Another thing the kids aren't too happy about? Just how much Jasmine looks like their late mother. Worried that Jasmine is simply after their dad's money, the children get hostile, ready to do anything to keep their family secrets safe. And every single member of this family has something to hide.
What I liked about this story was the fast pacing and claustrophobic setting. The constant tension and madness among the family members kept me turning pages. What should have been a normal, if nervous, visit to a girlfriend's family home quickly turns into a nightmare for one unsuspecting boyfriend. The whole time I was reading, I kept thinking: poor Patrick, stuck with this toxic family for Christmas.
It was a quick, fun read for the most part, filled with characters you love to hate. However, as much as I loved the atmosphere and tension, the family is so unlikable that I was hoping at least one of them would have some redeeming qualities. The only person I was rooting for was Patrick. I was able to spot most of the twists before they happened, though that's probably just because I've been reading this genre forever.
If you don't take your thrillers too seriously, this is a fun choice. I enjoyed the dysfunctional family dynamic and stayed entertained throughout. Edwards did a great job keeping me engaged with a constant sense that something was about to go wrong, and the large cast of characters keeps you guessing everyone's motives. I always enjoy a thriller with a bit of darkness and a crazy family.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
⭐⭐⭐1/2
One of the Family
Mark Edwards
Publication Date: August 4th, 2026
Atria Books
336 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers
This book wasn't bad at all. It's a psychological thriller set in the Scottish Highlands about Patrick, just a normal guy with a wealthy girlfriend named Holly. Patrick heads to Holly's family estate for the holiday season to meet her family, but things quickly go sideways.
Holly's dad, Charles, is a widower who arrives at the home with his new fiancée, Jasmine. Charles' family isn't impressed—Jasmine is much younger than Charles and closer in age to his kids than to him. Another thing the kids aren't too happy about? Just how much Jasmine looks like their late mother. Worried that Jasmine is simply after their dad's money, the children get hostile, ready to do anything to keep their family secrets safe. And every single member of this family has something to hide.
What I liked about this story was the fast pacing and claustrophobic setting. The constant tension and madness among the family members kept me turning pages. What should have been a normal, if nervous, visit to a girlfriend's family home quickly turns into a nightmare for one unsuspecting boyfriend. The whole time I was reading, I kept thinking: poor Patrick, stuck with this toxic family for Christmas.
It was a quick, fun read for the most part, filled with characters you love to hate. However, as much as I loved the atmosphere and tension, the family is so unlikable that I was hoping at least one of them would have some redeeming qualities. The only person I was rooting for was Patrick. I was able to spot most of the twists before they happened, though that's probably just because I've been reading this genre forever.
If you don't take your thrillers too seriously, this is a fun choice. I enjoyed the dysfunctional family dynamic and stayed entertained throughout. Edwards did a great job keeping me engaged with a constant sense that something was about to go wrong, and the large cast of characters keeps you guessing everyone's motives. I always enjoy a thriller with a bit of darkness and a crazy family.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
May 30, 2026
Patrick has been invited to spend New Year’s Eve (Hogmanay) at his girlfriend Holly’s holiday mansion, in the Scottish Highlands, in the middle of nowhere. Holly’s dad Charles Grant is a millionaire, owning a computer tech company called Gravitas. This is a first for Patrick, as he’s never met the family before, and Charles is introducing his new fiancée Jasmine to the family. The week long stay is a disaster from start to finish, with missing family members, murder and secrets being revealed.
This was full of twists, turns, and suspense, mixed with freezing weather conditions, blinding snowstorms, and set in an isolated area in the Scottish Highlands, which all added to the reading experience, and which I couldn’t put down. I’ve never read anything by Mark Edwards before, but will definitely be adding more to my reading list.
4 ⭐️
Thanks to Mark Edwards, Penguin, and NetGalley, for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.
Available: 18 June 2026
This was full of twists, turns, and suspense, mixed with freezing weather conditions, blinding snowstorms, and set in an isolated area in the Scottish Highlands, which all added to the reading experience, and which I couldn’t put down. I’ve never read anything by Mark Edwards before, but will definitely be adding more to my reading list.
4 ⭐️
Thanks to Mark Edwards, Penguin, and NetGalley, for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.
Available: 18 June 2026
June 24, 2026
CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS AUTHOR’S WORK
One of the family is dead.
One of the family is missing.
And one of the family might just be the killer...
One thing I really enjoy about Mark’s books is how much he really reels you in in the drama and the nonsensical madness of it all.
The book was giving all the atmospheric vibes, and I could really picture the Scottish sceneries. There is a lot of characters to build up that whodunnit suspect list and everyone was acting shady.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators did a great job bringing the story to life.
I will say that this book is very embellished and quite farfetched, so it was very much tipping into the popcorn thriller category.
But all in all, I had a good time with it and I cant wait to see what he releases next.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pre read
Here to Stay is what made me love this authors work
I feel like this newest release is going to be so good
Time to devour it!
🤍❤️💙❤️
One of the family is dead.
One of the family is missing.
And one of the family might just be the killer...
One thing I really enjoy about Mark’s books is how much he really reels you in in the drama and the nonsensical madness of it all.
The book was giving all the atmospheric vibes, and I could really picture the Scottish sceneries. There is a lot of characters to build up that whodunnit suspect list and everyone was acting shady.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators did a great job bringing the story to life.
I will say that this book is very embellished and quite farfetched, so it was very much tipping into the popcorn thriller category.
But all in all, I had a good time with it and I cant wait to see what he releases next.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pre read
Here to Stay is what made me love this authors work
I feel like this newest release is going to be so good
Time to devour it!
🤍❤️💙❤️
May 8, 2026
One of the Family is an exceptionally intelligent psychological thriller that blends emotional depth with relentless suspense. Mark Edwards delivers a novel that is not only gripping, but psychologically perceptive and thematically layered.
🖤 Atmosphere:
The tension in this book is masterfully sustained from beginning to end. Edwards creates a persistent sense of unease where every interaction feels significant and every revelation subtly shifts the reader’s perception. The atmosphere is claustrophobic, unsettling, and deeply immersive.
🧠 Psychological Depth:
I really loved how grounded the suspense felt in human behavior and family dynamics. The manipulation, emotional conflict, and blurred lines between love, loyalty, and control made this feel much deeper than your average thriller.
📖 The Writing & Pacing:
Mark Edwards has such an addictive writing style. The pacing was incredibly well done, steady, intentional, and constantly building tension without ever feeling rushed. Every chapter revealed just enough to keep me fully invested while still maintaining the mystery and psychological unease.
🎭 The Characters:
The characters felt believable, flawed, and emotionally complex. Nobody felt one dimensional, which made the paranoia and tension even stronger because I genuinely didn’t know who to trust.
📚 Overall:
This was intelligent, unsettling, and ridiculously hard to put down. If you enjoy psychological thrillers filled with tension, layered family dynamics, emotional manipulation, and twists that genuinely keep you engaged, I absolutely recommend this one.
✨ Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🖤 Atmosphere:
The tension in this book is masterfully sustained from beginning to end. Edwards creates a persistent sense of unease where every interaction feels significant and every revelation subtly shifts the reader’s perception. The atmosphere is claustrophobic, unsettling, and deeply immersive.
🧠 Psychological Depth:
I really loved how grounded the suspense felt in human behavior and family dynamics. The manipulation, emotional conflict, and blurred lines between love, loyalty, and control made this feel much deeper than your average thriller.
📖 The Writing & Pacing:
Mark Edwards has such an addictive writing style. The pacing was incredibly well done, steady, intentional, and constantly building tension without ever feeling rushed. Every chapter revealed just enough to keep me fully invested while still maintaining the mystery and psychological unease.
🎭 The Characters:
The characters felt believable, flawed, and emotionally complex. Nobody felt one dimensional, which made the paranoia and tension even stronger because I genuinely didn’t know who to trust.
📚 Overall:
This was intelligent, unsettling, and ridiculously hard to put down. If you enjoy psychological thrillers filled with tension, layered family dynamics, emotional manipulation, and twists that genuinely keep you engaged, I absolutely recommend this one.
✨ Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2026
3.5-4⭐️ I am endlessly impressed with the way Mark Edwards writes his gritty, moody, atmospheric thrillers. They start with just a simmer, something dark bubbling up just below the surface. But before you know what has happened, tensions have gone sky high.
Similarly to fellow British author Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards turns the seemingly mundane into the stuff nightmares are made of (his book Here to Stay still lives rent-free). In this case, an invite to join his girlfriend and her family in the Scottish Highlands turns to disaster as one family member goes missing, one turns up dead— the k!ller must likely be one of them. Perhaps it should have been a sign when the opening chapter begins with the question, “Are you scared?”
I will say, this book is action-packed, and as such, you get a little less of the emotional drama a book featuring such an intense family would suggest. But as someone who eats family dramas for breakfast, I’ll always want more of the raw emotional component. There is also an interesting tech element to this story that I really enjoyed and found myself wanting more of, though I think it was woven in well. All in all, a solid domestic suspense that makes for a fun summer read.
🎧 I went back and forth between the physical book and the audio and enjoyed both. With a full cast of narrators, it was very easy to distinguish character from character. However, given the larger ensemble cast, I think an immersive read combining book and audio is best.
Read if you like:
▪️atmospheric settings
▪️dual timelines
▪️family secrets
▪️ensemble casts
▪️speculative elements
▪️cold cases
[image error]
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Atria Books and Simon Audio for the advanced copies.
Similarly to fellow British author Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards turns the seemingly mundane into the stuff nightmares are made of (his book Here to Stay still lives rent-free). In this case, an invite to join his girlfriend and her family in the Scottish Highlands turns to disaster as one family member goes missing, one turns up dead— the k!ller must likely be one of them. Perhaps it should have been a sign when the opening chapter begins with the question, “Are you scared?”
I will say, this book is action-packed, and as such, you get a little less of the emotional drama a book featuring such an intense family would suggest. But as someone who eats family dramas for breakfast, I’ll always want more of the raw emotional component. There is also an interesting tech element to this story that I really enjoyed and found myself wanting more of, though I think it was woven in well. All in all, a solid domestic suspense that makes for a fun summer read.
🎧 I went back and forth between the physical book and the audio and enjoyed both. With a full cast of narrators, it was very easy to distinguish character from character. However, given the larger ensemble cast, I think an immersive read combining book and audio is best.
Read if you like:
▪️atmospheric settings
▪️dual timelines
▪️family secrets
▪️ensemble casts
▪️speculative elements
▪️cold cases
[image error]
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Atria Books and Simon Audio for the advanced copies.
August 4, 2026
Solid 4 ⭐🍿
One of the Family was my first novel by Mark Edwards, and I'm genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Patrick is meeting his girlfriend Holly’s family for the first time and spending New Year’s with them at their remote Scottish mansion. First impressions aren’t the only thing he should be worried about — this family has dark, long‑buried secrets that are about to surface, and Patrick will have to make some tough decisions.
This was such a fast‑paced, atmospheric thriller. I was instantly hooked by the chaotic, toxic family dynamic and flew through it. Most of the characters are completely unlikeable, but that just added to the friction between them. I also absolutely loved the setting — the cold, bleak Scottish winter adds the perfect layer of tension and makes the whole story feel even more unsettling. There were moments when it leaned a little soap‑opera‑ish, but honestly, I didn’t mind; it only made the drama more fun.
The mystery unravels perfectly at the end, delivering a few entertaining final twists. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys twisty domestic thrillers, isolated‑setting mysteries, and fast‑paced family‑drama suspense. I’m excited to pick up more from Mark Edwards.
Available Now! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
One of the Family was my first novel by Mark Edwards, and I'm genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Patrick is meeting his girlfriend Holly’s family for the first time and spending New Year’s with them at their remote Scottish mansion. First impressions aren’t the only thing he should be worried about — this family has dark, long‑buried secrets that are about to surface, and Patrick will have to make some tough decisions.
This was such a fast‑paced, atmospheric thriller. I was instantly hooked by the chaotic, toxic family dynamic and flew through it. Most of the characters are completely unlikeable, but that just added to the friction between them. I also absolutely loved the setting — the cold, bleak Scottish winter adds the perfect layer of tension and makes the whole story feel even more unsettling. There were moments when it leaned a little soap‑opera‑ish, but honestly, I didn’t mind; it only made the drama more fun.
The mystery unravels perfectly at the end, delivering a few entertaining final twists. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys twisty domestic thrillers, isolated‑setting mysteries, and fast‑paced family‑drama suspense. I’m excited to pick up more from Mark Edwards.
Available Now! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2026
I was sooooo happy to win this on Goodreads!
One of the Family, a mystery/thriller, centers around main character Patrick. Patrick is just a regular city guy who is dating Holly-who just so happens to be from the very wealthy Grant family. He is invited to join her and her family for a holiday at their family’s mansion in the rural Scottish Highlands and his life is changed forever.
I’m not exaggerating when I say One of the Family is full and twists and turns-it is full of secrets, murder, and a lot of family drama. The characters are well-developed (though most are unlikable), and the book’s pacing is fast-paced. I absolutely loved the surprise ending, no spoilers! Highly recommended to fans that like mystery/thriller books.
Thank you to the publisher and Goodreads for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
One of the Family, a mystery/thriller, centers around main character Patrick. Patrick is just a regular city guy who is dating Holly-who just so happens to be from the very wealthy Grant family. He is invited to join her and her family for a holiday at their family’s mansion in the rural Scottish Highlands and his life is changed forever.
I’m not exaggerating when I say One of the Family is full and twists and turns-it is full of secrets, murder, and a lot of family drama. The characters are well-developed (though most are unlikable), and the book’s pacing is fast-paced. I absolutely loved the surprise ending, no spoilers! Highly recommended to fans that like mystery/thriller books.
Thank you to the publisher and Goodreads for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Patrick Tolhurst has been invited to spend the Hogmanay holiday with his girlfriend Holly and her family in the Scottish Highlands and he's justifiably nervous to meet them as they make their way to a remote peninsula on the coast. Holly's father is Charles Grant, owner of Gravitas, a computer hardware company, and he has announced he's going to marry a much-younger woman named Jasmine, a hotel clerk whom he met on a recent trip to Miami. His adult children are not pleased by this news but they are especially shocked when they lay eyes on Jasmine and she's the spitting image of their beloved mother who died young from cancer. Jasmine is the woman's doppelgänger. What are the odds?
'Family is everything,' their mother always said but these three siblings and one brother-in-law hardly get along. In fact, they are downright nasty to each other, as only siblings can be. Dad's big concern has always been the family's reputation so he has tended to bail his kids out of whatever bad situation they've gotten themselves into. So it's not surprising that they are not well liked by the local townspeople, is it? Patrick begins to sense secrets, lies and broken promises are part of their history. Does he really want to be 'one of the family?'
The setting on the Scottish coast is lovely but the story turns into a locked-room mystery as a winter storm hits the peninsula and cuts them off from any outside help. Murder and mayhem with plenty of plot twists make for an absorbing, page-turning read. This is a good one!
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc via NetGalley. This is my first taste of Mark Edwards' books and I look forward to reading more.
'Family is everything,' their mother always said but these three siblings and one brother-in-law hardly get along. In fact, they are downright nasty to each other, as only siblings can be. Dad's big concern has always been the family's reputation so he has tended to bail his kids out of whatever bad situation they've gotten themselves into. So it's not surprising that they are not well liked by the local townspeople, is it? Patrick begins to sense secrets, lies and broken promises are part of their history. Does he really want to be 'one of the family?'
The setting on the Scottish coast is lovely but the story turns into a locked-room mystery as a winter storm hits the peninsula and cuts them off from any outside help. Murder and mayhem with plenty of plot twists make for an absorbing, page-turning read. This is a good one!
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc via NetGalley. This is my first taste of Mark Edwards' books and I look forward to reading more.
April 27, 2026
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
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
February 22, 2026
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
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
Want to Read
April 30, 2026Scottish 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
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author, Mark Edwards for sending me an early ARC.
Publication date: August 4th, 2026
August 4, 2026
‼️‼️🚨 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 👏🏻 👏🏻👏🏻
📖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 👏🏻 👏🏻👏🏻
July 27, 2026
3.5 / 5.0
Didn’t expect to finish this book in one sitting, but it was a great read from start to finish. My only bone to pick was just how excessive the number of twists were revealed near the end of the book, but also how pointless the end of the book is? I can describe this book as a rollercoaster, where the ending was just non stop drops, twists and turns. I found the build up ok, it wasn’t going too slow by Edward found ways to stall in ways that wasn’t obvious. But slowly the book becomes predictable to a point where you can almost guess what happens, then Bam - another twist which you don’t see coming.
The book centres around Patrick and Holly. Her father is an intimidatingly successful father, known as Charles grant. She invited him over to Charles’ mansion for a new year break up north in Inverness. Patrick is hoping that they will accept him as part of her family. But from the start, something doesn’t feel right. Reports of a body was found nearby the previous year, and there’s something going on with Charles girlfriend. Patrick tells himself that every family has a secret and all he has to do is make it through the holiday. But things turn when one of the family is killed, and another one goes missing. Patrick then realises it might be one of the family who is the killer? But who?
Overall it’s not a bad read, I’d say it’s thrilling enough to keep me glued to my seat and finish in one day. But the twists feel like a neck breaker on this one.
Didn’t expect to finish this book in one sitting, but it was a great read from start to finish. My only bone to pick was just how excessive the number of twists were revealed near the end of the book, but also how pointless the end of the book is? I can describe this book as a rollercoaster, where the ending was just non stop drops, twists and turns. I found the build up ok, it wasn’t going too slow by Edward found ways to stall in ways that wasn’t obvious. But slowly the book becomes predictable to a point where you can almost guess what happens, then Bam - another twist which you don’t see coming.
The book centres around Patrick and Holly. Her father is an intimidatingly successful father, known as Charles grant. She invited him over to Charles’ mansion for a new year break up north in Inverness. Patrick is hoping that they will accept him as part of her family. But from the start, something doesn’t feel right. Reports of a body was found nearby the previous year, and there’s something going on with Charles girlfriend. Patrick tells himself that every family has a secret and all he has to do is make it through the holiday. But things turn when one of the family is killed, and another one goes missing. Patrick then realises it might be one of the family who is the killer? But who?
Overall it’s not a bad read, I’d say it’s thrilling enough to keep me glued to my seat and finish in one day. But the twists feel like a neck breaker on this one.
August 1, 2026
One of the Family by Mark Edwards. Thanks to atria for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Patrick is visiting his girlfriend’s wealthy family for the first time in the Scottish Highlands. It’s remote and beautiful, but he’s pulled into a web of secrets and deceit.
I liked the narrator was a male character going home to meet the girlfriend’s wealthy family. Usually that trope is a female main character, so it was a refreshing change. There were a few surprises, some of which involved business developments, which I normally would not find interesting but I did! There were some slower moments for me, mostly the past timeline and the past mystery, but the atmosphere and rich people behaving poorly kept me going.
“If you want to be part of this family, you need to learn to keep your nose out and your mouth shut.”
Read if you like:
-Wealthy families
-Meet the in-laws tropes
-Atmospheric thrillers
One of the Family comes out 8/4.
Patrick is visiting his girlfriend’s wealthy family for the first time in the Scottish Highlands. It’s remote and beautiful, but he’s pulled into a web of secrets and deceit.
I liked the narrator was a male character going home to meet the girlfriend’s wealthy family. Usually that trope is a female main character, so it was a refreshing change. There were a few surprises, some of which involved business developments, which I normally would not find interesting but I did! There were some slower moments for me, mostly the past timeline and the past mystery, but the atmosphere and rich people behaving poorly kept me going.
“If you want to be part of this family, you need to learn to keep your nose out and your mouth shut.”
Read if you like:
-Wealthy families
-Meet the in-laws tropes
-Atmospheric thrillers
One of the Family comes out 8/4.
June 22, 2026
Although it was easy to read and entertaining in places it just seemed to be plot twist after plot twist instead of a coherent plot.
The end was picking up but the end was convoluted and took away some of the shock
The end was picking up but the end was convoluted and took away some of the shock
June 27, 2026
Tech wizard Samir Anand goes missing in a labyrinth of Scottish caves. When journalist/documentary maker Patrick goes to Scotland to meet his girlfriend Holly's family, her siblings and their partners, her rich father and her father's new wife Jasmine, he learns about Samir's disappearance when he visited nearby caves to see the 'Serpent Stone'. Patrick is interested and wants to find out more and make a documentary. However, as he begins to investigate, he encounters resistance from Holly's family as they prefer to keep secrets well hidden. Then Jasmine goes missing and Patrick joins in the search for her. Part of the search involves traversing the caves and narrow tunnels where Jasmine might have gone, which Patrick is not looking forward to. However, Holly's family encourage him to squeeze through the narrow tunnels to see the 'Serpent Stone', just as Samir had done.
I read the Kindle version, which I obtained from Amazon. I usually like Mark Edwards' psychological thrillers, but this one didn't grab me as much as his previous books. There were too many unlikeable characters in my opinion, too many twists and turns, and to me it all seemed rather too far-fetched.
I read the Kindle version, which I obtained from Amazon. I usually like Mark Edwards' psychological thrillers, but this one didn't grab me as much as his previous books. There were too many unlikeable characters in my opinion, too many twists and turns, and to me it all seemed rather too far-fetched.
August 2, 2026
An atmospheric domestic suspense read about rich, entitled people (the Grant family) behaving badly. There were so many secrets, lies and betrayals in the Grant family. And into this walks Patrick, Holly Grant’s unsuspecting boyfriend, to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s at the family’s remote mansion in the Scottish Highlands. And he’s not the only one as the family has gathered to meet their father’s much younger new fiancée. With so many unlikable, narcissistic, toxic people with secrets to hide, what could go wrong? Only several murders!
I enjoyed the bleak, claustrophobic and isolating setting in a small, insular town in the Scottish Highlands during the freezing, snowy winter. I could feel the cold and ice as I was reading the novel.
As the story unfolded in two timelines, secrets were revealed with several unexpected twists and reveals. Few of the characters were likeable so the epilogue was very satisfying.
This is my second book by this author and I’m looking forward to his next one!
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed the bleak, claustrophobic and isolating setting in a small, insular town in the Scottish Highlands during the freezing, snowy winter. I could feel the cold and ice as I was reading the novel.
As the story unfolded in two timelines, secrets were revealed with several unexpected twists and reveals. Few of the characters were likeable so the epilogue was very satisfying.
This is my second book by this author and I’m looking forward to his next one!
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.
tbr
May 19, 2026Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
June 28, 2026
2.5 stars, rounded up.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. There weren’t any characters worth caring about. The dialogue was cheesy. The twists fell short.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I hope others like it more than I did!
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. There weren’t any characters worth caring about. The dialogue was cheesy. The twists fell short.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I hope others like it more than I did!
July 9, 2026
Fast-paced but lacked a bit of depth in the characters for me. Predicted most of the plot twists. But I did enjoy it overall - an easy read
April 13, 2026
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.
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.
June 29, 2026
WHAT WERE THOSE TWISTS?! The author made me think one thing then another! I didn’t expect who the killers were until it was too late. The only thing that kept it from a better rating was the improbability of the app and another part later on that I you should read and get an opinion of your own. There were so many lines I want to quote but I can’t.
May 19, 2026
One of the Family by Mark Edwards follows Patrick as he joins his girlfriend Holly for a New Year’s trip to her wealthy family’s remote Scottish estate. Wanting desperately to make a good impression, he quickly realises the Grant family is full of tension, secrets, and strange behaviour. As the holiday unfolds, the atmosphere becomes increasingly dark and dangerous.
This was an enjoyable domestic thriller with plenty of tension and a very readable writing style. The isolated Scottish setting added a strong sense of unease, and I found myself wanting to keep turning the pages to uncover what was really going on. I especially liked the exploration of toxic family dynamics, power, and trust. The constant suspicion between characters kept the story engaging, and there were enough twists to maintain the suspense throughout.
That said, some parts felt a little predictable, and I guessed a few of the twists before they were revealed. At times, the plot also felt somewhat far-fetched, which pulled me out of the story occasionally and made some of the characters’ decisions harder to believe.
Overall, this was a solid psychological thriller with an addictive atmosphere and plenty of drama, even if it didn’t completely wow me. Fans of twisty family thrillers and locked-room style suspense will likely still find a lot to enjoy here. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was an enjoyable domestic thriller with plenty of tension and a very readable writing style. The isolated Scottish setting added a strong sense of unease, and I found myself wanting to keep turning the pages to uncover what was really going on. I especially liked the exploration of toxic family dynamics, power, and trust. The constant suspicion between characters kept the story engaging, and there were enough twists to maintain the suspense throughout.
That said, some parts felt a little predictable, and I guessed a few of the twists before they were revealed. At times, the plot also felt somewhat far-fetched, which pulled me out of the story occasionally and made some of the characters’ decisions harder to believe.
Overall, this was a solid psychological thriller with an addictive atmosphere and plenty of drama, even if it didn’t completely wow me. Fans of twisty family thrillers and locked-room style suspense will likely still find a lot to enjoy here. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2026
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.💫/5
Audiobook: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Thank you Atria Books for the gifted book & Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook! Absolutely stellar job from the narrator cast of 5 narrators!!🎧
——
Patrick is nervous to meet the family of his girlfriend, Holly Grant, not just because it’s his first introduction but also because her dad happens to be a famous tech tycoon while Patrick is a delivery driver with filmmaking as a side hustle.
However Patrick’s qualms are set aside as Holly and her siblings are mortified when they all discover that their dad is about to get married to Jasmine, a woman their age, and to make matters even worse, the new woman is a doppelgänger of their mom. This news spirals the Grant family out of control and Patrick overhears a conversation that makes him believe Jasmine’s life is in danger. Poor Patrick is caught in the crosshairs and his curiosity gets the better of him, leading him to a path of no return.
Mark Edwards is a master storyteller of complicated family dynamics and almost all of his characters have skeletons upon skeletons in their closet. If you love a high speed family drama, especially the rich people drama, mixed with unreliable narrators full of past secrets, this book is a perfect fit for you! I flew through the book in two sittings and audibly GASPED at the several reveals peppered throughout the book!
The narrators @anna__burnett @kirstystrain @petercaulfield Sarah Slimani and @tjudderman were absolute perfection as they set the caustic tone of the family!
Audiobook: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Thank you Atria Books for the gifted book & Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook! Absolutely stellar job from the narrator cast of 5 narrators!!🎧
——
Patrick is nervous to meet the family of his girlfriend, Holly Grant, not just because it’s his first introduction but also because her dad happens to be a famous tech tycoon while Patrick is a delivery driver with filmmaking as a side hustle.
However Patrick’s qualms are set aside as Holly and her siblings are mortified when they all discover that their dad is about to get married to Jasmine, a woman their age, and to make matters even worse, the new woman is a doppelgänger of their mom. This news spirals the Grant family out of control and Patrick overhears a conversation that makes him believe Jasmine’s life is in danger. Poor Patrick is caught in the crosshairs and his curiosity gets the better of him, leading him to a path of no return.
Mark Edwards is a master storyteller of complicated family dynamics and almost all of his characters have skeletons upon skeletons in their closet. If you love a high speed family drama, especially the rich people drama, mixed with unreliable narrators full of past secrets, this book is a perfect fit for you! I flew through the book in two sittings and audibly GASPED at the several reveals peppered throughout the book!
The narrators @anna__burnett @kirstystrain @petercaulfield Sarah Slimani and @tjudderman were absolute perfection as they set the caustic tone of the family!
August 7, 2026
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you Atria & Simon Audio for the gifted copies!
One of the Family
Mark Edwards
Publishing Date: August 4, 2026
🎧 Narrator: Anna Burnett, Kirsty Strain, Peter Caulfield, Sarah Slimani, & Thomas Judd 🎧
Patrick is going on holiday in Scotland with his new girlfriend, where he will meet her extremely rich family for the first time. What could go wrong?
If you like stories with characters in the upper 1% making a hot mess out of everything, this one is for you! It starts off reading very much like a family drama as Patrick meets everyone and their dazzling personalities start to shine. The family dynamics are complicated and the tensions are high. On top of that, Patrick, being an aspiring documentarian, can’t help himself but to poke around when he learns of a boy who went missing. Things start to come together, people go missing, and some don’t survive.
This book offers twists on twists on twists. There are secrets and then more secrets within the secrets. The twists and turns did feel a bit excessive at a certain point. Everyone has a past, but this family’s past is as dark as they come.
I flew through this one in a matter of two days. It was an easy listen and the narrators were enjoyable. The remote location made for an atmospheric and tense vibe. And these characters were ones you just love to hate.
Thank you Atria & Simon Audio for the gifted copies!
One of the Family
Mark Edwards
Publishing Date: August 4, 2026
🎧 Narrator: Anna Burnett, Kirsty Strain, Peter Caulfield, Sarah Slimani, & Thomas Judd 🎧
Patrick is going on holiday in Scotland with his new girlfriend, where he will meet her extremely rich family for the first time. What could go wrong?
If you like stories with characters in the upper 1% making a hot mess out of everything, this one is for you! It starts off reading very much like a family drama as Patrick meets everyone and their dazzling personalities start to shine. The family dynamics are complicated and the tensions are high. On top of that, Patrick, being an aspiring documentarian, can’t help himself but to poke around when he learns of a boy who went missing. Things start to come together, people go missing, and some don’t survive.
This book offers twists on twists on twists. There are secrets and then more secrets within the secrets. The twists and turns did feel a bit excessive at a certain point. Everyone has a past, but this family’s past is as dark as they come.
I flew through this one in a matter of two days. It was an easy listen and the narrators were enjoyable. The remote location made for an atmospheric and tense vibe. And these characters were ones you just love to hate.
August 6, 2026
Ohhhh yes, Mark Edwards, you have written another twisty thriller that I could not put down. This time we are in Scotland (I mean, yes please) and poor sweet baby Patrick truly has no idea what he is about to be in for. His girlfriend Holly comes from money, she tries to say she is like everyone else, and Patrick is none the wiser, until this weekend that is, when murder and mayhem ensue, and he is quite literally in over his head. Holly’s dad Charles is a self-made millionaire, his wife has passed away, and he has moved on with Jasmine, who happens to be the spitting image of his late wife. Holly and her siblings (well some of them) are shocked, Patrick is just trying to be neutral, and as the weekend progresses secrets just start coming out left and right. That’s about all I’m going to say, you truly need to read the rest for yourself. The audio is a full cast narration which only enhanced this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this one, and finished in one sitting. Edwards did not disappoint with the drama or the twists, and that ending was wild. I highly recommend this if it is not on your list, and I need to read more of his backlist.
Thank you to Atria Books #atriapartner for the gifted copy and to Simon Audio for the ALC to review.
Thank you to Atria Books #atriapartner for the gifted copy and to Simon Audio for the ALC to review.
August 4, 2026
Patrick is accompanying his girlfriend Holly to her family's remote Scottish estate for new Years. This will be his frst time meeting them so he wants to make a good impression. However, once he gets there, he quickly realizes that the Grants have lots of secrets, one of which is that their father has secretly remarried a young woman who looks uncannily like their recently deceased mother. As the days play out, the atmosphere among them becomes increasingly unhinged and things become dangerous.
Once again Mr. Edward's has written a very enjoyable popcorn thriller that was easy to read in one sitting because had to know how this was all going to play out. I loved the isolated Scottish castle setting which added to the unease because the characters couldnt just catch an uber and get out of there! The constant suspense and suspicion of each of the characters ramped up the tension and there were lots of twists to keep me entertained. Were some of them predictable? Of course. And some of the plot was predictable too. But that's what happens when you read so many thrillers! It didnt take away from my experience though, and I cant wait to see what he writes next.
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review
Once again Mr. Edward's has written a very enjoyable popcorn thriller that was easy to read in one sitting because had to know how this was all going to play out. I loved the isolated Scottish castle setting which added to the unease because the characters couldnt just catch an uber and get out of there! The constant suspense and suspicion of each of the characters ramped up the tension and there were lots of twists to keep me entertained. Were some of them predictable? Of course. And some of the plot was predictable too. But that's what happens when you read so many thrillers! It didnt take away from my experience though, and I cant wait to see what he writes next.
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review
July 10, 2026
4.6/5
This was such a page-turning mystery thriller set in the Scottish Highlands with secrets and mysteries surrounding a rich family (which, let's be honest, is the perfect backdrop and premise for any mystery, thriller, and psychological crime novel!).
The story follows Patrick, who joins his girlfriend on a trip to a remote village a few hours out from Inverness (in Applecross) to meet her super rich family for the first time. But Patrick quickly discovers that there is A LOT of family drama (as is the case with any rich family), the villagers nearby seem to hate the family (with good reason), and everyone in the family are clearly hiding things from each other and are willing to do ANYTHING to protect their secrets...
I had a great time reading this book, which kept me at the edge of my seat. It's been a while since I've read such a bingeable and unputdownable thriller! The pages have been flying by and some of the twists definitely took me by surprise (which is rare nowadays)!
**I received a free physical copy of the book from the publisher for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
This was such a page-turning mystery thriller set in the Scottish Highlands with secrets and mysteries surrounding a rich family (which, let's be honest, is the perfect backdrop and premise for any mystery, thriller, and psychological crime novel!).
The story follows Patrick, who joins his girlfriend on a trip to a remote village a few hours out from Inverness (in Applecross) to meet her super rich family for the first time. But Patrick quickly discovers that there is A LOT of family drama (as is the case with any rich family), the villagers nearby seem to hate the family (with good reason), and everyone in the family are clearly hiding things from each other and are willing to do ANYTHING to protect their secrets...
I had a great time reading this book, which kept me at the edge of my seat. It's been a while since I've read such a bingeable and unputdownable thriller! The pages have been flying by and some of the twists definitely took me by surprise (which is rare nowadays)!
**I received a free physical copy of the book from the publisher for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
April 25, 2026
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.
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.
July 30, 2026
Another brilliant story by one of my favourite authors, Mark Edwards!
I loved the twists and turns in this and the setting in the Scottish Highlands was very atmospheric and provided the perfect eerie backdrop with the stormy weather. I loved getting to know the other residents and trying to figure out why the Grants were so disliked. The misdirections were really fun too, and I loved trying to figure out what was going on along with him.
Morngy Miranda was annoying with her rudeness, but I loved how the end came together with her (not saying anymore here as I don’t want to spoil it - but it was a good one and wrapped the story up wonderfully.
Definitely add this to your TBR if you like thrillers - if yours is out of control like mine, then it will be a great one to read in Winter, especially over the festive period as it is set over Hogmanay/New Year’s!
I loved the twists and turns in this and the setting in the Scottish Highlands was very atmospheric and provided the perfect eerie backdrop with the stormy weather. I loved getting to know the other residents and trying to figure out why the Grants were so disliked. The misdirections were really fun too, and I loved trying to figure out what was going on along with him.
Morngy Miranda was annoying with her rudeness, but I loved how the end came together with her (not saying anymore here as I don’t want to spoil it - but it was a good one and wrapped the story up wonderfully.
Definitely add this to your TBR if you like thrillers - if yours is out of control like mine, then it will be a great one to read in Winter, especially over the festive period as it is set over Hogmanay/New Year’s!
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