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The Family
The best way to catch a killer? Offer yourself as bait.
Becky Morgan's family were the victims of the 'crimes of the decade'. The lone survivor of a ritualistic killing, Becky's been forever haunted by the memories of that night.
Twenty years later, with the killer never found, Becky is ready to hunt them down and exact revenge. But the path to find the murderer is a slippery slope and she finds herself opening up some old wounds that should have been left sealed.
Will Becky avenge her family or join them?
476 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2019
70 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
P.R. Black
8 books35 followersP.R. Black lives in Yorkshire, although he will always belong to Glasgow.
He is the author of the DI Lomond thrillers, starting at Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine back in 2019. The first full-length novel, To Pay The Ferryman, is available now.
The second in the series, Jack-in-the-Box, will be published on February 2026.
Pat is also the author of six psychological thrillers, including the bestsellers The Beach House and The Runner.
He is the author of the DI Lomond thrillers, starting at Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine back in 2019. The first full-length novel, To Pay The Ferryman, is available now.
The second in the series, Jack-in-the-Box, will be published on February 2026.
Pat is also the author of six psychological thrillers, including the bestsellers The Beach House and The Runner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
May 10, 2019
Firstly got to say this book wins the award for the ‘most times I have clicked the blue dictionary spot’ on Kindle in a book, ever.....surprisingly this did not niggle or annoy in the slightest and enjoyed learning new words...
Now the book
And what a book
Without doubt the most terrifying book I have read in a long long time, graphic in parts yes BUT psychologically terrifying!
Becky was on holiday with her family when they are murdered, horrifyingly and she manages to escape, she wants revenge ( rightly so ) and so starts 400 plus pages
of her, via the internet, the dark web, subterfuge, hacking ( and the rest ) finding out who the killer is and what he is part of, to call it an adventure would be to underplay it, its massive! And what she discovers will leave you shuddering and recoiling...
Becky should be bitter, and she is but with such a wry sense of humour, dark and sometimes inappropriate you cant help but love her ( and guiltily laugh at times ) she is as my Nan would say ‘ a caution’, I loved her
Other characters are just as strong, you will like some and DESPISE others!
The writing is fast and frentic but holds together a complex story so well it doesnt feel it
The ending(s) are too spectacular to be called twists, they are breath taking and so so unexpected
Rare I have to stop reading, just for a few seconds, to take stock and continue, this book is THAT good, that bad and that powerful I had no choice
10/10 5 Stars
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August 21, 2025⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
What the HECK did I just read?! The Family by P.R. Black totally blew me away and I wasn't even expecting it.
What it's about: Becky Morgan has had a rough, to say the least, life; the lone survivor of the brutal murder of her family, it is twenty years later, and the killer still hasn't been caught. Sick of living in fear, Becky decides to start her own hunt for the killer using some less than legal measures to do so. As she digs into murders of families that appear to be connected to her own family's murder, she's about to uncover a whole lot more than she bargained for. Will she be able to catch the killer before he catches her?
I want to say right off the bat that this book is GRUESOME. There are some violent scenes that are sure to give you nightmares if you are that type of person. At the very least it is going to have you looking over your shoulder at night when you're alone. This isn't Karin Slaughter type of gore either, this is like a slasher movie. I would say it would make a supremely scary movie! It is very dark, and very disturbing so consider yourself warned.
I couldn't really connect to Becky but being able to visualize her struggle with life after seeing her family murdered in front of her is something else entirely. I couldn't understand all of the choices she was making, but I could definitely understand some of them. She is a bit of a badass with a sassy mouth and I really liked that about her.
The Family is definitely a book I would consider action-packed, and it gave me chills quite often, but especially when I got towards the end. The end is especially nasty, and I had a hard time reading through it all. It completely surprised me as well, and I would say this is one of those books that will have plenty of twists readers won't see coming. I was at a 4 rating in my head for the majority of the book, but the big twists and the end pushed it all the way up to a 5 for me.
Song it brought to mind: Take Me to Church by Hozier (don't ask me why!)
Final Thought: Even though there is a ton going on, I ended up reading this novel pretty slowly and it took me almost 6 hours to read around 350 pages. I will chalk this up to the content I was reading, and how disturbing the story is. If you are a fan of gory mysteries with disturbing themes, you are going to have to put The Family at the top of your list. I don't even know what kind of imagination you need to have to write this shit, and I cannot FREAKING WAIT to read more from P. R. Black.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
NOTE: I have blog tour post up with a very interesting Q&A with the author. This can be found at https://abookwormwithwine.wordpress.c...
What the HECK did I just read?! The Family by P.R. Black totally blew me away and I wasn't even expecting it.
What it's about: Becky Morgan has had a rough, to say the least, life; the lone survivor of the brutal murder of her family, it is twenty years later, and the killer still hasn't been caught. Sick of living in fear, Becky decides to start her own hunt for the killer using some less than legal measures to do so. As she digs into murders of families that appear to be connected to her own family's murder, she's about to uncover a whole lot more than she bargained for. Will she be able to catch the killer before he catches her?
I want to say right off the bat that this book is GRUESOME. There are some violent scenes that are sure to give you nightmares if you are that type of person. At the very least it is going to have you looking over your shoulder at night when you're alone. This isn't Karin Slaughter type of gore either, this is like a slasher movie. I would say it would make a supremely scary movie! It is very dark, and very disturbing so consider yourself warned.
I couldn't really connect to Becky but being able to visualize her struggle with life after seeing her family murdered in front of her is something else entirely. I couldn't understand all of the choices she was making, but I could definitely understand some of them. She is a bit of a badass with a sassy mouth and I really liked that about her.
The Family is definitely a book I would consider action-packed, and it gave me chills quite often, but especially when I got towards the end. The end is especially nasty, and I had a hard time reading through it all. It completely surprised me as well, and I would say this is one of those books that will have plenty of twists readers won't see coming. I was at a 4 rating in my head for the majority of the book, but the big twists and the end pushed it all the way up to a 5 for me.
Song it brought to mind: Take Me to Church by Hozier (don't ask me why!)
Final Thought: Even though there is a ton going on, I ended up reading this novel pretty slowly and it took me almost 6 hours to read around 350 pages. I will chalk this up to the content I was reading, and how disturbing the story is. If you are a fan of gory mysteries with disturbing themes, you are going to have to put The Family at the top of your list. I don't even know what kind of imagination you need to have to write this shit, and I cannot FREAKING WAIT to read more from P. R. Black.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
NOTE: I have blog tour post up with a very interesting Q&A with the author. This can be found at https://abookwormwithwine.wordpress.c...
May 1, 2019
I really struggled with this book. It was overly graphic and at times unbelievable. The main character was not at all likeable. I just could not get excited about it at all. I liked the sound of the book but it did not live up to expectations for me.
May 6, 2019
Twenty years ago Becky Morgan’s family was killed while they were on holiday in France. Becky managed to get away and now that it is coming upon the twentieth anniversary of their murder, she wants to find the killer and make him pay. Revenge sets Becky down a dark and twisty path where every turn she makes could be her last.
The Family by P.R. Black is definitely not what I first expected. I thought the story would verge more on a serial killer with more of a slasher movie type vibe, but it is so much more than that. Between ritual killings, the dark web, politicians and the like, the story takes many turns I never ever imagined. The first half of the story really delves into the details and builds the story through a strong foundation. The second half is where most of the action is as there is a race to the finish line t catch a killer. The second half was definitely my favorite part of the story, but I will warn you it does get pretty gory. Which does not both me in the slightest, but many readers may be a bit squeamish
Becky is a pretty badass character even after all she has been through. She does not sleep at night and has dreams of her family being murdered and drinks just to get through the day. Did I find her a little bit too much badass-y? Sure, but this is fiction afterall and sometimes you do have to suspend disbelief especially in some of the scenes she is in. But, Becky is definitely a character you can feel some empathy for.
The Family definitely holds a lot of mystery between its pages and there are some twists I did not see coming. Some of the twists were actually quite shocking. All in all I enjoyed the story and trying to figure out the mystery/killer.
The Family by P.R. Black is definitely not what I first expected. I thought the story would verge more on a serial killer with more of a slasher movie type vibe, but it is so much more than that. Between ritual killings, the dark web, politicians and the like, the story takes many turns I never ever imagined. The first half of the story really delves into the details and builds the story through a strong foundation. The second half is where most of the action is as there is a race to the finish line t catch a killer. The second half was definitely my favorite part of the story, but I will warn you it does get pretty gory. Which does not both me in the slightest, but many readers may be a bit squeamish
Becky is a pretty badass character even after all she has been through. She does not sleep at night and has dreams of her family being murdered and drinks just to get through the day. Did I find her a little bit too much badass-y? Sure, but this is fiction afterall and sometimes you do have to suspend disbelief especially in some of the scenes she is in. But, Becky is definitely a character you can feel some empathy for.
The Family definitely holds a lot of mystery between its pages and there are some twists I did not see coming. Some of the twists were actually quite shocking. All in all I enjoyed the story and trying to figure out the mystery/killer.
May 5, 2019
Oh this book. I think this is a love it or hate it kind of read and here's why. The premise is fantastic - the sole survivor of a horrible crime and potential ritualistic killing. Two decades later she's out to exact revenge.. now it's just a matter of going on this journey with her. For the reader that doesn't like gore and violence, this may not be the book for you. Luckily I'm the reader that likes it. Is it always necessary in a book? Maybe so, maybe not, but honestly you either like it or you don't. I think that's going to make this book a bit divisive... but also... this book gets nuts and a bit convoluted really quickly. Suspend some belief and just enjoy the ride. While sometimes this doesn't work for me, in this particular story, I loved all the crazy.
There are a ton of characters riddled throughout this book. Lots of twists happening throughout that had my head spinning for a bit. This is what I wish there was more of: the background of Becky's family. I think there needed to be a bit more back story for the last part to make a bit more sense. The author definitely surprised me though, I can certainly say that.
I was definitely engaged throughout this story and loved some of the banter. I definitely had a few giggly moments. Giggly moments you say? After you say blood and gore? Well, readers, I'm an odd duck and I loved the underlying humor in some of the dialogue. I'm not even quite sure everyone will pick up on it but I'm glad that I did.
Even with all the twisty bloody craziness, I enjoyed the writing style of the author. While I wish I had felt more for the main character, I thoroughly had fun with following her on this zany journey and will certainly be looking out for Black's next book.
Thank you Aria Fiction for this copy!
There are a ton of characters riddled throughout this book. Lots of twists happening throughout that had my head spinning for a bit. This is what I wish there was more of: the background of Becky's family. I think there needed to be a bit more back story for the last part to make a bit more sense. The author definitely surprised me though, I can certainly say that.
I was definitely engaged throughout this story and loved some of the banter. I definitely had a few giggly moments. Giggly moments you say? After you say blood and gore? Well, readers, I'm an odd duck and I loved the underlying humor in some of the dialogue. I'm not even quite sure everyone will pick up on it but I'm glad that I did.
Even with all the twisty bloody craziness, I enjoyed the writing style of the author. While I wish I had felt more for the main character, I thoroughly had fun with following her on this zany journey and will certainly be looking out for Black's next book.
Thank you Aria Fiction for this copy!
May 2, 2019
Becky Morgan is the only survivor of a horrific ritual killing which killed the rest of her family. The killer was never caught, and twenty years later Becky is set to seek her revenge. Should she avenge her family’s deaths or should old wounds be left sealed.
This is the first book I have read by this author. One of the things that attracted me to this book was the front cover, which gave the book a slightly creepy feel to it. The blurb also sounded just like the type of book I’d like to read. The book started out well with Becky, the main character, working on how to avenge the deaths of all her family some 20 years before. To say it’s been difficult for her over those years is an understatement! I did, however, really like her character and loved the fact that despite her emotional problems, she was still a gutsy and ballsy young woman who took no rubbish from anyone.
The book starts off at a fast pace and if you take your eyes off the action for a second you may find it easy to lose the plot of what’s happening. It does however have a good suspense theme running through it, although for me it did seem to verge on the side of horror at times as opposed to thriller! A word of warning for the squeamish, it is quite gory and gruesome in parts and it’s also quite scary, so if these aren’t your things then it may be best to give this one a miss!
Personally, if I had known it was as graphic as it was I probably wouldn’t have chosen to read it and it was just a little too much for me at times. But on the whole, the story was a gripping read (even if it was from behind the cushion!!) and there were plenty of heart stopping and nail biting moments!! If blood and gore and being scared out of your wits is what you like in a book, then I would definitely recommend it!! Just don’t read it on your own and keep the lights on!
3.5 Stars
This is the first book I have read by this author. One of the things that attracted me to this book was the front cover, which gave the book a slightly creepy feel to it. The blurb also sounded just like the type of book I’d like to read. The book started out well with Becky, the main character, working on how to avenge the deaths of all her family some 20 years before. To say it’s been difficult for her over those years is an understatement! I did, however, really like her character and loved the fact that despite her emotional problems, she was still a gutsy and ballsy young woman who took no rubbish from anyone.
The book starts off at a fast pace and if you take your eyes off the action for a second you may find it easy to lose the plot of what’s happening. It does however have a good suspense theme running through it, although for me it did seem to verge on the side of horror at times as opposed to thriller! A word of warning for the squeamish, it is quite gory and gruesome in parts and it’s also quite scary, so if these aren’t your things then it may be best to give this one a miss!
Personally, if I had known it was as graphic as it was I probably wouldn’t have chosen to read it and it was just a little too much for me at times. But on the whole, the story was a gripping read (even if it was from behind the cushion!!) and there were plenty of heart stopping and nail biting moments!! If blood and gore and being scared out of your wits is what you like in a book, then I would definitely recommend it!! Just don’t read it on your own and keep the lights on!
3.5 Stars
April 8, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of
The Family.
I really wanted to like this one; really, really I did.
But it was just so convoluted and all over the place, not to mention there were moments I could not suspend disbelief for, especially that trite twist in the end. Really?
The premise is right up my alley; two decades ago, Becky Morgan was slaughtered by a sadistic serial killer in which she was the only survivor. Since then, she has been coping with bad dreams, survivor guilt and lots of alcohol.
On the anniversary of the murders, Becky begins an investigation into her family's murders, hiring a hacker to delve into police records.
Soon, her suspicions are validated when she discovers redacted paperwork, missing pages and a political conspiracy that originates from a secret club a la The Skull and Bones Society but for perverts.
To say the plot got convoluted fast is an oversimplification.
At first, it started out okay; Becky finds evidence that this serial murderer has been killing for decades and he may be tied to a bad due in the Russian secret service or some crap like that.
Then, she discovers a link a politician has to this secret club where perverts gather to indulge in their sadistic pleasures.
Then, a friend of hers is brutally slaughtered by the killer, who is omniscient and seems to be everywhere.
I hate this plot device; it rarely works because no one is this brilliant and can be everywhere at once. Not even Dexter. I'm all for intelligent, diabolical villains but make it plausible, rational and believable.
Then, there were the professional problems Becky's dad was dealing with. Becky discovered he had some shady deals he wanted to back out of and his business partner was not on the up and up.
There's a lot going on and it turned into a mess real fast.
As for the identity of the killer...I figured it out when he or she made an appearance. But then I read a lot of books like this so my villain meter is quite well honed.
Still, I couldn't really believe this killer was...this person, you know what I mean? Someone this smart and to also moonlight as a killer just for the heck of it? No, sorry, it was hard for me to buy.
And, for me to swallow that silly twist in the end....yesh.
The author is asking too much of me.
It was contrived and poorly conceived, as if the author wanted to add one more shock just to throw the readers off.
Now, I'm all for shocks and thrills, when its warranted, when it suits the purpose of the story, when it MAKES SENSE.
But this reveal MADE NO SENSE.
There was no exposition as to why this happened, why this person did what he or she did, we are offered no background on Becky's family and how this all came to be.
Oh, and the violence in this book...seriously, was it all necessary?
Look, I have nothing against violence in books or films. I enjoy a Tarantino movie as much as the next person but the gore and sexual violence in this book was really unnecessary.
It didn't add to the story, it moved nothing forward except as something tawdry and gross. It was disgusting and superfluous.
I was apathetic toward Becky; I liked that she didn't take no guff from anyone, she was trained in combat after surviving one of the worst experiences of her life and she was rightly suspicious of most people.
But, I didn't like her. There were aspects of her character I related to but as a person, I couldn't see myself hanging out with her and having a drink, mostly because she needs to join AA and pronto.
The story would have worked with a typical serial killer premise but there were too many cooks in this messy kitchen.
I really wanted to like this one; really, really I did.
But it was just so convoluted and all over the place, not to mention there were moments I could not suspend disbelief for, especially that trite twist in the end. Really?
The premise is right up my alley; two decades ago, Becky Morgan was slaughtered by a sadistic serial killer in which she was the only survivor. Since then, she has been coping with bad dreams, survivor guilt and lots of alcohol.
On the anniversary of the murders, Becky begins an investigation into her family's murders, hiring a hacker to delve into police records.
Soon, her suspicions are validated when she discovers redacted paperwork, missing pages and a political conspiracy that originates from a secret club a la The Skull and Bones Society but for perverts.
To say the plot got convoluted fast is an oversimplification.
At first, it started out okay; Becky finds evidence that this serial murderer has been killing for decades and he may be tied to a bad due in the Russian secret service or some crap like that.
Then, she discovers a link a politician has to this secret club where perverts gather to indulge in their sadistic pleasures.
Then, a friend of hers is brutally slaughtered by the killer, who is omniscient and seems to be everywhere.
I hate this plot device; it rarely works because no one is this brilliant and can be everywhere at once. Not even Dexter. I'm all for intelligent, diabolical villains but make it plausible, rational and believable.
Then, there were the professional problems Becky's dad was dealing with. Becky discovered he had some shady deals he wanted to back out of and his business partner was not on the up and up.
There's a lot going on and it turned into a mess real fast.
As for the identity of the killer...I figured it out when he or she made an appearance. But then I read a lot of books like this so my villain meter is quite well honed.
Still, I couldn't really believe this killer was...this person, you know what I mean? Someone this smart and to also moonlight as a killer just for the heck of it? No, sorry, it was hard for me to buy.
And, for me to swallow that silly twist in the end....yesh.
The author is asking too much of me.
It was contrived and poorly conceived, as if the author wanted to add one more shock just to throw the readers off.
Now, I'm all for shocks and thrills, when its warranted, when it suits the purpose of the story, when it MAKES SENSE.
But this reveal MADE NO SENSE.
There was no exposition as to why this happened, why this person did what he or she did, we are offered no background on Becky's family and how this all came to be.
Oh, and the violence in this book...seriously, was it all necessary?
Look, I have nothing against violence in books or films. I enjoy a Tarantino movie as much as the next person but the gore and sexual violence in this book was really unnecessary.
It didn't add to the story, it moved nothing forward except as something tawdry and gross. It was disgusting and superfluous.
I was apathetic toward Becky; I liked that she didn't take no guff from anyone, she was trained in combat after surviving one of the worst experiences of her life and she was rightly suspicious of most people.
But, I didn't like her. There were aspects of her character I related to but as a person, I couldn't see myself hanging out with her and having a drink, mostly because she needs to join AA and pronto.
The story would have worked with a typical serial killer premise but there were too many cooks in this messy kitchen.
May 2, 2019
A tour de force of a thriller! I absolutely loved this heart-stopping, spine-tingling novel that had me completely and utterly gripped throughout. And hats off for scaring me silly!
May 9, 2019
The ordeal that Rebecca Morgan has to go through is one that I would hope I would never have to go through as it is one terrifying act of brutality. Some of the murders described are gory and violent and shocking. As wrong as it sounds I enjoyed these bits in the book as these bits were straightforward. You knew what you were going to get. Other times in the book I did get confused about where in Europe Becky was. She always travelling and I didn’t know where. There were also shock galore with the big reveal too! I did not seem them coming!
It was also quite scary to think that there was someone out there committing these ritualistic murders all over Europe! Makes you not want to leave your front door.
How Becky is able to function in the morning I will never know. She has had it hard, a lot of therapy, a lot of seeing the end of a bottle and a lot of false names. That is not a life, so by taking her revenge, she is able to start living again. She is strong and she very much likes to take risks and think of the consequences later! I do have to do a shout out to Rupert, loved that guy!
It was quite a rollercoaster of events spreading across Europe, infiltrating the politicians, police and just your average Joe Bloggs! The opening chapter will give you chills, something out of a horror film! The rest is a scary game of cat and mouse and a lot of revelations to be uncovered.
May 17, 2019
This is a deep and dark novel, with noir themes, and graphically described violence. The written imagery is vivid, and the suspense, and level of menace, this story engenders is intense.
Becky is the sole survivor of a horrific, ritualistic murder that robbed her of her close family, and left her, unsurprisingly, traumatised and emotionally damaged. Twenty years on, she is still suffering, despite therapy, and the comfort, sought from the bottom of a bottle. She needs closure and revenge. Spurred on by a cold case investigation, she is determined to find the person who destroyed her family and her chance of a happy life.
So many contemporary themes are covered in this detailed thriller, the dark web, hacking, institutional conspiracy, abuse and murder. Becky is a well-constructed protagonist, flawed because of her emotional damage and reliance on alcohol. She is unreliable but if you accept her faults, you have to admire her determination and strength, to find the killer and expose those who have allowed the killer to remain at large.
The first chapter sets the scene and tone of the book exquisitely. What follows is a detailed investigation to find out the players in the murderous game, and then the pursuit, which is adrenaline-fueled, fast-paced and violent. There are parts of this story that seem unrealistic, but it is fiction, and as such the author is allowed to bend reality a little.
Merging the horror and thriller genres, with a suspenseful mystery, this story will make you think, keep you turning the pages, and lock your doors.
I received a copy of this book from Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Becky is the sole survivor of a horrific, ritualistic murder that robbed her of her close family, and left her, unsurprisingly, traumatised and emotionally damaged. Twenty years on, she is still suffering, despite therapy, and the comfort, sought from the bottom of a bottle. She needs closure and revenge. Spurred on by a cold case investigation, she is determined to find the person who destroyed her family and her chance of a happy life.
So many contemporary themes are covered in this detailed thriller, the dark web, hacking, institutional conspiracy, abuse and murder. Becky is a well-constructed protagonist, flawed because of her emotional damage and reliance on alcohol. She is unreliable but if you accept her faults, you have to admire her determination and strength, to find the killer and expose those who have allowed the killer to remain at large.
The first chapter sets the scene and tone of the book exquisitely. What follows is a detailed investigation to find out the players in the murderous game, and then the pursuit, which is adrenaline-fueled, fast-paced and violent. There are parts of this story that seem unrealistic, but it is fiction, and as such the author is allowed to bend reality a little.
Merging the horror and thriller genres, with a suspenseful mystery, this story will make you think, keep you turning the pages, and lock your doors.
I received a copy of this book from Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
September 8, 2019
I read this book while on a family vacation in a rented house! I really liked the characters and my interest was held throughout. Great book!
July 14, 2019
This book is so good, if you enjoyed Girl with the Dragon Tattoo you will enjoy this one too. Our main character Becky loses her entire family by a crazy killer. She suspects he is killing other families through out Europe. Including a few associates along the way she tries to find the killer even though it has been years since she lost her family.
There is constant action and twists and turns that keep you reading late into night. I only hope that the author writes more cases for Becky to work on.
There is constant action and twists and turns that keep you reading late into night. I only hope that the author writes more cases for Becky to work on.
May 13, 2019
Loved this book, read it in 2 sittings, couldn't wait to find out Whodunnit! The strong female lead character grew on me (I laughed at her swift but exquisite revenge on one unpleasant person, she's certainly ballsy). This book keeps you guessing all the way through, it does make you think about the future use of technology, has enough thrilling darkness to make you want to look over your shoulder as you traipse upstairs to bed and most definitely a few "never saw that coming" moments.
May 14, 2019
This was a fast-paced murder thriller that kept me turning the pages late into the night. It was intelligent and slick with just the right amount of blood and gore. I pride myself in figuring things out along the way but the ending was very clever and I hadn't guessed it. Looking forward to another P R Black book soon! Recommended for fans of Mark Edwards.
May 10, 2019
Not normally a genre I would go for but loved this book!
Gripped right from the start and read it so quickly as I wanted to know what happened next. There are some great twists and surprises throughout. Definitely recommend.
Gripped right from the start and read it so quickly as I wanted to know what happened next. There are some great twists and surprises throughout. Definitely recommend.
June 2, 2019
The book starts in an almost classic fashion – with a flashback to the night Becky Morgan’s family died at the hands of a brutal killer – then does a fast forward to twenty years later, and Becky Morgan as she is today: a deeply troubled personality, somewhere between habitually drunk and hyper alert, a survivor with a death wish, as weary as she’s badass, held upright by sarcasm and pretty much anything she can grab. All we know at first is that she’s the only member of her family who escaped that night. She’s haunted by trauma and nightmares, and a burning need to solve the crime and see justice. Pat does an awesome job painting her character in credible, relatable colors.
In relation to her family’s killer, Becky sees herself as a loose end, expecting, knowing, that he’ll want to tie that end up. So her aim is, to find him before he finds her. Her job as an investigative journalist offers her the means, methods and connections she needs to dig into the past, to unearth the answers to the riddle she needs to solve in order to achieve her goal – Pat’s own journalistic background shines through here; he used to work as an investigative journalist at the start of his career, and it’s obvious he understands the subject. Many questions arise along the way – crazy lunatic or contract killer? Chance killing or deliberate targeting? Lone wolf or group? One time thing or serial killing? Whatever answers you, as a reader, will try to come up with as the story evolves, I assure you they’re going to be wrong. Pat isn’t a guy for linear plots, or predictable story lines.
I’ve read a few reviews over the past days, to check how other people feel about the book, and found two criticisms I thought I might address. One, that it’s pretty graphic. Well. Yes, and no. The killer is brutal, a torturer by nature, so yes, there is mention of some rather gory stuff people might consider unnecessary. But. Pat doesn’t go into describing it all in detail, so if at the end of the day you consider it graphic, you’ll mostly have your own imagination to thank for that. Two, that it’s a bit convoluted, with too many things happening to be real. Granted, there are parts that are slightly chaotic, information that seems to turn up out of the blue, and sudden jumps in location and/or time frame. One the one hand, I’ll admit that I occasionally found myself wishing for less fast a pace, on the other hand, the set-up is fully in line with Becky’s erratic personality. And: Everything happens for a reason. As I said, Pat isn’t a guy for linear plots. You have to pay attention, and, at times, suspend disbelief. The explanation will come. Just don’t expect it to present itself within the next page, or the next chapter.
All in all, I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good fright, and isn’t squeamish. Keep the lights on. Make sure you’re not home alone.
In relation to her family’s killer, Becky sees herself as a loose end, expecting, knowing, that he’ll want to tie that end up. So her aim is, to find him before he finds her. Her job as an investigative journalist offers her the means, methods and connections she needs to dig into the past, to unearth the answers to the riddle she needs to solve in order to achieve her goal – Pat’s own journalistic background shines through here; he used to work as an investigative journalist at the start of his career, and it’s obvious he understands the subject. Many questions arise along the way – crazy lunatic or contract killer? Chance killing or deliberate targeting? Lone wolf or group? One time thing or serial killing? Whatever answers you, as a reader, will try to come up with as the story evolves, I assure you they’re going to be wrong. Pat isn’t a guy for linear plots, or predictable story lines.
I’ve read a few reviews over the past days, to check how other people feel about the book, and found two criticisms I thought I might address. One, that it’s pretty graphic. Well. Yes, and no. The killer is brutal, a torturer by nature, so yes, there is mention of some rather gory stuff people might consider unnecessary. But. Pat doesn’t go into describing it all in detail, so if at the end of the day you consider it graphic, you’ll mostly have your own imagination to thank for that. Two, that it’s a bit convoluted, with too many things happening to be real. Granted, there are parts that are slightly chaotic, information that seems to turn up out of the blue, and sudden jumps in location and/or time frame. One the one hand, I’ll admit that I occasionally found myself wishing for less fast a pace, on the other hand, the set-up is fully in line with Becky’s erratic personality. And: Everything happens for a reason. As I said, Pat isn’t a guy for linear plots. You have to pay attention, and, at times, suspend disbelief. The explanation will come. Just don’t expect it to present itself within the next page, or the next chapter.
All in all, I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good fright, and isn’t squeamish. Keep the lights on. Make sure you’re not home alone.
May 20, 2019
If you’ve ever visited Booksquawk, you are surely familiar with the reviews written by PR Black. They are insightful, oftentimes amusing, and have become the mainstay of the site. As the administrator, I’ve read each and every one of them, and in this way have come to know him. Writers must be readers first and foremost, and of all the reviewers at the Squawk, PR is the most prolific. As a hard-core reader, he has a deep understanding of how a novel should be written, and an uncommon gift for putting that knowledge down on paper. When I heard he’d gotten a book deal from Aria, I was only surprised that it hadn’t happened sooner.
The Family is a dark psychological thriller; not my normal reading fare. I was hesitant to pick it up because I’m easily frightened. Turns out I was right to be worried – this is a nail-biter. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a story that so effectively pulled me – no, that’s not an accurate enough word – ripped, yanked, tore the rug out from under my comfort zone. And while we’re debating the accuracy of descriptive words, let’s talk about what “dark” means in the phrase “dark thriller.” The word informs the prospective reader that the narrative may be explicit and grim. The Family at times is that. It must be in order to convincingly convey the mindset of the killer, giving us authentic glimpses into the unfathomable acts of a degenerate psychopath.
I’m not going to delve too deeply into the plot; there are other reviews that do so. Suffice it to say that the main character, Becky Morgan, the only survivor of the mass slaughter of her entire family, is masterfully depicted as a victim damaged beyond repair with nothing to lose. Her single-minded goal of catching the killer takes us on a wild ride across Europe as she pursues clues obtained from the dark web. Her character development is skillfully executed. Therapy has allowed her to live a somewhat normal life – the dialog is even humorous at times – but scratch the surface to reveal a personality so hell-bent on revenge that she’s willing to risk the lives of those she’s enlisted to aid her in her quest.
The description of place is deftly handled, and the narrative is fast paced. The ending twists and turns like a writhing snake, with a surprising yet plausible finale.
Highly recommended.
The Family is a dark psychological thriller; not my normal reading fare. I was hesitant to pick it up because I’m easily frightened. Turns out I was right to be worried – this is a nail-biter. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a story that so effectively pulled me – no, that’s not an accurate enough word – ripped, yanked, tore the rug out from under my comfort zone. And while we’re debating the accuracy of descriptive words, let’s talk about what “dark” means in the phrase “dark thriller.” The word informs the prospective reader that the narrative may be explicit and grim. The Family at times is that. It must be in order to convincingly convey the mindset of the killer, giving us authentic glimpses into the unfathomable acts of a degenerate psychopath.
I’m not going to delve too deeply into the plot; there are other reviews that do so. Suffice it to say that the main character, Becky Morgan, the only survivor of the mass slaughter of her entire family, is masterfully depicted as a victim damaged beyond repair with nothing to lose. Her single-minded goal of catching the killer takes us on a wild ride across Europe as she pursues clues obtained from the dark web. Her character development is skillfully executed. Therapy has allowed her to live a somewhat normal life – the dialog is even humorous at times – but scratch the surface to reveal a personality so hell-bent on revenge that she’s willing to risk the lives of those she’s enlisted to aid her in her quest.
The description of place is deftly handled, and the narrative is fast paced. The ending twists and turns like a writhing snake, with a surprising yet plausible finale.
Highly recommended.
July 21, 2019
This is probably one of the most frightening books I ever read and it’s safe to say if you love a thriller with the most evil bad guys then look no further then this. The story begins with a gripping opening chapter that is truly unnerving and quickly becomes even more unnerving the more we learn about the main character , her past , and her life now . Few books can carry off a frightening plot for the full duration of a book but this author did it for real . We get glimpses of Becky’s past and there is plenty of descriptions of the crimes in the book and they are not for the faint of heart , the author takes the reader on a terrifying rollercoaster of emotions where every chapter unleashes new horrors and the main characters strength is put to the test . This is a book that you won’t forget .
I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Netgalley and Aria Fiction .
I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Netgalley and Aria Fiction .
August 18, 2019
Paint It Black!
I’ve long been an admirer of Black’s writing in his short stories and novellas, particularly those that are set in his home territory of the West of Scotland. I’ve laughed and cried and stood back in amazement when reading them. Sometimes I’ve even thought of calling the Polis! This book, I believe, is his first published foray into noveldom, a foray which he has accomplished big-time and in style. The Family is a dark (verging on black) and complex tale of a serial killer’s victim seeking revenge. It is not for the squeamish. Yet, underpinning the writing is Black’s hallmark wry humour, as conveyed through the feisty, troubled Becky, a lady I’d always want to be on my side. A highly satisfying and highly recommended debut novel. But I do have a question for Mr Black: When will we see The Great Scottish Novel?
I’ve long been an admirer of Black’s writing in his short stories and novellas, particularly those that are set in his home territory of the West of Scotland. I’ve laughed and cried and stood back in amazement when reading them. Sometimes I’ve even thought of calling the Polis! This book, I believe, is his first published foray into noveldom, a foray which he has accomplished big-time and in style. The Family is a dark (verging on black) and complex tale of a serial killer’s victim seeking revenge. It is not for the squeamish. Yet, underpinning the writing is Black’s hallmark wry humour, as conveyed through the feisty, troubled Becky, a lady I’d always want to be on my side. A highly satisfying and highly recommended debut novel. But I do have a question for Mr Black: When will we see The Great Scottish Novel?
December 14, 2022
Phew!!! Wow!!! What an amazing book full of drama tension and darkness…
Becky Morgan escapes when the rest of her family are murdered by a seriously disturbed psychopath. But 20 years on Becky is out to find the killer and bring them to justice, but the neither she gets the more she puts her life in danger and the lives of the people around her.
Being the journalist that Becky is she digs deep to get to the truth and discovers similar family massacres throughout Europe
Is the killer of Becky’s family responsible for all these massacres, what is his motive or is he just clearly deranged?
Who can Becky actually trust, Who is out to get her?
At times this is a very dark read but brilliant…
Just when I thought I had it all worked out came a massive twist I did not see coming. Fast paced and gritty I cannot wait to read or should I say listen to more books from this brilliant author.
Massive shout out for the stunningly absolutely brilliant audiobook narration!!
Becky Morgan escapes when the rest of her family are murdered by a seriously disturbed psychopath. But 20 years on Becky is out to find the killer and bring them to justice, but the neither she gets the more she puts her life in danger and the lives of the people around her.
Being the journalist that Becky is she digs deep to get to the truth and discovers similar family massacres throughout Europe
Is the killer of Becky’s family responsible for all these massacres, what is his motive or is he just clearly deranged?
Who can Becky actually trust, Who is out to get her?
At times this is a very dark read but brilliant…
Just when I thought I had it all worked out came a massive twist I did not see coming. Fast paced and gritty I cannot wait to read or should I say listen to more books from this brilliant author.
Massive shout out for the stunningly absolutely brilliant audiobook narration!!
April 7, 2019
Becky was the only survivor of the horrific and ritualistic killing of her entire family. Injured and terrified she saw her opportunity to run and she did. Rescued by a man in the woods.
Adult Becky is doing everything she can to find out who the killer was and why he hasn't been found. But when her digging starts getting people who help her killed in horrible ways, she doesn't stop, she just goes harder. Not knowing who to trust may just get her killed herself before she can find out the truth.
This was a very explicit and horrifying read. As a character I didn't care for Becky. But I did not see that ending!
NetGalley/ May 2nd 2019 by Aria
Adult Becky is doing everything she can to find out who the killer was and why he hasn't been found. But when her digging starts getting people who help her killed in horrible ways, she doesn't stop, she just goes harder. Not knowing who to trust may just get her killed herself before she can find out the truth.
This was a very explicit and horrifying read. As a character I didn't care for Becky. But I did not see that ending!
NetGalley/ May 2nd 2019 by Aria
May 20, 2019
*5 Stars*
Copy kindly received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really good read. There were interesting and mentally sick characters. I found Becky to be a very determined character and in the end she got what she wanted. What a shock it would have been re her sister though.
Recommend this one.
Copy kindly received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really good read. There were interesting and mentally sick characters. I found Becky to be a very determined character and in the end she got what she wanted. What a shock it would have been re her sister though.
Recommend this one.
July 2, 2022
Crazy Thriller!
April 15, 2019
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview The Family by PR Black.
Twenty years ago and terrible event occurred - An entire family was murdered - but there was one survivior, Becky.
The murders were not solved, and now Becky is trying to find out who did this to her family. Will she get what she is looking for - comfort in finding the killer(s), or will she continue to struggle with no satisfaction.
This is a tough read - explicit and scary. Good twist at the end.
3 stars.
Twenty years ago and terrible event occurred - An entire family was murdered - but there was one survivior, Becky.
The murders were not solved, and now Becky is trying to find out who did this to her family. Will she get what she is looking for - comfort in finding the killer(s), or will she continue to struggle with no satisfaction.
This is a tough read - explicit and scary. Good twist at the end.
3 stars.
September 3, 2020
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I thought it would be good, but man, it really pulled me in. It involves Becky, the sole survivor of her family's horrible ritualistic killings. Now a journalist, she's taking time off at the twentieth anniversary of the crime to travel and hunt for the killer who destroyed her family and who has eluded the authorities for so long. She suspects he has killed others and has escaped justice because he is well-connected to high-ranking authorities who cover his tracks.
The story can get pretty gory but somehow it works fine with the narrative and doesn't feel like it's written purely to shock or exploit. The characters are well-developed and realistic even though Becky can come across a little too 'Look at what a badass I am' sometimes. There's a lot of detail involving hacking and the dark web and for me personally, those parts could get a little hard to follow. There are good twists right up until the very end that should delight even the most seasoned mystery lover. Definitely not a book to miss!
The story can get pretty gory but somehow it works fine with the narrative and doesn't feel like it's written purely to shock or exploit. The characters are well-developed and realistic even though Becky can come across a little too 'Look at what a badass I am' sometimes. There's a lot of detail involving hacking and the dark web and for me personally, those parts could get a little hard to follow. There are good twists right up until the very end that should delight even the most seasoned mystery lover. Definitely not a book to miss!
January 2, 2022
Don’t actually know where to start with this one. When I started it had me gripped and the storyline had such potential but as it went one I couldn’t wait to finish it. It just dragged out with no major surprises as in you wanted to keep turning the page. I got to the stage where I just wanted to get to the end and see what it was all about. Then when I did there was actually no basis to the storyline if that makes sense as so much could have been explained in more details. Wouldn’t recommend if it’s a gripping page turner your after.
December 10, 2020
This was so weird
This book was not great. Didn’t like anyone. Wish they all got beheaded. So stupid. Not one to review but wasted time reading this until the end. Had to because it was so weird.
This book was not great. Didn’t like anyone. Wish they all got beheaded. So stupid. Not one to review but wasted time reading this until the end. Had to because it was so weird.
May 5, 2019
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fast psychological thriller about the only survivor of a gruesome ritual killing and her struggle with this memory and the fact that they have never found the guy who did it. When Becky begins to make some serious connections with similar crimes across Europe her hunt for the killer begins and we're along for that ride.
I struggled with this book for many reasons. Were it not for Black's, as I said, fast-paced writing, I might've DNF'ed this novel. I didn't enjoy any of the characters. They were either bland or not relatable. The killer was probably my favorite because at least he had a real agenda and an interesting personality. The premise of the book sounded intriguing but ended up being nothing novel or unique. The only thing I believe the author did well (and the reason why this book earned any stars) was how he portrayed the cascading effects of such a murder: the frustration of the police officers for not being able to crack this case, the emotional turmoil of the boy who found Becky back then when she escaped the killer, and of course, Becky's struggles to fit into society and have a normal day-to-day life. If Black would've expanded on that and left out many of the unnecessary plot events, this would've been a far better book. And that brings me to the actual plot line. Jeez, were there too many unbelievable plot revelations. How can so many things happen and it be real? I just could not get into that plotline. I could not suspend disbelief. Most of all though, the ending was such a letdown. That plot twist could not be more overdone.
This is a fast psychological thriller about the only survivor of a gruesome ritual killing and her struggle with this memory and the fact that they have never found the guy who did it. When Becky begins to make some serious connections with similar crimes across Europe her hunt for the killer begins and we're along for that ride.
I struggled with this book for many reasons. Were it not for Black's, as I said, fast-paced writing, I might've DNF'ed this novel. I didn't enjoy any of the characters. They were either bland or not relatable. The killer was probably my favorite because at least he had a real agenda and an interesting personality. The premise of the book sounded intriguing but ended up being nothing novel or unique. The only thing I believe the author did well (and the reason why this book earned any stars) was how he portrayed the cascading effects of such a murder: the frustration of the police officers for not being able to crack this case, the emotional turmoil of the boy who found Becky back then when she escaped the killer, and of course, Becky's struggles to fit into society and have a normal day-to-day life. If Black would've expanded on that and left out many of the unnecessary plot events, this would've been a far better book. And that brings me to the actual plot line. Jeez, were there too many unbelievable plot revelations. How can so many things happen and it be real? I just could not get into that plotline. I could not suspend disbelief. Most of all though, the ending was such a letdown. That plot twist could not be more overdone.
April 14, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published 5/2/19.
Becky is the lone survivor after her parents and two siblings are the victims of a ritualistic killing. Now an adult, Becky suffers permanent emotional damage because of her horrible ordeal as a child but she’s determined to find their killer and get her revenge.
All in all I did like this book. It definitely had the mystery aspect going for it. There were some heart-pounding scenes. And there were was a good twist.
The story started of great. The problem for me is that it quickly became a complicated story that was all over the place which made it hard to keep track of the details. And dialogue! There were so many clumps of long dialogue between two, and sometimes three, characters that it got challenging to keep track of who was speaking. I found myself thinking, “ok let’s get to the point” many times. The dialogue just needs to be more broken apart and less detailed.
I really did like Becky. She was a sarcastic and headstrong character. She took no crap and was tough as nails.
The big chunks of detailed dialogue and the story becoming so complicated is what took a lot away from it for me. I really wanted to love it. But everyone is different when it comes to what they like or dislike in a book. Still, give this book a shot.
Becky is the lone survivor after her parents and two siblings are the victims of a ritualistic killing. Now an adult, Becky suffers permanent emotional damage because of her horrible ordeal as a child but she’s determined to find their killer and get her revenge.
All in all I did like this book. It definitely had the mystery aspect going for it. There were some heart-pounding scenes. And there were was a good twist.
The story started of great. The problem for me is that it quickly became a complicated story that was all over the place which made it hard to keep track of the details. And dialogue! There were so many clumps of long dialogue between two, and sometimes three, characters that it got challenging to keep track of who was speaking. I found myself thinking, “ok let’s get to the point” many times. The dialogue just needs to be more broken apart and less detailed.
I really did like Becky. She was a sarcastic and headstrong character. She took no crap and was tough as nails.
The big chunks of detailed dialogue and the story becoming so complicated is what took a lot away from it for me. I really wanted to love it. But everyone is different when it comes to what they like or dislike in a book. Still, give this book a shot.
May 7, 2019
::..Reviewed for Red's Midnight Readers..::
I was very kindly offered an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review and I have given it 3.5 stars.
Becky is the lone survivor of a pretty horrific murder, that saw 3 members of her family butchered at the hands of a sadist.
20 years later and the case has gone cold and Becky is out to uncover the truth once and for all.
This book started out really strong, in fact I had started it late at night and the first chapter gave me the chills so bad, I had to put it down or else I would never have to sleep that night. However for me, the story seemed to wane a bit after this. Becky was incredibly unlikable and I really struggled to get on board with her, despite her tragic past. The story seemed to jump about a bit and there were characters being introduced left, right and center and I often had a hard time trying to remember who was who.
However, the second half of this book dramatically picked up pace and a lot seemed to be happening, which pulled me into the story and I found myself enjoying the story once again. I did not expect it to end the way it did and the author did a really good job of keeping me guessing throughout!
I was very kindly offered an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review and I have given it 3.5 stars.
Becky is the lone survivor of a pretty horrific murder, that saw 3 members of her family butchered at the hands of a sadist.
20 years later and the case has gone cold and Becky is out to uncover the truth once and for all.
This book started out really strong, in fact I had started it late at night and the first chapter gave me the chills so bad, I had to put it down or else I would never have to sleep that night. However for me, the story seemed to wane a bit after this. Becky was incredibly unlikable and I really struggled to get on board with her, despite her tragic past. The story seemed to jump about a bit and there were characters being introduced left, right and center and I often had a hard time trying to remember who was who.
However, the second half of this book dramatically picked up pace and a lot seemed to be happening, which pulled me into the story and I found myself enjoying the story once again. I did not expect it to end the way it did and the author did a really good job of keeping me guessing throughout!
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