Death in the Family

Shana Merchant #1

by Tessa Wegert

A storm-struck island. A blood-soaked bed. A missing man. Senior Investigator Shana Merchant believes it all adds up to a killer in their midst—and that murder is a family affair.

Thirteen months ago, former NYPD detective Shana Merchant barely survived being abducted by a serial killer. Now hoping to leave grisly murder cases behind, she's taken a job in her fiancé's sleepy hometown in the Thousand Islands region of Upstate New York.

But as a nor'easter bears down on her new territory, Shana and fellow investigator Tim Wellington receive a call about a man missing on a private island. Shana and Tim travel to the isolated island owned by the wealthy Sinclair family to question the witnesses. They arrive to find blood on the scene and a house full of Sinclair family and friends on edge.

While Tim guesses they're dealing with a runaway case, Shana is convinced that they have a murder on their hands. As the gale intensifies outside, she starts conducting interviews and discovers the Sinclairs and their guests are crawling with dark and dangerous secrets.

Trapped on the island by the raging storm with only Tim whose reliability is thrown into question, the increasingly restless suspects, and her own trauma-fueled flashbacks for company, Shana will have to trust the one person her abduction destroyed her faith in—herself. But time is ticking down, because if Shana's right, a killer is in their midst and as the pressure mounts, so do the odds that they'll strike again.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Suspense

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 18, 2020

About the author

Tessa Wegert is the critically acclaimed author of the Shana Merchant mysteries, as well as the North Country series. Her books have received numerous starred reviews and have been featured on PBS and NPR Radio. A former journalist and copywriter, Tessa grew up in Quebec and now lives with her husband and children in Connecticut, where she co-founded Sisters in Crime CT and serves on the board of International Thriller Writers (ITW).

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"That muscle again. It slid beneath the surface of his skin like an eel in shallow water."

Former NYPD detective Shana Merchant took her position at Thousand Islands to escape the haunting events from thirteen months ago - where she was knocked down to a shell of her former self.

This sleepy little town was supposed to provide Shana a chance to heal - but then she and her new partner, Tim, get a call to the private Sinclair family island.

"Murder's what the family wants to call it."

Abby wakes up to a pool of blood where her boyfriend, Jasper Sinclair, laid beside her last night.

But there's no body.

"You've got to have a theory. People don't just disappear."

Shana and Tim quickly arrive on seen only to become stranded with the rest of the Sinclair family as a nor'easter blows in.

Cut off from the mainland, the experts and even the most rudimentary of supplies, it's up to Shana and Tim to figure out who committed the murder before the killer has chance to melt away.

"It always bothers me when a victim's family and friends describe them as perfect in every way. What's the implication there, that their beauty was too much for the killer to handle?"

As Shana gets closer to figuring out the murderer, the more prevalent the traumatizing flashbacks become.

With reality and her memories fighting for dominance - will she be able to find the murderer? Will she even be able to hold it together?

"It was the kind of thing a person would go to great lengths to bury. So who wielded the shovel"

Whewwwww.

I really haven't been hit with a roller coaster of a book like this in a long time.

Started off 3 stars.

25% through and it dropped to 2 (maybe even one star).

50-60% it was back up to 4 stars and the ending was a solid 5 stars .

What worked:

I really loved the atmosphere of the book - with the rich, snooty family trapped on a private island. The swell of the storm, the downpour of the rain, the bone-chilling cold.

It all drew me completely into the story.

I was also deeply intrigued by the mystery of Shana's past - I truly wish it had more of a role in the beginning of the book because it would have really picked up the slow sptos.

What kind of worked:

The characters. I liked how each one of them is terrible in their own way and so many suspects really made the plot interesting...however, there were (I think) too many side characters.

It was difficult for me to keep track of them and I didn't really care about half of them. By the end of the book, I liked (or at least enjoyed them when they came on the page) about 2/3 of them.

But in those first few hundred pages where we don't know them and most of them just seem to just hang out and be *there* until Shana interviews them and the side-characters begin to have a personality.

What didn't work:

The pacing of the book really threw me off.

The beginning of the book really hooked me - it had a fabulous premise and the setup was fabulous.

But then, for about a hundred pages - there are things that are happening but they just didn't hold my interest. I honestly nearly DNF'ed the book because I just had a hard time caring about what happened.

Which, honestly, is a bit of a weird problem for me - that pretty much never happens and I have a hard time pinpointing what didn't work. I think there was too much build and not enough action.

But then, the book started to turn around and I literally could not put this one down.

Overall

Definitely liked it - but be aware of the slump that happens.

Also, shout out to Tucker the Reader for being my buddy-reader for this one!

With thanks to the author and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review

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[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is another early, surprising, twisty, riveting, dark, mind-bending, whodunit gift for me makes me sing Christmas Carol songs louder lalalalala!

In the beginning I was expecting I had a three stars, mostly four stars ordinary reading. A small town murder mystery with too much Christie vibes, dark and rainy atmosphere you may see at Norwegian dramas or Fincher movies(just remember bloody “Seven”, rain never stopped till the last scene.), investigators have different methods, coming from different backgrounds.

Two detectives (not Poirot and Marple) Shana and Tim trapped in a house with notorious, dislikeable, spineless family members, investigating disappearance of Sinclair family’s young son Jasper. His girlfriend finds his side of bed empty. Okay correction! Not empty! His side of the bed is COVERED IN BLOOD. Is it getting interesting? Let’s continue to flip the pages because it’s getting more interesting in each second.

So let’s look at Jasper’s family members:

Camilla Sinclair: Only likeable character, getting weaker each day, suffering from big C, truly loves Jasper and has no idea about great schemes are orchestrated by rest of her evil grandsons and granddaughter. 

Flynn Sinclair: Big brother, typical asshole, having anger management issues, violent past, potential alcoholic, correction he’s alcoholic and mean. Seems like a potential killer, hah?

Abella Beaudry: Jasper’s girlfriend. She is jobless, having issues with her visa to stay in the US, trying to get a job at the family company (at least with Flynn says to the detectives) and she may have had a big argument with Jasper before he is gone missing. How a person cannot hear anything when sharing a bed with somebody who is possibly stabbed to death and carried outside the room! Even I don’t sleep so deep! (I had missed two  largest earthquakes, but I had been so tired at those days!) She could be also a killer, right?

Caretaker Mr. Norton: He stays too long with the family. Camilla considers him as a family member. He seems like he holds something back. He keeps some secret. Could he be the killer? He gives us creepy vibes!

Ned: Flynn’s boyfriend who wants to leave him and he has a secret relationship with Flynn’s sister! Yesss this is not a regular episode of Young and Restless or Bold and Beautiful, we’re still introduced to scumbag characters.

 Ned thinks Jasper sees him with his sister and he can tell it to Flynn. Could it be a reason to kill anyone? Maybe…

And sister Bebe (Nope we are not talking about women’s retail brand. I think it is short for 2B a.k.a. BIG BITCH because she is the bitchiest character and so many times I asked myself which one of them were more irritating? Flynn or her?) cheating sister, manipulative, pretentious, sneaky. Could she kill her own brother for his share of inheritance. Of course she could.

Jade, Bebe’s problematic stepdaughter, 14, in love with Jasper, is spying on people. Could she want to avenge Jasper because he doesn’t love her back? Maybe…

Miles: Husband of Bebe, seems like cool guy, is about to divorce his cheater wife, taking care of his daughter. But he is also hiding something, making suspicious comments about everyone, hating the family members truly. So is he another potential suspect? Why not?

And of course everyone detectives’ characters are impeccably developed, well-rounded. Shana is the heroine, suffering from traumatic past. She was kidnapped by serial killer and luckily found by rookie cop who died at the basement she’d kept. A killer ran away without leaving a trace. Shana could have killed him. But she had let him go. Why? Was she typical Stockholm Syndrome victim and now she has an unhealthy relationship with her obsessive control freak fiancée who insists to resign and not to believe the lies of Tim?

And Tim, charming, social, political, talkative local boy who insists Shana’s fiancée is manipulating dangerous man who tried to ruin his career and now he is playing mind games with Shana?

Who is telling the truth? What is Shana’s biggest secret she cannot share with anybody! And most importantly who the hell killer is?

Mysterious, riveting, heart throbbing page turner ends with a surprising cliffhanger makes you wanna pray that author may write the sequel urgently. I want to read more! I want to learn the big secret of Shana!

I also enjoy to see the chemistry of these two polar opposites! So please I want the second book ASAP! Period.

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[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The beginning. Where was that exactly? Nowhere I wanted to take a stranger, even if he did smell nice. But maybe I could go back partway, just far enough to make him happy. Back to a limestone building on East Fifth Street, and a day that grabbed me by the throat and still hasn't let go."

Hear ye, hear ye, all my mystery loving friends of the Agatha Christie variety: this one's for you. I know that the subtle, slow paced mystery has taken a backseat to the flashy psychological thriller over the past decade, but I am here to tell you that quality writing never goes out of style, and quality writing is precisely what I found in Tessa Wegert's Death in the Family. It's not in your face by promising "a twist that you most definitely will not see coming", and while our protagonist is flawed and working through some issues, she is not plagued by the rampant wave of alcoholic blackouts and wimpy stamina that brings about a whiny heroine. I've been begging for a strong female lead to become the norm in crime thrillers again, and this is a great start in what I'm sure will become a new favorite series of mine.



In Death in the Family, we are blessed with not one, but two cases of criminal behavior to work through. Right in the prologue, and also in the synopsis of the book, we are informed that Shana Merchant was abducted by a serial killer 13 months ago and somehow survived. This will likely be the continuing thread for the series, at least for a little while, and we do get bits and pieces of how she was abducted and her time spent with the killer; however, this one does leave a few questions unanswered. I felt this type of mini-cliffhanger was extremely well done, and not a put off but a way of enticing me to read the next book in the series. The second case, the present day crime, is a missing person who appears to be in grave danger, due to the amount of blood left in his bed. Shana and her partner, Tim, barely make it to the island, and realize that they will have to work the case alone due to the terrible storm surging around this island of wealth and privilege.

What I loved most about this book is the updated twist on the classic locked room mystery. It's by far my favorite crime fiction trope, partly due to the marriage of slow building suspense and established character development that it requires to be well done. While psychological thrillers tend to try and pull a trick from thin air in the hopes to shock you beyond your wildest dreams, this traditional tale takes the cast that is trapped on the island and convinces the reader that each character is as guilty, and as likely to be a culprit, as the next. I truly had no idea how this book would wrap up until the final reveal, and because the author did such a good job distributing equal amounts of shady behavior and transgressions amongst the cast, I didn't feel disappointed that there was no outrageous explantation that I hadn't thought of. This brilliant form of slow growing suspense allowed me to fully settle in to solve this case alongside Shana without my interest waning in the least.

Obviously Det. Merchant has some issues, what with being kidnapped by a serial killer and being held captive for roughly a week. I can't go into too many details surrounding this portion of the book, because spoilers, but suffice it to say that the growth arc that Shana develops over the length of the book is phenomenal. She makes a decision nearing the finale of the book involving her personal life that I applaud the author for choosing to write about; so few authors tend to portray a female successfully escaping an unhealthy relationship, and we need more of this! Themes like that, paired with a strong female friendship and developing trust with people after a traumatic event are also explored here, which makes my heart incredibly happy. Obviously there's a little nugget of WTF at the tail end of the story; otherwise, how would you be hooked to read the next book? Overall, I'm delighted that I picked up this book, and the sequel is automatically on my most anticipated list for whenever it gets published.

*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert is a 2020 Berkley publication.

Fantastic locked room mystery with a dark edge!

The premise for this novel sounded good- just the kind of mystery I like. But I was in for a huge surprise when this book turned out to be one of my favorite mysteries of the year so far!

Shana Merchant has moved to upstate New York, to her fiance’s hometown, after a traumatic close call with a serial killer, while working as a detective with the NYPD.

Now working in a smaller territory, with her partner, Tim Wellington, a call comes in that a man has gone missing on a private island. Upon arrival, Shana and Tim find blood on the scene and are welcomed by the wealthy and nervous, Sinclair family. Yet, Tim is not really alarmed, suspecting a runaway case. But Shana thinks there is something far more sinister going on and that the Sinclair family may have a lot to answer for.

As Shauna works to uncover the truth, she also begins to face some hard truths in her own life...


It was a dark and stormy night...

No, this setup never grows old for me. As a pure mystery lover, locked room mysteries are my favorite- if they are done right.

Despite the comparisons to Agatha Christie, which are hard to ignore, this book is much edgier and atmospheric. Once I started it, I did not want to put in down. Everyone is a suspect- and I do mean everyone- which means the only person Shauna can depend on is herself. But, after her experience in New York, her confidence has taken a huge hit.

Even Shauna's fiance is less than supportive or encouraging, continually pushing for her dependence on him, rather than on herself, planting seeds of doubt. But she must rise to the occasion, and I enjoyed watching her character development, becoming stronger and wiser, while gradually revealing a complexity that was not evident at first.

The pacing is spot on, the suspense taut, and guessing game works the way a great mystery should- by keeping me guessing and on my toes! A few surprise revelations don't hurt either- and this book just happens to have a nice little last minute addition that will leave you wanting more, and eagerly anticipating the next book in the series!!

5 stars!

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here we go…A good ole’ fashioned who done it!

The Sinclair family have gathered together on Fern Island one last time. They’ve come to pay respects to the matriarch of the family, Camilla. Her health is failing quickly and this may be the last time the family will all be together. But now, as if that weren’t enough, one family member goes missing, leaving nothing behind but a pool of blood. Naturally, the police are called to assist.

A family drama that will make you appreciate your own family.

Shana Merchant is new to a small town police department. But she’s no rookie cop. Shana was once a rising star detective serving with none other than the NYPD. She recently handled a case that left her reeling, scarred and questioning her own abilities. Now she finds herself stranded on an island with her partner Tim, and a family coming apart at the seams. But Shana is here to do a job. She just doesn’t know if she can keep it together long enough to solve this disappearance.

Tessa Wegert writes a cleverly developed mystery that will keep you second-guessing throughout. There was something very compelling about this book that kept me totally captivated right from the start.

The characters all carry distinct voices. My favorite was of course Shana Merchant. A very strong and forceful character. I also enjoyed her interaction with her colleague Tim. I'm looking forward to see their partnership develop.

Shana's haunting past was brought up frequently – leading me to believe I must’ve walked into the middle of a series. But no, this is book one and all your questions regarding our lead detective will be answered.

A buddy read with Susanne. We both found ourselves shocked that this is a debut! And we will definitely be picking up the next in the series!

Thank you to Elisha at Berkley Publishing for an ARC to read and review.

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shana Merchant, a veteran Police Detective, recently transferred from the NYPD to a Department in a quiet town in the Thousand Lakes region of Upstate New York.

After being involved in a horrific incident where she was abducted by a serial killer, Shana felt like she needed to get out of the city. When her fiancé suggested moving back to his hometown, she readily agreed.



They believe by moving to a smaller community, she will be dealing with less violent crime and therefore may have an easier time coping with her return to work. Statistically, they're correct.

When Shana and her new partner, Tim Wellington, get called to a private island to investigate a missing person case, however, she feels those old anxieties begin to stir.



The island is owned by the wealthy Sinclair family, who made their fortune in American textiles.

Numerous family members are on the island for the weekend, when Jasper Sinclair goes missing in the middle of the night. Not only does he go missing, but the bed he was sleeping in was left drenched in blood.



It's clear to Shana and Tim that Jasper has not left of his own volition. How would he have? It's an island and all the boats are accounted for?

When a vicious storm hits, Shana and Tim become stranded as well, and everyone remaining is now a suspect.



This is a classically arranged locked-room mystery, a la Dame Agatha Christie. As many of you may already know, this is my absolute favorite mystery trope.

I was swept up in this story from the very start and could hardly set it down before reaching the conclusion; literally, I read it in a day.



The Sinclair family, from the matriarch down to the youngest among them, felt completely real and each distinct in their own way.

I loved the toxic family dynamics and watching all their dirty little secrets come to light.



The pacing was fantastic to keep me intrigued the entire way through.

Although I felt a little let down by the actual whodunit; I can't really explain why, I was just hoping it was a bit more devious than it ended up being, I genuinely enjoyed my time with this novel.



I really like Shana as a protagonist. She is a complex character and I cannot wait to find out more about her in the next novel.

This one left off at a fantastic spot as far as a lead into a sequel. I am truly chomping at the bit to get into the next installment.



If you enjoy a taut, locked-room mystery with heavy Christie vibes, you should absolutely check out this one out!!!

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot Golden Diggity Dang! This is one well written, exciting modern-day take to the locked room /impossible crime mystery. If you are looking for something a little different from those dark and twisted thrillers that is well-plotted and draws you into an interesting puzzle to solve, this is one not to be missed.

This was another pleasant surprise for me from the stack of not our normal books Elisha from Berkley sends our way. When that happens, I am like this excited kid running around with a big bag of candy, wanting to share it with everyone who will come and chat about all the different flavours in the bag with me.

The story has the elements of an impossible crime mystery here and is not your typical shocking twisty read. There are no shocking reveals or turns that will come out of nowhere to surprise you. It follows the classic detective fiction with a locked room crime. Tessa Wegert masterfully presents us with a puzzle and clues to solve a mystery before the dramatic solution is revealed in the end by our Senior Investigator Shana Merchant.

You can't spell family without lies and secrets and Shana needs to level up to figure out who is hiding what dirty and messy secrets in what laundry basket that are hidden away in the closets of these eccentric characters. The members of this family are not the only monsters here that are trapped in this moody, stormy private island. Shana has an inner monster from her past that adds some tension and suspense to the story.

I missed some clues along the way and didn't solve all the pieces to this puzzle and needed Shana to pull it all together for me in the end. I thought the mystery came together so fun and exciting but what I loved the most is how I am left wanting to know so much more about Shana and her past. I can't wait for the next one in this series.

[Norma ~ The Sisters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atmospheric, compelling, & characteristic!

DEATH IN THE FAMILY (Shana Merchant #1) by TESSA WEGERT is a gripping, thrilling, dark, twisty, and entertaining whodunit locked-room mystery that was an absolute pleasure to read. Right from the get go I knew that I was going to thoroughly enjoy this one. It has this classic whodunit vibe going on here that I find so appealing and absolutely love.

The mystery takes us to a remote private island and has this absolutely perfect story setting. I loved the dark, dreary, and rainy atmosphere.

TESSA WEGERT delivers a slow burn, classic, well-crafted, and well-written read here that builds suspense and intrigue slowly as the story progresses. It was quite the effective way to envelop me fully into this mystery and I absolutely loved the unsettling feeling that this produced. Even though the story has a large cast of characters I didn’t find myself confused once at keeping them all straight. Our main character here, detective Shana Merchant is a strong flawed female lead, and she has her own story to tell here. Which leaves us with unanswered questions but definitely entices us and leads us into the forthcoming books in this series.

Norma’s Stats:
Cover: An intriguing, eye-catching, bleak, claustrophobic, revelant, and fitting representation to storyline.
Title: Intriguing, foreboding, worrisome, straightforward, and a fitting representation to storyline.
Writing/Prose: Well-written, gripping, engaging, readable, and suspenseful. I absolutely loved the writing style!
Plot: Intriguing, mysterious, suspenseful, slow burn, unsettling, atmospheric, entertaining, captivating, intense, dark, and steadily-paced.
Ending: A surprising, exciting, pleasing, and satisfying conclusion.
Overall: I pretty much found myself suspicious of almost every character and honestly when we got to the reveal I was totally taken by surprise. Well played! I highly recommend it!

Thank you so much to Elisha from Berkley Publishing for the ARC.

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

An Island off of the Coast of New York. A Missing Man. A Blood Soaked Bed. A House full of wholly unlikeable suspects.

Investigators Shana Merchant and Tim Wellington are tasked with finding out what happened to Jasper Sinclair. Was he murdered or did he leave the Island of his own accord?

Shana Merchant is highly suspicious - but then she has her reasons. Having suffered from an extremely traumatic past, her only solace is her ability to throw herself into her work. This case is a doozy and it will take everything she’s got.

Every suspect has secrets. Secrets they’d like to keep hidden. Are those secrets worth harming someone for?

Danger surrounds in this locked room mystery. It is dark, ominous and foreboding. No one is safe. You can run all you want, but in this instance, you can’t run far enough away from danger and you sure as heck can’t hide.

Full of tension and fraught with mystery and suspense, “A Death in the Family” is a stellar pulse pounding character driven thriller that is sure to make your breath catch and is sure to entertain.

This was a buddy read with Kaceey!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Tessa Wegert for the arc.

Published on Goodreads on 5.24.20.

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tents, atmospheric, claustrophobic. This was a cleverly crafted locked room who done it. This is the first book in Tessa Wegert’s new crime thriller series and I have to say the series is off to a great start! Detective Shana Merchant has relocated to upstate New York after being kidnapped by a serial killer. She is still dealing with her demons and is grateful for her sleepy small-town surroundings. Then one stormy day she and her partner Tim receive a call out to a private island, someone has been murdered. When they get there they find a bloody bed, no body, and a house full of suspects.

I loved the classic old-fashioned Agatha Christie vibe of the story. A highly dysfunctional family filled with suspects, gloomy stormy weather and an island with no way off. Shana was a strong smart savvy character and I am looking forward to getting to know her better in future books. Her partner Tim seems like a good guy and I’m curious to see how the relationship develops between these two (professional or otherwise). As for this family... what a hot mess! I was seriously suspicious of each of them throughout the course of the book. There is no love lost between these family members, all appeared guilty and none were terribly likable. I picked up this book with the intention of only reading a couple chapters and three hours later I finished it. It was a riveting story with an ending that I did not puzzle together, but it made sense. Very much looking forward to the next book in the series as we are left with a little bit of a.... what?

This book in emojis. 🌧 🚤 🏚 🩸 🔍

*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!! A perfect beginning to what I hope is a very long series!! If you liked Lucy Foley's, The Guest List, you will love this one.

I absolutely ADORE mystery books. Have loved them since I can remember. What's even better than a mystery book? A mystery SERIES. And boy is this the one you should drop everything for and start. Ever since I received an email from Netgalley on 10/31/19 to request this book, I knew I had to read it. It gave off the Christie vibes, had a multi-dimensional female lead and there was a creepy opening scene. A blood soaked bed with no body. COUNT ME IN. Unfortunately, the publisher denied my request for an e-arc and the library copy got held up in quarantine and here we are in June. I finally get my copy!! I pushed aside all the other books I had lined up to read and BOY, WAS IT WORTH THE WAIT!!! (Plus, the second book in the series comes out in December so I guess in hindsight all the waiting worked in my favor!)

I'm not going to summarize the plot, rather I'm going to tell you just how expertly I thought this was written by debut author, Tessa Wegert. I was cold. I was wet. I was sufficiently creeped out and repulsed by character after character who seriously were terrible, terrible people. But that makes things interesting, doesn't it? Then you had flashback scenes that seriously had my heart racing. (Nothing graphic included for those who might be concerned.) I couldn't figure out who did it, but when it was revealed it made total sense. I thought the execution of this was brilliant and I cannot WAIT for the next one.

Review Date: 06/13/2020
Publication Date: 02/18/2020

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death in the Family is the start of an exciting, atmospheric, and entertaining new series. I was gripped from the opening paragraphs, and I could not put this book down. I needed something that would distract me completely, and this was it. More thoughts to come, but crime thriller fans- definitely check this one out.

I received a gifted copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Many of my reviews can be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Tucker Almengor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many thanks to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review

People with that kind of wealth often feel untouchable, and it’s a shock when they discover they’re not.

My original rating was four stars but I am dropping it to three stars because, even though the end was great, it simply wasn’t enough to make up for how numbingly dull it was in the first half.

So, what’s this book about?

On an island, a butler calls in a murder. Shana Merchant and her partner, Tim come running. With a blood-soaked bed and a missing man, it’s pretty obvious there had been a murder, right?

Shana is convinced but after interviews and mysterious occurrences, she begins to wonder if there’s something much deeper than what they think is going on. Unfortunately, she can’t call for any help as a large storm hits. Soon enough, it becomes clear that Shana is trapped on an island with no escape. And it seems the killer is trapped too. And there is no way to tell when he might strike next.

I am so, so disappointed. This book had so much potential! The setting of being trapped on a cold, creepy island in the middle of a violent storm!

IT’S F**KING MYSTERY GOLD!! But, nope… this book took that gold and yeeted it right out the window.

UGH it was so frustrating because the author was literally sitting on top of gold and had a shovel in her hand but chose throw the shovel away.

Also, there were WAY too many characters. Some authors can have 6+ characters and have them all fit into the story without confusion but this was not the case. I couldn’t keep track of all the people. I lost track of who was who. I simply couldn’t juggle all those people.

I also REALLY wanted to know more about Shana’s incident with the serial killer guy…? Like, that was brushed over. It was like “Yeah, that happened.” I feel like that story can and should be an entire book.

All that said, the author does a very good job at showing rather than telling (something, I am very bad at) and really drew me into the world with stunning and sharp detail.

I also really loved Shana. Even though she made some questionable choices, she was very flushed out and real. I loved her chemistry with Tim and I can’t wait to continue in this series.

Overall, this book has its flaws but it’s still worth reading. I recommend it but just keep in mind it's a slower book.

Bottom Line
➵ 3 Stars
➵ Age Rating - [ R ]
➵ Content Screening (Spoilers)
➵ Educational Value (0/0)
➵ Positive Messages (0/0)
➵ Violence (4/5) - [Hot liquid poured on character, Toture, Murder, Guns, etc.]
➵ Sex (0/0)
➵ Language (3/5) - [F**k, Sh*t, D*mn, *sshole]
➵ Drinking/Drugs (3/5) - [Alcohol consumption, Poison, Characters are drugged]
➵ Trigger and Content Warnings - Loss of a loved one, Murder
➵ Publication Date: February 18th, 2020
➵ Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
➵ Genre: Mystery/Thriller

---------------

4 stars! A slow start but the ending was great!

---------------

happiness is getting to a mystery series right before it begins

there's nothing worse than finding a series that looks interesting and then you find out that it's #16

➵ Buddy read with Miranda!

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[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

It was a dark and stormy day...

In Tessa Wegert's Death in the Family , Shana Merchant used to be a police detective in NYC, until she was abducted by the serial killer she was hunting. After being held for a week she was rescued, but the subsequent PTSD ended her career in the city.

Now she works as an investigator in the Thousand Islands region of upstate New York, and only her boss knows what happened to her on her old job. And while her fiancé thinks she’s not ready to be in the thick of a crime scene, she’s determined to prove it to everyone—including herself.

She and her partner get called to a wealthy private island, where a young man has gone missing. Blood at the scene indicates he was harmed and could be dead, but where could he be? Could he have somehow gotten off the island? Is this a disappearance or a murder?

All of the man’s family and friends who were staying at their mansion are on edge, and more than happy to point suspicion at someone else. And with a powerful nor’easter wreaking havoc, Shana and her partner could be stuck on the island with a murderer who has nowhere to escape to.

But as she tries to make sense of the lies and double-crosses, Shana also has to deal with the flashbacks that the stress of the crime scene are triggering. Is she really ready to be back in this job? Can she trust her partner not to pity her if she tells him about what happened to her in NUC? And more importantly, is there a killer that they must protect the rest of the family—and themselves—from?

I thought this was a great, intense mystery with lots of twists and turns. It’s the locked-room mystery I’d been hoping for after reading some pretenders and Shana’s struggles kept this fascinating and compelling. You’re not sure whom to trust, but everyone is pretty hateful! Wegert really did a great job with this story.

I’ll be buying the second book in the series immediately! (Update: I bought it this afternoon.)

Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.

Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I loved how this mystery took place in the Thousand Islands region as I lived there for a few years. It's always fun to read a book in which you are familiar with the setting. This one turned out to be a solid whodunit mystery and given it is the first book in the series I am curious to see where it goes from here.

Former NYPD detective Shana Merchant is hoping for a fresh start and moves to upstate New York with her fiance. Many wealthy families flock to their vacation homes in the Thousand Islands region where Shana now works as an investigator. Shana and her coworker Tim have been called to one of the isolated islands owned by the Sinclairs as one of the family members, Jasper, has gone missing. There's a sizable amount of blood found in his bed but what happened and where is he? With a house full of family and guests you would think someone would know the answer but Shana is finding it difficult to get to the bottom of things. She better figure it out soon as with bad weather in store, she and everyone else on the island are stranded and who knows if a killer is in their midst.

The very basics of the story such as a wealthy group of people get together in an isolated area and there's bad weather and something horrible happens is really nothing groundbreaking. It's a classic premise used by many mystery writers over the years. And surprisingly it still manages to hook me and reel me in as was the case here. Everyone was a suspect and I truly didn't have a good theory as to what happened so my interest level was high throughout the story.

I like how Shana had an interesting backstory but I didn't care for any of the storyline involving her fiance. I thought it was unnecessary and by far the weakest part of the story.

Overall this is a good whodunit mystery and I think the groundwork has been set for what should be a good series with a interesting female lead character.

Thank you to Berkley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Suzanne Leopold (Suzy Approved Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shana Merchant was abducted by a serial killer while working on a murder case in New York City. After her escape, she decides to continue her work as a detective but relocates with her fiance to upstate New York. She is hoping the crime work there proves to be less stressful and further her recovery from the trauma.

Shana and her partner, Tim, receive a call from the wealthy Sinclair family about the disappearance of Jasper Sinclair. Because of an impending storm, they rush to the family estate to question the family and staff. Upon arrival, they find a considerable amount of blood in Jasper’s bed. Shana now believes this to be a murder and must figure out who is responsible.

Death In The Family is a debut novel by Tessa Weigert. It is filled with interesting characters, suspense, mystery, and family dysfunction. I loved how the author weaved the protagonist's prior experiences into the current mystery. I am excited that another book in the series is slated for next year.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Tessa Wegert really wanting me to get hyped about the next book in this series, The Dead Season! Why didn't I read this book months ago? What a fun whodunit that nailed almost every aspect a murder mystery should have.

Death In The Family was a ton of fun, and I'm disappointed that I'm only reading this now, just a month before the next book's release. Death In The Family is a classic locked-room mystery, about eight suspects and one missing family member with some dark secrets.

I can pretty much narrow down the current mystery genre into two different groups, which I can loosely define as "cop-plot" novels and the character-focused mysteries. They're sometimes hard to differentiate in my head but I'm thinking books like Darkest Night and Miracle Creek. I would say Death in the Family is a perfect mixture of both types. We get background of our detective Shana, and an entire sub plot devoted to her; but it also isn't written about too much that it's intrusive to the main plot. While having that we also get a great look at the suspects and are allowed perfectly paced "interrogations" with each of them.

While Death in the Family might sound a little standard from the plot, I really do believe we've been lacking some good whodunits this year. (And no, I refuse to call The Guest List or The Hunting Party a legitimate whodunit.) While at some points I would've liked it to go a little bit more in-depth or have a more specific theme, I can definitely settle this one as a must-read for mystery fans.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

DEATH IN THE FAMILY is a Christie-inspired mystery set on a remote private island in Upstate New York. Two local detectives are called to investigate a missing persons case at the home of a wealthy family. They arrive to find a bed covered in bloody sheets and eight potential suspects — some more cooperative than others. As a terrible storm begins to rage, the detectives find themselves trapped on this small island, possibly with a killer on the loose.

The mystery was intriguing and solid, and I was kept wondering who among the eight may have played a part in the disappearance and why. I loved the stormy setting and the unsettling feeling that the characters were cut-off from the rest of the world. I liked that the lead investigator was a strong yet flawed female character, however the numerous references and flashbacks to her troubled past interrupted the story's flow (though it seems to be setting up a series arc). Overall, this was an enjoyable, slow-burn, classic mystery.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come 🖤

[Cindy Burnett (Thoughts from a Page) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tessa Wegert’s brilliant debut opens with an Agatha Christie-style premise - an isolated property, a missing man, a blood soaked bed and room, and a defined group of people on the private island. The police are called out to the island just as a terrible storm is brewing trapping the investigators in the house with a cast of unlikeable characters. As they attempt to determine what happened to the missing individual, people start dying. Terrifically atmospheric, Death in the Family contains the perfect balance of a solid and creative mystery and intriguing character development. This is the start of a promising new series with a cliffhanger ending that will have readers clamoring for the next installment.
Listen to my podcast at https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com for fun author interviews, and for more book reviews, check out my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfro....

[Sara the Librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many thanks to Netgalley for letting me take a gander at this...

Third times the charm!

First I wrote this insanely long rant about this book initially, posted it for all of five minutes, took it down. Then I wrote a new, shorter "sorry I'm being mean" version. Today I'm back AGAIN to try to succinctly (ha ha ha ha ha) get down my issues.

I realized that it can all more or less be summed up in the first sentence of the prologue. Just to give you a touch of context this is an Agathe Christieesque murder mystery involving rich people murdering each other on a rich people island.

"It was late September, the kind of morning that turns orange when you close your eyes, weather so sweet everyone on the sidewalk gulps fresh air like kids with soda."

What in the name of god is "the kind of morning that turns orange when you close your eyes?" What even is that!? Is it like when you close your eyes against the sun and see red? And if so how is a morning like that!?! That sounds dangerous and weird!? Is it the rapture? Is the sun going supernova!? What is happening!?! I read that phrase to like five different people and not one of them could tell me what in the hell that metaphor/simile/imagery is supposed to be conveying.

Then before you've got any kind of grip on whatever is happening with the orange morning you have to deal with "weather so sweet everyone on the sidewalk gulps fresh air like kids with soda" which to me suggests a crowd of people struggling for breath like fish in the bottom of a boat not "pleasant summer day." I have never in all my born days seen anyone "gulp fresh air" unless you count near drowning victims struggling out of the ocean which I do not.

That first sentence and my reaction to it ENTIRELY sums up my feelings about this book.

[Crumb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, Love, LOVED. Review to Come.

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen months ago former NYPD detective Shana Merchant escaped a deadly fate when she was abducted by a serial killer. Plagued by nightmares and anxiety, she finds herself paralyzed by the job she once loved. So when her fiancé, Dr. Carson Gates, suggests a change of scenery to his hometown in upstate New York, Shana believes it could help her move past her trauma. Perhaps the the tiny village of Alexandria Bay, on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, and it’s slow, murder-free police force will be just the ticket.

Until the day her partner, Investigator Tim Wellington, receives a call for assistance at one of the private islands just offshore. It seems that Jasper Sinclair has gone missing and his blue blood, old money family thinks it’s murder due to the rather large pool of blood in his bed. To make matters worse, a nor’easter is bearing down on the area complete with heavy rains and high winds. Just getting to the Sinclair summer home on Tern Island is going to be no mean feat.

Once they traverse the roiling waves, Shana and Tim are introduced to the Sinclair family and shown the crime scene. Despite the suspicious circumstances that led the Sinclairs to think foul play, however, fellow investigator, Tim Wellington, thinks that perhaps they’re just overreacting. To him it makes more sense that Jasper has simply run away. Shana has a bad feeling though. Something is off about the whole scene, leaving her suspicious of the extended family still present in the home. Maybe it’s just her, but few are acting even the least bit concerned.

As the storm hits in earnest, Shana and Tim are alarmed to hear that not only will the worsening weather find them stranded, but that their additional backup and forensic personnel are unable to make it to the scene. They are well and truly on their own, at the mercy of the weather and the Sinclair family. As senior investigator, Shana will have to rely on herself to solve a convoluted and difficult case. The only problem is that, after being abducted eighteen months ago, she has lost all sense of trust in her own judgement. If she couldn’t recognize evil then, what’s to say she’ll be able to now?

But, as the storm gains strength and Jasper remains missing, Shana realizes that if she doesn’t act fast more people will die. Because there’s one thing she’s sure of—a murderer is in their midst and everyone, including Shana, is in danger. Maybe the very person she has doubted for so long is the one person who can rescue her now—herself.

After finishing Death in the Family and spending some time thinking about it before writing this review, I’m left reeling with how ingenious this modern police procedural twist on the classic locked room murder mystery was. Wholly original, it even providing brief fly-on-the-wall scenes told from each suspect’s POV. I mean, I can’t remember ever coming across another plot like it and how often does that happen?

So what made it Agatha Christie-esque, you might ask? Well, for starters it came with the expected twisted, eccentric, well-to-do family, gothic and creepy setting, and a veil of secrets and lies so thick you could cut it with a knife. These three aspects, along with the evenly paced plot and the slowly building suspense and intrigue, came together for a near perfect reimagining of the well-known mystery trope. Happily, it also just so happens to be one of my favorites.

Another little spin that took this novel away from a typical, well, anything, was the unreliable narrator at the heart of the story. Mysterious and unstable, Senior Investigator Shana Merchant was certainly a character with a deep backstory. Granted much of it was left hidden to the reader even after the last page, but, as the first of a series based around Merchant, we are left drooling over her story, hoping to learn more in the next book. At least, I was. I have to be honest, though, I’m very pleased that I didn’t read this just after it was released, because now I can go binge read the other three in the series! I certainly love finding a new dopamine-triggering series, don’t you?

The only details that weren’t superbly done were twofold. The first was how several topics were dabbled in, as I’ve mentioned before, but not explored, such as Merchant’s serial killer affiliated history or her rather controlling, paranoid fiancé. And, while I know this is the first book in a series as I’ve already mentioned, I would’ve preferred somewhat less focus on both if we weren’t going to learn much if anything about either. Yes, I know, with time comes great things, grasshopper, but… The only other point of trouble I found was the shallowness of the development of most (if not all) of the characters. But, if that’s all I can pinpoint, it was certainly a win for Tessa Wegert!

By the time I came to rate this book, I found myself in love with well-crafted whodunnit. Stocked full of potential suspects and red herrings as well as being thoroughly addictive, the flaws were minimal. Even better, as the storyline twisted and turned revealing one clue and then obscuring it with ten possible predictions to its meaning, this puzzle of a book kept me guessing. So if you love (or even just like) anything I’ve said above, please go find a copy of this book as soon as humanly possible. Hopefully it will win you over just as much as it did me. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Trigger warning: jealous, controlling relationship; racism

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So one of my most favorite things in the world is stumbling upon a book I didn't even know was out in the universe and then absolutely loving it 🙌🏻

That's basically the story of Death in the Family. I found this gem while reading www.http://crimebythebook.com's blog (another must read FYI) and it hit all the notes for me:

-Isolated mystery
-Agatha Christie-esque (but *not* a ridiculous ripoff)
-A complicated, smart, determined protagonist with some legit baggage, who is also a boss
-Dual mysteries
-Unlikable characters doing unlikable things
-Beautiful, descriptive writing and a story that makes me want to flip pages
-And the first in a new series (sign. me. up.)

In the Prologue NYPD Detective Shana Merchant in the office of a department-assigned shrink where she's starting to recount a serial killer case she worked on. In Chapter 1 we fast forward 13 months and Shana is now working on a small police force, in her fiancé's hometown in upstate NY, where she is trying to start over.

When Shana and her partner, Tim, get a call about a missing person on one of the islands they respond to the home of the Sinclair family - a well-known Manhattan family with old money...and lots of it. What Shana and Tim find is a blood-soaked bed, no sign of the missing person and eight people who are all delicious suspects. When a nor'easter hits Shana and Tim are stuck on the island and help is definitely not on the way. And it's clear that not only is this far more than a missing person's case but the person responsible for whatever the heck is going on is on the island with them.

This book was everything I love. The writing was so descriptive and atmospheric and had me hooked. We slowly start to understand what brought Shana from NYC to upstate NY and how that experience has shaped her. And we get a whole host of wonderfully unlikable characters who are clearly keeping secrets and clearly don't totally dig one another - despite being family.

This is a slow burn of a mystery but never felt slow to read. And while it played on a classic locked room/isolation mystery trope nothing about this story felt 'done before/I know exactly where this is going' or that it was trying to ripoff a classic. (I'm looking at you And Then There Were None).

I felt the ending was strong, true to the book and plausible. And I love that this is the first in a series because I can't wait to have more Shana and see where her story goes. Highly recommend and so happy to have stumbled upon this recommendation. All in it was well done 🔍

[The Nerd Daily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Marla Warren

The first description I read for Death in the Family included the concept that it would read like Olivia Benson (from Law and Order SVU) in an Agatha Christie novel. It sounded too good to be true, but it turned out to be a spot-on perfect description for this fun, exciting, twisty thriller!

We are introduced to Investigator Shana Merchant, who is suffering from PTSD after her interactions with a serial killer when she was a detective with the NYPD. About a year has passed since then, and she now lives and works in upstate New York where she expects to see nothing more serious than a burglary.

But on a small, privately owned island in Shana’s jurisdiction, a wealthy young man named Jasper Sinclair has disappeared from his bed overnight, leaving a large pool of blood. While this has been called in as a murder, the family can’t even come to an agreement on that, much less on anything else. Shana and her investigative partner Tim Wellington, a local who knows a little bit about everybody around town, head to the island to inspect the scene, but unfortunately, a storm is moving in as well.

The ultimate ‘locked-room” mystery, as this private island houses only the Sinclair estate, and the eight people in front of them are the only ones who have been on island since the previous night. That is not a lot of suspects, but Shana and Tim have to wade through a swamp of lies – and family secrets – before they can even begin to untangle the mystery of what has happened to Jasper Sinclair. Some of the family members believe he is dead, some believe he is wounded and out in the storm waiting for rescue, and still others think he has just pulled a prank for attention.

At least the lines of communication are still open to the outside world, and Shana is able to reach out for help. But soon, the reader starts to wonder if that “help” is actually helping at all. Dealing with a family who vary from grief-stricken to brutish, the outside pressures of her family and supervisor, the unrelenting storm outside, and the PTSD issues that she hoped were in her past, Shana has a full plate and Wegert does an excellent job of weaving this tale through all different twists and turns.

Without going into any spoilers, I’ll say that there is one trope that I absolutely despise, and at one point during the book I was afraid we were headed in exactly that direction. But we weren’t and if you hate this trope too, you’ll know it when you see it and remember these words and you will then breathe the same sigh of relief that I did.

I am absolutely thrilled that Wegert considers this a first in a new series, and I love that by the end of the book we still don’t know 100% of Shana Merchant’s backstory. Taking the time to slowly develop this character is a fantastic choice. I can’t wait for the opportunity to watch Shana Merchant work again!

Is there a way to physically force an author to write faster? Asking for a friend…

[Rainz ❤️rainnbooks❤️(on a break) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that left me feeling the chills of the storm…

First off, that brilliant cover image!!

And then of course the plot of the book, a raging storm, an island, the bed soaked in blood, wealthy Sinclair family all with heaps of motives and transgressions, distrust and suspicions galore and to top it off, a heroine who is herself recovering form the trauma of serial killer abduction. What more a crime thriller aficionado want?

And reading the above, all thriller fans immediately think of Agatha Christie and her classic story-telling of a locked room mystery but here the atmosphere provides the major thrill factor.

Shana Merchant is new to the Thousand Islands region in New York and the detective work is nothing like what she has experienced. The islands are secluded and with the weather playing havoc, Shana and Tim have to play examiners, detectives, secure the premises, and also determine if at all there’s a murder that is to be investigated. The family and friends behave suspiciously and they are all hiding details that may prove significant but extracting these tit-bits is not easy and the interview process becomes tedious. And making matters worse is Shana’s flashbacks and her trauma of abduction by a serial killer.

The classic whodunnit was perfectly done and with a struggling protagonist, the story takes a very devious turn as the readers are provided glimpses of Shana’s past incidents and this tantalizing info is quite compelling so much that the next book in the series is definitely gonna be auto-buy for me. And it is not just the serial killer equation but also the reason for the huge scar on Shana’s face that hints at another crime and hopefully another book in the series. I loved the characterization of each and every individual comprising the Sinclair family, there are the usual squabbles and sibling rivalry and financial motives and unearthing the truth from myriad motives made Death In the Family a very addictive read.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous first novel and start to a new series! Shana is my kind of investigator, one who has had some of the worst life could offer and is still willing to go forward. The mystery kept me guessing to the end, with plot twists and multiple possible suspects on an island in upstate New York. It is incredibly well written with just the right amount of details and background on the characters, including the senior investigator, revealed little by little.

Shana had been a homicide investigator in New York City until she was abducted and held for eight days by the serial killer she was seeking. There is no way of knowing why he finally abandoned her, allowing her to live and be found. Her psychiatrist, Carson, became her fiance, and they moved to the Thousand Islands of upstate NY. He had her almost convinced she could never work again, and she doubted everything about herself. When she applied for and got the job on the small police force in Alexandria Bay, where there are no murders or similar major cases, he was very upset. The sheriff who hired her knows about her background, but the investigator/ partner she will supervise does not know.

In the midst of a nor'easter, they are called to Tern Island where it is believed Jasper, the youngest grandchild of the elderly owner of the island has her family gathered one more time before closing the mansion for the winter. The storm is already almost too severe for them to be out, and reinforcements are due in a short time. The young man and his girlfriend were visiting, along with his older brother and his boyfriend, and his older sister, her husband, and her stepdaughter. Each of the siblings and his brother's boyfriend work at the family business started by their grandfather many years ago. Tim, Shana's partner, is the other investigator. She may be the senior investigator, but he has been teaching her about the area and the families in this area where most folks don't lock their doors.

Tim thinks this is a simple missing person case. Abby, Jasper's girlfriend, however, awoke to blood-soaked sheets on Jasper's side of the bed, and looking around the island and home does not reveal any clues to his whereabouts. From the amount of blood on the bed, Abby is certain Jasper is either seriously injured or dead - but how could Abby have slept through whatever occurred?

The family members are each unique, the older brother and sister acting as snobby, entitled children rather than middle-aged adults. They insinuate Abby and he had a disagreement and he must have left to get away, or he was playing a trick on them. The older brother's boyfriend is seen having relations with the older sister. Said boyfriend, and Jasper's grandmother, are the only ones who have anything good to say about Abby. The only other person on the island is the man who has worked for Camilla, Jasper's grandmother, for more than 20 years, caring for whatever she needs as well as the island.

Secrets about in this family. One thing Shana learns is that the family business is near bankruptcy, with Jasper being the only one of the three siblings who has any of his portion of their inheritance from their parents left. He is also the favorite of Camilla.

Crime scene techs cannot come out to the island, as the storm is considerably worse and the boat bringing out additional help was in an accident. The older siblings do not want Shana and Tim there asking questions. Some of the stories gained through questioning don't match up. The older brother has a foul temper. As stress ratchets up, tempers flare, Shana and Tim discover their boat is no longer on the island nor is the smaller craft the caretaker uses, and another body is found. Shana tries her best to get beyond the flashbacks she is having as they are causing her to have over-the-top reactions. Whether Shana can keep it together long enough to survive on the island with Tim and at least one potential murderer is anyone's guess, as is when the murderer might act again.

This stunning, intense thriller kept my attention! The first few pages didn't immediately grab me, but I was drawn in for good within a chapter or two. Shana is my favorite character, especially when she has the opportunity to either give up or draw deeply within to get through the case and the storm. Plot twists and turns revealed motives and how almost everybody except the elderly Camilla have at least one or two. The ending is explosive, and while I had figured out part of the situation, there was so much I was missing! My only discomfort at all with the novel is some of the language used and one brief sexual scene. I highly recommend Death in the Family to anyone who enjoys well-crafted mysteries reminiscent of the "good old days" of classic thrillers, a brilliant, seasoned, investigator, and a whodunit that can keep one up all night.

From a thankful heart: I had a complimentary copy of this novel and this is my honest review.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shana Merchant fascinates me. After reading this first book in the series, I am definitely down with reading more. The stakes are high. Two small-town law enforcement professionals take a boat to an island and are stranded there with the body count rising. On top of that, out heroine has a skeleton in her closet. How does her past abduction impact her competence in the present and her ability to move forward to the future. There are so many unknowns and her predicament becomes worse as the hours tick by. She finds herself not only doubting the people on the island, but also her partner in the investigation. Lots of twists and turns happening here and many secrets to uncover. And Blake Bram is still out there. . . I loved it! Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Lisa Gardner, and Ruth Ware.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Wendy Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really intriguing and atmospheric mystery set in a place I actually visited when I was a young girl. The Thousand Islands are wild and I could picture every scene unfolding. Lots of twists and turns and a very captivating protagonist we will surely be seeing a lot of in future books within this series. A fantastic start!

[Laura • lauralovestoread · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wavered back and forth with a 3 and 4 on this one, and realized that maybe police procedurals just aren’t my thing. I ended with 4 stars though because I did enjoy trying to figure out what was going on. Just know going in that it’s pretty slow burn.

*thank you Berkley pub for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.