The Killer’s Family

by Miranda Smith

We should never have kept our father’s secret.

Before, my sisters and I were close. Now, a year after our father’s funeral, we barely speak to each other. Molly won’t accept the truth. Rachel can’t forgive him. And I spend all my time digging through his life, trying to understand.

Then we hear the news. A woman has been found by the docks, her wedding ring stolen. The reporter says it appears the local serial killer has returned…

But I know that can’t be right, because I know who the killer was.

Henry Martin. Our father.

Someone is sending us a message. Someone knows we lied.

Now my sisters and I must work together to find out who is targeting us. How do they know what we’ve hidden? What do they want? And what other secrets lie buried in the past, putting us all in danger?

A brilliantly twisty suspense thriller that will have you flying through the pages and gasping at the twist. Fans of Lisa Jewell, Gillian Flynn and Ruth Ware will love The Killer’s Family.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Book Club, Crime

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2022

About the author

Miranda Smith writes domestic and psychological suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Her debut novel, SOME DAYS ARE DARK, will be released in March 2020.

Miranda has been a staff writer at a local newspaper and a secondary English teacher. When it comes to fiction, Miranda writes about complicated women, dark impulses and Southern settings.

She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three children.

Reviews

[Lit with Leigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IFYKYK, my reviews are always honest, ARC or no ARC.

I'm breaking down my overall rating into three categories: writing, plot, and endings. These are the magic 3s (to me OK).

Writing: 1/5 | Plot: 1/5 | Ending: GURL BYE

THE PLOT

Three sisters are grieving their dad when they realize he may or may not be a serial killer. When another woman is murdered in similar fashion, they wonder what tf is going on.

MY OPINION

Le sigh. J'adore a serial killer, and even better, POV from the serial killer's family. This plot had so much potential, but flopped as hard as. Da Baby's latest album. I don't want to waste too much energy ranting about this one because I'm at the airport, tryna get into vacation mode, so I'll keep and short-ish and not so sweet.

Were the 3 alternating sister POVs necessary? Absolutely not. It was so repetitive. There was also a lot of boo-boo "foreshadowing" aka "HEY STICK AROUND BECAUSE SOMETHING BRAZY IS GONNA HAPPEN. PLS DON'T DNF. SOMETHING IS GONNA HAPPEN. I PROMISE."

The repetitive writing spoiled any enjoyment I could've found in the plot. The only good thing about the ending was that it ended.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: Promising synopsis
Cons: Everything else. Fail.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Killer’s Family by Miranda Smith is a thriller novel. The story in The Killer’s Family is one that is told by changing the point of view between the characters giving all sides to the story.

Sisters Molly, Cara, and Rachel have just lost their father only six months after having lost their mother. The women of course are all hit hard by the loss and dealing with their grief when they come across some things of their father.

It looks as if their father may have been the serial killer that police have been looking for years in their town and the women don’t know what to make of it. When they decide to cover up the evidence and murders begin happening again the women hope that their father was not who they think he was.

I have an obsession with books about a killer’s family and who is left behind so when seeing The Killer’s Family by Miranda Smith I figured it would be right up my alley. Also having read this author before I expect also to find a twisty tale which it did become. I wouldn’t say this one was totally top notch though as parts did seem a little repetitive and it slowed the story down some. Overall I thought this one came in at three and a half stars for me and I would still return to this author again.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Publication date ~ March 31, 2022
Page Count ~ 328
Audio length ~ 9 hours 2 minutes
Narrator ~ Lauryn Allman
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ 4 part story, serial killer

Gripping, suspenseful, intense and twisty ~ just how I expect my thrillers to be. And whoop whoop 🙌 I am so excited when there's a twist I didn't see coming!!

Our narrators are the sisters sisters ~ Cara, Rachel and Molly.
Margaret Grace Martin died of cancer and 6 months later, Henry Martin was gone as well. The 3 sisters were as close as sisters can be, up until they discovered Henry is the notorious serial killer, Gemini. One sister wants to go to the police with the evidence and the other two burn it so she can't. Thus begins a yearlong rift between them as they all grieve and process this information in their own way.

Cara is the oldest daughter and married to Tate ~ a detective. She's an author of true crime novels, so she is no stranger to seeing crime scenes photos and whatnot, and researching serial killers. She becomes obsessed with uncovering anything she can on Gemini. Can she find proof it really was her father?

Rachel is the middle child and believes Henry is Gemini. When her sisters take away her chance of bringing the evidence to the police she goes on a downward spiral ~ dropping out of the Master's program and turning to drugs and alcohol.

Molly is the baby and always treated like one. She was the closest to her father and just CANNOT believe it's true. Someone must be setting him up, but who?

Now it's a year later ~ how could there possibly be more women being killed in the same way when the killer is already dead? Is there a copycat or was their father set up? The girls think they are being targeted when each death is connected to them. They are suspecting everyone and wondering if they made the right choice a year ago to burn the evidence.

When we get to part 3 I was really on the edge of my seat. As the pages turned the story got more intense.

Okay, so I did figure something out about someone that was made out to be something other than it was, but I didn't see what resulted from that. Didja catch that?🤣
Nice final twist ~ I had a feeling it was Molly, do you agree?

I really liked that we had the 3 perspectives ~ although it did result in a quite a bit of repetitiveness I think it was essential to make the story flow as well as it did.

Side note ~ I love Molly's dog's name ~ very clever, if it's what I think it's supposed to reference 🪄⚡

*Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Miranda Smith for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I say I flew through this book, I mean I flew through this book! I was on the edge of my seat from the very beginning. I thought there were parts that were repetitive and could have been left out but overall it was a thrilling read. The last plot twist really got me mostly because it was a total cliffhanger!

The book opens with sisters Molly, Cara, and Rachel at the funeral for their father. Upon going through his personal things, they discover a compartment full of disturbing items. Among them pictures, jewelry, and perhaps most horrifying, a hand written confession from their father saying that he was the infamous Gemini serial killer.

The next portion of the book has the sisters arguing if their father could truly do these despicable acts, if he was framed, and most importantly what to do with the items they found. Simultaneously, girls are found murdered in a similar fashion to the Gemini killer however, each of these victims has a personal connection to each of the sisters. Did the Gemini killer really return? Add in an illegitimate sibling and you have a exiting thrill ride ahead.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 Sisters, mourning the loss of both parents within 6 months, a serial killer who seems to be targeting them and shocking discoveries, secrets,lies and murky pasts all combine to make this a sharp, taut and mostly exciting thriller
It’s amazing that just with the 3 and thier partners it could be confusing ( character wise ) but the author has made all of them so distinctive it’s not a problem and we soon get them worked out and their specific ( and some ) annoying traits differentiate them clearly
The story is fast moving and ever changing and I found myself thinking I knew the outcome which although I did in part had not worked out the why’s and wherefores and how’s and then, of course, we get the exciting ending AND the final sentence shocker
A good, well formed read that held my attention and was different and cleverly put together

8/10
4 Stars

[₊ ˚ ale ࿓ ♡ ⋆｡˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

it wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. review to come when the book comes out!


Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc!!

[Chantel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t quite know what I was expecting this book to be; a terrifying plot riddled with suspenseful peaks throughout the story, perhaps. Yet, it was apparent that I would not be reading a story that held much of anything I had hoped to find. This was a book that made me laugh, which found me enjoying comedic breaks within the storyline which I am certain were not meant to be regarded as such. This book reminded me a great deal of my reading of "Hell House" (1971) by Richard Matheson, because, in almost every way possible, it was absurd; I could not help but laugh.

Therefore, prefacing the body of my review I would like to highlight that this book is not one which you might be drawn to because of its intricate plot. The pages do not hold writing which will grip your attention; no sentence to draw you into a story that will leave you hanging on every word, hoping to find a way to reprieve. This is simply a story about some people who find out that their parents were bizarrely complex individuals who lead lives prior to & throughout their upbringing.

This book follows three (3) adult siblings as they bury their father a mere six (6) months after the death of their mother. They are left confused, worried & unsettled by the passing of life around them. While they decide how to approach the coming days that will require them to organize & rid themselves of the belongings that previously held distinct family memories, they find that their father was the famed local serial killer known as Gemini. In the chapters that follow we explore the mental turmoil that they experience when being faced with what to do with the keepsakes that their father safeguarded in his shed; the jewellery, the photographs, the Polaroid camera & the confession letter, all pinning him to the crimes.

As the story moves forward we watch as these three siblings discover that they are missing their fourth. The appearance of a brother is timed perfectly with the resurgence of crimes committed in tribute to Gemini’s killing spree which took place in the 90s. It does not take a great deal of mental stamina to clock where this story is going. The author lays out the plot very distinctly for the reader in the opening pages; things are not as they appear. Therefore, should you not be familiar with any criminal psychology, pathology or likewise, simply taking these words at face value will leave you with enough information to know how as the story progresses, you must not take the appearance of a seemingly random other people for the joyous event they attempt to present it as being.

If I’m being honest, I allowed my eyes to skim over the majority of this book. I found myself thinking of other things while working my way through. The writing left much to be desired. There was far too much redundancy within the writing for me to take any of what was being written seriously. The first introduction we have to James at the docks is riddled with repeatedly telling the reader that there is no one around,…because people have left, so there is no one around because it’s the end of the day so it is just the killer & the victim, meaning there is now no one else around because it’s the end of the day & the girl is about to close shop, so it’s the perfect time for a crime because there’s no one else around. I felt as though I were being treated as oblivious. I just read a sentence in which you explained that it was the end of the day & people were leaving, I can readily deduce the reasons which would make this the ideal time for a crime, you do not need to tell me that people are scarce at the end of a workday, over & over & over again, I get it.

This is one single example of this happening & I reduce this approach in the writing style to the inability to show the reader what is happening; we are told. I never felt as though I were watching things unfold but rather that I was reading something of a script of what a group of people would later present as being a series of events that lead to the conclusion. I believe that editing could lighten the load that the redundancies carry throughout the story. Editing could also allocate proper (i.e. distinguished) voices for each of the characters. Though the cast was granted the freedom to express themselves in their own separate chapters, I really could not distinguish one sibling from another. As I said before, the redundancies were found very heavily in the writing & this was the main way I was able to differentiate one person from another. We read about Cara working as a crime author,…she writes about crimes, she’s been around criminal activity because she works as a crime author, as a crime author she writes about real criminal activity because she is an author for crime novels. Though this was annoying, I don’t know how else I would have known Cara & Molly were different had it not been for the repeated information.

I would like to grant every character in this book the benefit of the doubt, maybe they were willfully naive. However, so many things were done & said that bequeathed asking if they had ever seen any modern media representations of criminology at all, ever. One might even wonder if they ever saw any old-time TV series as they too would have helped piece together their mystery in a pinch. It appears, however, that they have not, which makes the fact that Cara writes about true crime immensely bizarre. I’m sure that any episode of "Criminal Minds" (2005) or "Murder, She Wrote" (1984), would lead one to the same conclusions that I found myself at. However, here we read about people who are so bewilderingly ignorant that it was hard to digest.

What I will say on a parting note is that this story would play out well in a visual format. Though I can appreciate that this is the type of book that you might enjoy reading; on the beach, during a pit stop on a road trip or, if you need a heavy topic broached lightly. I truly think that the way the story progresses could be edited in such a way as to make it truly flourish in film or television. This story feels familiar & perhaps that comes down to my heightened consumption of crime-related information. I grew up with "CSI" (2000), "Criminal Minds" (2005), & shows of the like, playing reruns every weekend so, the information presented in this book was not revolutionary for me. Had the writing been altered to fit a more mature set of actions & reactions I might not have found the flow so comedic. Therefore, I hope this book finds itself in the right hands because I know that many people will find it to be just the right amount of tension, mystery & thrill.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, & Miranda Smith for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[daniela weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

being one of four sisters, it felt natural to
me to relate to a mosaic of three women's
perceptions about someone who none of
them would have suspected to have been
anything but a perfect husband and father.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do families cope when one of their own is involved or is accused of a notorious crime?

The Martins were a well-known and respected family in Whitehall. Henry, a charming academic, taught at the local high school for 40 years; his free-spirited wife, Margaret, was the choir teacher at the same school before she died 6 months ago and their girls, Cara, Rachel and Molly were adult children who exhibited the best of both parents. They were a loving and close knit family…until the night after their father’s funeral. The girls, adult orphans now, find a dusty cardboard box hidden in their father’s shed. Opening it changes their life forever and forces them to come to terms with the fact that their father was a notorious serial killer.

The uncovering of this deep, dark secret changes the girls and the author uses this revelation to explore how the siblings react to learning that their father wasn’t who he pretended to be. Told through the eyes of the three girls, Smith shows their internal struggles and how their relationships with each other change. She focuses on the burden of dilemma; should they tell the police what they found? If they do, what about the stigma attached? Will they be guilty by association? Smith also focuses on the burden of knowledge: will they have ‘monster’ in their blood, too? How can they get past this and remember the happy family memories?

You’ll have to read to find out if the Martin girls become the keeper of Henry Martin’s secret or if their sanity requires that they relieve themselves of the burden. You’ll read about Gemini who killed 17 women and evaded capture. You’ll read about secrets and lies piled high upon each other. But, you’ll also read about second chances and the strength of the sibling bond. Be prepared, though. The author has plenty of surprises up her sleeve and releases them just when you think you know what’s going to happen next!

Cleverly plotted and fodder for much contemplation, this book leaves readers with an open-ended question. It’s perfect for book clubs and buddy reads.

I was gifted this advance copy by Miranda Smith, Bookouture, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[RubieReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review Coming Tomorrow!

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Killer’s Family starts off with 3 daughters at their father’s funeral. They had only lost their mother about 6 months prior to that and now their dad was gone as well. One night shortly after the funeral, all of the sisters couldn’t sleep and found themselves out in their dad’s “man-cave “. They discovered a secret “room” and found lots of photos of what they thought were dead girls. Did their dad have something to do with them? 17 girls were killed by a serial killer. Could he be it? I just can’t imagine if that were my dad and I thought that! Wow! Lots of secrets popped up throughout the book. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

It's been a while since I read a mystery/thriller book that actually got me with the twist! From the beginning to the end, this book was pure entertainment. I flew through it all in one go. Well written and fast paced. A plot that was full of twists and turns. Intriguing characters, and a shocker of an ending. The only small niggle I had with it was, a certain scene near the end was a little anti-climatic. I can't really say more without spoiling things, so I'll leave it at that. Overall, this was a solid read and gets two thumbs up from yours truly.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Name of Book: The Killer’s Family
Author: Miranda Smith
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Publisher: Bookouture
Pub Date: March 31, 2022
My Rating: 3.5


When I decided to read this I was sure there were going to be twists and turns and was also sure is was NOT going to be a dismal, disturbing story as the title might picture in my mind.

Story starts with three sisters Cara Gibson, Rachel Martin, and Molly Martin grieving the death of their dad ~ a mere six months after the death of their mother. Rachel and Molly both are thinking that they would never experience their father walking them down the wedding aisle and dancing the father/bridge dance as he did for Cara. The sisters feel alone but having each other does bring some comfort
Dad ~ Henry Martin was a teacher at the local high school and mom Margaret was the music/choir teacher. Both were loved and respected.

After dad’s funeral, the girls find they cannot sleep and one by one the end up in their father’s backyard workshop. As they are reminiscing they discover an uneven floor board and what looks like a handle. Curiosity has the best of them and they lift the small door and find a dusty cardboard box hidden. The box reveals info that their father wasn’t who he pretended to be but was a serial killer.

There is a secret/twist revealed rather early in this story. At first, I was disappointed that this twist appears early but was sure there was going to be a lot more to this story.
I was curious!
Hmmm ~ The ending left me guessing there just might be Book #2!
I have no idea why this is only my first Miranda Smith novel. I will read another!

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 31, 2022.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the premise -- three sisters find evidence that their father may have been a serial killer after his death, and after destroying the evidence the murders seem to start up again but as a message towards them. That said, it wasn't the best written book I've read. There were elements I didn't see coming but a lot of what unfolded had me shaking my head. An okay read over a couple of days, but rather unfulfilling in many regards.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[RK_reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dark and twisty read that didn't exactly live up to my expectations.

The Martin sisters, Cara, Rachel and Molly are heartbroken by the untimely death of their father, that too, just six months after their mother had passed away. But they are beyond horrified when they realize that their father had been leading a double life; his secret identity as that of a dreaded serial killer has thrown them for a loop. The sisters, unable to process this new reality, decide to keep it a secret and destroy all the evidence. A year later, when new killings crop up about town, the sisters realize that their secret has been uncovered and this time the killer has a special plan for them.

While I am a fan of the author, this book, however did not meet the standard of her previous works. I found the writing style repetitive and more of a 'tell, not show' approach, which after a point became grating. And, neither of the three protagonists were likeable, though, I am assuming that this was deliberately done to show that each of them had inherited undesirable traits from their father .

The plot itself was intriguing as I found it difficult to guess who the culprit was. Also, the way each sister was shown to have dealt with the double blow - the death of their parents and Henry Martin's hideous secret - each of them falling apart in their own respective way, was quite interesting. The plot twist too, was totally unexpected. However, the climax was rushed and messy and therefore, a let down.

Overall, i have mixed feelings about the book, primarily because I kept comparing it to other books by the author that I have loved, and found this one wanting. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulously dark and twisty read with some brilliantly jaw dropping moments!

[Kay Oliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent thriller. It starts with a bang and then the ball just tumbles down the hill as three sisters try to figure out how to deal with the fact that their recently deceased father was a prolific serial killer. Each woman has their own reaction and their own way of dealing. A year later someone brings their father's ghost to life by killing in his name. At this point the story delves too deeply and repetitively into emotions. The rest of the great twists don't come until after a long lag. A good tightening would escalate this story to a sturdy four star thriller.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three sisters, Molly, Cara and Rachel, have just buried their father. Just six months previously, they also buried their mother. Each grieving in their own way, they soon find that the bonds of sisterhood will be tested in ways none of them could ever have expected.

They make a discovery in their father's man cave. A devastating and horrifying discovery. Their discovery could lead to fracturing their relationshiops and lives in unimaginable ways. So, the sisters make a pact. The pact is to hide all evidence that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that their father was a serial killer. There is a cold case named The Gemini Killer, and 17 innocent women lost their lives.

Keeping this secret sets in motion catastrophic results. Each sister is on their own path, even to the poing of self-destruction. Enter into their lives new friends and situations, and also the fact that Cara is desperately trying to hold onto their secret does not make things easy for any of them. Considering that Cara's husband is a police officer only complicates things.

In this fast-paced novel, as things evolve for the sisters, there are some surprising twists and turns. Cara, Brooke and Rachel each have their points of view in this exciting story, making this an incredibly captivating read. And this book ends with a jaw-dropping shocker!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting concept but it fell a little flat for me. The story focuses on 3 sisters- Cara, Rachel, and Molly- who lose their father only to find out that he may have been a serial killer dubbed the Gemini killer. Their varying opinions on his guilt as well as their uneasy agreement to keep what they found a secret drives them apart, but then more murders similar to Gemini’s style occur and it’s clear that someone knows of the connection.

The 3 sisters felt somewhat interchangeable to me- their voices seemed similar even when their circumstances were different and there were a couple times I didn’t remember whose chapter I was reading. I also felt that the book was somewhat repetitive with the sisters constantly bemoaning their situation and questioning whether they are doing the right thing. It actually took me almost a week to finish this book because it just didn’t move at that quick of a pace.

That being said, there was one great twist that I didn’t see coming. I actually thought I had figured it out but only came up with a piece of the truth. Beyond that surprise, there is also a bit of a cliffhanger at the end in which the author intentionally leaves a question in the readers’ minds.

Overall, this one really didn’t do it for me but I thought the concept was very interesting. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Soft Goth Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stars - 3.5 stars
Themes - Serial killer, secrets, sisters/dad, twists
Format - Audiobook

This is the kind of book you can finish in one sitting because it hooks you from the very beginning and then runs with it. It instantly hooked my interested and actually got me so excited to be reading it. The way my mouth dropped open when everything came together!

Imagine you and two sisters are going through your childhood home on the day of your dads funeral and find evidence that points to him potentially being a serial killer from years ago. You then need to make a decision on what you do with this evidence, regardless of what you choose you have to deal with the consequences and that's what we see the sisters do, until people start dying and each murder is like a message directly to them.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Killer's Family' by Miranda Smith.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Miranda Smith, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 31st March 2022.

This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The One Before', 'His Loving Wife' and 'Not My Mother' which I highly recommend.


I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Fans of Lisa Jewell, Gillian Flynn and Ruth Ware will love The Killer’s Family.' I am a huge fan of Lisa Jewell so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Miranda and if this is half as good as 'Not My Mother', 'His Loving Wife' and 'The One Before ' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists 75 chapters spread over 4 parts. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!



This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonists are Molly, Cara and Rachel. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

WHAT did I just read!!!! WOW!!! I mean seriously Wow!! I was NOT expecting that lot fairplay!!! This has GOT to start with a MASSIVE WELL DONE MIRANDA SMITH!!!! Ooopps sorry, yes, needed a minute to get over that but I've just left you hanging there... Sorry.... Let me tell you more...

Firstly let's start off with the writing style, etc!! Extremely well written book which had me hook line and sinker!!! It is so smoothly and beautifully written with vivid descriptions I completely forgot I was even reading a book a few times. The blurb, title and cover really fit the storyline.

As you can tell I LOVED the storyline. I found it to be realistic, very fast paced and I read it in a day. I loved the setting and atmosphere and just well... Everything!!! Twists after shocks after turns!!! Arggghhh... Its so hard to NOT say anything about them as it will give too much away and spoilt it for future readers but it definitely left me speechless over and over!!! I have read hundreds of psychological books and I really do think this one is definitely in the top 3 when it comes to dropping bombshells. I am, in fact still shell shocked!! Just brilliant fairplay and all links in and wraps up perfectly!!! However, one thing wasn't wrapped up which was right at the end and an explosive ending it was!!! For once I actually love the fact that you don't get to find out who did what I'm talking about as it leaves you guessing long after you finish the book. I can't say more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers so if you want to know you'll have to grab yourself a copy!! You won't regret it!!

THE plot throughout is rammed with suspense, mystery, lies, surprises, tension and did I say surprises!!! Well done Miranda ythis is exactly the reason you are on my favourite author list!! I am looking forward to reading more of your books and when oh when is this going to be turned into the movie of the year!!! Gone Girl and many others have NOTHING on this one!!!

I loved getting to know every single one of the characters and thought they were portrayed perfectly with great character development. They were all realistic with their own little quirks and I liked each (well almost each) one for different reasons. I was completely invested in them and thought they were all unique with their own quirks. I was completely shocked when it came to the reveal but I can't say anything else without spoiling it for others!!!

Congratulations Miranda on yet another explosive success!!! This is why you are one of my favourite psychological thriller authors. Here's to many more successes 🥂!!!

Clear your schedules before picking this up as you will not be able to put it down!!! "

Overall an absolutely page turning, explosive must read that will leave you shocked!!!

Genres covered in this novel include Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Psychological Fiction, Domestic Thriller and Mystery amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of The Girl on the Train, Behind Closed Doors, fans of Miranda Smith's previous books, Sheryl Browne, Shalini Boland, Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware, Gillian Flynn and anyone looking for an explosive page turner!!!


341 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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[Judy Odom · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

There are family secrets and then there are family secrets that are so beyond what one can ever expect.

Rachel, Cara and Molly having just buried their dad discovered such a secret that it was earth shattering.

How could their dad be a killer.

The killings begin again.

The pages turn quickly and the lights will stay on to the final page as the tension mounts and the bodies multiply.

Can they even trust each other.

The ending I did not see coming at all.

Don't miss out on The Killer's Family, you wont be checking family tree after this read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a hold your breath read.

[Lavins · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

Long, boring, repetitive, very predictable.

The synopsis of this book is revealing everything that it's happening till the last chapters of the book. That gives you an idea how much is happening in the book.

In the last chapters we have a few revelations that were predictable from a mile. The ending is a bit of a let down as we have, once again, the perfect killers, creating and covering crimes to a teeth so that no detective or forensic investigator would discover any inconsistencies. Sure!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always Twists and Turns With This Author! This one was very hard to put down like the others I've read by this author, but this one was the best so far

[Ilona * ksiazka_w_kwiatach * · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kilka lat temu miałam przyjemność sięgnąć po debiutancką powieść Mirandy Smith „Nie moja matka” i do dziś bardzo dobrze wspominam ten thriller. Była to historia pełna napięcia, emocjonalnych zawirowań i nieoczywistych relacji rodzinnych, które autorka potrafiła przedstawić w niezwykle sugestywny sposób. Miranda Smith posiada lekki, a jednocześnie wciągający styl pisania, umiejętnie budując atmosferę niepokoju niemal od pierwszych stron. Dlatego też bez większego wahania sięgnęłam po jej najnowszą książkę, licząc na równie angażującą lekturę.

Kiedyś trzy siostry były ze sobą bardzo blisko. Teraz, rok po pogrzebie ojca, ich relacja praktycznie nie istnieje. Molly nie chce zaakceptować prawdy o przeszłości, Rachel nie potrafi mu wybaczyć, a trzecia z sióstr obsesyjnie zagłębia się w jego życie, próbując odkryć, kim naprawdę był.
Sytuacja komplikuje się jeszcze bardziej, gdy pojawia się niepokojąca wiadomość – przy dokach znaleziono ciało kobiety, a z jej palca zniknęła obrączka. Media szybko zaczynają spekulować, że lokalny seryjny morderca powrócił.
To jednak wydaje się niemożliwe. Siostry wiedzą przecież, kto nim był – Henry Martin, ich ojciec.

„Rodzina mordercy” to przede wszystkim opowieść o trzech kobietach, które łączy nie tylko więź krwi, lecz także wspólna, trudna do udźwignięcia tajemnica. Miranda Smith wnikliwie pokazuje, jak różnorodne mogą być reakcje na traumę i jak silnie potrafi ona zniekształcić relacje rodzinne. To thriller oparty przede wszystkim na emocjach i złożonych więziach między bohaterkami – i właśnie ten aspekt okazał się dla mnie najbardziej przyciągający. Historia nie koncentruje się wyłącznie na zagadce kryminalnej, lecz przede wszystkim na tym, jak przeszłość wpływa na psychikę i niszczy to, co kiedyś wydawało się trwałe.
Muszę przyznać, że dość szybko zaczęłam domyślać się, w jakim kierunku zmierza fabuła, a odkrycie sprawcy nie stanowiło dla mnie większego wyzwania. Nie odebrało mi to jednak przyjemności z lektury – wręcz przeciwnie. Z zainteresowaniem śledziłam rozwój wydarzeń, skupiając się bardziej na tym, w jaki sposób autorka doprowadzi do finału, niż na samym rozwiązaniu.
Na szczególną uwagę zasługuje sposób budowania napięcia. Nie jest ono nachalne ani przesadzone – narasta powoli, podszyte niedopowiedzeniami i emocjonalnym ciężarem, który towarzyszy bohaterkom. Każda z sióstr jest inna i każda inaczej radzi sobie z traumą, co sprawia, że ich portrety są wiarygodne i angażujące. Molly zdaje się wypierać prawdę o ojcu, jakby jej akceptacja oznaczała całkowite zburzenie znanego świata. Kryje się w niej zarówno bezradność, jak i desperacka potrzeba zachowania pozorów normalności. Rachel to z kolei postać przepełniona gniewem i żalem – nie potrafi wybaczyć ani ojcu, ani w pewnym sensie samej sobie i siostrom. Jej emocje są gwałtowne, co dodatkowo zaostrza napięcia między nimi. Trzecia z sióstr wyróżnia się obsesyjnym podejściem do przeszłości – to ona najgłębiej w nią wnika, analizuje i szuka odpowiedzi, jakby tylko pełne zrozumienie mogło przynieść ukojenie.
To właśnie kontrast między nimi stanowi jeden z największych atutów książki. Ich relacja jest skomplikowana i niejednoznaczna, pełna przemilczeń, dawnych urazów i niewypowiedzianych pretensji. Czuć, że kiedyś były sobie bliskie, jednak wydarzenia związane z ojcem stopniowo je od siebie oddaliły. Teraz każda z nich funkcjonuje osobno, a próby odbudowania więzi często prowadzą jedynie do pogłębienia dystansu.
Dużym plusem jest to, że autorka nie próbuje na siłę „naprawiać” tych relacji. Są one momentami bolesne i niewygodne, ale dzięki temu bardzo autentyczne. Nie ma tu prostych pojednań ani łatwych rozwiązań – jest za to emocjonalna szczerość.
Choć sama zagadka kryminalna nie stanowi najmocniejszego punktu powieści, nie ona jest jej sednem. Największym atutem tej historii pozostają bohaterki i ich wzajemne relacje. Obserwowanie, jak przeszłość wpływa na ich teraźniejszość i jak każda z nich próbuje sobie z nią poradzić, było najbardziej angażującym elementem lektury.
Ostatecznie „Rodzina mordercy” to dobry thriller psychologiczny – może nie zaskakuje spektakularnymi zwrotami akcji, ale nadrabia klimatem, napięciem i pogłębionym portretem rodziny naznaczonej mroczną tajemnicą. To książka, którą czyta się szybko, z rosnącym zainteresowaniem. Bardziej porusza, niż zaskakuje – i właśnie za to ją cenię.

[Jenny Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning was a little repetitive but the twist had my jaw on the floor. Questionable ending and I don’t agree Tate would go along with how things ended up. I also dislike how we don’t know which sister is to blame. I suspect Molly but wish it didn’t end like that.

[blondethrillerbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have seen a few harsh reviews for this one, but I actually loved it. It is super fast paced and kept me guessing the entire time!

I don’t feel like every book has to be a literary masterpiece to be enjoyable. Sometimes, they are just entertaining!
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This story is about 3 sisters who only recently lost their mother, and now, their father has accidentally overdosed.

As they are cleaning out their parents’ home, they discover evidence pointing to their father being the notorious Gemini serial killer.

They are all shocked, shaken and devastated. Then, they begin to argue because they have different opinions on how to handle things.

Then… a woman is found murdered. The media is attributing the muder to Gemini. The sisters know that can’t be possible…. their father was Gemini and he is dead 👀

[Ruby Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the premise of this novel, great domestic suspense. There are twists, turns, and many surprises. Don't start this unless you have a clear schedule because you may not be able to put it down.

[szyszka_czyta · Rating 5 out of 5]

To historia trzech sióstr, które odkrywają po śmierci ojca, był seryjnym mordercą. Każda z nich radzi sobie z tym inaczej - wyparcie, gniew, obsesja poznania prawdy. Sprawa komplikuje się, gdy pojawia się nowe morderstwo łudząco podobne do tych sprzed lat… co sugeruje, że koszmar może wcale się nie skończył.

„Rodzina mordercy” to solidny thriller psychologiczny, który wciąga w wielowątkową i niepokojącą historię. Szczególnie mocno wybrzmiewa tu motyw sekretów i tajemnic odkrywanych przez bohaterki po śmierci ojca. Napięcie ma głównie charakter psychologiczny, ale z każdą stroną wyraźnie narasta, by w końcówce nabrać dynamiki. Narracja prowadzona jest głównie z perspektywy trzech sióstr, z których każda inaczej radzi sobie z mroczną prawdą o ojcu. To opowieść o traumie i jej konsekwencjach, dziedzictwie zła, skomplikowanych relacjach rodzinnych oraz poszukiwaniu własnej tożsamości. Przeszłość nie daje o sobie zapomnieć, a zbrodnia sprzed lat wciąż odciska swoje piętno. To historia pełna tajemnic, niedopowiedzeń, paranoi i strachu, a jednocześnie wnikliwa analiza postaci i ich emocji. Pojawia się tu też pytanie: czy człowiek, którego uważało się za dobrego, mógł przez cały czas żyć w cieniu mrocznej prawdy? A może wszystko było jedynie dobrze odegraną rolą?

To thriller, który zmusza do refleksji - jak żyć ze świadomością, że potwór był częścią własnej rodziny? Gęsta, duszna atmosfera i plot twist sprawiają, że trudno się od tej historii oderwać 🖤

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Stuff 'n' Things

What would you do if on the day of your beloved father's funeral, you find evidence to suggest he was the serial killer known as Gemini? A serial killer who was responsible for the horrendous and vicious deaths of numerous young women spanning a significant period of time.

What would you do?

In The Killer's Family we follow the story of the 3 sisters who discovered the devastating evidence and the impact this has on their lives and their relationships with each other and then everything is turned on its head when Gemini strikes again ... and again ...

Who really is Gemini?

This is a dark story with a number of twists that I found riveting and would recommend to lovers of this genre.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.