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The In-Laws
She visited them for the weekend. Now they won't let her leave.
Chelsea Jameson married the perfect husband, but he doesn't like to talk about his past.
She finds out why when his parents invite them to stay at their off-the-grid cabin in the woods.
His mother dominates his life, even though her only son is in his thirties. Her mother-in-law creates conflict and tries to manipulate her husband against Chelsea.
When Chelsea discovers more about her husband’s parents, dark family secrets are unearthed, revealing the truth. This is not a regular visit to the in-laws.
Isolated and in the middle of nowhere, Chelsea needs to play their game if she wants to survive her visit.
The In-Laws is a page-turning psychological thriller that will have you guessing till the very end.
Chelsea Jameson married the perfect husband, but he doesn't like to talk about his past.
She finds out why when his parents invite them to stay at their off-the-grid cabin in the woods.
His mother dominates his life, even though her only son is in his thirties. Her mother-in-law creates conflict and tries to manipulate her husband against Chelsea.
When Chelsea discovers more about her husband’s parents, dark family secrets are unearthed, revealing the truth. This is not a regular visit to the in-laws.
Isolated and in the middle of nowhere, Chelsea needs to play their game if she wants to survive her visit.
The In-Laws is a page-turning psychological thriller that will have you guessing till the very end.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published June 26, 2022
2181 people are currently reading
4440 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 522 reviews
July 3, 2022
This was a quick and nice read. The first half of the book felt like some kind of light horror story cliché and I was waiting for a werewolf coming around the corner, but it was still entertaining enough for me to keep reading. The characters were interesting and the story was good. There was a nice message at the end and the predictable twist I was waiting for. Overall, it was a good read and I recommend it if you're looking for an easy to read and entertaining "thrillerish" book.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.
November 5, 2025
This is one of those psychological thrillers where you simply don’t care that everything is very unlikely. You are glued to the pages and don’t want the spectacle to end! Well done!
December 10, 2023
Everyone wants a perfect family, but how far are you ready to go to get one?
The book is a bit creepy. The first part looks like a usual meeting with the in-laws, but after this, it takes an unexpected turn.
It is a short book, but a very entertaining one and it is worth getting a try and reading it.
The book is a bit creepy. The first part looks like a usual meeting with the in-laws, but after this, it takes an unexpected turn.
It is a short book, but a very entertaining one and it is worth getting a try and reading it.
July 7, 2022
I liked this!
It’s a 4*because I liked it, I love it and it sure kept me entertained.
I thought it started out semingly like it was a horror read. I’d gone into this blind actually so wasn’t 100% sure. I know it said Psychological thriller on the front …
But sometimes books can be pushed in a certain genre that doesn’t fit (if you know what I mean?)
I’ve not read a book like this in a very long time and I found it different. Or it may be that I’ve not come across a similar style?
All I’m saying is, there’s some odd folk out there!
A book I won’t forget in a hurry.
It’s only 186 pages and it’s jam packed.
If you want a quick thrilling odd ride, this is it!
It’s a 4*because I liked it, I love it and it sure kept me entertained.
I thought it started out semingly like it was a horror read. I’d gone into this blind actually so wasn’t 100% sure. I know it said Psychological thriller on the front …
But sometimes books can be pushed in a certain genre that doesn’t fit (if you know what I mean?)
I’ve not read a book like this in a very long time and I found it different. Or it may be that I’ve not come across a similar style?
All I’m saying is, there’s some odd folk out there!
A book I won’t forget in a hurry.
It’s only 186 pages and it’s jam packed.
If you want a quick thrilling odd ride, this is it!
December 3, 2023
Wow! That’s the first word that comes to mind after finishing this gripping thriller! As usual, James Caine delivers major creep vibes throughout with high intensity. This could easily be devoured in a single sitting. The plot is fast-paced, original, addictive, and entertaining. I enjoyed every twisted second of this macabre tale. Thank you to the author for my copy. I can't wait to read more thrillers by James Caine. His storytelling never disappoints. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 7, 2022
Okay, WOW! The In-Laws is a family drama turned claustrophobic thriller that will keep you guessing until the end!
Chelsea and Henry are newlyweds. She’s going to meet his parents for the first time, which seems like it would be a red flag, but Chelsea is known to be a bit gullible. She wants to be loved and she tends to see the best in people.
Her in-laws, Martha and Arthur, are truly bizarre people. Off the grid living and living off the land is cool but they take it to a new extreme. After the long drive, they have to hike FOUR more hours to the cabin to meet his sour-faced mom and demented dad.
We know from the start that something strange is going on at this property because, a finger is sticking out of the ground in the garden but we don’t know what or why. Why didn’t he tell her more about his family’s quirks and why is it getting harder and harder to leave?
This is actually one of the creepiest books I’ve read lately. There were twists that were really chilling to me and also parts that showed the triumph of the human spirit. This was a fun and fast read that I would definitely recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review this! Now available!
Chelsea and Henry are newlyweds. She’s going to meet his parents for the first time, which seems like it would be a red flag, but Chelsea is known to be a bit gullible. She wants to be loved and she tends to see the best in people.
Her in-laws, Martha and Arthur, are truly bizarre people. Off the grid living and living off the land is cool but they take it to a new extreme. After the long drive, they have to hike FOUR more hours to the cabin to meet his sour-faced mom and demented dad.
We know from the start that something strange is going on at this property because, a finger is sticking out of the ground in the garden but we don’t know what or why. Why didn’t he tell her more about his family’s quirks and why is it getting harder and harder to leave?
This is actually one of the creepiest books I’ve read lately. There were twists that were really chilling to me and also parts that showed the triumph of the human spirit. This was a fun and fast read that I would definitely recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review this! Now available!
June 14, 2025
My in-laws are some of the most hateful, nasty pond scum that I’ve ever met. They were downright abusive and awful to my wife, completely disrespectful to me, and, worst of all, completely uncaring for their only granddaughter. I say all that in past tense because they’re out of the picture nowadays. So I felt for Chelsea being stuck with this deranged group of people in the middle of nowhere. The author did a great job of creating a lot of creepy and uncertain atmosphere. The first portion of the book, you’re sitting there thinking to yourself, “Man, some wierd stuff is going down.” And it surely did (No spoilers). I didn’t care for Henry from the get go, and my opinion surely dwindled with each passing page. Now the pacing felt really off, almost like each half was a different story with the same characters. First half was sort of slow burn, and second half was full throttle. There were some grammatical issues throughout, and the premise and certain aspects were a little too tough to swallow. But then again, this is the third thriller that I’ve read today, so I may be a bit jaded. This wasn’t bad experience, but needed a lot of fine-tuning to make it work better.
June 26, 2022
The book had an interesting premise and delivered on the whole. The writing was disjointed at times and the advanced reader copy had a lot of errors. It was an average read.
July 1, 2025
Every time I think I've read the Worst Book Ever, another one comes along.
The plot, while predictable with foreseeable "twists" and a few plot holes, is salvageable. I could see myself giving this book 3 stars had it been written by a more skilled author.
The writing, however, is on par with "Run, Spot, run. See Spot run?" The editing issues abound, from misspellings to massive grammatical mistakes to glaring punctuation errors.
The dialogue is stiff and unnatural. The characters lack depth; turn them sideways, and they disappear.
Caine uses the same words and phrases repeatedly. His favorites include: smirk, shout, scoff, saunter, thin smile, and brandishing a smile. The book isn't indexed, so sadly I can't provide word counts, but someone smirked at least 50 times.
Even more maddening, the words are often used in the wrong context.
For example, smirking typically implies smugness or contempt, but can also be used playfully to indicate teasing/sarcasm. You don't smirk while romantically gazing into your partner's eyes.
To saunter is to walk languidly, almost posturing, no rush, no worries. You do not saunter when a psychopath is prodding you along.
People shout to attract attention or convey a strong emotion, often anger. You don't open the door and shout at your guests to welcome them.
I could go on, but I think I made my point.
James Caine may have some creative ideas but should consider attending a writers' workshop or ten, as he's in desperate need of critical feedback.
The plot, while predictable with foreseeable "twists" and a few plot holes, is salvageable. I could see myself giving this book 3 stars had it been written by a more skilled author.
The writing, however, is on par with "Run, Spot, run. See Spot run?" The editing issues abound, from misspellings to massive grammatical mistakes to glaring punctuation errors.
The dialogue is stiff and unnatural. The characters lack depth; turn them sideways, and they disappear.
Caine uses the same words and phrases repeatedly. His favorites include: smirk, shout, scoff, saunter, thin smile, and brandishing a smile. The book isn't indexed, so sadly I can't provide word counts, but someone smirked at least 50 times.
Even more maddening, the words are often used in the wrong context.
For example, smirking typically implies smugness or contempt, but can also be used playfully to indicate teasing/sarcasm. You don't smirk while romantically gazing into your partner's eyes.
To saunter is to walk languidly, almost posturing, no rush, no worries. You do not saunter when a psychopath is prodding you along.
People shout to attract attention or convey a strong emotion, often anger. You don't open the door and shout at your guests to welcome them.
I could go on, but I think I made my point.
James Caine may have some creative ideas but should consider attending a writers' workshop or ten, as he's in desperate need of critical feedback.
August 26, 2022
Awful book. Couldn't even bare to finish it. Way too many words in italics that were completely unnecessary. I automatically change how I read a word when I see this and it just made it ridiculous. What a waste of time.
August 22, 2022
What’s brilliant book
August 6, 2022
Newly married, Chelsea and Henry go to visit his parents that Chelsea has never met. They live in a cabin in the woods in the middle of nowhere. When they first arrive, Chelsea immediately gets bad vibes from both of them...especially Henry's mother, Martha. His father, Arthur, is also strange and Henry tells her his father is having memory issues. When Henry is called away for work, she is stuck there alone for the day and is miserable. When Henry finally returns, she is unsure if they will ever be able to leave!
This is one creepy book and I was loving it! I was glued to the pages. I don't want to say much more, except that this is a fast read (about 200 pages or so). It's a perfect book for those who enjoy creepy, psychological thrillers like myself. Highly recommend!
This book is available now on Kindle Unlimited.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
This is one creepy book and I was loving it! I was glued to the pages. I don't want to say much more, except that this is a fast read (about 200 pages or so). It's a perfect book for those who enjoy creepy, psychological thrillers like myself. Highly recommend!
This book is available now on Kindle Unlimited.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
January 15, 2025
Lies, secrets, everything comes out at the end. This book had me on the edge of my seat and nothing was as it appeared! This is free right now on Amazon so I grabbed it. Looking forward to his next thriller.
December 13, 2025
This book is messy, crazy and DELUSIONAL.
It is a good entertaining read though! 3.75
It is a good entertaining read though! 3.75
June 25, 2022
Martha and Arthur Jameson are expecting a visit from their son Henry, and his new wife, Chelsea. Martha and Arthur live off the grid growing their own vegetables and trapping their own meat. They enjoy being independent. Arthur has leg problems and Martha is impatient with increasing medical problems.
Just before arriving, Henry and Chelsea stop for gas and snacks. Chelsea is surprised to see a board with so many posters of missing people.
Chelsea is doing her best to be nice and complimentary to her in-laws but is shocked to see some of the primitive ways in which her in-laws live. But it’s just for the weekend so she is trying to grin and bear it.
Before she knows what’s going on, Chelsea finds herself caught in a nightmare worse than she could ever have imagined. Will she be able to escape?
This is by far one of the most unusual plots I have ever read. The story is crazy scary and so compelling that I simply could not put it down until I read the last page. This author has an incredible imagination and I look forward to reading more by him. Wow!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Just before arriving, Henry and Chelsea stop for gas and snacks. Chelsea is surprised to see a board with so many posters of missing people.
Chelsea is doing her best to be nice and complimentary to her in-laws but is shocked to see some of the primitive ways in which her in-laws live. But it’s just for the weekend so she is trying to grin and bear it.
Before she knows what’s going on, Chelsea finds herself caught in a nightmare worse than she could ever have imagined. Will she be able to escape?
This is by far one of the most unusual plots I have ever read. The story is crazy scary and so compelling that I simply could not put it down until I read the last page. This author has an incredible imagination and I look forward to reading more by him. Wow!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 7, 2022
Chelsea and Henry Jameson are newly married and twenty-one-year-old Chelsea, a painter, is meeting Henry's parents for the first time. They haven't met before as her in-laws live off-the-grid and Henry, who is thirty-four and owns a security company, Secure Surveillance has delayed the opportunities for it to happen.
Martha who is in her fifties and Arthur, sixty-five, are certainly very bizarre people and they take living off the land to a new extreme. A gripping read that I read really quickly, it's twisty, creepy and unpredictable. A very good, claustrophobic tale by James Caine.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
Martha who is in her fifties and Arthur, sixty-five, are certainly very bizarre people and they take living off the land to a new extreme. A gripping read that I read really quickly, it's twisty, creepy and unpredictable. A very good, claustrophobic tale by James Caine.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
June 26, 2022
This is an absolutely thrilling read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
August 11, 2022
This book reminds me of a Lifetime movie. It is creepy and I love it.
June 1, 2023
So much smirking.
So much scoffing.
So much thin smiling.
So many typos.
It’s unfortunate that this book wasn’t edited better because the plot was pretty original for the genre.
So much scoffing.
So much thin smiling.
So many typos.
It’s unfortunate that this book wasn’t edited better because the plot was pretty original for the genre.
August 25, 2022
A deliciously creepy story about young (she's only 21) and shy Chelsea, who's to meet her in-laws for the first time. Her husband Henry, a lot older than her (he's 35) takes her on a weekend trip to visit them. Not only they have a drive of about four hours, when Henry parks the car he surprises Chelsea by saying that they need to hike another four hours to the cabin where his parents live.
So, she follows... and gets to meet a woman who looks way younger than her supposed age of mid-fifties, and a much older man. Soon, Chelsea discovers there is something not quite right in the household - and the reader does too because we get to read the story from the viewpoints of Chelsea and Martha, Henry's mother.
From slightly uncomfortable it goes to strange to creepy to very, very frightening and there are a lot of red herrings but also real twists.
What I liked was the rather original plot. I cannot tell you more but it's not something I've read in a book about in-laws before. I also liked the way the story slowly builds but is not set in a slow pace.
Why I gave the book three stars instead of four: the timelines! We learn that from their home, it takes about 4 hours of driving and 4 hours of hiking. The second day, Henry announces he has to go back to solve some business problems. He leaves mid-morning and returns the same day. What did he do, fly over? And come to speak of it, if I were Chelsea I would have refused flat out to spend a whole day driving and hiking to somewhere only to stay there for two nights.
Henry and his family are smirking their way through the day. That wasn't necessary; even I can find synonyms for 'smirk'.
There's also something going on with the ages of Henry's parents, but I cannot go into that further because of spoilers.
And Chelsea? She's just married and living in Calgary, but planning to go to college again - in Toronto, nearly 1000 kilometers away. She's planning to rent an apartment together with her old friend Neil and maybe Henry can come and visit her...
I find this very, very strange.
Anyway, since the book centers around only four people, and is set in just one distant location, I think it could be used for a short movie. In stories like these, almost never all people make it to the end. But which ones will survive?
So, she follows... and gets to meet a woman who looks way younger than her supposed age of mid-fifties, and a much older man. Soon, Chelsea discovers there is something not quite right in the household - and the reader does too because we get to read the story from the viewpoints of Chelsea and Martha, Henry's mother.
From slightly uncomfortable it goes to strange to creepy to very, very frightening and there are a lot of red herrings but also real twists.
What I liked was the rather original plot. I cannot tell you more but it's not something I've read in a book about in-laws before. I also liked the way the story slowly builds but is not set in a slow pace.
Why I gave the book three stars instead of four: the timelines! We learn that from their home, it takes about 4 hours of driving and 4 hours of hiking. The second day, Henry announces he has to go back to solve some business problems. He leaves mid-morning and returns the same day. What did he do, fly over? And come to speak of it, if I were Chelsea I would have refused flat out to spend a whole day driving and hiking to somewhere only to stay there for two nights.
Henry and his family are smirking their way through the day. That wasn't necessary; even I can find synonyms for 'smirk'.
There's also something going on with the ages of Henry's parents, but I cannot go into that further because of spoilers.
And Chelsea? She's just married and living in Calgary, but planning to go to college again - in Toronto, nearly 1000 kilometers away. She's planning to rent an apartment together with her old friend Neil and maybe Henry can come and visit her...
I find this very, very strange.
Anyway, since the book centers around only four people, and is set in just one distant location, I think it could be used for a short movie. In stories like these, almost never all people make it to the end. But which ones will survive?
August 19, 2022
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’m going to have a little difficulty writing this review because there were things I liked about the book but also things that I really did NOT like. First off, the storyline had a 4-5 star possibility. Bottom line is I think it was the writing for me with this one that dropped it to 3. I felt it was very “amateur” at times….from the descriptions , to the character’s developments, to the conversations. For example (without going into details so I don’t give spoilers): at one point Chelsea is fleeing from this extremely crazy family and she runs into a wolf and has to climb a tree to hide….and then she’s fleeing again and she stops for a brownie and bottle of water. I mean I get it, tired from running and needs water BUT at what point does someone who knows they could have just been killed decides to stop and have a little snack when on run! 😂
Overall I have definitely read worse and this book has potential but maybe it should have been edited a little more before publication! I did figure out who was bad and who wasn’t early on, but not a big deal to me…it happens. There was a shocking moment in there too so it does ultimately deserve 3 stars. Would I rush out and buy this one? No. If you have it already, would I recommend reading it? Maybe. 🤷♀️
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Overall I have definitely read worse and this book has potential but maybe it should have been edited a little more before publication! I did figure out who was bad and who wasn’t early on, but not a big deal to me…it happens. There was a shocking moment in there too so it does ultimately deserve 3 stars. Would I rush out and buy this one? No. If you have it already, would I recommend reading it? Maybe. 🤷♀️
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2025
WOW. Stumbled across this as a suggestion from Kindle and thought I’d give it a try. The story was absolutely wild and I still think about it even though I finished it a week ago. Was it the most complex or compelling read ever, no but if you want a weekend thriller read or even a vacation read, would highly recommend. I’ve since read several of James’ books (love a Canadian author!) and they are all quick fun thriller reads but man alive the twist of The In Laws will stick with me for a good while.
July 10, 2022
Not as good as I hoped
A silly plot. Too many words in italics and all the characters smirked constantly.
Serious overuse of the word smirk!
And a four hour hike to the cabin? Yes, it needed to be isolated but that's rather too much.
A silly plot. Too many words in italics and all the characters smirked constantly.
Serious overuse of the word smirk!
And a four hour hike to the cabin? Yes, it needed to be isolated but that's rather too much.
September 18, 2022
The story idea is fascinating and could totally have been an episode for Criminal Minds.
The issue is that the book was very poorly written with a plethora of editing errors (punctuation, misspelled words, etc). The overuse of italics was extraordinarily annoying to say the least and the word “smirk” is highly overused.
I also didn’t feel any chemistry between the spouses. I have a hard time believing that the couple had the connection so quickly because the author just didn’t give any depth in their writing. The relationship seemed blasé at best so why would the wife go for a four hour hike in the middle of the woods after hours of being on the road to meet his parents when there is absolutely no spark or anything of merit between the two???
I should have put this one on my dnf list but… here I am, telling you it’s TOTALLY fine if you don’t finish!
The issue is that the book was very poorly written with a plethora of editing errors (punctuation, misspelled words, etc). The overuse of italics was extraordinarily annoying to say the least and the word “smirk” is highly overused.
I also didn’t feel any chemistry between the spouses. I have a hard time believing that the couple had the connection so quickly because the author just didn’t give any depth in their writing. The relationship seemed blasé at best so why would the wife go for a four hour hike in the middle of the woods after hours of being on the road to meet his parents when there is absolutely no spark or anything of merit between the two???
I should have put this one on my dnf list but… here I am, telling you it’s TOTALLY fine if you don’t finish!
November 30, 2024
2.5
This wasn't it
The characters were flat and uninteresting to me. The plot had potential but the overall story wasn't at all suspensful & just boring to me.
This wasn't it
The characters were flat and uninteresting to me. The plot had potential but the overall story wasn't at all suspensful & just boring to me.
November 29, 2024
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Almost up there with The Boss from this author, I think!
I got it right with the general twist because I feel like every “in-law” book goes this way, but I liked how Caine tweaked a few things to make this common twist his and original. Recommend!
Almost up there with The Boss from this author, I think!
I got it right with the general twist because I feel like every “in-law” book goes this way, but I liked how Caine tweaked a few things to make this common twist his and original. Recommend!
January 2, 2023
Gripping little thriller
March 19, 2024
Liked it, but didn’t love it. Full review to come soon! :)
February 17, 2025
The grammatical errors about did me in.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 522 reviews