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No Road Home
A young father must clear his name and protect his queer son when his wealthy new wife’s televangelist grandfather is found murdered in this binge-worthy locked-room thriller from the acclaimed author of The Bright Lands—perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Paul Tremblay, and Alex North.
For years, single father Toby Tucker has done his best to keep his sensitive young son, Luca, safe from the bigotry of the world. But when Toby marries Alyssa Wright—the granddaughter of a famed televangelist known for his grandiose, Old Testament preaching—he can’t imagine the world of religion, wealth, and hate that he and Luca are about to enter.
A trip to the Wright family’s compound in sun-scorched Texas soon turns hellish when Toby realizes that Alyssa and the rest of her brood might have some very strange plans for Toby and his son. The situation only grows worse when a freak storm cuts off the roads and the family patriarch is found murdered, stabbed through the heart on the roof of the family’s mansion.
Suspicion immediately turns to Toby, but when his son starts describing a spectral figure in a black suit lurking around the house with unfinished business in mind, Toby realizes this family has more than murder to be afraid of. And as the Wrights close in on Luca, no one is prepared for the lengths Toby will go in the fight to clear his name and protect his son.
For years, single father Toby Tucker has done his best to keep his sensitive young son, Luca, safe from the bigotry of the world. But when Toby marries Alyssa Wright—the granddaughter of a famed televangelist known for his grandiose, Old Testament preaching—he can’t imagine the world of religion, wealth, and hate that he and Luca are about to enter.
A trip to the Wright family’s compound in sun-scorched Texas soon turns hellish when Toby realizes that Alyssa and the rest of her brood might have some very strange plans for Toby and his son. The situation only grows worse when a freak storm cuts off the roads and the family patriarch is found murdered, stabbed through the heart on the roof of the family’s mansion.
Suspicion immediately turns to Toby, but when his son starts describing a spectral figure in a black suit lurking around the house with unfinished business in mind, Toby realizes this family has more than murder to be afraid of. And as the Wrights close in on Luca, no one is prepared for the lengths Toby will go in the fight to clear his name and protect his son.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published July 23, 2024
About the author
John Fram
3 books355 followersI'm John, author of the queer supernatural thriller THE BRIGHT LANDS, which was named a best a debut of 2020 by CrimeReads and BookPage, was called a great summer read by Rolling Stone and is that one thriller with the messed-up ending that got your mom's book club canceled.
My new Gothic chiller, NO ROAD HOME, has been named a notable book by the Washington Post, a most anticipated book by Cosmopolitan and is pulling a way more positive Goodreads score. It's available now wherever books are sold.
Check out my website where you can sign up for my newsletter, WHY IS THIS SO SCARY, a biweekly deep dive into my favorite works of horror in all its forms. You can also keep up with all my upcoming events and check out previous appearances and podcasts. And speaking of appearances, I love talking to book clubs. If you'd like to talk about NO ROAD HOME, shoot me an email from the contact form on my site.
A native of Texas, I bounce between Waco and Austin.
My new Gothic chiller, NO ROAD HOME, has been named a notable book by the Washington Post, a most anticipated book by Cosmopolitan and is pulling a way more positive Goodreads score. It's available now wherever books are sold.
Check out my website where you can sign up for my newsletter, WHY IS THIS SO SCARY, a biweekly deep dive into my favorite works of horror in all its forms. You can also keep up with all my upcoming events and check out previous appearances and podcasts. And speaking of appearances, I love talking to book clubs. If you'd like to talk about NO ROAD HOME, shoot me an email from the contact form on my site.
A native of Texas, I bounce between Waco and Austin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
January 31, 2024
This book has a lot going on and I mean a lot! Pay attention and enjoy the ride in this gripping and riveting book.
Toby Tucker has spent years trying to protect his young son, Luca, safe. When he marries Alyssa Wright, the daughter of a televangelist, he can't image what he is getting himself into. When they travel to the family's compound in Texas, Toby notices that the family has very strange plans for him and Luca. Then a storm hits, the family patriarch is found on the roof dead. How's that for come-home-and-meet-my-family weekend????
This book has an eerie and chilling vibe to it. Something isn't quite right with this family. There are secrets and then there are the Wright Family secrets! They are dark, dark secrets. Imagine being trapped in a home with them and they are circling around Luca, and you can't escape. I love that trapped feeling in books. Not only do the characters have to deal with not being able to leave and being cut off from the outside world, but they also must face being stuck with a killer, hidden alliances, and the weather. Tensions rise, anxiety mounts, and there is a figure/ghost that Luca has seen that has unfinished business.
Let's talk about the atmosphere in this book - it's fantastic! I love atmospheric books, and this felt the bill. The family compound paired with the storm creates a chilling atmosphere. This book has a gothic feel to it. I enjoyed the descriptions and the compound felt very much like a character in the book as well.
This book has a strong LGBTQ representation. The book also touches on identity/sexual identity, homophobia, bigotry, and mental health to name a few. This book also has religious talk and characters who talk the talk but aren't walking the walk.
I had no idea what I was getting into with this book. There are the secrets, the matter of whodunit, the dysfunctional relationships, and a father trying to protect his child from bigotry. This was a little bit slow in the beginning, but things really picked up for me close to the halfway point and I had to know what would be revealed or happen next.
Gripping, atmospheric, dark, and captivating.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Toby Tucker has spent years trying to protect his young son, Luca, safe. When he marries Alyssa Wright, the daughter of a televangelist, he can't image what he is getting himself into. When they travel to the family's compound in Texas, Toby notices that the family has very strange plans for him and Luca. Then a storm hits, the family patriarch is found on the roof dead. How's that for come-home-and-meet-my-family weekend????
This book has an eerie and chilling vibe to it. Something isn't quite right with this family. There are secrets and then there are the Wright Family secrets! They are dark, dark secrets. Imagine being trapped in a home with them and they are circling around Luca, and you can't escape. I love that trapped feeling in books. Not only do the characters have to deal with not being able to leave and being cut off from the outside world, but they also must face being stuck with a killer, hidden alliances, and the weather. Tensions rise, anxiety mounts, and there is a figure/ghost that Luca has seen that has unfinished business.
Let's talk about the atmosphere in this book - it's fantastic! I love atmospheric books, and this felt the bill. The family compound paired with the storm creates a chilling atmosphere. This book has a gothic feel to it. I enjoyed the descriptions and the compound felt very much like a character in the book as well.
This book has a strong LGBTQ representation. The book also touches on identity/sexual identity, homophobia, bigotry, and mental health to name a few. This book also has religious talk and characters who talk the talk but aren't walking the walk.
I had no idea what I was getting into with this book. There are the secrets, the matter of whodunit, the dysfunctional relationships, and a father trying to protect his child from bigotry. This was a little bit slow in the beginning, but things really picked up for me close to the halfway point and I had to know what would be revealed or happen next.
Gripping, atmospheric, dark, and captivating.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
July 27, 2024
No Road Home tells the story of Toby, a single father whose new wife is the granddaughter of a televangelist tycoon. Toby and Alyssa's relationship was a whirlwind; from their meeting when Toby was working as a teacher's aide at a private elementary school, and Alyssa rolled down her window and said you’ve been expecting me— she was picking up a friend's child—to marriage, they were together for only six months. Now, Toby and Alyssa venture back to Texas to her family's estate. Toby meets Alyssa's odd, wealthy family and is a bit worried about the influence they will have on his son. Soon, a storm hits, the roads are blocked, and Jerome, the patriarch televangelist, is found murdered on the roof. It's now up to Toby to protect himself and his son while unravelling family secrets he'd rather not know.
I thought this book had an excellent premise: Toby is trying to keep his seven-year-old son, who is trying to figure out who he is, let him be his true authentic self, and try to keep him as safe as possible from the world's bigotry. At the same time, his wife exposes them to her family's world of ultra-wealthy, ultra-conservative, ultra-religious televangelists. As Toby goes through the book, I hope for slightly better "secrets." The author had good ideas, but I believe too many ideas were incorporated into the plot at once, making for uneven pacing and choppy writing. Without giving spoilers, I thought the reveals were OTT— I believe there are so many ways the author could have written to include certain secrets while staying away from other familial relationships.
Although I enjoyed the idea of the book, I think the writing missed the mark. Overall, I didn't enjoy this book as much as others may have enjoyed it. I wanted something better. I wanted to root for Toby to unravel this family's bigotry and hatred in a realistic yet thrilling way, exposing them to their hatred. Ultimately, I found it was underwhelming—
I found the writing choppy. There is excessive repetition of events from previous chapters. There were too many characters to keep track of. At the beginning, there is a page entitled THE WRIGHTS WHO MATTER, two and a half pages long. There are ten family members (characters to keep track of). I couldn’t connect with any of the characters except for Toby and his son Luca. The whole plot felt convoluted at times. I think there was too much telling than showing the reader. Please read the trigger warning before reading. There is an offence word frequently used to describe a woman's genitalia—offence language bigotry.
I want to thank Atria and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I thought this book had an excellent premise: Toby is trying to keep his seven-year-old son, who is trying to figure out who he is, let him be his true authentic self, and try to keep him as safe as possible from the world's bigotry. At the same time, his wife exposes them to her family's world of ultra-wealthy, ultra-conservative, ultra-religious televangelists. As Toby goes through the book, I hope for slightly better "secrets." The author had good ideas, but I believe too many ideas were incorporated into the plot at once, making for uneven pacing and choppy writing. Without giving spoilers, I thought the reveals were OTT— I believe there are so many ways the author could have written to include certain secrets while staying away from other familial relationships.
Although I enjoyed the idea of the book, I think the writing missed the mark. Overall, I didn't enjoy this book as much as others may have enjoyed it. I wanted something better. I wanted to root for Toby to unravel this family's bigotry and hatred in a realistic yet thrilling way, exposing them to their hatred. Ultimately, I found it was underwhelming—
I found the writing choppy. There is excessive repetition of events from previous chapters. There were too many characters to keep track of. At the beginning, there is a page entitled THE WRIGHTS WHO MATTER, two and a half pages long. There are ten family members (characters to keep track of). I couldn’t connect with any of the characters except for Toby and his son Luca. The whole plot felt convoluted at times. I think there was too much telling than showing the reader. Please read the trigger warning before reading. There is an offence word frequently used to describe a woman's genitalia—offence language bigotry.
I want to thank Atria and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 20, 2024
4.5 Stars. Wow! This was memorable, gripping, twisted and twisty. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. My rating is nearer 5 stars. The character development is strong and there is a huge cast to sort out. Who is basically good with positive intentions? Others may be fanatical, evil, deluded, of unstable or drug addled. Many seem to have secret agendas. The tension and sense of foreboding are tangible in this gothic tale of an immensely wealthy dysfunctional family living in a poorly maintained mansion, so huge that it is easy to lose one’s way in it. The wealth was accumulated from donations to a religious TV series lead by Jerome Wright which has become increasingly focused on Old Testament retribution and prophecy.
Millions of dollars have been hidden in offshore accounts but siphoned off by a family member, placing the ministry on the verge of bankruptcy.
This is a story of bigotry under the pretense of religious extremism, murder, revenge,betrayal, predatory sexual secrets,incest and deception amidst a raging storm and deadly flood. It asks how far a person would go to protect their child and how far a family would go to protect their family business based on wealth derived from religious broadcasts
Tobias Tucker is fiercely protective of his seven-year-old son. Luca. Luca wears his hair in braids decorated with beads, likes colourful clothes and sparkly socks. As a hobby he constructs origami flowers from paper found in trash. Toby is determined that Luca will grow up without prejudice for his differences. A ghostly spectre is visible to Luca.
Toby feels the loss of his sister Willow. He has locked away tragic memories in an imaginary ‘mind castle’ he learned to create. He has been unable to retrieve the most disturbing ones. After a short acquaintance, he marries the beautiful, wealthy Alyssa Wright. She persuades Toby to visit her family home built on the profits from the religious telecasts and meet her many relatives.
Once Toby, Luca, and Alyssa arrive at the estate, there is an eerie, sinister atmosphere and he learns Luca is part of a nefarious plot to change him and make him one of their own. Shorty after arrival, Alyssa’s grandfather Jerome is found stabbed to death on the roof. The key to enter the roof is missing and also the blood soaked murder weapon. Most of the family members may have a motive but Toby is targeted for blame. The family delays calling the police and evidence is placed to make Toby look guilty. He never had time to find his way to the roof or the key to gain access. This was a way to get rid of Toby and claim Luca.
This so-called religious family is far from God-like. They plan to continue the religious TV series without Jerome to build up
a greater fortune. They are prejudiced against those with homosexual or transsexual lifestyles and run a camp to rid members of alternative sexual orientations. Once at a the camp they are subjected to emotional and sexual abuse by predators Jerome and Alyssa ‘s brother Richard. There is also bigotry based on racial factors. Two cousins , Jules and Marie are of mixed race and employed as servants without hopes for any inheritance.
There is a list at the beginning identifying members of the family in this complex and tangled tale. The reader should pay attention to enjoy all the twists and turns and the final revelations.
There is a raging storm at the beginning. My mind kept shouting at Toby to grab his son and run, but the road is washed out and internet and phone service is down. There is no way out. Later there is a massive flood with more deaths as the house crumbles into the water. At the same time, Toby’s hidden memories are surfacing.
How supportive has his new wife been in Toby’s time of trouble? Despite this dark, disturbing story, I found the outcome very satisfying. Publication date is July 23.
Millions of dollars have been hidden in offshore accounts but siphoned off by a family member, placing the ministry on the verge of bankruptcy.
This is a story of bigotry under the pretense of religious extremism, murder, revenge,betrayal, predatory sexual secrets,incest and deception amidst a raging storm and deadly flood. It asks how far a person would go to protect their child and how far a family would go to protect their family business based on wealth derived from religious broadcasts
Tobias Tucker is fiercely protective of his seven-year-old son. Luca. Luca wears his hair in braids decorated with beads, likes colourful clothes and sparkly socks. As a hobby he constructs origami flowers from paper found in trash. Toby is determined that Luca will grow up without prejudice for his differences. A ghostly spectre is visible to Luca.
Toby feels the loss of his sister Willow. He has locked away tragic memories in an imaginary ‘mind castle’ he learned to create. He has been unable to retrieve the most disturbing ones. After a short acquaintance, he marries the beautiful, wealthy Alyssa Wright. She persuades Toby to visit her family home built on the profits from the religious telecasts and meet her many relatives.
Once Toby, Luca, and Alyssa arrive at the estate, there is an eerie, sinister atmosphere and he learns Luca is part of a nefarious plot to change him and make him one of their own. Shorty after arrival, Alyssa’s grandfather Jerome is found stabbed to death on the roof. The key to enter the roof is missing and also the blood soaked murder weapon. Most of the family members may have a motive but Toby is targeted for blame. The family delays calling the police and evidence is placed to make Toby look guilty. He never had time to find his way to the roof or the key to gain access. This was a way to get rid of Toby and claim Luca.
This so-called religious family is far from God-like. They plan to continue the religious TV series without Jerome to build up
a greater fortune. They are prejudiced against those with homosexual or transsexual lifestyles and run a camp to rid members of alternative sexual orientations. Once at a the camp they are subjected to emotional and sexual abuse by predators Jerome and Alyssa ‘s brother Richard. There is also bigotry based on racial factors. Two cousins , Jules and Marie are of mixed race and employed as servants without hopes for any inheritance.
There is a list at the beginning identifying members of the family in this complex and tangled tale. The reader should pay attention to enjoy all the twists and turns and the final revelations.
There is a raging storm at the beginning. My mind kept shouting at Toby to grab his son and run, but the road is washed out and internet and phone service is down. There is no way out. Later there is a massive flood with more deaths as the house crumbles into the water. At the same time, Toby’s hidden memories are surfacing.
How supportive has his new wife been in Toby’s time of trouble? Despite this dark, disturbing story, I found the outcome very satisfying. Publication date is July 23.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2024
For fans of Jordan Peele's work, especially those who enjoyed "Get Out" and are fond of claustrophobic locked-room mysteries with commendable queer representation intertwined with paranormal and occultist elements, this book might be a suitable choice. Despite its slow-burn nature and a few predictable twists, the narrative captures the charm of being trapped in a mansion amidst a storm, woven into a compelling whodunit mystery. Despite my initial inclination to rate it between three and four stars, I ultimately settled on 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4. However, the presence of the hateful Wright family members, marked by patriarchal bigotry, left a sour taste and invoked a visceral urge to punch each character in the face.
One of the book's standout aspects is the honest portrayal of Toby's struggle to shield his sensitive young son, Luca, from the shameful bigotry surrounding them. Toby's journey includes embracing Luca's sexual identity and providing unwavering support, creating a relatable and engaging narrative that resonates with readers.
The narrative revolves around Toby Tucker, a widower raising his son Luca. Despite recently marrying Allyssa Wright, the granddaughter of a famous televangelist, Toby finds himself caught between worlds. Allyssa's family, while powerful and wealthy, is also biased and judgmental, a stark contrast to Toby's liberal perspective in proudly raising a queer son.
When Toby and Luca accept an invitation to Allyssa's family compound in Texas, they are unaware of the Wrights' hidden agendas. The situation spirals out of control when the family patriarch is found stabbed, and an unforeseen storm severs their connection with the outside world. Trapped in the mansion with potentially dangerous people, Toby must navigate a web of secrets, including the presence of a brutal killer.
As the walls close in on him, Toby is compelled to act swiftly to save his son. However, the challenge lies in deciphering who can be trusted, especially when the woman he married may harbor hidden secrets. The story unfolds with suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
In summary, the book offers a slow yet intriguing narrative—a claustrophobic locked-room mystery with commendable LGBTQ representation. It's worth giving a try for those interested in a mix of suspense, mystery, and positive representation.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing this digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
One of the book's standout aspects is the honest portrayal of Toby's struggle to shield his sensitive young son, Luca, from the shameful bigotry surrounding them. Toby's journey includes embracing Luca's sexual identity and providing unwavering support, creating a relatable and engaging narrative that resonates with readers.
The narrative revolves around Toby Tucker, a widower raising his son Luca. Despite recently marrying Allyssa Wright, the granddaughter of a famous televangelist, Toby finds himself caught between worlds. Allyssa's family, while powerful and wealthy, is also biased and judgmental, a stark contrast to Toby's liberal perspective in proudly raising a queer son.
When Toby and Luca accept an invitation to Allyssa's family compound in Texas, they are unaware of the Wrights' hidden agendas. The situation spirals out of control when the family patriarch is found stabbed, and an unforeseen storm severs their connection with the outside world. Trapped in the mansion with potentially dangerous people, Toby must navigate a web of secrets, including the presence of a brutal killer.
As the walls close in on him, Toby is compelled to act swiftly to save his son. However, the challenge lies in deciphering who can be trusted, especially when the woman he married may harbor hidden secrets. The story unfolds with suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
In summary, the book offers a slow yet intriguing narrative—a claustrophobic locked-room mystery with commendable LGBTQ representation. It's worth giving a try for those interested in a mix of suspense, mystery, and positive representation.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing this digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
June 21, 2024
Thank you so much @atriabooks @atriathrillers for my gorgeous gifted copy!! 👀 Look at this cover!! This book is 🔥🔥🔥 Pub day is July 23rd!!
This book is wild!! Toby and his son Luca are trying hard to fit in with their new family… but this family is all kinds of crazy… and by crazy I mean they are a piece of work. 😳Rich 💰 and powerful… the rules of life don’t apply to them. 🤷♀️…or so they think. OMG 😳 the things that went on in this house. 😳😬🤐 Okay no spoilers!! This is why you are going to looove this book.. ⬇️
✅Gothic vibes!! Hell yes!! That magic word right there that ALWAYS sells me!! 😍
✅Locked 🔒 room mystery…A huge mansion… and a storm ☔️ rolls in… boom 💥 no electricity… cut off from the world… What could go wrong? 😬🤷♀️🙄 EVERYTHING!!
✅Murder…ON PAGE ONE!! 😳😍
✅Borderline horror??? Supernatural??? I don’t know WTF it was but I loved it!! 😂😍🖤
So to recap we have a fantastic, isolated setting. Unlikable characters that made me cringe. Fantastic gothic vibes.. so creepy and dark. 🖤 Ohh and your favorite… murder!! 😉This book has perfect combination of everything your little thriller lover hearts want. 🖤
This is my first @john.fram book and I am a total fan now!! I am off 🏃♀️ to get a copy of The Bright Lands!! 😍
🖤🖤🖤🖤 Is this on your TBR?? Did you read The Bright Lands yet?
This book is wild!! Toby and his son Luca are trying hard to fit in with their new family… but this family is all kinds of crazy… and by crazy I mean they are a piece of work. 😳Rich 💰 and powerful… the rules of life don’t apply to them. 🤷♀️…or so they think. OMG 😳 the things that went on in this house. 😳😬🤐 Okay no spoilers!! This is why you are going to looove this book.. ⬇️
✅Gothic vibes!! Hell yes!! That magic word right there that ALWAYS sells me!! 😍
✅Locked 🔒 room mystery…A huge mansion… and a storm ☔️ rolls in… boom 💥 no electricity… cut off from the world… What could go wrong? 😬🤷♀️🙄 EVERYTHING!!
✅Murder…ON PAGE ONE!! 😳😍
✅Borderline horror??? Supernatural??? I don’t know WTF it was but I loved it!! 😂😍🖤
So to recap we have a fantastic, isolated setting. Unlikable characters that made me cringe. Fantastic gothic vibes.. so creepy and dark. 🖤 Ohh and your favorite… murder!! 😉This book has perfect combination of everything your little thriller lover hearts want. 🖤
This is my first @john.fram book and I am a total fan now!! I am off 🏃♀️ to get a copy of The Bright Lands!! 😍
🖤🖤🖤🖤 Is this on your TBR?? Did you read The Bright Lands yet?
March 5, 2024
I loved John Fram’s debut horror novel The Bright Lands, so I have been looking forward to his sophomore novel.
No Road Home centers around single dad Toby Tucker. Toby recently married Alyssa Wright so Toby along with his son Luca, are traveling to Alyssa’s hometown in Texas to meet her family. But Alyssa’s family is not just anyone, they are The Wright Family- a well-known televangelist family whose patriarch (Alyssa’s grandfather) is notable for telling his viewers their future.
Soon after arriving at The Wrights’ lavish estate, all hell breaks loose between family members, and on top of that, a storm floods the roads so they can't leave. Toby is trapped in a group of backstabbing, manipulative, greedy in-laws who in real life, are nothing like they are portrayed on TV. Dark secrets emerge and before the first night is over, someone is murdered.
Unlike The Bright Lands, No Road Home is a locked-room mystery, thriller with supernatural elements. It's one of those books where you have to suspend your beliefs but the characterization and multiple twists had me hanging on the author's every word. No Road Home is a suspenseful, and very entertaining read that I believe a lot of thriller fans will love.
No Road Home by John Fram will be available on July 23. Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
No Road Home centers around single dad Toby Tucker. Toby recently married Alyssa Wright so Toby along with his son Luca, are traveling to Alyssa’s hometown in Texas to meet her family. But Alyssa’s family is not just anyone, they are The Wright Family- a well-known televangelist family whose patriarch (Alyssa’s grandfather) is notable for telling his viewers their future.
Soon after arriving at The Wrights’ lavish estate, all hell breaks loose between family members, and on top of that, a storm floods the roads so they can't leave. Toby is trapped in a group of backstabbing, manipulative, greedy in-laws who in real life, are nothing like they are portrayed on TV. Dark secrets emerge and before the first night is over, someone is murdered.
Unlike The Bright Lands, No Road Home is a locked-room mystery, thriller with supernatural elements. It's one of those books where you have to suspend your beliefs but the characterization and multiple twists had me hanging on the author's every word. No Road Home is a suspenseful, and very entertaining read that I believe a lot of thriller fans will love.
No Road Home by John Fram will be available on July 23. Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
July 21, 2024
I picked this one up because I like murder mysteries and I had heard of John Fram but missed his earlier book, The Bright Lands. This one is chilling!
Description:
A young father must clear his name and protect his queer son when his wealthy new wife’s televangelist grandfather is found murdered in this binge-worthy locked-room thriller from the acclaimed author of The Bright Lands—perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Paul Tremblay, and Alex North.
For years, single father Toby Tucker has done his best to keep his sensitive young son, Luca, safe from the bigotry of the world. But when Toby marries Alyssa Wright—the granddaughter of a famed televangelist known for his grandiose, Old Testament preaching—he can’t imagine the world of religion, wealth, and hate that he and Luca are about to enter.
A trip to the Wright family’s compound in sun-scorched Texas soon turns hellish when Toby realizes that Alyssa and the rest of her brood might have some very strange plans for Toby and his son. The situation only grows worse when a freak storm cuts off the roads and the family patriarch is found murdered, stabbed through the heart on the roof of the family’s mansion.
Suspicion immediately turns to Toby, but when his son starts describing a spectral figure in a black suit lurking around the house with unfinished business in mind, Toby realizes this family has more than murder to be afraid of. And as the Wrights close in on Luca, no one is prepared for the lengths Toby will go in the fight to clear his name and protect his son.
My Thoughts:
This book gives off a gothic atmosphere in the Texas family compound of the Wrights. The Wright family is horrible and I disliked all the characters except Tobias and his son Luca. I felt sorry for Tobias throughout as he tried to shield his son and extricate them from this terrible situation. His determination to shield his son from bigotry and hatred was admirable. As the storm left them cut off from the world with roads blocked and the unpredictable family schemes, the book held me in its grip throughout. A good pace and lots of tense moments made this a worthwhile read. The initial murder was the most difficult to solve and I would never have guessed. I would recommend to anyone who likes murder mysteries.
Thanks to Atria Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
A young father must clear his name and protect his queer son when his wealthy new wife’s televangelist grandfather is found murdered in this binge-worthy locked-room thriller from the acclaimed author of The Bright Lands—perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Paul Tremblay, and Alex North.
For years, single father Toby Tucker has done his best to keep his sensitive young son, Luca, safe from the bigotry of the world. But when Toby marries Alyssa Wright—the granddaughter of a famed televangelist known for his grandiose, Old Testament preaching—he can’t imagine the world of religion, wealth, and hate that he and Luca are about to enter.
A trip to the Wright family’s compound in sun-scorched Texas soon turns hellish when Toby realizes that Alyssa and the rest of her brood might have some very strange plans for Toby and his son. The situation only grows worse when a freak storm cuts off the roads and the family patriarch is found murdered, stabbed through the heart on the roof of the family’s mansion.
Suspicion immediately turns to Toby, but when his son starts describing a spectral figure in a black suit lurking around the house with unfinished business in mind, Toby realizes this family has more than murder to be afraid of. And as the Wrights close in on Luca, no one is prepared for the lengths Toby will go in the fight to clear his name and protect his son.
My Thoughts:
This book gives off a gothic atmosphere in the Texas family compound of the Wrights. The Wright family is horrible and I disliked all the characters except Tobias and his son Luca. I felt sorry for Tobias throughout as he tried to shield his son and extricate them from this terrible situation. His determination to shield his son from bigotry and hatred was admirable. As the storm left them cut off from the world with roads blocked and the unpredictable family schemes, the book held me in its grip throughout. A good pace and lots of tense moments made this a worthwhile read. The initial murder was the most difficult to solve and I would never have guessed. I would recommend to anyone who likes murder mysteries.
Thanks to Atria Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.
July 4, 2024
this book has a blurb from my crime fiction #1 s.a. cosby on the front and my horror #1 paul tremblay on the back. what a perfect literary sandwich!
i won this through goodreads even though i am such an absent goose around here!
i won this through goodreads even though i am such an absent goose around here!
August 3, 2024
4.5⭐ This was sooo messy. A locked room mystery with so many rotten secrets and supernatural elements. Toby and Luca had my whole heart🖤
July 18, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own
Wow.
Crazy dysfunctional Texas families that lean heavily on preaching are some of my favorite tropes. When newlyweds Tobias(Toby) and Alyson and Toby's son, Luca head to Texas to celebrate Alyson's birthday with her family, the weekend goes from polite to crazy in a matter of seconds.
Short punchy chapters and a reasonably paced plot kept me engaged and I ended up finishing this in one sitting. If you like a murder mystery, add this to your beach bag!
Expected Publication Date 23/07/24
Goodreads Review 18/07/24
Wow.
Crazy dysfunctional Texas families that lean heavily on preaching are some of my favorite tropes. When newlyweds Tobias(Toby) and Alyson and Toby's son, Luca head to Texas to celebrate Alyson's birthday with her family, the weekend goes from polite to crazy in a matter of seconds.
Short punchy chapters and a reasonably paced plot kept me engaged and I ended up finishing this in one sitting. If you like a murder mystery, add this to your beach bag!
Expected Publication Date 23/07/24
Goodreads Review 18/07/24
Want to read
January 30, 2024ARC received! Thank you so much, Atria Books!
I have heard such fantastic things about Fram's earlier release, The Bright Lands, and have been meaning to get to it for quite a while. Shame on me. I should do that.
I am so excited for this new release, though. It sounds great!
I have heard such fantastic things about Fram's earlier release, The Bright Lands, and have been meaning to get to it for quite a while. Shame on me. I should do that.
I am so excited for this new release, though. It sounds great!
July 24, 2024
HONEST REVIEW TIME 🫣
I have been so excited for this one. I’ve been seeing rave reviews about it, so when I received a finished copy I nearly jumped for joy. The first half of this book was SO GOOD, I loved the murder mystery aspect and the paranormal part was super unexpected but I liked it. I also loved how the book layout was.
The second half of the book fell flat. There was just TOO MUCH going on, and I had to keep flipping to the first page to remember who was who. I loved the paranormal part of things but I never really understood how the ghost came to be, and honestly I don’t think it was necessary. I mean, when I tell you there was a lot happening, I mean A LOT, it was almost like reading 2 books at once.
I didn’t hate this book, but I didn’t love it. It was probably like 100 pages too long and the descriptions got kind of repetitive. All that to say I may not have loved this book, but it does have 4⭐️s on Goodreads - so you may enjoy it!
I have been so excited for this one. I’ve been seeing rave reviews about it, so when I received a finished copy I nearly jumped for joy. The first half of this book was SO GOOD, I loved the murder mystery aspect and the paranormal part was super unexpected but I liked it. I also loved how the book layout was.
The second half of the book fell flat. There was just TOO MUCH going on, and I had to keep flipping to the first page to remember who was who. I loved the paranormal part of things but I never really understood how the ghost came to be, and honestly I don’t think it was necessary. I mean, when I tell you there was a lot happening, I mean A LOT, it was almost like reading 2 books at once.
I didn’t hate this book, but I didn’t love it. It was probably like 100 pages too long and the descriptions got kind of repetitive. All that to say I may not have loved this book, but it does have 4⭐️s on Goodreads - so you may enjoy it!
August 4, 2024
No Road Home reads like The Righteous Gemstones meets Agatha Christie meets Gillian Flynn and Dean Koontz, and it's an incredible sophomore offering from John Fram, after his thoroughly creepy and compelling debut The Bright Lands.
In his new novel, Fram takes us to the gates of Ramorah, a sprawling Texas compound owned by the Wright family, whose patriarch is a prominent televangelist. Toby Tucker has recently married into the Wright family, and he has come to Ramorah with his new wife Alyssa and his young queer son, Luca, to celebrate Alyssa's birthday. But a freak storm arrives along with them, cutting off the roads leading to and from of Ramorah, and that night, someone is found murdered on the roof of the mansion. Toby immediately comes under suspicion for the murder, and he must fight to prove his innocence while also protecting Luca from the Wright family's clutches at all costs.
No Road Home combines elements of ghost story, family drama, social horror, and psychological thriller in a gothic locked-room mystery with religious themes. There's a lot going on here, but somehow Fram makes it all work. At its heart, this is a book about a young father who will do anything to protect his son from both physical and emotional harm, and the relationship between Toby and Luca is relayed with so much tenderness. There are surprising twists and the mystery is well-executed, but it's Toby and Luca's deep love for and understanding of each other that anchors the narrative and makes No Road Home special and memorable.
The other thing that really worked for me was the setting. The atmosphere of Ramorah is so claustrophobic and creepy. Fram made the mansion feel like a character in and of itself, with the West Wing of the house giving strong Backrooms vibes.
I wanted more development of the secondary characters, and I wanted Fram to lean a little harder into the religious imagery and occult elements. Overall, though, No Road Home is a compelling mystery and a thought-provoking exploration of wealth and privilege, bigotry, and dysfunctional family dynamics with important LGBTQIA+ representation. Thank you to Atria Books for the complimentary reading opportunity.
In his new novel, Fram takes us to the gates of Ramorah, a sprawling Texas compound owned by the Wright family, whose patriarch is a prominent televangelist. Toby Tucker has recently married into the Wright family, and he has come to Ramorah with his new wife Alyssa and his young queer son, Luca, to celebrate Alyssa's birthday. But a freak storm arrives along with them, cutting off the roads leading to and from of Ramorah, and that night, someone is found murdered on the roof of the mansion. Toby immediately comes under suspicion for the murder, and he must fight to prove his innocence while also protecting Luca from the Wright family's clutches at all costs.
No Road Home combines elements of ghost story, family drama, social horror, and psychological thriller in a gothic locked-room mystery with religious themes. There's a lot going on here, but somehow Fram makes it all work. At its heart, this is a book about a young father who will do anything to protect his son from both physical and emotional harm, and the relationship between Toby and Luca is relayed with so much tenderness. There are surprising twists and the mystery is well-executed, but it's Toby and Luca's deep love for and understanding of each other that anchors the narrative and makes No Road Home special and memorable.
The other thing that really worked for me was the setting. The atmosphere of Ramorah is so claustrophobic and creepy. Fram made the mansion feel like a character in and of itself, with the West Wing of the house giving strong Backrooms vibes.
I wanted more development of the secondary characters, and I wanted Fram to lean a little harder into the religious imagery and occult elements. Overall, though, No Road Home is a compelling mystery and a thought-provoking exploration of wealth and privilege, bigotry, and dysfunctional family dynamics with important LGBTQIA+ representation. Thank you to Atria Books for the complimentary reading opportunity.
August 3, 2024
No Road Home by John Fram is a mystery with a bit of a paranormal twist.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Atria Books, and in particular Aleaha Reneé for sending me a widget, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Toby Tucker has done his best to raise his rather sensitive 7-year old son Luca. Toby lost his parents when he was young, and his sister Willow died less than a year ago. Money is tight, but he'lll do anything to keep Luca safe. When he meets Alyssa Wright, she is just what he needs, and they quickly marry. He is about to be thrown into a world where religion, wealth and bigotry run rampant.
Alyssa's grandfather James Wright is a famous televangelist, who preaches the old-testament horrors, and prophesies -- which recently have become a little strange. Mind you Alyssa's whole family, all involved in promoting the television program in one way or another, are somewhat "quirky"....actually they are bat-sh** crazy. They assume Toby will fit in, and that they can "fix" Luca. Toby quickly learns that Luca is more important to his new family than Toby is. He also realizes that he made a big mistake bringing Luca to meet Alyssa's family, and he is wondering if he made a bigger mistake by marrying her.
When James is murdered, found stabbed through the heart on the roof of the family's mansion, suspicion turns to Toby. But the rooftop was locked from the outside....how could anyone even reach James. Alyssa's brother Richard is determined to prove Toby's guilt. But the murder is not the only strange thing that is happening on the estate. Warnings are being painted around the mansion...and they have everyone spooked. Then there is an unexpected and horrendous storm that has wiped out their phone and internet. The surrounding roads are flooded, and no one can leave, nor can they call the police to report James death, although it seems no one but Toby thinks they should report it anyway.
Meanwhile, Luca starts talking about this man in a black suit that he sees lurking around the house..
My Opinions:
WOW, simply WOW. This was a very atmospheric tale set in a family's religious estate in Texas, with a storm to beat all storms.
This is a new author for me, and I will definitely be watching for more books.
The plot was intriguing, and some of the twists were amazing. Although a few were predictable, others were totally unexpected.
There are a lot of characters, and initially I had problems keeping them straight, but it didn't take long to figure them out, as the author repeatedly identified them for me. (Thank you Mr. Fram.) The characters all seemed to be either mentally ill, drug addicted, senile, or just crazy. What a cast! All of them had secrets, and all of them deserved whatever they got in the end. Talk about a bunch of despicable people. Definitely a dysfunctional family. Okay, there were a few "good" guys, but even they had secrets. Bottom line, the characters are what caused the tension in tis book. You really never knew what each would do next. Mind you the storm helped create tension too.
Topics include murder, fraud, addiction, bigotry, religious fanaticism, incest, homosexuality, and gender conversion camps. However, the part that shone through for me....the intense love between a father and son. With everything else that was going on, the love between Toby and Luca stayed strong, and the determination Toby had to keep his son safe was amazing!
Anyway, it's been a while since I've rated anything 5 stars, but this one deserved it!
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
August 23, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
No Road Home
by John Fram
Thank you so much @atriabooks #AtriaPartner for the gifted copy!
About the book 👇🏽
For years, single father Toby Tucker has done his best to keep his sensitive young son, Luca, safe from the bigotry of the world. But when Toby marries Alyssa Wright—the granddaughter of a famed televangelist known for his grandiose Old Testament preaching—he can’t imagine the world of religion, wealth, and hate that he and Luca are about to enter.
A trip to the Wright family’s compound in sun-scorched Texas soon turns hellish when Toby realizes that Alyssa and the rest of her brood have dangerous plans for him and his son. The situation only grows worse when a freak storm cuts off the roads and the family patriarch is found murdered, stabbed in the chest on the roof of their sprawling mansion.
Suspicion immediately turns to Toby, but when his son starts describing a spectral figure in a black suit lurking around the house with unfinished business in mind, Toby realizes this family has more than murderer to conceal—and to fear.
✨ My thoughts:
This was SCANDALOUS! It’s dark and creepy with murder in page one, hooking me immediately. So wild that it’ll keep you up reading past your bedtime and twists that are bound to keep those pages turning. I found “The Wrights Who Matter” list in the beginning extremely helpful during this reading experience and highly recommend you use it if you find yourself getting a little lost with characters. I will say there is one twist that actually made me choke but all of the twists were good and unpredictable for me. If you’re a fan of gothic novels that create an atmosphere of suspense and enjoy murder mysteries, this is one you should consider picking up! No Road Home is out now.
happy reading 📖 🗝️
No Road Home
by John Fram
Thank you so much @atriabooks #AtriaPartner for the gifted copy!
About the book 👇🏽
For years, single father Toby Tucker has done his best to keep his sensitive young son, Luca, safe from the bigotry of the world. But when Toby marries Alyssa Wright—the granddaughter of a famed televangelist known for his grandiose Old Testament preaching—he can’t imagine the world of religion, wealth, and hate that he and Luca are about to enter.
A trip to the Wright family’s compound in sun-scorched Texas soon turns hellish when Toby realizes that Alyssa and the rest of her brood have dangerous plans for him and his son. The situation only grows worse when a freak storm cuts off the roads and the family patriarch is found murdered, stabbed in the chest on the roof of their sprawling mansion.
Suspicion immediately turns to Toby, but when his son starts describing a spectral figure in a black suit lurking around the house with unfinished business in mind, Toby realizes this family has more than murderer to conceal—and to fear.
✨ My thoughts:
This was SCANDALOUS! It’s dark and creepy with murder in page one, hooking me immediately. So wild that it’ll keep you up reading past your bedtime and twists that are bound to keep those pages turning. I found “The Wrights Who Matter” list in the beginning extremely helpful during this reading experience and highly recommend you use it if you find yourself getting a little lost with characters. I will say there is one twist that actually made me choke but all of the twists were good and unpredictable for me. If you’re a fan of gothic novels that create an atmosphere of suspense and enjoy murder mysteries, this is one you should consider picking up! No Road Home is out now.
happy reading 📖 🗝️
August 5, 2024
Omg omg omg
I started this book and could not put it down. This was such a great book. The chapters made to look like numbers in a bible was a nice touch as well. The twists that stopped me so I could pick my jaw off the floor I never saw coming.
Toby and his son head to visit his new wife’s family. They are a televangelist family. His wife’s grandfather was a well known tv preacher who shared prophesies. On his first night at the mansion the grandfather ends up dead. Lots of secrets about his wife and her family start to come to light.
I started this book and could not put it down. This was such a great book. The chapters made to look like numbers in a bible was a nice touch as well. The twists that stopped me so I could pick my jaw off the floor I never saw coming.
Toby and his son head to visit his new wife’s family. They are a televangelist family. His wife’s grandfather was a well known tv preacher who shared prophesies. On his first night at the mansion the grandfather ends up dead. Lots of secrets about his wife and her family start to come to light.
July 17, 2024
I was just complaining about reading too many ‘locked room’ mysteries and ironically here’s my second one in a row after just finishing Jamie Day’s One Big Happy Family. This one too is about a big and extremely dysfunctional family whose patriarch, the Prophet Jerome Jeremiah Wright, has made a fortune from televangelism and has used part of the money to build a mansion for the family in backwater Texas. This story though is creepily atmospheric and gothic with even some supernatural elements to it and I enjoyed it quite a lot.
Tobias Tucker, the father of a non-binary kid named Luca, has just married into the Wright family and they have traveled to her family’s homestead to celebrate his wife Alyssa’s 30th birthday. The family includes the patriarch and prophet, his crazy old sister, two daughters, one son-in-law, and various grandchildren, including two who serve as servants in this vast mansion. It doesn’t take Toby long to figure out he’s made a big mistake by marrying Alyssa and bringing his young son into this viper’s nest. Then of course, a torrential rainstorm hits which washes out roads and cell phone service and traps them all in this weird mansion where it seems a murder has been committed. Meanwhile, Luca is seeing someone no one else can see…
The story is very spooky and atmospheric, with lots of twists, turns and surprises. This would make a terrific horror-suspense movie—hope someone has snapped up the movie rights! The author absolutely skewers this fundamentalist Christian family and lays bare their hypocrisy.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this exciting new thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Tobias Tucker, the father of a non-binary kid named Luca, has just married into the Wright family and they have traveled to her family’s homestead to celebrate his wife Alyssa’s 30th birthday. The family includes the patriarch and prophet, his crazy old sister, two daughters, one son-in-law, and various grandchildren, including two who serve as servants in this vast mansion. It doesn’t take Toby long to figure out he’s made a big mistake by marrying Alyssa and bringing his young son into this viper’s nest. Then of course, a torrential rainstorm hits which washes out roads and cell phone service and traps them all in this weird mansion where it seems a murder has been committed. Meanwhile, Luca is seeing someone no one else can see…
The story is very spooky and atmospheric, with lots of twists, turns and surprises. This would make a terrific horror-suspense movie—hope someone has snapped up the movie rights! The author absolutely skewers this fundamentalist Christian family and lays bare their hypocrisy.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this exciting new thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
December 26, 2023
A great gothic story! Toby has thrown caution to the wind and married Alyssa Wright, an incredibly wealthy woman and part of a dynastic televangelist family. Alyssa and Toby dated for less than six months but they fell in love at first sight and travel home to her family home with Toby's son Luca.
Immediately, there are issues as the family snipes at one another and Toby learns there are strings attached to his marriage. When extreme weather cuts off the the compound and the famous patriarch televangelist turns up dead it's a race against time for Toby to clear his name and solve the mystery.
Fantastic characters, this locked room mystery is to die for! I was thoroughly engaged and checking the locks on my door until I finished! #noroadhome #johnfram .#atriabooks
Immediately, there are issues as the family snipes at one another and Toby learns there are strings attached to his marriage. When extreme weather cuts off the the compound and the famous patriarch televangelist turns up dead it's a race against time for Toby to clear his name and solve the mystery.
Fantastic characters, this locked room mystery is to die for! I was thoroughly engaged and checking the locks on my door until I finished! #noroadhome #johnfram .#atriabooks
June 8, 2024
John Fram’s sophomore book is a thrilling rollercoaster, a Texas gothic featuring a sprawling isolated estate, a rich televangelist and his sinister brood, an apocalyptic rainstorm, and serpentine hallways leading to strange rooms. Of course, there’s also a little murder. I never knew who to believe right up until the last pages, so my advice to you while reading this is don’t trust anyone.
January 22, 2024
This was a good locked room mystery with modern elements of family and society and a lot of emotional stuff. I wish more had been told from the sons point of view but I did enjoy the father's perspective on such a hard and emotional situation. The whodunit was pretty good and kept me guessing, but this story's big hitter was the family turmoil and secrets abound.
July 31, 2024
A young father will do anything to protect his queer son when he finds out that the new family he's entered into has darker roots than he could have ever imagined. This book spans multiple genres, including horror, mystery, and literary fiction, and has a main character to root for. I'll read anything Fram writes!
July 25, 2024
Thank you @atriabooks & @atriathrillers for my review copy.
First off this story definitely rejuvenated my love for thrillers! As a season thriller reader I thought I had the whole book figured out and I was wrong when all my theories except for one and that was a minor one at that. 😑 From the moment I started this story I had this unsettling feeling which didn’t let up until the very end. The story had a slow pace but I wasn’t bored while reading and I loved the way everything played out, the twists that took me surprise. Well done, John Fram!!
First off this story definitely rejuvenated my love for thrillers! As a season thriller reader I thought I had the whole book figured out and I was wrong when all my theories except for one and that was a minor one at that. 😑 From the moment I started this story I had this unsettling feeling which didn’t let up until the very end. The story had a slow pace but I wasn’t bored while reading and I loved the way everything played out, the twists that took me surprise. Well done, John Fram!!
July 27, 2024
A tele-evangelist family hides many dark secrets and will do anything to maintain their outward image and legacy. All goes south on a birthday weekend at the family estate. Who will make it out alive?
There is so much to unpack in this very long and windy book. Most of the characters left me with an icky feeling. The kid Luca was endearing. Marie was fine. The rest all had their hidden agendas and were not particularly likeable, and many were loathsome. Some of the details didn't quite add up for me as well (I've been to many a Cracker Barrel.... it's not really a general store where you can get keys made and such). I didn't mind the supernatural element to the story, but it definitely made for a much longer book and didn't really need to be there. The ending, while revealing all, did not leave me with a good feeling either.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC,
There is so much to unpack in this very long and windy book. Most of the characters left me with an icky feeling. The kid Luca was endearing. Marie was fine. The rest all had their hidden agendas and were not particularly likeable, and many were loathsome. Some of the details didn't quite add up for me as well (I've been to many a Cracker Barrel.... it's not really a general store where you can get keys made and such). I didn't mind the supernatural element to the story, but it definitely made for a much longer book and didn't really need to be there. The ending, while revealing all, did not leave me with a good feeling either.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC,
July 19, 2024
@john.fram you are damn batshit 🤯. Love me a ghost story and then lace it with crazy ass religious lunatics- I’m in. But ohhh mannn the twists in this story and this f*^%ed up family. Twisted af!! Loved the end. So many holy shit moments!
January 3, 2024
Content Warnings: Homophobia, Transphobia, Incest, Substance Abuse, Addiction, Child Abuse (Sexual), Suicide, Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression Conversion Therapy/Conversion Camps
This book mostly follows the third-person limited view of Toby, an anxious father of a gentle (potentially trans, but unclear) boy, Luca, as he meets his family-by-marriage: conservative, Evangelical Christians who make their money from preaching on TV and radio. All of the family members have secrets which begin to come to light after the murder of the family patriarch. There’s also a family ghost tied to these events.
This book has some strengths, including vivid descriptions. The emotional toll of having family members struggling with addiction, the weight of anxiety, and the drive to protect others are all explored well.
However, there are also some large weaknesses. One is the way the story is told. As previously mentioned, most of the book comes from Toby’s POV, but at times it shifts to other characters’ viewpoints. While each of these shifts is clearly labeled, it still was unbalanced for me. The book opens with the POV of the murder victim, then goes for Toby for almost the entire rest – until the last 1/4 of the book, where suddenly sections shift POV constantly.
Likewise, Toby’s use of the “mind palace” premise so central to the twist of the novel got repetitive – especially when the steps to “close and lock a door” wasn’t successful (see also: never successful). Its role in the plot also would have been stronger, I think, if Toby’s POV had NOT been the central one, but others may disagree.
Some may still enjoy this exploration and downfall of a terrible family, but. ultimately, I thought the idea behind the novel is better than its execution.
This book mostly follows the third-person limited view of Toby, an anxious father of a gentle (potentially trans, but unclear) boy, Luca, as he meets his family-by-marriage: conservative, Evangelical Christians who make their money from preaching on TV and radio. All of the family members have secrets which begin to come to light after the murder of the family patriarch. There’s also a family ghost tied to these events.
This book has some strengths, including vivid descriptions. The emotional toll of having family members struggling with addiction, the weight of anxiety, and the drive to protect others are all explored well.
However, there are also some large weaknesses. One is the way the story is told. As previously mentioned, most of the book comes from Toby’s POV, but at times it shifts to other characters’ viewpoints. While each of these shifts is clearly labeled, it still was unbalanced for me. The book opens with the POV of the murder victim, then goes for Toby for almost the entire rest – until the last 1/4 of the book, where suddenly sections shift POV constantly.
Likewise, Toby’s use of the “mind palace” premise so central to the twist of the novel got repetitive – especially when the steps to “close and lock a door” wasn’t successful (see also: never successful). Its role in the plot also would have been stronger, I think, if Toby’s POV had NOT been the central one, but others may disagree.
Some may still enjoy this exploration and downfall of a terrible family, but. ultimately, I thought the idea behind the novel is better than its execution.
May 10, 2024
In 2020 when I read John Fram's debut novel THE BRIGHT LANDS, I was Over-the-Moon excited and astounded. In fact, I was more akin to orbiting Pluto! So learning that THIS AUTHOR has a New Novel Upcoming! sent me right back into orbit. NO ROAD HOME is absolutely INCREDIBLE! That's not a "sweetness and light" happy Incredible, though: NO ROAD HOME rocked my foundations. (Just when I thought I'd read it all...) In 2024 I've been reading a number of perturbing (disturbing) novels, including some seriously dysfunctional family groups. In terms of evil families bound up with evil homes, I'm just going to mention two other exceptionally perturbing novels, so you can get a flavor of what you'll be falling into as soon as you open NO ROAD HOME:
2023's THE SEPTEMBER HOUSE by Carissa Orlando, and 2024's THE INSTRUMENTS OF DARKNESS by John Connolly. Welcome to--not just the Dark Side--but a realm of unconscionable, genetic and nurtured, Dysfunction. You might never be the same.
2023's THE SEPTEMBER HOUSE by Carissa Orlando, and 2024's THE INSTRUMENTS OF DARKNESS by John Connolly. Welcome to--not just the Dark Side--but a realm of unconscionable, genetic and nurtured, Dysfunction. You might never be the same.
July 24, 2024
This book starts pretty normally, with a newlywed couple going to meet the bride’s family. Toby and Alyssa, along with Toby’s son, Luca, are about to meet the Wrights, a wealthy and conservative family. Alyssa’s grandfather calls himself a prophet, and has a weekly religious show, “The Prophecy Hour”. The rest of the family is so large, there is actually a list of them and who they are at the beginning of the ARC. I definitely don’t think all of them needed to be in the book, but there are certainly a lot of people who live at Ramorah, and Toby is nervous to meet them and introduce them to his queer son. Will this uber-religious family accept Luca?
You may be thinking “this is Deliverance” but while they live in a rural area, the Wrights have a large estate (complete with a church, stables and an airstrip) and indulge in regular things like smartphones, astrology, and prescription drugs. Lots of prescription drugs. Once Alyssa and her family settle in the Ezekiel Suite after dinner the first night, everything seems relatively normal…but something is NOT RIGHT. Luca is seeing a man, “Mr. Suit”, who Toby can’t see, crude things are being painted on doors around the house, Jerome yelled at everybody for their sins at dinner and insisted Luca come on his show, but the worst thing? Toby can’t stop the feeling that as early as that first night, his wife is wanting to move in with her family. Is Alyssa really who she seems to be?
The next morning, Jerome is dead. On the roof, in the rain, stabbed. Was it suicide or murder? A few members of the family have alibis, but most don’t. Due to storms, which are a must in any locked-room mystery, their Wifi went out and the roads are now flooded. There is no way to call for help, no way to escape, and that’s when things get really crazy. This goes from a simple family weekend to a weekend filled with fear, secrets, incest, lies and death. Toby just wants to escape with Luca, but with the roads out, there’s nowhere for them to go, and nobody for them to trust.
This book was written quite well, and was very unique. I was shocked time and time again as the book got more and more strange, leading to an ending I never saw coming. I loved the chapter titles, which is a small thing, but I had to mention it! This is a mystery/thriller, but this also has a large religious horror/supernatural aspect. It got a little weird along the way, and it could have been shorter, but I did like this unusual story. Four stars.
(Thank you to Atria Books, John Fram and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
You may be thinking “this is Deliverance” but while they live in a rural area, the Wrights have a large estate (complete with a church, stables and an airstrip) and indulge in regular things like smartphones, astrology, and prescription drugs. Lots of prescription drugs. Once Alyssa and her family settle in the Ezekiel Suite after dinner the first night, everything seems relatively normal…but something is NOT RIGHT. Luca is seeing a man, “Mr. Suit”, who Toby can’t see, crude things are being painted on doors around the house, Jerome yelled at everybody for their sins at dinner and insisted Luca come on his show, but the worst thing? Toby can’t stop the feeling that as early as that first night, his wife is wanting to move in with her family. Is Alyssa really who she seems to be?
The next morning, Jerome is dead. On the roof, in the rain, stabbed. Was it suicide or murder? A few members of the family have alibis, but most don’t. Due to storms, which are a must in any locked-room mystery, their Wifi went out and the roads are now flooded. There is no way to call for help, no way to escape, and that’s when things get really crazy. This goes from a simple family weekend to a weekend filled with fear, secrets, incest, lies and death. Toby just wants to escape with Luca, but with the roads out, there’s nowhere for them to go, and nobody for them to trust.
This book was written quite well, and was very unique. I was shocked time and time again as the book got more and more strange, leading to an ending I never saw coming. I loved the chapter titles, which is a small thing, but I had to mention it! This is a mystery/thriller, but this also has a large religious horror/supernatural aspect. It got a little weird along the way, and it could have been shorter, but I did like this unusual story. Four stars.
(Thank you to Atria Books, John Fram and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
August 21, 2024
4.5/5
Despite some qualms/annoyances I have with the twist and a few stylistic choices, No Road Home is a great, compelling, thrilling follow up to Fram’s debut, The Bright Lands, which when I finished it years ago left me absolutely ravenous and desperate for another book from him.
Definitely the strongest aspect of this book are its characters. Each and every single one shines in their own way, sometimes despicable, others lovable, and, more than once, a bit of both. The multimillionaire televangelist Wright family is rich with deep darkness, stifled light, and a whole lot of baggage shared between the members of the family. Each new wrinkle/scandal in the family story had me hooked and waiting for more. And trust, shit gets spicy.
At the core of this book are Toby and Luca, a father/son duo probably unlike any thriller you’ve read just in the sheer unconditional, supportive, and all too rare love between them. Toby will do anything to protect Luca, both from bodily and mental harm, in order to give Luca the environment to be true to himself in every way. It’s really, really refreshing to see a parental relationship where there is never ever any conflict or internal turmoil or questioning over their kid’s orientation/identity, paired with such a fierce love.
Aside from the characters, excellent pacing, and continuous intrigue, one of No Road Home’s biggest strengths for me is how it uses the Bible, especially the often ignored mysticism in the Old Testament, to craft some of the bones and large narrative beats of this story, like it was truly compelling and thrilling, even, to learn about things from the Bible that were never taught to me in the 18 years I spent growing up in church.
So, while I very much think reactions to the “twist” will vary widely depending on how much you’re willing to suspend your disbelief and a few instances of “yeah, no shit, Sherlock,” I toward some characters in certain moment, John Fram’s No Road Home is a gothic, Texas, supernatural thriller that is very, very well worth a read.
(And I’m very glad we wont have to wait 4 years for the next one 🤭)
Despite some qualms/annoyances I have with the twist and a few stylistic choices, No Road Home is a great, compelling, thrilling follow up to Fram’s debut, The Bright Lands, which when I finished it years ago left me absolutely ravenous and desperate for another book from him.
Definitely the strongest aspect of this book are its characters. Each and every single one shines in their own way, sometimes despicable, others lovable, and, more than once, a bit of both. The multimillionaire televangelist Wright family is rich with deep darkness, stifled light, and a whole lot of baggage shared between the members of the family. Each new wrinkle/scandal in the family story had me hooked and waiting for more. And trust, shit gets spicy.
At the core of this book are Toby and Luca, a father/son duo probably unlike any thriller you’ve read just in the sheer unconditional, supportive, and all too rare love between them. Toby will do anything to protect Luca, both from bodily and mental harm, in order to give Luca the environment to be true to himself in every way. It’s really, really refreshing to see a parental relationship where there is never ever any conflict or internal turmoil or questioning over their kid’s orientation/identity, paired with such a fierce love.
Aside from the characters, excellent pacing, and continuous intrigue, one of No Road Home’s biggest strengths for me is how it uses the Bible, especially the often ignored mysticism in the Old Testament, to craft some of the bones and large narrative beats of this story, like it was truly compelling and thrilling, even, to learn about things from the Bible that were never taught to me in the 18 years I spent growing up in church.
So, while I very much think reactions to the “twist” will vary widely depending on how much you’re willing to suspend your disbelief and a few instances of “yeah, no shit, Sherlock,” I toward some characters in certain moment, John Fram’s No Road Home is a gothic, Texas, supernatural thriller that is very, very well worth a read.
(And I’m very glad we wont have to wait 4 years for the next one 🤭)
August 24, 2024
Wow! This book was crazy.
This binge able emotional thriller had intense scenes. John Fram knows how to write and he kept me on edge for most of this book.
Toby, the MC has just married Alyssa, granddaughter to a renowned televangelist of a popular streaming worshipping service. Think mega-big, mega-cray-cray, mega powerful nut job!
Toby and Alyssa with Toby’s young son Luca go to visit the family and end up in deep shit the moment they walk in the door. Here we meet the whole family and that’s when we find out just how f&@!ed up they really are. I mean scary messed up!!! Run Toby run!
There’s hauntings and messages and of course a murder. A murder of the top dog himself. A raging storm separates them all from the outside world and someone in the family is a killer.
Toby soon finds out they need his son Luca and the family will do whatever is necessary to fulfill the prophecy even implicate Toby in the murder. Luca is whip smart, artistic, and struggles with his gender identity and Toby protects him fiercely.
Amidst the raging storm and the raging family, Toby must find a way to escape the house, the family, and save his son in the process.
This book is dark, it’s bleak, it’s freaky! It made me think one thing and then doubt my feelings. The truth about the murder and family led to a fantastic twist and I cheered poor Toby on in his sacrifice and heartache.
I think I need to lock my feelings away in my memory palace just like Toby does throughout this book.
Click! Click! Shut!
Admirable writing, unbelievable character development, and an intense plot made this an interesting yet scary read.
This binge able emotional thriller had intense scenes. John Fram knows how to write and he kept me on edge for most of this book.
Toby, the MC has just married Alyssa, granddaughter to a renowned televangelist of a popular streaming worshipping service. Think mega-big, mega-cray-cray, mega powerful nut job!
Toby and Alyssa with Toby’s young son Luca go to visit the family and end up in deep shit the moment they walk in the door. Here we meet the whole family and that’s when we find out just how f&@!ed up they really are. I mean scary messed up!!! Run Toby run!
There’s hauntings and messages and of course a murder. A murder of the top dog himself. A raging storm separates them all from the outside world and someone in the family is a killer.
Toby soon finds out they need his son Luca and the family will do whatever is necessary to fulfill the prophecy even implicate Toby in the murder. Luca is whip smart, artistic, and struggles with his gender identity and Toby protects him fiercely.
Amidst the raging storm and the raging family, Toby must find a way to escape the house, the family, and save his son in the process.
This book is dark, it’s bleak, it’s freaky! It made me think one thing and then doubt my feelings. The truth about the murder and family led to a fantastic twist and I cheered poor Toby on in his sacrifice and heartache.
I think I need to lock my feelings away in my memory palace just like Toby does throughout this book.
Click! Click! Shut!
Admirable writing, unbelievable character development, and an intense plot made this an interesting yet scary read.
July 22, 2024
This is one of those books where you really have to pay close attention because there is a lot going on and there are a ton of characters. I loved the atmosphere here, it was claustrophobic and chilling and the locked room style mystery really worked for me. Most of the characters are downright awful and this one goes very dark in terms of subject matter and I love the way the author showcases this type of thing. I don’t know if I would say this is a slow burn exactly but it definitely is more of a steady paced read with more action as you get close to the end. There are also some supernatural elements at play here and when that’s well done in a thriller it freaks me out and I was definitely creeped out here. There were some really well executed twists too, if you want a different type of mystery this is a great choice!
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