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Murder in the Family
A shocking thriller about a cold case, a fictional true crime series, and the family caught in the middle.
SIX EPISODES. ONE KILLER.
It was a case that gripped the nation. In December 2003, Luke Ryder, the stepfather of acclaimed filmmaker Guy Howard (then aged 10), was found dead in the garden of their suburban family home.
Luke Ryder's murder has never been solved. Everyone present around the time of the murder swears they saw nothing. Despite a high-profile police investigation and endless media attention, no suspect was ever charged.
But some murder cases are simply too big to forget...
Now comes the sensational new Netflix series Infamous, dedicated to investigating--and perhaps cracking--this famous cold case. The production team will re-examine testimony, re-interview witnesses, and once again scour the evidence. The family will speak. The key players will be reunited--on camera. The truth will come out.
Are you ready to see it?
SIX EPISODES. ONE KILLER.
It was a case that gripped the nation. In December 2003, Luke Ryder, the stepfather of acclaimed filmmaker Guy Howard (then aged 10), was found dead in the garden of their suburban family home.
Luke Ryder's murder has never been solved. Everyone present around the time of the murder swears they saw nothing. Despite a high-profile police investigation and endless media attention, no suspect was ever charged.
But some murder cases are simply too big to forget...
Now comes the sensational new Netflix series Infamous, dedicated to investigating--and perhaps cracking--this famous cold case. The production team will re-examine testimony, re-interview witnesses, and once again scour the evidence. The family will speak. The key players will be reunited--on camera. The truth will come out.
Are you ready to see it?
466 pages, Paperback
First published July 20, 2023
About the author
Cara Hunter
19 books2,616 followersCara Hunter is a writer who lives in Oxford, in a street not unlike those featured in her series of crime books. Close to Home is her debut featuring DI Adam Fawley, and her second, In the Dark, is coming soon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,145 reviews
November 8, 2023
This was such a fun read because it has a really unique format. It follows a fictional true crime tv series so the book is written as a script. It also has graphs, pictures, newspaper articles, etc. So very visually fun!
I bounced between the audiobook and physical book and both were fun. The audiobook has different voice actors playing all the characters so it felt like I was listening to a true crime podcast! But you do miss the visually elements of the book with the audiobook.
And don’t get me started on the plot twists!! There were so many surprising moments!! I did get a bit confused at points though because there are a LOT of characters, facts, and theories about the murder. That’s the only reason I wouldn’t rate it higher. Very fun and unique read tho!
I bounced between the audiobook and physical book and both were fun. The audiobook has different voice actors playing all the characters so it felt like I was listening to a true crime podcast! But you do miss the visually elements of the book with the audiobook.
And don’t get me started on the plot twists!! There were so many surprising moments!! I did get a bit confused at points though because there are a LOT of characters, facts, and theories about the murder. That’s the only reason I wouldn’t rate it higher. Very fun and unique read tho!
August 31, 2024
My mind! My gray cells! Quick correction: my last remaining gray cells! It took me a day to gather my thoughts after reaching the end of this book, and even now, a day later, I am still rendered speechless. No words I can conjure adequately express my heightened emotions, immense admiration, awe, and adoration for Cara Hunter's true masterpiece!
This book is not merely a fitting homage to Agatha Christie novels, true crime documentaries, or, as the author eloquently puts it through her fictional TV columnist's words, a slow-motion train wreck and Lord of the Flies on steroids. It is one of the most intelligent, flawlessly executed, mind-bending, gripping, intense, and dark novels that seamlessly navigates multiple genres, including murder mystery, psychological thriller, suspense, crime thriller, and a film noir presented in a docuseries style.
The author employs a unique and creative narrative approach, utilizing text messages, news clippings, resumes of the main characters, maps, fan forums, voicemails, and emails exchanged between the characters and the production team. The rest of the story is written as a script, simulating a documentary format that allows readers to visualize each chapter scene by scene, providing a vivid, realistic portrayal of the surroundings, clues, reactions, and inner turmoil of each character.
The heart of the mystery revolves around the 20th anniversary of the infamous cold case: the murder of Luke Ryder, a 26-year-old Australian and the younger husband of a social elite. He was discovered bludgeoned to death by one of his teenage stepdaughters at their Campden Hill residence. The case is often referred to as the "cougar murder case." Luke's stepson, Guy Howard, was only ten years old when the murder occurred. Now, at thirty, Guy is a renowned filmmaker and director, collaborating with producer Nick Vincent for the seventh season of the highly acclaimed "Infamous" series. The season's release is scheduled for Tuesday, October 3rd, precisely twenty years after Luke Ryder's death.
Guy is determined to uncover the truth about his stepfather's murder, driven by the desire to bring closure to his still-traumatized family, including his two sisters who have endured years of therapy, and his mother Caroline Howard, who battles early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
The production crew thoughtfully assembled an expert team consisting of Alan Carrick, a retired senior police officer from the Metropolitan Police Service; Mitchell Clarke, a freelance journalist; Hugo Fraser KC, a brilliant lawyer; Laila Furness, a forensic and clinical psychologist; JJ Norton, a forensic investigator; and finally, William R. Serafini Jr., a former Manhattan Detective with the NYPD.
As you delve into the mystery, you are bombarded with new revelations and unexpected twists that catch you off guard. Gradually, you come to realize why this diverse team was chosen to delve into the investigation. Nothing is as it seems, and everyone involved in the case seems to be telling lies and harboring secrets. Each new revelation leaves you reeling, feeling as though the rug has been pulled out from under your feet. The gripping climax intensifies your involvement in the mystery. And the conclusion, oh my God, words fail me to adequately express the sheer astonishment I experienced in that unforeseen moment!
The cleverly written news clips provide a perfect, unconventional, unique, and delightfully sarcastic ending to this brilliantly crafted thriller.
I wholeheartedly congratulate the author on her exceptional work. This is, by far, one of the most intelligent and masterfully executed thrillers I have read recently, and I cannot emphasize enough how highly I recommend it. I eagerly look forward to reading more books by this talented author.
I extend my sincere gratitude to NetGalley and William Morrow/William Morrow Paperbacks for providing me with a digital review copy of this masterpiece in exchange for my honest thoughts. Their generosity has allowed me the privilege of experiencing this remarkable work.
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This book is not merely a fitting homage to Agatha Christie novels, true crime documentaries, or, as the author eloquently puts it through her fictional TV columnist's words, a slow-motion train wreck and Lord of the Flies on steroids. It is one of the most intelligent, flawlessly executed, mind-bending, gripping, intense, and dark novels that seamlessly navigates multiple genres, including murder mystery, psychological thriller, suspense, crime thriller, and a film noir presented in a docuseries style.
The author employs a unique and creative narrative approach, utilizing text messages, news clippings, resumes of the main characters, maps, fan forums, voicemails, and emails exchanged between the characters and the production team. The rest of the story is written as a script, simulating a documentary format that allows readers to visualize each chapter scene by scene, providing a vivid, realistic portrayal of the surroundings, clues, reactions, and inner turmoil of each character.
The heart of the mystery revolves around the 20th anniversary of the infamous cold case: the murder of Luke Ryder, a 26-year-old Australian and the younger husband of a social elite. He was discovered bludgeoned to death by one of his teenage stepdaughters at their Campden Hill residence. The case is often referred to as the "cougar murder case." Luke's stepson, Guy Howard, was only ten years old when the murder occurred. Now, at thirty, Guy is a renowned filmmaker and director, collaborating with producer Nick Vincent for the seventh season of the highly acclaimed "Infamous" series. The season's release is scheduled for Tuesday, October 3rd, precisely twenty years after Luke Ryder's death.
Guy is determined to uncover the truth about his stepfather's murder, driven by the desire to bring closure to his still-traumatized family, including his two sisters who have endured years of therapy, and his mother Caroline Howard, who battles early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
The production crew thoughtfully assembled an expert team consisting of Alan Carrick, a retired senior police officer from the Metropolitan Police Service; Mitchell Clarke, a freelance journalist; Hugo Fraser KC, a brilliant lawyer; Laila Furness, a forensic and clinical psychologist; JJ Norton, a forensic investigator; and finally, William R. Serafini Jr., a former Manhattan Detective with the NYPD.
As you delve into the mystery, you are bombarded with new revelations and unexpected twists that catch you off guard. Gradually, you come to realize why this diverse team was chosen to delve into the investigation. Nothing is as it seems, and everyone involved in the case seems to be telling lies and harboring secrets. Each new revelation leaves you reeling, feeling as though the rug has been pulled out from under your feet. The gripping climax intensifies your involvement in the mystery. And the conclusion, oh my God, words fail me to adequately express the sheer astonishment I experienced in that unforeseen moment!
The cleverly written news clips provide a perfect, unconventional, unique, and delightfully sarcastic ending to this brilliantly crafted thriller.
I wholeheartedly congratulate the author on her exceptional work. This is, by far, one of the most intelligent and masterfully executed thrillers I have read recently, and I cannot emphasize enough how highly I recommend it. I eagerly look forward to reading more books by this talented author.
I extend my sincere gratitude to NetGalley and William Morrow/William Morrow Paperbacks for providing me with a digital review copy of this masterpiece in exchange for my honest thoughts. Their generosity has allowed me the privilege of experiencing this remarkable work.
medium.com
July 4, 2023
Twist Filled Entertainment
3.5 stars
Murder in the Family is a thriller about a cold case that becomes the subject of a true crime Netflix series.
Luke Ryder, married to a socialite/cougar, was murdered in 2003. The police were never able to solve the crime. Twenty years later, a group of experts, including police detectives, a reporter, and psychologist, and a lawyer, gather to solve the mystery. But there is more than meets the eye when it comes to this murder, and the drama plays out live on tv.
The narrative consists of scripts, text messages, emails, interviews, newspaper articles, and the CVs of the experts (photographs included). I didn't love the format, as it led to a lot of telling. Also, it seemed a bit gimmicky. I didn't get to know any of the characters.
Despite my struggles, there were unexpected twists and turns which kept my attention, many of which were surprising. The mystery behind Luke's murder was compelling. I applaud Hunter for trying something new, and most readers have loved this book, but the format just wasn't for me.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and William Morrow in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
Murder in the Family is a thriller about a cold case that becomes the subject of a true crime Netflix series.
Luke Ryder, married to a socialite/cougar, was murdered in 2003. The police were never able to solve the crime. Twenty years later, a group of experts, including police detectives, a reporter, and psychologist, and a lawyer, gather to solve the mystery. But there is more than meets the eye when it comes to this murder, and the drama plays out live on tv.
The narrative consists of scripts, text messages, emails, interviews, newspaper articles, and the CVs of the experts (photographs included). I didn't love the format, as it led to a lot of telling. Also, it seemed a bit gimmicky. I didn't get to know any of the characters.
Despite my struggles, there were unexpected twists and turns which kept my attention, many of which were surprising. The mystery behind Luke's murder was compelling. I applaud Hunter for trying something new, and most readers have loved this book, but the format just wasn't for me.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and William Morrow in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2023
3 stars because of the format!
Mega-bestselling British crime novelist Cara Hunter makes her big American debut with a story about a cold case, a fictional true crime series, and the family caught in the middle.
EIGHT EPISODES. ONE KILLER.
The first of seven episodes of the new streaming sensation INFAMOUS: Who Killed Luke Ryder? will air on the twentieth anniversary of the murder, Tuesday October 3 ( 9:00 -11:00 PM EST) on Showrunner. Subsequent episodes will air in installments.
The key players from the original case and acknowledged experts have been assembled with the hope of solving this cold case, and the series will follow the work of the team.
This is acclaimed filmmaker Guy Howard’s personal story. He was just 10 years old when his stepfather was found dead in the garden of the family’s home.
No one was ever charged.
Written like TRUE CRIME the story includes several forms of mixed media including newspaper articles and resumes with photographs, text message conversations, voicemails, charts, and surveys.
Although I enjoyed these additions, I couldn’t enlarge them on my Kindle, so I was unable to read everything that was included.
Facts and interviews were almost entirely shared in a “screenplay” like style and it grew tedious to read an entire book written in this way, as it’s “telling” us what we would be “seeing” on screen, as opposed to showing us which a traditional narrative would do.
Brief example:
Nick Vincent (Producer) off camera
And, you agreed.
Rupert Howard (laughs disdainfully)
What Do You Think?
Madeleine Downing (looks uncomfortable)
No-I Didn’t
Yes- almost every page reads like that, and I struggled with this format.
If you don’t think that would bother you-give it a try, but if books written like this have been a challenge for you in the past-you may want to start with her (VERY POPULAR) DI Adam Fawley series instead. ( “ Close to Home” is the first of the six)
Would THIS story make a great “Netflix style” show? YES!
Would this be better on AUDIBLE? PERHAPS.
(I look forward to reading those reviews)
I definitely would recommend a PHYSICAL copy over a Kindle download of this book if the premise interests you, because in Kindle format, reading this just grew tiresome.
DO be sure to read the last article in the GAZETTE at the very end of the book….😉
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to William Morrow & Company for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley.,It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Mega-bestselling British crime novelist Cara Hunter makes her big American debut with a story about a cold case, a fictional true crime series, and the family caught in the middle.
EIGHT EPISODES. ONE KILLER.
The first of seven episodes of the new streaming sensation INFAMOUS: Who Killed Luke Ryder? will air on the twentieth anniversary of the murder, Tuesday October 3 ( 9:00 -11:00 PM EST) on Showrunner. Subsequent episodes will air in installments.
The key players from the original case and acknowledged experts have been assembled with the hope of solving this cold case, and the series will follow the work of the team.
This is acclaimed filmmaker Guy Howard’s personal story. He was just 10 years old when his stepfather was found dead in the garden of the family’s home.
No one was ever charged.
Written like TRUE CRIME the story includes several forms of mixed media including newspaper articles and resumes with photographs, text message conversations, voicemails, charts, and surveys.
Although I enjoyed these additions, I couldn’t enlarge them on my Kindle, so I was unable to read everything that was included.
Facts and interviews were almost entirely shared in a “screenplay” like style and it grew tedious to read an entire book written in this way, as it’s “telling” us what we would be “seeing” on screen, as opposed to showing us which a traditional narrative would do.
Brief example:
Nick Vincent (Producer) off camera
And, you agreed.
Rupert Howard (laughs disdainfully)
What Do You Think?
Madeleine Downing (looks uncomfortable)
No-I Didn’t
Yes- almost every page reads like that, and I struggled with this format.
If you don’t think that would bother you-give it a try, but if books written like this have been a challenge for you in the past-you may want to start with her (VERY POPULAR) DI Adam Fawley series instead. ( “ Close to Home” is the first of the six)
Would THIS story make a great “Netflix style” show? YES!
Would this be better on AUDIBLE? PERHAPS.
(I look forward to reading those reviews)
I definitely would recommend a PHYSICAL copy over a Kindle download of this book if the premise interests you, because in Kindle format, reading this just grew tiresome.
DO be sure to read the last article in the GAZETTE at the very end of the book….😉
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to William Morrow & Company for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley.,It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
March 5, 2023
Twenty years ago Luke Ryder was killed in the garden of his upmarket London home - no one was ever prosecuted. Now, his stepson, TV director Guy Howard, decides to revisit that fateful night in the form of a six part docu-drama as part of a Netflix true crime series.
The investigation and evidence is presented in the form of text messages, emails and old newspaper clippings, together with specialists sifting through the material, debating each and every point, and though complex, it was fascinating the way one thing led to another, until finally we get to the truth.
Author Cara Hunter proves herself yet again with this terrific standalone, it’s cleverly written, with smoke and mirrors coming very much into play, blinding the reader to the actual perpetrator of this crime. Very enjoyable.
*Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
The investigation and evidence is presented in the form of text messages, emails and old newspaper clippings, together with specialists sifting through the material, debating each and every point, and though complex, it was fascinating the way one thing led to another, until finally we get to the truth.
Author Cara Hunter proves herself yet again with this terrific standalone, it’s cleverly written, with smoke and mirrors coming very much into play, blinding the reader to the actual perpetrator of this crime. Very enjoyable.
*Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
September 28, 2023
Writing: hard to rate given the mixed media format | Plot: juicy but fell flat | Ending: NAH I REQUEST A REDO
3.5 rounded down
SYNOPSIS
To discover the truth about who killed his stepfather 20 years ago, Guy Howard agrees to have the case featured in 'Infamous' a true crime series. But as the six experts weigh in and new evidence comes to light, will Guy regret his decision to have his life put on center stage?
MY OPINION
First things first: this story is told entirely in mixed media format. There's a mix of transcripts, emails, texts, maps, etc. I do NOT think this would translate well on audio; IMO it would be very confusing so proceed with caution. And lastly, under no circumstances should you buy the ebook. Like her DI Adam Fawley series which incorporates similar mixed media elements, it does not translate well on the Kindle. You can't zoom in, the text is very small, and the pictures are all janky. You need the physical book to get the full experience.
I loved her DI Adam Fawley series so I couldn't wait to get my grubby mitts on this. To say it was my most anticipated read of the year is an understatement. And while I was blown away with the attention to detail and realism of the mixed media components, the mystery itself fell as flat as a plank of wood.
I nicknamed the author Cara 'B!tch you thought' Hunter because her twists??? B!TCH YOU THOUGHT!! She always gets my ass once, or twice, or thrice and this book was no exception until the mac daddy reveal. WOMP WOMP WOMP. This was the rare case (pun unintended?) where the 'twist' I concocted in my pea-sized brain was more riveting than what played out in the pages. I'm not saying I would've written it better; I just found that my guess was more shocking and twisty than the actual reveal. I'm not doing any spoilies, but I will say that I had dismissed the baddie as a suspect immediately because it seemed too obvious and easy. Maybe that was the point? A lil reverse uno? So in that regards, you could consider it 'genius'. But still, I wanted more. I wanted her to scalp me with the twist. Also, I found the last 20% of the book or so to waddle into Scooby Doo territory.
Again, I'm giving Cara Hunter her flowers for the unfathomable amount of effort that went into the formatting of this book. I'm sure she needed a murder board and a very complex Excel sheet to keep everything straight. This is the PERFECT book club read. I wish I hadn't burned all my buddy read bridges by being the world's worst buddy, because it would've been super fun to play Nancy Drew with a pal.
Regardless, whatever Hunter puts out next, I'll be snatching it up like a raccoon in a trash can.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: mixed media elements were extremely realistic... fantastic attention to detail, bingeable (it looks thicc, but you'll blast on through it), lil bombshells throughout keep you engaged
Cons: last 20% was giving me Scooby Doo and low-key reminded me of that Spiderman meme where all the Spideys are standing around pointing at each other LOL, mac daddy reveal was disappointing IMO... as the queen of twisty twists I was expecting something more
3.5 rounded down
SYNOPSIS
To discover the truth about who killed his stepfather 20 years ago, Guy Howard agrees to have the case featured in 'Infamous' a true crime series. But as the six experts weigh in and new evidence comes to light, will Guy regret his decision to have his life put on center stage?
MY OPINION
First things first: this story is told entirely in mixed media format. There's a mix of transcripts, emails, texts, maps, etc. I do NOT think this would translate well on audio; IMO it would be very confusing so proceed with caution. And lastly, under no circumstances should you buy the ebook. Like her DI Adam Fawley series which incorporates similar mixed media elements, it does not translate well on the Kindle. You can't zoom in, the text is very small, and the pictures are all janky. You need the physical book to get the full experience.
I loved her DI Adam Fawley series so I couldn't wait to get my grubby mitts on this. To say it was my most anticipated read of the year is an understatement. And while I was blown away with the attention to detail and realism of the mixed media components, the mystery itself fell as flat as a plank of wood.
I nicknamed the author Cara 'B!tch you thought' Hunter because her twists??? B!TCH YOU THOUGHT!! She always gets my ass once, or twice, or thrice and this book was no exception until the mac daddy reveal. WOMP WOMP WOMP. This was the rare case (pun unintended?) where the 'twist' I concocted in my pea-sized brain was more riveting than what played out in the pages. I'm not saying I would've written it better; I just found that my guess was more shocking and twisty than the actual reveal. I'm not doing any spoilies, but I will say that I had dismissed the baddie as a suspect immediately because it seemed too obvious and easy. Maybe that was the point? A lil reverse uno? So in that regards, you could consider it 'genius'. But still, I wanted more. I wanted her to scalp me with the twist. Also, I found the last 20% of the book or so to waddle into Scooby Doo territory.
Again, I'm giving Cara Hunter her flowers for the unfathomable amount of effort that went into the formatting of this book. I'm sure she needed a murder board and a very complex Excel sheet to keep everything straight. This is the PERFECT book club read. I wish I hadn't burned all my buddy read bridges by being the world's worst buddy, because it would've been super fun to play Nancy Drew with a pal.
Regardless, whatever Hunter puts out next, I'll be snatching it up like a raccoon in a trash can.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: mixed media elements were extremely realistic... fantastic attention to detail, bingeable (it looks thicc, but you'll blast on through it), lil bombshells throughout keep you engaged
Cons: last 20% was giving me Scooby Doo and low-key reminded me of that Spiderman meme where all the Spideys are standing around pointing at each other LOL, mac daddy reveal was disappointing IMO... as the queen of twisty twists I was expecting something more
July 18, 2023
Who killed Luke Ryder in 2003 in leafy, expensive, elite, London, W8?? Luke is found at the bottom of the flight of steps for his teenage stepdaughter‘s. His stepson Guy Howard, then 10 and now a well-known filmmaker is determined to get to the truth of the unsolved case, no matter the personal cost. Dry Rise Films Ltd presents a number of episodes as part of the ‘Infamous’ series produced by Nick Vincent and directed by Guy. They’ve hired various experts to examine the evidence, interview witnesses and the programmes will begin airing on Tuesday 3rd October, the twentieth anniversary of Luke’s death. Who has motive, means and opportunity? One thing that all the professionals involved agree upon on is that the murder feels personal.
Wow, Cara Hunter has knocked it out of the park yet again! I especially love the way this is written principally via episodic transcripts, but also involves texts, voicemails, news, clippings, and so on, which are blended so seamlessly that facts emerge naturally and organically. You know that feeling when you’re watching gripping television such as Line of Duty?? That’s what I feel the author has created here, you feel as if you are watching a drama with plenty of he said/he said/she said conundrums with cliffhangers at the end of each episode just as on television. It is gripping, compulsive, super glued to the pages reading, made more fascinating by the Howard family dynamics and dysfunction and by the interaction and behaviour of the experts on the programme. In fact, I think the latter is especially clever as it gives definite shades of Agatha Christie through the film revelations but it feels like a fresh, modern, vibrant homage.
Naturally, as this Cara Hunter, there are jaw droppers, in fact, it aches from the times it thunders to the floor and there are multiple clever twists as the plot thickens that my neck aches from the double takes! The pace is brisk throughout, there are unlikeable characters, there are lies and coverups by the truckload and so it keeps you literally guessing to the end. I’m pretty sure this will make my 2023 top ten which is a bold statement as it’s the beginning of January!
Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Wow, Cara Hunter has knocked it out of the park yet again! I especially love the way this is written principally via episodic transcripts, but also involves texts, voicemails, news, clippings, and so on, which are blended so seamlessly that facts emerge naturally and organically. You know that feeling when you’re watching gripping television such as Line of Duty?? That’s what I feel the author has created here, you feel as if you are watching a drama with plenty of he said/he said/she said conundrums with cliffhangers at the end of each episode just as on television. It is gripping, compulsive, super glued to the pages reading, made more fascinating by the Howard family dynamics and dysfunction and by the interaction and behaviour of the experts on the programme. In fact, I think the latter is especially clever as it gives definite shades of Agatha Christie through the film revelations but it feels like a fresh, modern, vibrant homage.
Naturally, as this Cara Hunter, there are jaw droppers, in fact, it aches from the times it thunders to the floor and there are multiple clever twists as the plot thickens that my neck aches from the double takes! The pace is brisk throughout, there are unlikeable characters, there are lies and coverups by the truckload and so it keeps you literally guessing to the end. I’m pretty sure this will make my 2023 top ten which is a bold statement as it’s the beginning of January!
Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
October 13, 2023
This was fun! I wasn’t sure about the format at first, I felt a bit lost and in the middle but once everything comes together I ended up really enjoying the ride!
October 31, 2023
On October 3, 2003, Luke Ryder, the much younger husband of Caroline Howard Ryder, was found brutally murdered on the grounds of the family’s palatial London estate. Despite a seemingly rigorous investigation, no culprit was ever found—although blame was quickly laid at the feet of his wife by both the police and the media. After all, isn’t it almost always the spouse?
Twenty years later, Caroline’s now grown son, Guy Howard, is the renowned director behind the popular true-crime streaming series entitled Infamous. Known for re-investigating—and often solving—popular criminal cases, it’s become a global sensation. Now, after six seasons, Guy has decided to turn the camera lens on his very own family and the notorious death of his stepfather, Luke.
Led by a team of well respected experts, within days new facts come to light. Through a careful and in-depth re-examination of the evidence, they’ve discovered some astonishing revelations about the case that everyone thought they knew everything about. In fact, they’ve discovered so much that it’s almost a concern. Is the team really sharing all that they know?
Written in an ingenious and original format that true crime lovers and perceptive readers will inhale, read along as the evidence is uncovered firsthand. Can you unravel the truth before the show? Or are they hiding more than they share?
Holy smokes! What an altogether mind-blowing, unputdownable, binge-worthy novel! Having never read a book told through the format that Murder in the Family was, I didn’t quite know what to expect. What I discovered in this superbly written mind f*** of a book was that it was more than just twisty, it took my expectations and ran them over and then backed over them again. Don’t worry, not once did it feel anything but 100% genuine and true-to-life, almost like I was watching Infamous for real.
So let me explain the format a bit. An intriguing and wholly original transcript of each episode of the streaming series, it was made even better with the inclusion of emails, texts, news articles, voicemails, and even a subReddit board. What came out of that heady mix was a storyline that was rife with one truly mind-blowing twist after another. You know the kind that make you actually reread the reveals? Well, Cara Hunter had those in spades with each feeling as realistic as it could get. Not an easy feat, to be sure.
That was easily the biggest and best piece to this novel. It was far from the only winning attribute, however. After all, the characters were truly out of this world. Witty, realistic, and with perfectly crafted identities, they were each total home runs in my eyes. In fact, without them, this book likely wouldn’t have been quite as big of a hit for me because as it stands, I fell for it hook, line, and sinker.
Next up was the plot itself. As I’ve covered, it was far from typical, but still the constantly building tension, unrivaled explosion of a climax, and blindingly fast-paced delivery made me stay up way too late just to finish. With twists that kept me guessing, I honestly don’t know how anyone could read between the lines. Call it whiplash or jaw-dropping fun, I, for one, gave up my armchair sleuth title for this book and just enjoyed the ride.
All of that being said, Murder in the Family is not necessarily for everyone. If you want a story handed to you on a silver platter, you definitely won’t get that here. No, there were moments were I had to really concentrate on what Hunter was putting down. That, however, was really just part of the fun and I had an epic time racing through the pages, eager to learn the who in this whodunnit.
By the end of this book, I found myself stunned by the brilliance of Ms. Hunter’s brain. A thickly layered plot that had to have been hard to create, it was packed full of countless red herrings and even more potential suspects than I expected going in. One thing I strongly recommend, however, is that you read this one with a physical book. Neither an audiobook or Kindle will likely do it justice and they may even leave you more confused than intrigued.
Ultimately, this reader was more than sold by both the author and the book itself. So won over, in fact, that I’m sure I’ll tell any and every mystery lover I meet to try it as well. After all, this book was simply that good. Now I’m off to check out Hunter’s backlist with fingers crossed that I find another I love just as much. Boy, do I love finding new-to-me authors who make me want to run out and buy every book that they’ve ever written. So hats off, Cara Hunter, you managed to do just that. Rating of 5+ stars.
PUB DATE: September 19, 2023
Thank you to Cara Hunter and William Morrow for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Scroll down for for the possibly plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: fraud, mention of: going under a fake identity, conning people for money, statutory rape, infidelity, fatal drunk driving accident, terrorist bombings, teenage pregnancy
Twenty years later, Caroline’s now grown son, Guy Howard, is the renowned director behind the popular true-crime streaming series entitled Infamous. Known for re-investigating—and often solving—popular criminal cases, it’s become a global sensation. Now, after six seasons, Guy has decided to turn the camera lens on his very own family and the notorious death of his stepfather, Luke.
Led by a team of well respected experts, within days new facts come to light. Through a careful and in-depth re-examination of the evidence, they’ve discovered some astonishing revelations about the case that everyone thought they knew everything about. In fact, they’ve discovered so much that it’s almost a concern. Is the team really sharing all that they know?
Written in an ingenious and original format that true crime lovers and perceptive readers will inhale, read along as the evidence is uncovered firsthand. Can you unravel the truth before the show? Or are they hiding more than they share?
Holy smokes! What an altogether mind-blowing, unputdownable, binge-worthy novel! Having never read a book told through the format that Murder in the Family was, I didn’t quite know what to expect. What I discovered in this superbly written mind f*** of a book was that it was more than just twisty, it took my expectations and ran them over and then backed over them again. Don’t worry, not once did it feel anything but 100% genuine and true-to-life, almost like I was watching Infamous for real.
So let me explain the format a bit. An intriguing and wholly original transcript of each episode of the streaming series, it was made even better with the inclusion of emails, texts, news articles, voicemails, and even a subReddit board. What came out of that heady mix was a storyline that was rife with one truly mind-blowing twist after another. You know the kind that make you actually reread the reveals? Well, Cara Hunter had those in spades with each feeling as realistic as it could get. Not an easy feat, to be sure.
That was easily the biggest and best piece to this novel. It was far from the only winning attribute, however. After all, the characters were truly out of this world. Witty, realistic, and with perfectly crafted identities, they were each total home runs in my eyes. In fact, without them, this book likely wouldn’t have been quite as big of a hit for me because as it stands, I fell for it hook, line, and sinker.
Next up was the plot itself. As I’ve covered, it was far from typical, but still the constantly building tension, unrivaled explosion of a climax, and blindingly fast-paced delivery made me stay up way too late just to finish. With twists that kept me guessing, I honestly don’t know how anyone could read between the lines. Call it whiplash or jaw-dropping fun, I, for one, gave up my armchair sleuth title for this book and just enjoyed the ride.
All of that being said, Murder in the Family is not necessarily for everyone. If you want a story handed to you on a silver platter, you definitely won’t get that here. No, there were moments were I had to really concentrate on what Hunter was putting down. That, however, was really just part of the fun and I had an epic time racing through the pages, eager to learn the who in this whodunnit.
By the end of this book, I found myself stunned by the brilliance of Ms. Hunter’s brain. A thickly layered plot that had to have been hard to create, it was packed full of countless red herrings and even more potential suspects than I expected going in. One thing I strongly recommend, however, is that you read this one with a physical book. Neither an audiobook or Kindle will likely do it justice and they may even leave you more confused than intrigued.
Ultimately, this reader was more than sold by both the author and the book itself. So won over, in fact, that I’m sure I’ll tell any and every mystery lover I meet to try it as well. After all, this book was simply that good. Now I’m off to check out Hunter’s backlist with fingers crossed that I find another I love just as much. Boy, do I love finding new-to-me authors who make me want to run out and buy every book that they’ve ever written. So hats off, Cara Hunter, you managed to do just that. Rating of 5+ stars.
PUB DATE: September 19, 2023
Thank you to Cara Hunter and William Morrow for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Scroll down for for the possibly plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: fraud, mention of: going under a fake identity, conning people for money, statutory rape, infidelity, fatal drunk driving accident, terrorist bombings, teenage pregnancy
August 17, 2023
Kept me reading till late at night. But only 3 stars as I think there was some messing around with the characters, not only was there a lot to keep track of, but suddenly there was this for the plot hugely significant grandmother, who was referred to as if she had already been introduced, which to the best of my knowledge she hadn’t.
And the ending, that was anticlimactic to say the least, a let down, a rushed disappointing finish which left a lot still to be explained.
Apart from that, excellent plotbuilding, terrific cliffhangers and some interesting characters. I guess the author had much fun writing this!
And the ending, that was anticlimactic to say the least, a let down, a rushed disappointing finish which left a lot still to be explained.
Apart from that, excellent plotbuilding, terrific cliffhangers and some interesting characters. I guess the author had much fun writing this!
Shelved as 'dnf-lost-interest'
September 28, 2023Unfortunately this one is a DNF for me. I’m thinking it’s more me than the book, as the formatting is really clever and Hunter is a fantastic author. I’ve really enjoyed her previous books, but for some reason my brain just isn’t connecting with this one. Highly recommend readers give it a try for themselves though, as it will definitely be a hit with some.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
February 24, 2023
Oh what a clever concept this was! I am a big fan of Cara Hunter’s police procedural series so it was a no brainer that I would read this, the authors first stand alone novel. And what a brilliant book it is. The format takes a little to get used to but I loved that it was told as though we were watching the documentary, as well as newspaper articles and text messages. It was a really unique experience and one that completely worked for the story.
Twenty years ago, Luke Ryder was murdered in Is home in London. The killer was never found. Now his step son, Guy Howard, is producing a true crime documentary called Infamous to try to solve the case. He has assembled a panel of experts in various fields to help go through the evidence, and hopefully find new clues. In 20 years there have been so many technological advances so surely they can do something with those.
What they don’t expect is this case to be as twisty and surprising as it is. It is not a straightforward task of who had a grudge against the victim. I didn’t have time to comprehend one twist before something else came along and I loved it.
An easy 5 star read for me. Published in July, get your hands on this one any way that you can. Thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for my advanced reading copy.
Twenty years ago, Luke Ryder was murdered in Is home in London. The killer was never found. Now his step son, Guy Howard, is producing a true crime documentary called Infamous to try to solve the case. He has assembled a panel of experts in various fields to help go through the evidence, and hopefully find new clues. In 20 years there have been so many technological advances so surely they can do something with those.
What they don’t expect is this case to be as twisty and surprising as it is. It is not a straightforward task of who had a grudge against the victim. I didn’t have time to comprehend one twist before something else came along and I loved it.
An easy 5 star read for me. Published in July, get your hands on this one any way that you can. Thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for my advanced reading copy.
August 23, 2023
This was a 2 or 2 and a half star read for me. I was really excited to read this book because of the format. I read some reviews and people said the format was kinda boring for them. But as someone who likes watching true crime documentaries I enjoyed every bit of it. I could visualise each scene and I that’s why I gave it this rating.
The story in the beginning and the 2 plot twists about how Luke was actually an imposter were honestly really well done. I remember smiling when I read Luke wasn’t actually Luke. You got me good, I remember saying. But afterwards I think the story just began to fall apart. The reason why Nick would go out of his way to find people who would have some link to the case was rather far stretched. I honestly saw no purpose for it, aside from using these characters as red herrings. But that’s the thing with red herrings in crime-thriller dramas/books. If you make them too obvious that they’re solely there as red herring it ruins the whole story.
Anyone with 2 working brain cells could have guessed that ex investigators, a lawyer or some forensic guy wouldn’t go out of their way to kill someone and then appear on a tv show where, mind you, they have to catch the real killer. It’s too risky and stupid. Right of the bat when you read how Alan was hiding his connection to the case, or how Bill lied and Hugo deliberately didn’t mention he was the guy Caroline was cheating with. You really wonder if the author take you, the reader, for a fool? Because why would these people let other people point fingers at them on live tv and not withdraw, file a police complaint or like behave slightly differently?
And the whole pointing fingers scenario really had me shaking my head. I was like yesss now tell me how Laila had something to do with it too because she called her mom who lives in Pakistan and oh what is the majority population of Pakistan? Muslim! Oh and who was that guy that died in an accident? Muslim! There you have it.
Who’s next? JJ? Yeah let’s say he’s Caroline’s lost son. Cool 👍🏼
It seemed so poorly done. We spent so much time learning about Luke and Fulton and whatnot but if you ask me by the end of this book. What do I know about Luke? I would say, nothing. Because we don’t know who he really was, what his personality was like. We honestly don’t know much about Luke and Caroline an the book doesn’t even try to tell us any more.
The moment we’re shown Guy I knew he was our killer like c’mon it was so obvious. The only plot twist that caught me off guard was the Luke being an imposter one. You can’t blame me for that, because the author just throws it to the readers from out of the blue. No details, no hints. Just straight up plot twist.
After that, I just knew it was the family. If not the sisters, definitely Guy. It wasn’t a good reveal. It wasn’t even hidden knowledge. Throughout the book we’re told Guy had a negative attitude towards Luke but when Nick or someone asks him about that he just straight up denies it. In the old pictures you can even see Guy being the most reclusive person. Yet Laila doesn’t notice that?
Flat characters with no brain cells. None of them acted their age or profession.
This was a let down for me. I’m disappointed. As someone who has spent 7 years in the true crime community, and has watched a little too many crime-thriller Kdramas. It was so obvious which path the story would go down. And I definitely didn’t like that
Now some loose ends. JJ… what was his name?? Was he really Caroline’s son? Does Bill ever manages to find the Sister? Hugo literally cheated on his wife… ummm 🤨 did she know? Was Laila’s family convinced Luke wasn’t responsible for Muhammad’s death? Did Caroline know who actually killed Luke?
With that all being said, it was really difficult for me to ignore how Nick just committed like several hundred crimes to catch the real perpetrator. He didn’t give a shit about it, no one held him accountable and he goes around invading peoples privacy. Yeah very normal occurrence.
PS this should be named ‘Killer in the Family’ because I’m sure everyone was suspecting the siblings and Caroline from the get go.
The story in the beginning and the 2 plot twists about how Luke was actually an imposter were honestly really well done. I remember smiling when I read Luke wasn’t actually Luke. You got me good, I remember saying. But afterwards I think the story just began to fall apart. The reason why Nick would go out of his way to find people who would have some link to the case was rather far stretched. I honestly saw no purpose for it, aside from using these characters as red herrings. But that’s the thing with red herrings in crime-thriller dramas/books. If you make them too obvious that they’re solely there as red herring it ruins the whole story.
Anyone with 2 working brain cells could have guessed that ex investigators, a lawyer or some forensic guy wouldn’t go out of their way to kill someone and then appear on a tv show where, mind you, they have to catch the real killer. It’s too risky and stupid. Right of the bat when you read how Alan was hiding his connection to the case, or how Bill lied and Hugo deliberately didn’t mention he was the guy Caroline was cheating with. You really wonder if the author take you, the reader, for a fool? Because why would these people let other people point fingers at them on live tv and not withdraw, file a police complaint or like behave slightly differently?
And the whole pointing fingers scenario really had me shaking my head. I was like yesss now tell me how Laila had something to do with it too because she called her mom who lives in Pakistan and oh what is the majority population of Pakistan? Muslim! Oh and who was that guy that died in an accident? Muslim! There you have it.
Who’s next? JJ? Yeah let’s say he’s Caroline’s lost son. Cool 👍🏼
It seemed so poorly done. We spent so much time learning about Luke and Fulton and whatnot but if you ask me by the end of this book. What do I know about Luke? I would say, nothing. Because we don’t know who he really was, what his personality was like. We honestly don’t know much about Luke and Caroline an the book doesn’t even try to tell us any more.
The moment we’re shown Guy I knew he was our killer like c’mon it was so obvious. The only plot twist that caught me off guard was the Luke being an imposter one. You can’t blame me for that, because the author just throws it to the readers from out of the blue. No details, no hints. Just straight up plot twist.
After that, I just knew it was the family. If not the sisters, definitely Guy. It wasn’t a good reveal. It wasn’t even hidden knowledge. Throughout the book we’re told Guy had a negative attitude towards Luke but when Nick or someone asks him about that he just straight up denies it. In the old pictures you can even see Guy being the most reclusive person. Yet Laila doesn’t notice that?
Flat characters with no brain cells. None of them acted their age or profession.
This was a let down for me. I’m disappointed. As someone who has spent 7 years in the true crime community, and has watched a little too many crime-thriller Kdramas. It was so obvious which path the story would go down. And I definitely didn’t like that
Now some loose ends. JJ… what was his name?? Was he really Caroline’s son? Does Bill ever manages to find the Sister? Hugo literally cheated on his wife… ummm 🤨 did she know? Was Laila’s family convinced Luke wasn’t responsible for Muhammad’s death? Did Caroline know who actually killed Luke?
With that all being said, it was really difficult for me to ignore how Nick just committed like several hundred crimes to catch the real perpetrator. He didn’t give a shit about it, no one held him accountable and he goes around invading peoples privacy. Yeah very normal occurrence.
PS this should be named ‘Killer in the Family’ because I’m sure everyone was suspecting the siblings and Caroline from the get go.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2023
Young Australian Luke Ryder marries wealthy older woman Caroline Howard and is tragically murdered one year later. Luke’s stepson Guy Howard now twenty years later and a filmmaker decides to do a reality show on Luke’s death.
Many secrets and lies are revealed.
This was an amazing read with enough twists and turns to give whiplash. Thanks NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC that will be released September 19, 2023!
Many secrets and lies are revealed.
This was an amazing read with enough twists and turns to give whiplash. Thanks NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC that will be released September 19, 2023!
December 19, 2023
دیشب قبل اینکه کتابو تمام کنم دوستم پرسید چطور بوده توصیش میکنی و جواب من این بود:
🫂🫂اگه قاتلو بپسندم اره 😂
اگه نپسندم نه😂
در کل جز اینکه خیلی حس فیلمنامه خوندم بهم میده با باقیش مشکلی ندارم
پرونده قتلش برام جالب و پیچیده هست و با اینکه ۷۰ درصدشو خوندم عملا هیچ ایده ای ندارم که کی قاتله و اصلا چرا امده طرفو کشته
تصویر سازیا نویسنده برای اینکه موقعیت و کارا ادم بخواد تو ذهنش تصور کنه عالی بوده اما اینکه بجا ارتباط واقعی بین شخصیتا فقط توی برنامه هستن و تمامی مکالمات و حرفا و همه چیز مدل فیلمنامه داره پیش میره برام اذیت کننده است🚶🏻♀️
از تصویرسازی منظورم این نیست که تصاویر توکتاب باشه
توصیفات راجب حرکات کاراکترا یا موقعیت یا لباسا و....👥️👥️
تو اون لحظه داشتم با خودم فکرمیکرد که قاتل هرکی هم باشه کتاب جوری برام جذاب بوده که بهش ۴ستاره بدم و اینکه بخاطر "مدل فیلمنامه" بودنش حالمو گرفت امتیازی ازش کم نکنم اما تهش و قاتل؟
اخه اون همه پیچوند و پیچوند و پیچوند که این بشه؟ و به این شکل غیرمنطقی؟ بیخیال بابا قاتلای باحالتری هم میتونست باشه ها 😒
خلاصه چون قاتلو نپسندیدم! ۳ستاره میدم😂😂
پ.ن: اما جدا قلم نویسنده روون بودا اگه قاتلو میپسندیدم احتمالا یه چی دیگه ازش میخوندم اما فعلا ازش عصبانیم😂
🫂🫂اگه قاتلو بپسندم اره 😂
اگه نپسندم نه😂
در کل جز اینکه خیلی حس فیلمنامه خوندم بهم میده با باقیش مشکلی ندارم
پرونده قتلش برام جالب و پیچیده هست و با اینکه ۷۰ درصدشو خوندم عملا هیچ ایده ای ندارم که کی قاتله و اصلا چرا امده طرفو کشته
تصویر سازیا نویسنده برای اینکه موقعیت و کارا ادم بخواد تو ذهنش تصور کنه عالی بوده اما اینکه بجا ارتباط واقعی بین شخصیتا فقط توی برنامه هستن و تمامی مکالمات و حرفا و همه چیز مدل فیلمنامه داره پیش میره برام اذیت کننده است🚶🏻♀️
از تصویرسازی منظورم این نیست که تصاویر توکتاب باشه
توصیفات راجب حرکات کاراکترا یا موقعیت یا لباسا و....👥️👥️
تو اون لحظه داشتم با خودم فکرمیکرد که قاتل هرکی هم باشه کتاب جوری برام جذاب بوده که بهش ۴ستاره بدم و اینکه بخاطر "مدل فیلمنامه" بودنش حالمو گرفت امتیازی ازش کم نکنم اما تهش و قاتل؟
اخه اون همه پیچوند و پیچوند و پیچوند که این بشه؟ و به این شکل غیرمنطقی؟ بیخیال بابا قاتلای باحالتری هم میتونست باشه ها 😒
خلاصه چون قاتلو نپسندیدم! ۳ستاره میدم😂😂
پ.ن: اما جدا قلم نویسنده روون بودا اگه قاتلو میپسندیدم احتمالا یه چی دیگه ازش میخوندم اما فعلا ازش عصبانیم😂
October 31, 2023
Suspense story Murder in the Family is a good pick for a spooky season read. A group of experts are brought together to revisit an unsolved murder case in the UK from 20 years ago — Luke Ryder had married Caroline Howard, a slightly older, wealthy woman and mom of three. Luke was murdered in the garden at their stately home one night and nobody claimed to see anything. The police launched an investigation at the time though it yielded no confirmed suspect. Now, filmmaker Guy Howard wants to revisit the case with experts’ insight as it had a direct impact on his family.
I really enjoyed the mixed media format for how this story was told, mostly as a Netflix true crime documentary. There were a lot of characters and it took me some time to remember who was who and their role in the story. I did guess a major element correctly, but not too early, so this didn’t detract from my enjoyment as Murder in the Family delivers plenty of twists!
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow books for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the mixed media format for how this story was told, mostly as a Netflix true crime documentary. There were a lot of characters and it took me some time to remember who was who and their role in the story. I did guess a major element correctly, but not too early, so this didn’t detract from my enjoyment as Murder in the Family delivers plenty of twists!
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow books for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2024
2.5⭐
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ London
Publication date ~ September 19, 2023
Page Count ~ 480
Audio length ~ 9 hours 15 minutes
Narrators ~ Lisa Armytage, Olivia Dowd, Rupert Farley, James Goode, Colin Mace
POV ~multiple
Featuring ~ murder, cold case, Netflix documentary,
*quick review because I listened a while ago and too much time has passed so this is all I have to offer because I need to get this out of my drafts*
This sounded great on audio, but apparently there are maps, transcripts and texts, etc, that would obviously be better to see in print form. But then again I might have tired quickly of just a transcript format. There were some nice twists, but I wasn't overly wowed by the ending.
Narration notes:
Top notch full cast narration.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ London
Publication date ~ September 19, 2023
Page Count ~ 480
Audio length ~ 9 hours 15 minutes
Narrators ~ Lisa Armytage, Olivia Dowd, Rupert Farley, James Goode, Colin Mace
POV ~multiple
Featuring ~ murder, cold case, Netflix documentary,
*quick review because I listened a while ago and too much time has passed so this is all I have to offer because I need to get this out of my drafts*
This sounded great on audio, but apparently there are maps, transcripts and texts, etc, that would obviously be better to see in print form. But then again I might have tired quickly of just a transcript format. There were some nice twists, but I wasn't overly wowed by the ending.
Narration notes:
Top notch full cast narration.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
May 26, 2024
"Murder in the Family" é um livro com um registo diferente daqueles a que estou habituada dentro deste género literário. Foi uma verdadeira surpresa, ao ponto de eu ter pensado em colocar este livro de lado, de forma temporária, até me habituar à ideia.
Não fiz isso e acho que fiz bem uma vez que acabei por gostar do enredo e da forma peculiar como este foi construído.
Apesar disto, acho que a resolução do enigma deixou muito a desejar, deixando-me insatisfeita. Eu acho que esperava um final mais "retumbante", daí a minha decepção.
Não fiz isso e acho que fiz bem uma vez que acabei por gostar do enredo e da forma peculiar como este foi construído.
Apesar disto, acho que a resolução do enigma deixou muito a desejar, deixando-me insatisfeita. Eu acho que esperava um final mais "retumbante", daí a minha decepção.
September 25, 2023
Getting through Cara Hunter's "Murder In The Family" audiobook was murder.
WHY?
The book was not well formatted for an audiobook release.
The book showcased a fictional "true crime" story that unfolded by using multiple forms of media including press releases, text messages, voicemails, surveys, podcasts, and police reports.
The end result?
The audiobook was fragmented and repetitious and was not the well-plotted police procedural that one could expect from talented author Cara Hunter.
Cara Hunter is one of my favorite go-to authors. I have read and enjoyed all six of her earlier releases.
This book was a DNF for me.
Moving forward, I hope that the author will not be using this format for future releases.
This book received rave reviews from many of my GR friends, so perhaps the "real book" and not the audio version would be the way to go for this title.
May 31, 2023
Cara Hunter what a great intriguing book. It kept me guessing as I turned the pages. One murder.
Six experts. I wanted to solve the case before they did. It truly is a addictive read. Who killed Luke Ryder? This is a 20 year old cold case. Each professional in their field bringing up the goods. If you love a good murder mystery this book is for you. Highly recommend.
Six experts. I wanted to solve the case before they did. It truly is a addictive read. Who killed Luke Ryder? This is a 20 year old cold case. Each professional in their field bringing up the goods. If you love a good murder mystery this book is for you. Highly recommend.
July 22, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
November 2, 2023
this book was just okay. if you like red herrings and tons of characters, you’ll enjoy it. if you don’t, you’ll be confused most of the time like me 😂
it’s written in podcast/script form because it’s a tv show script. the format was unique—i am guessing it would have read better on audio? kind of like the format of DAISY JONES & THE SIX.
i stuck it out bc i really wanted the ending to be worth it… but it wasn’t 😩😩😩 it reallyyyyy was not. chalk this up as a “wish i dnf” book.
there were some twists around 60-70% in that were interesting, but the ending was very lackluster. it was 460+ pages and felt far too long.
TLDR; confusing and not worth the read.
it’s written in podcast/script form because it’s a tv show script. the format was unique—i am guessing it would have read better on audio? kind of like the format of DAISY JONES & THE SIX.
i stuck it out bc i really wanted the ending to be worth it… but it wasn’t 😩😩😩 it reallyyyyy was not. chalk this up as a “wish i dnf” book.
there were some twists around 60-70% in that were interesting, but the ending was very lackluster. it was 460+ pages and felt far too long.
TLDR; confusing and not worth the read.
September 28, 2023
*Disappointing*
This story for me was a bit hard to get into at first. The premise intrigued me, a case about a man Luke Ryder who was found dead in the garden of the family home. He left behind an older widow and three stepchildren. No one saw anything. Now years later the youngest stepchild Guy is now a producer. He wants to get to the truth and as the case is still unsolved along with a team of experts they attempt to trawl through the evidence and solve the crime.
I did not like any of the characters and the format was in the style of a true life podcast/documentary. I am not sure how the book came over but I listened to the audiobook. I really did not like how some of the experts seemed to be holding back a secret relative to the case.
I must say I love the Di Adam Fawley series by Cara Hunter which I still have more to read. I was not a complete fan of this standalone although I can understand the appeal. The ending for me was disappointing.
This story for me was a bit hard to get into at first. The premise intrigued me, a case about a man Luke Ryder who was found dead in the garden of the family home. He left behind an older widow and three stepchildren. No one saw anything. Now years later the youngest stepchild Guy is now a producer. He wants to get to the truth and as the case is still unsolved along with a team of experts they attempt to trawl through the evidence and solve the crime.
I did not like any of the characters and the format was in the style of a true life podcast/documentary. I am not sure how the book came over but I listened to the audiobook. I really did not like how some of the experts seemed to be holding back a secret relative to the case.
I must say I love the Di Adam Fawley series by Cara Hunter which I still have more to read. I was not a complete fan of this standalone although I can understand the appeal. The ending for me was disappointing.
December 5, 2023
the mixed media was fun and clever but i think the author was using that to her advantage a bit too much because i found the actual mystery very boring. i still don’t understand why we are supposed to care about some random man’s death just because it happened years ago and was unsolved? i also just found who it was anticlimactic but i wasn’t expecting it so that’s good at least! i wish it was maybe 100 pages shorter as well but oh well! still a pretty fun read.
February 25, 2024
A very fun read! Fans of investigative tv shows or pod casts will enjoy this book. The format is unique in the sense that it's told less like a story but more so clips of a show and some off screen story telling. There is a lot of information and speculation thrown at you constantly, would be a great book club or book buddy read. The twist was mediocre but fit with the story.
Would recommend.
Would recommend.
August 9, 2023
This first stand alone from Cara Hunter is quite an eye opener. At first I thought it might end up being be a DNF due to the format - it's written in episodic transcripts of a fictional true crime show "Infamous", interspersed with news clippings, emails and internet forum comments - I have to say I found it quite clunky at first. However, I persevered and soon got caught up in the mystery, and it's a pretty good one. Lots of characters to keep track of for sure, but plenty of twists, turns and red herrings to keep the reader invested. The unusual format may not be for everyone, but for me it turned out to be a cracking little whodunnit, 4 stars.
June 13, 2023
Finished reading: June 12th 2023
"But how do you prove a negative?"
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
July 10, 2024
Cara Hunter studeerde aan Oxford en woont er ook. Ze schrijft thrillers en is het best bekend om haar Adam Fawley serie. Met moord in de familie verschijnt haar eerste standalone.
De true crime tv-serie Infamous focust op een oude onopgeloste moordzaak van twintig jaar geleden. Luke Ryder, een dertiger, werd toen dood terug gevonden door zijn stiefzoon Guy. De zaak werd onderzocht door de politie, maar door gebrek aan bewijs werd er nooit een verdachte aangehouden. Guy, die intussen aan de slag is als tv-producent, is vastbesloten om de zaak op te helderen. Daarvoor schakelt hij zes experts in die een nieuw licht op de zaak werpen. Hij hoopt hiermee voor eens en altijd duidelijkheid te krijgen over wie zijn stiefvader vermoord heeft en waarom.
Moord in de familie is uniek opgezet. Het boek bevat geen hoofdstukken, maar is opgebouwd in de vorm van afleveringen uit de tv-serie. Interviews, krantenartikelen, een plattegrond, tekstberichten en een internetforum zijn maar enkele speciale onderdelen die deel uitmaken van het boek. Als e-book lezer is het daarom niet altijd even makkelijk om alles goed te kunnen lezen. Bepaalde stukken zijn bijzonder klein geschreven en daardoor moeilijk leesbaar. Bij een dergelijk concept ben je dus iets beter af met een papieren boek.
De vertelperspectieven lopen door elkaar en per aflevering zijn alle experts aan het woord. Dit wordt weergegeven in dialoogvorm, waarbij er af en toe ingezoomd wordt op een bepaald feit. De lezer krijgt ook hier telkens de achtergrond van mee om zo zelf een beeld te kunnen vormen en mee te kunnen puzzelen naar de dader. De spanning zit er al vanaf het begin goed in en wordt doorheen het boek telkens opgevoerd. Doordat er nieuwe feiten aan het licht komen, blijft het steeds spannend en onvoorspelbaar. Bij bepaalde plottwisten kan het wel even verwarrend worden en zal de lezer er zijn hoofd bij moeten houden. Het verhaal leest uitermate vlot en mede door de afwisseling vliegt de lezer doorheen het boek. Het einde is een rollercoaster waarbij de ene na de andere plottwist volgt en waar uiteindelijk alles wordt opgehelderd.
Cara Hunter weet hoe ze kan verrassen. Moord in de familie is een bijzonder ingenieus opgezet verhaal dat heel sterk lijkt op de boeken van Janice Hallett. Cara Hunter heeft met Moord in de familie een sterk staaltje van genialiteit laten zien, wat doet uitkijken naar een dergelijke nieuwe standalone.
Deze recensie verscheen eerder op Vrouwenthrillers.nl. Ik wil de uitgeverij hartelijk bedanken voor het recensie exemplaar!
De true crime tv-serie Infamous focust op een oude onopgeloste moordzaak van twintig jaar geleden. Luke Ryder, een dertiger, werd toen dood terug gevonden door zijn stiefzoon Guy. De zaak werd onderzocht door de politie, maar door gebrek aan bewijs werd er nooit een verdachte aangehouden. Guy, die intussen aan de slag is als tv-producent, is vastbesloten om de zaak op te helderen. Daarvoor schakelt hij zes experts in die een nieuw licht op de zaak werpen. Hij hoopt hiermee voor eens en altijd duidelijkheid te krijgen over wie zijn stiefvader vermoord heeft en waarom.
Moord in de familie is uniek opgezet. Het boek bevat geen hoofdstukken, maar is opgebouwd in de vorm van afleveringen uit de tv-serie. Interviews, krantenartikelen, een plattegrond, tekstberichten en een internetforum zijn maar enkele speciale onderdelen die deel uitmaken van het boek. Als e-book lezer is het daarom niet altijd even makkelijk om alles goed te kunnen lezen. Bepaalde stukken zijn bijzonder klein geschreven en daardoor moeilijk leesbaar. Bij een dergelijk concept ben je dus iets beter af met een papieren boek.
De vertelperspectieven lopen door elkaar en per aflevering zijn alle experts aan het woord. Dit wordt weergegeven in dialoogvorm, waarbij er af en toe ingezoomd wordt op een bepaald feit. De lezer krijgt ook hier telkens de achtergrond van mee om zo zelf een beeld te kunnen vormen en mee te kunnen puzzelen naar de dader. De spanning zit er al vanaf het begin goed in en wordt doorheen het boek telkens opgevoerd. Doordat er nieuwe feiten aan het licht komen, blijft het steeds spannend en onvoorspelbaar. Bij bepaalde plottwisten kan het wel even verwarrend worden en zal de lezer er zijn hoofd bij moeten houden. Het verhaal leest uitermate vlot en mede door de afwisseling vliegt de lezer doorheen het boek. Het einde is een rollercoaster waarbij de ene na de andere plottwist volgt en waar uiteindelijk alles wordt opgehelderd.
Cara Hunter weet hoe ze kan verrassen. Moord in de familie is een bijzonder ingenieus opgezet verhaal dat heel sterk lijkt op de boeken van Janice Hallett. Cara Hunter heeft met Moord in de familie een sterk staaltje van genialiteit laten zien, wat doet uitkijken naar een dergelijke nieuwe standalone.
Deze recensie verscheen eerder op Vrouwenthrillers.nl. Ik wil de uitgeverij hartelijk bedanken voor het recensie exemplaar!
November 2, 2023
This layout made the already tense and dramatic reveals appear all the more emotional and it is now the only format I want to ingest my thriller fiction in.
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