⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4.5/5)

📖 Author: John Marrs
📅 Year Published: 2022
🎭 Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Horror

⚠️ Reader Advisory: A Dark and Haunting Read

Before we dive in, here’s a quick warning: Keep It in the Family is not for the faint of heart. If you’re sensitive to themes of murder, child abuse, or disturbing psychological trauma, proceed with caution. This book gets dark—fast.

Now, if you love thrillers that mess with your head and leave you questioning everything… well, you’re in for a ride.

The Story: A Dream Home Turned Nightmare

Ever heard the phrase, “If these walls could talk”? That’s pretty much the nightmare reality for Mia and Finn, a young couple who just bought their dream home—a beautiful but run-down fixer-upper. They plan to restore it, maybe start a family. You know, the usual happily-ever-after stuff.

But then… they find something hidden inside the walls. And let me tell you, it’s not an old wedding ring or forgotten money. It’s something far worse. Something that changes everything they thought they knew.

I won’t spoil the specifics (because, trust me, you need to experience the shock for yourself), but this discovery spirals into a web of secrets, lies, and pure horror. The more Mia digs, the more disturbing the truth becomes—and the closer she gets to danger.

The Writing: Unsettling & Addictive

John Marrs has this uncanny ability to make you feel like you’re right there in the house with Mia. The atmosphere is claustrophobic, the pacing is relentless, and the twists? Relentless. Just when you think you have it figured out—BOOM. Another curveball.

What I love about Marrs is that he doesn’t just rely on shock value. The horror in this book isn’t just about what’s been done—it’s about who’s capable of doing it. The way he explores human psychology, trauma, and inherited darkness is what makes this book so haunting.

The Twists: Expect the Unexpected

This book has multiple POVs, and every character is hiding something. You’ll think you trust someone, only to have that trust ripped apart. It’s the kind of book where no one is truly innocent, and the deeper you go, the more you question what “family” really means.

Some of the twists hit like a punch to the gut—especially one revelation that made me literally close the book, take a deep breath, and whisper, “No way.”

If you love thrillers with a psychological edge (think Gone Girl or The Girl Before), this one delivers.

What Worked (And What Didn’t)

✅ The Good:

✔ Fast-paced, addictive storytelling—I couldn’t put it down.
✔ A genuinely terrifying premise—because, let’s be real, finding secrets in your own home? Horrifying.
✔ Well-developed, morally complex characters—even when you hate them, you get why they do what they do.
✔ That ending. It lingers. It messes with you. It’s pure John Marrs magic.

❌ The Not-So-Good:

✖ Some plot points felt exaggerated—like, how many terrible secrets can one house really hold?
✖ A few character choices were frustrating—but hey, that’s kind of the point, right?

Final Verdict: Read It If You Dare

Is Keep It in the Family a masterpiece? Maybe not.
Is it disturbing, gripping, and impossible to forget? Absolutely.

If you love books that feel like psychological horror movies, with unpredictable twists and jaw-dropping revelations, add this one to your list. But be warned: It’s dark, it’s twisted, and it will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

Have You Read It?

What did you think? Did the twists shock you as much as they did me? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts!