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A review by calturner
The Family by Louise Jensen
5.0
This is the first book I’ve read by Louise Jensen, but it definitely won’t be my last. The Family is a brilliantly written and suspense filled psychological thriller that I could not put down. It captured my imagination from the very first word and didn’t let go until the final page had been turned. Gripping and fast paced, this book is a thrilling and exhilarating read that I did not want to end.
Laura is grieving after the sudden death of her husband and is struggling to cope. When local community Oak Leaf Organics offer her and her 17 year old daughter, Tilly, a home, Laura is hopeful this new life will be exactly what she needs. But just as Laura and Tilly begin to settle into life with their new ‘family’, sinister things start to happen. And as enamoured as Laura is by Alex, the leader of the community, she makes the decision to pack her bags and go. But then Tilly refuses to leave with her mother, completely under the spell of the charismatic Alex. Desperate to save her daughter, Laura uncovers a horrifying secret, one that could change everything. But just as she’s been digging into their past, they’ve been digging into hers and Laura soon discovers exactly why she and Tilly were invited to stay in the first place… and why Alex and his family will never let them leave.
The story is told from the perspective of Laura, Tilly and Alex, which I felt worked very well here as it gave an insight into what each character was thinking or feeling at any given time. There are twists and turns to keep you guessing throughout, the tension rising with each chapter as the horrifying truth is slowly revealed. I could see why both Laura and Tilly were enamoured by Alex as I have to admit I was quite taken with him myself! Although I knew from the start things weren’t right, I found myself hoping everything really was as lovely as it at first seemed. But oh my goodness, I certainly didn’t expect the story to go in the direction it eventually did. I was completely sucked into the story and then, bam, I was hit by surprise after surprise. The story moved along at breakneck speed, leaving me breathless as it hurtled towards its final, shocking denouement.
Wow, I really did not expect this book to be as fantastic as it turned out to be. Louise Jensen’s exquisite writing drew me into the lives of these characters, with the beautifully woven plot taking me on an intoxicating journey of discovery as I tried to work out who I could trust and who I most certainly could not. A dark, chilling and creepy read that kept the surprises coming right up until the final big reveal. Simply outstanding!
The Family is a brilliantly written psychological thriller that I would highly recommend.
Laura is grieving after the sudden death of her husband and is struggling to cope. When local community Oak Leaf Organics offer her and her 17 year old daughter, Tilly, a home, Laura is hopeful this new life will be exactly what she needs. But just as Laura and Tilly begin to settle into life with their new ‘family’, sinister things start to happen. And as enamoured as Laura is by Alex, the leader of the community, she makes the decision to pack her bags and go. But then Tilly refuses to leave with her mother, completely under the spell of the charismatic Alex. Desperate to save her daughter, Laura uncovers a horrifying secret, one that could change everything. But just as she’s been digging into their past, they’ve been digging into hers and Laura soon discovers exactly why she and Tilly were invited to stay in the first place… and why Alex and his family will never let them leave.
The story is told from the perspective of Laura, Tilly and Alex, which I felt worked very well here as it gave an insight into what each character was thinking or feeling at any given time. There are twists and turns to keep you guessing throughout, the tension rising with each chapter as the horrifying truth is slowly revealed. I could see why both Laura and Tilly were enamoured by Alex as I have to admit I was quite taken with him myself! Although I knew from the start things weren’t right, I found myself hoping everything really was as lovely as it at first seemed. But oh my goodness, I certainly didn’t expect the story to go in the direction it eventually did. I was completely sucked into the story and then, bam, I was hit by surprise after surprise. The story moved along at breakneck speed, leaving me breathless as it hurtled towards its final, shocking denouement.
Wow, I really did not expect this book to be as fantastic as it turned out to be. Louise Jensen’s exquisite writing drew me into the lives of these characters, with the beautifully woven plot taking me on an intoxicating journey of discovery as I tried to work out who I could trust and who I most certainly could not. A dark, chilling and creepy read that kept the surprises coming right up until the final big reveal. Simply outstanding!
The Family is a brilliantly written psychological thriller that I would highly recommend.