by Farzeen Mughal
Author: Lisa Jewell
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
The book ‘The Family Remains’ is a sequel to Lisa Jewell’s ‘The Family Upstairs,’ which belongs to the genres of mystery, thriller, and suspense. The story begins when a bag of bones is found on the shore of the River Thames, and DCI Samuel Owusu is assigned to the case. During the investigation, it turns out that this case is connected to a cold case that took place thirty years ago, when three decomposing dead bodies were found in the kitchen of a large mansion in Chelsea, alongside a baby who was found alive and healthy. This time we know who the murderer was and under what circumstances he committed the murder. What we don’t know is whether he will be caught or not. To find out, you will have to read the book.
Usually, sequels for me often turn out to be disappointing , however, this book was surprisingly a page turner. I was completely hooked to it till the very end. This book brings back a lot of characters from the first book but also introduces a few new ones. One of these additions was the character of Rachel, which I truly enjoyed reading. Unlike the first book, which has some loopholes, this one was a complete whole.
Although, this book can be read as a standalone but I would recommend you read the first book before picking this one to enjoy it better. The only issue I found was the subtle inclusion of an LGBTQ character, which might make some readers uncomfortable. However, it doesn’t have much mpact on the story or the plot.
I rate this book 4/5 stars and will recommend it to all those who enjoy reading mystery, suspense, and thriller novels.
