Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena

 

Fred is a mean, sometimes cruel father in Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena. He who puts down his children at every turn, and his wife Sheila seems to be afraid of him. With considerable wealth, Fred originally planned to leave the bulk of his estate to his children – all his children, including the one not born of Sheila. But his sister Audrey insists he was going to leave half of his fortune to her.

On Easter evening, someone slays both Fred and Sheila in their home after their three children have gone home after a Not a Happy Easter meal where Fred had told them that he and Sheila are selling the family mansion. Not only are they murdered, but many of their expensive items are missing.

Not terribly upset about the death of their parents because of their father’s hateful ways and their mother’s lack of a maternal gene – she left their upbringing to their beloved nanny Irene – the three legitimate children, Catherine, Dan, and Jenna, are quickly under suspicion since it seems obvious that they will inherit the family millions. Did the illegitimate child also expect an inheritance that would further expose Fred for the disgusting man that he was?

Shari Lapena has filled this page turner with any number of possible murderers including children, spouses, a boyfriend, an aunt, and the mother of the illegitimate child. The possibility of suspects just keeps changing until the very end. This author never fails to keep me up at night finishing her latest.  

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting May 31, 2021.

I would like to thank the PENGUIN GROUP Viking for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.