Murder in the Family: The #7 Sunday Times bestseller and gripping tiktok sensation that reads like true crime from the million-copies-sold author
£4.30£8.50 (-49%)
THE *INSTANT* NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY AND TORONTO STA BESTSELLER
*THE FIRST EVER STAND-ALONE FROM AUTHOR OF THE DI ADAM FAWLEY MILLION-COPIES-SOLD SERIES*
‘This devilishly clever, ground-breaking novel will keep you guessing’ IAN RANKIN
‘This book had me riveted to the page. It is original, inventive and totally 21st Century… Just brilliant!’ JANICE HALLETT
From the author of IN THE DARK and CLOSE TO HOME comes a brilliant standalone thriller you’ll never forget
–––-
IT WAS A CASE THAT GRIPPED THE NATION
LUKE RYDER’S MURDER HAS NEVER BEEN SOLVED
In October 2003, Luke Ryder was found dead in the garden of the family home in London, leaving behind a wealthy older widow and three stepchildren. Nobody saw anything.
Now, secrets will be revealed – live on camera.
Years later a group of experts re-examine the evidence on Infamous, a true-crime show – with shocking results. Does the team know more than they’ve been letting on?
Or does the truth lie closer to home?
Can you solve the case before they do?
The truth will blow your mind.
Over a million copies sold of Cara Hunter books across all formats (paperback, ebook and audio) as of 1st July 2023
MURDER IN THE FAMILY was a #7 Sunday Times bestseller for week ending 3rd September 2023
*PRAISE FOR MURDER IN THE FAMILY*
‘Unique and hugely enjoyable.’ Sunday Express
‘Addictive’ Sunday Times
‘An excellent, wholly original whodunnit!’ Gilly MacMillan
‘Genius premise with all the twistiness you’d expect from Cara Hunter. Her best yet!’ Victoria Selman
‘Reads like True Crime―relentlessly twisty and utterly compelling’ Shari Lapena
Cara Hunter’s book ‘Murder in the Family’ was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 07-08-2023.
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Additional information
| Publisher | HarperFiction, 1st edition (20 July 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 472 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0008530025 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0008530020 |
| Dimensions | 12.9 x 3 x 19.8 cm |
by Lis Soane
This was an interesting concept where it’s an author writing a novel written in the form of a true life documentary. You are introduced to the whole cast of characters who are trying to solve the cold case of a murder.
The characters all have something to hide and the secrets are gradually revealed as more clues to the case are revealed.
The story was great but I didn’t like the format. I either want to watch a documentary or read a novel whereas this is trying to be both. It would make a great drama so I hope this is televised in the future but I would not read a book again with this layout.
by Blackmore
I am a huge fan of the DI Fawley books so was excited to read this new standalone. I didn’t read any reviews or summary of the book before downloading! It was on a kindle daily deal so I just bought it! I really didn’t like the format when I first started the book and it took a good few chapters before I was more focused on the plot / story than the format. It was a good read and I enjoyed it. I have to admit I wasn’t overly keen on the format. Mostly due to the fact that even with my glasses on I really struggled to read some of the newspaper extracts and other pieces that weren’t simple text. I nearly missed the twist at the very end as I couldn’t read the newspaper articles and was about to give up when I tried on the kindle app on my phone and was able to enlarge them and read the articles!! Might just be I have an older kindle making it harder to see the non text items. I’m glad I read it, but not sure I’d have paid the full price.
by Sarah
Cara Hunter’s latest thriller is an electrifying rollercoaster ride that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Murder in the Family starts with the introduction of “Infamous”, a seven-part TV investigation that will be delving into the chilling cold case of Luke Ryder’s murder, blending the elements of a gripping true crime series with the complexities of a dysfunctional family caught in the midst of it all.
What stands out most is Hunter’s ingenious storytelling technique. You get to find out the clues as the experts do. The use of episodic transcripts, texts, voicemails, and news clippings masterfully weaves together a tapestry of facts and revelations. It’s reminiscent of the suspenseful feeling you get while watching top-notch crime dramas like “Line of Duty.” The constant he said/she said conundrums and well-placed cliffhangers at the end of each episode create an addictive reading experience.
The Howard family dynamics add an extra layer of intrigue to the story. Hunter expertly portrays their dysfunction, making it an essential part of the narrative. The interactions and behaviour of the experts in the Netflix TV series further enhance the mystery, giving the story a modern, vibrant twist while paying homage to classic crime fiction.
Murder in the Family is filled with jaw-dropping moments and clever plot twists that keep you guessing until the very end. The brisk pace, a plethora of unlikeable characters, and a web of lies and cover-ups make for an enthralling read. It’s a testament to Hunter’s skill in crafting compelling and suspenseful narratives. This book is a must-read if you’re a fan of crime thrillers with a modern twist.
by Niamh Thornton
Not what I thought it was but it is ok, it’s kind of like a documentary in a book
by iClaire
Absolutely brilliant and plays to Cara’s signature writing style.
Having read all of her DI Fawley novels I was gutted that I didn’t get the opportunity to read this book before it was published. But as soon as it was available I bought my copy just knowing I had an excellent read!
Cara, throughout her DI Fawley series has developed a signature style of story telling. She uses all media throughout her books to convey not just the general public’s thoughts but also tap into reportage, phone calls, emails and texts. Used sporadically throughout the DI Fawley series it really ramps up the the pace of the story and gives the reader a real sense of the story.
So it came as no surprise that Cara decided to take her style to the next level and do away with telling a story from the point of view of her characters.
This new, stand-alone novel is told purely through media and ‘set’ as if you’re watching a live tv series/documentary. Included with the interviews and conversations are the surrounding media frenzy as well as news reports, reviews on the series and emails between the documentary participants.
Whilst I did figure out who it’d be right at the start I absolutely loved being taken along for the ride and figuring out the how, why and when the rest of the plot plays out.
Truly brilliant writing and I absolutely cannot wait for more of Cara’s work. In my eyes, whilst her characters may… she can do no wrong!!
by Gemma – Read A Book Gem
The main thing I enjoyed about this book was the format. It is structured like a transcript of a true-crime documentary series investigating an unsolved murder case from twenty years ago. As well as conversations between the investigation team we also have case evidence such as message exchanges, newspaper articles, maps and diagrams.
This made the book a really fun read however, once you strip that away, the case itself isn’t particularly special. There are lots of twists and big reveals but I think it bordered on a bit too much and was trying to be too clever. There are quite a few things raised in the case that make very little sense and others that are not fully resolved or explained.
It is mostly the format that kept me going with this one and the author made good use of the novelty in the plot.
by O Spall
As above, good novel, easy reading
by Liam Oliver
I really loved the layout of this book. It is so new and fresh that I got very used to it quickly and enjoyed reading the gestures and camera notes. There were definitely a ton of plot twists in this book every chapter or episode should I say had me hooked all the way to the end. I really enjoyed the images throughout the book which made it feel like you were one of the experts. Analysing with the experts (or even before the experts figured it out) was a genuine satisfaction and thought provoking way to engage the reader. Brilliantly done. Would definitely recommend.