Review | The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

Twenty-five years ago, a baby was found abandoned in a house, empty save for three dead bodies. No one claimed her and the other people in the house were reported missing. Now, Libby Jones found that she has inherited that particular house. But she is not the only one who has been waiting. Secrets will be spilled and the truth of the house will be revealed.

𝑾𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒆𝒏𝒅.

I’ve grown to love Lisa Jewell’s writing and The Family Upstairs is no exception. She usually creates believable characters in difficult situations. Her stories are slow burners domestic drama with a mystery at the heart of it. This time, the mystery revolves around an abandoned baby, a large inheritance, missing people and even a cult. There are multiple POVs in different timelines and they intersect convincingly. My favourite character is Henry because he’s unreliable and gives the most interesting interpretation of events. He is complex and not particularly likable but it was hard not to root for him.

What I liked best is the portrayal of messed up adults who ruin the lives of their children. I had strong feelings about them! The bad guys here are particularly loathsome. What I liked least is Libby’s storyline that feels a bit twee. I also thought the book ends just when it’s about to get wild. I wanted more!

Overall, I would recommend this intricate family mystery! But be prepared to spend time with some really messed up characters.

CW: child abuse, rape, animal cruelty

About the author: Lisa Jewell

Photo by Ali Yahya