One Big Happy Family

This story quickly engages the reader and keeps us wanting more. The reader will not know what is going on until the final chapters.

The three Bishop sisters were mean and hateful except when they were not. The main character of the book is Larry the Hurricane. He made things happen.The story is told by Charley Kelley. George Bishop is an evil old man. He is very wealthy, young nineteen-year old Charley Kelley has worked for him as a maid in his beautiful old hotel. Charley's mother died of an overdose. Charley is taking care of her grandmother, Nana, who has dementia and lives in Guiding Way. George could pay Charley better, but he always has money for whatever he wants.The hotel, Precipice, is in northern Maine, a beautiful state especially in summer, but summer is coming to an end. George died, his three daughters and their families are coming up to hear the reading of the will. Charley has never met the girls. They have never visited their father. Besides the Bishop daughters and families, Larry is on his way. He plans to do his danger well in the area.Oldest sister, Vicki, has several jewelry stores in Boston, all expensive products, beautiful stores to invite wealthy folks to come and spend. Iris has been in prison in and out like a revolving door. She is heavy into drugs, has men friends in and out of her life, the men get worse and worse. Vicki has a handsome son, Quinn, who Charley is attracted to. Faith, a model, has a husband or wife, Hope, an Oriental woman and a fourteen-year old boy, autistic, who talks in rhymes. The three all hate each other. Who will be the winner in their father's legacy.Vicki has a husband who is mean and cruel, just like her father. What a choice.Larry beats on the hotel, blowing out lights, beating on windows, blowing out glass all around, tearing down trees and branches, doing what Larry is here to do.George died in a mysterious way though his daughters feel he was so old. Who is the young lady, Bree, who wormed her way into the hotel and is becoming bossy with all? Who is she and why is she here?

Jamie Day's One Big Happy Family lives up to the hype and then some! Freida McFadden's description of it as an "unputdownable and gripping thriller with nonstop twists and turns" is spot on. From the moment the Bishop sisters arrive at the ominous Precipice hotel, a palpable sense of dread and suspicion hangs heavy in the Maine air, thick as the approaching hurricane.The premise itself is brilliant: three sisters, each with their own hidden agendas and dangerous secrets, converging on a family-owned hotel after their father's death. The tension crackles as they navigate their inheritance and their fraught relationships, making you constantly question their motives and loyalties. Just when you think you have a handle on things, Day throws in another unexpected curveball that will leave your head spinning in the best possible way.Adding another layer of intrigue is Charley Kelley, the resourceful and resilient chambermaid. Her precarious situation and the secrets she's desperately trying to protect make her an instantly sympathetic character, and her fate becomes inextricably linked to the drama unfolding within the Bishop family. Day masterfully juggles multiple perspectives, keeping the pacing relentless and the suspense sky-high.One Big Happy Family is a masterclass in summer suspense. It's witty, sharp, and brimming with thrilling moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final, shocking reveal. If you're looking for a book that will completely consume you and leave you breathless, look no further. Jamie Day has delivered a truly unforgettable thriller!

Jamie Day’s One Big Happy Family is an atmospheric read set in a distinctive family-owned hotel on the rocky coast of Maine. The plot has a lot of potential, with the Bishop sisters—Iris, Vicki, and Faith—coming together to claim their inheritance after their father’s death. As a hurricane looms, secrets and tensions among the sisters, and a determined chambermaid named Charley, quickly escalate to life-or-death stakes. The stakes are high, and the potential for disaster, both personal and professional, is palpable.What I liked most about the novel was the atmosphere. The setting of the Precipice, perched dangerously on the edge of a rocky coastline, plays an important role in building the suspense. Day does a good job of painting a vivid picture of the hotel and its surroundings, which initially contributes to the novel’s overall sense of tension. The plot is compelling, and Charley is an engaging character with her own set of strugglesHowever, the book wasn’t without its flaws. The focus on Charley’s experience as a maid often felt excessive, with the author making her job seem far worse than it needed to be. Her description of her work made it sound more like coal mining than cleaning a hotel. This overemphasis on pain and suffering, paired with a lot of intermittent commentary on social issues, distracted from the core mystery. Like, “let me stop the story for a moment to let you know the plight of undocumented persons in Maine. Got it? Okay, let’s resume with the plot.” These elements, while important, felt like they were included just to show the author’s awareness of social issues.Additionally, the suspense was weakened by the author’s decision to include large chunks of backstory for the Bishop sisters in the middle of the book, which revealed a key secret to the reader way before the main character knew. This felt like an unnecessary info dump, rather than letting the mystery unfold through events or dialogue. The novel occasionally veered into a didactic style, where the author seemed intent on explaining every detail to ensure the reader understood, which took away from the immersive nature of the mystery.Overall, One Big Happy Family offers atmosphere, a locked-room plot, and plenty of twists and turns. If you’re looking for a mystery with all the answers laid out for you, this will be a solid read. However, if you prefer a more traditional mystery where suspense and tension increasingly build as you solve the puzzle alongside the characters, this may not be the best choice.Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advance copy of this book. My review is voluntary and reflects my honest opinion.

Amid a hurricane, secrets can kill!Nineteen-year-old Charley Kelley is a maid at the prestigious Precipice Hotel in Maine. The hotel's owner, George Bishop, has died, and his three daughters, Vickie, Fatih, and Iris, are coming to stay for the will reading. Their arrival comes at the same time that a hurricane is about to make landfall, trapping everyone indoors.Vickie is the oldest sister. She comes with her husband, Todd, and their son Quinn also arrives.Faith, who used to be a famous model, is there with her wife, Hope, and their teenage son Olive,r who likes to speak in rhyme.Iris is an ex-convict who "found Jesus" and is sober now.In attendance is also George Bishop's lawyer, Mrs. Black.After the will is read, one of the family members dies, and someone begins to leave poems alerting them of the consequences of keeping secrets and asking them to reveal them within the night, or another death will follow. No one is safe, and there is nowhere to run.One Big Happy Family had several parts, and although I enjoyed it, it was not as good as The Block Party. Charley's character was interesting, and I felt invested in her. She was in a tough spot, trying to make ends meet for herself and her grandmother. I was rooting for her to come out of it alive.In the midst of a hurricane, secrets can kill!Nineteen-year-old Charley Kelley works as a maid at the prestigious Precipice Hotel in Maine. The owner, George Bishop, has died, and his three daughters—Vickie, Faith, and Iris—are arriving at the hotel for the reading of his will. Their visit coincides with an approaching hurricane that’s about to make landfall, trapping everyone inside.Vickie, the eldest sister, arrives with her husband, Todd, and their son, Quinn.Faith, a former famous model, is accompanied by her wife, Hope, and their teenage son, Oliver, who enjoys speaking in rhymes.Iris, an ex-convict who “found Jesus,” is now sober.Also in attendance is George Bishop’s lawyer, Mrs. Black.After the will is read, one of the family members dies, and someone begins leaving poems that warn of the consequences of keeping secrets. The notes demand that the truth be revealed by the end of the night—or another death will follow. No one is safe, and there’s nowhere to escape.One Big Happy Family unfolds in several parts. While I enjoyed it, it didn’t quite measure up to The Block Party. Charley’s character was compelling, and I felt invested in her story. She was in a tough spot, struggling to support herself and her grandmother, and I was rooting for her to survive the night.Cliffhanger: No3.5/5 Fangs