Published by Atria Books Genres: Adult Fiction, Contempory, Crime, Family, Gothic, Mystery
Format: ARC, eBook
“A dysfunctional family is any family with more than one person in it.” – Mary Karr
Now that we have dysfunctional families out of the way, let’s talk about the “unnatural ones”. Jeepers Creepers. There are many positives to homeschooling, but lord have mercy, these parents took it to a whole new level – a lower, darker creepier level. When your home is referred to as the “Murder Mansion” you know you are not like other families. Just look at the children’s names- all named after a murder victim (the Black Dahlia, Charles Lindbergh, Jr., Sharon Tate, and Andrew Jackson Bordon – father of Lizzie Bordon) Seriously??? I thought our parents naming my sister after their first dog was bizarre but man this takes the cake!!!
Dahlia Lighthouse and her siblings were raised in a very isolated and secluded mansion that locals referred to as the “Murder Manson”. Their parents were true – crime aficionados, who am I kidding they were obsessed with murders especially their mother who re-created/performed murder reenactments for her children and had them write reports on murder victims (especially the seven women who were killed on their island) as part of their home schooling.
It is no wonder that when her other siblings, Charlie and Tate left their island, when they were eighteen years of age. Dahlia’s twin brother, Andy always wanted to run away with her, but Dahlia resisted. Then after their sixteenth birthday, Andy was gone, and a note was found which said: The only way out is to never come back .
When their father dies, Dahlia, Charlie and Tate all come home and while preparing “The family plot” for their father’s burial, Andy’s body is found by their groundskeeper. The plot as they say thickens. What happened to Andy? Who would want him dead and why? Who buried him? So many questions, so many secrets, such a creepy family. Plus, everyone can’t help but wonder if Andy might have been killed by the “Blackburn killer”. You will need to read to learn more about that Serial killer.!
Everyone deals with grief differently. This family is no exception. Their mother goes on a cookie making binge, Charlie is preparing the house to make it a family memorial museum, Tate who is popular on Instagram for her dioramas portraying crime scenes decides to do one of their brothers, Andy. Dahlia appears to be the most normal of the lot. She is disgusted by their behavior and struggles with learning that she didn’t know her twin as much as she thought she did.
With the police investigating, stress rises, and readers learn more about this highly unnatural family.
This is going to be a polarizing book. I enjoyed it. I was drawn in by their highly bizarre and unnatural family. I couldn’t help but picture the mother as looking like Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under and American Horror Story). This really played out like a movie in my mind. Speaking of which, I could see this being a movie directed by Wes Anderson.
This one is original, kooky, and bizarre. Yet, I was intrigued and sucked into the plot. I found this to be a very fast read that kept me glued to the pages This book was atmospheric and I kept coming up with theories as to who killed Andy. There are some twists and turns at the end which kept me on my toes.
For me this was a captivating read full of “interesting/creepy/strange” people. This is an odd one folks but for me an intriguing odd one.
Original, Dark, and atmospheric
Thank you to Atria Books, Edelweiss and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.