Member Reviews
Ray G, Reviewer
Probably the weirdest and most ingenious story line I have ever read. Nearly gave up after the first few chapters but glad I persevered as the story unfolded. Not going to give anything away, you just must read it for yourself. Congratulations to Lisa Jewel for a great read! |
This is my first book by this author and will not be my last. I didn't know what to expect when i went into this book. But I really enjoyed it. The book had me from the start as I had to keep turning the pages to find out what is/was going to happen. I enjoyed the storyline and enjoyed some of the characters and really liked this authors writing style, it really draws you in I can't wait to read more by this author. |
Leanne N, Educator
How do you retain your sense of reality when every semblance of normality has been stripped away? Every family has its secrets and ‘The Family Upstairs’ has more than most. This enthralling psychological thriller makes for compulsive reading. |
WOW What a book! Clever would be an understatement. And those last pages left me with chills. The concept had me intrigued and the execution had me captivated. I COULD NOT put this book down. Just who are the family upstairs? A cult? People who've lost their way trying to start again? Lies are told, families get tangled up in a web of them and it's hard to know just where the truth really lies. What we do know is that it all leads back to a baby. A baby who was left abandoned twenty five years ago and now seems to be the time when all will be revealed but is it all as first appeared? I was fooled and I think other readers will be too. A must read. |
Angela G, Reviewer
I absolutely love anything Lisa Jewell does. She’s been one of my favourite authors since I discovered One Hit Wonder years ago so I was really happy to be accepted for The Family Upstairs. As expected it was a fantastic book which I couldn’t put down. I read it in one evening and can’t wait for it to be published. It’s a book I’ll read again and again. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion. |
Ana S, Educator
I found the plot intriguing and written differently with the tale being told from the points of view of Libby (told in the third person) Lucy (also told in the third person) and Henry (told in the first person). An interesting premise and the beginning did not hold many clues as to how the characters all relate to the story (no spoilers here!) Also some surprise unforeseen twists contained within. I found this quite different to Lisa Jewels other novels. I enjoyed the read, and thank you to net galley for the opportunity to read and review this book. |
Marg J, Bookseller
Lisa Jewell does it again! This book is highly disturbing and quite horrific in nature. It's definitely not your average psychological thriller. This one will keep haunting you for a while after you finish, you have been warned |
A gothic feeling horror story, develops slowly and winds its way into your brain. At first, I found it hard going and I spent the first quarter of the story wondering if Jewell had lost her shine, then suddenly the characters fell into place and I raced breathlessly to the end. Genuinely loved it. Genuinely will read again. |
Margaret H, Reviewer
The Family Upstairs is an absorbing read, although I must admit to being rather confused initially with all the different characters and different places that jumped from one to the other instead of a seamless transition or at least a little warning. I think others have written a better synopsis than I ever could without giving away any spoilers. An atmospheric story with some surprising and interesting characters, for me not totally gripping but I still kept turning the pages wishing to know what was to come. My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly. |
Lisa Jewell is one of my mystery thriller queens. (yes, you can have more than one queen in this genre.) I always adore her delicate writing style. She knows how to make her characters vivid. She knows how to make me feel how the characters feel. The Family Upstairs is yet another great work, starting with murder mystery! It's dark because anything about a poor baby is dark. You will find yourself devour this book. |
A really good read but not as good as her previous ones it was a bit far fetched and unbelievable but did keep you reading as wanted to find out the end of the story loved the characters and felt sorry for them overall quite a good read. |
Modern gothic story starts with a baby found in a dilapidated Chelsea house. She is alive and well, but there are three decomposing bodies downstairs. 25 years later, she inherits the house and comes back to try and find out what happened there. A modern cult of personality and child cruelty unravels in a gripping story with strong characters. |
Peter S, Bookseller
This is not what I was expecting, it was so much more. The slow reveal of the past identities of the characters was well handled and not fully resolved until the end of the narrative. The central characters were well developed and interesting although some of the adults in the house stretched my credulity and were slightly two dimensional. However, although essential to the plot they were bit players and I was happy to be able to concentrate on the main protagonists who were driving the story forward to its conclusion after those dreadful events in Cheyne Walk 25 years ago. This fits well alongside "When I lost You", "Life Behind the Ruins" and "Bitter Oranges". |
I have only read a couple of Lisa Jewell books so wasn’t sure what to expect from this one. I have to say I really enjoyed it. It was a tad confusing at first as it jumps from present day to the past all the way through but I soon got to grips with it and it turned out to be a really good read with some good twists in it. It’s perfect for a rainy day snuggled up, so much so I read it in two sittings. I would recommend this book to everyone. |
Vicki J, Reviewer
Lots of unexpected twists! I’ve barely put this down since I started it and finished it in a day. Very enjoyable. Recommended. |
I love Lisa Jewell! All her novels move u or worry for the characters as layers are pulled apart mysteries are unravelled and characters outcomes shown through the past .how they get where they don't,the tragedy's of childhood and the lack of controll we can have when we are little I thoroughly was involved and was drawn in from the start.how does a very wealthy functioning family lose it all Inc themselves so quickly . You feel worried for the children and at times I dreaded where it was going but though dark it's not heavy. This is a page turner where u don't skim u read as though I want to know the end you are invested in each characters journey . u want to see how it all pieces together and what happens.one character Henry in particular who was though well drawn became rather ambiguous and doubts creep in as to wether u know him Roll on the next Lisa Jewell novel |
Thank you for allowing me to review this book. It is really hard to say too much about this book without giving away some key things, However, this really is one fantastic read, I struggled to put this down, reading for hours at a time! The story centres around Libby, who was adopted as a baby, everything is normal in her life until she reaches her 25th birthday and opens up a letter which will change her life forever and bring up the past in the most profound and disturbing ways. Libby takes on the help of a well respected journalist called Miller (what a guy!), and begins a journey to discover the secret of her early life, triggered by the ‘letter’ she received. The story also touches upon a woman called Lucy and her children who have literally down hit rock bottom and are living shoddily on the streets of Nice. There is also a key character Called Henry who tells the story from his own point of view and brings the book together. This really is one amazing book, its not usually the type of book I would choose to read, but I found it truly gripping, it really is one great thriller. The author also has a wonderfully descriptive style, that really brings the book to life and the way that it is written from several viewpoints really gives the book some depth. This is one of the best books that i have so far read this year! |
I have loved Lisa Jewell's last couple of books and I think this is even better! Libby celebrates her 25th birthday and inherits a huge house in Chelsea with a very dark secret. Libby sets out to find out the truth about what happened to her family and uncovers unimaginable secrets. Too much info will spoil this! But it's a great thriller and I'll definitely be recommending it to friends. Thanks Netgalley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review |
Lisa Jewell has once again done herself proud! I read this more or less in one go and what I particularly like about her writing, is that she doesn't waste time, energy and paper by going into huge reams of description. She gives enough background for the reader to be able to picture the story without becoming bored. I confess that I have skipped large sections of novels recently due to overwhelming amounts of description but with this I read every word. There were a couple of very small things that didn't add up for me (which I won't go into for fear of spoiling) but overall an entertaining and interesting tale. I would happily read her novels every day if she could produce enough! |
Librarian 445870
I have never read a book by Lisa Jewell before but after reading this book it won’t the last. It had me hooked from the first page and I read it in two sittings. I love the characters and it had lots of twists and turns. The story is narrated in the voice pf three of the main characters so you get to view events from different perspectives. Love it! |




