‘Four deaths. An unsolved mystery. A family whose secrets can't stay buried for ever ...

My thanks to Random House U.K. Cornerstone for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Family Remains’ by Lisa Jewell.

This much anticipated novel is a follow up to Jewell’s 2019 ‘The Family Upstairs’. I was glad that I had read the first book as I know that I would have found it confusing to read this without the character development and perspective on events provided by ‘Upstairs’.

So a few plot details to set the scene: In June 2019 a mud-larker finds a bag of human bones on the banks of the Thames. DCI Samuel Owusu is assigned the case. When the bones are examined it is discovered that they are those of a young woman, killed by a blow to the head many years ago.

Among the clues found in the bag are the seeds of a rare tree that leads Owusu to a mansion in Chelsea, where nearly thirty years previously, three people were found dead in a kitchen, and a baby girl was discovered abandoned upstairs….

Jewell opens with a list of the original residents of 16 Cheyne Walk, which proved a useful aid to memory. Still, I did have to refer back to my copy of ‘The Family Upstairs’ a number of times to refresh my memory. As always I was grateful for the Kindle search function.

The narrative moves between various characters: Libby, Lucy, and Henry from the first book as well as DCI Owusu and Rachel, the second wife of Michael Rimmer, Lucy’s ex-husband. Add to this we are bounced around between the present and various points in the past. It certainly demanded close attention.

‘The Family Remains’ does address plot points that were left unanswered at the end of ‘Upstairs’ and I found it quite satisfying even if all the bopping about was at times a little exhausting.

The sequel to the brilliant Family Upstairs -which is every bit as good as the first one. Weaving little snippets of the first book into the second brings everything together and ties up those loose ends.
A bag of human bones is found which threatens to unearth more secrets surrounding the Lamb family and the detective in charge will stop at nothing to solve this mystery.
Loved it

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This is the second instalment from the Lamb family, and it was great to see how their lives progressed from the first book.

We read across different timelines, and read from different characters. The writing was excellent as always, and the chapters were short but full of twists and turns in the story.

I love all the characters, even the ones that shouldn’t be loved. They are all relatable in their own individual ways.

An excellent read, and well worth the wait.

I did not realise that this book was a sequel. I have said before that I like to read books in order but this can be a standalone book and I did not feel I missed anything by not reading the first one. A bag of bones is found in the river by a group of mudlarkers. It transpires that this opens a mystery which is twenty years old. DCI Samual Owusu is the police man in charge of this mystery and he is like a dog with a bone. The forensics lead the police to a home in Chelsea after a lot of investigation and this is where the story gets interesting. It becomes apparent that bad things happened in this house which affected children. The ages of the children differ and some escape the trauma, or do they. Rachel’s story is shocking. Henry is interesting and I could not decide when reading the story what his roll in the household would turn out to be. The story is really about the Lamb family being used and abused by another group and it causes the Lamb family to have so many issues. Rachel is looking for love and meets Michael and subsequently marries him to the detriment of her wellbeing. It turns out that Michael is involved in the drama with one of the children in the past. Henry is insecure and Libby has issues of her own from her past which affects her own children. She struggles to settle and eventually turns to Henry for support. Coming into the story is Phineas living in Botswana. Part of the story revolves around him and Henry’s obsession to find him. The story wends its way through the years to get to the point where DCI Owuzu is so obsessed in finding out the truth about the body that he keeps on interviewing until he has the answers. Eventually the story comes together and the puzzle is complete. I really enjoyed the intrigue and pace of this book and recommend it as a good read

I am a huge Lisa Jewell fan. I have read all of her books, ranging from her early romcom days through to her spot on thrillers. 'The Family Upstairs' is one of her intriguing works but did not leave me as thrilled as some of her others (Call me when 'Watching You' is surpassed!). I went into 'The Family Remains' asking myself why a sequel was necessary. And I left my reading experience... once again shouting 'WHY?!?'

We know that the events at Cheyne Walk were deeply disturbing and traumatic for the children who grew up there from the first novel's narrative. We left them receiving a nice big inheritance from the sale of the house, with the authorities none the wiser to the truth behind the mysterious cult suicides which took place there. We follow Lucy and her brother Henry on the trail of Phineas who lived with the in the house... as a sack of bones washes up on the shore of the Thames and threatens the safety of the whole family. Who is this body? (If you have read the first novel, you can probably guess). And will any of the family face repercussions the events of so many years before?

This narrative is presented in parallel to the news of the death of Lucy's ex-husband Michael. We see the story of Rachel, who is romantically involved with Michael, as she gets caught up in him being her dream man, only to be horrified by the abusive reality underneath. This part of the story far surpasses Lucy and Henry's run arounds in the way it is bone chilling and horrible to witness. These were the chapters which kept me reading in the hope that Rachel escaped this man safely.

Overall, there are some interesting moments. However, Lucy and Henry's hunt for Phin is drawn out and gets a bit farcical at points. This did not stop me appreciating the final chapter - an appropriately psychologically disturbing note to leave this story on and adding a complexity Henry's character sorely needed. Do the Lamb family get a happy ending? Read and decide for yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sequel to The Family Upstairs, The Family Remains re-introduces us to the children (now fully grown) from that house in Cheyne Walk. Lucy, Phin and Henry all broken and damaged from their early experiences are cobbling together lives based on seclusion and secrecy. When the bones of Birdie are discovered, also from that house, the lies all of their lives have been painstakingly constructed upon threaten to come tumbling down.

This is branded a ‘standalone sequel’ but I wouldn’t put that to the test, the Family Upstairs is complex and is really worth diving into before committing yourself to to this, number 2. Also worth noting that although this starts out as a murder mystery, it’s much more than that, think more along the lines of family drama, intricate relationships and of course lies, lies, lies.

I totally, one hundred percent recommend this book, it’s true Lisa Jewell, complex plot, highly flawed characters not averse to being ruthless when needed and always with an air of menace that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ad-pr
The Family Remains - Lisa Jewell

Having loved past Lisa Jewell books I was so excited to recieve and E-Arc for the sequal to the family upstairs, the family remains. It not only prpted me to finally pick up the Family Upstairs but the sequel was just as good. The family remains starts almost a year after the Family Upstairs finishes, with the sale of the mansion in London. Libby shares the money with her Uncle Henry and and mother Lucy. However, she still feels that a part of her history is missing. This missing part being her father Phin. Libby's investigative journalist partner goes on a mission to find Phin, evenutslly locating him in Botswana. Libby and her partner decide to go visit but it turns out he left before they even got on the plan.

We then follow Henry as he tracks down Phin, with what appears to be an ulterior motive due to his obsession with him. Whilst we uncover more of Phin and Henry's story we also leap back to London, where the body of Birdie is discovered. This causes the police to look much closer at the large sums of money Libby sent to her two friends after the house was sold, are these the two missing children connected to all the murders.

I absolutely loved this book. Although it is a sequel to the family upstairs I think you could read it as a standalone and still enjoy it, however I think it was much better knowing the background information. Similarly to the family upstairs it keeps twisting and turning and you are never really sure who you can trust.

Out now so go grab yourself a copy

The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️
Amazing and brilliant and exactly what I was hoping for a sequel to The Family Upstairs. Highly recommended xx
Thanks @lisajewelluk @netgalley and @randomhouse for my arc

Lisa Jewell is one of my favourite authors, and I was super excited to read this novel. Having read The Family Upstairs, which truly captured my attention and held me hostage for two days this second novel was extremely well written and fabulous.

You do need to have read The Family Upstairs first in order to truly appreciate this delicious novel, but it will not disappoint.

The deaths in The Family Upstairs are linked to a new discovery of remains from many years ago. We are immersed back into the Lamb family and these characters are outstanding and really well adapted. We meet Samuel Owusu who is called to investigate the gruesome discovery. I enjoyed this character very much and hope that there will be other novels with him as a character.

We meet Rachel, who has learnt of her husband's death and I really enjoyed reading about Rachel and who she is as a woman. Michael's death comes up with some very surprising questions for Rachel and we go along with her on this journey.

I do not want to give too much away as readers of thrillers and mystery should really give this novel a go.

Thanks to Lisa Jewell, Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This a a good read and I did enjoy reading it. After loving the family upstairs I really couldn't wait to read this book. I finished reading it in one day. I am definitely glad I read it as it tidied up the loose ends. I have to mention I was some what disappointed. I was expected this to be an edge of your seat novel that was sure to finish with the authors signature bang full of so many twists and turns. This was not the case. Yes the build up was really good but instead of a bang it was moreover a fizzle. A bit like those boxes of mixed fireworks you get from the supermarkets. I have to ask myself was the author just under pressure to write a sequel she didn't want to write or was I expected to much? I so wanted that bang the author always gives. 

Many thanks to the author and publishers for giving the fans the sequel they so much wanted. I hope you all love this book more than I did.
The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK where found and my blog today https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/the-family-remains-by-lisa-jewell-random-house-3-stars either under my name or ladyreading365

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK and Lisa Jewell for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is the book that everyone has been waiting for. It does not disappoint. It carries on after ‘The Family Remains’.

Bones are found washed up alongside the River Thames but they are twenty years old and lead back to Lamb family home. This threatens to destroy them. Secrets, death and betrayal.

This book is a masterpiece. It is dark, gripping and yet so satisfying! I didn’t know how much I needed this sequel until I started to read it. OUTSTANDING.

I was so glad I was aproved for this arc by Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century via Netgalley.com. And a great bow to my buddyreader Daniel for reading this with me. It was a fast ride but not an easy one. I read the first book in the series last year but I also forget some details. But I have to say that this book make me like more this family then the first book. It can be read also as standalone but it is nice to read the first book too.

It was a journey searching for one missing piece of the family. He run away and now finally there is a chance to find him. But ofcourse nothing is easy and there is also an investigation about an old body found in the river. An other story is about a woman that wants to build her life from the start after her husband abused of her.

Last time I said I want the old Lisa back and I have got her now.

I have loved Lisa Jewell since the early days of Ralph’s Party and have enjoyed reading all of her books as her style has changed throughout the years. My only complaint is that I cannot put her books down which results in me reading them far too quickly and then having to wait another year for the next one! Huge thank you to NetGalley and Century for the opportunity to read an advanced copy, such a privilege to enjoy this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the sequel we have all been waiting for and it has definitely been worth the wait. I would recommend reading The Family Upstairs first but I do also think that The Family Remains could be enjoyed as a stand alone novel. Lisa Jewell has a very engaging style of writing, you will be hooked in from the very first page and then carried along at the perfect, dramatic pace. The original characters are expanded upon as their relationships develop and grow. The beauty of this sequel is that alongside the twists and turns of this book all the ends are neatly tied up as the overall story reaches its conclusion.

Immediately ordered The Family Remains for my bookshop. It was fantastic and a powerful and satisfying sequel to The Family Upstairs. Complex and quite disturbing at times, but so compellingly written, as I expect from the wonderful Lisa Jewell. I am recommending highly to all my customers.

Although this is a follow on to The Family Upstairs it is still very much a stand alone book as Lisa describes everything so clearly. There are 2 main threads running through the book, the present which is a detective mystery and the other one is story of the related characters who lived in the same house. Both these come together eventually and everything is clearly explained. It is a fast paced dark story with characters that are well described and are love or hate ones, or simply those that were not easy to fathom out at all.
A great read and I look forward to more by this very talented author.

I am a big fan of Lisa Jewell's writing, so I was very excited to read this sequel to The Family Upstairs. When a bag of human bones are found washed up on the Thames, all the clues lead back to a large house in Chelsea where, 30years ago, 3 people were found dead and a baby was still alive in her cot upstairs. The teenagers who lived in the house had disappeared without trace. This is the story of what happened to them and how the terrible abuse in that house affected the rest of their lives. I thought this book was excellent and I thoroughly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

I loved this fast-paced, creepy thriller. I have to be honest and say I didn’t really remember The Family Remains -it’s predecessor - but it really didn’t matter a jot.
There are several stories linked stories running in parallel including the discovery of old bones in a house of horrors which links the characters together. They’re told through multiple voices.
The stories contain murder, childhood trauma and domestic violence. They’re not for the easily rattled.
But this is a gripping novel and I raced through it in just two sittings.
Highly recommended for thriller-lovers.

EXCERPT: We follow her to the bottom of the garden, just past a tree with a circular bench built around it. Here there is a tall wall, grown over entirely with a thick ropey lilac. Another forensic investigator is crouched down over a flower bed, pulling items from the soil on to a sheet of plastic. My stomach lurches with shock and I hear Donal gasp.

Bones.

Small white bones.

ABOUT 'THE FAMILY REMAINS': Early one morning on the shore of the Thames, DCI Samuel Owusu is called to the scene of a gruesome discovery. When Owusu sends the evidence for examination, he learns the bones are connected to a cold case that left three people dead on the kitchen floor in a Chelsea mansion thirty years ago.

Rachel Rimmer has also received a shock—news that her husband, Michael, has been found dead in the cellar of his house in France. All signs point to an intruder, and the French police need her to come urgently to answer questions about Michael and his past that she very much doesn’t want to answer.

After fleeing London thirty years ago in the wake of a horrific tragedy, Lucy Lamb is finally coming home. While she settles in with her children and is just about to purchase their first-ever house, her brother takes off to find the boy from their shared past whose memory haunts their present.

As they all race to discover answers to these convoluted mysteries, they will come to find that they’re connected in ways they could have never imagined.

MY THOUGHTS: I am so grateful to Lisa Jewell for overcoming her dislike of writing sequels and penning The Family Remains. I admit to being underwhelmed by The Family Upstairs, but The Family Remains has cast it in another light, and I am sorely tempted to reread it to see if I now feel any differently about it now.

The story is told from the points of view of several different characters, and we, the readers, are assisted by the inclusion of a list of the major characters and their relationship to one another. Which is just as well as some of the characters have more than one identity.

Lisa Jewell has written a spellbinding conclusion to her family drama that is surprisingly tense in places, leaving me holding my breath, heart pounding. The characters are complex, as we expect them to be; the plot twisty and compelling; the denouement just perfect.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#TheFamilyRemains #NetGalley

I: @lisajewelluk @randomhouse

T: @lisajewelluk @randomhouse

#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #murdermystery #suspense

THE AUTHOR: Lisa was born in London in 1968. Her mother was a secretary and her father was a textile agent and she was brought up in the northernmost reaches of London with her two younger sisters. She was educated at a Catholic girls’ Grammar school in Finchley. After leaving school at sixteen she spent two years at Barnet College doing an arts foundation course and then two years at Epsom School of Art & Design studying Fashion Illustration and Communication.

She worked for the fashion chain Warehouse for three years as a PR assistant and then for Thomas Pink, the Jermyn Street shirt company for four years as a receptionist and PA. She started her first novel, Ralph’s Party, for a bet in 1996. She finished it in 1997 and it was published by Penguin books in May 1998. It went on to become the best-selling debut novel of that year.

She has since written a further nine novels, as is currently at work on her eleventh.

She now lives in an innermost part of north London with her husband Jascha, an IT consultant, her daughters, Amelie and Evie and her silver tabbies, Jack and Milly.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

It’s no secret I’m a huge LJ fan so if I get the chance to read anything she’s written I jump at it. I really enjoyed getting to spend more time with the characters in this book and seeing where life had taken them after the family upstairs, they are all complex and brilliantly written with so many clever links and twists I didn’t see coming. Can’t what to see you what she has in store for us next.

Creepy, gripping, suspenseful, addictive. This book has it all. Impossible to put down and so pleased that Jewell relented on her rule on writing sequels as it was great to delve more deeply into the lives of the Lab family and to find out what happened next.