Keep It in the Family- Book Review and Storyline

‘Keep It In The Family’ is a story about Finn and Mia, a young couple, and Debby and Dave-Finn’s parents.

Finn and Mia meet, fall in love and get married. Before meeting Mia, Finn was with his childhood sweetheart Emma, who Finn’s parents much loved. But Mia, who is very different from Emma, fails to gain their acceptance. In fact, both Debby and Mia are unable to see eye to eye. Their dislike for each other far exceeds their will to make the relationship work.

The story begins with Finn and Mia buying a house. Debby and Dave are also interested in buying the same house. But seeing that Finn and Mia are unwilling to give up on it, the older couple gives in and allows them to proceed with the purchase. The house is a ramshackle old one, and renovating it is an intimidating and uphill task. But Finn and Mia are ready to put all their time, effort and energy into building the home of their dreams. All the work needed in the house puts them under financial pressure, forcing them to live in the annexe of Debby and Dave’s house until the house is ready. Living under one roof comes with challenges, especially for the two women, who can’t even stand each other. But Finn and Mia are ready to make compromises because it involves their dream home-one where they want to build a family and live happily ever after.

The work on the house starts. Dave volunteers to help his son with the renovation, and his hands-on experience is something that Finn needs and readily accepts. Little do Finn and Mia know that spending time and money on reconstruction and rebuilding is not the only challenge they will face in the future. An accidental discovery brings them face to face with the gory history of the house. They find out that this house was the site of multiple crimes involving kidnapping and killing children. The police are informed, the media gets to know, and soon everything blows out of proportion.

Amid all the chaos, Mia finds out that she is pregnant. This is unexpected, and although the timing is not perfect, she and Finn had always wanted a child, and they are ready to welcome it into their lives. But the anticipation of a new family member makes Mia extremely sensitive about the child-related crimes, which leads her to investigate them. And as she goes about doing so, she uncovers many shocking mysteries. The revelations are hard to believe and lurid.

The short chapters swing back and forth over several decades, with multiple voices narrating them in the first person. There is a first-hand narration from Mia, Finn, Debby, Dave and a mysterious person who was a part of the house’s loathsome history. As you read each chapter, you understand the situation from that person’s perspective and move one step towards uncovering the mystery surrounding the house. At many points in the book, just when you feel that you got it and figured out who the criminal is, an unexpected twist plunges you deeper into the story.

The book is a definite page-turner and an excellent read for all who enjoy crime thrillers. The part about children’s murders can be disturbing for some. But the story is well written, the plot is tight, and the unanticipated twists and turns keep you glued to the book all the way till the end.