The Family Upstairs

Author: Lisa Jewell

Genre: Suspense, Thriller

Pages: 464

Other books: The She Was Gone, I Found You, Before I Met You

Star Rating: 2.5 = Okay

This book takes place in London. Libby turns 25 and inherits a beautiful million dollar home. She learns she was left there as a baby along side her parents that committed suicide. She also has siblings but doesn’t know who they are. With so many unknowns, Libby needs answers before she knows what to do with this inheritance.

Another main character is introduced named, Lucy. Lucy lives on the streets and gets a message reminder on her phone that ‘it is the baby’s 25th birthday she can return to the home.’ She has 2 children and needs to find a way back to this house.

Henry, another main character, is telling his side of the story. His story takes place as a child living in this home years back.

These 3 characters are then to be discovered as siblings. They all tell their parts of this strange story with their experiences in this mysterious home.

Libby hires an investigator, Miller, to try and figure out who or where her family is. As she visits the house, she thinks someone might be living there. She hears strange nosies and finds a brand new sock in one of the rooms.

While Lucy try's her best to get to London, she needs help. She calls her domestic abuser ex-husband to pay for her trip. After their encounter together, the ex-husband is left dead.

Meanwhile, Libby and Miller discover Phin, another character that grew up in this house. Phin was the one that was visiting the home while Libby was there. Phin tells her that her parents invited families to live in their million dollar home. Maybe for rent help? Maybe for company? Nobody quite knows but strange events have happened in that house and Libby can’t believe she was left behind.

As Lucy returns to the home, she meets Libby and she is so happy to meet her. Libby’s parents didn’t commit suicide, they are still alive, but who and where are they? After finding out who her parents are does Libby keep the house? Does she have more siblings? All this history and all the lives this house has touched, is this more than just a home?

I gave this book a 2.5/5 stars because of how slow the first 40 chapters were. Too many unnecessary chapters that didn’t lead forward into this mystery. I was often found bored and trying to plow through chapters to at least get to one juicy chapter! I appreciated the unusual turn of events but it wasn’t worth my time.