Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena
A fast, entertaining family whodunit with thin characters and a familiar setup.
The short version
- Fans of domestic suspense and family secret thrillers
- Readers who want a fast vacation or weekend read
- Existing Shari Lapena readers
- You want rich character psychology
- You dislike books where almost no one is likeable
- You are looking for an intricate, twist heavy puzzle
What owners like
- Hard to put down, often read in one or two sittings
- Keeps readers guessing with a steady flow of clues and red herrings
- Unlikeable but compelling family members
- Engaging, entertaining whodunit
Common complaints
- Detached, descriptive style gives little insight into the characters
- Familiar premise of rich parents and suspicious heirs
- Ending is satisfying but not especially complex
Based on The author's site, the 49th Shelf listing, a Bookreporter review and a book blog review.
Research scores
Scored from the maker's specs and what owners report. Drew's own notes and photos will refine these.
Ownership
Drew's hands-on notes for this product are on the way. Long-term updates will be added to this timeline.
What it does
A domestic suspense novel by Shari Lapena about a wealthy couple murdered after Easter dinner and the three adult children who stand to inherit.
- Set in Brecken Hill, a wealthy town in upstate New York
- Told from rotating points of view, including suspects and detectives
- Short sentences and fast pacing
- Standalone novel from the author of The Couple Next Door
- New York Times bestseller and a number one bestseller in Canada
A quick, plot driven whodunit for readers who like rotating suspects and family secrets. The trade-off is thin character depth, and some reviewers found the setup familiar and the ending solid rather than surprising.
How it compares
Specs
- Author
- Shari Lapena
- Publisher
- Doubleday Canada (this edition); Penguin in the US and UK
- Published
- July 2021
- Format
- Trade paperback (Canadian edition)
- Length
- 368 pages
- ISBN
- 9780385695046
- Genre
- Domestic suspense, psychological thriller
Worth knowing
- Centers on a violent double murder and a family with a vindictive father and neglectful mother.
Questions
Is Not a Happy Family part of a series?
No. It is a standalone novel.
How long is Not a Happy Family?
The Doubleday Canada paperback runs 368 pages.
Who publishes Not a Happy Family?
Doubleday Canada in Canada, Penguin Random House in the US and Penguin Books in the UK.
What is Not a Happy Family about?
A wealthy couple is murdered after a tense Easter dinner, and suspicion falls on their three adult children, who all stand to inherit.
Sources
- Shari Lapena: Not A Happy Family
- 49th Shelf: Not a Happy Family
- Bookreporter: Not a Happy Family review
- Down the Rabbit Hole: Review of Not a Happy Family
Researched 2026-10-01. We bought this product; our page is built from the maker's details and what owners report across reviews and forums. We never copy Amazon customer reviews.