Shari Lapena’s sixth thriller, “Not a Happy Family,” opens with the brutal murders of wealthy couple Fred and Sheila Merton in their opulent Brecken Hill estate, setting the stage for a family drama that peels back layers of dysfunction, greed, and long-buried secrets. The novel immediately plunges readers into the aftermath of Easter Sunday dinner gone horribly wrong, where the Merton family’s toxic dynamics explode into violence that leaves two people dead and three adult children as prime suspects.
The story unfolds through the investigation led by Detectives Reyes and Barr, who must navigate the labyrinthine relationships within this wealthy but deeply troubled family. Lapena demonstrates her mastery of the domestic thriller genre by creating a murder mystery that feels both intimately personal and utterly chilling.
A Dysfunctional Dynasty Dissected
The Merton Children: Three Suspects, One Killer
Lapena crafts three distinct and compelling suspects in the Merton siblings, each carrying their own motives and psychological baggage. Catherine, the eldest and most conventional, appears to be the responsible doctor but harbors deep resentment about her father’s cruelty and her inability to conceive. Her desperation to inherit the family home reveals a woman whose composed exterior masks dangerous obsessions.
Dan, the middle child and only son, emerges as perhaps the most damaged of the three. His father’s systematic destruction of his confidence, culminating in selling the family business out from under him, has left him financially desperate and emotionally unstable. Lapena skillfully portrays his descent into financial ruin and the stalking behaviors that make him appear increasingly unhinged.
Jenna, the rebellious youngest, presents herself as the family black sheep—an artist who seems to revel in her outsider status. Her sharp tongue and volatile temper make her a formidable suspect, especially when her DNA is found in suspicious circumstances.
The Revelation That Changes Everything
The novel’s most shocking twist comes with the revelation of Rose Cutter, the illegitimate daughter who stands to inherit equally with the other three children. This bombshell not only adds another layer of complexity to the inheritance motive but introduces themes of legitimacy, belonging, and the sins of the past. Rose’s own criminal activities—defrauding Dan of half a million dollars through a fake mortgage scheme—create a web of deceit that makes every character’s motives suspect.
Lapena’s Psychological Mastery
Character Development Through Moral Ambiguity
What sets “Not a Happy Family” apart from typical whodunits is Lapena’s refusal to create clearly sympathetic characters. Every member of the Merton family is flawed, carrying secrets that could serve as motives for murder. This moral ambiguity keeps readers constantly shifting their suspicions, never quite certain who to trust or believe.
The author particularly excels in her portrayal of family trauma’s lasting effects. Fred Merton’s posthumous presence looms large throughout the novel, his psychological abuse having shaped each of his children in distinctly damaging ways. Lapena demonstrates how narcissistic parents create not just unhappy families, but potentially dangerous ones.
The Supporting Cast: More Than Background Players
Beyond the immediate family, Lapena populates her story with richly developed secondary characters. Irena, the longtime housekeeper, serves as both witness and participant in the family’s dysfunction, her protective instincts leading her to tamper with evidence. Audrey Stancik, Fred’s sister, provides crucial insights into the family’s dark history while pursuing her own agenda for inheritance.
Ellen Cutter, Rose’s mother, represents the collateral damage of Fred’s selfishness, carrying decades of secrets about her daughter’s paternity. These supporting characters aren’t merely plot devices but fully realized individuals with their own motivations and agency.
Structural Strengths and Weaknesses
Pacing and Plot Development
Lapena maintains excellent pacing throughout most of the novel, gradually revealing information while building tension. The investigation unfolds naturally, with Detectives Reyes and Barr uncovering clues that feel both surprising and inevitable. The author’s decision to reveal the killer’s identity relatively late in the story while dropping hints throughout creates a satisfying sense of revelation.
However, the novel occasionally suffers from repetitive internal monologues, particularly from the three siblings as they worry about suspicion falling on them. While this builds tension, it sometimes slows the narrative momentum that otherwise drives the story forward.
The Resolution: Justice Served?
The revelation that Rose Cutter committed the murders provides a satisfying conclusion that feels both shocking and logical. Her financial desperation, combined with her knowledge of the inheritance and lack of emotional connection to Fred and Sheila, creates a believable motive. The confession scene effectively demonstrates how greed and opportunity can overcome moral boundaries.
Yet some readers might find the resolution slightly disappointing, given that Rose appears relatively late in the story compared to the extensive development of the three legitimate children as suspects. The emotional impact of her confession doesn’t quite match the investment readers have made in suspecting the other siblings.
Thematic Depth Beyond the Mystery
Wealth’s Corrupting Influence
Lapena uses the Merton family fortune as more than just a motive for murder—it becomes a corrupting force that warps every relationship within the family. The children’s dependence on their inheritance creates a dynamic where love and money become impossibly entangled, making genuine familial affection nearly impossible.
Secrets and Their Consequences
The novel explores how family secrets, particularly those involving infidelity and illegitimate children, can fester across generations. Fred’s affair with Ellen and his acknowledgment of Rose while keeping her existence secret from his other children creates a time bomb that eventually explodes into violence.
The Cycle of Abuse
Perhaps most powerfully, “Not a Happy Family” examines how emotional abuse perpetuates itself across generations. Fred’s cruelty toward his children has shaped them into adults capable of violence, manipulation, and betrayal—suggesting that his true legacy isn’t wealth but damage.
Comparison to Lapena’s Previous Works
Readers familiar with Lapena’s earlier novels, particularly “The Couple Next Door” and “Someone We Know,” will recognize her signature style of domestic suspense. “Not a Happy Family” represents a natural evolution of her work, maintaining the suburban setting and family dysfunction that characterize her best writing while expanding the scope to encompass multiple suspects and more complex family dynamics.
The novel shares DNA with her previous work but feels more ambitious in its character development and thematic complexity. Where earlier books sometimes relied heavily on plot twists, this story grounds its surprises in character psychology and family history.
Similar Reads for Thriller Enthusiasts
Readers who appreciate “Not a Happy Family” should explore:
- “Big Little Lies” by Liane Moriarty – For its exploration of domestic violence and family secrets
- “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides – For psychological complexity and unreliable narrators
- “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn – For its morally ambiguous characters and marriage dynamics
- “In the Woods” by Tana French – For atmospheric investigation and character-driven mystery
- “The Woman in the Window” by A.J. Finn – For its unreliable perspectives and suburban suspense
Final Verdict: A Satisfying Addition to the Domestic Thriller Canon
“Not a Happy Family” succeeds as both an engaging mystery and a penetrating examination of family dysfunction. While it may not revolutionize the domestic thriller genre, Lapena delivers exactly what her readers expect: complex characters, genuine surprises, and a plot that keeps pages turning late into the night.
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its unflinching portrayal of how childhood trauma echoes through adult lives, creating cycles of damage that can culminate in violence. Lapena’s writing remains accessible without sacrificing psychological depth, making this a perfect choice for both casual thriller readers and those seeking more substantial character development.
Despite minor pacing issues and a resolution that some may find slightly underwhelming, “Not a Happy Family” confirms Lapena’s position as a master of domestic suspense. It’s a worthy addition to any thriller collection and a compelling exploration of the dark secrets that can lurk behind wealthy facades and picture-perfect families.
