Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose is a fast-paced thriller that’s simply unputdownable.
My Overview
Secrets, lies, and bodies abound in the small town of Allen’s Grove, Wisconsin. In this thriller, three estranged siblings (Beth, Michael, and Nicole) are facing the dark secrets their parents hid for years. Their father disappeared years ago, and their mother (Laura) has just passed away. As much as the siblings want to stay away from each other, they’re forced to piece together the past when they find a home video with incriminating footage involving their parents and some mysterious deaths from years past. One of them is the sister of Beth’s high school sweetheart (Lucas), who’s still her next-door neighbor. To complicate matters more, not only do the siblings not like each other, they also can’t trust each other.
This is a fast-paced domestic thriller that kept me guessing throughout. The story is told from multiple POVs and the chapters are short, so it’s easy to get caught up in the back and forth of the story. What adds to the suspense, is that the story alternates between past and present. Constant snippets from the past reveal the tragic past and the broken family at the center of it. Between the toggling of timelines, changing POVs, and distrusting characters, there’s a constant sense of foreboding and mysterious build up.
Overall, this is an engaging story that checked a lot of boxes for me. It started out slow, but once it picked up I became engaged in the siblings’ grudges, rivalry, and dysfunctional past. The characters were so well developed, that their flaws and struggles were believable. What’s more, I disliked each of them at different times, and never knew who to trust. There’s quite a build-up to the story, and then it all gets broken down to reveal the outcome of unveiling the dark family secrets.
My Recommendation
I highly recommend this book. Based on the cover and synopsis, I was worried the story contained gruesome details, but it doesn’t. If you can, listen to the audiobook. The story is read by multiple narrators, who truly brought the characters to life. Also, don’t skip the Acknowledgements, read by Jeneva Rose herself, in which she reveals more about the setting.
Other books I’ve enjoyed by this author:
Lark@LarkWrites
I’ve heard good things about this one! Those dark family secrets make for some good twisty thrillers imo.
Lucy
This book is doing pretty well, and I can see why. The dark family secrets kept me hooked on the story.
Tanya @ Girl Plus Books
I love dual or full cast narration. It really brings a story to life. It sounds like this was a big hit, despite the slower start.
Lucy
Yes, once the plot becomes established, it really speeds up. I hope you’ll give this one a try.