DCI Jonah Sheens and his team are busy investigating what appears to be a serial killer setting women on fire. The "Bonfire Killer" preys upon women in their mid-40s out alone. Aisling Cooley finds this disturbing, but she's slightly distracted trying to single parent her two teenage sons and worrying about keeping them financially afloat. She's also haunted by memories of her father, who left her family when she was young.

KILLER is an excellent whodunnit, revolving around the modern theory of DNA and tracking criminals via genealogy websites. Aisling uploads her DNA to a popular site, hoping to match with her father. Instead, Jonah and his team show up on her doorstep, saying a relative of hers has matched to evidence from the Bonfire Killer murders. Aisling must grapple with the fact that either one of her beloved boys or her long-lost father is a killer.

Lodge's story moves quickly, filled with a wide variety of suspects and red herrings to keep the reader guessing. It weaves in Aisling's story and background, including her struggle as a single mom and as a daughter abandoned by her father, with perspectives from DCI Sheen and his team. Domnall especially shines in this one, with his detailed research. This story stands alone, but reading the Sheens books in order allows you to see the nuanced characterizations Lodge has given to each. Steady, calm, Sheens who is struggling in his unhappy marriage is my favorite, but it was wonderful to see more of Domnall. And there's kind, intelligent Ben plus Juliette, who is still learning, but has suffered at the hands of an abusive ex, who are excellent, with their own detailed backstories and personalities. The entire team seems so real (and lovable). There's a cliffhanger ending that means we need another book, ASAP!

Overall, a well-plotted and timely police procedural, featuring an excellent and lovable cast of characters.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group in return for an unbiased review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In the intricate web of family ties and secrets, Gytha Lodge's "A Killer in the Family" stands out as a masterful exploration of the dark corners of familial bonds and the lengths one might go to protect a loved one. The novel, part of the DCI Jonah Sheens series, can be enjoyed as a standalone, making it accessible to new readers while rewarding series fans with its depth and continuity.

The story unfolds with Aisling Cooley, a single mother, uploading her DNA to an ancestry website in search of her estranged father. Instead of a reunion, she finds herself entangled in a detective's hunt for the "Bonfire Killer," a serial murderer whose DNA closely matches hers. The plot thickens as suspicion casts a shadow over her family, including her two teenage sons.

Lodge's narrative is a tapestry of perspectives, weaving together the views of detectives, the protagonist, the killer, and even a victim. This multiplicity of voices adds layers to the mystery, allowing readers to piece together the puzzle from every angle. The characters are well-crafted, with their complexities and imperfections painting a realistic picture of people caught in an unimaginable situation.

The novel's strength lies in its ability to keep readers guessing. Lodge skillfully uses DNA forensics as both a tool and a twist, leading to a reveal that is as shocking as it is satisfying. The pacing is tight, with tension building steadily towards a climax that delivers on the promise of a "dark, tense, and twisty" tale.

"A Killer in the Family" a police procedural and a psychological thriller that delves into the psyche of its characters. It challenges the reader to consider the moral quandaries of protecting family versus serving justice. With its gripping mysteries and emotional depth, the book is a commendable addition to the genre and a testament to Lodge's prowess as a storyteller.

I recommend this novel to anyone who appreciates a good whodunit with a heavy dose of family drama.

"A Killer in the Family" by Gytha Lodge presents a chilling tale of a woman named Aisling Cooley, who inadvertently finds herself entangled in a terrifying investigation when her DNA match on an ancestry website points to her as a potential link to a serial killer.

Set in the sedate suburban area of Southampton, panic grips the community as the police uncover the bodies of victims left on bonfires in the forest. With fear spreading and warnings issued to women to avoid traveling alone at night, Aisling has her own distractions as a single mother raising two teenage sons and searching for her long-lost father.

In a quest for answers about her father's disappearance, Aisling decides to upload her DNA to an ancestry website, hoping for a breakthrough. However, instead of finding her father, she receives a shocking revelation: her DNA closely matches that of the notorious "Bonfire Killer."

Now, Aisling must navigate the terrifying possibility that she has a familial connection to the killer while also facing the scrutiny of Detective Chief Inspector Jonah Sheens, who contacts her about the DNA match.

As Aisling grapples with the implications of her discovery, she becomes embroiled in a tense and gripping investigation that blurs the lines between family loyalty and betrayal. With twists and turns at every corner, "A Killer in the Family" explores the chilling question of what a family might do to protect—or expose—a serial killer within its midst.

This was a twisted (in the best way) thriller that had me reading way past my bedtime.

I really enjoyed the tension - it kept me on tenterhooks through the whole book.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

Twisty intelligent page turning psychological read - great read!!!

I recently had the pleasure of diving into A Killer in the Family, a gripping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The author's skillful storytelling and ability to create tension and suspense had me hooked from the very first page. The characters were well-developed, each with their own secrets and motivations, adding depth to the plot.

What I particularly enjoyed about A Killer in the Family was the unpredictable twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The pacing was perfect, making it hard to put the book down once I started reading. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a thrilling ride filled with suspense, mystery, and unexpected surprises. It's a must-read for fans of the genre!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of A Killer in the Family by Gytha Lodge in exchange for my honest review and opinions. This is book #5 in the series and each book gets better and better! I was beyond excited when I was given the chance to read this before all my friends and family as we all LOVE these books! Tons of action and suspense and will keep you turning the pages as fast as you possibly can to see what is going to happen next. Do yourself a big favor and read this ASAP!

Did not realize that this is a fifth in series. Will update review if I have a chance to catch up in the future.

A Killer in the Family by Gytha Lodge tells the story of Aisling, who, while trying to find information about her family (including her estranged father) signs up for an ancestry DNA site. But instead of being contacted by her father as she is hoping, she's contacted by the police who inform her that her DNA is a close match to some blood found at a crime scene. She is thrown into turmoil as she tries to prove that she and her sons are innocent of any wrong-doing.

This book was a bit of a slow-burn. The beginning started off with a bang and I was pulled in, however the middle got a little slow and finally at the 60-70% mark it came back with another bang.

There have been a handful of books recently with the ancestry DNA trope, and I think it's a good one. It's quite divisive for many people. I think that if you enjoy police procedurals or slow-burning mysteries, you will enjoy this book by Gytha Lodge.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book failed to keep my interest it started off ok but I felt like it was predictable and so therefore I am only going o rate it 1 star. Thank you netgalley for a chance to read this book and review for my own thoughts and opinions

Loved this thriller of a book that will keep the reader guessing until the very end. Well planned and well written.

🔥🪵Book Review:
Title: A Killer In The Family
Author: Gytha Lodge
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/3 stars

When multiple women start showing up burned to death on pyres in the town of Southhampton, the "bonfire killer" quickly induces panic. In the midst of this terror, Aisling Cooley is searching for her father, who left many years ago when she was a child. She decides to submit her DNA to an ancestry website, and she soon finds more than just her father. Her DNA matches evidence that was left at one of the murder scenes. Someone she is related to is a serial killer.

This book was pretty good. I would not have been able to keep it together the way that Aisling did. Especially when the killer could potentially be one of her sons! Yikes!

Published: August 8th, 2023
Thank you, @netgalley and @randomhouse, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was my first in the series, and while this can technically be read as a standalone, I do wonder if I would have enjoyed this more if read as part of the series.

The twists were a little outside the realm of what I'm comfortable with, but I really enjoy the character aspects of the story, particularly around Aisling.

Aisling Cooley Is a single mom who has two teenage sons. Due to her relationship with her parents, she didn’t understand why her father left the family. She doesn’t know anything about her relatives which made her feel incomplete. Aisling decides to upload her DNA to an ancestry group hoping to find some answers. She does get an answer but it’s not one she was expecting. The answer is Detective Chief Inspector Jonah Sheens. He tells her that her DNA sample “matches” the Bonfire Killer. The Bonfire Killer is the serial killer that has been killing women which then he burns them on a fire. DCI Sheens says there are three likelihoods that might be the serial killer. They are her father or her two sons. Aisling doesn’t know what to think but she can’t imagine her sons being guilt but are they or is it her father?

The author has written a dark twisted mystery. There are clues throughout the novel. I have not read this series before but I don’t think it’s necessary to read this mystery. I was gripped by the excellent writing of the author. I couldn’t stop reading.

I didn't realize this was part of a series so I went back to read in order and I am so glad I did! I loved these and this one just may have been my favorite!!

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Gytha Lodge

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

This was not for me. The story was kinda slow and I couldn't connect with the characters at all. I was hoping for something different

A Killer in the Family is more of a police procedural than a thriller, and it is predictable. This book tackles the issue of use of DNA from genealogy sites, which is a real concern.

After a second dead woman's body is found on a pyre, police believe they are dealing with a serial killer. After Aisling submits her DNA to find her father, detectives show up and let her know that it is a close match to blood evidence found at one of the crime scenes. Without a lot of family, the suspect would have to be her father or one of her two sons.

This would be a great theme for a discussion. What would you do if someone in your family was not who you thought they were? What are the rights of the company that does your DNA analysis compared to the rights of the subject? If there was a criminal in your family, would you want the police to find them through your DNA?

This is book five in a series, which I didn't know when I read it. There's very little character development in this book, but I'm sure it's all covered in the earlier books. If you can live with that, you can read this as a stand alone.

I liked the themes in the book, but found it to be too predictable to be fun. The twists weren't very twisty. Three stars for being fine, not great.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is book 5 in an intense thriller. While chaos is wrecking havoc in the world about a killer in the area. Curiosity has set this single mother down a path in search of her long lost father, She decides to upload her dna to an ancestry site. As she anticipates the results of the answers she’s been longing for, whom she connects to brings a lot more questions in her past. The Bonfire Killer is a lot closer to home than what she had planned.

This dark thriller kept me invested in the story from the get-go! It is the first book I've read by this author, and I really enjoyed trying to keep up with all the twists and discover where things would go. The characters are well-developed and easy to connect to, which makes for an easy and enjoyable read. I will look for more from this author and continue with the series for sure!