As a big fan of My Lovely Wife, I couldn't wait to read Samantha Downing's latest book, He Started It. While I didn't love it as much as My Lovely Wife, I found it thoroughly engaging. With alternating time frames, well developed characters and suspenseful twists and turns, I couldn't put it down. Nothing is as it seems, no one is really who they seem, and the plot doesn't fully resolve itself at the end. An enjoyable character driven thriller. Strongly recommended

He Started It involves siblings about to inherit millions of dollars, with a catch; they have to reenact a childhood road trip they took with their late Grandpa in order to be given the money. Weird stipulations, am I right? Well, it just gets stranger from there.

The true motives of the characters are not made clear right away, but the main character repeatedly teases the reader with little words here and there to create a foreboding quality to the narrative. Mystery drips like honey from the pages, and not too far into the story, things start to take a sinister turn, and the thrills begin.

This is one of those books that I wanted to finish in one sitting. Any time I had to stop reading, I was thinking about the plot and what was going on and couldn’t wait to resume.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This novel centers around a dysfunctional family and a reenactment of a disastrous road trip taken in order to earn an inheritance. The characters are initially loveable, but their true characters emerge shockingly throughout the story.

I love this novel. It is a fun read

Twists and turns and unreliable characters are everywhere in this book about siblings retracing a road trip from 20 years before to lay their grandfather's ashes to rest. Beth is the narrator and the middle child. She and her siblings (and two spouses) are on a cross-country road trip - the same journey they took as children with their Grandpa. If they can get his ashes to their final resting place, they stand to inherit millions of dollars.

Money isn't the only thing fueling this trip. Their eldest sister, Nikki, went missing at the end of their childhood trip. Beth has never stopped looking for her. Between the stresses of the road, the desire for money, and the loss they still feel for their sister, you know it can't end well.

This was a page-turner, to be sure. It ends ambiguously, so if that isn't your idea of good ending, be prepared.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

He Started It is a fast-paced family road trip that you will not see coming! Fans of Netflix's hit show Bloodline will want to check this one out. Three siblings that haven't seen each other in years are brought back together when their very wealthy grandfather dies and leaves a mysterious message in his will that forces the siblings to go on a cross-country road trip in order to secure their inheritance. The trip is a repeat of a trip they took with their grandfather many years ago as children. Each of the siblings has secrets they are keeping from each other. Plus, is that black truck following them? Plenty of obstacles ensue and what results is an engaging thriller that will keep readers guessing. There is even a nice layer of humor throughout the dark story. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy a family drama mixed with a fast-paced thriller.

This is a twisted family road trip to claim an inheritance. Full of secrets, lies and clues to a previous road trip that changed the family forever. It keeps you reading and wondering who is telling the truth and who is lying?

A definite page turner that had me on the edge of my seat. The ending was a big surprise although I was really hoping for a different outcome. You will never look at family stories the same way after reading this!

I did not like this!!!!!! I loved The Lovely Wife. It was one of my favorite thrillers of last year. And this was so lackluster compared to that one. It was an interesting premise and the plot had promise. But this fell so flat - the writing felt different, the ending felt off. Overall I’d recommend people stick with The Lovely Wife and skip this.

Wow, and you thought your family was dysfunctional? I didn't know who to believe or who to root for, and actually by the end of it I kind of just wanted them all to lose.

Samantha Downing is an excellent writer. She keeps you guessing and hooks the reader from the first page. I loved ‘My Lovely Wife’, so when this book was announced, I jumped at the opportunity to read it. I did not love this one as much but it was still a great read. Beth’s inner monologue is hilarious, sarcastic, and engaging. Would recommend! I look forward to Downing’s next book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thriller readers are going to FREAK out over this book. It will be in everyone's beach bag this summer. The ending is so polarizing; people are going to love it or hate it, and I kind of loved it. Now I need to go back and read Downing's first thriller!

Four siblings and their grandpa take a cross country road trip that gets out of control. Were they kidnapped? Why does Grandpa have a gun and who is really in control? Fast forward to the same siblings now grown on a repeat road trip with two extras, minus the oldest sibling and Grandpa in a box. They are following the first trip to the letter in order to collect millions from Grandpa's estate. As you read about the first road trip and how badly it went off the rails, you think it can't get worse but "surprise", it does. This is the most corrupt, vicious family ever. They make the family in SUCCESSION or THE GODFATHER look tame. The book moves at breakneck speed and you are never sure of who the bad guys are or what will happen next. A one sitting session with paper cuts from turning the pages quickly. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

This book was absolutely FANTASTIC!!!! It starts off normal enough with 3 siblings taking their grandfathers ashes on a road trip. Only this isn't the first time they have been on this trip and they aren't doing it for the memories. It only unravels from there.

You definitely have to read this book!!

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for allowing me to read this fantastic book!

When their grandfather dies, estranged siblings -- Beth, Portia and Eddie Morgan -- embark on a road trip, as directed by his will. They must follow his instructions to the letter in order to collect their inheritance. Motivated by the money, they grit their teeth and face harrowing obstacles to get to the end. But they are all keeping secrets from each other that could ruin everything. This is a twisty, fun road trip from hell.

Mysteries and secrets, oh my! This book is FANTASTIC. I was wondering the entire time what was going to happen and what would be revealed through the characters. I found it to be sensational! Samantha Downing is a clever writer and I look forward to reading her debut! Highly recommended!

I couldn't put it down! If you enjoyed Bloodline on Netflix, He Started It is one to pick up.

Family drama meets thriller, He Started It sends 3 siblings and their significant others on a road trip retracing the route they took with their grandpa years ago. All in pursuit of claiming a share of an inheritance. Greed pushes these deliciously unlikeable people to their limits as the story unravels what actually happened on that first road trip years ago. Get ready for a ride that'll keep you guessing until the end.

You know those family photo recreations? That's essentially what this story is - a roadtrip involving siblings that are recreating a roadtrip with their Grandpa from back when they were kids. This time it is with Grandpa's ashes. The secrets keep piling up and they have to get across country to sprinkle his ashes to inherit a hefty sum.
I loved "My lovely wife" by Samantha Downing. This followup by her is even better!

He Started It is the latest book from Samantha Downing, the author of the best-selling My Lovely Wife, which took many of us, including myself, by surprise. At the time of MLW's release, there were so many thrillers and domestic suspense novels out - it was exhausting! It took me some time to get around to reading MLW but when I did, I enjoyed it. When I saw He Started It available on NetGalley, I immediately requested it.

The book follows three siblings, who are reunited after their grandfather's death to take a road trip, similar to the one they took in their youth, for a chance at inheriting millions. If there are any deviations from the trip or someone doesn't complete it, too bad too sad. No millions for you. Strange things start occurring on the way to their final destination and it makes you wonder: will everyone make it to the end?

I wanted to enjoy this novel SO MUCH and while it was good, a quick read, it was also a mess. In thrillers, there is a certain expectation that you have to suspend your disbelief if you want to enjoy the ride. Here, there were multiple plot points you had to overlook and even when I went back to re-read it, I still fell through them. The shifting timelines (past to present all within the same page) was driving me crazy. Second, there was a sinister tone that was set-up early on in the book that once you got to the middle-ish, disappeared. I'm all for unlikable characters but you have to give me something to root for and all of the individuals in the book were largely insufferable. Last: the end. I was on this long road trip and the destination, well. It was unfinished. While I appreciated that the author tried to do something different, I personally didn't find the payoff there. The book is scheduled for release on April 28th, 2020. Thanks to for the advanced reading copy!

This book had so many unexpected turns, you just never knew were it was going next. At first, you think you have the whole plot figured out, but it just kept spinning in a different direction...and the end...crazy!!

Another knockout from Samantha Downing. A first purchase for adult fiction collections, particularly where thrillers and family dramas are popular.