Lots of twists and shocks as a long lost mother suddenly returns and throws a family into chaos. The last few chapters certainly kept me guessing, and I got it right!

I absolutely loved this book. Beth appears to have it all, two lovely children, a friendly ex, a great job and a lovely house but all is not as it seems. Growing up without a mum and and a tragic event at secondary school have terrible consequences for her now. Can she trust everyone? Is everyone who they seem? Her life spirals out of control and she is at a loss as to what to do. The ending could not be predicted. An addictive read.

The Happy Family is a book that will keep you on your toes!

Beth's mum Alice walks out when Beth is only 10 years old, only to return years later. What follows is a very tense and thrilling read!

There were lots of twists and turns in this domestic mystery but sadly I pegged them all right from the start. Even the biggest twist of them all at the end wasn't a surprise. That being said, the characters were well developed and I had sympathy for Beth despite the fact that the truth was obviously right in her face the whole time. This was my first Jackie Kabler but it won't be my last.

Publication date: 4 June 2021

**Thanks to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and Netgalley for my review copy.

After reading so many psychological thrillers, this one totally stood out as GREAT! Lots of twists and turns that kept me turning page after page until the very end. The Happy Family definitely kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. Highly recommend!!
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

When Beth was 10, her mother walked out of her life never to be seen again. Raised by her dad she always felt the departure of her mum was instrumental in her life choices. Divorced from Jacob and sharing their two children when Beth’s mum turns up out of the blue it’s a welcome sight but not everyone is as accepting of Alice and soon Beth has to understand not all families are happy.
I flew through this and couldn’t get enough. I love Jackie’s thrillers and this was no exception. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

A great thriller with a very different storyline than most thrillers! This is a story about how the past and present become intertwined. The book starts out with a slow pace, but really picks up, and the ending is....WOW! Really liked it!

Beth had a tough childhood after her mother Alice walked out on her and disappeared when Beth was just 10 years old. Decades later, Alice shows up on Beths doorstep and after trying to rebuild a relationship, Beths life begins to unravel. Is drink the root of all her problems? Is Beth being sabotaged by her own mother?

A great fast paced psychological thriller!

Wow what a fantastic psychological thriller! I couldn’t put the happy family down, the twists and turns and suspense make for a riveting read.
Beth a divorced mother of two, with a lovely caring circle of friends, has had a tumultuous childhood, her mother walked out of her life when she was young and then she was implicated in a tragic incident whilst at school which has hung over her the whole of her adult life.
Suddenly out of the blue a knock at her door reveals a women claiming to be her long lost mum, Beth welcomes her with open arms and revels in the new relationship that is forming,however all is not as it seems, friends drift away, strange things occur in the house and Beths life starts unravelling! Can this all be attributed to her mum? Tense,twisty themes lead us to a very surprising ending!
A great read that I would highly recommend.
Thank you netgalley for this early read.

Drawn in from the first pages really enjoyed.A well written thriller full of twists and turns.Sat down to read a few pages and wound up reading late into the night,#netgalley#harperuk

This book was sent to me by Netgalley on Kindle for a review. The title does not fit the book...this is not about a happy family at all. This is a character driven novel about deceit and hatefulness and crime. It becomes dark and disturbing but one wants to turn the page quickly to see what will happen next. It reminds me of an early Mary Higgins Clark without the one episode in this one...it is ghastly but keeps on giving...suspicious yet hopeful...an anomaly in novels written today. The reader realizes that one’s actions stay for life....the consequences...I could not put it down although I guessed the ending at the beginning...some of it...not all of it...there was a huge surprise...try this one...you might like it as much as I did. I will look for more from this author...just a suggestion....the title might need to be closer to the reality of the book...

I figured out this mystery from the very beginning. The “twists” were very obvious, relying on a pretty flimsy plot. I found most of the book tedious, full of mundane conversations rehashing the same plot points over and over. Also. I didn’t find any character sympathetic or full of any depth; the main character in particular fell flat for me. I skimmed through the second half of the book and still feel like I wasted my time.

I really enjoyed this book although I have to say I did figure out all the plot twists very early on. That being said, it was still very enjoyable and keep me interested regardless. I love the cast of characters and really enjoy that finally there was an ex-wife and husband that could have a decent relationship!

I give this one between 3.5-4 stars.

Well written book of a woman who has been reunited with her long lost mom that walked out on her over 30 years ago. When Mom returns, bad things begin to happen, and will the secret get out?

Unfortunately, I was able to figure this one out pretty early on, but good enough to finish.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review.

Wow...absolutely loved this book. Fast paced, full of twists that I didn't see coming. Whilst I thought I knew where the plot was going mid way through, how wrong could I be.

Beth had a troubled childhood, her mother left her as she was approaching her teens, and a secret from her school years has continued to weigh on her ever since.

Separated from her husband Jacob, she has 2 children she adores and a circle of friends to rely on.
One morning a stranger arrives on her doorstep, claiming to be her mother. Beth welcomes her into her life, overjoyed at this reunion. However at the same time, Beth's life seems to be falling apart in other ways. Everybody she thought she could trust seems to be turning against her.

Absolute great read, moments of uncomfortable reading but highly recommend.

What happens to a young girl when she is abandoned early in life by her mother and has to live her life without her? A psychological thriller is what. Author Jackie Kabler introduces her readers to Beth, a young woman whose mother unexpectedly leaves her as a child to live out her life with her father. When we meet Beth she is an adult with a good career, two children, an ex husband and new wife who she begrudgingly really likes. Seems like a simple enough life, right?

It is until that long lost mother reappears and becomes a part of her life again. This is a really great story and while I had it about figured out before the big reveal I was definitely pulled in and enjoyed the journey along with Beth. Quick paced and easy to read this is a good book to sit down and read anytime you need. a little bit of a diversion from every day life.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a free copy for my honest review.

This is a decent enough thriller with intriguing characters.
It was a little slow and the ending predictable, however still enjoyable.
Overall, it was a 3 star read for me.

This book was a slow burner. It’s been a while since I’ve DNF’d a book because I am usually pleasantly surprised in the end. That was for sure the case here.

The character development is spot on. It reminded me of a Tarryn Fisher novel in this regards, and the slow burn.

The main character is Beth who’s mother walked out on her and her dad at 10. What unfolds is a story of a heinous childhood act, and an unraveling present. You know when Beths mother suddenly appears that something is amok, but how long will it go on before Beth figures it out.

While Beth did some horrible things as a teen, you connect with her because of what she’s going through. It was uncomfortable to have these emotions because of the outcomes of her emotions, but it does make you think about why people act out. Everyone has their own personal battles. This book makes you examine those.

Overall I’m giving this book 3.5 out of 5 but I’m also rounding up because I loved the ending. Thank you netgalley and HarperCollins UK for an ARC of this book.

This is a pretty average thriller in my opinion, some of the twists are good but the ending is quite predictable. It will work well as a beach read as it’s fast and the characters are well-detailed. I just wish it was more unique as I feel it’s a story that has been done time and time again.

Well you know a book is pretty amazing when you actually exclaim WTAF in full out loud at a key moment. Thankfully no one was around and I didn't have to explain, but once again Jackie Kabler has managed to keep me on my toes throughout.

I think at times I had thought about various of the outcomes and my mind flitted on most of the truths, but I couldn't quite figure out the specifics and I was still very shocked as everything is revealed.

But the journey to get there was utterly addicting, kept me on my toes and had me feeling rather creepy at times, with some of what Beth was experiencing.

This is a book that starts of relatively gently all things considered, but before long it all ramps up, and events become a lot darker, a bit sinister and although you may like me have some theories, as to what is going on, I would suggest you won't be able to predict the exact nature of how everything occurs and all the consequences.

And then there are other twists that through me completely and well I just love a book that keeps me on my toes.

The blurb tells you everything you need to know about the plot, anything I would add would definitely be counted as spoilers which I avoid, and it really does cover the key points and had me intrigued to read at any rate.

What is though fast becoming rather apparent is just amazingly talented Jackie Kabler is. I really enjoyed her cozy mysteries, but since she has started writing psychological thrillers well her skill, storytelling and well the dark twisted part of her mind are just superb and seem to be getting more and more impressive by the book, and they started at a high level!

I couldn't get enough of The Happy Family, loved the characterisation, writing, and just everything about it.

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,