The owner of the legendary, family-owned hotel The Precipice, on the rocky coast of Maine, has died, leaving the hotel and the rest of his estate to be fought over by his 3 daughters and their families. Not only are the three Bishop women descending on the hotel this weekend to claim what is rightfully theirs, but a hurricane is bearing down on the Maine coast as well. Charley Kelley, the hotel's nineteen-year-old chambermaid who also lives at the hotel only hopes that she will still have a job after the dust settles. She can not afford to lose this job. She also can't let them find out she has been stealing small sums of money from all of the guests as she cleans their rooms. Or that she has hidden a non-paying guest away in one of the rooms, to help her hide out from her abusive boyfriend. Before the weekend is up, heads are going to roll, and she needs to make sure hers isn't one of them.

I really enjoyed this author's previous book, so I was really looking forward to this one as well. Unfortunately, this one fell a little short of the mark for me. Don't get me wrong..... it wasn't bad, I just thought her previous novel was better. I think a lot of the characters just lacked depth for me, so I had trouble connecting with any of them. Plus, no one was all that likeable, so I didn't have anyone in particular I was rooting for. The mystery was good and kept me guessing, and the rhymes were creepy, so there was that. Overall, this is a solid 4 out of 5.

That was a fun-filled locked room mystery!

The characters are atrocious, and their motives are insane, but it was so much fun to hate them that it was hard for me to put this book down. I loved to hate them all - which didn’t make me feel too bad when or if they were hurt.

I really loved the secluded hotel setting, the approaching hurricane, the death of the hotel owner, and the subsequent “will-reading” family gathering, and the creepy vibes of this very toxic and strange family.

I truly enjoyed the descriptions of the hotel and its grounds. The cliffs, the storm, and even the Adirondack chairs all provided such a clear picture of the setting and how the plot played out.

There were a few twists - some I saw coming from a mile away, and some I couldn’t even fathom. All of them made sense and moved the plot along nicely!

This was a fun one! We meet Charley, a live in maid at The Precipice Hotel, who is preparing for the incoming storm. Hurricane Larry will soon make landfall but that’s not the only storm she’s preparing for. The daughters of the recently deceased owner of the hotel, and their families, are coming for the reading of the will. Everyone is shocked at the division of the inheritance. We soon find out who is willing to risk everything for family.

This is a great thriller! Secrets, lies, murder, oh my!

A really good and twisted story about family, secrets, lies and betrayal. I got sucked into this one right from the beginning, completely sympathizing with Charley and rooting for her from day one. When she finally encounters the Bishop sisters, it’s more of a shit storm than the hurricane they’re all currently stuck in. They give every other dysfunctional family a run for its money - especially all the secrets they have piled up. But as always - things get worse before they get better….and sometimes what you think you know isn’t even true.

“For me, books are magic. They transport me to a different world. Opening the cover of a new book never fails to fill me with hope. It’s as though it’s whispering that I have the power to choose a different life, even if I never seem to leave the one I have.”

Money. Money. Money. The root of all evil indeed. Unfortunately this one was just meh for me. I was excited by the premise but it just did not deliver in the thriller way that I like.

The hotel itself, The Precipice, sounded eclectic and so fun. It reminded me a lot of an Inn I stayed at in Provincetown and I loved that aspect. But the sisters were petty and not all that interesting and the hurricane baring down didn’t add much to the suspense. Overall an okay read but more of a family drama than thriller. .

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is set in a hotel on the rocky shores of Maine. Charley is a local who works at the Precipice Hotel as a maid. The owner has died and his three daughters, their families, and their lawyer, arrive to receive the reading of the will and to find out about their futures. Needless to say, things don’t go as the sister’s hoped (or planned). The hotel is busy preparing for Hurricane Larry, when the family arrives. Since it is the off season, Charley is the only remaining staff member, since the cook quit and Rodrigo, the manager disappeared. Coincidence or not?
This book has multiple murders, power outages, poisons, and a mystery stowaway in the hotel. Needless to say, there are plenty questions to ponder while family secrets are revealed.

This book was an enjoyable, easy read. I liked this book, and would recommend it to others!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this digital ARC. The opinions are my own.

Twisty and mysterious thriller. I was quickly engrossed in this story about a hotel maid who finds herself trapped in the Precipice hotel during a hurricane. While Charley, the maid, has some secrets of her own the arrival of the Bishop sisters and their families put the action in motion. The sisters have come to the Precipice to hear the reading of their father's will. He was the owner of the hotel and the sisters grew up at the hotel.

We quickly learn that the sisters have a lot of secrets. Some are their own secrets and some are collective secrets. The secrets slowly come to light as the storm rages. Throw in some murder and the characters being trapped and you have a good thriller/mystery. I loved how the author kept giving us new secrets throughout the story. It certainly made for a page turning read. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book.

A locked room mystery is always fun, and I looked forward to an enjoyable weekend reading One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day. What's not to like when you put a dysfunctional family at a remote Maine hotel with a hurricane approaching for the reading of their deceased father's will? While the novel had a Knives Out feel and the family was as backstabbing as can be, this one will not go down as a favorite in my opinion.

There is a lot going on that sometimes felt a little cluttered and some of the incidents in the story were quite a stretch for believability. The characters were all suspect, none were even remotely trustworthy or likeable, and it was difficult to care what happened to any of them by the end of the book.

Overall, the book was a quick, easy read that I liked, but did not love. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day. The opinions in this review are my own.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day starts with a great premise-- a murdered on the loose in an a hotel filled with three sisters' and their families gathered to hear the reading of the patriarch's will. Add in a hurricane that cuts off access to the hotel, precariously perched on the rocky cliffs in Maine, and it should be a slam dunk. Unfortunately, some of the "plot twists" are easily guessed and the plot seems to drag at points. All in all, though, a quick read and pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

I was so excited when I got approved for this book from NetGalley. Iris, Faith, and Vicki’s father owns a big hotel. He passes away and the sisters all have to come together for the reading of the will. All the secrets that come out just kept coming! Then throw in a murder or two, the suspense thickens. It took me days to get through this and I’m not sure why?

The Is the story of Charley who works at The Precipice as the chambermaid. The owner has recently died and his 3 daughters are coming to the family owned hotel to review dads assets and his will. The 3 sisters Vicki, Iris and Faith arrive during a hurricane with secrets of their own. Overall it was a good book. It dragged a bit in the beginning. I really enjoyed the back story of the 3 sisters. Everything was wrapped up well in the end.

When the publisher offered me a widget for an arc of this new thriller via NetGalley, I accepted with delight because I enjoyed Jamie Day's previous book, The Block Party. This one I had mixed feelings about however as I read. It's part family drama and part mystery but I feel like I've read so many of these 'locked room' mysteries set in remote locations cut off from civilization by Mother Nature with a murderer in their midst. Although the characters are interesting with all their flaws and secrets, the plot itself just didn't seem all that fresh to me.

This story is set in a vintage family-owned hotel called the Precipice, situated on the coast of Maine. George Bishop, the long-time owner, has died suddenly and his three daughters, their spouses and children, along with the family lawyer, are all coming for the reading of the will. But also heading towards them is Hurricane Larry.

The story is told mainly from the pov of the 19-year-old chambermaid named Charley who has been living in a closet-sized room at the hotel free of charge for the past two years. She is desperately trying to earn enough money to keep the grandmother who raised her in eldercare. But the rates keep going up so Charley is not above doing a little pilfering from guests to make ends meet. And when a woman named Bree approaches Charley, asking if she can hide in the hotel to escape her abusive boyfriend, Charley sees an opportunity to earn some extra cash under the table.

As soon as the sisters and their families arrive, the bickering begins. One big happy family alright, with lots of secrets and grudges. Not long after the will is read, someone dies. Is it a natural death or is there a murderer in their midst? And of course, as the problems escalate, they realize it's too late to leave and they are cut off from any help.

This is entertaining for a quick summer read but Jamie Day didn't knock it out of the park for me this time around.

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is an unusual novel. The novel starts out with some background and then pops right into the present day. The novel goes back and forth in time to highlight different memories of the sisters or of the present occupants. The premise is an old inn in Maine on the cliffs looking out to the sea. The owner has died and asked that the will be read while his children are at the inn. There is a hurricane coming up the coast and is going to hit the inn in a number of hours. However the wind has already done damage and trapped them all at the property with so many large trees blocking the road. To top it off, in a fit of rage, one of the sisters ripped the modem from the wall and shot it so it would no longer function.

The Bishop sisters, Iris, Vicki, and Faith, arrive at the inn with their children and the lawyer who is going to read the will. Meanwhile the cook has taken off as has the front end manager leaving Charley (the maid) as the last worker. On top of that Charley has hidden Bree (an abused girlfriend) at the inn.

Everyone at the inn has hidden secrets and information that they should share. There are betrayals, more betrayals and even some surprises that no one expects. There is a hidden painting worth millions. On top of that there are weapons brandished at a whim, kitchen knives, and lots of alcohol. As the storm rises as does all the tempers and stories, until various people have been killed or tried to be killed or actually were the killers when help eventually arrives. It is a mess that you can not put down!

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day is not about one big happy family, but about betrayals, lies, affairs, hatred and good old fashioned murder. It is hard to put the book down and stop reading it.

What better setting for a mystery/thriller than an old hotel in remote Maine where dysfunctional family members come home to hear their father's will - amid a hurricane! Three hotel employees greet the Bishop sisters and their families, but two leave to check on their own families, leaving behind 19-year old Charley - the maid. Unbeknownst to the family -Charley has agreed to secretly shelter a young woman, Bree, from an abusive boyfriend until the storm is over, planning to move her from room to room to keep her out of sight. Putting all the characters together, which includes Vicky's husband, who has secret history with both of her sisters, Faith and Iris, Faith's partner Hope and their son Oliver, and Vicky and Todd's son, Quinn. Remarkably - each person in this group has a secret involving someone else within the Bishop family. The tortuous interactions of family members reveal both loyalty and hate. As Charley and Bree play "mediators" in family gatherings, haunting poems appear with dire predictions leading to murder and mental unraveling! Secrets spill out and Charley is caught in the middle, fearing for her own life as she tries to figure out just who she can trust in Hotel Precipice. This story keeps the reader trying to guess just who is the most evil of all - capable of revenge and violence. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #OneBigHappyFamily

I won't repeat the publisher's book blurb here because they do a great job of summarizing the overall plot of the book. I believe my job as a reviewer is to give my opinion as to whether the book lives up to the description which made us decide to read the book.

There are many things to like about this book. Day does a great job of setting atmospheric tension with the ever-nearing hurricane, and the dysfunctionality of the sisters' relationships with one another. One would be hard pressed to find a more dysfunctional family, and they seem eager to prove it. Chapters are short which propels the reader onward. There's just something compelling about a "locked door" mystery. There are plenty of twists, though not all of them are unexpected. All of these things make this read an enjoyable diversion.

It falls short for me because the abundance of personal flaws in the characters make it difficult for me to relate to them and/or care what happens to them (other than wanting to know how it all works out in the end). I personally don't think this book is as good as the author's previous book The Block Party.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to access a DRC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given. Publication is 7/16/24.

Family drama and great suspense! This book will take you on a ride. Filled with twists and turns, It is fun getting to know the Bishop sisters. This is a locked room mystery with the reader guessing till the end! There are 3 sisters with secrets, a hurricane, and a murder.

This book is fun and unique. All the sisters are different with Vicki being the craziest and most unpredictable!

Heart-Throbbing, Great Setting and Fun Characters! 3 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy! Grab a copy of this book on 7/16/24.

Nineteen year old Charley has essentially been on her own for the past two years, Her father has never been in the picture, her mother has died of a drug overdose, and her beloved grandmother is in a care facility with dementia taking her farther and farther away. With a room and board position at a remote coastal Maine hotel she’s had to endure the owner, George Bishop, who has a history of getting physical with attractive young staff, but now he’s dead of apparent heart troubles so his three daughters and their various family members have come to hear the reading of the will. The author starts the story in the midst of an approaching hurricane, Charley soon finds herself trapped in the old hotel with the Bishop family, a lawyer and a young woman fleeing an abusive boyfriend. The family interactions with each other are at the center of the story, secrets and guilty consciences push them beyond normal behavior. I enjoyed the atmosphere, and the story being told from different points of view, especially Charley when she speaks to us in the first person. She’s a great character, a smart, hardworking young woman who isn’t above taking chances to be able to pay for her grandmothers care. The plot kept me guessing as secrets are revealed, the final reveal of the culprit and there motive was definitely a surprise,
Thanks to author Jamie Day, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy, I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys locked room mysteries, and stormy atmospheric settings.

Reading this book took me back to my teen years when I was drawn to gothic mysteries such as those by Mary Stewart. If all references to cell phones were removed, I could have easily believed I was reading one of my favorite novels from back then. It appears that novels centered around housemaids are a popular trend these days. Besides cleaning skills, the maid should be able to solve murder mysteries. I could envision this story being made into a movie because of all the twists and turns along with a great deal of family dysfunction. Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Publishing and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

Packed to the gills with family dysfunction, sordid secrets, and over-the-top fun, One Big Happy Family was nothing like what I expected but everything that I wanted. From the Agatha Christie-esque atmosphere to the setting so vibrant it felt like a character, this locked room mystery was a masterful whodunnit…mostly. After all, there were a few teeny, tiny issues that irked me just a bit. Did they ruin this fast-paced, twisty book? Thankfully, not in the least.

The plot was certainly something to behold. Told in four parts from a (mainly) omniscient perspective, I was pulled into the action right from the start. And what a start that it was. The only section narrated in the first-person, Charley won me over hook, line, and sinker. Kind-hearted and endearing, she had quite the introduction to the nutty clan of Bishops. They, however, were quite possibly some of my favorite personas. Eccentric and quirky, there was a definite Alice Feeney feel to them all mixed judiciously with a delicious Kaira Rouda crazy train vibe.

There was, unfortunately, quite a bit of unnecessary melodrama running throughout. In the beginning, I was utterly enthralled by each OTT moment, but by the second half, it became a bit much. Especially given the long-winded climax that required a definite suspension of all disbelief. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy each and every word. It just felt as though the two halves didn’t quite match. Perhaps some editing could have rectified it. But then, that’s just this non-writer’s extremely humble opinion.

All in all, though, with gripping flashbacks and giggle-worthy humor, Day crafted a novel that I felt was even better than his debut. A mystery/thriller chocked full of multi-dimensional characters and dark secrets, I simply flew through the pages. And when I got to that finale that left me in tears? Well, what can I say—few books can muster what this author delivered. So if you love a good locked room mystery or toxic family drama, this book is for you. Just maybe be prepared for an over-the-top feel. Rating of 4 stars.

Thank you to Jamie Day, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

A thriller that had more than a few twists and turns that will keep you on your toes. When you think you figured out the Bishop sisters you find yourself wrong. And the mysterious guest in the hotel is just that- mysterious. An overall good book. The plot was great and the flashbacks were aptly situated in the book and still gave nothing away.