John Fram has blended multiple genres to create a work of fiction that is perhaps difficult to describe but which is an incredibly entertaining read.

This novel begins as a gothic tale of family seclusion and corruption as Toby and his son are brought into the home of his fiancée’s family. The disruption and disdain are obvious from the outset at Toby attempts to navigate the family and the massive home and compound where they reside.

When the family becomes unexpectedly isolated, and the patriarch of the family is murdered, the book adds the element of murder mystery, and the story that unfolds is intricately plotted and accessibly written.

As the noose begins to tighten on Toby’s son for the murder, elements of horror and the supernatural lead the reader to believing that there is something darker at work in the home of the evangelist’s family. And some of the horror scenes are as tense and frightening as any that I have read.

This is an excellent read that satisfies the reader on many levels. A great weekend read!

No Road Home by John Fram is a spooky, fast-paced mystery about a dad trying to protect his son after a murder rocks their creepy, super-religious family. It’s full of dark secrets, tense moments, and just enough weirdness to keep you hooked.

A Shakespearean tragedy wrapped in psychological horror, No Road Home is one of the few recent novels that truly embodies the gothic spirit—rather than using it merely as a mood-setting aesthetic. Framed as a single-location murder mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie’s classics, it's the brooding, emotionally scarred cast and the chilling bursts of the supernatural (so effective!) that elevate the narrative into something uniquely haunting.

I was initially overwhelmed by the large ensemble of characters (similar to John Fram’s previous novel The Bright Lands), but after a few chapters, their dynamics became intuitive and compelling—so don't be discouraged if this is forbidding you to continue. The plot is a slow burn, but the long buildup is well worth it for the outrageously intense climax (literally) and the way it weaves in a surprising number of touchy, evangelical-adjacent themes.

The prose is appropriately theatrical and foreboding, I particularly enjoy its depiction of the absurdly grandiose, maze-like mansion, adding an additional layer of surrealism. Though at times it can feel almost suffocating—especially when paired with its unflinching portrayal of generational trauma, religious grooming, and assault. This is definitely not a 'fun' read if you're simply looking for escapism; I had to alternate with a steamy romance novel just to keep myself from sinking entirely into its sadness.

If you enjoyed The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, I’d recommend No Road Home as another novel along a similar vein; both have a deliberate pace and a focus on the unraveling of a large, fractured family in the wake of a single, triggering event—just expect even more melancholy... and more deaths.

This was a bit disjointed, but I powered through. I think I had higher expectations for this. It was okay, had a bit of paranormal and many twists and turns. The last quarter of the book, definitely picked up! Thank you to Atria books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC.
3.5 Stars

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

In this unique thriller of who done it, Toby Tucker and his son, Luca, get caught up in the mega-wealth that is religion Toby marries the granddaughter of Televangelist Jerome Wright and is introduced into this world of wealth, hatred, and greed.

When Alyssa takes Toby home to meet the rest of the family, Toby is overwhelmed by the family compound. There are a lot of secrets and weird vibes. Then, a powerful storm comes through ad knocks out their ability to communicate with the outside world. When Jerome if found murdered, everyone thinks Toby did it. As Toby moves to clear his name before the police arrive, more and more secrets come out and nothing will be the same.

This is 3 and 1/2 stars rounded up. I enjoyed the intensity in this read but I did find it a bit convoluted in places. But the televangelist trope really kept me interested in where this story was going.

All the words in the description made me go... ooh, okay, intrigued... but unfortunately all the words in the actual novel made me go... uh, I'm confused, and also do I care? Did not love, or even like, sorry to say.

This one was thrilling, gothic and surreal. I enjoyed it immensely! It was just twisty enough to keep me guessing.

This book is an absolute wild ride—part Southern Gothic, part supernatural thriller, and completely unputdownable. Toby Tucker just wants to give his son a safe, loving home, but marrying into the powerful and deeply religious Wright family turns out to be the worst mistake of his life. Trapped in their sprawling Texas estate during a freak storm, Toby is quickly accused of murder. But when his son starts seeing a shadowy figure lurking in the house, it’s clear that something even darker is at play.

Creepy, intense, and packed with twists, No Road Home keeps you guessing until the very end. It’s a fast-paced, nerve-wracking thriller with plenty of heart, perfect for fans of horror-tinged suspense.

Thank you John Fram, Atria Books, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

“Whaaaat the fuuuuuck just happened?” is about the only thing I can say right now??? I mean… so good, so wild, such a roller coaster. Pretty much explains every JFram book so far though! An incredible thriller filled with heart-wrenching back stories, characters you want to root for, and enough suspense to fulfill any thriller-head.

No Road Home by John Fram is the story of a family cult and how far their madness takes them. When Toby and his young son marry Alyssa Wright, the granddaughter of a famous televangelist, they have no idea what they've gotten themselves into. They go visit the family compound in Texas and all sorts of strange things happen there. There are so many twists and disturbing revelations that happen in this book. Please check trigger warnings. This story was well-written, but it was very dark. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

John Fram knows how to build characaters and craft a wild story while keeping you turning the pages. I would read anything he writes no matter the plot.

Really enjoyed this! It’s a bit long but the ending had some good place and the sense of atmosphere and dread that John Fram develops is great. His note at the end really drove it home and has made me an even bigger fan

“𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.”

No Road Home is a wild thrill-ride that had me madly flipping pages.

Partly due to my many friends raving about this binge-worthy locked-room story, I knew I’d love it. Recently married Toby and his son Luca travel to new wife Alyssa's ancestral estate, belonging to a famed wealthy televangelist family. This has everything that I love about a locked-room mystery: a sprawling manor, a strange family, isolated characters, a storm that knocks out communication and exits, and of course, a murder where anyone could have done it. Toby and Luca were fabulous characters who have such a strong bond; I truly felt that Toby would do anything to protect Luca, which becomes more and more important as the family closes in. The Wrights are so broken by a lack of love, with Fram's metaphor an eerie reflection of so many people in our world today. Fram creates short chapters that keep you wanting more, but honestly it's more-so the constant propulsive action that you turning the pages. The Wrights are MESSED UP; just when I thought Fram had revealed everything he could, he goes and hits you with one more shocking detail. The twists don't feel gratuitous, but rather well earned right to the last page.

No Road Home is an excellent Gothic tale of redemption that is a non-stop mysterious ride. It is a solid five stars that has me greatly anticipating Fram's next release. Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC!

What happens when a father has to clear his name and protect his queer son after finding his wife's grandfather is found murdered? To find out than make sure to grab this page turning read. This had me captivated from the first page and has so many twist. The author wrote this well and all of the characters were interesting. It was such a dark and creepy book and I look forward to reading other books from this author. Overall, this is one that I highly enjoyed and would recommend to any reader who loves horror books. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this great read in exchange of my honest review of No Road Home by John Fram.

I liked this book but nothing stood out as exceptional. It was typical of other thriller and mystery books!

I had no idea what to expect when I started this book. It was very engaging but more than that, I did not have any idea what the resolution was going to be. I had to stay up late to read that final chapter that tied it all together. Great story and world building.

Good book, but it didn't grab me and pull me into the story. I almost didn't finish it. But I am glad I did finish it and I enjoyed it.

I truly wanted to enjoy this book but by the halfway mark it just felt so long. It didn't seem as if any progress was being made within the mystery and the creep factor that intrigued me at the beginning of the story trickled away. I think if this book was not so drawn out, the execution of this phenomenal premise would have been perfect!

I will say Toby is an interesting character and had a lot of potential but as the book went along he felt less like himself and made me grow to dislike him a bit.

4.5/5 stars.

I loved this. My only critique is the conclusion feels rushed. Perhaps that's the nature of these kinds of mystery thrillers, but I would have liked more time exploring the character motivations and back stories that were revealed in the end. Still a solid book. Full of religious trauma and queerness.

It follows a man who marries a woman who is the daughter of a megachurch preacher. The family is far right religious with immense power. When the man brings his gender queer child to a family get together, a murder mystery ensues, and things escalate from there are religious trauma and family secrets are unveiled.

It is as fun as it is thoughtful in its themes. Fram works to humanize and character everyone in the story, and while I think the book is better for it, some of that characterization is rushed as a part of the ending.