Intriguing premise and fast paced story. I just struggled to get and remain invested. I Would recommend for fans of thrillers and the author's previous work. It just was not for me.

A multiple POV story that feels unbalanced. For more of the story we’re following Toby’s pov and are interspersed with other characters. The downfall of the family and their lore is entertaining for sure but the execution was an overall miss for me.

This was a good locked room mystery with modern elements of family and society and a lot of emotional stuff. I wish more had been told from the sons point of view but I did enjoy the father's perspective on such a hard and emotional situation. The whodunit was pretty good and kept me guessing, but this story's big hitter was the family turmoil and secrets abound.

Content Warnings: Homophobia, Transphobia, Incest, Substance Abuse, Addiction, Child Abuse (Sexual), Suicide, Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression Conversion Therapy/Conversion Camps

This book mostly follows the third-person limited view of Toby, an anxious father of a gentle (potentially trans, but unclear) boy, Luca, as he meets his family-by-marriage: conservative, Evangelical Christians who make their money from preaching on TV and radio. All of the family members have secrets which begin to come to light after the murder of the family patriarch. There’s also a family ghost tied to these events.

This book has some strengths, including vivid descriptions. The emotional toll of having family members struggling with addiction, the weight of anxiety, and the drive to protect others are all explored well.

However, there are also some large weaknesses. One is the way the story is told. As previously mentioned, most of the book comes from Toby’s POV, but at times it shifts to other characters’ viewpoints. While each of these shifts is clearly labeled, it still was unbalanced for me. The book opens with the POV of the murder victim, then goes for Toby for almost the entire rest – until the last 1/4 of the book, where suddenly sections shift POV constantly.

Likewise, Toby’s use of the “mind palace” premise so central to the twist of the novel got repetitive – especially when the steps to “close and lock a door” wasn’t successful (see also: never successful). Its role in the plot also would have been stronger, I think, if Toby’s POV had NOT been the central one, but others may disagree.

Some may still enjoy this exploration and downfall of a terrible family, but. ultimately, I thought the idea behind the novel is better than its execution.

ooooh a new Fram novel.
to be fair, I've read more than few self-aware locked room mysteries over the past year or so, which means I'm fairly aware of the rules of the game, as well as the many ways in which authors seek to subvert those rules.... if you've read Fram's first book, you might be aware of some possible tactics he could employ here. I quite liked Toby as our detective/outsider and his love for his son is a strong component as well as clear counterbalance to the familial decay around him.

Overall it's a mixture of a murder mystery, queer identity, and religious hypocrisy, so I liked it and definitely recommend it.


*yes, I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

A great gothic story! Toby has thrown caution to the wind and married Alyssa Wright, an incredibly wealthy woman and part of a dynastic televangelist family. Alyssa and Toby dated for less than six months but they fell in love at first sight and travel home to her family home with Toby's son Luca.

Immediately, there are issues as the family snipes at one another and Toby learns there are strings attached to his marriage. When extreme weather cuts off the the compound and the famous patriarch televangelist turns up dead it's a race against time for Toby to clear his name and solve the mystery.

Fantastic characters, this locked room mystery is to die for! I was thoroughly engaged and checking the locks on my door until I finished! #noroadhome #johnfram .#atriabooks