I did not see that ending coming!

I love a good suspense novel, and this one has it in spades. This doesn't even cover the various twists at the end of the novel. One revelation left open a question, and I'm glad it was answered; otherwise, it would have made me throw the book across the room!

Toby is caught up in a whirlwind romance with Alyssa Wright. We later find out she is the granddaughter of a television preacher—you know, the type who claims one thing yet rakes in all the money. They travel to her grandfather's home with his son Luca, and from there, the story gets a little crazy. But then, what good suspense novel doesn't get crazy?

The book covers a three day period, but it packs a lot into those few days. The grandfather is found dead, there are strange writings found on the wall, Luca sees an apparition, and so much more. This family might be the textbook version of dysfunctional. Toby decides to play detective and slowly unwinds the secrets this family is harboring. All the while, there is a raging storm outside, with the roads cut off due to flooding and no cell service or internet. Fingers are pointed at everyone, people go missing, secrets are revealed, and a storm threatens to take out the area.

This is a locked room mystery since the options are limited. Some of the answers will surprise you, much like they surprised me. I was fully engaged in this book and didn't want to turn off the light at night. Just when I thought I had all of the answers, the author threw more twists into the tale to deepen the storyline.

This was quite the tale, and now I am searching for his first novel to see if it is just as good as this one.

We give this book 5 paws up.

An ever-twisty mystery thriller about the perversions of queerphobia, reminiscent of Get Out with a dash of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, No Road Home unsettles, devastates, and uplifts in equal measure. The mystery only occasionally loses momentum, briefly slipping out of focus when it fails to track the large number of details and characters.

No Road Home has a classic set-up. Toby visits the sprawling home of his new wife, Alyssa Wright, with his son Luca. The internet reception and the roads are vulnerable to storms. A family of wealthy televangelists, all the Wrights have secrets. And, naturally, someone is murdered. From here, it checks almost all the boxes I could want in this type of supernatural thriller.

New information consistently upends and complicates the existing narrative, so that it’s never predictable. The setting feels alive, greatly helped by the supernatural element, and awash in tragedy and sin. Toby is a strong lead (and a unique one as a single father), and his bond with Luca makes it easy to root for him. As the machinations of the Wrights become clear, it becomes similarly easy to root against their enterprise. And the horror is heightened and grounded by sharp commentary on how queerphobia (and all bigotry) traumatizes and often perpetuates itself through the trauma.

Occasionally though, the momentum strains under all that the narrative is concealing. It takes a while for the large cast of supporting characters, many introduced all at once, to be given motives and become distinct from each other (though many do eventually become quite strong). Similarly, Toby likes to lock away memories, leaving the mystery’s details somewhat scattered at times. I suspect some readers will find this frustrating while others will delight in the added difficulty of piecing things together.

Still, any missteps fade into the background with the final masterful twist, which pulls together the mystery, Toby’s character arc, and the commentary on bigotry (though some readers might be frustrated by how much is withheld to make it work). John Fram knew exactly the story he wanted to tell. I suspect it will stick with me for some time.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a fascinating read in the world of a powerful dysfunctional televangelist family!

Read this if you like:
-southern gothic vibes complete with tinges of supernatural/horror and sense of impending doom
-powerful dysfunctional families
-people who are not who they appear to be with dark secrets and lies and hidden agendas
-ranging storm cutting off people in a isolated
Mansion gives eerie, creepy atmosphere
-world of religion and televangelism
-locked room mystery
-queer representation
-unlikeable characters
-twists and turns with a highly unexpected and satisfying ending

My rating 4 out of 5

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for this eARC that will be published July 23 2024

No Road Home tells the story of Toby, a single father whose new wife is the granddaughter of a televangelist tycoon. Toby and Alyssa's relationship was a whirlwind; from their meeting when Toby was working as a teacher's aide at a private elementary school, and Alyssa rolled down her window and said you’ve been expecting me— she was picking up a friend's child—to marriage, they were together for only six months. Now, Toby and Alyssa venture back to Texas to her family's estate. Toby meets Alyssa's odd, wealthy family and is a bit worried about the influence they will have on his son. Soon, a storm hits, the roads are blocked, and Jerome, the patriarch televangelist, is found murdered on the roof. It's now up to Toby to protect himself and his son while unravelling family secrets he'd rather not know.

I thought this book had an excellent premise: Toby is trying to keep his seven-year-old son, who is trying to figure out who he is, let him be his true authentic self, and try to keep him as safe as possible from the world's bigotry. At the same time, his wife exposes them to her family's world of ultra-wealthy, ultra-conservative, ultra-religious televangelists. As Toby goes through the book, I hope for slightly better "secrets." The author had good ideas, but I believe too many were incorporated into the plot at once, making for uneven pacing and choppy writing. Without giving spoilers, I thought the reveals were OTT— I believe there are so many ways the author could have written to include certain secrets while staying away from other familial relationships.

Although I enjoyed the idea of the book, I think the writing missed the mark. Overall, I didn't enjoy this book as much as others may have enjoyed it. I wanted something better. I wanted to root for Toby to unravel this family's bigotry and hatred in a realistic yet thrilling way, exposing them to their hatred. Ultimately, I found it was underwhelming—

I found the writing choppy. There is excessive repetition of events from previous chapters. There were too many characters to keep track of. At the beginning, there is a page entitled THE WRIGHTS WHO MATTER, two and a half pages long. There are ten family members (characters to keep track of). The whole plot felt convoluted at times. I think there was too much telling than showing the reader. Please read the trigger warning before reading. There is an offence word frequently used to describe a woman's genitalia—offence language bigotry.
I want to thank Atria and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

At what lengths would you go to to protect your children?
This thrilling novel from John Fram shows Tobias, father to Luca, do everything he can to protect him and his son from his wife's new family, who is very religious and homophobic (Tobias' son is part of the LGBT+ community).
This reminded me a lot of Jordan Peele's Get Out, but instead of race, it was a family against the idea of being LGBT. It deals a lot with what do we with the trauma that spans decades and how do we come back for it... or on the flip side, what happens when we let it drown our lives?
The horror elements of this are also something that I was very into. Especially as you went on, the book became so hard to put down but also almost having to read through your fingers because of the disturbing revelations in the last half of this book.

John Fram's latest NO ROAD HOME is a multi-layered twisty suspense and complex genre-bending of literary, psychological, family drama, horror, religion, ghosts, gothic, LGBTQ, paranormal, whodunit mystery, and locked-room thriller for a spine-chilling creepy Stephen King/Dean Koontz vibe. At its heart is a story of family.

About...

A young father must clear his name and protect his queer son when his wealthy new wife's televangelist grandfather is found murdered when they meet the family in the haunting small town Hebron, Texas compound.

Toby Tucker is a single dad in LA who has always protected his young queer son Lucus (age 7) from bigotry. Lucus calls himself a boy, but he is feminine, wears his hair long, and dresses in lots of pink and mauves.

When Toby marries Alyssa Wright —the granddaughter of a famed televangelist known for his grandiose Old Testament preaching—he can't imagine the world of religion, wealth, and hate he and Luca are about to embark on. He is off to meet his in-laws—what will he find at the compound?

Do Toby and Alyssa really know one another and each other's families? As a child, Toby had found everything about The Prophecy Hour faintly deceptive, beginning with its title. His Uncle Ezra watched the TV show and Toby and his sister Willow suffered through it.

Meet the powerful and wealthy Wrights:
~Jerome Jeremiah Wright:
Prophet, Patriarch, and CEO of Two Creeks Ministries

~Abigal: His wife (deceased)
~Corah: His sister
~Sarah Nella: His oldest daughter; COO of Two Creeks and Head of Ramorah (house/grounds)
~Ruth: Youngest daughter; Head of Congregational Development
~Hugo: Ruth's husband; Director of Praise and Worship
~Ginger: Ruth & Hugo's oldest daughter
~Matthias: Ginger's son
~Richard: Ruth & Hougo's son; Director of Future Ministry
~Kassandra: Richard's wife
~Alyssa: Ruth & Hugo's younger daughter

New Addition to the family:
~Tobias (Toby) Tucker: Alyssa's new husband
~Luca Tucker: Toby's son

Staff at Ramaorah:
~Marie and Julian: Hired help

As Toby and Lucus are invited to meet Alyssa's famous religious family at the Texas compound, they encounter some characters who have strange words and warnings along the way. These cryptic messages add to the eerie atmosphere and hint at the dark secrets the family is hiding.

Upon arrival, things are eerie, and bizarre things occur. Toby wonders what kind of family this is and soon he realizes he must escape with his son. What kind of family did he marry into and their motives?

This family is not how they appear on TV. They have dark hidden family secrets and much more. There is something dark and sinister. But then there is a storm, and flooding which cuts off the road. The family patriarch is found murdered and stabbed on the roof of the mansion.

Suspicion immediately turns to Toby. Then Lucus starts seeing someone in a black suit and strange words written in red on the walls and doorways. Then Lucas goes missing? What is going on? No one is prepared for the lengths Toby will go to in the fight to clear his name and protect his son.

Toby also has a secret past, a past that is somehow connected to the sinister events unfolding at the compound. As the story progresses, the reader is drawn deeper into Toby's past, trying to unravel the mystery and understand how it is connected to the present.

My thoughts...

NO ROAD HOME is everything and more that is described in the summary. I am not a horror, paranormal, or ghost fan; however, this novel worked on so many levels mainly due to the author's master storytelling. A murder mystery meets Gothic locked-room thriller. The past is as intriguing as the present. Dysfunctional family!

Creepy, spine-chilling, evil, and eerie, evangelists' stories are always dark and scandalous. When you have this many family members involved in a mega-church, you know that there are plenty of lies and secrets. The atmospheric locked-room thriller vibe worked well with the mysterious pasts of both the Wrights and the Tuckers. You are going to love Toby and Lucas.

Thought-provoking! There are many highly charged topics of bigotry, murder, revenge, predators, incest, identity, religion, family, wealth, race, and class-and plenty of deception, lies, and secrets.

Expect the unexpected! NO ROAD HOME is a terrifying rollercoaster of a read, with storylines and characters colliding in ways you'll never guess. Thriller fans, this whodunit murder mystery gem should be at the top of your summer TBR list.

Recs...

For fans of the TV evangelist show, OWN's Greenleaf and Jordan Peele's Get Out — meets Terah Shelton Harris' Long After We Are Gone (top books of 2024) and Liz Moore's The God of the Woods. Also for fans of authors, Ruth Ware, Alice Feeney, Carol Goodman, S.A. Cosby, Alex North, Stephen King, and Dean Koontz.

Thanks to Atria Books for an advanced digital review copy via NetGalley for an honest opinion.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars rounded to 5
Pub Date: July 23, 2024
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No Road Home by John Fram did not disappoint!
NRH is a fantastic addition to the mystery genre.
I loved the characters and the story was well written. His debut title was described as queer Stephen King and it certainly was. And same goes for his upcoming title.
A very well written story that kept me captivated from page one.

Thank You NetGalley and Atria Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This is one of those books where you really have to pay close attention because there is a lot going on and there are a ton of characters. I loved the atmosphere here, it was claustrophobic and chilling and the locked room style mystery really worked for me. Most of the characters are downright awful and this one goes very dark in terms of subject matter and I love the way the author showcases this type of thing. I don’t know if I would say this is a slow burn exactly but it definitely is more of a steady paced read with more action as you get close to the end. There are also some supernatural elements at play here and when that’s well done in a thriller it freaks me out and I was definitely creeped out here. There were some really well executed twists too, if you want a different type of mystery this is a great choice!

Toby and his son Luca are trying to fit in with their new family that Toby married into. The family is completely disfunctional , crazy with dark, dark secrets. Do not read at night when you’re alone!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

NO ROAD HOME by John Fram is a twisty, queer, southern gothic mystery. The suspense and atmosphere are unbeatable, and the plot is so intricately and cleverly done. Every bit of action and dialogue has purpose and meaning, and all the strands of the plot tie together in a satisfying, thrilling way. It does contain some supernatural elements that are more literal than I'd usually like, but they tie in well with the characters' dabbling in the occult. The main character, Toby, and his son, Luca, are sympathetic and easy to root for. It's a propelling read!

I really enjoyed this locked room mystery! The religious elements were creeeeeeepy as hell. The family was super sinister and suspicious. The mystery unfolded in a satisfying way, and I had fun trying to piece it together before the big reveal.

I did think some of the twists were a bit predictable, but I enjoyed them anyway because they worked so well in the overarching story. However, while I got what Fram was trying to do with the ending, I didn’t love the narrative choice. It didn’t fully take away from my enjoyment of it, but I wish it had been handled differently as it utilized a trope that I cannot stand (trying to keep this spoiler free, so reach out to me if you want to know!)

Even with the ending not being my favorite, I liked this dark, spooky, and intense mystery novel. Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for the ARC. No Road Home is out tomorrow!

I was very ready for a thriller, and this seemed to have everything I needed to read. However, it's like the first scene was the actually good one, and then the read dragged until the end.

2.5, rounded-up to 3.

The story begins with a little of Great Gatsby's feeling of Nick, as Toby observes his in-laws, most of whom he was meeting for the first time after very quickly meeting Alyssa, getting married, and now moving to her family's estate. The family, however, is a famous one from an evangelic show that has been on TV for decades, of which even Toby has seen something back when he lived with his deceased uncle and older sister. Great Gatsby turns into The Shining when Alyssa's grandfather is found dead in the middle of a storm that leaves them stranded and only someone in the house could have done it.

This book has some hints of horror, probably because of the supernatural elements I wasn't expecting to be so used. That and the surprises were what I most liked about it. The thriller itself failed for me. The characters were probably one of the biggest reasons; they were shallow, like you downloaded them from a bank of suspects for a closed-room murder. It was all too convenient for a thriller. And when we finally find out more about them, it was either an information given too late for it to make the story more pleasing to read, or the exact opposite, because it was simply gross and didn't add to the plot.

My other problem was the big plot twist in the end. Unfortunately, it would be a spoiler to talk more about it, but, in my opinion, it's a cheap resource to fabricate a surprise but that instead made me very disappointed.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

ARC provided for an Honest Review
It took awhile to wrap my head around all the characters in this book. After the introductions to the characters, the murder occurs right off the bat and everyone is a suspect. The writing style made for an engaging read that kept me guessing. The bar is set very low for every character given their lies and cocky attitudes aside from MC Toby and his son-also the only newcomers and least likely suspects. Their wicked ways come to light soon after they are introduced and not only does every one have an agenda of their own, each would stab the other in the back (relation or not) in a moments notice. Given the matriarch lies dead, someone is to blame and Toby takes it upon himself to find the killer. Essentially stranded on an island of mother natures making, the Wright family has so many secrets in every closet of the household. Using religion as a ruse for all their misdeeds, it’s about time their wealth no longer covers their asses and I’ll be damned by all the drama that unravels in the end. One revelation after the next. This book stretches barriers from thriller one second to a spooky ghost story in the next.

5⭐️

Toby Tucker has worked for years to to provide for and protect his young son, Luca, from a world full of bigotry. As a single father of a sensitive, possibly queer son, Toby is aware of how easily the world can break someone. So when he meets and quickly marries Alyssa Wright, the wealthy granddaughter of a famed televangelist, he thinks they may have found a comfortable for Luca. But he quickly finds that the families godly persona is only for show and that he and his son are in more danger than they could ever have expected.

I went into this expecting nothing and was completely blown away. There were so many twist and turns that I didn't expect at all but were so well done. I really appreciate that looking back, I can follow the threads that lead to the twist and that it didn't come out of no where. The locked room/secluded locale of the mansion being cut off during a storm really played into the creepy atmosphere of the story. The house having hidden rooms or passageways made for a bigger guessing game since everyone could move around on their own.

Each of the characters were well thought out and their underlying histories made for such an interesting story. Alyssa's refrain of 'this family is too rich to be bigoted' was a perfect way to put things. I've read many stories of someone marrying into a stupidly rich family only to find out that their all evil. With this book, the Wright's aren't only stupidly rich but have made their fortune off the patriarch of the family being a fire and brimstone televangelist preaching about sins and that made the family that much more evil and that much more hypocritical. Stories of homophobia, scared straight wilderness camps, interracial relationships, children out of wedlock and affairs are abundant and it makes it hard to root for anyone. I did really like Toby and how protective and understanding he was of Luca. I also really liked Marie and Julian and how they fit into the story.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for providing this ARC to me!

This book was NOTHING like I thought it would be. I was sold by famous preacher aspect of it and the fact that it was a mystery read, I KNEW I was going to love it, but not this much. Not only does this family have a ton of secrets and it was soooo twisty and straight NASTY., Tobias also surprised me at the end…. This book reminded me a lot of Greenleaf which is a show that I believe I saw on Netflix but times a MILLION because of the very dark secrets and the poison thats imbedded in the characters…. Most def a must read.

Where to even start? This book has a ton going on and is reminiscent of the movie “Get Out”. Tobia has always just wanted to keep his son Luca safe and provide for him. When he meets Alyssa, a wealthy women who seems to good to be true, he thinks he finally can provide everything his son needs. When they go visit Alyssa’s family estate for her 30th birthday things go from bad to incredibly creepy almost immediately. No one in the family seems sane and all seem to be hiding secrets. Tobias quickly gets to the point his just wants to take his son and leave but the family and Mother Nature herself makes that impossible.

This book was a wild ride with so many disturbing components to it but nothing that made me personally want to stop reading. I do think there are some triggers in there that can upset some people but otherwise I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

I picked this one up because I like murder mysteries and I had heard of John Fram but missed his earlier book, [book:The Bright Lands|52703177]. This one is chilling!

Description:
A young father must clear his name and protect his queer son when his wealthy new wife’s televangelist grandfather is found murdered in this binge-worthy locked-room thriller from the acclaimed author of The Bright Lands—perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Paul Tremblay, and Alex North.

For years, single father Toby Tucker has done his best to keep his sensitive young son, Luca, safe from the bigotry of the world. But when Toby marries Alyssa Wright—the granddaughter of a famed televangelist known for his grandiose, Old Testament preaching—he can’t imagine the world of religion, wealth, and hate that he and Luca are about to enter.

A trip to the Wright family’s compound in sun-scorched Texas soon turns hellish when Toby realizes that Alyssa and the rest of her brood might have some very strange plans for Toby and his son. The situation only grows worse when a freak storm cuts off the roads and the family patriarch is found murdered, stabbed through the heart on the roof of the family’s mansion.

Suspicion immediately turns to Toby, but when his son starts describing a spectral figure in a black suit lurking around the house with unfinished business in mind, Toby realizes this family has more than murder to be afraid of. And as the Wrights close in on Luca, no one is prepared for the lengths Toby will go in the fight to clear his name and protect his son.

My Thoughts:
This book gives off a gothic atmosphere in the Texas family compound of the Wrights. The Wright family is horrible and I disliked all the characters except Tobias and his son Luca. I felt sorry for Tobias throughout as he tried to shield his son and extricate them from this terrible situation. His determination to shield his son from bigotry and hatred was admirable. As the storm left them cut off from the world with roads blocked and the unpredictable family schemes, the book held me in its grip throughout. A good pace and lots of tense moments made this a worthwhile read. The initial murder was the most difficult to solve and I would never have guessed. I would recommend to anyone who likes murder mysteries.

Thanks to Atria Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.

My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books/Simon & Schuster for the ARC of 'No Road Home in exchange for an honest review.
What a twelve course meal this book serves up......
'No Road Home' operates on so many multiple levels, my head was spinning. There's grand Gothic horror, there's an intricate 'locked room' whodunit that's enough to a make a Dame Agatha book read like "Goodnight Moon'. And finally, there's a torrential rain storm hovering over the Versailles-sized mansion of the televangelist Wrignt family dynasty..........a poisonous Addams Family collection of grifters, lunatics and psychotic pederasts. The horrorshow Wrights are nothing but a litany of wrongs
Hurled into this cauldron is Toby Tucker, who unwisely entered into a marriage of convenience with one of the Wrights to assure a financially comfortable future for Luca, his sensitive queer little boy. After the murder of the family Patriarch, it doesn't take long for Toby to realize how much danger he's placed himself and Luca in. He's overwhelmed by the depths of the family's crimes and perversions and this hissing nest of vipers has ominous plans for Luca that Toby realizes will destroy the child.
If that isn't enough going on, somebody (human or other-worldly) . is using red paint to smear foul, threatening messages that promise bloody, Biblical revenge and retribution on the Wrights for their multitude of sins.
The rain keeps pounding as Toby and Luca try to desperately find their way out of both labyrinth of the vast house itself and the tangled web of the family's schemes they're trapped in.
Quite a wild ride from beginning to end, with a climax that rivals Stephen King in finishing off things with a bizarre satisfying spectacle. I love how this book just went for it fully, throwing everything in one huge package. Definitely a 'Don't Miss for this year's thrillers.

This book was WILD! WOW. I loved every single last moment. It's gothic. It's locked room murdder mystery. It's family secrets. It's a ghost story and a story about the love of a father and son.

For years, single father Toby Tucker has done his best to keep his sensitive young son, Luca, safe from the bigotry of the world. But when Toby marries Alyssa Wright—the granddaughter of a famed televangelist known for his grandiose Old Testament preaching—he can’t imagine the world of religion, wealth, and hate that he and Luca are about to enter.

A trip to the Wright family’s compound in sun-scorched Texas soon turns hellish when Toby realizes that Alyssa and the rest of her brood have dangerous plans for him and his son. The situation only grows worse when a freak storm cuts off the roads and the family patriarch is found murdered, stabbed in the chest on the roof of their sprawling mansion.

Suspicion immediately turns to Toby, but when his son starts describing a spectral figure in a black suit lurking around the house with unfinished business in mind, Toby realizes this family has more than murderer to conceal—and to fear.

As the Wrights close in on Luca, no one is prepared for the lengths Toby will go in the fight to clear his name and protect his son in this “grand gothic story as enthralling as it is terrifying” (S.A. Cosby, New York Times bestselling author).

Totally bonkers. Definitely giving The Fall of the House of Usher Vibes. Totally engrossing, I read it mostly in one sitting. Could not put it down. Loved the pacing, loved the characters. This book is a winner.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books Publishing for the advanced digital copy. The novel will be released this week on July 23, 2024. Go for it!

A gothic horror locked mansion murder mystery thriller that might baffle and frustrate you, like me, but which will keep you reading because it's just so.....twisty. There's a lot Alyssa didn't tell Toby when they married- and now he's deep in the heart of the darkness of their family and desperately worried about his young son Luca. Her grandfather is a mega evangelist and the family runs the business from their huge mansion. As far as Toby had known, she is a pediatrician sympathetic to the LGBTQ community. The first indication that all isn't right comes when they stop at a local store and are cautioned by a woman who spouts three warnings. And then it starts. There's a murder, there are torrential rains that knock out the roads and communications, and someone is painting horrible things on doors and desks. What's Toby's back story anyway? It comes out in dribbles until almost the end-and it's relevant. No spoilers from me. Fram does a nice job with the tension. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. An interesting read.