The Family Inside by Katie Garner, Iris is a widow and a single mother who is just lost her job on the same day her house was foreclosed on and auctioned off. Thankfully, she’s been dating architect Hugh, who invites her to live with him at his mother’s mansion. both Iris and daughter Ellery get a strange feeling when they arrive at the house. They meet Hughes brother Gabe, his wife and Hughes sister Rebecca. this totally surprises Iris because she didn’t even know Hugh had siblings, but this will not be the last strange thing Iris uncovers, but the first of many and some of them reached back to her long lost past. soon, however, daughter Ellery goes missing her friend is murdered and she thinks her brother-in-law is a killer so Iris has problems of her own, especially when she realizes her own life is in danger. this was definitely a convoluted twisty cluster crunch of a story that I found entertaining and although a tad bit unbelievable I still very much enjoyed it. I liked the author’s writing style and although I found Iris to be a complete idiot, it wasn’t to the point where she was unbearable. I mean, Iris should know sometimes it’s best to fake it until you make it, but in the end, it all worked out. I would definitely recommend this book although I wouldn’t call it a Gothic mystery not every story set in an old house is Gothic and this one definitely isn’t. I do recommended for those who like great mysteries and thrillers as I found this one to be a pretty freaking good one! #NetGalley, #KatieGardner, #TheFamilyInside,bb

This was a page turning thriller! It gets the readers attention from the beginning and makes you want to keep reading more and more to find out what happens next.

The story follows a widowed mother named Iris who finds herself in bad season of life. She is about to lose her home so she needs to figure out where she and her 18 year old daughter will live. Her boyfriend ,Hugh,of just two months offers for them to live with him but he does warn her that he is temporarily living with his mother to help with house renovations.

Once Iris and Ellory move in things take a turn. Things are not what Iris expected them to be considering she learns that not only will she be living with Hugh's mom but his siblings and their spouses live there too. She finds it odd but doesn't push Hugh for an explanation.
Things start to unravel quickly and Iris finds herself wondering if she is hearing and seeing things in this huge mansion or if it is all her imagination.

As the story progresses we learn that both Hugh and Iris have been holding onto secrets. Will this secrets be too for their relationship?

What I loved about this book is the twists and turns that it took. I loved the way the story unfolded in the end. It was definitely not what i was expecting!

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing. All opinions are my own.

Release: Jan 27, 2025
-Katie Garner
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing

Rating: 4.5★ 

The Family Inside by Katie Garner is an emotionally charged psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of family secrets, trauma, and the quest for truth. The story follows the journey of a woman named Riley, who is struggling with the mysterious and troubling disappearance of her sister, Grace, years ago. After receiving a cryptic message that suggests Grace may still be alive, Riley embarks on a tense and unpredictable search to uncover what really happened.
As Riley digs deeper, she is confronted with dark secrets about her family, hidden behind years of lies and manipulation. The narrative weaves between Riley’s present-day investigation and flashbacks that reveal key moments from the past. Through this structure, the reader gets a closer look at the emotional tension within the family and the psychological effects these events have had on each of its members.
What stands out in The Family Inside is Garner’s ability to create suspense and keep the reader engaged through constant twists and turns. The characters are well-developed, with complex motivations and reactions, making it difficult to fully trust anyone. The sense of paranoia and tension builds throughout the book, leading to a gripping conclusion that ties together the emotional and psychological arcs in a satisfying way.
Overall, The Family Inside is a thrilling, heart-pounding exploration of familial bonds, trust, and the trauma that can lie hidden beneath the surface. Garner has crafted a compelling and thought-provoking story that keeps you guessing until the very end. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with intricate plots and deep emotional undertones, this book will not disappoint.

Favorite Quote:
"we're more than a family. But it's not DNA that binds us."

A Must Read!!
Life has been hard for Iris and her daughter Ellory, after her husband was brutally murdered while trying to sell his truck. Iris has now lost her job and their home. When Iris handsome new boyfriend offers them a place in his family home which he is renovated for his old aged mother. When she accepts Iris doesn’t realize the entire family siblings and spouses included are all living there, and there’s something just .. off .. about them all. However the longer she stays she soon uncovers dark family secrets, they realize they may have been invited for a sinister purpose.

It’s been three years since Iris lost her husband. She’s lost her job and can’t pay her mortgage. How will she provide for her daughter? Just when she thinks could get worse, her new man Hugh asks her if she wants to move into his mother’s house. When they arrived, they find out they won’t be living alone, they will be living with Hugh’s siblings.

Lots of dark secrets are revealed, one by one. There were so many twists and turns. I was guessing until the very end. My palms were sweating the entire time. I didn’t know what to expect each time I turned the page. I absolutely love psychological thrillers so I was excited that this one turned out to be so good. I could see myself reading this again. If you are a fan of ready or not, definitely check out this book!

Thank you so much NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Katie for ARC!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: Jan 28 2025
#NetGalley #TheFamilyInside

This book is full of twists and turns you will not be expecting!! One of the best psychological thrillers I've read in a long time. Garner keeps you on a rollercoaster ride that doesn't let you off until the very end!! FANTASTIC book!! Thanks for the advanced copy.

This book was full of twists at every corner and truly kept me guessing on some things till the very end! Every character's connection and call back to the story as a whole was so well thought out and presented that I actually kept going "no way" like every other page for the last 50 pages! The pacing seemed strange to me at first as the days counted down and there was half the book left it seemed by the time readers hit "the day before" but the author really extended everything well through the ending and there was definitely enough plot to fill it all! I was especially shocked by the reveal from the alternating POV chapters, and going back to re-read the prologue of the book. All in all this was a well thought out and produced mystery/thriller, a quick read that I couldn't put down, and it really kept me guessing. My only gripe is the very last reveal(no spoilers) but that was the only thing that threw me as being unrealistic given the first person point of view we got of that situation throughout the book, and the reveal felt a tad rushed at the very end.
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Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and The Hive for providing me early access to The Family Inside in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Family Inside is a twist, unpredictable new thriller from Katie Garner. Having never read anything by her before, I wasn't sure what to expect, but this book was AWESOME!

The plot centers around Iris and her daughter Ellory. Iris recently lost her husband Jack tragically, and has now lost her waitress job, and her house to foreclosure. Luckily for her, her new, rich, boyfriend Hugh invites her to move into his family home while he's helping fix it up for his Mom. The deal sounds like a dream for Iris. But then she moves in. The big house is super creepy and Hugh's family -- who are all also staying there -- are acting super weird. Iris finds out too late about the dark family secrets the family and the house are hiding...

I'm not going to lie, I spent the first 75% of the book completely confused and stumped -- but in a good way, because I don't like predictable plots. The initial twist was BOMB drop! Then it just kept getting twistier and twistier! I think my brain exploded by the end. Since the book starts out with an article about the house and some murders/bodies, you know the whole time something bad is going to happen. The book chapters act as a countdown in days/hours to that night in the article, building up suspense, tension, and an overwhelming sense of dread as you continue reading.

After the first nugget of information finally dropped, I was glued to the pages and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next; reading well past my bedtime to get to the ending. And I was not disappointed! The last 20% was a doozy of a wild ride! Fans of mystery/thrillers, and authors like Samatha Downing, Freida McFadden, Lisa Jewell, and Ruth Ware will love this one!

I definitely recommend this book! The ending will SHOCK YOU!

I was blown away by this twisty tale. The author manages to go deep in character with the two female POVs of Iris and Ellory while at the same time crafting an intricate, suspenseful, and entertaining plot filled with secrets and lies. This book is perfect for fans of psychological thrillers and twisted family drama.

The one requirement I have for thrillers is that it keeps me guessing. If I can figure out the ending, is it really a thriller? Well, Katie Garner, you kept me guessing until the very end of The Family Inside. This is a twisty and crazy domestic thriller with some many layers. At some points I didn't know where this story was going.

Iris and her daughter Ellory are down on their luck. Iris is fired from her job, her husband was murdered years ago, and she just lost her house and now has to move out in three days. Enter Hugh, her new boyfriend, who invites her to stay at his family's manor until she gets back on her feet, but when Iris and Ellory arrive little did she know she would be moving in with the entire family including Hugh's mother, brother, sister-in-law and sister.

All I can say is that this book had me guessing until the very last page. The amount of plots twists were crazy and everything was packaged up together nice bow at the end of it.

Thank you so much Mira Books for sending me an ARC of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Don’t bother wasting your time with this one. I don’t DNF books because I usually like to give them a chance but I should have😬

This was the first book in a long time that I picked up and could NOT put it down. I kept grabbing it to read just a few more pages, and a few more, and maybe just a few more. I was sucked into the story quickly and couldn't peel my eyes away. The characters were at times predictable but that didn't take away from the story. I loved the family house as a setting -- give me a creepy old mansion any day. The plot twists were smart and I loved how everything came together in the end. Five stars, I absolutely recommend it!

The Family Inside is perfect for The Housemaid fans, it's full of poor choices based on desperation, and revenge. Someone recommended this to me a few times and I'm glad they did. I had fun reading this twist-filled thriller. I literally was like :O towards the end of the book, which is mainly centered around Iris and her 18 y.o old daughter Ellory. Iris has enough problems and then unfortunately things get worse when her hot boyfriend Hugh's crazy family and horrible house enter the chat.
Thank you HTP Books/ MIRA/NetGalley for the digital and (green) physical copy.

THIS BOOK. This was my first book by Katie Garner and it did not disapoint! The continual twists in this story line kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Just when you think you know what is going to happen, you are 100% wrong. I love a book that keeps me thinking the whole time. I did not want to put this book down! Strong character development and a plot that EATS.

I was hooked from the start! Once the twist came, I thought I had figured out how this would end, I was wrong. Great read, atmospheric and twisty. The family will keep you guessing what they're up too.

Unfortunately, this book was a definite "miss" for me. I was fairly invested during the first half, but the second half and ending were filled with so many eyeroll moments that I can't say which was the most outlandish.
Also, the writing here was very awkward, full of nonsensical phrases like, "He scraped his gaze over me," and "She pinched the door open."
This is not an author I will read again.

4.5* I'm exhausted with this psychological suspense!! What a book! What a family!! I didn't know you could drive so much home into a book, but this one... My thoughts on the eerie Ravencliff Gothic mansion began as my love for the enchanted Biltmore Castle, so I imagined every passageway, hidden door and mountain of steps as it, but it did not take long to see Ravencliff as the dilapidated and chilling place it was. This place has so many secrets, but it is the family inside that will have you running.
In Iris's POV, she shares her heartache and disappointments as she lost her husband in a horrible murder three years ago. With grief, debt, job loss and a moody teenage daughter Ellory, who also shares her POV, she has reason to come unraveled and that she does....
When Iris falls in love with Hugh, a prominent architect, and accepts his proposal to move into the mansion with him while he renovates it. She also must accept his mother Birdie, his brother and sister-in-law and his sister. This family chilled me when she walked into the door with her daughter in tow.
There are so many twists, dark secrets, confusion with two timelines that I could not keep up with all their dysfunctional and creepy behaviors. The Gothic mansion has a life of its own and adds to atmospheric and catastrophic events that don't and won't stop... a Brilliant author to line up so many well-thought out details...maybe some are OTT, but sift through it, allow it to soak in, then realize this is what psychological thrillers are made of. I don't think I can think of one thriller that has so many story-lines going you become entangled in the web with it. Wait..who am I for? Who is good? Who is the bad guy?
Then her daughter and sister-in-law go missing...
One thing is for sure I realize Iris had a lot thrown at her and not sure if I could handle any of it, but she needed to chill and think before she acted. At times she was out of control, and I wanted to shake her. No one is who you think they should be which makes for an interesting ending. It is addictive that you can't stop reading!
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for this ARC in exchange for my review!

DNF @ 24%

There was something about the writing that felt stilted to me and that made it hard for me to get into the story. Right off the bat I didn't really like Iris as a character and I found a lot of her actions, either internal or outwardly, to be repetitive and sometimes nonsensical. There wasn't enough to draw in my attention and keep it.

Thanks Netgalley and MIRA for providing this ARC to me.

I would like to start off this review by thanking Harlequin Trade Publishing|MIRA and Katie Garner for allowing me to read this book, "The Family Inside," via Netgalley. All opinions following are my own.

This book had it all: mystery, thriller, twists, and romance. The story follows Iris, a single mother whose husband was murdered three years earlier and whose case remains unsolved. At the beginning of the novel, readers find that Iris has lost her job, her 18 year old daughter, Ellory, is struggling, and they are being evicted from their house in a mere three days. There is a bright spot for Iris, though. She has an amazing best friend named Sloane, a good friend named Ainsley, and a budding new romance with a rich, handsome man named Hugh. Upon realizing Iris and Ellory will be homeless, Hugh offers to move them into his mother's house that he fixing. With trepidation but also a bit of excitement, Iris agrees. However, things start going downhill fast from almost the moment they move in, and it won't stop until people go missing and others are murdered.

I gave this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. It was very close to a five-star for me, but some of the twists could've been less farfetched, and I felt like there were a couple of loose ends left. All-in-all, I definitely recommend readers add this to their #2025tbr!

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This book was an absolute whirlwind and totally bingeable.

Iris is down on her luck, a widowed mom of an 18 year old, who just lost her job and also is being evicted from her house. So when her new wealthy boyfriend invites her to come live in his big family home where he moved back in to help out with repairs for his elderly mother, how could she say no?

I really enjoyed this story! It has a bit of a slower start - compared to the last 25% of the book that had my head spinning. A must read for thriller fans!

4⭐️

Thanks to MIRA books for my ARC! Pub date 01.28.25