Pages: 431
Published: 26th July 2022
Genre: Mystery
Content warnings: Suicide, strong sexual references, rape, injury detail
London. Early morning, June 2019: on the foreshore of the river Thames, a bag of bones is discovered. Human bones.
DCI Samuel Owusu is called to the scene and quickly sends the bag for forensic examination. The bones are those of a young woman, killed by a blow to the head many years ago.
Also inside the bag is a trail of clues, in particular the seeds of a rare tree which lead DCI Owusu back to a mansion in Chelsea where, nearly thirty years previously, three people lay dead in a kitchen, and a baby waited upstairs for someone to pick her up.
The clues point forward too to a brother and sister in Chicago searching for the only person who can make sense of their pasts.
Four deaths. An unsolved mystery. A family whose secrets can’t stay buried for ever…
What happened next? That was the question on the minds of so many readers after reaching the end of Lisa Jewell’s tremendously gripping The Family Upstairs, but few – including the author herself – seriously believed that a sequel was on the cards. However, the thought was planted and with a premise and a set of characters who offered endless potential for more, the world is a better place for the existence of this book.
If the story proves anything, it is that there was a lot still to discover about that large house on Cheyne Walk that provided such an uncompromising and hostile setting, and all the people damaged by their association with it. Here we get to learn all of their fates, aligned with a fascinating murder mystery and the introduction of a wider backstory that brings an even deeper layer to proceedings.
For anyone who enjoyed the first book and was taken by its complexity and sinister undertones, you are totally hooked by this one right from the beginning. The discovery of the human remains beside the river Thames immediately poses many questions and you are here for any twist or turn that leads you to unravelling them, especially when DI Samuel Owusu is such an engaging narrator whose curiosity mirrors our own.
As that investigation is taking place, the enigmatic Henry is intent on tracking down Phin, the boy he grew up alongside in that depraved household and developed an obsession with. It leads to a fun trip around Chicago which at first feels like he is trying to catch smoke, and all the while his sister Lucy and her two children are trying to stop him, worried at what he may do when they finally cross paths. It leads to a tantalising cliffhanger about halfway through, and we are kept waiting until the end to find out what actually happens.
In the meantime there is also trepidation surrounding Lucy, as you wonder if she may find herself having to answer for what she did in the first book. It is fascinating to see how she transitions from being virtually penniless on the streets of France to being very wealthy, and her perspective here is the one I perhaps enjoyed the most. There is a sense of urgency about it and you cannot fail to love Marco and Stella either. The interactions between Marco, his friend Alf and Kris Doll were a particular highlight.
The mystery of the dead body is not the only startling addition to the story. We also have Rachel, who offers a new and powerful voice that opens up an entire plot strand with hard-hitting results, giving us far more context in regards to the character of Michael and just how pathological he is. It was hard to connect with Rachel at first as descriptions of their rushed nuptials and subsequent love life was quite tiresome, but late on her third person point of view became much more compelling.
Henry remains one of the most complex narrators you are likely to find in this genre. He is morally grey in the sense that you never know if his intentions are honest or genuine, living a life of ulterior motives and scheming. Also smart and in many ways manipulative, he still has redeeming qualities and it is that rare combination of traits that make him so addictive to read. You honestly do not know if he means Phin harm or just wants to reunite with him, and Lisa Jewell is well aware of that and makes full use of it to keep you on edge.
Having been one of the main characters in the first book, it is slightly surprising that Libby appears so little here. When she does, it is disappointing how much she lies to the police, as I thought she was better than that. On the other hand, there were no lies in sight from Justin. Tracking him down formed an exciting part of the mystery, although his storyline would turn out to be rather tragic.
Some of the standout aspects of the plot were how small details from The Family Upstairs went on to have great significance, most notably the music video that was filmed at the house. Samuel’s chapters were so enjoyable to read partly because of this, and I loved how sharp and perceptive he was, along with being just an all-round likeable character.
The writing could be a little more concise at times, but there is an unmistakeable energy to it and the fact that there are multiple strands and perspectives keeps it ticking along. This breeziness is most present during the scenes set in Chicago, which with its scenes taking place in bars and during motorcycle rides, is given a certain vibrancy.
Overall, this goes down as a very worthy sequel. There are surprises in store and both the police investigation and the character dynamics keep you eagerly turning the pages, especially with the promise of some revelations at the end. The Family Upstairs set a very high bar, but this is its equal in many ways.
I was so excited for this sequel and it delivered. It took on a super interesting premise and it was mostly executed very well, and I mostly enjoyed it as much as the first book.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stephen Reads Books 